Surviving As the 5th Prince of the Ruined Kingdom

031

‘Perhaps I shouldn’t remove that mask?’

Conversation is not conducted solely through language. Even the slightest facial expressions serve as excellent means of communication.

Gerth’s eyes, which trembled as if struck by an earthquake in response to my question, and his averted gaze were prime examples of this.

In that sense, conversing with Austin, whose face was concealed by a fox mask, could not help but be uncomfortable.

I had heard a rough account from Alphonso.

‘He said there was a large scar on his face, didn’t he?’

While I personally wouldn’t mind, it would be inappropriate for me to ask Austin to remove his mask, as it was clearly a complex issue for him.

I briefly glanced at Austin’s status window, which I had opened the moment we met.

[Relationship: Normal]

At least I could detect no drastic psychological changes, which was a relief. I silently observed Austin, who continued to exude a chilly aura.

Realizing that I was staring intently at his fox mask, Austin straightened his previously leaning posture.

“…Surely… there is no such person, is there?”

I smiled faintly at Austin, who seemed to have deduced the answer himself.

If one thought about it carefully, it was an easily solvable problem. I had clearly intended to frame a member of the Royal Council on the First Prince’s side as the culprit behind the Fourth Prince’s assassination, using fabricated evidence.

I had simply added a few provocative seasonings to that plan. Among them, the mention of the ‘demonic tribe’ was an especially provocative seasoning akin to MSG, which is why I had refrained from mentioning it when meeting Pran.

“We must create it together. If there is any member of the First Prince’s faction that you disliked the most, feel free to speak up without hesitation.”

“…… Your Highness the Fifth Prince, you were more terrifying than I had expected. If the demon race and the royals become entangled, the dignity of the royal family will come crashing down to the ground.”

In the history of my previous life, when those in power wanted to get rid of opposing human factions they disliked, they often resorted to accusing them of treason.

The present life is not much different.

However, there is something even more powerful than treason. It is to entangle them with the demon race.

In the distant past, the demon race, who are said to have ‘domesticated’ different races including humans, were such a taboo existence.

Well, even without those old tales, considering that a small village would have to be sacrificed to make a contract with the demon race, it was understandable.

“I wonder if Austin, an officer of the Northern Liberation Army, would be concerned about the dignity of the royal family.”

I believe the incompetence of the royal family and their negligence also contributed to the downfall of the North. It’s unlikely that the Northern Liberation Army would have good feelings towards the royal family.

“……”

“……”

A moment of silence.

Due to the fox mask, not even a hint of emotional change could be read. Wearing a mask was indeed an unfair advantage.

Just as I was about to speak, Austin spoke first.

“…… If a member of the Royal Council is linked to the demon race and it goes wrong, the Northern Liberation Army could instead be branded as a threat to the continent.”

“So we have to do it right.”

“Ha…… It’s not that simple. First, we need evidence that the royal we’re targeting has made a contract with the demon race, but as you know, the Necronomicon is not something you can obtain just because you want it.”

There are grimoires left behind by the demon race in the middle realm before they fell into the demon realm.

Those collectively referred to as the [Necronomicon] are dangerous objects that allow one to attempt a contract with the demon race.

They are confiscated by the Holy Church whenever discovered.

– Alfonso, by the way, about that lunatic from the Northern Liberation Army who tried to make a contract with the demon race that you mentioned earlier. Did you properly dispose of the Necronomicon he used? You didn’t report it to the church, did you?

– Of course not! If the Northern Liberation Army’s involvement is discovered, it would be a huge problem. I tried burning it, but it wouldn’t burn, so I hid it in a place only my master and I know about, where it will never see the light of day again…… Your Highness? Why are you suddenly deep in thought like that?

I smiled, recalling my conversation with Alfonso.

“Ah, don’t worry about that. I can obtain one. The Necronomicon.”

“…… What? Where on earth would you get that from!”

