Surviving As the 5th Prince of the Ruined Kingdom

025

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

A famous saying from my previous life, but also frequently quoted in the strategy books of this life. Perhaps there are similarities in how people live, after all?

In that sense, the Northern Liberation Army and I, who share a common enemy in those who brought about the North’s downfall, could make good allies.

‘At the very least, we’re not enemies.’

Before reaching our destination, I checked my RP reserves.

‘51,500 RP.’

This was what remained after unraveling the fiery romance of the Second Queen, plus the achievements from the royal trial and the process of my relationship with Alfonso becoming that of a vassal.

In terms of my previous life’s currency, it would be enough to buy a modest apartment in Seoul? With this much, I could learn the mana cultivation techniques of a decent knight family.

How I utilize this will determine the life and death of Alfonso, the first vassal to acknowledge me as his lord.

‘And my future, as well.’

– I was the one who sent him there, as a spy for the Northern Liberation Army. He didn’t come here from there, but went there from here and returned.

The moment I said those words to the officer from the Royal Inspectorate, I had already become entangled with the Northern Liberation Army.

After Alfonso was captured by the Royal Inspectorate, who knows what kind of schemes someone might use to put me in a difficult position?

‘What an annoying situation.’

Suddenly, I thought it might have been better if I had regained my previous life’s awareness without being born as a prince.

The eldest son of a knight or mage family, perhaps?

Then I wouldn’t have had to constantly offer RP to the [Library] genie, and could have focused on cultivating my own power by learning suitable visions from the [Skill Window], right?

This is what happens when RP is scarce – I can’t freely learn the visions I want… Ah…

The fact that I’m even breathing now is thanks to those connections, not my swordsmanship or magic. And it seems that won’t change anytime soon.

As this goes on, I might end up with a skill like [Evan’s Gaping Mouth Technique]. I glanced at the [Skill Window], but it hasn’t appeared yet.

While fantasizing about mastering skills like Celestial Martial Arts and Plum Blossom Sword Technique to bring the First and Second Princes to their knees, the sound of hooves ceased, and the carriage stopped.

“We’ve arrived.”

At Alfonso’s words, I opened the door and stepped out.

“Well then, I’ll go hide the carriage for a bit.”

A small estate with a garden. While Alfonso disappeared to conceal the carriage, I glanced at the signboard.

[Queen’s Crossroads 34-231]

‘For real?’

I couldn’t believe it, but was the ‘beautiful sorceress’ who left the hidden message in the magic book the same person as the ‘old lady’ Alfonso mentioned?

Ah, if the magic book was from 30-40 years ago, it would be possible. Though the book was surprisingly clean for its age.

Lost in these thoughts, Alfonso returned.

“The carriage?”

“Well hidden.”

“Any tails on our way here?”

“There were some until we entered Queen’s Crossroads. But we should be fine around here.”

That’s why Alfonso had been riding on the driver’s seat instead of with me.

“I had asked them to set up a perception-blocking barrier around the area beforehand. You can rest assured; they’re quite skilled. The tails following us must have been quite confused.”

“Alright, I’ll trust you.”

Alfonso rang the doorbell, and shortly after, the front door of the estate opened. A young girl, seemingly a little younger than me, came running out.

She wore a black cape and a wide-brimmed wizard’s hat. Like an adorable little witch.

“Alfonso! You stole my magic book last time! My teacher scolded me terribly! Bring it back quickly! And I know you took a few others too!”

“I don’t know anything about that. Don’t accuse innocent people. There’s a guest here, so hurry up and show us to Fran.”

The girl glanced at me, then muttered as she turned away.

“Tch! We’ll see about that later. Follow me.”

As I followed the girl, I asked Alfonso in a low voice.

“Most of the magic books I asked you to get were stolen from her?”

“Keep your voice down. Stolen, you say? I merely borrowed a couple that were hard to find. Borrowed.”

He was almost whispering. Now I understood how I could see those hidden messages.

“Forever?”

“Ha, hahahaha.”

“Are you asking me to return the book ‘Understanding Complex Property Magic: Lightning Edition’?”

“Uh…I don’t remember the title, but it’s the most recent one I borrowed.”

I definitely gave her the pocket money I had saved from the allowance my sister gave me to buy magic books.

“You must have a lot of money left over from the funds given for purchasing magic books?”

“hahahaha, hahahaha. Oh! There seems to be a protruding nail here. I’ll go ahead. Follow me carefully from behind.”

The child who led us to the wizard’s workshop opened the door without knocking.

Various experimental tools, reagents, and crumpled papers were scattered all around. Despite our arrival, the wizard had their robe’s hood flipped back, showing us their back.

“They’re currently researching something incredible, so wait a bit.”

“What kind of research?”

“Huh, you think they’d tell you?”

Snorting at Alfonso’s question, the child swiftly exited the workshop.

Rather than standing around dumbly, I considered opening the wizard’s status window instead of staring at their back. But I became interested in the papers scattered on the floor.

‘They all seem to have similar content?’

I mentally designed the spell formula drawn on one of the papers. I saw a mana circuit imbuing the attributes of fire, metal, and wind.

Lightning?

But there was something oddly off about it. Just as I was about to construct it to examine further…

**BANG!**

The wizard, who had their back turned, suddenly slammed the desk, interrupting me.

“Not this one either! Ah, how vexing.”

Crumpling and tossing the paper aside, she turned around. Her emerald-green hair and eyes glistened under the workshop’s lighting.

