The 3rd Prince of the Fallen Kingdom Returns

13. Holy Kingdom (2)

Gid was a melting pot of all kinds of people. Merchants, of course, but also the mercenaries guarding them and fugitives on the run from justice mingled together in chaos.

People cast sidelong glances at Yuri and Hernando, whispering. The word “Briol” could be faintly heard.

It seemed the rumors had already spread.

“The fact that a city like Gid can exist is actually thanks to the orcs.”

Hernando chattered on.

“There’s a talisman market here. Items from the East and strange curiosities you’ve never seen or heard of are traded. And the ones who bring them are the orcs. The orcs plunder goods from the East, and then bandits or hunters take them and sell them here. Fascinating, isn’t it?”

“Is that why you came along?”

“Oh, come on, don’t say that. It’s just a stop along the way. Let’s go together later.”

As they walked, the talisman market came into view. A long line of stalls selling mysterious items stretched out.

Hernando kept examining the items.

“That’s a totem. It contains orcish magic.”

“Does it work?”

“Barely, but I can sense some magic. Its purpose seems to be… inducing excitement?”

“You mean to stimulate?”

“Yes.”

“Like a war drug?”

“Something like that, though not as strong. There aren’t many things here that could be called artifacts…”

“And this?”

“That’s just trash.”

The stall owner’s expression twisted.

Seeing his grim face, Hernando cleared his throat and quickly hid behind Yuri.

“There might be some artistic value to it.”

“Looks like a child’s toy.”

“Doesn’t it?”

The owner shouted angrily, “Get lost!”

The two immediately fled.

Yuri wandered around the market, meticulously inspecting the stalls. In truth, there was an item he had come here to find.

“It’s not here.”

“Looks like the bandits took everything.”

When Yuri first raided the bandits, one of their lookouts wore a red gemstone necklace.

After interrogating the leader of the bandits, he learned its purpose.

It was an item that lured orcs.

For reasons unknown, orcs would go berserk and charge when they sensed the energy of the gem.

This chapter is translated by f.enrirxlations/jjoestar

The bandit leader had used his subordinates as bait to confirm the approach of orcs.

Upon hearing this, Yuri kicked the bandit leader relentlessly.

By now, that man had probably been handed over to Gid’s guards by Raymond.

“He said it was obtained at Gid’s talisman market…”

“If even a band of thieves knew about it, it’s probably long gone by now.”

There were plenty of curious trinkets, but the truly necessary item was nowhere to be found.

The two left the talisman market empty-handed.

On the other side, they found themselves in an entertainment district. Since the city wasn’t large, restaurants and inns were clustered together in one place.

Briol’s soldiers were patrolling the area.

“Wait, isn’t that a gambling hall over there?”

Hernando pointed to a tavern. Through the half-open door, playing cards could be seen.

“It looks like some of our soldiers are participating.”

“Really?”

Yuri frowned.

“A Briol soldier gambling? I can’t let this slide.”

“Exactly.”

“I’ll punish them personally.”

“Let’s go.”

Hernando clenched his fist.

“We can’t have undisciplined troops.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

(T/N): LOL Hernando you just want to gamble XD
* * *

Sybilla had just finished a serious discussion with Gid’s Lord and rose from her seat.

The Holy Knights were waiting for her.

“Have you finished your conversation?”

“Yes.”

Sybilla nodded with an expressionless face.

Her relationship with the Holy Knights was cordial but not particularly close

The Holy Knights swore loyalty to her brother, Larson, the crown prince and heir to the throne.

“And what about that prince of Briol?”

“He took the initiative.”

“I see.”

“Fenec, I trust there won’t be any problems with the main troops?”

“Of course.”

Fenec nodded. With his smooth features, he was the leader of the Holy Knights’ expedition for this Allied Force.

“To think such an oddball is their commander—Briol’s reputation as a land of knights must be a thing of the past.”

Sybilla did not respond. Instead, Fenec’s deputy agreed with him.

“Indeed.”

“With his unkempt appearance, you’d believe he was some wandering mercenary.”

“His conduct was even worse.”

“I’d rather not fight alongside the Briol army. They’d only get in the way.”

Sybilla spoke up.

“Gossiping is unseemly.”

“Well, what does it matter?”

Fenec continued undeterred.

Sybilla was the nominal commander of the Holy Kingdom’s Forces, but the Holy Knights followed Fenec.

“I can’t help but feel that once this orc subjugation is over, Briol will have lost a prince.”

“That’s too much. Watch your words.”

Fenec smirked.

“Yes, understood.”

“Let’s return to the lodgings.”

They had secured the most expensive inn in Gid. It was only slightly cleaner than other places but much better than tents.

