Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 40

040

Miloa had a keen intuition.

Especially when it came to discerning truth from falsehood, she was unparalleled. This ability had propelled her to the head of the Christy County family and secured her position as chief of the Royal Bureau of Intelligence.

However, throughout her conversation with Evan, she had struggled to maintain a neutral expression, concealing her perplexed feelings.

‘It hasn’t been long.’

From his initial question about when he had begun contacting the Northern Liberation Army, her internal sensors seemed to malfunction, insistently signaling that he was telling the truth.

“I’ve received so much from Damian, how could I ever do anything to harm him?”

But now.

Miloa finally felt her senses recalibrating, and she inwardly sighed in relief.

That statement was undoubtedly a lie.

“That’s unfortunate. I wasn’t aware you were so close to the Second Prince.”

“Thank you for acknowledging that. It seems my clandestine conversations with Countess Miloa have stretched on for too long. I fear there will be whispers behind my back. I believe it’s time for me to head inside.”

“Indeed. Let’s continue our unfinished game of truth ‘next time’.”

“You’re welcome anytime. Then, goodbye.”

Evan turned and walked away.

Miloa’s mind raced as she watched him depart.

‘I must prevent the Fourth Princess from marrying an imperial from the Empire at all costs.’

Regardless of her personal feelings toward the Fourth Princess, the mere engagement would flood the kingdom with magic stones, a resource of which they were chronically short.

The Empire’s custom of providing a substantial dowry to the bride’s family would ensure this. If she could skillfully play into the imperial family’s renowned vanity, she might even secure the release of high-grade magic stones.

‘It’s not a bad thing, not a bad thing at all…’

The problem was that it would be deeply unfavorable for the First Prince’s faction.

It was self-evident that those who benefited would develop a strong affinity for the Second Prince.

While some might suffer losses, as they wouldn’t be receiving benefits without contributing, the voices of the few were inconsequential in the grand scheme of running the country.

The ideal scenario would be a union between a princess born from the First Queen and an imperial from the Empire, but that was impossible. The best alternative the First Prince’s faction had considered was a union between the Third Princess, Annette Lionel, and an imperial from the Empire.

If the Fifth Prince hadn’t shed his ghost prince image, Miloa would have undoubtedly pursued that course.

‘No. It’ll become irreversible if I do that.’

Her instincts screamed at her.

Suddenly, she paused, wondering, what?

She frowned, delving into deep thought to uncover the answer.

Miloa felt the familiar craving for a cigarette that she had been suppressing. As she instinctively reached for her thigh, she remembered discarding her cigarette case earlier. Her gaze drifted towards the trash can.

***

After my conversation with Miloa, I returned to the banquet hall. Perhaps because I had spent a considerable time with her on the terrace, I noticed many people glancing at me and whispering.

‘Are strange rumors going to circulate?’

The age gap between us was a decade. I doubted anything would come of it.

I shook my head and checked the time.

‘About two hours left.’

I briefly considered how to occupy myself until the king’s arrival with the two queens, ultimately deciding to appease my hunger first.

As I approached the buffet and began filling my plate with meat, the surrounding whispers abruptly ceased.

I set down my fork and looked up.

An elderly man with snow-white hair and a robust physique was approaching me.

The leader of the neutral faction of the Royal Committee, Bert Lyon. I had been unable to locate him earlier; where had he been hiding?

“Fifth Prince. I understand you were just engaged in conversation with Countess Miloa. Would you be willing to take a stroll with this idle old man and provide some companionship?”

“Of course.”

Bert offered a satisfied smile and turned to leave. I handed my plate of food to a nearby servant and followed him into the garden.

I glanced back at the terrace where I had spoken with Miloa. She was gazing at the full moon, elegantly exhaling cigarette smoke.

Was she a smoker?

No wonder I had detected a faint cigarette scent earlier.

The cigarettes in this era were likely even more detrimental to one’s health than those in my previous life, due to the added substances. [This refers to the common belief that historical cigarettes contained more harmful additives.]

Cigarettes had only recently become a luxury item for the nobility, so they were likely unaware of the full extent of the side effects.

‘Well, why should I concern myself with that?’

I dismissed Miloa from my thoughts and continued to follow Councilor Bert.

But where was this man leading me?

It felt as though he was guiding me to an increasingly dark and unlit area, which made me uneasy.

Just as I was about to speak, he halted.

“Haha, this spot should suffice. There are plenty of passionate youths about.”

Hmm…

If that was his reasoning, I had no argument. Besides, that probably wasn’t the sole reason. There might have been eavesdroppers nearby.

I suddenly realized that I hadn’t been sufficiently attentive to my surroundings during my conversation with Countess Miloa.

I briefly replayed the conversation in my mind.

‘There’s nothing particularly incriminating.’

Even if I wasn’t consciously aware, my subconscious must have been cautious on its own.

Moreover, the third language [likely a code or less common language] was the primary means of communication at the time, and Miloa, being skilled in her profession, would have secured the area beforehand.

Was this a case of trusting a competent enemy more than an incompetent ally?

“What are you pondering so intently?”

“Ah, I apologize. I was simply entertaining some embarrassing thoughts.”

Unable to devise a proper excuse, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“Hahaha, Fifth Prince, you’re at that age now. As a member of the royal family, you should be considering a suitable match in advance.”

