Crown Prince Sells Medicine

“Hmm.”

The emperor’s hand gently cradled his chin, lost in thought.

All departed, leaving the grandeur of the throne room unoccupied. With an air of sovereignty, the emperor sat upon his throne, subtle laughter escaping his lips.

“Between myself and the second prince… Asking for an opportunity to prove who is more qualified. Hehe, huh.”

The emperor’s mind dwelled on his recently departed eldest son, Raciel.

The echoes of his son’s words reverberated within him, growing more astounding with each recollection and contemplation.

There was no choice but to accept it.

“Did that child ever have such a side?”

Unfazed by the ruler’s authority and the weight of his influence, Raciel boldly confronted him. His unwavering confidence allowed him to hold his ground, standing tall and locking eyes with the emperor.

What added to the astonishment was that Raciel did not resort to aggression throughout the ordeal.

“Usually, one would struggle against authority and pressure. They would cross the line in their defiance. That would be the typical reaction they should show.”

Contrary to expectations, Raciel remained remarkably composed.

He displayed no signs of defiance, but rather exuded a sense of tranquility.

Not a single tremor betrayed his composure.

He steadfastly held his ground, maintaining a calm and rational demeanor in the face of mounting pressure. It was as if the weight of the moment didn’t burden him at all.

“Even going as far as a counter-proposal.”

Initially, he had anticipated the boy’s swift surrender. He had assumed that his proposal would swiftly crumble before him.

Yet, it proved to be quite the opposite. Not only did the boy not yield, but he also surprised him with an unexpected counter-proposal.

“An opportunity to prove qualifications.”

The resonance of Raciel’s voice lingered in the emperor’s mind, vivid and clear. The calmness in his eyes, devoid of any agitation, conveyed a profound confidence that his counter-proposal would find acceptance.

‘…If you allow it, in a fortnight, I will duel the second prince in swordsmanship.’

It was he who had caught off guard, causing him to lose his composure. The sheer absurdity of it all was overwhelming.

‘Swordsmanship?’

As soon as he asked, Raciel answered.

‘Yes, Your Majesty. I am currently under suspicion due to my weak body and frail strength. They say I cannot protect the crown prince’s position, that I cannot bear the weight. So, I want to prove that those suspicions are wrong and that I am qualified.’

‘Do you want to show your health and strength?’

‘Yes, Your Majesty. I want to face the second prince in a sword duel.’

‘Do you think you can win against the second prince?’

‘It is said that one must try to know the length and shortness of things.’

‘How unreasonable. You should know that the second prince is the holder of the Single Circle of Asrahan Core Technique and has been trained in swordsmanship by a famous knight since childhood.’

‘Yes, I am aware.’

‘Then you must also realize that you’ve been sickly since childhood, unable to even run properly, let alone learn swordsmanship.’

‘Of course.’

‘And yet you want to compete with the second prince and prove your qualifications?’

‘Yes, Your Majesty.’

‘It seems unlikely that you can even last five minutes.’

‘Again, we won’t know until we try.’

‘Are you that confident?’

‘Yes.’

‘To me, it seems reckless.’

‘Please be indulgent, for I have my own thoughts on this.’

‘Is that so?’

‘Yes, Your Majesty.’

As soon as his eldest son responded in that manner, a suspicion began to form within him. He sensed that the child was intentionally orchestrating this scenario, making a proposal that he knew would inevitably lead to his defeat.

Embracing this realization, he nodded his head with a sense of satisfaction.

‘Very well. I accept your proposal. I will decide the location of the duel and notify you. In 15 days, as you wish, prove your health by competing with the Second Prince in a sword duel. However, the condition of the competition is not victory, but enduring without falling for 5 minutes.’

‘…What?’

‘Consider it a small gesture of kindness from me.’

Undoubtedly, it was an act of benevolence.

In truth, it was an unavoidable outcome that the eldest son would be unable to surpass the Second Prince. In fact, it would be considered a miracle if he could endure even for a mere five minutes.

“I wonder if he can hold out for even 1 minute… or even 30 seconds.”

Lost in contemplation, the emperor muttered under his breath.

Before long, he shook his head with a heavy sigh.

The outcome of this duel was certain, with the inevitable triumph of the Second Prince. It was an undeniable conclusion, and it seemed highly likely that Raciel had been well aware of this fact right from the start.

Such thoughts consumed the emperor’s mind.

