This Bastard is Too Competent

“I’m sorry, but Duke Lavaltor wants to see Prince Ian, not Duke Garcia.”

"What?"

At the words of the knight, Duke Garcia's expression was worth seeing.

His face was in disbelief as if he had heard something wrong. No, he didn't hear it wrong but thought this young knight was teasing him.

So, he unconsciously asked back.

"What did you just say? Who does Duke Lavaltor want to meet?”

Not understanding the meaning behind the Duke's expression, Chris firmly repeated his words with eyes gleaming.

“Duke Lavaltor wants to see Prince Ian, not Duke Garcia…”

"Ha!"

Duke Garcia sneered as if he had not misheard it. Immediately after that, his eyes fiercely pierced Ian. 

The Duke opened his mouth in anger.

"Prince, what in the world happened—?”

It was as if he was about to chew Ian with every word.

But Ian cut his words as if he didn’t hear it.

“It is the headquarters of the First Knight Order in the royal palace. As he said, then. When I enter the royal castle, I will find the duke.”

“And he will contact you right away.”

The Duke finally slammed the table impatiently and raised his voice. 

"Prince! Are you already aware of this in advance?"

"Of course. I asked for it.”

“What?!”

The Duke was about to shout something, but he soon swallowed back his words, holding his breath. He could not show his disorganized appearance in front of Lavaltor's knight.

“What the hell are you doing with Lavaltor without consulting me?”

He certainly looked composed, but bloodthirst couldn’t be hidden in his voice.

However, Ian was completely calm as if there was nothing wrong with it.

"There's the case with my brother, and I'm just trying to meet him as a token of apology. Isn't it clear that Lavaltor will pour out bad words about me before I even go to the legitimation ceremony? I don't want to be humiliated before I even go to the ceremony.”

However, the Duke could clearly sense Ian's intentions. 

[I am not the fish you caught. I can hold anyone's hand at any time.]

Ian's eyes were obviously saying that. 

That's why it was ridiculous. 

The Duke believed he had caught this fish in his fish tank after he had brought it from the filthy countryside.

‘I can't believe you are preparing to run away from the fish tank.’

Behind the innocent face, he shrewdly hid his true intentions.

‘No, you have no intention of hiding it from me?’

The Duke became furious at the realization. Now he would be drawn to an unpredictable future because of this situation.

‘What if that prince betrays Garcia and goes to Lavaltor?’

From the perspective of Duke Garcia, it was similar to seeing the fish he had caught slip just out of his reach. 

No, it would be fortunate if it ended only with that.

‘There may be rumors that Garcia is not as good as Lavaltor.’

If the opposite faction heard that even a kid brought from the countryside knew that Lavaltor was better than Garcia, they would be running around the town laughing their ass off.

But then.

"Ah, Your Highness, if you come out of Garcia’s territory, our Lavaltor knights will escort you safely to the royal castle.”

The Duke glared at Chris as if he was crazy.

"I have something to say to the prince alone, so you can go back."

"Then I'll be waiting outside, Seventh Prince."

Despite the obvious order to get out, this subordinate of Lavaltor was as bold as his lord, who was at odds with Garcia. However, the Duke did not care much.

Because a knight like that was not important right now. 

Sure enough, the two of them got straight down to business.

"What do you want?"

His voice had a tinge of urgency, but there was nothing he could do. He couldn't let the Seventh Prince meet Lavaltor and change his mind.

He needed to get Ian's attention somehow. 

‘You will pay for it someday. But not right now.’

Ian answered the Duke's question nonchalantly.

“But you don’t even serve a cup of tea for me? The hospitality for the guests here is very poor.”

Grit.

"Head Butler!”

At the Duke's call, the head butler came running. His body unusually trembled as if in agitation, but that was only for a moment.

Soon after the tea came out, the Duke frowned.

"What should I do to make you not meet him?"

"Why can't we meet?"

The Duke raised an eyebrow instead of answering.

"Recently, I heard that Sir Nathan is teaching you swordsmanship. I'll let you have him."

Ian, as the Duke had observed so far, had great greed for talent. He could tell from the fact that he requested not only Galon but also Karan under the excuse of discipline.

Now if he gave Nathan as well, it was enough to tie him back.

The Duke believed so.

But.

Slurp.

Ian slurped his tea without answering. It was as if he didn't like the proposal.

The Duke frowned. 

"Then, how about the soldiers who brought the prince? I'll assign them all to you."

There were as many as a hundred and one soldiers and knights.

A force that most feudal lords couldn't imagine. However, Ian's expression remained unchanged.

The Duke couldn't stand it any longer and his murderous aura exploded.

"You will gain nothing from taking Lavaltor's hand anyway."

In fact, there was little chance that Lavaltor would take Ian's hand. 

But this was a matter of pride.

