Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 49

049

Royal Office of Information, Chief Secretary’s Office.

Miloa had just received a report detailing the Royal Committee’s choice for the Imperial Family’s fiancé.

‘So, it’s the Fourth Princess after all.’

Gracia Lionel.

The Fourth Princess, daughter of the Second Queen, was scheduled to have her coming-of-age ceremony in May and become a bride in August.

– ((These hussies are my bride candidates?))

– ((This one has a face I like and everything, but her feet are a bit…))

– ((Well, well, this one’s looks are not my type at all, but her feet are so petite and pretty?))

The Imperial Family member knew that the princesses were basically fluent in the Hamel Empire language, yet he appraised them like objects. In truth, his heart leaned towards the Third Princess by a score of 6:4.

However, there were two main reasons why the Fourth Princess was ultimately chosen.

First, Miloa’s tacit agreement with Evan to stand by.

Second, the numerous palace servants who witnessed the Fourth Princess leaving the Imperial Family member’s bedroom in a disheveled state, limping as she walked.

‘Filthy bastards.’

The pleasurable moans, like screams, of the Fourth Princess that she had accidentally heard while passing near the detached palace where the Imperial Family member was staying. Recalling that, Miloa’s face flushed slightly.

Startled, she quickly frowned.

It was a side effect of quitting smoking.

Miloa opened the window and cooled her face in the cold wind.

‘By the way, why hasn’t the Fifth Prince contacted me?’

Miloa bit her thumbnail, suppressing her craving for a cigarette.

Knock, knock.

“Countess Miloa, a telegram has arrived.”

“Bring it in.”

The Second Secretary, who entered after opening the door, politely handed over the telegram.

“Where is it from?”

“That’s… I can’t decipher it with the signal system I’m familiar with.”

“Is that so? Leave it and get back to work.”

Sensing that the news she had been eagerly awaiting had arrived, Miloa examined the telegram in her hand with a slightly nervous expression.

The symbols in the paper were listed without meaning. They quickly assembled in her mind, forming sentences.

‘Negotiations complete. Confirmation of top-grade magic stone deposit?!’

It was common knowledge that the higher the grade of magic stones discovered, the more abundant the deposit. After interpreting the first sentence, Miloa clenched her fist and almost screamed.

With this, she could shut the mouths of her annoying allies who would gleefully tear her apart for failing to prevent the Fourth Princess from marrying into the Empire.

‘Top-grade, top-grade, you say….’

Miloa licked her lips.

She briefly considered if there was a way for her dark personality, hidden deep within her, to swallow the mine whole.

Soon, she wiped her mouth with her sleeve, as if regretting it.

It was something that couldn’t be easily done unless it was a lawless place like the Hamel Empire. The Second Prince’s faction would surely foam at the mouth, criticizing the First Prince’s faction’s morality.

It would become even more troublesome if the Aden [a union of different races] intervened. It could end up killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.

But, more than anything else, what bothered her the most was.

‘Fifth Prince, Evan Lionel….’

Was it because she had been burned badly at the hearing once before? Just thinking about him made alarm bells ring loudly in her head, warning her about what nonsense she was thinking.

‘Let’s just quietly pass this time, with each of us taking appropriate gains.’

You never knew when she might work with the Fifth Prince again. For that time, it seemed okay to leave a precedent that they could be good partners like this time.

‘The Fifth Prince’s share… maybe 3% of the mine’s stake, 5% at most.’

A mine where top-grade magic stones were discovered.

With just that much stake, he would have the wealth of a decent count’s family.

Miloa thought that was an acceptable level.

However, she didn’t know.

That the profit Evan gained from this mine development was not ‘appropriate’.

‘…Why are my hands shaking?’

Miloa’s intuition sent out fierce warnings, but unfortunately, she mistook it for a side effect of quitting smoking.

***

“Go, G-Dragon!”

“Kuaaaaa!”

Kwagwagwagwagwa-

At my one word, G-Dragon, that is, a faceless dragon 10m in size, instantly dug into the ground. A spectacular scene no matter how many times I saw it.

A tunnel that would take dwarves several days to dig was created in an instant.