When the Holy Knights stepped onto the streets, the eyes of the townspeople turned toward them.

“A filthy city…”

Fenec muttered.

To him, who had enjoyed a luxurious life in the capital of the Holy Kingdom, the entire city of Gid looked like a stable.

“No, it’s worse than a stable.”

“Indeed. Our horses are much cleaner.”

“These people are worse off than horses.”

The Holy Knights chuckled.

Sibylla ignored their chatter and walked ahead.

What was truly filthy was their behavior. The world simply had its share of abandoned places and people who had no choice but to live in them.

Just as they hadn’t been born noble for any particular reason, the residents of this city were no different.

Feeling a sense of shame for the term “Holy Knight” bestowed upon them, Sybilla was heading to the lodging when—

“What’s this?”

Fenec spoke in a disgruntled tone.

At some point, the streets had grown crowded, swarming with people.

“It’s the Briol army.”

The deputy immediately explained, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

“They’re acting recklessly. It seems they’ve let their soldiers into the city.”

“Soldiers should be kept outside the city. They lack discipline.”

Sybilla added, “Let’s head to the lodging without causing any trouble.”

“They’re the ones likely to cause trouble.”

“They are soldiers of another nation. If any conflict arises, I won’t let it slide.”

“Yes, yes. Don’t worry. We’ll just have a light drink among ourselves.”

Sybilla went up to the lodging first.

Fenec gathered a few knights he was close to from the Holy Knights.

The deputy spoke.

“I’ll bring the drinks. There probably won’t be any good alcohol anyway.”

“Do that.”

They headed out in a group. The Briol soldiers glanced at them.

“The Briol soldiers are insolent.”

Fenec muttered.

In the Holy Kingdom, commoners don’t dare make eye contact with the nobility. But the Briol soldiers stared at them as if they were ordinary passersby.

“If the upper water is dirty, the lower water must be too.”

“That’s right.”

Fenec chuckled at the deputy’s words.

The third prince of Briol they met earlier was truly unlike royalty. His clothes, and his manners, lacked elegance.

What kind of sight would he make when facing the orcs?

“It’ll really be a pathetic sight. Heh heh…”

Suddenly, loud cheers erupted from the side.

It was so noisy that Fenec flinched for a moment.

“What’s all this noise?”

The ruckus from the tavern spilled out—laughter, jeering, and the noise of fists pounding tables all mixed together.

Fenec frowned.

“Check it out.”

The deputy immediately went inside to look and came back.

“They’re gambling.”

“What?”

“The Briol soldiers are playing cards. It seems like the stakes are high, as a crowd gathered around the table.”

“These…”

Fenec smiled coldly. The Holy Kingdom does not allow gambling.

“As a knight of the Holy Kingdom, I can’t just leave this be.”

Fenec took off his helmet, tucked it under his arm, and walked toward the tavern. He pushed the door wide open.

Yet no one paid him any attention.

“……”

The crowd had gathered around one table.

The tavern owner cheerfully served beer after beer, and the soldiers erupted with shouts and cheers as cards were revealed.

“Hey.”

Fenec called out. His voice was drowned in the noise.

“Aren’t you listening…”

At that moment, the outcome of the game was decided.

The man with his back to Fenec jumped up from his chair, raising his arms triumphantly.

The soldiers erupted with joy, while the others at the table held their heads in despair.

This chapter is translated by f.enrirxlations/jjoestar

Watching this, Fenec felt irritable.

This time, he infused his voice with mana and shouted again.

“What do you think you’re doing!”

His voice resonated powerfully, echoing throughout the tavern.

It quickly fell silent.

Fenec took a deep breath, savoring the silence, then stomped his boot on the ground.

“I asked, what do you think you’re doing?”

His voice lowered sternly.

He glared at the table as he continued.

“Do you think you’re here to fool around? No matter the circumstances, I can’t just let this go. Do you think the expedition is a joke…?”

As Fenec spoke, the man standing with his back to the entrance turned toward him.

Fenec was met with the sight of rare jet-black hair.

“Are you aware…”

Fenec’s voice trailed off.

The face glaring back at him was identical to the Third Prince of Briol he had just met.

Fenec found himself at a loss for words.

“What are you babbling about?”

The recent winner, Yuri, tilted his head, puzzled.

“What did you just say?”

Fenec was too bewildered to respond.

He hadn’t imagined a prince would be playing cards with soldiers.

Hoping it was merely a striking resemblance, he continued to stare at him.

Yuri was growing impatient.

“What’s your name?”

The deputy intervened hurriedly.

“There seems to have been a misunderstanding, Your Highness the Third Prince.”

