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

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‘Steal the gift that’s going to the Fourth Prince?’

Depending on how I use it, this information could not only remove George from his position as a servant but also kick him out of this world.

I felt a bit bitter that the value of information that could determine the life of a low-ranking servant was less than the Baroness’s first love.

‘Did his liver grow outside his belly?’ [Meaning, is he incredibly audacious or reckless?]

This was something he couldn’t have done unless he had a lot of nerve. If the Fourth Prince, the embodiment of greed, found out about this, there was a high probability he would disappear without a trace.

It wasn’t about the ruby earrings themselves. The fact that something of his was stolen would drive that bastard crazy.

Well, like most criminals, he probably thought he wouldn’t get caught, so he went ahead with it.

– Ugh… Stop it now.

– Hehehe… Ghost Prince…

George was squeezing Alfonso’s head with his massive arms. He had no idea what kind of information I had and was having a good time.

I felt uncomfortable watching him, as it reminded me of a bully tormenting a weak child.

I decided to intervene and grabbed my coat to go outside.

***

George Waterson.

A few days ago, he received a bribe that a merchant he knew was presenting to the Fourth Prince. Immediately after, the merchant died a sudden death.

A floating bribe [an unclaimed bribe].

He thought it was a windfall. A gift from God who pitied him for suffering under the terrible Fourth Prince. That’s what he decided to think.

“Ge, George, sir. St, stop it. It hurts.”

“Hehehe, what hurts? Stop exaggerating.”

“Ugh.”

Thanks to that, he was in a very good mood. Today, Alfonso’s groans sounded pleasant to his ears.

“Oh, I thought you had a day off today, what brings you here, ugh…?”

“Asking questions first, you must be doing well these days? It must be nice working comfortably next to the Ghost Prince, right?”

“Ugh, I’m sorry.”

The reason George visited Emerald Palace wasn’t that great. It was to meet Dorothy, a woman with whom he was having a subtle emotional tug-of-war.

With the hand that was holding Alfonso in a headlock, he took out his pocket watch and checked the time. He still needed a little more time before her work was over.

‘I will definitely today….’

A lecherous smile hung on George’s lips.

The day before yesterday, he took a ruby earring from the bribe box that seemed to suit Dorothy and put it on her ear.

The nape of her neck, shining white under the moonlight, was enough to drive him crazy even when he just thought about it.

If his stomach hadn’t suddenly twisted, he would have definitely gone for it. Feeling regretful, he tightened his grip on his arm.

“Cough, cough.”

George’s reminiscence ended because of Alfonso, who was struggling for breath. Just as he was about to punch Alfonso’s head, he heard a voice.

“Stop it.”

As far as George knew, there was no one in Emerald Palace who could stop his actions. He also witnessed the Third Princess’s group leaving on the way here.

It was a voice George had never heard before.

Was there a newly assigned servant he didn’t know about? Even so, judging by the fact that he was stuck in Emerald Palace, he was probably a poor guy with no connections.

After quickly calculating, he frowned and turned his head.

“Who the… Fifth Prince?”

Evan, with a blank face, was standing there.

“Fifth Prince? You’re being too informal.”

This wasn’t the Fifth Prince he knew.

It wasn’t the first time he had been caught bullying Alfonso. Every time, he would hesitate with a tearful expression, then lower his head and disappear.

“Are you deaf? I clearly told you to stop.”

Confused, George finally released the arm that was squeezing Alfonso’s head.

“Cough, cough.”

“… We’re just playing around, we’re very close.”

And before he knew it, he was making excuses.

‘Huh? Why am I doing this?’

Originally, royal servants couldn’t even open their mouths without the permission of the royal family. Yes, that’s how it should be.

The Fifth Prince was outside that category.

Of course, directly harming him was forbidden. However, actions such as not answering questions or treating him as if he didn’t exist had been tacitly allowed.

“Then, I have something ‘Fourth Prince’ ordered me to do, so I’ll be going.”

“Haha, take care.”

“Where are you going? You’re coming with me for a while.”

“Ugh!”

George grabbed the nape of Alfonso’s neck, who was trying to run away, gave Evan a bitter smile, and turned around.

“I have something to order Alfonso to do, so leave him here.”

“…….”

George released Alfonso’s nape.

Cough- Spit.

After spitting thick phlegm on the floor and glaring at Evan once, he moved his feet.

One step, two steps.

“Alfonso.”

“Yes! Prince Evan.”

“My sister’s birthday is coming up soon, and I want to prepare a gift. I saw a maid wearing ruby earrings this morning, are those expensive?”

George’s feet stopped.

‘I told her not to wear them in the palace!’

He decided to warn her again when he met her later and glanced back.

‘Gasp!’

George felt like his heart was jumping out. Evan was staring intently at him, not Alfonso, who he was asking the question to.

Evan’s black eyes were as cold as ice. George’s senses, which had developed while working like a dog under the Fourth Prince, flashed an emergency light.

‘Does he know I stole the earrings? How!’

“Alfonso, where can I get something like that? I don’t know? Ah! Brother Akard must know since he receives a lot of gifts?”

Evan was still looking at him as he spoke.

George’s back was soaked with cold sweat.

He had no idea what was going on, but he was sure that Evan knew he had stolen the Fourth Prince’s tribute.

“Prince Evan, please save me!”

His body moved before he could think.

George prostrated himself on the floor and pleaded to Evan.

Whirr- rustle, rustle.

The sound of the wind shaking the branches whispered in his ears. One second, two seconds felt like an eternity.

With a small chuckle, Evan’s voice, which George had been waiting for so desperately, was heard.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Anyone who hears you would think I’m going to kill you, who is the exclusive servant of my brother.”

