Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 32

032

There were several reasons why I targeted Beortio Rion.

First, bringing down that man, who betrayed the former Royalists and the current Neutrals to join the First Prince’s faction, would be a great gift to the remaining six Neutrals.

‘Especially Representative Bert will be very pleased.’

Everyone knew that Representative Bert strongly advocated for the dispatch of the Central Army to the north during the Hamel Empire’s invasion. He gave speeches in Barona Square every day until his voice was hoarse, so no one was unaware.

At the time, public opinion was forming that even if not dispatching troops, supplies should be delivered. Beortio was the one who betrayed them grandly in that situation.

‘The bizarre rumors circulating around Beortio, such as bathing in the blood of virgins every night, also make it easy to link him to the demons.’

Still, I checked with Austin once more, just in case there might be other opinions within the Northern Liberation Army.

“Is it really okay to target Beortio Rion?”

“There won’t be anyone who opposes it. That man is among the top three internal enemies of the kingdom that the Northern Liberation Army wants to take down.”

“If he’s in the top three, you must know a lot about him.”

“······.”

Austin answered with silence.

‘As Alfonso told me.’

One of the Northern Liberation Army’s problems was the lack of intelligence outside the northern region.

In fact, even before hearing from Alfonso, I had somewhat guessed from the fact that a guy in a quasi-executive position and a kitchen assistant had infiltrated the palace as low-ranking servants.

“······ I know the basics. But, it’s probably not the kind of things you want to know, Prince. Like who Beortio’s guards are, what his favorite food is, whether he has a mistress, things like that.”

“It’s good to see you admit it so readily.”

“······ Then how much do you know about Beortio that you’re so confident you can make him out to be a contractor with the demons, a major criminal who spread the plague in the north in the past, and the murderer of the Fourth Prince?”

Austin’s tone was prickly.

I slightly raised my gaze, which had been fixed on the eye part of the fox mask.

Quickly manipulating the idle ghost hand, I entered [Library].

┕ Tell me the names of Beortio Rion’s guards, his favorite food, and his mistress.

「The information usage fee for this question is 500 RP.」

That amount of RP means it’s information that can be easily obtained by bribing people around Beortio. It’s something that can be found within a few hours even if you request it from the information guild in the capital.

However, that would create new information that someone is collecting information about Beortio. The moment that information reaches the First Prince’s faction or Beortio himself, everything will be in vain.

It’s a moment where I have to use RP, even if it’s a waste.

┕ Tell me.

「Beortio’s guard······.」

I recited the information that Genie told me.

“His guard is Mospa Trag. His favorite food is fried newborn chicks. His mistress’s name is Taro Nickelph. Would you like more detailed information?”

“······ You prepared in advance even before receiving our promise of cooperation.”

“It’s basic.”

I smiled at Austin.

Based on the information obtained with over 50,000 RP, if the Northern Liberation Army moves quickly, burying a royal with dirty rumors will be a piece of cake.

Especially now that they don’t heavily check me and the Northern Liberation Army.

It’s a one-time opportunity.

Based on this opportunity, I have to make it so that neither the First Prince nor the Second Prince can easily mess with me again.

***

A plump woman soaked her naked body in a golden bathtub.

Her name was Beortio Rion.

Splash. The blood filling the tub splattered everywhere. She put the shimmering blood in her hand, smelled it, and licked it with her tongue.

Soon, she smiled contentedly.

“Unlike last time, it smells less fishy today. I like it.”

“I’m glad you’re satisfied.”

The maids attending to her breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. Last week, she had claimed that it must have been the blood of dead women and had drawn a lot of blood from the gathered maids to mix it.

A maid who had served Beortio for a long time opened her mouth.

“One of the virgins who had her blood drawn fainted and hasn’t woken up.”

“······ Is that so?”

A strange light flickered in Beortio’s eyes.

No wonder it smelled so fresh.

It was very rare for blood that had the vitality of a virgin extracted from the root to be mixed in. It only happened once every few months. Beortio greedily licked the blood on her hand.

One hour later.

Beortio headed to her office after finishing her bath.

There was a ritual that she had to do on days when she bathed in the blood of virgins.

Knock knock.

“Beortio-nim, I’ve brought the herbal medicine.”

“Come in.”

The butler brought a dark red herbal medicine on a tray.

Young chicken soup that the Hamel Empire people eat to boost their energy. The original recipe is to boil newborn chicks thoroughly.

However, the ingredients were special for the Hamel Empire’s high-ranking officials and Beortio who were eating it now.

The butler, who knew that, slightly turned his head to the side as he watched her drink the soup.

Beortio, who drank the herbal medicine and rolled a sweet candy in her mouth, turned her head towards the butler.

“Any new reports?”

“The Fifth Prince’s hearing is scheduled. It’s next Friday. They say they’ll send a small airship to the assemblyman who is on vacation in the south.”

“An airship? They refused outright when I requested it last time. Miloa must want to step on the Fifth Prince quite a bit. Tell them to send at least a medium-sized one. If they say no, say I can’t go. How many people do you need to take care of this body? What’s with the small size? That rude wench.”

Beortio felt better when she thought of Miloa’s trembling face.

Crunch, crunch. Enjoying the sweetness of the candy, she looked at herself in the mirror on her desk and was startled. There were wrinkles around her eyes that weren’t there before.

Beortio brought her hand to her eyes and opened her mouth.

“Butler. Did you find out what I told you to find out?”

“I’m investigating very discreetly. But it’s something that requires a lot of caution around the eyes······.”

“Find out quickly! Right now!”

Her scream was deafening.

“Yes, ma’am!”

