I Became the First Prince

Everyone is not the same as a fool (3)

“No. Outside.”

Only then did Uncle’s expression hardened, as if he had just realized what I was saying.

“A little farther away,” I added.

His face became worried.

“How far are you talking about?”

He had no choice but to accept my request.

“But we have to set some conditions because of what happened the last time,” he said.

He outlined the conditions one by one.

It must be within the schedule of the upcoming royal banquet.

The place should be one where the influence of the royal family is strong.

In the unlikely event of an unfavorable situation, we must return immediately.

“It’s difficult but okay.”

Uncle’s face remained uneasy even if I had accepted the conditions.

However, he could not violate his words once again. He had to fulfill my wish.

“It will take some time to schedule it,” he warned.

There are many things that need to be prepared when a member of a royal family visits a place. Political problems must not arise. In addition, it would be difficult to ask the king for permission again after what happened the last time.

Uncle turned away.

“Uncle. You don’t have to do this.”

I didn’t mean that. He knew.

“I’ll tell you as soon as the schedule comes out.”

He left without speaking further.

I felt gazes on my back. When I turned around, Carls and the court knights were all looking strangely at me.

“Why, what?”

“That’s a little surprising,” Carls said.

“What did you expect?”

“I expected Your Highness would ask for something great. It was an opportunity that rarely comes.”

The court knights nodded their agreement.

“You thought I was going to get rid of him, and it’s weird because I didn’t?”

“No, not that, Your Highness. I just thought you would make more demands. Revenge.”

“I did. It was an unreasonable demand.”

Someone who had failed once, asking for another guarantee.

His head must hurt right now, thinking about what excuse to tell the king.

In any case, if I get into another accident, he would pay the price.

It was not a light request as it sounded.

Of course, considering his grave error, I could have asked for more.

He was even offering to cut off his arm.

“Still… he looks salty being commanded by a little man.”

Carls laughed softly at my words. The court knights also smiled.

But their smiles were strange.

Their smile was something I would do if I saw someone covered in poo and urine.

I was annoyed.

“Hey! How do I look to you?”

However, the smiles on their lips did not disappear.

* * *

The elderly scholar returned.

I hated to study because most teaching methods were not great.

However, the scholar picked up where we left of yesterday and conducted the class through discourse.

It was the same as the day before.

Theories that I could sympathize with are unfolded. I pledged that I would not be smitten like the day before, but I soon fell into the deep discourse without noticing the passing of the time.

It was exactly the same as the day before.

“Then, Your Highness. We’ll share the rest of the story tomorrow.”

“Maybe we will, maybe not.” I deliberately replied.

“And, I brought a book that you can read when you’re free.”

“The Iron Blood Monarch Theory?”

“Everything we were discussing is contained in it.”

“Well, even if I have nothing to do, I don’t think I will read it.”

I acted increasingly aggressive towards the elderly scholar. However, he just kept smiling, as if accepting the complaints of a young grandson.

“Huh, but what is your name?”

“I am Nicolo Marchiadel. It’s enough if you just call me Nicolo.”

“Nicolo Marchiadel… … Good. From now on, I will call you Nicolo.”

“Since we exchanged names, it can be said that the relationship has progressed further. So tomorrow, let’s talk deeper.”

Something passed through my flow of consciousness.

Even if he pretended not to be, the scholar in front of me was anxious and did not have anyone else to speak with.

Is he lonely? Hmmm.

I turned to the book he left behind.

It was too heavy and too thick for an old man to carry.

On its cover, the words’ Iron Blood Monarchy’ was written in plain typeface.

“Uh?”

There was a familiar name under the title.

But the name written under it was familiar.

「Nicolo Marchiadel」

It was ridiculous.

So, he was teaching me his own theory and making me read his own book?

What a shameless man.

Still, he was sincere enough to carry this heavy thing to me, so let’s give it a try.

I opened the book. Slowly, I turned the pages.

Slowly, but without stopping.

Then, I found myself in the last chapter without noticing the time.

“Hmm.”

The relations between the military and the nobles were dealt with like the contracts in the market.

Loyalty to the nobles was regarded as maintaining social and economic stability.

How can a monarch get the most attractive contract, and how to keep it going without breaking the contract?

That was the main content of the book.

“I think the nobles and the royals would hate this.”

But not me. I liked the book.

“It’s true. This is what happens in reality.”

I greatly sympathized with his thoughts.

Unfortunately, I was not a monarch yet.

The only people I have were Adelia and Arwen.

I haven’t even seen the latter since she swore her allegiance.

Right now, I only have Adelia.

“Your Highness.”

Just in time, Adelia appeared. She had [Servility], and the theories on the book won’t apply to her.

So, all I have were an absent knight and a slave knight. This book is useless to me.

“Adelia, what do you want from me?”

“Your Highness, a letter came for you.”

She handed me a letter. It was sent by my first knight, who is working hard with the Templar Knights.

“I have achieved a small achievement recently. I think I will be able to see you sooner. I hope you will be safe until that day.”

The sentences were plain.

Her handwriting seemed to be overly conscious of the reader’s eyes.

Even in her handwriting, she wanted to appear as a knight rather than a woman.

“Achievement…”

Maybe by now, she has become a double chain knight. The only reason she would decide to come to me is if she reached the status of a real knight. That could only be why she said the day she would return is imminent.

“It would be perfect. I could practice with her before my match with the Third Prince.”

My first bet with Uncle to compete with a double chain knight was meaningless now.

From the very beginning, it didn’t really suit my taste, but I took it as a small motivation while training.

Since it meant nothing for me to win against a double-chain knight, shouldn’t I just cancel it?

No. I don’t intend to. I can’t lose.

I thought about the Third Prince’s face. His gentle words and smiles, but the intention of stepping on me were in his head.

“If I’m going to do it, I should do it right.”

“Your Highness?”

Adelia was confused by my self-talk.

“Oh, no. How was your training today?”

I couldn’t supervise her training because I was with the elderly scholar.

“I’m just trying to live up to the expectations of Your Highness.”

“Okay. I look forward to it.”

I was really looking forward to it.

Her growth after she gave me the [Poetry of Subjugation] will also be my growth.

At the same time, I was worried.

I didn’t know when the [Slaughterer] and [War Maniac] traits would manifest.

“Adelia, before you go…”

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“If you start getting an impulse that is difficult to bear, be sure to tell me.”

I asked her because I didn’t know what could happen.

Even if I had instilled with her several times that I was her master, I was still not sure what could happen.

* * *

A few days have passed.

My mind and body recovered to the point that I felt that my injured spirit had been stabilized to some extent.

And when another day passed again, I felt mana starting to build up in my empty heart.

I stopped doing what I was doing and started scraping mana straight away.

My heart drank up mana as if dry cotton was soaking up water.

It’s taking longer than expected. It seemed that my mana heart can take up more mana now.

Lately, I realized that it was not just injuries that the [Poem of the Dragon Slayer] left behind.

“I tried a miracle that I could not handle, and I saw some of that great will.”

『The influence was reflected in the body.』

『The mana heart has been expanded.』

『With the expanded mana hearts, the constitution of the body has changed considerably.』

『The body can withstand more mana.』

The mana heart has finally filled to the brim, and a message came into my ears.

『You have reached the level of Sword Expert.』

I leveled up.

It didn’t end there.

“The state of connection with the source has improved somewhat.”

“Some of the restraints of the restored power have been released.”

『Power, [Third Eye] has improved considerably.』

『Power, [Third Ear] has improved considerably.』

A new power was in my body.