Austin asked in a slightly shaky voice.

He seemed a bit surprised by my casual tone, as if I could easily obtain it from the local general store.

“However, once you hear it, the Northern Liberation Army will have to participate in my plan no matter what. Will that be alright?”

“…… It’s starting to sound terrifying.”

“There is another way. To permanently silence me here…… But I believe you won’t do that.”

“I won’t do it. Such an act!”

“That Necronomicon, someone from the Northern Liberation Army tried to use it but couldn’t. Was it Chris Baehr?”

“…….”

Ah, indeed, talking to someone wearing a mask is no fun. I wonder what kind of expression they’re making under there?

The fact that someone from the Northern Liberation Army tried to make a contract with the demon tribe was something that must never be spread to the world.

“You really won’t do it?”

I asked, pretending to choke myself with my hands.

“…….”

They didn’t get irritated and deny it like before, which made me a little scared.

“…… I don’t think someone plotting a terrifying plan like the Prince would carelessly blurt out such a story without any precautions.”

That’s right.

I’m no fool either.

If I were to go missing here, there was no need to mention things like how a letter would arrive at every shrine or something like that.

“Well, think whatever is comfortable for you.”

“Who else knows that fact…… Ah, it must be Alphonso. Besides Alphonso and the Prince, is there anyone else who knows that fact?”

“Now Austin knows too. Well, I’m not sure how many more people know about it.”

It wasn’t exactly a lie, since although it wasn’t left in the form of ‘records’, it could be in someone’s head.

“From the Northern Liberation Army’s standpoint, it would be better for the Necronomicon that the madman Chris Baehr had to be used frugally rather than hidden away in some secret place.”

“…….”

“Ah, I have one question. After this meeting today, will the executives have to gather for another meeting? I received a summons to attend a hearing this morning, so there’s not much time left.”

Austin, who had been sparing with words, answered this time.

“Including me, the other executives agreed that the sooner the decision is made, the better. We’ve agreed to follow my decision after meeting the Prince.”

“So, what will it be? Will you join me?”

“Give me a moment….. Give me a moment to think.”

“Of course.”

I waited for his answer while admiring the ghost hands tap dancing above Austin’s head.

***

Looking at Evan with his relaxed smile, Austin was grateful his expression wasn’t visible due to the mask he wore.

It felt like an eerie feeling of receiving a test paper with only one choice.

Evan knew that someone from the Northern Liberation Army had tried to make a contract with the demon tribe. He even knew the location of the Necronomicon.

It could be seen as a contribution to the continent. To avoid becoming enemies, we must board the same ship.

‘Prince Evan Lionel the Fifth…….’

The depths of his schemes were unfathomable.

Ostin imagined what would happen after Evan’s plan succeeded.

‘Exposing the royal culprit…… Of course, the Fifth Prince himself would do that?’

It would look better for a member of the royal family to cut out their own rotten flesh than for the Northern Liberation Army to step forward.

Although his expression said to hell with royal dignity during the conversation, he would certainly take action.

‘It will etch the name of Prince Evan Lionel the Fifth clearly into the minds of the kingdom’s people.’

And that’s not all.

Naturally, the Northern Liberation Army would be seen as just an organization under the Fifth Prince’s command. No matter how much they denied it.

So is that a loss for the Northern Liberation Army?

‘No.’

From the Northern Liberation Army’s perspective, there is nothing particularly disadvantageous. The perception of being an organization under the Fifth Prince versus being seen as a leaderless guerrilla group is a world of difference.

Ostin could not even begin to guess how many birds Evan intended to fell with this one stone.

‘Just 13 years old…….’

Is the royal palace the kind of place that turns a boy who hasn’t even come of age into such a monster?

As he had that thought, tales of the heroic Fourth Prince the Vagabond flitted through Ostin’s mind.

‘The Fifth Prince is special.’

Ostin could only admit it. And he let out an inward sigh of regret.

