Surviving As the 5th Prince of the Ruined Kingdom

015

The day after beating up the 4th Prince.

I started a refreshing day by sweating through sword training.

A morning no different from usual.

Nothing special had happened yet. It was surprising that he wasn’t cowering after getting hit a few times, since I thought he would throw a tantrum and try to get revenge as soon as he came to his senses.

‘He definitely would have caused a ruckus trying to get revenge as soon as he regained consciousness…….’

Perhaps because stray thoughts kept intruding, the training didn’t feel quite satisfying. Still, after completing the set time, I went to wash my sweat-soaked body.

Shoooah-

After a quick shower, I moved to the study. Sitting at the desk, I checked the [Directory] while waiting for Alfonso to bring the chicken breast sandwich.

A feature that was unlocked thanks to the achievement “I’m popular after all” as the number of people I formed friendly relationships with increased.

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[Alfonso Einberg]

.

.

.

[Annette Lionel]

[Richard Valdez]

[George Watson]

.

.

.

[Akkard Lionel]

[Reina Jeanne]

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I became able to open the status window of anyone I had previously tapped with my ghostly hand to check their information.

I could sort the order based on name, latest, registration date, and relationship status. Currently, they were listed in order of registration date.

‘By relationship.’

When I changed the setting, my sister’s name rose to the top, and they were listed in order of positive relationship status. Looking at it this way, even within the same ‘Friendly’ relationship, the text colors were slightly different. The higher they were, the deeper the green became.

I checked if anything had changed since I confirmed the [Directory] as soon as it was unlocked yesterday. Suddenly a green relationship turning red or something like that. Especially those guys like Alfonso and George need constant observation…… Huh?

‘George isn’t showing up?’

George, who was right under my sister until yesterday, was nowhere to be seen. I quickly scrolled through the entire [Directory] carefully. George’s name was nowhere to be found.

There was only one thing I could think of.

‘Was he removed?’

Knock, knock.

Just as my mind was getting complicated, Alfonso knocked on the door.

“Your Highness, I’ve brought your breakfast.”

“Come in.”

I glanced at the wall clock.

“You’re a bit late.”

“I was delayed listening to some hot news this morning.”

“What is it? Tell me.”

“Last night, George was taken by the Royal Inquisition. Oh? You don’t seem surprised. Did you hear about it?”

I shook my head and took a bite of the sandwich he brought.

“Will George be okay?”

“Are you really asking out of curiosity?”

“Well……. they’ll probably say he died of a heart attack after coughing a bit during the interrogation, like that maid who got caught gossiping about the 4th Prince before.”

I nodded slightly in agreement.

In the early days of the Lionel Kingdom’s founding, those who committed murder were tried and punished according to their crimes, regardless of status. Even if they were royalty.

But such principles have long faded with the passage of time. The world naturally moves according to the convenience of the powerful. Even the previous life that pretended to strive for equality was like that, let alone this present life.

Looking out the window, the clear sky looked like a painting. I prayed for George’s repose while admiring the drifting clouds. And as I took another bite of the sandwich,

‘Huh?’

I saw a man walking towards the Emerald Palace. A golden lion with three eyes, the symbol of the Royal Inquisition, the highest intelligence agency of the Lionel Kingdom, was roaring on the shoulder badge he wore.

“Alphonso, did you do something behind my back?”

“Not at all!”

“Looks like you’ve been caught.”

“hahahaha. Your Highness, just joking……”

It’s notorious that once taken by the Inquisition, it’s hard to return unscathed. Alphonso, always nonchalant, showed signs of tension on his face.

“Open the door. He seems to be coming this way.”

“Yes!”

Shortly after, the Inquisition agent appeared.

He was a sharp-looking man wearing glasses. As he looked at me and was about to knock on the open door, I spoke first.

“What’s the Inquisition here for?”

“I have something to deliver to you.”

The man put his hand in his pocket and took out an envelope. He gestured to Alphonso, who promptly received it.

“I have delivered it properly. I’ll be going then.”

I waved my hand as I unsealed the envelope. It contained a single document. As I checked the contents, I heard the fading footsteps of the departing agent.

“Your Highness, what is that?”

“The royal trial is happening next week.”

“What? A royal trial?”

I flung the documents I had finished reading.

“Oh……. Mr. Evan Lionel. Prince Akard Lionel, the fourth prince, claims that he has received an unforgivable insult due to your surprise attack and assault. If the plaintiff’s claim is true, this threatens the hierarchy of the royal family and is an unacceptable act. Therefore, after a fair trial, appropriate punishment must be……”

Alfonso, who was reading the summons to attend the royal trial aloud, looked at me.

“Perhaps you did not surprise and assault the fourth prince last night……. No, you wouldn’t have done that. Excuse me. I misspoke.”

With my gaze as if looking at a fool, Alfonso turned his attention back to the summons. After reading it all, he raised his head.

“Oh……. this is a big deal.”

“Yes, it is. Alfonso, you’ll have to be a witness for me. That it was a fair duel.”

“hahahaha. You do know that just anyone can’t be a witness at a royal trial, right?”

Of course, I knew that.

At the very least, only nobles of the rank of viscount or higher can be witnesses at a royal trial. No one who witnessed me throwing a sweat-drenched handkerchief at Akard can be a witness.

