Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 56

056

The First Queen hails from the Runtia Ducal Family, the leading force of the old aristocratic faction, often subtly referred to as the ruler of the South.

Beyond the title of “ruler of the South,” the Runtia Ducal Family bears another significant designation.

They are known as the Magic Noble Family.

As if to underscore this, the First Queen herself is an exceptional magician, a 6-star mage. In her youth, she was even considered a candidate for the Blue Tower Master.

Unbeknownst to Evan, Fran had encountered the First Queen on several occasions in the past, though never under pleasant circumstances. This was also a contributing factor to Fran’s aversion to visiting the royal palace.

The reasons behind the First Queen’s departure from the Blue Tower and her entry into the royal palace remain unclear. Whether it was her own decision, an order from the head of the Runtia Ducal Family, or one of the many other rumored causes, nothing is definitively known.

She bore a total of three children:

The First Prince, the Second Princess, and the Third Prince.

It is widely acknowledged that the First Queen’s child-rearing was remarkably successful.

The First Prince displayed exceptional martial talent. Until he encountered the barrier of a 6-star knight, he was consistently lauded as possessing the potential of the founding king.

The Second Princess demonstrated her aptitude as a magician. The Blue Tower Master, who had once been the First Queen’s teacher, eagerly sought her out and accepted her as a disciple.

The head of the Runtia family and the First Queen briefly faced the pleasant dilemma of deciding which of the two to support as the next monarch. However, due to the Second Princess’s desire to pursue a life as a magician, all support was directed towards the First Prince.

‘I possess neither my elder brother’s martial prowess nor my elder sister’s magical talent,’

The Third Prince, Theor, thought to himself, subtly biting his lip. He concealed himself behind a corner pillar at the council chamber entrance, hoping to avoid detection by those exiting the State Affairs Council.

“Hahaha, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Today was quite challenging.”

“I don’t think I can ever openly object to the Fifth Prince’s agenda again. I was sweating bullets.”

“The Fifth Prince’s momentum is terrifying. I wonder how much more he will have grown when he returns from suppressing the pirates in the East.”

“Prime Minister, surely······.”

“No. I am a person who only thinks of the Lionel Kingdom. Please don’t misunderstand. Please be sure to convey that to the Second Prince as well, hahaha.”

“I don’t misunderstand. The Prime Minister’s dedication to the kingdom is well known, isn’t it? Everyone?”

“Of course!”

Engrossed in their conversation, they failed to notice the Third Prince’s presence and departed the council chamber building.

‘Pirates? Suppression?’

He was unsure of the specifics, but one thing was clear: the Fifth Prince, attending the State Affairs Council for the first time, had made a significant impact.

‘Evan Lionel······.’

Theor, lacking the exceptional qualities of his older siblings, had calmly accepted his reality. Still, as a full sibling, he believed the First Prince would secure a suitable position for him within the Southern direct-controlled territory.

He intended to quietly leave the royal capital after his coming-of-age ceremony. This plan had never wavered.

– I would like to take this opportunity to reveal the remaining crimes of the Fourth Prince, who falsely accused me!

The royal trial he happened to attend. Until Evan, who had given him comfort that he was still better than that guy, threw away the ghost prince title.

Evan, walking with a thoughtful expression, was caught in Theor’s gaze. After hesitating for a moment, he leaned out from behind the pillar as if he had made up his mind.

***

After settling onto the bench, I spoke first to the Third Prince, who was hesitating and moving his lips for a while.

“Speak. Why did you seek me out?”

“How… how can I become like you?”

“······I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I will probably leave the royal palace after this coming-of-age ceremony.”

This was a known fact.

“Probably to the royal direct-controlled territory in the South······.”

The Third Prince began to ramble about his future after leaving for the South.

It was a typical story for most royals who lived the life of ‘Lion’ [referring to the Lionel family], destined to be forgotten in the central political arena.

To the ‘future’ me, it was a blessing. At least it wasn’t a life like a conscripted soldier being dragged to the three major fronts, was it?

I grew bored listening to his complaints, which I couldn’t sympathize with at all. Just as I was considering offering a polite nod and dismissing him, he spoke again.

“······I thought you were the same as me. No, to be honest, I took a little comfort in seeing you. Really, were you really hiding and not revealing yourself, as the rumors said? If, if that’s not the case, and you changed because of some special opportunity, please let me know what it is!”

I quietly studied the Third Prince’s eyes.

A person who would have lived a more ordinary life than anyone else if he had not been born into the royal family. The eyes seen through his glasses somehow resembled the current king a lot.

It was a question that could have been answered carelessly and dismissed, but I felt a pang of guilt, knowing he was a human who would soon die.

‘Opportunity, opportunity, you say······.’

The first opportunity that changed me was when the Fourth Prince, Akad, smashed my crown with a wooden sword, and I became aware of my past life.

However, I couldn’t recommend that you get your head smashed once too.

After a moment of contemplation, I slowly spoke.

“You are greatly mistaken. I have never hidden anything, nor have I experienced any special opportunities. I have only struggled to survive, and that’s how I have come this far.”

It’s not a lie.

In the ‘future’ where I had not awakened to my past life, I desperately struggled to survive, and eventually, I became the protagonist who wore the last crown of the Lionel Kingdom.

