Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 91

091

“Annie.”

At my call, Annie struck the lock on the iron bars with her dagger.

Shick- Jingle!

I went inside the cell, met the girl’s eyes, and scrutinized her features.

It was definitely Acne [likely a nickname or code name for the girl].

“What’s your name?”

“Marie!”

“Do you remember when you came here?”

Marie, who was folding her fingers one by one, soon looked like she was about to cry. It seemed difficult for her to count past ten.

She was grimy, but not excessively dirty. Her complexion didn’t look bad either, so it didn’t seem like she had been kidnapped for more than a month.

It seemed like I could find her parents soon.

“Let’s go. I’ll find your mom for you.”

“Mom? Mom…”

Tears streamed down Marie’s eyes at the word ‘mom.’

“Mommyyyyy!”

Soon, the underground prison echoed with loud wails.

I was taken aback.

While I was at a loss, Annie brushed past me.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’ll take you to your mom soon.”

She hugged Marie and patted her back.

She looked very experienced. The child calmed down quickly. I let out a soft sigh and left them, stepping out of the cell.

“I’ll leave the cleanup, along with those guys sprawled outside, to you.”

I said that to Mars, who couldn’t find anything to do, and went up to the surface.

I wandered around the workshop, gathering magical tools and books. Mostly things that shouldn’t be circulating outside. I left enough for the Three-Colored Staff Troupe to make a living.

“Three of you will look after those who escaped from the prison, and the rest will join me in collecting evidence of the outrageous acts committed by the owner of this workshop.”

I heard Mars’ voice as he rescued everyone from the underground prison. I took advantage of their busyness to briefly leave the workshop.

It was to find the Original Bloodwood.

I had figured out where the blood flowing from Radwan’s lab was heading, and with the Ghost Hand’s scan, I found it quickly.

It was growing next to a broken, rotting tree. It looked like a part of the rotten tree. At first glance, it looked like a skinny child’s hand sticking out of the ground.

Carefully avoiding touching it, I dug it up, put it in my space expansion pouch [a magical item for storing items], and returned to the workshop.

It was time to say goodbye.

I approached Mars, who was instructing the subordinates carrying the luggage.

“Where have you been?”

“I briefly looked around to see if there were any peculiarities. There weren’t. So, we should be going now.”

“Aren’t you going to watch until the end?”

“Do I have to watch Radwan’s head being hung in the square?”

“…We’ll take care of it ourselves. But, what about that child?”

Mars looked at Marie, who was sleeping in Annie’s arms.

“We’ll take the child with us.”

“Why only that child?”

“I clearly asked her name in the underground prison…”

“I forgot because it’s been a while. Don’t worry, I’m not going to sell her off. Then, I’ll really be going. I look forward to a spectacular debut. I’ll contact you later through Osno. Let’s go, Annie.”

Anticipating shocking news that would soon shake the Lionel Kingdom, I turned my back without regret.

***

Chirp, chirp.

The chirping of sparrows from the garden tickled Miloa’s ears.

“Ugh…”

Miloa lifted her heavy eyes and pressed her temples with both hands. She felt a terrible headache.

“When did I fall asleep…”

Feeling parched, she reached for the teacup on the edge of the desk.

The moment she lifted the teacup to wet her throat.

Clink- Crash.

“Ah! The tea!”

Suddenly, the handle of the teacup broke. Thanks to that, Miloa’s top was completely soaked. Of course, the documents she had worked on all night were too.

“Aish!” [An expression of frustration]

Fully awake, she hurriedly gathered the documents, but they were beyond saving. The ink had spread so much that even the author couldn’t recognize what was written.

Miloa frowned and took off her top.

Rip-

Was it because she was too rough?

Her favorite clothes were torn.

“Ah! Crap!”

Annoyed, she opened the desk drawer to find a pack of cigarettes. And then closed the drawer again.

Crack!

“Agh!”

She accidentally pinched her finger.

“Aish! Seriously! Huff… Let’s calm down, calm down…”

Miloa calmed her excitement with a few deep breaths. Carefully avoiding stepping on the broken teacup shards, she went to the window and opened it.