The butler quickly bowed his head and left the office.

Smash!

The sound of a mirror breaking came from behind.

‘Does she think the Black Book is something you can find just because you’re looking for it, that witch?’

Black Book, a slang term for Necronomicon [a fictional grimoire of forbidden knowledge].

The butler sighed quietly and covered his head.

***

Heaven helps those who help themselves.

That’s what I thought after I found out that she was secretly seeking the Necronomicon while using [Library] to investigate Beortio’s every move.

As a result of digging deep, starting with the fact that her butler had recently met with outsiders in disguise, I learned that some of the people who met with the butler were going around the black market looking for the ‘Black Book.’

‘All the ominous rumors were true.’

She, who dreams of eternal life and eternal youth, was a woman who was ready to contract with a demon at any time.

The very evening I realized that.

Two executives of the Northern Liberation Army, carrying the Necronomicon that Alfonso had hidden away, boarded a train heading south.

One was a 5-star knight, and the other was a 5-star mage.

‘They perfectly acted as a black magician and a dark knight who worshiped the demon god?’

I chuckled as I recalled the information I had received from Austin.

Today is the day of the hearing.

In the mirror, I am standing tall, wearing the prince’s uniform. This is my combat uniform.

I tidied up my clothes one last time.

“Your Highness, there isn’t a single wrinkle. You can go out now.”

At Alfonso’s words, I nodded.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

I stepped out of the door that Alfonso opened for me.

On the way to the carriage waiting at the main gate of Emerald Palace.

“Prince Evan! Good luck!”

“We’re cheering for you!”

“We’re watching! Please save Alfonso-nim!”

The Emerald Palace servants saw me off. Even those whose relationship with me was ‘guarded’ were swept away by the atmosphere and gave me words of encouragement.

I nodded to them and got into the carriage.

“We’ll depart.”

The coachman started driving the carriage, and I crossed my arms and admired the scenery outside.

“Ugh, I’m so nervous. Aren’t you nervous, Your Highness? It’s not like the royal trial last time, where only royals were gathered. All the citizens of Barona will be watching.”

As Alfonso said, anyone who is a citizen of Barona can watch this hearing. This is because it was my request to take the form of a public hearing.

It’s not like the whole nation is watching like in my previous life, but magical projectors were installed in several key locations, including Barona Square in the capital, so that those who are interested can watch.

‘Honestly, I didn’t think permission would be granted so easily.’

It feels like things that require the king’s approval, including going outside the royal palace, are being processed quickly after the last royal trial.

Why?

Since I thought of it, I looked up the king’s name in [List of People], but there was no major change in relationship.

[Relationship: Normal]

‘It’s not to the point of being friendly, but does he feel a slight liking?’

I stopped trying to deduce the king’s psychology, which I couldn’t figure out. Right now, it was more important to simulate what would happen at the hearing.

And two hours later.

The time of the decisive battle was approaching.

“I swear, Evan Lionel, that I will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth at this hearing, without concealment or addition.”

After reciting the oath that I couldn’t keep, I met the eyes of the 30 people who were looking at me with various gazes one by one.

A searching gaze.

A disapproving gaze.

A gaze full of annoyance.

A gaze that thinks I’m arrogant.

Among those many gazes, there were two people who particularly caught my eye.

An old man with snow-white hair and a robust physique, and a huge woman who seemed to occupy the space of two people alone.

Representative Bert, the leader of the Neutrals and the chairman of this hearing, and Beortio, whom I had to bring down.

I bowed to Representative Bert once and then looked at Beortio. She licked her lips as she met my eyes. I frowned slightly at the instinctive revulsion.

Perhaps she recognized my expression, Beortio’s eyes trembled.

I turned my head and looked at the audience seats.

I saw Count Miloa, who was looking at me with sharp eyes, and Count Clian, who was sitting with his legs crossed. Surprisingly, they seemed to be on good terms, sitting side by side.

Count Clian’s gaze went to the assemblymen of the First Prince’s faction and then back to me.

The meaning was obvious.

It must mean why nothing has happened so far. I gave him a faint smile.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Representative Bert struck the gavel.

“We will begin the hearing to determine the justification for the Fifth Prince’s exercise of immunity from arrest. Those who have questions for the Fifth Prince, please raise your hand.”

Beortio raised her hand far away.

“······ Representative Beortio, please speak.”

Representative Bert did not hide his very displeased expression.

“Fifth Prince. Immunity from arrest is not such a trivial thing that it can be exercised simply because the puppet group called the Northern Liberation Army’s leash was a cherished servant.”

Many assemblymen nodded as if agreeing with her words. Among them were assemblymen from the Second Prince’s faction and the Neutrals.

I retorted to her in a clear voice.

“How can you call the Northern Liberation Army a mere puppet group?”

“Hmph, do you know how many times the Northern Liberation Army has attacked the trading company that this assemblyman operates? It may sound good to call them the Northern Liberation Army, but isn’t what they do no different from a band of robbers?”

“They were just doing their job. It was a small accident that happened in the process of finding someone who spread the plague in the north five years ago, creating a foothold for the Hamel Empire’s invasion, and recently assassinated the Fourth Prince, dreaming of immortality and contracting with a demon.”

The assemblymen’s expressions were bewildered at my remarks. Some looked at me as if I were crazy.

“I wonder why you haven’t been dragged to the Hall of All Gods yet.”

Beortio looked around and pointed at herself with her finger.

“You? Me?”

I glanced at Count Miloa sitting in the audience seats.

Her complexion was turning blue in real time as she received a report from someone who seemed to be an aide, who had rushed over from somewhere.