She’s not an old hag?

The owner of that appearance was a young woman who appeared to be in her early twenties. No one could object if she boasted about being a beautiful wizard.

“Why are you staring at me like that? Smitten? I know I’m pretty for a young lad.”

“…This is Prince Evan.”

“Ah, the Emerald Palace’s ghost prince. Richard’s great-grandson.”

She uttered my great-grandfather’s name with a wistful gaze. I used my ghost hand to open her status window.

━━━━━━━━━×

Fran

Gender: Female

Age: ?

Race: Half-Elf

[Stats]

[Skills]

[Relationship – Friendly]

━━━━━━━━━

I finally realized what I had failed to notice due to the dim lighting in the workshop and the hood of the robe pulled over my head.

Having the blood of forest elves, she had blunt, yet elongated ears compared to humans.

‘A half-elf.’

Though only half, she was born with the elven blood that allows them to remain ageless until rapidly aging just before death.

– I vaguely recall a senile woman insisting that a prince with the bloodline of Earl Beirn should be brought in and crowned as the Northern King.

‘So that’s what she meant back then.’

When the red moon rises, the elven blood flowing within her would weaken, causing her to behave quite differently from usual.

I understood why she disliked others gossiping about her and insisted I meet her in person when I inquired about her background.

‘Come to think of it, her age is hidden for the first time.’

Well, it must be a secret she doesn’t wish to disclose.

“Don’t fall for me. As you might have guessed, I was your great-grandfather’s first love.”

…… From what she’s saying now, it doesn’t seem related to the red moon. There’s no way I could have guessed that.

Still, since I’m the one feeling regretful, I decided to play along.

“I see. So you were my great-grandfather’s first love. It’s a pity, but I’ll give up.”

“Her appearance isn’t very similar, but her dull sense of humor is just like his. Why were you standing when you could have just sat down?”

“I thought it would be rude as a guest.”

“It’s fine. Sit comfortably. I don’t intend to act as a proper host either. Let’s both be at ease, alright?”

Alfonso politely organized the scattered papers on the sofa.

Fran and I sat facing each other. She glanced at Alfonso standing beside me, then turned her gaze to me.

“So, why did you want to see me?”

When I checked her status window earlier, our relationship was clearly listed as ‘Friendly’. Feeling confident, I spoke up.

“I heard you’re an advisor to the Northern Liberation Army. That you’re the mentor of most of the mage officers……”

“Not a mentor. An instructor? A teacher? Something like that? What makes those who have no intention of inheriting my legacy think otherwise. If it weren’t for Richard’s final request, I really wouldn’t have. No, why did he even make such a request?”

Fran suddenly became angry and grumbled.

She waited for her to calm down and then spoke.

“In any case, they are your disciples, aren’t they? You could offer some advice. You wouldn’t feel good if someone… got seriously hurt.”

“Well, I suppose so.”

“Alfonso and I are in a bit of a difficult situation, being involved with the Northern Liberation Army and entangled with the Royal Guard.”

“That sounds serious. Tell me more.”

I summarized our current situation for Fran, focusing on the key points. After hearing it all, she shook her head slightly and muttered.

“For the bloodlines of Beirn and Einberk to disappear from this world forever… Oh! But you still have a sister?”

“They won’t disappear.”

My firm statement made Fran’s expression turn serious.

“I understand the situation. But I don’t know why you’ve come to me. If you’re asking me to help you escape, that’s impossible. Although I’m sorry for the lingering bloodline from our past connection… there’s nothing I can do. You may not know this, but just meeting you like this is quite a stretch for me. I may even have to move.”

Was it because she had set up a perception barrier around the Queen’s Crossroads?

She seemed to have some fondness for me due to her connection with my great-grandfather, but she didn’t want to be inconvenienced. That was the extent of it.

“We’re not asking you to help us escape the palace. And we’re not asking for free help either.”

However, even if it was an inconvenience, if there was an appropriate reward, the conversation might change. Fran grinned and asked,

“Oh? What kind of big request is this, and what’s the reward?”

“You must be aware of the disturbing rumors circulating about the Northern Liberation Army.”

“The rumor that they assassinated the Fourth Prince?”

I nodded.

“It will become fact.”

The Second Prince’s faction will make sure of it.

“Ah, I see. Some will be delighted they can run wild now.”

She seemed to be referring to the hardliners.

Her expression didn’t look very good.

“It doesn’t seem like you welcome this situation either, Lady Fran.”

“I’m thinking of those fools jumping into the pit like moths to a flame.”

“I’ll make sure that rumor takes hold. And I’ll also make sure the people of the kingdom know the Northern Liberation Army is no mere band of ruffians.”

“You can do that?”

“That’s not all. I’ll bring down members of the royal family involved in the downfall of the North to satisfy the hardliners.”

“Phuhahahaha.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Fran burst out laughing and wiped her eyes.

She remained silent, waiting for her to calm down.

“Oh my, dear. It’s been a long time since I had a good laugh like that. Do you know how your words just now sounded to me? They sounded just as outrageous as saying you’ll sweep away the palace scum and become the king to conquer the Hamil Empire.”

“It’s possible.”

I paused for a moment and looked straight into Pran’s eyes. Then I opened my mouth with a confident expression.

“With the help of the Northern Liberation Army.”

Without saying ‘perhaps’, I grasped the ritual gesture of [Evan’s Loud-Mouth Technique].