“If you save me, I will be loyal to you.”

“Loyalty, loyalty….”

Evan, who was stroking his chin and making a troubled expression, soon shook his head.

“I don’t know why you’re doing this, but I don’t really want your loyalty. Ah, there’s only one thing I want you to do.”

“Wh, what?”

“If Brother is going to visit Emerald Palace, I’d like to know in advance. It’s embarrassing to meet him unexpectedly. Shouldn’t I prepare a little?”

“Th, that’s….”

Fourth Prince, Akard Lionel, is different from the Fifth Prince, who no one cares about.

The Second Queen truly cherished Akard, who had red hair that resembled her.

If he was caught leaking the movements of such a Fourth Prince….

After finishing his thoughts, George slightly raised his head and opened his mouth.

“If I leak information about Prince Akard and get caught….”

And he faced Evan’s shockingly indifferent gaze. He bit his lip and lowered his head again.

“I will do that.”

“I’d be grateful if you did. Then, I’m busy with errands, so I’ll be going.”

Evan turned his back and walked away.

Alfonso looked back and forth between Evan, who was walking away, and George, who was prostrating and unable to lift his head.

Soon, with an ‘Ah!’ expression, a bright smile appeared on his lips. He approached George, who was prostrating, and crouched down.

“I will make sure to firmly warn Dorothy not to wear things like ‘ruby earrings’ while working. Haha.”

George felt like he was suffocating at Alfonso’s words, whispering in his ear with a tone that seemed like he was about to die of joy.

“And I would appreciate it if you could clean up the phlegm you spat out earlier! Ah! Prince!”

Whirr- Thwack!

The broom that Alfonso threw hit the back of George’s head.

“Prince! Prince Evan! Let’s go together!”

George closed his eyes tightly, listening to the sound of Alfonso’s footsteps chasing after Evan.

Nothing was visible, just like his future.

***

There were a total of two relationship improvements during the conversation with George.

From distrust to anxiety, and then to fear.

Fear was a dark green, and anxiety was a light green, so both were definitely beneficial to me.

I noticed a long time ago that uncomfortable relationships are red, positive relationships are green, and the intensity is expressed by the saturation and brightness of the color.

I looked at the notifications that I hadn’t been able to check properly because I was talking.

「You have dramatically improved your relationship with George Waterson.」

「You have acquired 1,500 RP.」

「You have improved your relationship with George Waterson.」

「You have acquired 500 RP.」

‘That’s a bit stingy?’

I improved the relationship from distrust by three or four stages at once. Didn’t the system notification even say ‘dramatic’ once?

Compared to the 1,000 RP I got when I improved my relationship with Alfonso from borderline to normal, I felt disappointed.

I was going to ask Genie, but I stopped. She would probably say that it’s not recorded in this world and she can’t answer.

‘Does it matter who I improved the relationship with?’

Well, it wouldn’t make sense if improving the relationship with a servant was treated the same as improving the relationship with a high-ranking minister.

I would naturally find out when I had more samples. I decided to check it out then and looked at the other notifications.

「Achievement, ‘Do I look easy to you?’ has been achieved.」

「You have acquired 2,000 RP.」

「Achievement, ‘I’m a scary person’ has been achieved.」

「You have acquired 3,000 RP.」

The rewards for the two achievements I achieved by forming anxiety and fear relationships with others for the first time were very generous. My RP increased rapidly. It was hard to resist the urge to smile.

I barely managed to calm my lips when.

「You have improved your relationship with Alfonso.」

「You have acquired 1,000 RP.」

「Achievement, ‘Let’s be friends’ has been achieved.」

「You have acquired 2,000 RP.」

「Achievement, ‘Thick Wallet’ has been achieved.」

「[Skill] Detailed condition settings are now available when searching.」

‘Huh?’

I wondered what this sudden notification was about.

“Prince! Prince Evan! Let’s go together!”

Just in time, I heard Alfonso’s voice, who was clearly in a good mood.

‘That guy….’

I looked at Alfonso’s status window, which I had put in the corner of my vision.

[Relationship: Friendly]

I chuckled.

He must have been really annoyed with George while working as a servant wearing a mask.

I glanced at Alfonso’s face, who had run up next to me. He had the expression of someone who had just relieved himself after not being able to go to the bathroom for a week.

“Go do your thing.”

“Haha, it’s my job to assist the Prince.”

“No need. I want to be alone.”

I also want to check his four stats and skills that have become partially available as the relationship changed to friendly.

I waved my hand as if chasing away an annoying fly.

“Why aren’t you leaving?”

“Prince, you’re too much!”

Alfonso pouted and ran away into the distance. To me, who had seen his true self less than an hour ago, he couldn’t have looked more disgusting.

After many twists and turns, I returned to my room alone, sat on the sofa, and checked my RP balance first.

‘12,000.’

How can I use this to get the best efficiency? I went to [Library] and asked Genie a question.

┕ What do you think is the best way to use RP in my current situation?

「I cannot know what Evan’s ‘current situation’ is. Even if I did, it would be difficult to provide you with the information you want.」

What kind of nonsense is this?

┕ Why?

「Answers that limit the user’s judgment with the subjective opinions of the library staff are prohibited.」

‘Not helpful.’

Tsk, I clicked my tongue and moved the chat window to the side.

I rested my chin on my hand and took some time to think.

My thoughts were quickly organized.

After all, the only two places I can use RP are [Skill] and [Library].

I’ve experienced [Library] enough.

Since I achieved the achievement and can now use all the UI of the [Skill] search window, it seems like it’s time to learn a skill.