“Let’s go!”

“Support the pillars first! Bring the steel bars!”

“Not size 55, size 77!”

The dwarves who had been watching grabbed their tools and rushed to where G-Dragon had dug. In an instant, pillars were erected and rails were laid around the entrance for carts to move.

It was truly an amazing work speed.

Chief Gilud, who was watching the scene with his arms crossed, approached me.

“To think you’d really tame that guy.”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

I smiled and answered him, glancing at the skill window. [Beast Taming] was firmly in place.

It had appeared exactly one week after I started taming the faceless dragon. That day, he got the name G-Dragon.

“How is it? You don’t think 30% of the mine’s stake is a waste, do you? That guy was the one who told us where the top-grade magic stones were, wasn’t he?”

G-Dragon not only played the role of heavy equipment in the mine development but also performed the task of exploration equipment, accurately locating where the magic stones were buried.

“Hmm… I expected at most about 5%.”

“Isn’t 5% too little?”

“Grateful is grateful, and business is business. Just chasing that guy away would be about right. You didn’t add a penny, what are you talking about? 30% is too much.”

I clicked my tongue at his words.

If I had capital, wouldn’t it have been possible to secure a 40-50% stake?

It’s okay.

Obtaining 30% of the mine stake where top-grade magic stones are excavated with no money is something that will be recorded like a legend in later history books.

Perhaps, in the distant future, there will definitely be historians who scoff at it as a ridiculous story.

“Ah, has what I asked for been completed?”

Gilud frowned at my question.

He was making another fake of [Varisada] at my request.

“Tsk, I really wouldn’t make something like that if it wasn’t for your request. I came because of that. It’s all done, so follow me.”

“I understand. G-Dragon! Listen carefully to what the foreman asks. Don’t cause any accidents. Go back to your nest and rest when you’re done.”

“Kua! Kua!”

G-Dragon nodded as if he understood.

The dwarves glanced at me and him and then went back to work.

At first, they were wary of G-Dragon and worked while I was watching. However, after he threw himself to block a dwarf who was about to be crushed by a rolling rock, they became close enough to occasionally throw him a piece of iron ore as a snack.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I led Alfonso and Reina and chased after Gilud, who had already left.

And arrived at his smithy.

“Is this really a fake?”

I couldn’t help but admire the sword of ‘Rare’ grade, which was indistinguishable from [Varisada]. It was incomparable to the one Miloa had obtained and placed in the palace instead. It was obvious from the greed in Reina’s eyes, who was watching with me.

“He’s a guy born with a pitiful fate. If you ever get the chance, let him fulfill his value as a sword.”

“I understand. I don’t think it will take as long as you think.”

I assured him and took the fake [Varisada].

“Has the scabbard I asked for been completed?”

“Of course. Wait a moment.”

He brought a very plain scabbard. I nodded with a satisfied smile.

“Good. It’s perfect. Thank you.”

I thanked Gilud and left his smithy.

I returned to the temporary lodging that the dwarves had quickly built, told Alfonso and Reina to rest comfortably, and went into the room.

I put [Varisada], wrapped in cloth, on the table and stared at it for a moment.

Varisada talks a lot.

I haven’t figured out yet whether it’s because she’s met a conversation partner after 500 years or whether that’s just her personality. What’s certain is that it sometimes gives me a headache.

Fortunately, she also sleeps.

She sleeps for 2-3 days when the sword is completely covered with cloth like now. Is it like a blackout curtain?

I carefully unwrapped the cloth so that Varisada wouldn’t wake up.

The handle had changed from its original appearance.

The black guard was gilded in gold and some decorations were added. With just this, there would be few people who would suspect it was [Varisada].

Convincing Varisada to change this was also quite a difficult process. What was it? She said it felt like someone was painting gold paint on wallpaper?

‘She’ll definitely say something when she sees this too.’

「…What is that trashy thing.」

Oh no, she woke up.

“As you can see, it’s an ordinary scabbard.”

