Surviving As the 5th Prince of the Ruined Kingdom - Chapter 41



041

After briefly gazing at the night sky with a perplexed expression, Bert met Evan’s gaze again.

“Your Highness, Reina’s official affiliation is with the 2nd Knight Order.”

“But she’s temporarily assigned to the 3rd Knight Order as well.”

“She’s also a talent that the Second Prince has been keeping an eye on.”

“Yet she was nearly sent to a military tribunal, hardly the proper treatment for someone you’re interested in, is it?”

“Um……”

To be honest, I know it’s a bit of an unreasonable request.

Bert might be thinking that after he tried to pull me out of the water, I’m the shameless one demanding he hand over his bundle.

‘If I can bring Reina, that kind of look would be bearable.’

She’s the ‘real’ genius I’ve seen.

After the hearing.

During the few visits I made to the 3rd Knight Order, Reina kept her promise to watch my swordsmanship training.

That’s when I realized.

Unlike me, who could only appear to be a genius thanks to the imprinting of skills from swordsmanship, she was the real deal.

To be honest, after seriously starting my swordsmanship training, I thought, ‘Wait, could I actually be a real genius?’

Five years ago… no, was it six years ago now?

Anyway, I even had the pleasant thought that if I had received proper knight training without that incident, I might have received praise similar to the First Prince, renowned for his founding-king-level talent in swordsmanship.

Although I had the help of skills, the fact that I could occasionally spot flaws in the defensive swordsmanship displayed by the probationary members of the 3rd Knight Order gave me that confidence.

Reina was different.

The defensive swordsmanship she demonstrated during our practice bout was extraordinary.

Occasionally, Reina’s sword traced an incomprehensible path. It was swordsmanship of protection, yet it was not.

– Lady Reina… Was that the Six-Second Iron Wall of the Sword of Protection that blocked my attack earlier?

– Ah, yes. The original Iron Wall is quite uncomfortable for my build. It’s nothing special, just some simple grappling techniques. You’ll be able to perform your own Iron Wall soon enough, Your Highness.

Although she dismissed it as mere grappling, to me it seemed worthy of being called [Reina’s Lionel Sword of Protection], a swordsmanship unique to her.

I opened my mouth to persuade Bert, who was drooling.

“Lady Reina, praised as a future sword master. I’m well aware that Sir Damian took special notice and brought her into the Second Knighthood. However, the Second Knighthood cannot nurture her. If she remains there, the blade meant to become the kingdom’s treasured sword will surely break. I believe Councilor Bert would not want such a situation.”

“I too am well aware of Lady Reina’s dazzling talent, Your Highness. But whether she becomes the kingdom’s treasured sword remains to be seen.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was once called a ‘genius’ myself. It’s more common than you think for those who raced ahead unobstructed to suddenly encounter an insurmountable wall and kneel before it.”

Bert’s expression seemed tinged with regret at failing to overcome the wall to becoming a Seven-Star Knight.

“Like your great-uncle, the Northern Sword, who steadily overcame each obstacle, a late-bloomer may one day outshine her. Do you know what became of the cadet who was called a ‘monster’ before Reina earned that nickname?”

I had never heard this story.

“He failed the Royal Guard exam and became an ordinary knight of a noble family. If I forcibly brought Lady Reina as your escort, only for her to become an ordinary steel blade instead of the kingdom’s treasured sword, what then?”

Having said his piece, Bert gazed intently at me.

I did not avert my gaze.

– Just this once.

It seemed someone was whispering in my ear that the chance to have Reina under my command might never come again.

If I don’t trust my own judgment, who will? I slowly opened my mouth.

“It was my lack of discernment. I will bear the consequences of any losses incurred.”

Bert nodded in understanding.

“Very well. Since you desire Lady Reina so, I shall try my best. But! You must be aware that as a result, the Third Princess may have to cross the sea to the Kingdom of Arya.”

“……”

His words reminded me that as the Second Prince, he could easily send Reina to me while holding my sister hostage.

My mind raced.

Whether the Hamil Empire or Arya, the Queen Mother’s domain, it was the worst possible marriage either way.

I glanced at Bert, who wore a strange smile, as if asking if I could be as ruthless with my sister as I had been in cutting off Beortio.

I laughed and opened my mouth.

“Do you suggest sending Princess Grasia to the Empire so Princess Anette can go to Arya? Sir Lukas and Count Miloa would strongly object, not welcome it.”

“If you so desire Lady Reina, then it must be done.”

“I see. Then do so.”

My blade-like response distorted Bert’s expression grotesquely.

“Just avoid rushing into a marriage ceremony. I’d prefer delaying it as much as possible, but if unavoidable, an engagement would be better. You can at least grant that much, can’t you?”

“Those words……”

I gave a faint smile.

“Could you have imagined having this kind of conversation with me a couple of months ago?”

“……..”

“By the time your sister’s engagement is realized, I will have changed from how I am now.”

Originally, a broken engagement or two was not even considered a flaw among noble families. Just look at the Count of Milloa, for instance.

***

I returned to the Emerald Palace.

Alfonso, with a haggard face, escorted me.

“Your Highness, you’re back quite early?”

“Did my voice wake you up?”

“Why would you say such a hurtful thing? I had the lights on, focused on work. I’m just tired. Tired. Ahem.”

He cleared his throat.

