Surviving As the 5th Prince of the Ruined Kingdom

006

＜006＞

‘He stole the gift meant for the 4th Prince?’

Depending on how it’s used, this could get George expelled not just from his servant position, but from this world entirely.

The fact that the value of this information, which could determine the life of a lowly servant, was less than that of a Viscount’s first love left me with a slightly bitter feeling.

‘Did his guts spill out?’

It would be impossible to do such a thing without an unusually large gall bladder. If that greedy 4th Prince found out, there’s a high chance George would disappear without a trace.

It wasn’t the ruby earrings that mattered. It was the fact that something of his was taken away that would drive that brat insane.

Well, like most criminals, he must have committed the act with the conviction that he wouldn’t get caught.

– Ugh…… Enough now.

– Kkkkkk, …… Ghost Prince……

George, tightly gripping Alfonso’s head with his burly arms. He was having so much fun, without a clue about the information I possessed.

The sight of a bully tormenting a helpless child made me sick to watch any longer.

I decided to intervene, grabbed my coat, and went outside.

***

George Watson.

A few days ago, a merchant he usually dealt with received a bribe delivered to the 4th Prince. Right after, the merchant met an untimely death.

The ill-gotten bribe.

I wondered what the hell this was about. A gift from God, taking pity on me slaving away under that ridiculous 4th Prince. That’s what I decided to think.

“M-Mr. George. S-Stop. It hurts.”

“Kkkkkk, what’s with the whining about being in pain.”

“Ugh.”

Thanks to that, he was in a great mood. Alfonso’s agonized sounds were music to his ears today.

“Oh, I heard it’s your day off, so what brings you here, ugh……”

“Asking questions first, are you living comfortably these days? Working under the Ghost Prince must be nice.”

“Ugh, I’m sorry.”

George’s reason for visiting the Emerald Palace wasn’t that significant. It was to meet Dorothy, a woman he’s been engaged in a delicate tug-of-war with emotionally lately.

With the hand not holding Alfonso in a headlock, he took out his pocket watch to check the time. It would be a little while longer before her work ended.

‘Today I absolutely must…….’

A sinister smile crept across George’s face.

The other day, from the bribe box, he took a ruby earring that seemed fitting for Dorothy and put it on her ear.

Just thinking about her pale nape glowing in the moonlight was maddening.

If his urges hadn’t been interrupted, he surely would have forced himself on her. Regretting the missed opportunity, his arm tensed with force.

“Cough, cough.”

Alfonso’s choking and flailing broke George’s reverie. Just as George was about to slam Alfonso’s head in annoyance, a voice stopped him.

“That’s enough.”

As far as George knew, there was no one in the Emerald Palace who could put a stop to his behavior. He had witnessed the 3rd Princess’s party leaving on his way over.

It was a voice George had never heard before.

Had some new servant been reassigned without my knowledge? Even so, being stuck in the Emerald Palace meant they were clearly someone without money or connections.

After a brief calculation, he frowned and turned his head.

“What new······ 5th Prince?”

The expressionless Evan was there.

“5th Prince? That’s rather terse.”

He wasn’t the 5th Prince he knew.

It wasn’t the first time he’d been caught tormenting Alfonso. Each time, Alfonso would stammer with a face like he was about to cry, then hang his head and disappear.

“Didn’t you hear me clearly? I told you to stop.”

Flustered, George finally released his arm from around Alfonso’s head.

“Keck, keck.”

“······We’re such good friends, just joking around.”

And he found himself making excuses without realizing it.

‘Huh? Why am I?’

Originally, servants could barely open their mouths before royalty spoke. Yes, that was the norm.

The 5th Prince was an exception.

Of course, directly harming him was forbidden. But ignoring his questions, treating him like he wasn’t there—that was tacitly allowed.

“Well, I have something the ‘4th Prince’ asked me to do, so I’ll be going.”

“hahahahah, off you go then.”

“Where are you going? You’re coming with me for a bit.”

“Uwack!”

George caught Alfonso by the scruff as he tried to flee, shot a nasty grin at Evan, and turned away.

“Leave Alfonso, I’ve got something for him to do.”

“······. Hey, get lost.”

George released Alfonso’s scruff.

Kaak- ptui.

He spat a thick gob of phlegm on the floor, glared at Evan, and walked away.

Step by step.

“Alfonso.”

“Yes! Prince Evan.”

“My sister’s birthday is coming up, and I’d like to get her a gift. This morning I saw a maid wearing a ruby earring, would something like that be expensive?”

George’s feet stopped.

‘I had warned her not to wear it in the palace!’

Resolving to caution her again when he met her shortly, he glanced back.

‘Gasp!’

George felt his heart would leap out. Evan was staring piercingly not at Alphonso, the one he had questioned, but at him.

Evan’s jet-black eyes were icy cold. George’s intuition, honed from groveling like a dog under the 4th Prince, sent alarm bells ringing.

‘Does he know I stole the earring? How could he!’

“Alphonso, where would one acquire such things? You wouldn’t know, would you? Ah! My brother Akard must receive many such gifts, so he’d know, right?”

Still looking at him as he spoke, Evan.

George’s back was damp with cold sweat.

He couldn’t fathom how, but it was clear Evan knew he had pinched the 4th Prince’s treasures.

“Prince Evan, spare me!”

His body moved before his mind could.

Prostrate on the floor, George implored Evan.

Wheee-swish, swish.

Only the sound of the wind rustling branches whispered in his ears. One second, two seconds felt like an eternity.

With a soft chuckle, the voice George awaited so eagerly came from Evan.