「I won’t do it.」

“Just try it once? It might be much more comfortable? The current scabbard is actually more focused on sealing than the original role of the scabbard, isn’t it? You said that you feel a little stuffy when you put on the scabbard last time. This ordinary scabbard might be more comfortable.”

「…Just once.」

With her permission, I quickly removed [Varisada]’s original scabbard and put on the one I received from Gilud.

And carefully asked.

“How is it?”

「Well… it’s not bad.」

She seemed quite satisfied.

I was a little curious about what changes had occurred in her dark space.

「Haa… I’m going back to sleep, so cover me with the cloth.」

“Oh dear, please go back to sleep quickly.”

I quickly wrapped [Varisada] in cloth, lest her mind change.

‘It’s hard, it’s hard.’

I shook my head and put the original scabbard on the fake made by Gilud.

It was perfect.

It looked like the real [Varisada] to anyone.

Unless some idiot pulls out the scabbard, it’s impossible to expose it as a fake. A satisfied smile spread across my face as I finished preparing for the perfect crime.

I carefully stored the fake and looked at the calendar.

‘Is it almost time for Fran to come?’

Fran had been on edge, preparing for any accidents that might occur while taming the faceless dragon. The day after he got the name G-Dragon, he suddenly disappeared, saying he was going to take a break.

I didn’t ask where he was going.

It was obvious.

Besides his hometown, the Elf Forest, where else would he go?

‘His mother’s tree is there, right?’

The elves’ funeral method is a tree burial. Just as humans visit graves to commemorate their dead parents, they visit trees.

“Alfonso! Alfonso!”

“The Prince’s chief attendant. Reporting for duty.”

“Prepare to go to Mayton Territory tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

***

“Alright, the Fifth Prince will be here soon, so everyone, pull yourselves together. Ayra! You look so pretty today. You’re really my daughter. And… what’s wrong with your hair?”

“Oh my, what’s wrong with this hair? It’s the latest style that’s popular in the capital these days! Isn’t that right, Ayra?”

Ayra, who was dressed in a beautiful red dress, nodded slightly at the Countess’s question.

“Oh my, Ayra. Are you not feeling well today? You seem so listless.”

“I’m fine, Mother.”

“The Fifth Prince will be here soon, so just bear with it.”

It’s because of that prince. Ayra whispered softly to herself.

Shortly after.

The Fifth Prince’s carriage and the knights escorting him appeared.

The Count rushed out barefoot.

“Have you arrived, Fifth Prince?”

“I told Alfonso to tell you to wait comfortably…”

“I conveyed it exactly as you said, without changing a single word. Really.”

The Count quickly stepped in to help Alfonso, who was claiming his innocence.

“Hahaha, how could I do that when the Fifth Prince has arrived? Alfonso is not at fault at all. Didn’t I come out to greet the Prince myself when he first arrived?”

You didn’t bring all the family members out with you at that time. Ayra muttered to herself again.

It had been like this since Evan brought the news that he was jointly developing a magic stone mine with the dwarves.

Thanks to this, the Mayton County family was enjoying the tremendous benefit of being responsible for the primary transportation of magic stones, so it was a natural result.

“Let’s go in quickly.”

“Let’s do that. By the way, has Fran returned?”

“Ah, he arrived yesterday and is resting.”

“I see.”

Evan nodded slightly to Ayra as he followed the Count. She responded with the brightest smile she could muster.

Suddenly, she heard the voice she had heard when he rescued her from the clutches of the Imperial Family member.

– ((Stop it.))

The surrounding scenery, sounds, smells… everything she could feel at that time was still vivid.

That day, Ayra thought she had met the prince of her dreams.

The Fifth Prince without any backing.

She thought it was worth a try.

But, not anymore. In just one month, he had become an unattainable tree. She couldn’t even imagine how much bigger he would become in the future.

Goodbye, my love.

Ayra watched Evan walking with the Count and said goodbye to her first love.

***

After briefly discussing the mine development situation with the Count, I went straight to find Fran.

The reason I came down to Mayton Territory was her. Just as the training of G-Dragon was finished and I was about to have a serious conversation, she suddenly left for vacation.

‘It’s the end of February now….’

Not much time left.

Her death.