The Wastrel Prince Becomes Ruthless Chapter 90
The sudden appearance and joining of Third Prince Bernid and Terrien, the Knight of the White Dragon, threw Reginald’s thoughts into chaos.
‘Those two aren’t commoners from nearby villages. Them getting lost in a place like this? Impossible. Their excuse about searching for herbs must be a blatant lie.’
Their excuse was so brazen that, despite claiming they had gotten lost looking for herbs that only grew in this region, neither of them carried even the faintest scent of grass or soil.
‘Those two were never the sort to wander around picking herbs in the first place. This is definitely the Fifth Prince’s doing. Otherwise, there’s no reason for those two to appear here.’
That Yurion had sent them was a very blatant message.
‘I’ve been found out. I must report this to His Highness the Crown Prince immediately.’
The Crown Prince’s plans were tangled before they had even begun.
Reginald watched for any chance to pass this news on to the Crown Prince.
One hour after Terrien and Bernid had joined the group, Cardinal Azazel approached Reginald.
“…Sir Turner. How about we take a short rest here?”
“Ah, of course. If you hadn’t suggested it first, we were about to bring it up ourselves.”
“Yes, then. Let us rest for fifteen minutes and continue.”
“Yes, sir.”
Once the break was confirmed, Reginald raised his voice to announce it.
“We will rest here for fifteen minutes!”
His long-awaited chance.
Taking advantage of the brief bustle, Reginald quietly slipped away, pulled out a Magic Mirror, and contacted the Crown Prince.
“Your Highness. Are you there?”
Srrrk—
As if responding, the mirror in his hand reflected not Reginald, but the Crown Prince.
“…What is it, Reginald?”
“The Fifth Prince has noticed.”
“Hm…?”
“A short while ago, Third Prince and Calmodet, the Knight of the White Dragon, suddenly popped out onto the forest path. They claimed they had lost their way.”
At Reginald’s report, the Crown Prince let out a disbelieving scoff.
“What? Lost? They got lost? Ha. If that’s the best excuse that came out of Yurion’s head, then he didn’t even try to make one. He’s practically spitting in our faces.”
“…They requested to accompany us using that excuse. So I contacted you. What should we do?”
“Only those two came?”
“Yes. For now. We strengthened the perimeter in case the Fifth Prince sent additional forces, but none were found.”
“Then we move forward with the original plan.”
“What…? Including His Highness the Third Prince?”
Reginald doubted his ears. To kill the Fifth Prince’s knight was one thing, but to kill Bernid—his own younger brother who shared the same mother? Even Reginald had not expected such an order.
“That brat siding with Yurion has already made things troublesome for me. Actually, this works out well. We can use this chance to cut off both his left arm and right arm at once.”
“Yes, I understand. Then I will await the next signal. However…”
“Is something wrong?”
“I am worried the Fifth Prince didn’t simply send those two. If it’s the Fifth Prince who cut down an Inquisition Judge, then he could easily be hiding nearby, avoiding the knights’ detection.”
“Ah…”
Reginald waited silently for the Crown Prince to speak.
“Yes, that’s possible. But there’s no need to worry about that.”
“Why… do you say so…?”
A gloomy smile appeared on the Crown Prince’s face in the mirror.
“Because that brat is in the Prince’s Palace right now.”
Not long after ending the communication with Reginald, the Crown Prince welcomed Yurion, who had come as a guest.
“Come in, Yurion. I had some matters to handle, so I kept you waiting. What brings you here?”
“I felt bad that I couldn’t treat you to a cup of tea last time, Brother. So I came personally today. I wanted to enjoy a cup of tea before leaving.”
“Good. You’ve come at the right time. And surely I can offer more than tea. If you’re willing, I’ll treat you to a fine meal as well.”
“Really? Had I known I’d receive such hospitality, I would’ve visited more often.”
“You can come often from now on. You’re always welcome.”
Yurion, who knew the Crown Prince was scheming, and the Crown Prince, who knew Yurion had already taken measures—two men harboring different thoughts about the same matter calmly sat face-to-face with a teacup between them.
“The fragrance of the tea is wonderful.”
“Of course. The leaves were gathered from the mountains of Ute, a region famous for its clean water and fresh air.”
The Ute region.
Coincidentally—or rather, not coincidentally at all—it was the very place the Envoys of Lehl were passing through. The Crown Prince observed Yurion’s reaction closely.
‘I know you didn’t come just to drink tea, and you know I know. Now then, how will you respond, Yurion…?’
“Ah, so these leaves were from the famous Ute region. No wonder the aroma is so deep and rich. There is nothing to criticize.”
A reaction the Crown Prince had not expected. Irritated, he pushed the conversation more bluntly.
“Ute… the terrain is quite rugged.”
“That must be why the tea leaves turn out so well. Hard for human hands to reach them.”
“Yes. The mountains are so rugged that every year there are people who lose their way and get injured.”
“Hmm. I’ve never been, but from what I’ve heard, the Ute Mountain Range could certainly be like that.”
“Yes, for ordinary people who don’t know how to handle mana. But for knights or magicians who wield mana at a certain level, well…”
“…”
The Crown Prince’s words were blatant. Yurion didn’t answer.
Instead, he lifted his teacup with a faint smile.
In the end, the Crown Prince stated outright what he wished to say.
“…What were you thinking when you sent them?”
“Well, what were you thinking when you came up with such a vicious scheme, Brother?”
“What? Vicious?”
Yurion’s reply seemed to irritate the Crown Prince, who frowned deeply.
Yurion continued speaking, unconcerned with the Crown Prince’s displeasure.