“If possible, I would prefer an only daughter.”

He erupted in laughter at my cheeky response. Was my answer truly that amusing?

“Good, of course.”

He seemed to be in high spirits.

Soon, I understood the reason.

To Bert, my answer might have implied that I wasn’t seeking to align myself with any faction and would instead stand independently as a third force.

Judging by his reaction, it seemed unnecessary to correct his misinterpretation.

“The last hearing was interesting.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Bert, who had been laughing, abruptly ceased and regarded me with a serious expression.

“Fifth Prince. I am a man who knelt, defeated by an insurmountable wall, but I was once a knight.”

I nodded.

Bert Lyon had achieved the rank of 6-star knight at a young age, and the Lionel Kingdom had held high hopes that an 8-star knight would finally emerge.

But that was all.

Among his contemporaries, the first and only individual to possess seven stars was my maternal grandfather, the Sword of the North, Richard Bayern.

“I’ve become a grumpy old man, tainted by the Royal Committee, but I still value sincere conversations without embellishment. How about we engage in such a conversation?”

Was this another form of truth game? Many people seemed intent on extracting my inner thoughts today.

However, Councilor Bert was a worthy opponent.

“Good.”

At my response, he truly embodied the spirit of a knight.

I didn’t entertain the possibility of lying, as I had with Miloa. That would be an insult.

I also believed I possessed the insight to discern sincerity, having stubbornly survived within the royal family until now.

‘If I’m mistaken, that’s my limit.’

In that case, it was fitting to vanish like countless others who had faded into history.

“I don’t like the Fifth Prince.”

He was coming on strong from the start.

“But I liked the prince because of that dislike.”

He claimed to prefer sincere conversations, yet his manner of speaking was often convoluted. Was this a result of his time on the Royal Committee?

“That ruthlessness you displayed when you struck down the unjust Beortio without hesitation.”

“He was a man who deserved to die.”

“I know. But aren’t you the Fifth Prince who has never even wrung a chicken’s neck in the royal palace? Were you truly comfortable with falsely accusing that witch? Did you not believe she should only receive punishment commensurate with her actual crimes?”

“Not at all.”

He smiled at my resolute answer.

“Could you have done that even if Beortio was a person who was truly respected by the people of the kingdom? Just because of political interests?”

“······.”

This time, I hesitated to answer and remained silent for a moment. I had formulated an answer, but I was unsure whether to voice it.

Then, he laughed heartily.

“Hahaha, I believe I’ve assessed you correctly after all. It seems my judgment is still sound.”

I couldn’t discern what answer Bert had gleaned from my silence. The likelihood that it differed from my intended meaning was high, but why was he so pleased?

I parted my lips to speak.

***

Bert was reminded of the late king by Evan’s tightly closed expression.

He was a great king.

He was popular and possessed exceptional knightly abilities. He also harbored a grand ambition to one day launch a northern expedition and establish the Lionel ‘Empire’.

‘If he had possessed just one thing…’

Decisiveness.

He lacked the decisiveness to shed tears and execute loyal subjects when necessary. Ultimately, this flaw led to his downfall.

“I’m…”

“You don’t have to say it.”

Bert stopped Evan, who was about to speak.

The fact that he was 고민한다는 [pondering] was a sufficient answer for him. While he was curious about the answer, it would be more enjoyable to discover it later. He decided to save it as a future pleasure.

“As I mentioned earlier, I liked the prince. Personally, I would like to be a strong supporter of the Fifth Prince, but it’s not easy in many ways.”

The neutral faction of royals and nobles rallied around Bert. It was clear that the First Prince and Second Prince factions would unite and crush them if they rashly supported the Fifth Prince.

14 years old, still too young.

A lion cub found in the corner of the royal palace, surrounded by hyenas reeking of 구린내 [a foul smell]. He had to protect it until it matured and could bite back.

“But I’ll give you a small gift. Your bodyguards will visit the Emerald Palace soon.”

This much was within his power.

Not long ago, when the 때놈 [a derogatory term for a foreigner, likely from the Empire] harassed the daughter of the Merton County family, he was shocked to learn that Evan had intervened without a bodyguard.

Evan’s eyes lit up at Bert’s words.

“Are you serious?”

“Of course. I swear on the six stars in my heart. However, it may be a little difficult for those from noble families.”

“You mean the members of the 3rd Knights? Those who rose from 평민 [commoners]?”

Bert nodded.

“Perhaps, can I appoint someone I want as my bodyguard?”

“Oh, I heard that you often visit the training grounds of the 3rd Knights, so it seems like there’s someone you like. Go ahead.”

“First, Adol Smith, Vernon Stayler.”

“Those who graduated from the Royal Military Academy last year as the vice-chief and third-chief. But why specifically knights who are probationary members?”

“I’m saying that because the last person might be a slightly difficult request.”

“Who on earth… Huh, no way!”

“Reina Jeanne. I know that she is currently affiliated with the 3rd Knights, although it is in the form of a dispatch. Please give her to me as my bodyguard.”

Bert’s mind became complicated as he wondered how to undo the oath he had just made.

“You’re not thinking of breaking your oath, are you?”

Evan raised the corners of his mouth as he looked at him.