Surviving As the 5th Prince of the Ruined Kingdom

023

The northern part of the Leonel Kingdom.

It cannot be called a land suitable for human habitation. The crop yield is so low that one could starve if not frugal, and in winter, barbarians invade to plunder it. Yet, it is not rich in natural resources either.

So I wonder.

‘Why did the Hamul Empire invade the northern region?’

And that too, a land that had barely recovered from a plague sweeping through it. Those dimwits already had too vast a territory to manage properly.

┕ What was the reason for the Hamul Empire invading the northern region of the Lionel Kingdom 5 years ago?

“With the RP you possess……”

Naturally, I had asked Genie, the librarian of [the Library]. The more I learn, the more curious I become about what great secrets lie hidden.

If I have time, I plan to slowly unravel this.

It’s not the entire northern region that was annexed by the Hamul Empire. It was the northwest. The northeast region is still… not intact, but barely maintaining its existence.

Around 20% of the original forces?

Still.

‘Even that much is enough to cause a ruckus.’

“Your Highness? You were conversing, but why did you suddenly smile?”

Oh dear, I had unknowingly cracked a smile. I quickly composed my expression and asked Alfonso,

“I had something on my mind. I’m curious, what are the sentiments of the northerners towards the First Prince or the Second Prince?”

I could roughly guess, but I wanted to hear the vivid accounts from a local.

“The worst. Isn’t that only natural? When the Hamul Empire invaded, the east and south jointly opposed the central forces’ deployment.”

The east is the Second Prince’s power base,

The south is the First Prince’s.

The west?

The west does not have the capacity for political strife like the east and south. There are many harsh territories, no less than the north.

Massive mountain ranges twist and block the passage from the west to the continent. Monsters and beasts frequently descend from their habitats there. Every year when the red moon rises, there is even an annual event called the ‘Monster Wave.’

There are land routes through the gaps between the mountains, but those are occupied by different races, leading to frequent conflicts.

As a result, the Lionel Kingdom is practically a peninsular country.

The shattered northern region, and the cursed western territory. Unlike those two, the southern breadbasket and the eastern region developed in maritime trade fare better.

Well, which is why they can afford to squabble over the First Prince or the Second Prince, I suppose. If they were struggling to make ends meet, such antics would be unthinkable.

I asked Alfonso the question I was most curious about.

“How do the northerners view me?”

“You, Your Highness? Um… Usually, they don’t even spare a thought for the wet nurse who raised them……”

Alfonso was being evasive.

“They see you as a feeble prince.”

It seemed he was sugar-coating it for me.

The northerners are famous for their harsh language, so perhaps they didn’t call him a bastard or an idiot?

“In fact, there’s hardly any mention of it. It’s more accurate to say there’s no expectation at all. Who would have known five years ago during the purge that the prince was still alive? And to be honest, although the blood of Beirne, the former Sword of the North, runs through him, what can you expect from a prince who can barely survive in a place like the royal palace? You’d be crazy to expect anything from him.”

They say indifference is more terrifying than lack of interest. I felt the truth of those words.

Seeing my bitter expression, Alfonso added a word of consolation.

“Ah! I do remember an old hag claiming that the prince with the blood of the Beirne family should be brought in and installed as the Duke of the North.”

“It would have been better if you had left out the part about her not being of sound mind.”

“Ah, that was when her condition wasn’t good.”

I frowned and opened my mouth.

“Let’s leave that aside for now, and tell me about the Northern Liberation Army. How did you join, and what did you do there?”

At my question, Alfonso hesitated slightly, scratching his nose.

I immediately caught on to why he was acting that way.

“If the Northern Liberation Army didn’t engage in the same activities as black mages or contractors with the demon tribes, we should try to resolve the situation in a way that minimizes harm. And as I said before, if you want to know, you can find out.”

I didn’t bother adding, “if RP is sufficient.”

“Minimize harm?”

“It means I can’t guarantee it if my life is at stake. Why, is the survival of the Northern Liberation Army more important to you than your life, Alfonso?”

“Because then, even if I die, we can inflict the same suffering we endured on those bastards.”

The blue eyes visible between Alfonso’s slits were utterly cold.

“Don’t worry. If the Northern Liberation Army can’t do it, I’ll do it for them.”

“…Your Highness?”

Alfonso and I stared into each other’s eyes for a while.

In his pupils, I saw the image of the young ghost prince, pulling the covers over his head and trembling as he vowed revenge after hearing the news of his nanny’s execution.

I don’t know what Alfonso saw in me. Did he see his past self, vowing revenge?

Suddenly, he laughed.

“You promised.”

“Why, should I write it in blood?”

“That would be good.”

**”Alfonso Einberg has acknowledged you as his liege.”**

**”You have gained 10,000 RP.”**

**”Achievement ‘First Step of a Sovereign’ unlocked.”**

**”You have gained 10,000 RP.”**

Notification windows rose with a fanfare-like production. When facing people, I try to focus on the conversation as much as possible, but this was something my gaze couldn’t help but be drawn to.

I even saw Alfonso’s status window while I was at it.

[Relationship: Vassal]

The deep green letters. As I had expected, after ‘Trust’ came a relationship related to lord and vassal.

‘Alfonso being my first vassal…….’

It was an indescribable feeling.

What was certain was that it wasn’t that bad.

I chuckled and opened my mouth.

“You write the blood oath. I’ll stamp the seal for you.”

“Ah, you don’t know how much I fear blood.”

I slightly moved my phantom hand and opened his skill window.

━━━━━━━━━━×

.

.

.

[Toxicology]

[Anatomy]

[Stealth]

[Torture]

.

.

.

━━━━━━━━━━

The hidden [?]s were revealed without a single one left out. [Anatomy], [Torture] caught my eye.

