The 3rd Prince of the Fallen Kingdom Returns

6. Escape from the Royal Palace (1)

Me, me.

Yuri wanted to raise his hand.

He had fought countless times against orcs as a mercenary. They were opponents he never wished to face again.

Count Sidore, who had become an object of fear even to such creatures, was indeed an extraordinary person.

Calcio continued speaking with a belligerent grin.

“Do you think those monster-like orcs would care about the ‘Mana Method’?”

Baron Defer, lost for words, shut his mouth.

Sensing Gennad’s discomfort, another noble quickly spoke up.

“Well, you’re not entirely wrong. But even so, the Prince is still young, and his judgment…”

“You mean immature?”

“Well…”

Calcio looked at Yuri. Yuri, in turn, gazed at the noble.

Unable to continue, the noble faltered.

“See? Immature, you say? And besides…”

Calcio patted his chest.

“In any case, it seems the Prince has no intention of backing down. Are you thinking of forcibly extracting the core?”

“What nonsense!”

“If not, what’s the point?”

Calcio leaned back on his chair like a street thug.

“Won’t the Prince agree?”

He grinned, showing his teeth, not intimidated by Yuri in the slightest.

Yuri shrugged instead of responding.

“See? Yet, everyone is sitting here harming the Prince’s mental health. The palace is truly idle, isn’t it?”

“Idle? What an insolent thing to say!”

“But it’s the truth.”

“If that’s the case, isn’t the border quiet these days too? Receiving such a budget…”

“Is it only considered ‘quiet’ when hundreds of people die? You don’t even look at the soldiers who die regularly, do you?”

“The border has been quiet recently…”

“Four soldiers died the day I left the frontier. I personally covered a friend I had breakfast with that morning in a shroud.”

“……”

“Orcs never take a break, my lord.”

Yuri recalled the past.

Around this time, there was a problem in the Klein Duchy, adjacent to Briol, allowing the orcs to cross the border.

He remembered the damage was staggering back then.

Yuri asked, “Are the orcs moving?”

“Yes.”

“Is it different from usual?”

“Much foreboding.”

“How’s Klein?”

“What?”

At Calcio’s gaze, Yuri tapped his temple.

“I’m asking about the Klein Duchy.”

“Oh…”

The Baron scratched his head and replied.

“It seems the border guard has withdrawn. There seems to be an issue.”

“How about the border villages there?”

“They’ve been scorched.”

Yuri closed his eyes.

It was probably a civil war.

He wished he had more useful information, but nothing significant came to mind. Too preoccupied with mischief, he hadn’t paid attention to the affairs of Briol or other countries.

He regretted it.

While Yuri mulled over his memories, Calcio hurriedly continued speaking.

“It’s terrible. People die or get taken as slaves. Not that the nobles care.”

Yuri muttered to himself without realizing it.

“Did the Duke’s third son cause trouble…”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward him.

Some cast sharp glances, seemingly probing his intentions, while others wore surprised expressions as if questioning whether they had heard him correctly.

Who wouldn’t be taken aback to hear the young prince, a troublemaking Third Prince, speak as if he knew the affairs of other countries by heart?

Yuri cleared his throat.

“In any case, it seems this meeting is sufficient, don’t you think?”

“Sufficient, you say.”

“Discuss larger topics instead of trivial matters like my ‘Mana Method.’ Defense against the Klein Duchy and the orcs, for example.”

Saying so, Yuri stood up.

Even though he was still a small boy, no one present could restrain him.

Regardless, he was the son of Fiore Briol and Briol’s Third Prince.

Yuri straightened his back and glanced at the faces of the nobles one by one.

Finally, he met eyes with Gennad.

“Your Highness.”

He paused briefly before speaking again.

“I have heard you’ve changed quite a bit recently. As a loyal subject concerned for you, I find it a little worrying.”

The look in his eyes had dimmed.

He no longer seemed like the third-rate noble with cheap flattery.

Duke Yujes, Gennad Jetteri.

