Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 70

070

The presentation hall instantly descended into chaos.

– We have to get out of here!

– Get out of my way!

– I’m getting out first!

Many people rushed towards the exit, eager to evacuate to a safe place as quickly as possible.

‘Franken might just be the beginning. Someone else could die, and you could get caught up in it if you’re just standing around,’ some thought.

On the other hand, some people held their ground.

These were the strong, confident in their ability to protect themselves, and those who decided to wait and see how the situation unfolded.

Isabel was among the latter.

‘Trying to leave now would probably just get me trampled to death.’

More than that, she didn’t think any further harm would come. There were over a dozen 7-star or higher powerhouses in the same space.

Enough power to easily wipe out a small country.

((Stop ittttttt!!!))

The national leader of Aden, Torrick’s, magic-infused roar echoed loudly.

The feet of those who were leaving the presentation hall stopped abruptly. It wasn’t their will; their bodies were literally paralyzed.

((Don’t let anyone escape!))

At Torrick’s command, Aden’s knights and mages took control of the situation. The people who had been in a state of confusion regained their senses at their sharp glares.

Isabel stared at the platform where the black smoke was fading. She quickly averted her gaze when she saw what was left of Franken’s position.

A gruesome sight, like a squashed bug.

The tattered white gown and shattered glasses fragments were the only things that indicated it had been Franken.

“Ugh- Ugh─”

Isabel, feeling nauseous, quickly covered her mouth. She wasn’t the only one; there was a commotion all around.

A moment later.

As Isabel was rummaging through her purse to find a handkerchief, someone offered her one.

“Are you alright?”

A man’s voice.

But it wasn’t Runian [the common language]; it was the language of the Lionel Kingdom where Isabel was born.

((Ah, I’m sorry. My mother tongue just came out instinctively. Are you alright?))

It was the first time in nearly ten years that she had heard her mother tongue from someone other than her mother. That greatly eased her wariness.

Normally, she wouldn’t have readily used a handkerchief offered by a stranger.

“T, thank you.”

“Oh! You’re from the Lionel Kingdom.”

“Yes, still…”

Wiping her mouth and hands, Isabel finally took a closer look at the man. His black hair was the first thing that caught her eye.

Her mind raced.

Generally, black hair meant that there was royal blood somewhere in the family line. There was a high probability that he was a high-ranking noble.

Isabel had immigrated to the Aimen Empire, but she hadn’t obtained citizenship yet, so she was officially a lower-ranking noble of the Lionel Kingdom. She hesitated about how to treat him.

“Judging by your attire, it seems you’ve settled in the Aimen Empire. You can speak comfortably.”

“Ah… Yes, thank you very much for the handkerchief. I’ll wash it and return it to you.”

Honestly, it was a polite lie.

Who would want to do such a bothersome thing?

The suit the man was wearing was made of unbelievably expensive material. She thought he would just brush it off about the handkerchief.

“Yes. It’s a handkerchief with precious memories, so please be sure to return it. You can come here.”

But he handed her a hotel business card as if he had been waiting for it. Isabel received it with a reluctant expression.

“There’s a map on the back. Ask for ‘Alphonso’ at the front desk. Ah! It’s a common name, so someone else might come out. If you say he has squinty eyes and a sly look, they’ll understand.”

She shouldn’t have used a handkerchief from a stranger. She regretted accepting his kindness a moment ago.

Isabel fidgeted with the handkerchief she had soiled and cautiously glanced at the platform.

– How… how did he do it?

– I don’t know. I just don’t know.

– We didn’t feel any magical reaction from the audience! How is that possible?

– Does that mean he didn’t just gulp down elixirs to reach that level?

– Even the Tower Lord isn’t here!

Aden’s high-ranking mages surrounded what was left of Franken, talking with haunted expressions.

“It seems difficult to find the culprit who killed Franken.”

“…The culprit is obvious, isn’t it?”

Isabel kept her words to herself.

Talking about the Tower Lord or the Hamel Empire was a privilege that only those with power could afford.

“Haha, I think so too. Circumstantially, it’s clear where the most benefit from Franken’s death would come from.”

“Still, it’s surprising that so many high-ranking mages, even the Tower Lords, are so confused.”

“Indeed. It must be an extraordinary magic trick.”

Magic trick? What’s a magic trick?

Isabel tilted her head for a moment.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, nothing.”

Since the situation was chaotic, she assumed she had misheard ‘magic.’ That’s what she thought.

“You must return the handkerchief. Definitely!”

“…Yes.”

***

I was staying in a special suite on the 17th floor of one of the top five luxury hotels in Erangel, the capital of Aden.

Originally, I had unpacked at the best hotel Horizon had booked for me, but…

I had run away from Fran. She was furious that I had screwed over the Tower Lord without consulting her.

I was beginning to think that the saying ‘forgiveness is easier than permission’ needed to be reconsidered.

After finishing dinner at the hotel restaurant and returning to my room, I went to the window to enjoy the night view.

Trees with leaves that emitted light instead of streetlights illuminated the artificial structures, and the lights from inside houses carved out of the giant trees were seeping out.

Dwarves and elves made up the largest share of Erangel’s population. Reflecting that, Erangel was a unique place where forests and cities coexisted.

Ding-dong, ding-dong.

“Your Highness, it’s Alphonso.”

“Come in.”

Alphonso opened the door and entered.

He was wearing a stylish suit and a luxury watch on his left wrist.

“What did they say?”

At my question, he slightly averted his gaze.

