Chapter 16. The 4th Prince

The 4th Prince approached me.

“You look fine?”

The flippant way he spoke was fascinatingly obnoxious. I looked at his mismatched eyes. It felt like I was facing something insignificant. I could tell exactly how he usually treated the 5th Prince.

“Is it because I had a good, long sleep?”

“……”

The 4th Prince’s face, which had been full of ridicule, hardened.

“Ahem! Have you been well?”

Chris, who was next to me, cut off my next words. I was about to provoke him while watching his reaction, but Chris' perceptiveness is uncanny.

“I did not know Lord Dorléans would be here, I am surprised.”

“You say the same thing as Her Majesty the 3rd Queen.”

“Is it not because it is that surprising of an event? I heard there have been strange movements in Uresra recently. Is it alright for you to be away from your post like this?”

The muscles in Chris' jaw bulged. It seemed the 4th Prince had touched a sore spot.

‘Uresra and Poinus are indeed rivals.’

The two nations share a border. From that point alone, they could never be on good terms.

Because they could tear at each other at any moment. On top of that, Uresra calls itself an empire. I don’t know if they still do these days. Did they call their emperor Caesasi? I clearly remember they were a people strong against the cold, but the rest is hazy. Anyway, Uresra is notorious for calling itself an empire, attacking neighboring countries, and extorting tribute.

“I am temporarily staying in the capital as I have a message to deliver to His Majesty the King.”

Chris said, composing his emotions.

“Is that so? Then you should hurry. You cannot be away from your post for too long, can you?”

“Ha, ha. I am trying.”

“Is that something you need to try for?”

The 4th Prince continued to provoke Chris.

‘He knows and is doing that on purpose.’

He was watching Chris' reaction and spitting out words accordingly. It was clear he knew the reason why Chris couldn’t deliver his message to the king.

I could fully understand why Chris didn't want to come to the banquet. He wouldn't have wanted to create a situation where he gets provoked like this. Since he was in a position of need, he couldn't even show his displeasure. He couldn't jab back coolly as he usually would. And because his opponent knew this, they were taking the initiative to provoke him.

“Have you always been so interested in the North?”

If anyone’s going to bully him, it should be me; I can’t stand to see someone else doing it anymore.

“What?”

The 4th Prince glared at me with dagger-like eyes. It was a gaze that questioned why an insignificant subject had dared to open his mouth without permission.

“As soon as you saw Lord Dorléans, you kept talking about the North. I thought you must be very interested. Since I have lost my memory. I do not have much information about you, brother.”

Finding my words absurd, the 4th Prince burst out laughing. In that case, I should make it even funnier for him.

“Since you are so interested in the North to the point of grasping Uresra’s movements. How about you go to the North on this occasion? Go there, achieve some merit, and who knows?

You might get what you want?”

“This ba….”

The 4th Prince, who had been spitting out words with glaring eyes, closed his mouth as he glanced at Chris.

“Ahem! Ahem! Lord Dorléans.”

“Please speak.”

“I have something important to say to my younger brother, would you mind excusing yourself?”

Chris, receiving the 4th Prince’s request, looked at me. His eyes were asking if he should step aside as that fellow wished. So I nodded.

“I shall do so.”

“Thank you. Ah! Will you be attending tomorrow as well?”

“I am considering it.”

“If you can’t speak today, you should at least do it tomorrow, shouldn’t you?”

“…I will handle it myself.”

“Very well.”

Chris took a breath with his lips firmly shut. It seemed he was trying hard to suppress his mounting irritation.

The 4th Prince casually ignored Chris' mood and pulled my hand. What a ridiculous fellow.

He was openly letting his mana flow. I quickly created a lump of mana and scattered it around my heart. I also blocked the path to my Mana Heart.

“What? How are you walking around?”

The fellow, who had only quickly scanned the area around my heart, looked dumbfounded.

“Because I have two legs.”

“This one’s really lost it.”

The 4th Prince crumpled his face. Then he shoved his crumpled face toward me while glaring at me. It was a threat that he could hit me at any moment. Anyway, who does this guy really resemble? Not me, and not the 3rd Queen. Not the 3rd Prince either. Does the king look like this? I’ll have to check in a bit.

