CHAPTER 372: IS HE REALLY JUST A DOTING BIG BROTHER?

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Alias: Crown Prince Bane

True Name: Bane von Orlan

Titles: The Crown Prince / The Uncrowned Sovereign

Affiliation:

- Kingdom of Orlan (Crown Prince)

- Antagonist & Supporting Character of "A Crown Of Ashes"

Rank: Tier 5

Resonance Gift: [Veil of Serenity] – Projects a calming, trustworthy aura that makes others lower their guard. Highly effective, yet subconsciously resisted by those of strong will or unique heritage.

Present Goal: "Ensure a smooth return to the capital. Observe his little sister’s development."

Threat Level: ★★★★☆

Note: "His smile is a carefully crafted shield. The blood that grants him the right to rule is the very thing that isolates him from the throne he claims to cherish."

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I went silent inside as I processed the information floating in front of my mind’s eye.

’Hmm... 4-star threat level, a useful gift, high rank...’

That was all within my expectations. But the rest...

’Why does it say ’The Uncrowned Sovereign’ when he’s literally the Crown Prince?’

And the note... ’The blood that grants him the right to rule is the very thing that isolates him...’ What did that even mean? It was vague as usual... The kind of cryptic hint that pointed at a much bigger secret.

And the final piece that stuck out was his role.

’Antagonist & Supporting Character.’

I hadn’t encountered a dual classification like that before. Was he a villain, or wasn’t he? Or was he both? Even the system seemed unsure. But given the context, it was probably the latter — a supporting character whose goals just happened to clash violently with the main characters’.

’So... he’s really not the mastermind then?’

I wasn’t sure yet, so I needed more context.

Closing the window, I turned my focus back on the conversation. Thankfully, the rest of the meal passed without any major problems. The Crown Prince acted the part of a doting elder brother perfectly, asking Aurelia about her travels and making light conversation. When dinner was over, we all exchanged polite farewells.

However, as we were leaving the dining hall, the prince placed a light hand on my shoulder.

"Mr. Lumin, a moment of your time, if you please?" he asked, his smile still in place. "In private."

I nodded. "Of course, Your Highness." I glanced at Cassandra and the others, giving a slight gesture for them to go on ahead. The prince gave a similar, dismissive nod to Carmine, who shot me one last, unreadable look before following the others out.

We didn’t go far, just to a quiet corner outside the inn. With a subtle flick of his wrist, the prince cast a sound-blocking barrier around us. The nighttime noises of the city instantly muted.

The moment we were isolated, I felt it... a subtle, probing pressure at the edges of my mind. It wasn’t aggressive, more like a gentle, insistent fog trying to seep in and make me feel at ease, to make me want to talk.

’He is using his gift...’

I quickly thought about how to act. Should I resist it outright? No, that might raise suspicion. Better to let it seem like it was working, just a little. I let my shoulders relax slightly and kept my expression open and cooperative.

"I hope you’ll forgive my forwardness," he began, his voice laced with a brotherly worry that felt incredibly persuasive. "But as her elder brother, I can’t help but worry about Aurelia. She’s been through so much lately, and she’s so young. Seeing her with new companions... I just want to ensure she’s in good hands."

"I understand completely, Your Highness," I replied, my tone respectful. "It’s only natural to be concerned."

"Thank you for understanding," he said, his smile grateful. "So, please, tell me. Who are you, exactly?"

"I am a traveling healer, Your Highness," I answered, my tone respectful and calm. "My name is Lumin. I have no fixed affiliation."

He nodded slowly, as if processing this. "A traveling healer," he repeated. "And what is a wandering soul like yourself doing in the company of my sister?"

"I first met her in her previous visit to the Luthaire Barony. I got acquainted with her there. And in her next visit, Baron Nusayel tasked me to escort her to her destination. And then a few others and I were tasked with aiding the town she was assigned to. Now, I am ensuring she will set off safely back to the capital."

"I see," he murmured, his gaze steady on me. "And how did she fare during her trial?"

"She was determined and resilient, Your Highness," I said, choosing my words carefully. "She worked hard to help the townspeople rebuild and secure their future. She faced the challenges with courage."

The prince’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. "Did anything... unusual happen during your time there? Anything at all that seemed out of the ordinary?"

I met his gaze squarely. "Beyond the typical struggles of a frontier town recovering from a bandit attack? No, Your Highness. Nothing out of the ordinary occurred."

"A bandit attack, huh?" The prince’s eyes squinted for a brief moment, a flicker of something sharp behind the calm. "No one got injured, I hope? Nothing happened to her?"

"No, Your Highness," I reassured him. "Thankfully, her personal knight, Vance, and the Vice Captain of the Baron’s guard subdued the bandits without much difficulty. The Princess was never in any real danger."

The prince nodded, his expression unreadable. "Good. That is... reassuring to hear."

Honestly, it was frustrating. Even with my abilities, it was hard to get a real read on him. His [Veil of Serenity] was like a smooth, opaque wall, and his high rank made it difficult to sense any deeper intentions. I couldn’t tell if he was genuinely relieved, suspicious, or something else entirely.

After a moment of silence, he seemed to come to a decision.

"Very well, Mr. Lumin. Thank you for your time and for looking after my sister." He gave me a polite smile. "I would appreciate it if this conversation remained between us."

"Of course, Your Highness," I said with a respectful nod. "You have my discretion."

With that, he dropped the sound barrier with another subtle gesture.

The ambient noise of the Derier city returned. We walked back into the inn without another word, though a strange question remained in my head.

’...Is he really just a doting big brother?’