Afraid of blood?

‘Is he even listening to himself?’

Just a quick glance at the others made it clear what he had learned in the Northern Liberation Army. It wouldn’t be strange at all if that Northern Liberation Army later converted into an assassin’s guild.

The thought that he could have ended my life without me even noticing if he had set his mind to it momentarily sent a chill down my neck.

I opened my mouth with a gloomy expression.

“Enough with the unfunny act, tell me about the Northern Liberation Army instead. What I’m most curious about is who the leader is.”

“He was my mentor. The eyes and ears of Viscount Beirne, a survivor of Duke Saturn.”

“Was?”

“He passed away right before I infiltrated the palace. It was due to the aftereffects of that accursed plague, the Dark Blossom Fever, that swept the North.”

“Then currently……”

“It’s vacant.”

“Vacant?”

“Yes, currently the affairs of the Northern Liberation Army are being decided through council meetings.”

Only one thought crossed my mind.

‘This is going to be a mess.’

It’s said that too many helmsmen will run the ship aground.

***

As soon as it was time to get off work, Miloa, the Baroness and Chief Clerk of the Royal Intelligence Agency, hurriedly grabbed her coat and set off.

Her destination was the Topaz Palace, the residence of the First Prince.

“Welcome, Baroness Miloa.”

“Is the Prince…?”

“He’s waiting.”

Miloa was led by the attendant to the reception room. Lionel Kingdom’s First Prince, Lucas Lionel, was waiting for her while munching on chocolate cookies.

“Ah, Miloa. Come in. Everyone, leave us be to talk comfortably.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The servants of Topaz Palace and his knight guards left without a word. Familiar faces.

Sitting across from Lucas with her legs crossed, Miloa looked at him.

Short cropped black hair and broad shoulders. Even just sitting there, his face looked like he was heartily laughing. If his skin were tanned, one might mistake him for an innocent country youth working the fields at first glance. Quite handsome.

“The Fifth Prince exercised his right to avoid arrest.”

“Oh! So the rascal did something even Damian and I haven’t done, and all because of a servant? It’s not meant to be used so frivolously.”

Lucas asked Miloa with an expression of great amusement.

“Someone looks exasperated while someone else looks delighted.”

At Miloa’s hysterical tone, he quickly straightened his face.

“Sorry, sorry. But I had warned him to tease the brat a little, and he ended up really getting it?”

“It wasn’t like that!”

Miloa burst out, rummaging in her chest pocket with her right hand. Lucas deftly snatched away the cigarette case she took out.

“This is a non-smoking area.”

“Ah, sorry. Just a habit. Give it back.”

“Tsk, why do you even smoke that stuff? Do you like it that much?”

“Don’t smoke. I’ll quit soon too.”

At the mention of quitting smoking, Lucas let out a snort. It was something he’d been hearing for nearly 10 years.

“Then why don’t you quit right now? I’m confiscating this.”

“Ah, but it’s expensive……”

Lucas looked at the dejected Miloa and bared his teeth in a grin.

“By the way, I’ve been hearing quite a bit about the youngest prince lately. How much has he changed for that to happen? I heard the knights were amazed at his talent for swordsmanship? I feel like going to challenge him to a duel and guide him.”

“Don’t. The wayward brat has already caused enough trouble with the assassination incident, so don’t do anything unnecessary. Just stick to the schedule.”

“What, I can’t even go challenge the youngest to a duel as I please? It’s not like we did that. Or……. did you do it behind my back?”

A sharp glint flashed in Lucas’s laughing eyes.

“No! So don’t start anything.”

“Just asking, just in case. That was Damian’s doing too, right? I’ll have to scold this big brother later. How could he do that to his own little brother, oh my.”

“Big brother? You were only born a month earlier. And that’s because the Queen went into premature labor. For all we know, you could have been the Second Prince. Just thinking about how the Queen was caught up in those unsavory rumors back then… When the real burning passion was with the Second Queen.”

“Well, I had to exert a little force, so that couldn’t happen, hahahahaha.”

Lucas wriggled his head disgustingly, like a newborn vigorously entering the world. Miloa felt all affection drain from her at the sight.

“Stop it. I’m going to puke.”

Even Lucas thought he might have gone a bit too far, so he cleared his throat and straightened his posture.

“Enough idle chatter. So, did you come to ask me to invalidate the non-arrest privilege exercised by the Fifth Prince?”

“I never imagined he would exercise the non-arrest privilege for a mere servant.”

“It’s a bit unseemly to summon the council members just to invalidate the non-arrest privilege exercised for a mere servant, don’t you think? You know how stubborn those old farts can be.”

“It’s just as ridiculous to leave it be. Soon, rumors will spread that the Ghost Prince took out the First Prince after the Fourth.”

In the middle of speaking, Miloa unconsciously nibbled on her thumb with her teeth. Seeing this, Lucas chuckled.

It was a habit she had when she was furious.

“Alright, got it. I’ll contact the council members. Miloa, you owe me one.”

“Thanks. It’s true that we’re a little ahead of the Second Prince’s side, but it’s a small lead that could be overturned at any time. We have to nip any potential variables in the bud so they can’t cause any more trouble.”

Unlike her usual self, Miloa’s fervor suddenly flared up as she rambled on.

“Ah, come to think of it, why do I owe you one? This is for your sake, not mine, isn’t it? Huh? Huh?”

“Enough, I already said thanks. No taking it back.”

Lucas chuckled.

Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind.

“But hey, what if the youngest one makes it through this time too?”

“Hmph. There’s no way that will happen. I’ll make sure of it.”

Although he felt sorry for Miloa’s firm assertion, Lucas thought it might be quite amusing if such a thing were to happen.