“I don’t know what you’re on about. If anyone heard, they’d think I was about to kill you, my brother’s personal attendant.”

“I’ll serve loyally if you spare me.”

“Loyalty, loyalty……”

Stroking his chin in contemplation, Evan soon shook his head vehemently.

“I don’t know why you’re acting this way, but I don’t really want your loyalty. Ah, there is one thing I’d like you to do.”

“Wh…What is it?”

“If my brother has cause to visit the Emerald Palace, I’d appreciate if you let me know in advance. It’s awkward running into him unexpectedly. I need to prepare, you know?”

“That……”

The 4th Prince, Akard Lionel, was different from the carefree 5th Prince who didn’t care about anyone.

The 2nd Queen dearly loved her red-haired son Akard, her spitting image. If he was caught leaking the 4th Prince’s whereabouts……

Finished thinking, George lifted his head slightly and opened his mouth.

“If I’m caught divulging information about Prince Akard……”

And he met Evan’s chillingly indifferent gaze. Biting his lip, he bowed his head again.

“I will do that.”

“Alright, thanks. I’m in a hurry, so I’ll be going now.”

Evan turns and walks away.

Alfonso alternates looking between the retreating Evan and George lying facedown, unable to raise his head.

Soon, Alfonso has an ‘Ah!’ expression and a bright smile on his lips. He approaches the prone George and squats down beside him.

“I will firmly warn Miss Dorothy not to wear things like ‘ruby earrings’ while working. hahahahaha.”

Alfonso’s words, whispered in a delighted tone, make George feel like he can’t breathe.

“And please be sure to clean up that spit you coughed out earlier! Oh! Your Highness!”

Woosh – Thwack!

The broom Alfonso threw strikes the back of George’s head.

“Your Highness! Prince Evan! Let’s go together!”

George squeezes his eyes shut as he listens to Alfonso’s retreating footsteps chasing after Evan.

Not seeing anything seemed like his future.

***

There were a total of two relationship improvements in the conversation with George.

From distrust to anxiety, and then to fear.

Fear was a deep green, anxiety a light green, so both seemed beneficial for me.

An uncomfortable relationship is red, a positive one green, and the intensity is expressed by the saturation and brightness of the color – I realized that much long ago.

I checked the notifications I couldn’t examine properly while talking:

“You have dramatically improved your relationship with George Watterson.”

“You have gained 1,500 RP.”

“You have improved your relationship with George Watterson.”

“You have gained 500 RP.”

‘Seems a bit stingy?’

I improved the distrustful relationship by several steps at once. Didn’t one notification even say ‘dramatically’?

Compared to getting 1,000 RP for improving my relationship with Alfonso from wary to normal, this felt underwhelming.

I almost asked Genie about it but stopped myself. She would probably just say it’s not recorded in this world, so she can’t answer.

‘Does it matter whose relationship I improve?’

Well, it wouldn’t make sense to treat improving a servant’s relationship the same as a high-ranking minister’s.

I’d naturally learn as I got more samples. I decided to check it out then and looked at the other notifications.

“Achievement, ‘Do I Look Harmless?’ has been achieved.”

“2,000 RP has been acquired.”

“Achievement, ‘I’m a Scary Person’ has been achieved.”

“3,000 RP has been acquired.”

The two achievement rewards for forming a relationship of anxiety and fear with someone else for the first time were quite substantial. My RP increased instantly. I could barely hold back the corners of my mouth from curling upwards.

Just as I managed to compose my lips,

“Relationship with Alfonso has been improved.”

“1,000 RP has been acquired.”

“Achievement, ‘Let’s Get Along’ has been achieved.”

“2,000 RP has been acquired.”

“Achievement, ‘Thick Wallet’ has been achieved.”

“[Skill] Detailed condition setting is now possible when searching.”

‘Huh?’

The sudden notification left me wondering what it meant.

“Prince! Prince Evan! Come with me!”

Just then, Alfonso’s voice rang out, clearly in a good mood.

‘That guy……..’

I glanced at Alfonso’s status window, which I had kept in the corner of my vision.

[Relationship: Friendly]

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

It seems Jorge had gotten quite annoyed while I was wearing a mask and serving him all this time.

I glanced sideways at Alfonso, who had run up beside me. His face looked like someone who hadn’t used the bathroom for a week and had finally relieved himself.

“Go do your business.”

“hahahaha, assisting Your Highness is my duty.”

“That’s enough. I want to be alone.”

Now that our relationship has turned friendly, I can check your stats and skills that have become partially visible.

I shooed him away like swatting a pesky fly.

“Why won’t you go?”

“Your Highness, you’re going too far!”

Alfonso made a sullen expression and ran off into the distance. Having only seen his true self an hour ago, I couldn’t find him as repulsive as before.

After going through twists and turns, I returned to my room alone and sat on the sofa to check my RP first.

‘12,000.’

How should I use this to extract the maximum efficiency? I entered [Library] and threw a question at Genie.

┕ What do you think is the best way for me to use RP most productively in my current situation?

“I do not know what Evan’s ‘current situation’ is. Even if I did, it would be difficult for me to provide the information you want.”

What kind of nonsensical answer is this again?

┕ Why?

“Library assistants are prohibited from giving responses that limit users’ judgment with subjective opinions.”

‘Not helpful.’

Clicking my tongue, I pushed the chat window aside.

I took a moment to ponder, resting my chin on my hand.

Soon, my thoughts were organized.

After all, the only two places I could use RP were [Skills] and [Library].

I had experienced [Library] enough already.

Since I was told that the entire UI of the skill search window would be accessible upon achieving an achievement, it seemed to be time for me to learn skills.