“The difference between me and Theor is… I have always been thrown into danger where I didn’t know when I would die for the past five years.”

The Third Prince’s eyes wavered slightly.

“Sometimes, due to the reduced budget of the Emerald Palace, I barely ate one meal a day, and in winter, it was difficult to get even water, let alone heating, so I sucked on the icicles hanging from the window. If I got sick, a junior therapist would appear after a long time and prescribe medicine.”

Before me, who had endured such a life for five years, the face of the Third Prince, who had never lacked food, clothing, or shelter, flushed red.

It seemed like it was time to end the conversation.

I dusted off my rear from the bench and stood up, offering a final piece of advice.

“If you truly seek an opportunity, don’t go to the South after the coming-of-age ceremony. I think it would be a good idea to apply to the Eastern direct-controlled territory, where the influence of the First Queen and Lucas is not greatly exerted.”

My minimum consideration for the Third Prince, who shared the same blood. Whether he would meet his end according to the ‘future’ destiny or forge his own path was his choice.

***

I had tea time with my sister after a long time.

It was to say goodbye before going to the East to beat up the pirates in three days.

Unlike usual, there was one more person.

It’s not Ira. She is currently focused on moving the Northern Liberation Army, which accepted the hand extended by the kingdom at my direction, to the assembly point.

It has nothing to do with the work of the merchant guild, but Ira was the only one I could trust and leave it to. Well, she laughed and left for the North, saying that transporting goods or transporting people was similar.

“Armel, if you want to play in the garden, go ahead.”

The new face is the Fifth Princess, Armel Lionel.

She was a cute little lady who turned 10 this year.

“I, is it okay? Evan is here too, I wonder if it’s rude······.”

She looked at me and pursed her lips.

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Thank you!”

Armel was born between a maid from a humble baronial family and the king. Her mother died during childbirth.

Only my sister takes care of Armel.

Unlike her shabby palace, she likes my sister’s palace with a beautiful garden, so she often visits.

– I want to have a pretty garden like Annette unnie [older sister]!

– Hehe, before long, many gentlemen will come to Armel with lots of gifts. At that time, don’t accept their hearts, just accept the gifts and decorate the garden as much as you want.

The conversation between Armel and my sister that I heard earlier came back to my mind, and I almost choked.

I opened my mouth, watching her looking at the flowers in the garden with the maid.

“Do you like the teas that Ira brought?”

“I like the bright green one the most. At first, the strange sweetness that tingled my throat and tongue was strange, but after drinking it, it was so refreshing that I only looked for it.”

In simple terms, it tastes similar to mint chocolate.

“It is said to have the effect of reducing minor illnesses, so it is good to enjoy it.”

“You haven’t named it yet? I’m sure it would sell well even if you sold it as a product.”

Originally, it is the herb Jenesen. In the ‘future,’ after the Red Star Fever spread, several herbs were mixed and drunk as tea.

I told Ira to make some of the popular ones on a trial basis and send them to the Merton County family and my sister. With the request to be sure to take care of it because it is good for the body.

“Please name it by the time I come back from the East.”

My sister’s complexion turned a little bad at my words.

“······Be careful.”

“Don’t worry. I will definitely be back before my sister has her coming-of-age ceremony.”

I said that and picked up the teacup.

I took a sip and looked at Armel sitting in the garden looking at the flowers.

Because the royal palace is full of priests and healers, she did not die from the Red Star Fever like the Third Prince in the ‘future.’

However, perhaps because she was not very healthy, her body became very weak due to the aftereffects. She passed away from another illness around the time the Arya Kingdom landed in the East.

“Ira will bring a lot more soon. Please share it with Armel. I heard she has a lot of minor illnesses, so it will be effective.”

After showing my face to my sister and seeing Armel’s face after a long time, I returned to the Emerald Palace after tea time.

“Alfonso, is everything ready?”

“There is no problem even if we leave right now!”

“You did a good job······.”

“By the way, shouldn’t Your Highness take a good rest today instead of going to Fran’s lab? Anyway, when I went to see Fran earlier, he said that there was no need to come to say hello.”

“Really? Okay. Anything else?”

“He told you not to die. He said he would be disappointed if he couldn’t surprise you when you came back.”

Whether it’s a curse or a worry.

“Was there any contact from Ira?”

“Yes. The last train will arrive at Godron County at 3 p.m. in two days.”

Ira did her job properly. I thought I should give her a proper reward later when I have time.

‘If we can go further by train, the suppression time can be shortened.’

To move to the territories of viscounts and barons who are suffering from pirates, we have no choice but to use land routes.

The train installed by the kingdom in cooperation with the dwarves. It is only installed in cities of large earldoms.

As an aside, there are many cases where the finances of earldoms that do not own a train station are worse than those of viscountcies.

Miloa probably thinks that I am managing funds at the level of such an earldom. I felt a little better thinking about her, who couldn’t even imagine that I had a 30% stake in the magic stone mine.

“You go in and rest now too. Good job.”

“I understand!”

I sent Alfonso out and went to the window. Knights were seen clashing swords in the training hall. It was Adol and Vernon.

I watched their sparring and imagined the meeting between the 3rd Knight Order and the Northern Liberation Army that would take place soon.

I was a little excited about what kind of mess would happen.