“What’s this? Not even flinching. You’ve completely lost it.”

“Was I supposed to flinch?”

“Ha! Damn… you’re speaking informally? Did your head really get messed up after dying and coming back to life?”

“It did get messed up.”

I retorted with an indifferent face. The 4th Prince let out hot breaths. Then he scrutinized every corner of my face with fierce eyes.

“If you lose your fear, you won’t live long.”

“You seem to have a lot of fear, brother. Want to try dying and waking up once?”

“……”

“Who knows. If you die and come back to life, you might lose your fear like me. Then going to the North wouldn’t be so bad, would it?”

“You crazy bastard. Your sense of reality is completely paralyzed. Should I kill you properly this time?”

The 4th Prince’s eyes glinted with murderous intent. This time, he didn't even hide the fact that he could kill me on the spot, not just hit me. How honest. He seems to have a bad head on his shoulders, too.

“Why? Are you bothered because you thought I was definitely dead, but I came back alive and well? Should you have killed me yourself and buried me then?”

The 4th Prince’s eyes widened. His face contorted in a way that was difficult to describe with words.

“You should manage your expression. It’s not just the two of us here, you know?”

Even if the 4th Prince and I were in a corner of the banquet hall, we weren't out of others’ sight.

“You son of a bitch!”

The 4th Prince grabbed me by the collar. He’s a thug whose mood becomes his attitude.

“What are you doing?”

Just then, the 3rd Prince, who was passing by, discovered the 4th Prince and me. He must have gotten tired of mediocre nobles sticking to him left and right and fled to a corner.

“Greetings, brother.”

I ignored the 4th Prince and greeted the 3rd Prince. The 3rd Prince’s face hardened. This bastard isn’t much different either.

“What is it?”

The 3rd Prince looked at the 4th Prince without even acknowledging my greeting. And the 4th Prince avoided the 3rd Prince’s gaze and showed his discomfort on his face.

‘He seems scared.’

That was the feeling I got. He let go of the hand that was holding me. His gaze dug into the innocent floor. And his breathing was also a little rough.

The 3rd Prince stared at the 4th Prince. It seemed he was urging him for an answer. The 4th Prince, on the other hand, couldn’t even give a proper reply. His lips only quivered. He also kept glancing at the 3rd Prince whenever he had a chance.

‘What’s with this loser?’

Whether you look at him casually or closely, that’s what he is. I have no idea what the nobles who align themselves with a guy like this are thinking.

“Why are you two here?”

The 3rd Prince asked.

“To have a quiet conversation…”

“I was congratulating brother Hans on his achievement.”

I cut off the 4th Prince’s words and took the initiative in the conversation. And I thought of a topic that could stimulate the jealousy of the teenage princes. It’s usually either women or power. Since I don't know their taste in women, I chose power.

“What achievement?”

“He said he has reached the 2nd Circle.”

I said, placing my hand on the 4th Prince’s chest. With a very bright smile. The 3rd Prince’s brows furrowed deeply. It seems the mention of the 2nd Circle hit the mark.

“What the hell is this bastard talking about right now?”

The 4th Prince pushed me away and reacted harshly.

“Oh? What is the matter? Didn’t you want to show off your achievement just now?”

Killing me and showing off aren't exactly the same, but it's still a show of force, so it's not different. So it's not a lie. If I had to point out a lie, it would be that the 4th Prince isn't at the 2nd Circle yet? Still, he's at the end of the 1st Circle, so the 2nd Circle didn't seem far off. I checked by putting mana in his heart, not his hand, so I'm sure of it.

“…That’s fast.”

The 3rd Prince said, looking at the 4th Prince with an emotionless face. What a funny guy.

The moment the 2nd Circle was mentioned, his annoyance was written all over his face, but now he's acting like it's not. Still, thanks to his clumsy acting, I learned that he isn’t at the 2nd Circle.

“No, that’s not it. Right now, this bastard is talking nonsense…”

Just as the 4th Prince was about to make an excuse, the 3rd Prince left. It seemed he didn't want to hear any more from the 4th Prince. Of course, would he want to listen with a calm heart when his younger brother has surpassed him?