“Tch…”

Yuri looked Fenec up and down with a disdainful expression.

It was an embarrassing moment for Fenec. Something twisted inside his chest.

For Fenec, who disregarded even Sibylla, to be ridiculed by a mere third prince from a foreign nation was intolerable.

Fenec steadied his breath, donning a cold expression.

“Your Highness the Third Prince.”

“Do you have more to say?”

“We are on our way to war.”

“And?”

“This attitude not only harms you, Your Highness, but also the soldiers. If discipline is not upheld, everyone will end up dead.”

Fenec’s eyes landed on Yuri’s hands. They were smooth, without a single callus.

It was obvious.

He smirked as he spoke.

“What Your Highness should be holding is not cards, but a sword. I wonder if you’ve ever properly gripped one.”

“What the…”

Yuri snickered as he looked at him.

Fenec found that gaze annoying.

Yuri looked at him as if contemplating how to deal with an amusing opponent. That should be his look, not the other way around.

Yuri, having looked him up and down, finally spoke.

“A pretty face like that sure does chatter a lot.”

Several soldiers couldn’t help but stifle their laughter.

Fenec’s face reddened.

He took great care of his appearance, often applying a light white cream.

“Can’t say that’s very discreet. Hey, do you really need that makeup for the war you’re off to?”

“Please refrain from personal attacks.”

“And what did you just say to me?”

Yuri took a step forward. The sword hanging by his waist swayed.

“This won’t do. Today you…”

As Yuri took bold strides forward, the Holy Knights standing behind Fenec stepped aside.

There stood someone unexpected.

“What is this?”

It was Sibylla. She was dressed in casual attire, having removed her armor.

“Sir Fenec. Didn’t I tell you not to cause any trouble?”

No matter who he was, he couldn’t disregard Sibylla in front of foreigners.

Fenec bowed his head.

“My apologies.”

“Let’s get out of here.”

“Yes.”

Just before Fenec turned away, he spoke to Yuri.

“I will withdraw for today. I wish you good fortune.”

“I already have enough fortune. I don’t need yours. See this?”

Yuri showed a handful of coins from the table, causing the soldiers to jeer.

Fenec bit his lip, glaring at Yuri before turning away.

The rest of the Holy Knights followed him out of the tavern.

Sibylla, left alone, sighed.

“Let me apologize on his behalf.”

“There’s no need for you to apologize.”

Yuri shrugged.

“You must have a hard time dealing with them.”

“I’ll repay this debt next time.”

Sibylla offered Yuri a brief smile before exiting the tavern.

As Yuri watched her leave, he shrugged once more.

The Holy Kingdom seemed more complicated than expected.

“Well, that’s not my problem.”

He returned to his seat.

“Alright, who’s next?”

“Hold on, Your Highness.”

“Hernando, you already lost everything. Move aside.”

“Please, just a small cut!”

“What’s that nonsense? Alright, someone new, come in. Anyone?”

“I-I’ll join.”

“Do you know how to play?”

“I may not look it, but I’m the card devil of Yujes.”

“Ujes? You’re from Gennad’s place?”

“Not quite…”

“Brace yourself.”

“No, I hate that guy too.”

“Traitor of Gennad!”

“I’m not!”

* * *

Fenec muttered a curse as he left the tavern.

He truly disliked the so-called Third Prince of Briol. The way he had become familiar with Sibyla, even speaking casually to her, irked him.

Suppressing his anger, he continued walking, but a few knights from the street were glaring at them.

“Those are…”

The knights of Briol.

It seemed the events at the tavern had already spread, and there was clear hostility in their eyes.

“It’s Laurent.”

“Laurent?”

“Yes, Laurent Flandre from Briol. I saw him at the swordsmanship tournament.”

“He’s just a kid.”

Fenec had heard his name before.

The eldest son of Count Frances, he had gained widespread fame for his swordsmanship skills from a young age. He had even won the boy’s swordsmanship tournament held in the Holy Kingdom. He was known to have a knightly personality.

“So, a crab sticks to a crab, huh? Laurent is probably supporting the hopeless Third Prince just because they’re from the same nation,”

Suddenly, one of the knights standing next to Laurent started to approach Fenec. But Laurent grabbed his shoulder.

“Don’t, Jared.”

“Understood.”

Fenec chuckled.

Even if Laurent was there, it was laughable that some nobody, who he had never even heard of, would dare step forward in front of him. Their boldness was comical.

“What should we do?”

“Leave it. Everyone will know soon enough.”

Fenec glanced briefly at Laurent and Jared’s faces, then continued walking.

The superiority of a knight was proven on the battlefield, after all.

And that night, news came that the Holy Kingdom’s main troops had been attacked.