The Wastrel Prince Becomes Ruthless Chapter 88

After the ordeal involving Yuwon and the Church of Lehl, Yuwon spent his days busy with one thing or another.

He closely exchanged information with Marquis Carson and Count Valaris, the main pillars of the Fifth Prince’s faction, and focused on reinforcing its foundations, which had been shaken for a moment.

"How have things been lately?"

"Even those who used to doubt Your Highness’s leadership are using this incident as an opportunity to turn to the Fifth Prince’s faction one by one."

"We were lucky."

"Luck? No. It was thanks to Your Highness handling everything well. At this rate, if we are given just a bit more time, it seems we will be able to build enough power to withstand even a head-on clash with the Crown Prince’s faction. Of course, before that happens, His Majesty the Emperor will give us an answer, won’t he?"

"I’m certain he will. Let us observe the situation a little longer."

Of course, during that time, the other princes did not sit idly by. They were busy devising new schemes to hinder Yuwon.

‘Hmph… This is bad. I expected him to trip and fall, but instead that brat Yurion’s character ended up being reevaluated. The scum from Lehl need to open the floodgate of my plan already….’

The Crown Prince, growing impatient, hastened his plan.

‘Damn it, teaming up with that brat Yurion was fine, but at this rate, everything might be over before I ever get another chance.’

The Second Prince worried that the succession structure might solidify like this.

‘It was us who made a mess of things by blundering with absurd misunderstandings, yet it looks like I’ll be the one stuck with all the blame… I really didn’t want to pull out this option, but I’m cornered now.’

The Fourth Prince, who was forced to take the blame simply because he had once been called the “Saint of the Imperial Family,” considered a move he should not even think about. And the last one remaining—Third Prince Bernid.

Among them, the only one who felt at ease was Third Prince Bernid, who had already stepped away from the succession struggle.

"Hey, Yurion. Aren’t you going to pick up your equipment? You didn’t just leave your armor, did you?"

"I should. I was actually planning to go, since the urgent matters are finally over."

"When are you going? If there are any scraps left from the crafting, give me some. I want to study the teeth a bit."

"Hm… I still have spare scales, but the teeth I’m not sure about. I’ll think about it after checking on the progress of the commission."

"Good. Don’t you dare take that back later."

"Have you ever seen me go back on my word?"

"Nope, never. I’ll be waiting for good news!"

At Yuwon’s straightforward answer, Bernid gave a broad grin. The childlike delight on his face made Yuwon smile as well.

‘Seeing him so happy over something like this makes it clear he isn’t leader material. With that brilliant mind of his, if he hadn’t bothered with political scheming and had focused solely on research, he would’ve accomplished something by now.’

During that time, the Emperor remained silent.

Just before the trouble with Lehl and the postal stations, he had looked as if he would soon decide the direction of the next throne. But now, it was as if nothing had happened.

This silence increased the tense atmosphere among the princes.

Three days passed without any particular event amid the subtle tension, and on the fourth morning after Yuwon had wrapped up the matter with Lehl—

"Ah, my youngest brother."

With a sly smile, the Crown Prince personally came to see Yuwon.

"What brings you here, brother?"

"Did you not go through a great ordeal a few days ago? I felt I didn’t congratulate you properly, so I came. I’m glad you came through it safely. You worked hard, Yurion."

It was a fine performance, but an empty congratulation.

"Thank you, brother. Thanks to your concern."

Naturally, Yuwon’s acting in return was equally excellent.

"Hah, you say things you don’t even mean without blinking an eye."

Yuwon answered with a smile.

"In that field, I’m still far behind you, brother."

The Crown Prince was the one who had most desperately wished for Yuwon to fall because of this incident. Yuwon struck precisely where it hurt.

"Yes, yes. You’re right, Yurion. It’s true that I hoped you would fall and that I would gain from it. But that doesn’t mean everything I said is a lie. Now that everything is settled, thinking about it again… even if it wasn’t me, the idea of a Prince of Aphahiel being suspected as some sort of servant of an evil god is… unsightly, isn’t it? It’s my true feeling that I am glad you resolved it well."

"Well, it’s in the past now, and it wasn’t that important anyway. Let’s say I accept that. So you’re saying you came here just for congratulations?"

At Yuwon’s question, the Crown Prince smiled faintly.

"Yes. You may not believe it, though."

"Right. Just as I can’t believe your words as they are, I’m sure you didn’t come here simply to congratulate me. Am I wrong?"

"Hm, is there really that much distrust between us? I knew we weren’t on perfect terms, but I didn’t realize it was this bad."

"If that’s all, then I’ll have to ask you to return. I have things to do."

At Yuwon’s cold dismissal, the Crown Prince furrowed his brow.

"Hm, your brother came all the way here, and you can’t even offer tea?"

"Let’s do that next time. I’ve had a gap in my schedule because of everything that happened, so I have work to catch up on."

"Hm, I see. I must have been too self-centered. Even if you pulled through well, you must need time to take care of the aftermath. Then I’ll take my leave. Next time, we must share a cup of tea."

Feigning regret until the end, the Crown Prince left. Yuwon watched his retreating figure.

‘The Crown Prince came just to ask how I’m doing…? No way. Better safe than sorry. If something smells fishy, prepare.’

The sudden, unannounced visit—Yuwon couldn’t pinpoint it exactly, but his instincts told him something was wrong.

He decided to trust those instincts.

‘Mariel’s plan failed, so naturally they’ll move next. Sorry, but I’m done standing still and letting you hit me first. Whatever you’re plotting, it doesn’t matter. I’ll block it from the start.’

After sending off the Crown Prince, Yuwon headed straight to the training grounds of the Fifth Prince’s Palace. Terrien, the knight Yuwon personally appointed, was there.

