Chapter 78
Although he was an abandoned prince in the Imperial Palace, he was able to obtain a lot of information precisely because no one paid attention to him.
He learned about imperial affairs from the maids’ stories, and the true feelings of the empire’s people from Rocfen.
He probably knew more than the mediocre nobles.
And because he knew so much, he couldn’t help but be wary of the man in front of him.
Why on earth was he being polite to someone as insignificant as himself?
Duty as a loyal subject?
It was already common knowledge that Duke Dearrut despised the Emperor.
Ah, could it be because of the Duchess…?
As the Third Prince pondered, he recalled more of the gossip he had heard from the maids.
They had said that the reason for the commotion in the Empress’s Palace was because of the Duchess.
Come to think of it, the reason he ended up at the Dearrut Duchy today was because he had saved the Duchess.
Of course, he hadn’t really done much to save the Duchess.
Strangely enough, the Duchess firmly believed that he had saved her.
Anyway, is he showing me kindness because of the Duchess?
Alvin recalled the Duchess, who had looked like a small rabbit.
The man sitting in front of him was like a black lion, but his wife was like a rabbit.
It was quite mismatched, but if Duke Dearrut considered his wife special, he could understand why.
Everything about her had been warm.
Her golden eyes that looked at him, her small hands that held his, and her holy power.
They contained a warmth that Alvin had never properly felt before.
Especially when her holy power enveloped him, it felt like being embraced by a mother.
Even though he had never been embraced by his mother.
If his circumstances weren’t like this, she was someone he would want to get close to, she was so warm.
As Alvin was thinking about Alice, Kylus broke the silence.
“You seem to be deep in thought, Your Highness.”
“Ah, I was just thinking about the Duchess for a moment…”
Alvin, who had answered unconsciously, stopped speaking when he saw the black eyes sharpen.
“So you were thinking about my wife.”
It was true that he had been thinking about her, but he had a feeling that it wouldn’t be good to admit it.
And his intuition was rarely wrong.
Alvin swallowed nervously and slowly opened his mouth.
“…As I was thinking about what happened today, I briefly recalled the Duchess. It was all quite unexpected, after all.”
Kylus’s hardened face softened slightly as he looked at the Third Prince.
And he was a bit surprised by the Third Prince’s natural way of redirecting the conversation.
He should have been abandoned by the imperial family and not received proper education.
But his behavior and speech suggested that he had received at least basic education.
And he was quick-witted too.
Whether he was dead or alive.
For someone who had grown up as a perfect invisible person, he had turned out quite well.
Of course, he still couldn’t hide his expressions well.
His red eyes that wavered from moment to moment and his expression that couldn’t hide his anxiety.
He couldn’t hide his uneasy emotions at all.
The first etiquette that royals and nobles learn is to hide their emotions, so in this aspect, it was apparent that he hadn’t received education.
Well, in fact, there were plenty of incompetent people who couldn’t control their emotions even after receiving education, so it didn’t matter much.
Kylus opened his mouth to the Third Prince, who was anxiously waiting for an answer, with a slight sneer.
“Indeed, today’s events were truly surprising. I, too, never imagined that I would meet Your Highness the Third Prince like this by chance. It’s truly amazing that out of countless people, the one who saved my wife turned out to be the veiled Third Prince.”
“…When you say ‘veiled’, it makes me sound like someone important. But you know well, don’t you, Your Grace? I’m just a prince abandoned by the imperial family.”
“Why do you say you have no abilities? The magic to use disguise is by no means a low-class magic.”
Kylus stared directly into the Third Prince’s red eyes.
The eye color that had changed again as soon as they left the Duchy.
Few people can cast disguise magic.
It meant he was at least as capable as Sienna.
“…This is not magic.”
“Not magic?”
Kylus’s eyebrows rose slightly.
He had naturally assumed it was magic, but it wasn’t?
Was there another ability that could use disguise other than magic?
Kylus furrowed his brow and then recalled an ability similar to but different from magic.
Could it be.
“…Are you a spirit contractor?”
An ability similar to but fundamentally different from magic.
Spirit arts.
Through contracts with nature spirits, one could display abilities far surpassing magic depending on the spirit’s rank.
But it had been well over 300 years since spirit users disappeared from the empire.
Now they had become as rare as dragons in fairy tales.
And the Third Prince was a spirit user?
“…”
The Third Prince didn’t answer, but his silence was as good as an affirmation.
