Arai's Perspective
While I was talking with Mizuki and the little princess, Prince Greed suddenly approached and requested a private conversation.
He began with trivial and unimportant topics, then surprised me with a question:
"Should I treat you like a child? Or as an equal?"
He seemed serious, dropping formalities to reveal his true intentions.
I replied with a calm smile:
"How could I possibly consider myself your equal, Your Highness? Please treat me as you deem appropriate."
Greed smiled as he swirled his drink in the glass.
"What are your thoughts on the current state of the kingdom?"
Though I felt uneasy about his question, I decided to answer honestly:
"The King is still young and in good health, so there's no immediate fear of a struggle for the throne."
"Our eastern adversaries, the Hatnam Empire, ceased their invasions fifteen years ago. With Verdi's presence and the steadfast defense of the Green Flow Mountain, there's little reason to worry about any future attacks."
Verdi was a five-rank mage, and the "Rolan" name alone was enough to deter invaders!
As for the Green Flow Mountain, it was a mountainous region on the eastern border, home to a significant number of magical beasts ranging from Class B to Class A. This prevented the Hatnam Empire from recklessly invading through that route.
Magical beasts, or rather "animals," could absorb and use mana, evolving to form magical cores.
Their classifications were as follows:
D > C > B > A > S > SS > SSS.
Of course, Verdi taught me this.
I glanced toward Duke Gustav and continued:
"The living conditions for the populace are excellent, and the Masayik family manages this aspect with great care."
I was well-acquainted with the kingdom's affairs; I hadn't spent three years reading books in vain. Still, I summarized my answer as concisely as possible.
"Very well said. You're impressively knowledgeable," Greed praised with satisfaction, though it was a compliment I didn't particularly welcome.
"Now, be honest, who do you think has the greatest chance of inheriting the throne?"
Another question.
I sighed internally... Couldn't he take the hint?
I already mentioned, "The King is young and healthy," to avoid this topic. But his inability to read between the lines only revealed his lack of perception.
Why did I want to avoid this question?
King Lanovel had two sons and one daughter. The first prince, Yorker, had the highest chance of succeeding to the throne.
I had heard that Prince Yorker was an exceptional genius in the kingdom's history. During his awakening rite, he manifested the royal family's emblem—a Blue Clover with three leaves—which hadn't appeared for several generations.
He was even on the verge of mastering sword aura! Despite being only twenty years old, I'd heard he was at the early stage of three rank.
Sword aura was a unique power distinct from mana. It didn't require the use of mana but demanded a deep understanding of weapons like swords, spears, or others, along with rigorous training. Most importantly, it required talent.
This was why Prince Greed's chances of claiming the throne weren't particularly high. I didn't know much about him, but based on what I'd seen so far, I'd rate him as "average" or slightly above.
If he were a truly skilled strategist, he could've exploited various opportunities. For instance, he could have used his royal authority to arrange a marriage with Mizuki, putting us in a difficult position and forcing our support. Of course, we could refuse, as our contributions to the kingdom were significant. Had he pursued this route, I might have been more cautious around him, but it seemed unnecessary for now.
"So you want an honest answer, huh?"
I hesitated deliberately, feigning uncertainty.
"I-I don't know much about royal matters, but I've heard the first prince has the best chance of succeeding."
Feigning hesitation and innocence was essential, I was still a five-year-old child on the outside, even if I looked knowledgeable!
"Oh? And why is that?" Prince Greed asked, not appearing angry but rather intrigued.
This guy completely ignored my second hint!
I didn't say "I think," but "I've heard," clearly signaling my indifference to knowing the victor!!
"I've heard... he's immensely talented."
A glint of madness and greed lit up Prince Greed's eyes. He abruptly dropped his glass, grabbed my shoulders, and said: "Arai Rolan, what do you think about cooperating with me? With your great talent and my intelligence, I doubt even my royal brother could stand in our way!"