A corrupt noble but one who should never be underestimated.

However, Yuri wasn’t afraid of him. That was true both in his previous life and now.

But the reason was slightly different.

Before, it was because he lived recklessly without a care.

Now, it was because he truly understood what one should be afraid of.

“Duke Yujes.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Have you never seen a boy going through adolescence?”

Gennad let out a dry laugh.

“It’s that kind of phase; please understand.”

With those words, Yuri turned his body.

Ignoring the piercing gazes on his back, Yuri walked out of the council chamber.

* * *

As soon as Calcio Elancha left the palace, he returned to his lodgings and took out the crystal ball carefully stored in his backpack.

After polishing its smooth surface with a cloth, he placed it on the table.

“Are you there?”

He spoke to the crystal ball.

“This is Calcio, Count.”

After a while, the face of Count Sidore, Jaime Theodore, appeared.

Though he wasn’t very old, deep wrinkles etched his face due to his long years in the field.

Two scars crossing his eyes and cheeks were left by an orc chieftain just before it died.

[How was the Council meeting?]

The texture of his voice was rough and slow, with pauses as if he was catching his breath.

“It was the usual empty prattle.”

[In detail.]

Calcio described what had transpired.

Jaime tilted his head.

[The Third Prince did all that?]

“Yes.”

[He wasn’t like that before.]

“Rumors are rife that he’s different now. Though how serious this is remains to be seen.”

[What do you think?]

“I didn’t mind his gaze.”

[We need to watch him closely. What about the Council nobles?]

“Exactly as you predicted. They showed no concern.”

[Of course.]

“I’ll speak directly to His Majesty.”

[He won’t budge.]

“If I explain well enough…”

“Fiore isn’t a bad king, but he also can’t be considered a good one.”

“Hang on a moment.”

Calcio checked the corridor outside through the door and locked it.

“If someone hears you speaking so freely, I’ll get dragged away.”

[Don’t worry. As I said, he isn’t a bad king.]

“He seemed like a kind person to me.”

[Regardless of his character, he’s a man obsessed with the sword.]

Jaime furrowed his brows.

[Those obsessed with the sword have no interest in the outside world.]

“So you mean he’ll let Klein be?”

[Probably.]

“That will leave some side exposed. It’ll be exhausting…”

[What about the Third Prince?]

“What do you mean?”

[Find out.]

“Do you want me to dig around?”

[If needed.]

“I’ll do so. How are the borders?”

[The same as always.]

Suddenly, Jaime turned his head.

Urgent voices were heard beyond the crystal ball. A battle seemed to be unfolding.

[I’ll contact you again.]

“Yes.”

Calcio bowed to Jaime and put the crystal ball away.

“Now, what to do…”

He leaned against the window, sighing deeply.

The bustling streets of the royal capital stretched below. To someone who always stayed at the border, it was a foreign landscape.

The capital was so peaceful, yet soldiers died at the border daily.

Groaning at this gap, Calcio stared blankly down below.

“What…?”

Then what did he see? Calcio doubted his eyes.

“The Third Prince?”

The black hair flowing out of the hood was familiar.

It was Yuri Briol.

However, his figure soon disappeared into the crowd.

Calcio, who had been staring blankly at the spot, shook his head.

“No way, surely.”

* * *

Yuri was walking through the royal capital with his hood pulled low.

“This is exhilarating. It reminds me of the old days when I used to run away from home quite often.”

“Did you run away three times a day?”

“Pretty much. I was a delinquent, you see. I used to fly over walls.”

“You used ‘Fly’ magic as a child?”

“I was a prodigy.”

Yuri had intended to bring Jared, but he was on duty guarding the palace entrance.

Thus, he brought Hernando.

He seemed quite excited.

“What’s got you so thrilled? You can come out of the palace anytime.”

“But you can’t, Your Highness.”

“So what?”

“I feel like I’m rebelling too. Oh, a little lady is looking at us. Did she recognize us?”

“It’s because I’m handsome.”

“What?”