“Heh, I must have underestimated you. Your determination has never wavered.”

A sense of comprehension washed over the emperor as he contemplated Raciel’s true intentions.

The eldest son had purposefully opted for a fair duel to concede the “succession” instead of accepting the emperor’s lenient concession. It became clear that Raciel had planned to intentionally lose in an unimpeded duel, thereby passing on the position of Crown Prince to the Second Prince.

In doing so, Raciel aimed to bestow upon the Second Prince not only symbolic authority but also a more legitimate claim to power…

“You have chosen to sacrifice yourself, haven’t you?”

With a heavy heart, Emperor Asterion tightly gripped the armrest of his throne. A complex smile formed on his lips, a mixture of emotions.

Pride welled up within him.

His eldest son, who had often disappointed him and been deemed a lost cause, had independently made this remarkable decision. It brought immense satisfaction and a surge of pride.

Simultaneously, a tinge of sadness lingered.

The circumstances were tragic. His astute eldest son, the one who should have rightfully inherited the throne, could not do so in reality. Furthermore, the fact that his son had embraced the notion of self-sacrifice was heart-wrenching. From the perspective of a father, not just an emperor, it amplified the sorrow.

Unbeknownst to the emperor, however, he was entirely misconstruing Raciel’s true intentions in that moment. In other words, Raciel was now…

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ 

“Sacrifice my ass. Why should I lose? I have to win, no matter what.”

Seated inside the carriage en route to the palace, Raciel’s lips curled into a sly smirk.

The memory of his recent encounter with the emperor played vividly in his mind. He replayed the words spoken by the emperor, finding amusement in them. The more he pondered, the more his laughter bubbled forth.

It was irresistible.

‘That guy seemed to have misunderstood my proposal.’

Proposing a sword duel with the Second Prince, Raciel witnessed an initial disdainful reaction from the emperor. However, to his surprise, a warm smile gradually emerged on the emperor’s face. The pride evident in his eyes towards Raciel was an added bonus.

Perhaps the emperor interpreted Raciel’s proposal as a grand act of self-sacrifice, adding to his appreciation for it.

‘Probably so.’

In a peculiar manner, it turned out to be advantageous.

Being misunderstood in such a way brought a certain level of comfort.

Thanks to this misunderstanding, the emperor readily embraced Raciel’s proposal.

Yet, it appeared that the emperor was not the sole individual who held misconceptions. On the evening following the meeting with the emperor, an unexpected visitor arrived at the palace.

It was none other than the Second Prince.

“It’s been a while, brother. No, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“…”

“Actually, I heard some unbelievable news today… I was worried, so I came straight to you.”

“…”

“Your Highness?”

“Tsk.”

Raciel expressed his frustration with a click of his tongue.

There was no doubt about it.

The person who had suddenly appeared before him in the palace was unmistakably the Second Prince. He bore an uncanny resemblance to the depiction in the novel “Devil Sword Emperor.” However, it appeared that this individual, too, harbored a significant misconception regarding Raciel’s proposal.

“Worried? About what?”

Raciel responded with his characteristic bluntness, not one to mince words. The Second Prince took a seat across from him, wearing a sincere expression on his face.

“I’m worried that you’re pushing yourself too hard.”

“Pushing myself? Me?”

“Yes.”

“Pushing myself, on what?”

“You don’t have to go that far. A sword duel? When I heard the news… I felt afraid.”

“What’s there to be afraid of?”

“Aren’t you already struggling because of your illness?”

“So, you’re worried that I might collapse while preparing for the sword duel?”

“Your Highness. No, brother.”

“What?”

“Although I’m sorry to say this, you know the outcome, don’t you?”

“Outcome?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll win?”

“If the duel actually begins, there’s no other way it could turn out.”

“Well, I guess so.”

Raciel nodded in agreement.

Indeed, it was a duel for the coveted title of Crown Prince, a position that demanded unwavering commitment and determination. There was no space for half-hearted kindness or concessions in such a competition.

With that understanding, the Second Prince pressed on, continuing their conversation.

“As you know, there will be no change in the outcome. Sacrificing your health for such a result… I cannot bear it. You don’t have to do that. You don’t have to make such a sacrifice for me.”

“…”

“Actually, I know. I just met His Majesty a while ago. He also had a similar idea. He said that you deliberately held a difficult duel to grant me greater legitimacy through the duel.”