"Terrien."

Yuwon’s quiet call made Terrien, who had been immersed in training, immediately stop his movements and pay his respects.

"Ah, Your Highness. Welcome!"

"You are diligent. Has your training shown any results?"

"I am training hard, but I am still far from it. Only now have I begun to faintly grasp the subtlety of the three basic sword techniques… no, the Threefold Celestial Sword Art Your Highness demonstrated."

Terrien seemed not at all satisfied with the progress he had made so far.

"What matters is that you see something. Terrien. Do not rush."

"But… at this rate, I will never…."

This was Terrien’s problem. He always compared his achievements to Yuwon’s and pressured himself by belittling his own progress. Yuwon patted Terrien’s shoulder.

"Terrien. You always compare yourself to me and grow impatient. Relax your heart. With your current level, simply overworking your body will not push you past the wall anymore. Just as forcing a sword through with power alone is not the answer, learning is the same."

"Yes, I will keep that in mind, Your Highness."

Terrien’s eyes sparkled at Yuwon’s words.

As for the purpose of Yuwon’s visit, he added something Terrien could take strength from.

"Terrien. I’m sorry, but you will have to pause your training for a while. There is something I need you to do."

"Yes, Your Highness. Please entrust anything to me!"

Terrien answered with a booming voice, delighted at having been given a rare assignment.

"It seems the Crown Prince is plotting something. I have things I must handle myself, so you will work together with the Third Prince and observe the Crown Prince’s every move and report back to me. I will inform the Third Prince separately."

"Yes. I will observe the Crown Prince and his close followers thoroughly and report everything."

"Good. I will be counting on you."

Yuwon entrusted Terrien and Bernid with tasks for the first time in a while so they could oversee the larger picture. With his hands now free, Yuwon focused his attention on the parts he personally found suspicious.

‘If I were the Crown Prince in this situation, what would I do? What could he still use right now?’

The Crown Prince smiled in front of others, yet behind their backs he did not hesitate to do cruel things. He liked it best when he could control every situation as if kneading dough in his hands.

‘The Crown Prince I know would never play his hand openly. He will surely use someone else’s hand to strike at me. Yulia, whose hand are you planning to borrow this time….’

How much time had passed?

After hours of deep, solitary thought, a flash of lightning struck through Yuwon’s mind.

The spark that began in his thoughts reached his eyes.

‘Ah, I know.’

A crescent-moon smile curved along Yuwon’s lips.

‘…So it was me this time.’

The next morning.

The envoys of Lehl set off from the capital and began their journey home toward the Holy Kingdom.

Having slandered Yuwon with absurd accusations and been humiliated before many witnesses, their retreating figures did not look at all pleasant.

There had been no battle, yet it was the retreat of complete defeat.

About five hours after they departed, just as they were about to leave the outskirts of the capital—

Rumble— rumble—

“…‘Hm?"

The sound of galloping horses from behind caught their attention.

A group of knights approached, not bothering to hide their presence as the ground trembled under their hooves. Cardinal Azazel also reacted to the sound and stopped walking.

“….”

"Cardinal, it seems knights of Aphahiel are following behind us."

"It appears so. Since they came all this way, they must have a reason. Let us stop and hear what they have to say."

Azazel, who led the envoys, ordered the group to halt. Because the envoys stopped, the knights of Aphahiel soon caught up and greeted them.

"It is an honor to meet the messengers of God. I am Reginald Turner, a knight in service to His Highness the Crown Prince."

"It is an honor for me as well. But what brings a knight of His Highness the Crown Prince this far?"

"Ah… His Highness felt troubled sending such esteemed guests back without a proper farewell, after your long journey. He personally ordered us to escort you safely."

Azazel questioned this inwardly.

‘Why is the Crown Prince suddenly…?’

It was the Fifth Prince who had been involved with Lehl this time, while the Crown Prince merely stood idle. His sudden action was suspicious. Naturally, none of this showed on Azazel’s face. He responded smoothly to the Crown Prince’s questionable generosity.

"We are grateful that His Highness cares so much. However, what danger could there be on the road between the Empire and the Holy Kingdom? We appreciate the sentiment, but we cannot trouble you."

"Then we won’t escort you far. Since we’ve already come all this way, please at least allow us to accompany you a short distance ahead. If we return like this, His Highness will greatly reprimand us."

Reginald, who led roughly 30 knights, motioned to the Crown Prince’s knights behind him. It was a plea to give him—and truthfully, to give the Crown Prince—an opportunity to save face before his subordinates.

"Hm…."

The Crown Prince had willingly extended his hand; refusing outright seemed unwise. After all, he was one of the two most likely to ascend the next imperial throne.

"Very well. Let us do that."

Cardinal Azazel accepted the Crown Prince’s kindness with a show of reluctance.

"Ah, truly? Thank you! His Highness will surely be pleased that we could be of help to those who serve Lehl."

Azazel responded to Reginald’s relieved smile with one of his own, though inwardly he was busy trying to decipher what intention the Crown Prince had behind this.

‘Whatever the reason, something must have prompted him. Whatever it is, I should at least spare some time to listen.’

Above all, Lehl now stood in clear enmity with Yuwon.

Yuwon had made it clear that as long as Lehl did not cross the line again, nothing would happen. But from Lehl’s perspective, there was still unease they could not shake off.

‘The Fourth Prince is already out of the running for Emperor. He and the Fifth Prince have now grown wary of each other. Using this chance to build ties with the Crown Prince might not be a bad idea.’

"Then, we will trouble you for a while."

"Yes, we will escort you as safely as possible."

There was not even a hint of hesitation in that answer.

Reginald Turner, loyal knight of the Crown Prince, pressed forward with what would be his final mission.