“It was a clever move. Had I fallen for it, even without physical evidence, all circumstantial suspicion would have pointed to me. And honestly, once suspicion exists, framing someone and fabricating proof isn’t all that difficult, is it?”
“Oh my, what a shame. I’ve been exposed.”
The Crown Prince feigned exaggerated surprise, provoking Yurion—though Yurion was not someone who would fall for such provocation.
“…I’m giving you one last chance. Withdraw your forces.”
“That’s not going to happen. I know exactly what you’re thinking, coming here instead of going there. Yurion. You enjoy climbing over others’ heads just as much as I do. No—perhaps even more. I could never spend ten years playing the wastrel just to deceive everyone.”
“I won’t deny that. And your answer to my earlier question?”
“Not a chance, Yurion. This time you’ve lost. You probably came to taste victory by looking me in the eye, but because you aren’t out there with them, you’ll lose both your knight and your brother today.”
“You and I may be half-brothers, but Bernid is your full brother—someone born of the same womb. You truly won’t regret this?”
At Yurion’s question, the Crown Prince’s gaze sharpened.
“…Yurion. Father has ruled Aphahiel for thirty long years without a single war. Do you think that was possible simply because Aphahiel is strong?”
It was not a question.
Yurion did not answer, and the Crown Prince did not wait for one.
“No, it was possible because Father left no sprouts behind. Because he personally cut down every brother and sister with his own hands—wiping out every possibility—that Aphahiel was able to remain peaceful.”
“So you intend to follow Father’s path.”
“Yes. Once, I believed I didn’t need to. I thought there was no reason for it. But after experiencing your schemes firsthand, I understand now. One must leave no possibility alive.”
Blue flames seemed to flicker within the Crown Prince’s blue eyes as he glared at Yurion.
“I didn’t have to go this far before. But when you, who should have stayed quietly tucked away, began to move… everything changed. All because of you, Yurion.”
The Crown Prince, who for his own rise was willing to drive even his loyal knights to their deaths—and now had resolved to kill his full brother—grew increasingly agitated as Yurion reminded him of the weight of his choices. Finally, he erupted in anger.
“You’re the one who cornered me and made me like this! It’s because of you that we’re shedding blood…! It’s you, not me, Yurion!”
His voice trembled with fury. But Yurion’s reply was ice cold.
“Stop acting like a child.”
“What…?!”
“This happened because of me? No. Even without me, all the brothers blinded by the throne would eventually fight to kill each other. Even if I had remained silent to the end, nothing would have gone as smoothly as you imagine.”
“You little…! To the very end…!”
“You drove your own loyal subordinates into a deathtrap with your own hands. Of course you don’t want to admit it. But once you choose bloodshed, you cannot place the blame on someone else. Hear me clearly. I did not make you do this. You chose this path. It’s your choice, not mine.”
Grit—
The Crown Prince could not refute Yurion’s words and merely ground his teeth in silent rage. His glare at Yurion was ferocious.
“…Fine. Let’s assume your words are correct. What matters now is that Bernid and your knight are doomed to die. Today you will pay dearly for that cup of tea.”
“Heh, is that truly what you believe?”
“There will be no miracles, Yurion. I’m not soft like Bernid. Everyone there will die.”
“Then you are mistaken.”
Two men thrown alone into the enemy’s midst. Yet Yurion appeared not the slightest bit concerned, smiling as though the outcome were assured.
“Those two aren’t as soft as you think they are.”
An hour and a half had passed since Terrien and Bernid joined the Envoys of Lehl.
“…!”
Terrien, who had been keeping his nerves taut, expecting trouble at any moment, sensed something. He quietly spoke to Bernid, who walked beside him.
“…It will begin soon. Prepare yourself.”
“Yes, I just felt it as well.”
“But… is what you said earlier really all right? They’ll target you relentlessly for being a magician, yet you told me not to cover you…”
“Don’t worry about that. Do you think I’ve spent all my time cooped up in a room doing nothing while you were training?”
“With you saying it like that… fine. Then I really won’t cover you. Survive on your own.”
“Just don’t hold me back, Terrien.”
“You need not worry about that. His Highness sent me for a reason.”
Terrien, who usually muttered constantly about how lacking he was, answered today with an unusual air of confidence.
“You… don’t tell me?”
Terrien grinned at Bernid’s surprised face.
The smile resembled Yurion’s.
“I finally managed to learn something from the teachings His Highness gave me.”
Their recent sparring—Terrien had finally proven to himself that his efforts had not been in vain.
Terrien had indeed grown.
Thirty seconds after the two sensed the incoming battle—
Chwarururuk—!
“Ku—! Khk! A-ambush!”
The rain of dozens of arrows marked the beginning of the battle. Reginald shouted urgently for the group to form defensive positions.
“Raise your shields and brace for the enemy attack!”
Clang—! Clatter—!
The Crown Prince’s well-trained knights drew their swords and raised their shields almost simultaneously. Still, the shock of the sudden ambush was undeniable.
“Damn it, why are enemies in a place like this…!”
“What else? The other princes saw their chance. Filthy cowards…!”
Except for Reginald, none of the accompanying knights knew the truth behind the situation.
“They’ve come…”
Only Terrien and Bernid maintained their composure amid the chaos.
Bernid gathered mana, surrounding both hands with blue lightning-type magic. Beside him, Terrien drew his sword.
Srrrng—
“Shall we go?”
“Yes, let’s. I won’t expect much from you, so don’t die.”
“Don’t worry. That won’t happen.”
“You answer well enough. Let’s see whether you’re worth those words.”
“You’ll see. You’ll be surprised.”
Even on the cusp of battle, the two exchanged relaxed smiles.
Somewhere in the rugged Ute Mountain Range of Aphahiel, a blood-splattering battle erupted.