“Another failure?”

“I’m sorry.”

I shook my head.

Alphonso had been going around getting confirmation from the mages and magic engineers I had recently met to recruit.

‘It’s not easy.’

Among those who visited Aden during the Horizon opening, there were few unknown future luminaries like Schuetz.

Most of those who came to Aden for the Horizon, whether for presenting papers or sightseeing, were receiving ‘sponsorship’ from their own countries. They were mages and magic engineers who had shown promise since childhood and had their value recognized.

There were a few who had come at their own expense, but when they heard the words ‘Lionel Kingdom,’ their expressions became subtle.

‘The language is a problem to begin with.’

Runian is mandatory for communication. Even among the nobles, there were many who couldn’t communicate in Runian. Not to mention those below them.

It was obvious that daily life would be very inconvenient until they learned the Lionel Kingdom language themselves.

It wasn’t just the language.

Family, the unstable political situation of the Lionel Kingdom, the country’s ban on overseas immigration, and so on. There were many factors that led them to decline the recruitment.

‘Isabel is all that’s left.’

Cameo’s daughter, Isabel Ronelli.

In the ‘future,’ she was an authority on magnetic superconductors under the strict protection of the Aimen Empire.

The top contributor to the Aimen Empire, a latecomer, grabbing the Hamel Empire, which had been overwhelmingly ahead, by the collar.

The Hamel Empire must have known that Cameo had a daughter. At the time, they must have regretted not eliminating Isabel in advance.

The fact that she left for the Aimen Empire after her parents’ divorce and took her mother’s surname. That was probably why she was able to survive.

‘I must recruit Isabel.’

The Lac9 I showcased at Horizon was the best-performing magnetic superconductor that the Lionel Kingdom could produce in the ‘future.’

A 20% magic loss rate and strength close to iron, but it was only used in the oldest Titan models in the Hamel Empire.

Of course, if I were to research magnetic superconductors now, I’m confident I could be the most advanced in the world.

‘If only I could do that.’

I don’t have time for that.

Magnetic superconductors are important, but the stability of the Lionel Kingdom comes first. And I need to quickly restore my martial prowess.

‘Isn’t it about time I heard from her?’

I’d be disappointed if she was just too lazy to return the handkerchief…

Ring, ring.

((Yes, this is room 1707. Yes? A handkerchief? I understand.))

She’s here!

“Your Highness, there’s a woman at the front desk who brought a handkerchief. It seems like the person you mentioned to me before?”

“Bring her up here politely.”

“Yes, I understand.”

A moment later.

Alphonso brought Isabel, who was cautiously looking around.

“I’ve been waiting to see you again.”

“Here, the handkerchief…”

I put the handkerchief she handed me in my pocket and invited her to sit on the sofa.

“Please, sit down.”

“Oh… I should get going now…”

“You returned a precious handkerchief, I can’t let you do that. Alphonso, some drinks and dessert. Ah, don’t do it yourself, ask a hotel employee.”

“…Yes.”

Alphonso disappeared with a pout.

Isabel glanced at me and sat on the sofa. And until the refreshments came out, she cautiously glanced around the hotel suite.

I was the first to speak.

“I’m late with introductions. I’m Evan, the 5th Prince of the Lionel Kingdom.”

“Yes? W, a prince?!”

“As I said before, you can speak comfortably. You’ve lived in the Aimen Empire for nearly 10 years, so you must have already obtained permanent residency, and you’ll soon have a citizenship review, won’t you?”

“H, how did you know that?!”

I smiled.

Just then, Alphonso returned. He placed tea and cookies on the table. I picked up a teacup, took a sip, and looked at Isabel.

“Have you given up on avenging your father?”

“Yes? What do you mean by that…”

“I’m asking if you’ve given up on avenging your father, Cameo, whose research was stolen and who was murdered by the Yellow Tower, the Tower Lord, and the Hamel Empire.”

Her eyes trembled violently.

“H, how do you know that?”

“It’s simple.”

I rummaged through my pocket and took out my glasses and put them on.

“?”

Hmm, can’t she recognize me with just this?

“Alphonso.”

“Yes!”

He understood perfectly and brought a white gown. I put it on, put my left hand in my pocket, and pretended to push up my glasses with my middle finger.

Ah, of course, the direction was towards the imaginary Tower Lord.

“…!! S, surely Franken?!”

Clap, clap, clap.

I applauded.

“That’s right.”

“H, how?! Could it be that my father’s friend is a prince?! E, excuse me, but how old are you?”

“Hmm… I’m 14 years old this year. Age doesn’t matter between friends. My mother’s family was the Beyren Marquisate. I happened to meet and become friends with him while staying at my mother’s family’s place.”

“I, it can’t be! You were only 7 years old when you were sharing research with my father?”

“I learned a lot from Cameo by chance.”

I answered as I could.

It’s not like she can find out anything different even if she investigates separately.

What’s important is…

“B, but even so, are you telling me all this…?”

Isabel’s face turned pale. She seemed to have realized my intention.

“That’s right. It’s a story that should never be leaked to the outside world. The fact that I’m Franken.”

I gave a slightly, very slightly eerie look. And slowly opened my mouth.

“Even if it’s from the mouth of the only daughter left in the world by a friend I can no longer see.”

Recruiting talents with kind words is over. Sometimes, fists are needed more than words.

“You have about three months left until the review for obtaining citizenship in the Aimen Empire, right? It’ll be a shame, but come back to your homeland. I’ll help you avenge your father.”