“…”

“I don’t want that kind of sacrifice. I’m not happy at all.”

“…”

“Your Highness?”

“Huh. What?”

“Is it because you can’t trust me?”

“What do you mean?”

“After handing over the position of the Crown Prince to me. In case I harm you or purge you, if you’re trying to create a political debt for me… You don’t have to worry about that.”

“…”

“I swear I will never harbor any ill will towards you. I won’t even think about keeping you in check. I will just embrace the greater responsibility in the position you have passed on to me and devote myself only to my duties. So, if you doubt me…”

“I never doubted you.”

Raciel swiftly interrupted the Second Prince, putting an abrupt halt to his words.

As he listened, it became apparent that the Second Prince was plunging deeper into an ocean of ceaseless misunderstandings.

“Whew. Everyone has such strong misunderstandings.”

The emperor and the Second Prince.

Their interpretations of the duel proposal were starkly divergent, residing in completely different realms of understanding.

‘I have no intention of losing, tsk.’

Given Raciel’s sickly appearance and frail disposition, to the point where he struggled to get through each day, it was only natural that no one anticipated him to emerge victorious in the duel against the Second Prince.

Such expectations were par for the course.

However, Raciel simply snickered in response.

“I understand how you feel.”

Raciel truly grasped the essence.

In the novel, ‘Theodor Palermo Magentano,’ the Second Prince was depicted as a genuinely admirable character. He possessed sincerity, intelligence, and a strong sense of responsibility. Among the cast of characters, he stood out as one of the few who genuinely mourned the loss of Crown Prince Raciel.

‘If only he had responded properly to the great war, that would have been nice.’

A character who had met a tragic fate due to his inability to fulfill his most crucial role.

That was the Second Prince Theodor in front of him.

Gazing directly at Theodor, Raciel spoke, “Anyway, it’s an irreversible situation now. I made a proposal to His Majesty, and he accepted it. But now you want to cancel it? Ridiculous.”

“Your Highness…”

“Go back. I want to rest.”

“Are you really going to choose such a futile sacrifice?”

“Let’s see on the day of the duel.”

With a dismissive wave of his hand, Raciel signaled the guards to courteously escort the Second Prince out of the room. 

As the Second Prince made his retreat, he cast a pitiful glance in Raciel’s direction. The bitter smile on Raciel’s face deepened, further influenced by the presence of Gardin, who had been discreetly searching through the room’s corners.

“Gardin?”

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“What are you doing?”

“Ah, as you can see, I’m packing things.”

It wasn’t a lie; Gardin had indeed begun tidying up his personal belongings within the room. Raciel arched an eyebrow inquisitively, intrigued by Gardin’s unexpected behavior.

“Packing things?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of things?”

“Moving things.”

“…Moving?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Explain.”

“Ah, that’s because… you’re going to have a duel with the Second Prince in a fortnight, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Yes, so when the duel is over, the position of the Crown Prince will be passed on to the Second Prince, and then you will no longer be the Crown Prince…”

“So, I’ll have to pack my things from this Star Palace, where the Crown Prince resides, and move to another palace?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Aha. So you’re packing in advance?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Gardin wore a proud expression on his face, exuding an air of accomplishment. It was almost as if he was silently proclaiming, ‘Did I not do an excellent job?’

“Wow. Our Gardin is so well-prepared and thorough, huh? Very impressive, right?”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Yeah, well. But what should I do?”

“Pardon?”

“If I win the duel, I might have to fire you, Gardin.”

“…Pardon?”

“I said, I’ll fire you.”

“…Yes?”

“Choose. Should I fire you from your job or cut off your head?”

“But, Your Highness?”

“Huh. What?”

“It’s okay if you fire me or cut anything. However-“

“However?”

“Isn’t it too much for you to have a sword duel considering your physical condition…?”

“…Tsk.”

Today seemed to be a day rife with misunderstandings.

Even Gardin seemed caught up in the same pattern.

Raciel’s disappointment was evident as he cast a disapproving gaze at Gardin and clicked his tongue in frustration.

“What’s too much? I’m going to win.”

“Really?”

“I have a way to win.”

A grin spread across Raciel’s face.

Enduring for a mere five minutes in a duel against the Second Prince.

It was a means to shatter everyone’s expectations in that encounter.

With confidence, Raciel revealed the secret plan he had harbored from the very start.