This was incredible.
Moreover, despite not having received proper education, he had a more stable mental state than the Second Prince.
The Second Prince, though the Empress’s legitimate son, lacked both ability and talent and was a troublemaker.
In comparison, the Third Prince, though lacking support from his maternal family, had outstanding abilities.
Now that the First Prince was facing death, if the Third Prince showed his abilities, the forces that had supported the First Prince would immediately turn to the Third Prince.
They thought one incompetent and foolish emperor was enough.
If it was revealed that the Third Prince, who had been called a stain that tainted the pure imperial bloodline, was a spirit user… the faces of the Emperor and the Second Prince would be worth seeing.
Kylus looked again at the Third Prince, who was quietly keeping his mouth shut.
Although his small stature for his age was a flaw, his eyes and abilities weren’t bad.
If he started receiving proper education, there was a noticeable potential for growth.
Now that he knew the Third Prince’s abilities were exceptional, there was no need to search for collateral lines anymore.
Did Alice know all of this?
Is that why she deliberately sought out the Third Prince and brought him to the Duchy?
It seemed too far-fetched to be a coincidence; everything fit together perfectly.
He had been searching for collateral bloodlines, and not long after Alice brought up the Third Prince, here he was in front of him.
And with the qualities of a crown prince, no less.
How could all of this be called a mere coincidence?
At this point, he was starting to suspect that Alice might have the ability to see the future.
It was a ridiculous thought, but not entirely impossible.
The secrets she knew were things that he couldn’t comprehend with his common sense.
Anyway, he had given up on understanding it logically, so it didn’t matter.
He had only one wish.
No matter what secret she was hiding, he just hoped not to lose Alice.
As Kylus’s thoughts deepened, the Third Prince’s low voice echoed inside the carriage.
“It’s just an ability I acquired by luck. It’s also an ability that doesn’t suit my circumstances.”
The Third Prince lowered his gaze as if resigned to everything. A look devoid of any expectation or hope, accustomed to giving up.
The environment he had grown up in must have made the Third Prince so timid.
But neither wealth and glory nor hardships and adversities last forever.
“Circumstances… If we’re to discuss unfortunate childhoods, I’m not one to be left out either. However, I found that nothing is absolute.”
“…Pardon?”
“A person’s circumstances can change at any time. As long as they desire it and put in the effort. Moreover, Your Highness now has the ability to change your life.”
“…”
“If Your Highness wishes, I can help completely change your life.”
The Third Prince’s red eyes widened.
“What are you saying now…”
“I want to support Your Highness as the next Crown Prince.”
Kylus’s heavy voice resonated.
The Third Prince’s shoulders jumped greatly, as if he had heard something he shouldn’t have.
And with a shocked face, he slowly opened his mouth.
“…You’re insane.”
It was a rude thing to say to a duke of a country, but it was already the second time he had heard it.
The first time was from Alice.
Kylus smiled nonchalantly and spoke.
“No, I’m perfectly sane. Your Highness, you know that the First Prince doesn’t have much time left, don’t you? The only princes left now are the Second Prince and Your Highness. However, the Second Prince lacks the character and ability to become the Crown Prince.”
“I have even less ability than the Second Prince…”
“No, you don’t. In fact, you have far superior qualities. Your Highness just doesn’t acknowledge it.”
“…Stop saying such nonsense.”
The Third Prince turned his head as if he didn’t want to hear any more.
And at that moment, the carriage stopped.
“Your Grace, we have arrived near the Imperial Palace.”
As soon as the coachman’s words were heard, the Third Prince got out of the carriage first, as if escaping.
He’s rejecting quite violently.
I didn’t think he would immediately take my hand and agree, but his reaction was more severe than expected.
Kylus leisurely got out of the carriage. And he called out to the prince who was about to leave without saying goodbye.
“Third Prince.”
When he called him in a not-so-small voice, the startled Third Prince stopped in his tracks.
And he quickly came back to him.
“Duke, don’t call me that.”
The Third Prince was looking around nervously, as if worried someone might have heard.
“What are you so afraid of? It’s not like I said anything untrue.”
“Duke.”
“Do you intend to keep hiding your identity and living in fear until you die? Do you really think no one will ever know of your existence if you keep hiding like this?”
At Kylus’s heavy question, the Third Prince’s face hardened.
His jaw seemed to clench as if he was getting angry.
“Then what do you want me to do? I’m a child abandoned by His Majesty.”