“Such a stupid law exists.”

I frowned and stroked my chin.

That brat Akard, even so, to accuse me of assault is too much. The servants and knights who were present cannot be witnesses, but that doesn’t mean what they saw and heard didn’t happen. Isn’t that ridiculous?

“What happens if the result is that it was not a fair duel but a one-sided assault?”

“Let’s see……”

I recalled the records of past princes who suffered unjust accusations due to cruel power struggles. The outcomes can be summarized into three:

One, suicide.

Two, exile.

Three, seclusion.

It seems like they could all be summarized with the single word ‘purge.’ Still, if I think of those three……. Oh? I was already in seclusion. So the only one left is exile.

“I’ll be sent to roll around at one of the three frontiers until I die.”

“That won’t do……”

Alfonso made a troubled expression.

Of course. If I were to be exiled, my dedicated servant would have to follow. For someone who infiltrated the palace with some grand purpose, this would be a problem.

“So you’d better think of a solution too.”

“Ha, hahahaha……”

I won’t take on this troublesome problem alone. I looked at Alfonso, who was laughing awkwardly, and reached for the sandwich on the desk. Even if I had no appetite, I had to eat to fuel my explosively growing body.

After forcibly finishing my breakfast, I pushed the empty plate towards Alfonso, who was standing there dazed.

“Clean up. And don’t come back until you find an incredible solution.”

“What?”

“What are you doing? Get out quickly.”

Waving his hand, he saw Alfonso off. After he left with a sullen expression, I was left alone in the study, stroking my chin and lost in thought.

I imagined what would happen if I couldn’t clear my name.

‘Exile……..’

When the newly trained soldiers of the Lionel Kingdom receive their unit assignments, there are three places they desperately try to avoid.

The Berington Fortress, where barbarian tribes inevitably flock as winter approaches.

The Eastern Shackle Island, a prison for pirates.

The Belkas Mountains, one of the demon realms, which must be patrolled like a stroll through the Twin Forest.

If I fail to clear my name at the royal trial, I will likely be assigned as a low-ranking officer to a unit with a particularly high mortality rate in one of those three places.

‘It might not be so bad.’

The palace is full of people hiding knives behind smiling faces. In contrast, it might be easier mentally to face a clear enemy.

I could practice swordsmanship and magic much more freely, without worrying about others’ eyes, than in the palace.

Of course, being exiled to a place like the Triple Front is far more dangerous. But for some reason, perhaps because I’ve died and been reborn, death doesn’t scare me much.

What I fear more is living a life at the mercy of others. In this life, I want to walk my own path, not be dragged along by someone else.

Being pushed into exile by Akard’s trickery is absolutely unacceptable.

So.

‘If I go to one of the Triple Fronts, it will be by my own choice.’

I stood up from my chair and surveyed the bookshelves.

There were a few law-related books, but most were focused on introducing interesting cases for entertainment value. Woefully inadequate for preparing for the royal trial.

Nine days until the trial.

It seemed like it would be a very busy time.

***

Late at night.

I had been reading through a pile of cases related to violence between royals and nobles.

Although Alfonso couldn’t find a way for me to clear my name at the trial, he returned with a delighted expression, claiming he had uncovered a wealth of information.

I pushed aside the mountain of case collections from the royal archives piled on my desk and prepared to listen to what he had to say.

“There’s a rumor that Gabis, a viscount from the Royal Treasury Department, will be a witness for the Fourth Prince’s side……..”

I said again, what?

My sluggish reaction caused his words to gradually fade.

“······ Did you happen to know?”

I had purchased the information at a surprisingly low RP from [the Library] since it was cheaper than expected. If I had known Alfonso would ask me like this, I should have waited a bit.

Still, it would be nonsensical for me, who had been holed up in the royal archives all day, to know about it. I shook my head and opened my mouth.

“No, it was one of the candidates I expected. Doesn’t everyone know that Count Gabis, who manages the budget of the palace where the Fourth Prince and Fourth Princess reside, is on the side of the Second Queen?”

“That’s true······.”

The crux of the trial will be whether my beating of Akard was a legitimate duel or a one-sided assault.

And Count Gabis, despite not being present at the scene, will testify that I ambushed and assaulted him.

It was absurd once again that only hereditary nobles who own territories are recognized as witnesses in royal trials.

The height of absurdity, truly.

······ But what if the testimonies of the knights are accepted? Could I then clear my name?

‘There’s no way that could happen.’

I let out a bitter smile as the thought crossed my mind.

There would be no knight willing to take the risk of incriminating the Fourth Prince for my sake.

The extent of the rapport I’ve built with them is limited to them secretly throwing practice swords onto the ground for me to use in duels—no more than that small favor.

Looking through the ‘Relationships’ section in [the Directory], the only knight I’ve met so far who has a ‘Friendly’ relationship is Reina, Akard’s former escort knight.

“Then what about this news? Reina, who was the Fourth Prince’s escort on that day, has been handed over for a military trial.”

Coincidentally, the second piece of information Alfonso relayed was about her.

“Not just a simple disciplinary action?”

“Yes. There are rumors that she may even have her knighthood revoked.”

“Hmm······.”

Something tingled in my mind, as if a clue to resolve the Fourth Prince’s meddling was about to surface.