The dawn had just broken.

The cool air hit her face.

She put a cigarette in her mouth.

Flick, hiss- Inhale-

It was a day that felt unlucky from the start. There was even a chance that her hair might burn in the lighter’s flame. Miloa lit the cigarette very carefully.

“Hoo-”

Fortunately, nothing else happened this time.

She leaned on the windowsill with relief…

Chirp- Flap! Pshhh.

Something falling from the sky brushed Miloa’s head and extinguished the cigarette. At the same time, the thick liquid that splashed on her finger got into her eyes.

“Uwaaaagh!”

Miloa screamed, clutching her eyes in pain that prevented her from smelling the bird poop on her nose.

“Countess Miloa!”

“What’s wrong!”

Thump! Shatter!

The escort knights burst into the office.

One male knight and one female knight. Both were speechless and couldn’t open their mouths.

They had witnessed Miloa, wearing a completely torn, wet top, her face covered in bird poop, rolling on the floor with her hands covering her face.

“Water! Water!”

“Bring water! I’ll take care of the Countess.”

“…Okay.”

The male knight couldn’t find a place to look, as Miloa’s underwear was faintly visible through the torn top. He quickly left the office.

After a while.

The situation was all sorted out.

“It would be best if you rested for a while and had breakfast.”

“…I want to be alone.”

Miloa, who had sent everyone out, sat on the sofa and tore at her hair. A dark history was being made that would be recorded in her life.

The bigger problem was…

‘What on earth is going to happen to make this happen?’

The anxiety that made her body tremble kept making her want to smoke.

Miloa carefully got up from her seat and approached the window. The moment she brought the cigarette to her lips, she saw a royal guard running frantically.

Here it comes.

She lit the cigarette with trembling hands.

Inhale- Exhale-

She felt like she wanted to disappear somewhere, like the smoke scattering in the air.

***

The Lionel Kingdom was turned upside down.

The Three-Colored Staff Troupe beheaded him in Ronswell Square and spread various evidence to the press.

No matter how much the Royal Secret Service manipulates public opinion, there is a limit.

The second son of the Runtia Duchy, who is secretly called the king of the South, kidnapped the kingdom’s people and manufactured chimeras [creatures made from different animal parts]?

This big of a case can never be silenced.

It’s not that there weren’t any attempts to cover it up.

If the kingdom hadn’t been polarized between me and the First Prince like it is now, they might have somehow glossed it over.

Even though I didn’t order it, the nobles who supported me and the media companies with ties to them were making a big deal out of articles about Radwan Runtia.

Knock, knock.

“Your Highness, I’m coming in.”

Alphonso came in with a pile of newspapers.

『Shock! The first victim sacrificed to Radwan Runtia occurred as early as 15 years ago』

『Runtia Duchy, didn’t know at all? What is the truth?』
.
.
.
Just from the headlines that were visible, it seemed like I could start today with fun.

The guy put the pile of newspapers on the desk.

I picked one of them up and opened it.

『The Three-Colored Staff Troupe? Who are they really?』

Mars did his job properly.

There was no need for even three times. In just one go, the entire kingdom’s people would have learned about the Three-Colored Staff Troupe.

I wonder if he’s satisfied.

He might be excited about the idea of ​​informing the kingdom’s people of the ideals of the republic.

Whether it will work or not…

‘It won’t be easy.’

I carefully examined how the articles were portraying the Three-Colored Staff Troupe. Every one of them was described as a radical terrorist group.

Whether it was the media supporting the First Prince or the media supporting me, the ideals of freedom! equality! justice! were nowhere to be seen.

Well, it’s a natural thing.

The only nobles who would welcome the spread of such ideologies are figures like Mars Runtia, who is shouting that I will become an enlightener of the times.

Thinking that far, I briefly folded the newspaper and looked at Alphonso.

“Oh, did you find Marie’s parents?”

Her name, the time of her disappearance, and the accent that clearly indicated she was born in the royal capital, Barona. I didn’t feel the need to use [Library] and left it to him.

“Yes. But…”

“Why?”