With Hernando’s help, Yuri left the palace. Deceiving others was an easy task for him.

“So, what will you do now? Up to no good?”

“That won’t be happening. Even if it does, not with you around.”

“I’m hurt.”

It seemed Hernando was sticking close to Yuri, but he was, after all, one of Fiore’s confidants.

Yuri wanted to make Hernando his ally.

“Hernando, I hope you won’t speak of today’s events.”

“Oh, I can’t promise that. You know this, right?”

“Suit yourself.”

“Where are you heading now?”

“Gambling Hall.”

“What?”

“Illegal gambling hall”

“What?”

“The largest one in the capital.”

“What?”

“Don’t you know?”

“But you just said you wouldn’t do anything bad…”

“I won’t, so lead the way.”

“Well, I mean…”

“Are you going to say you don’t know?”

“Well, I know. I know it well. They say that’s where I end up if I pass out drunk.”

“Let’s go quietly.”

“I wonder if this will be okay…”

Yuri glanced around.

People hustled and bustled with various expressions. Some were smiling, others were deep in thought.

Suddenly, he made eye contact with a street vendor. The vendor waved and pointed to his goods on display.

“Have a look before you go!”

The entire city buzzed with life.

In his past life, all of this had been trampled under the boots of the Empire.

The tragic scene then felt completely disconnected from the bustling royal capital now.

“Hernando.”

“Yes?”

“Let me say this in advance.”

“Say what?”

“It’s all for Briol.”

Misunderstanding Yuri’s words, Hernando looked tense.

“How much are you thinking of giving her…?”

Hernando licked his lips.

“Fine. Let’s turn the gambling hall upside down. With Your Highness’s skills, it’s certainly possible.”

Yuri chuckled softly.

Hernando overestimated his card-playing skills.

Yuri’s sweeping victories in the palace card games were due to a few tricks, not because he could win against a gambling hall.

More importantly, Yuri had no intention of gambling today.

“Lead the way quickly.”

They soon reached the red-light district. Scantily clad women enticed passersby.

“Don’t look at such things.”

Hernando tried to cover Yuri’s eyes. Yuri swatted his hand away.

“Enough, just show me the way.”

“Sure…”

The two stood in front of a five-story brothel.

Beads strung together hung over the windows, twinkling with every angle the sunlight hit.

The sight was not unfamiliar to Yuri.

Crystal Pavilion.

The largest brothel in the royal capital. He had visited it often in his past life.

“The gambling hall is in the basement, right?”

“How do you know that?”

“It just looks like it.”

A man guarding the entrance recognized Hernando.

“It’s been a while, sir. And this gentleman…?”

“He’s…”

“Nephew.”

“Yes, my nephew.”

“Hahaha, I see. A handsome young man.”

The man rubbed his hands together as he spoke.

“An adult should teach drinking and gambling, don’t you think?”

“Well, yes.”

“Would you like to go upstairs…?”

“Oh no! Such talk!”

“Hahaha, so you’re headed downstairs.”

“Yes. Please show us the way.”

“Hahaha. Certainly. Follow me.”

They headed down to the basement through a back door. Muscular men guarded the stairs.

“Your Highness, regarding this place…”

“Watch your mouth.”

“Oh, what should I call you?”

“You mentioned nephew, right?”

“Even so…”

“Call me whatever you like.”

The door opened.

Reddish lighting welcomed them.

The tables stretched endlessly, all without an empty spot, while gamblers with bloodshot eyes relentlessly pushed chips forward.

“Would you like me to escort you to an inside table?”

The man asked in a subtle tone, hinting that they should move to the VIP section where the larger bets were placed.

“Before that.”

Yuri spoke.

“I forgot to bring money, so I need a loan.”

“What?”

“Isn’t that right, uncle?”

Hernando’s face showed bewilderment, while the man’s face held a cryptic smile.

“Of course. Certainly, hahahaha.”

Hernando impiously poked Yuri’s side, but Yuri ignored it.

“Loan consultations are always welcome.”