So, the Duke had no choice but to threaten. 

"You know what? They might rather try to kill you for the Second Prince."

Lavaltor was not an ordinary man. There's no way Ian could deal with that boar properly.

It would be lucky if Ian didn't pee himself in front of him. 

But Ian smiled quietly.

"Well, what if I declare my support for the Second Prince?"

"That… What do you mean?"

The Duke was genuinely caught off guard as if it was beyond his expectation.

How could he not? A declaration of support meant giving up the throne!

"Are you going to beg for your life to be spared in return for giving up the throne?"  

However, Ian continued with a relaxed face.

"I've been a serf until now anyway. I don't have a desire for the throne.”

‘Lie.’

The Duke instinctively noticed. Of course, the succession war might have felt terrifying for Ian, who had been a serf until recently. 

This was a bloody fight where he might have to kill all his brothers.

In other words, no matter how lucky he was to cut off the Second Prince's arm, he might have instinctively felt the fear of fighting and blood, unlike others who thought he was fine.

‘But those are not the eyes of a loser.’

Therefore, the Duke's eyes became sharper.

"Is there anything you need that only Garcia, not Lavaltor, can give you?"

What no one else could give. 

At that, Ian smirked as if he had waited.

***

Creeak.

"You're here, Seventh Prince."

Chris, who was waiting outside the Duke's office, hurriedly bowed his head. 

But right then.

Bang!

A loud noise rang inside the Duke's office.

Startled, Galon was about to look inside, but Ian stopped him.

“It is not a big deal. Seems like some annoying cockroach crawled out.”

Galon and Chris were surprised by his smile. Contrary to the sound from inside the office, Ian's expression was so bright.

In fact, it was only natural.

Because it wasn't just one or two things that Ian got from the Duke.

The first thing Ian got was a man.

"Sir Galon, please tell Sir Nathan that I have kept my promise. Tell him as well that from now on he will follow me, not Third Young Master Karan.”

"Yes. I will do so."

Of course, it's Nathan. The knight that defected to the Third Prince’s camp in the past. 

It was a little unsettling as Ian didn't know why he had to go to his side, but for the time being, it should be fine.

"It's not just that. Soon soldiers will come to the annex. Sir Galon will take charge of them from now on. Tell the centurion to come to see me first."

A hundred soldiers who had come to pick him up plus a centurion with his lifeline handed over to Ian.

Of course, the Duke would pay all the expenses necessary to maintain them.

Ian moved quickly while giving instructions.

Right then, Chris hesitatingly asked Ian.

"Then… What should I tell Duke Lavaltor?"

Chris was more quick-witted than Ian thought. He didn't know what conversation was going on inside, but he seemed to notice that Ian had gained something by using Lavaltor.

In other words, cooperation with Lavaltor could be completely invalid.

But Ian smiled brightly.

“As promised, I will meet him there. Ah! The Lavaltor knights may go back.”

"Pardon?"

"I think I will go with Duke Garcia."

Chris did not quite get it.

Did Duke Garcia really allow him to meet Duke Lavaltor?

Chris then made a bitter expression.

But Ian smiled instead of saying further.

‘The Duke only wanted one thing from me. Just don’t hold hands with Lavaltor.’

The Duke gave him a lot of gifts on the condition that he would not go with the Lavaltor knights.

He also remarked that Lavaltor would never abandon the Second Prince and only Garcia would treat the Seventh Prince well.

However, Duke Garcia did not know one thing.

‘That's not the only reason why I want to meet Lavaltor.’

Of course, he also had the intention to deal with the Second Prince, but that was additional.

The real reason was because of the king’s personal appearance at the legitimation ceremony. The legitimation ceremony, which suddenly grew in size, was intended by the king to test Ian. 

And he was sure the king would investigate the matter of the Second Prince.

‘Unlike the past, this legitimation ceremony will be attended by all the nobles. There must be no mistakes.’

It was a place that could raise some status, but on the other hand, the hurdle was higher than in the past. That was why he drew in Duke Lavaltor.

If he didn't pass the test, it would be over.

Anyway, it wasn't just the knight and soldiers that Ian got.

"Your Highness, here is the item sent by the Duke."

It arrived just a few hours later.

The second promise Ian obtained, one of the heirlooms of the Garcia family. It was a relic that the first duke used in the past.

Woong.

Something he found in the Duke's office. <Faith> was reacting to that.

As Ian's eyes lit up with anticipation.

"Prince, we are ready."

"Really? Then let's depart right away."

Ian immediately joined the procession of Duke Garcia.

The knights along with the second and third young masters made up the core. It was a large procession with most of the key members of the Duke’s family in it.

While Ian was lightly touching the relic.

“That’s the heart of Kaistein. The royal road.”

Ian had arrived in front of the royal castle.