“Congratulations.”

I congratulated the 4th Prince on his unachieved 2nd Circle with an ever-so-bright smile. The 4th Prince glared at me, his eyes wide and grinding his teeth. The cliché lines about how he wanted to kill me on the spot and would never let me go were a bonus.

“I look forward to it, Your Highness the 4th Prince.”

“This bastard…”

I spoke politely. But it seems the 4th Prince’s insides were twisting. Now he couldn't even continue his words. His face turned bright red, and his fists were completely white. His body trembled uncontrollably. The blood vessels in his eyes seemed to have all burst, as they were burning. If I provoked him a little more, he might hit me in front of everyone… not bad.

‘The 4th Prince hits the sick 5th Prince.’ If a rumor like that spreads in high society, the 3rd Queen would be in a difficult position too.

“Brother Hans, you are very angry, aren't you?”

I provoked the 4th Prince, slightly raising the corners of my mouth. The 4th Prince’s right arm moved back like a drawn bowstring. Good. Now all he has to do is shoot that arm forward.

“Silence! Everyone, silence!”

Just before the 4th Prince exploded, the thunderous voice of a Royal Guard rang out. The 4th Prince’s brows furrowed and his yellow teeth were revealed. But his arm did not move. It stopped with a creak, like a wind-up machine. At the same time, the music that had filled the banquet hall also stopped.

“Haa…”

The 4th Prince let out a sigh accompanied by irritation as he lowered his fist. What a shame.

If the Royal Guard had appeared just a little later, a picture that everyone would have found interesting would have been created.

“The future of Poinus! His Highness, the 1st Prince, Anton Caesar, is entering!”

The appearance of the universally acknowledged heir. The 1st Prince entered amidst applause.

Boom!

The Royal Guard struck the floor with the spear in his hand, demanding silence from everyone.

“The light of the Poinus Kingdom! The father of all people! His Majesty, King Louis Sergio Caesar, is entering!”

As the king’s introduction ended, the national anthem echoed. The nobles who had been wandering the banquet hall lined up on both sides in order of rank, as if by agreement. A red carpet was laid out in the center. The king walked on it with a leisurely pace. The nobles knelt and bowed their heads to the king.

“Thank you all for attending the banquet.”

The king, standing in his prepared seat, said as he looked down at everyone.

‘The shadows are deep.’

The king’s face was overflowing with fatigue. I couldn’t tell if he was suffering from a physical illness or a mental one, but it was certain that there was some kind of problem.

‘A problem is a problem. But the 4th Prince and…’

I looked back and forth between the 4th Prince, who was glaring at me from time to time, and the king. They didn’t resemble each other. I’ll have to tell Chris to investigate this part deeply.

“Your Majesty, to have you visit like this despite your many duties. I was deeply moved.”

The 3rd Queen, who hosted the banquet, held the king’s hand and wore an expression of rapture. It seemed she was trying to get on the king’s good side.

“When I heard the princes were gathering after a long time, I had no choice but to come. And I heard that provincial families who work hard for the country are also attending.”

“Yes, that is correct. They said they wanted to pay their respects to Your Majesty and pledge to work for the prosperity of the nation. I have specially prepared this occasion. How is it?”

“To do so at a time when we must gather even the smallest of strengths, it is truly wise.

Announce for the families who have prepared their pledges to come forward in order.”

The king sat down. Following him, the 1st Prince walked towards his prepared seat.

‘He looks tired too. Right, it can’t be helped.’

I could feel from a distance that he was on high alert, constantly checking on the 3rd Queen.

If he’s always like that, it’s natural for him to be on edge.

The 1st Prince sat down. Next, the 3rd and 4th Princes moved in order. And finally, it was my turn. The gazes of the 3rd Queen and the princes turned to me. The king’s gaze also turned to me.

‘It’s like a line has been drawn.’

It seemed to say that although I am royalty, I cannot mix with them. A good look. Because from the start, we are beings who cannot mix. Cancer cells must be cut out, they cannot be lived with.