‘Someone like that should have been in the Northern Liberation Army.’

Startled by the thought that flashed through his mind, Ostin shook his head vigorously.

Seeing this, Evan asked with a serious expression, “Are you refusing?”

“Ah, no!”

“Then you will join me.”

“Just a little more time.”

“What’s troubling you so? You don’t think my proposal will harm the Northern Liberation Army…… Ah, if the plan fails, that would be a bit troublesome.”

That’s not it!

Ostin cried out inwardly.

For some reason, the thought that Evan’s planned undertaking would go awry never even occurred to him.

Austin was worried about······ Yeah, whether this incident would become an opportunity to hand over the entire Northern Liberation Army to Evan.

His father had gathered the survivors from the North to form the Northern Liberation Army. He felt an instinctive aversion to being handed over entirely into someone else’s hands like a weed.

“If things go smoothly, what will be the relationship between the Prince and the Northern Liberation Army?”

“What will it be? It’ll be a good relationship.”

Evan answered with a grin.

“Are you perhaps worried that I might later take control of the Northern Liberation Army and shake things up?”

Austin was momentarily speechless at the pointed question.

“Don’t you want that?”

“······What do you mean?”

“I think it would be far better than the current state of the Northern Liberation Army drifting along based on the ‘consensus’ of officers without a center of gravity.”

Austin couldn’t think of anything to say in response.

Even with the current matter.

Although swift decisions were needed, time was wasted as the officers gathered and held meetings. It was fortunate that a smooth consensus was eventually reached.

“From the Northern Liberation Army’s perspective, isn’t it enough if they can take revenge on those who brought about the downfall of the North and rebuild their house? It doesn’t seem important at all who’s giving them orders. Ah, of course, I don’t mean that I’ll try to forcibly do something to the Northern Liberation Army on the occasion of this incident.”

“It sounds like you’re saying the Northern Liberation Army won’t refuse to follow the Prince.”

“It would be an honor.”

At Evan’s natural response, Austin closed his eyes for a moment.

He envisioned the 5th Prince, who had united the power of the North, marching towards the lost territories of the kingdom.

It was a sight that made his heart swell just imagining it.

Austin couldn’t understand at all why such a future was being envisioned.

– Father, why do we follow the Bairn Marquis?

– I see you’ve been listening to some talk. It must have been something like the Saturn Viscount cleaning the Bairn Marquis’s outhouse.

– No, what······.

– It’s alright. It’s not entirely wrong either. Hmm······ You’ll encounter someone one day where you think, ‘Ah! That person! I have to follow that person!’

– Was the Bairn Marquis that person for you?

– He was for me.

– I don’t want to follow anyone as much as I want to lead.

– hahahahaha, do that if you can.

– You’re laughing because you don’t think I can do it now?

– Think what you will.

Memories of conversations with his father in childhood kept ringing in his ears.

‘You were not mistaken.’

He now knows that he himself is not fit to lead anyone.

Austin slowly opened his eyes.

“So who is the target you had in mind, Your Highness?”

Evan smiled brightly and spoke.

“Beortio Rion. A wealthy landowner in the south with vast farmlands, a man rumored to bathe in the blood of virgins every night.”

“Beortio Rion……”

“The hardliners within the Northern Liberation Army will also approve. For he is the one who suddenly stabbed the royalists in the back during the Hamel Empire’s invasion, switching sides to the First Prince’s camp and blocking food supplies to the north.”

“Sounds like a good choice. So what is the detailed plan?”

Austin waited for Evan’s mouth to open, expecting him to surprise with yet another outrageous plan.

“…….”

“Your Highness?”

“……. That is something we should think about together. How could I devise a detailed plan when I have not fully grasped the Northern Liberation Army’s strength?”

“That’s……. true.”

“Do not worry. A perfect plan will be made soon.”

Evan’s confident demeanor firmly gripped Austin’s heart, which had been slightly shaken in his evaluation of him.