“It seems like it was a single-parent family, and the shock of the child’s disappearance was a bit…”

I frowned slightly and opened my mouth.

“Is it that bad?”

“She thinks the doll the child usually cherished is the child and doesn’t let it go for a moment. In addition, the report says that her physical health is not very good.”

Uhm, it was quite a difficult situation.

In times like this, the power of an expert is needed.

“Ask Baron Schuetz to take care of the two of them. Explain the situation well on your own.”

Schuetz was immediately granted the title of Baron for his contribution to developing a cure for Red Star Fever. In addition, part of the royal direct territory was even given as a fief [land granted by a lord in return for service].

It’s a bit small for a barony, but… it’s one of the places where the royal family reclaimed the territory that Beortio was managing. There is no land as prime as that.

I know he’s spending busy days researching vaccines, but I know he has more free time than when he was developing Generol and Genesia. He would gladly take on the treatment of the two mothers and daughters.

“Yes. But why are you so concerned about that child? She just seemed like an ordinary child who looked cute.”

“I don’t know yet either.”

I really don’t know.

However, considering that the chimera that Radwan created using Marie, the juvenile of the Human-Faced Spider Queen, and a man was called the White Demon Acne, it was clear that she was a special child.

I felt the need to keep an eye on her up close.

“Well… I understand.”

Alphonso, who had a puzzled expression at my answer, nodded.

“But when do we have to go to that beak mask again?” [Referring to a person or group they are dealing with]

“Hmm…”

I tapped the armrest of the chair with my finger and pondered for a moment.

There were two options.

One, throw jabs in succession.

Two, watch the situation for a while and then throw a proper power punch.

I closed my eyes and imagined each future.

Which one would be better to choose…

“Your Highness? Are you sleeping?”

After being like that for a while, Alphonso misunderstood. I glared at him with my eyes open and opened my mouth.

“First, we need to watch how the Radwan Runtia case is resolved.”

The Three-Colored Staff Troupe must also be complicated internally because of this incident. The leader of the Three-Colored Staff Troupe, the one who walks with a staff, and the other two executives must be feeling like they’ve been struck by lightning.

Maybe they’ll try to purge Mars.

No, they definitely will.

In my opinion, there is a high probability that he will soon lead the ‘Freedom’ members and organize a new secret society with me.

I wonder what name he will use.

Will he use the same one as ‘Future’?

Anyway, the Three-Colored Staff Troupe’s ‘Freedom’ members won’t be able to act right away either.

“Keep a close watch on those guys.”

“Those guys?”

“I’m talking about the guys Osno met.”

“Ah, yes. But I won’t be able to get any special information from the guys I’m moving with.”

“It’s okay. I’m just saying to tell me if there’s a change that you can notice.”

“I understand.”

I opened the newspaper again and read the articles related to the Runtia Duchy that were reported in the media. Alphonso asked a question in the middle.

“But what’s going to happen in the future?”

“What?”

“The Runtia Duchy.”

“There will be a hearing soon.”

“A hearing?”

“Don’t they have to prove that they really didn’t know about the atrocities Radwan Runtia committed?”

“Is that provable?”

“Do you think it will be?”

“No. Even if it’s possible, Your Highness will make it impossible.”

I chuckled.

After reading all of today’s articles, I pushed the pile of newspapers towards Alphonso.

“Now go out and take care of your business.”

“Yes!”

I watched Alphonso close the door to the office and got up from the chair. I opened the window, sat on the windowsill, and looked at the sky.

A big cloud was hanging there.

It looked like a person.

It had slicked-back hair and sharp eyes. It seemed to resemble the Yellow Tower Lord, who had a terribly cold impression.

Moria Runtia.

A 7-star wizard. The king of the South, who controls half of the aristocratic council, the kingdom’s largest power group. The father of the First Queen and the top supporter of the First Prince.

And…

The enemy who ordered the assassination of my biological mother and the disposal of my nanny.

‘I’ve finally come this far.’

I have finally stood in a position to face him.

I looked forward to the upcoming hearing, recalling the path I had walked from the time my head was smashed by Akad’s wooden sword until now.