"My royal father hasn't named a crown prince yet, which means he's giving me a chance—a chance to stand on equal footing with my royal brother!"
"I already have the approval of the heir of the Masayk family, as well as the heir of the Kahart family. You're the only one left."
"You're also engaged to my royal sister, which means we're in the same boat! We're practically brothers, and brothers should help one another, right?"
By the time he finished, Prince Greed was panting heavily.
Really... How desperate was this guy for the throne? And what did he mean by "your talent"? What talent?
The mix of allure and veiled threats might've worked on a five-year-old, but unfortunately for him, I wasn't five.
I could now clearly see that he suffered from an inferiority complex toward his older brother, driving him to overcompensate by seeking the throne, not out of genuine desire but as a means to fill the void.
He even used his sister as a bargaining chip, indicating how his character was deteriorating under this complex.
'The darkness of royal families runs as deep as an endless abyss.' I thought, shaking my head internally.
He claimed to have secured the support of the other heirs, which meant that while Prince Yorcker had unmatched personal strength and talent, Prince Greed compensated by consolidating the kingdom's financial and political power, along with noble alliances.
If I agreed, it would effectively grant him military strength, as I was the heir of the Rolan family.
"So, you're threatening me with your sister? Why not turn that against you instead?" Sorry, little princess, but I'll have to use your name for this.
I chuckled, shedding any pretense of childishness, and said:
"Apologies, Your Highness, but if I were to support anyone for the throne, it would be Princess Lilith."
By saying this, any pretense of innocence was now meaningless.
"As you mentioned earlier, the Princess and I are in the same boat. This means our destinies are intertwined. There's no law barring women from ascending the throne, and with my family's support, I believe this is a viable option."
"According to the records, if the Rolan family supports a princess, it equates to the backing of two dukes and military strength, correct?"
"Preferably, we'd like to remain neutral. However, if we must choose, we'll side with the princesses."
"You... know that?"
A look of shock appeared on Prince Greed's face at my knowledge of such matters. Tch, did you think I was unaware of this level of secrecy?
It was an unwritten rule: Rolan family support = the throne.
This was why princes always desperately sought our backing, and it was precisely why Verdi warned me before the banquet began.
"I'm sure even Your Highness wouldn't want a third faction of equal power to emerge, would you?"
From what I'd observed, someone like Princess Lilith might not possess the traits of a monarch, but that didn't mean we couldn't guide her from the shadows. Throughout our family's long history, we have always maintained neutrality in succession conflicts. If forced to choose, we aligned with princesses due to ties of marriage or other connections.
I didn't fully understand the reason behind this yet. I would've nearly forgotten about it if not for my conversation with Prince Greed. I thought of asking Verdi for clarification after the banquet ended.
Prince Greed took a deep breath to calm himself, then asked, in a quiet but chillingly cold voice, "Arai Rolan, does this mean you're rejecting me?"
"What are you saying, Your Highness? I haven't rejected anything. I'll simply do what I believe is appropriate as the family heir."
"Good, very good." Prince Greed suddenly laughed coldly and said,
"Ha-ha, you'll do what's 'appropriate,' won't you? I hope it's as 'appropriate' as you claim, heh."
With one last cryptic chuckle, he left, radiating malice.
And this was why I loathed politics.
This person didn't hesitate to use his sister as a pawn, and he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate his older brother from the throne.
How many rulers had risen to power by walking over the corpses of their siblings and followers?
Life is short; why waste it on ruling instead of pursuing more importing desires?
Ruling over others for the sake of pride and arrogance, what's the point? I'd rather rot in a lab than do that.
'I'll never understand these people.' I thought, smirking cynically.
I watched Prince Greed's retreating with cold eyes.
...
The rest of the birthday passed without incident. Thankfully, the most tiresome part—dancing, ended smoothly. As the star of the event, I had no choice but to dance with numerous ladies, starting with the princess herself.