Shaking my head, I headed to the bedroom. After a quick wash, I flung myself onto the bed.

“But really, why did you come back so early?”

“I just left after the New Year’s address.”

“Gasp! In the middle?”

“Yeah. The atmosphere turned chaotic midway.”

It was the moment Bert and I hurriedly returned to the banquet hall. Fortunately, not long after, the King and two Queens appeared, and the New Year’s address soon began.

And then, at that time.

– ((Ey, why are the wenches of this tiny kingdom so huge?))

– ((Lord Glurt! It seems the King was giving the New Year’s address.))

– ((So what’s that got to do with me?))

A loudly entering fat man shamelessly went to the buffet and started rummaging through the imperial cuisines. The putrid stench wafting through the banquet hall was only natural.

– ((Ugh, disgusting. Tastes like sh*t too.))

After a few bites, he flung the plate at a nearby maid.

*Crash!*

– Kyaaah!

There, a dish was shattered and a maid’s forehead split, blood gushing down.

– ((Let’s get out of here. I’ve had enough.))

– ((Yes, Lord Glurt.))

It was such an outrageous act that even the 2nd Prince who had summoned that fellow frowned.

He must have come crawling to the kingdom for food. Yet his actions showed how much contempt the Hamil Empire held for the Rionel Kingdom.

If he had been a direct imperial heir instead of a branch family member, would he have demanded the king kneel before him?

I briefly recounted the incident to Alfonso.

“Wow! What was that fat slob thinking, acting like that? Did he want to get stabbed?”

“He has an entire guard of 5-star knights and mages. The knight’s order would have to move to lay a blade on him.”

“Then it would be an instant war. The Northern Liberation Army would love that.”

“Surely he’s not that thoughtless.”

“You underestimate the hotheads among the hardliners.”

From noble mtl dot com

“……..”

Alfonso’s words left me a bit uneasy.

Would the Northern Liberation Army actually make a move against that imperial heir? It seemed physically impossible, but I felt I should at least issue a warning.

“Tell Austin not to touch the imperial heir under any circumstances. Tell him the day they do is the day the Northern Liberation Army and I disappear from this world.”

“Ah, the senior will surely handle it properly.”

“Still, tell him.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll head out now. I’m tired. Going to sleep.”

“Have a good night.”

After checking the window and alarm charms, Alfonso left the bedroom.

As I lay in the darkened room, my mind became clear. There was something I always did at times like this – check my status window.

I looked at [Popularity] first.

‘It’s gone up?’

The average had barely crossed 5%.

The Baro Kingdom and Merton Fief in the west showed particularly large increases. Merton’s was over 40%.

Come to think of it, it must be around the time news of me stopping that fat slob from harassing Aira would be spreading through newspapers and magazines. It seems to have swayed the people’s hearts more than I expected.

I immediately opened the [Merchant] tab and set the condition to items available for purchase in Merton.

From what I knew, once popularity exceeded 20% in an area, higher-grade items became available to purchase there. With Merton’s popularity over 40%, rare items obtainable there were likely appearing in my shop window.

[Sansrea]

I was able to discover Sansrea tea, a rare specialty product of Merton.

‘As expected.’

With a satisfied feeling, I looked around the newly available items for purchase.

Then my gaze fixed on one spot.

[Lowest Grade Magic Stone]

I was wide awake.

Did Merton have a magic stone mine?

‘I haven’t heard of it. Is the production quantity not enough to sell outside?’

I recalled the map of the kingdom in my mind.

The Merton territory was one of the few flatland areas in the west, with most territories being farmlands. As for a place to mine magic stones…

‘The border area with the dwarves?’

I felt that I should have a cup of tea with Aira as soon as possible.

***

If I thought of it, I should act on it right away.

The next day, I sent a message to my sister, and a tea time inviting Aira was immediately prepared. After spending time with various formalities, I felt the right moment had come and brought up the main topic.

“By the way, Miss Aira. I heard a rumor that magic stones are being produced in the Merton territory. Is this true?”

“Huh? How did you know that only a tiny bit of magic stones are produced in our territory? It’s a recent development.”

“I happened to overhear it. So only a small amount is produced?”

“If it’s distributed to the magicians of our family for research purposes, there won’t be any left, would there?”

She laughed as if embarrassed, then continued with an additional explanation.

“Actually, we didn’t develop the mine ourselves. Originally, it was a mine that the Black Anvil tribe thought was in their territory and was developing, but it turned out they had slightly encroached on our territory.”

“Oh my, whoever discovered that must have received a great reward.”

“Well, it was actually me. heheheh.”

“Miss Aira, you have considerable knowledge of surveying.”

“Yes, just a little.”

Aira shyly admitted, spreading her thumb and index finger slightly in response to my sister’s praise.

I glanced sideways at Aira’s skill window. One of the [?] had unlocked, revealing [Surveying], and I chuckled.

But one question arose.

“But where is the Black Anvil tribe that developed the magic stone mine selling the produced magic stones?”

“Ah, we had some friction with them and the mine development was suspended shortly after. I’m not sure of the exact reason. There was some tension when the mine encroached on their territory.”

“I see.”

He nodded slightly and took a sip of tea. Suddenly, he seemed to notice a strange smell from the tea.

‘What’s that?’

He realized it abruptly.

Ah! This is the smell of money!