Some of the younger ladies even tried to charm me! Seriously? Isn't being engaged to the princess enough of a deterrent? Honestly, the lengths they'd go to for a shot at the title of the duchess, even being a 5 aged concubine seemed to satisfy them.
After dinner, we finally kicked the guests out.
Before leaving, Prince Greed gave me one last look a "young master's glare" that seemed to say, "You'll regret this." Not that I cared. I doubted he'd attempt anything bold anytime soon.
Mizuki seemed genuinely fond of Princess Lilith, clinging to her until the very last moment before reluctantly saying goodbye. Of course, she made Lilith promise to visit us soon—multiple times, at that.
What a nuisance! If I had my way, I'd steer clear of anything remotely related to politics. My dream? Quietly grow stronger, gain knowledge at a steady pace, and eventually vanish, never to return. That would be the life.
As soon as the banquet ended, I collapsed into bed, completely exhausted.
I despise formal gatherings forever, I thought with a weary sigh as sleep overtook me.
It had been a truly draining day.
Third-Person Perspective
Inside the Royal Carriage
As the royal carriage headed back to the palace, Princess Lilith rested her head on King Lanovel's lap, fast asleep. Across from them sat Prince Greed, his face sullen and tense, while Lanovel's expression remained impassive.
The carriage moved swiftly and smoothly, like a fleeting beam of light.
Inside, silence prevailed.
"Did you manage to recruit him?" Lanovel asked, though Greed's expression already provided the answer.
"No, I failed," Greed replied, lowering his head.
Lanovel had brought Greed to the banquet specifically to secure my allegiance for Greed's faction in the ongoing struggle for the throne.
And yet… Greed had failed.
'Arai Rolan, you're a dangerous variable in this battle for the throne! If you won't join my side, I'll have to erase you!' No doubt Greed was already plotting, a twisted grin creeping onto his face without him even realizing it.
Lanovel noticed that malicious smile and shook his head in pity. This son of his had become a profound disappointment.
If Greed acted recklessly, Lanovelwouldn't intervene further; in fact, he might even personally hand over Greed's head to Verdi should anything go wrong.
As king, Lanovel couldn't afford to think about familial ties. His sole focus was the kingdom and its people. From the moment he ascended the throne and donned the royal crown, his shoulders had borne the heavy responsibilities of the realm. Everything he did was dictated by those responsibilities.
He was a king, after all, and being king meant always looking at the bigger picture.
If Greed tried something foolish—like provoking the Rolan family by harming or killing me—Lanovel wouldn't hesitate to deal with him. Losing one son wouldn't break him; he wasn't an old man yet, and he could always have more children.
Provoking the Rolan family would mean losing Verdi, the kingdom's only fifth-ranked mage. Lanovel knew Verdi's personality well, he wasn't a rational individual but an emotional one.
Lanovel was certain that if anything happened to Verdi's children, Verdi would retaliate immediately, even against the royal family.
The risk wasn't worth it. Though he was a five-rank enhancer, being king meant he couldn't afford to fight on the front lines.
If Verdi decided to leave the kingdom, Lanovel would have no way to stop him. For this reason, the royal family had never dared to suppress the Rolan family. However, Lanovel also maintained the dignity of his crown, ensuring mutual respect between the two.
To mitigate his unease about Verdi's presence, Lanofil often sent him to the front lines. But now that the kingdom was at peace, he had no choice but to tolerate his presence.
Frankly, Lanovel didn't care much about Greed's life. He had only brought him to the banquet to create some semblance of balance between his children.
Of his three offspring, the eldest was prodigiously talented but showed little interest in staying in the kingdom or ruling it. The second, Greed, was an unremarkable young master with limited intelligence. The third, Lilith, had essentially been "sold" to the Rolan family as part of some secretive arrangement.
'Do I need to have more children?' Lanovel wondered as he gently patted Lilith's head, sighing as he cleared his mind. Within moments, he regained his usual composure.
Being king… was utterly exhausting.