Chapter 24: The Foolish Nokoko
I want to fulfill the promise I made with Rouge. For that, I’m willing to be used by Prince Lucas if necessary. I have the skills to overcome any obstacles that come my way.
“It seems you’re determined. The negotiation is settled. I’m glad to have such a reliable ally,” Lucas said with a smile.
“I trust you, Prince Lucas. Please, become king without fail.”
“That depends on your efforts, doesn’t it? I’ve already fallen behind in the royal succession struggle. Currently, my faction consists mainly of Roan and the majority of the Knights Order, along with some bureaucrats involved in domestic affairs. The support from the nobles is firmly in the hands of my eldest brother, Prince Slay, while the military backing, including the standing army and guards, is mostly held by my second brother, Prince Brute.”
“…So you’ve cleverly secured the core of the kingdom.”
“Oh, you noticed? Impressive.”
While it’s true that his support base is weak and he’s lagging in terms of power, the Knights Order is an elite group composed of strong warriors from across the kingdom. Moreover, the governance of the nation cannot function without the bureaucrats involved in domestic affairs.
For the Kingdom of Reese and the royal family, the Knights Order and the bureaucrats are indispensable pillars. The fact that he has already secured them without drawing attention shows that this man is not to be underestimated.
“Eventually, my brothers will no longer be able to ignore my existence. That’s when the real game begins for me, and it will be your time to shine. I’m counting on you, my future brother-in-law.”
“I’ll do my best to make that happen.”
I grasped the hand that Prince Lucas extended. I had thought I was far removed from the political strife of the royal capital, yet here I was, about to dive headfirst into the royal succession struggle.
To live the leisurely life I couldn’t in my previous life. And to fulfill my promise with Rouge. …I’ll make it happen.
“Let’s call it a day for now. I’ll send Alissa to the Royal Academy as your liaison. If anything comes up, you can talk to her.”
“Alissa?”
“I heard there’s a shortage of swordsmanship instructors. If we send her from the Knights Order, it might raise some eyebrows, but the suspicion will be minimal. In fact, she might be welcomed since it would restrict her freedom of movement.”
“Is that really okay?”
“That just shows how crucial you and Lucretia are to us.”
I felt the weight of his expectations. I couldn’t be sure how much I could trust his words about not using me up.
Prince Lucas stood up from the sofa and opened the door to leave. He paused for a moment, turning back to me.
“Oh, one more thing. Your skills must remain a secret. No one else should know the truth, especially the royal family… my brothers. It could cost you your life.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good. Well then, take care of my sister!”
With a wave, Prince Lucas exited through the door, followed by Roan, leaving me alone in the room.
…So he had seen through me after all.
If he had only noticed the skill rewrite, he wouldn’t have given such a warning. From the way he said it, it was clear he was aware of my Brainwashing skill. Could it be that he even read the skill description…?
If that were the case, it would explain why Prince Lucas didn’t view my Brainwashing skill as particularly dangerous. After all, to perform brainwashing, one needs to “make eye contact.” As long as the prince keeps his eyes covered, he won’t be susceptible to my Brainwashing skill.
…Perhaps sending Alissa out of the room was also to prevent her from being brainwashed. Roan would surely have the confidence to eliminate me before I could activate my Brainwashing skill… or something like that.
I shouldn’t overthink this; it could lead to endless speculation. And at this point, it’s pointless to dwell on it. I’ve already taken a step from which there’s no turning back. From here on out, I can only run forward with all my might toward my goal.
“Haah… I’m tired.”
Maybe it was because I had used my brain more than usual, but a sigh escaped my lips. Back when I was at home, I could just focus on the work and studies in front of me without thinking too much. It was so carefree…
Now, there’s so much to think about. School life, the royal succession struggle, and Rouge. Meeting her has changed me quite a bit.
“I want to see Rouge…”
Even though we had just parted ways, that was with Princess Lucretia, so it doesn’t count.
It’s about time to head back. With that thought, I stood up from the sofa and left the room, only to find Alissa waiting by the door.
“You look tired, Hugh. I was asked by the princess to escort you back, so I’ll be accompanying you.”
“Thank you, Alissa.”
Alissa flashed a friendly smile and began to lead the way.
“By the way, what happened here must remain a secret. You were interrogated by the Knights Order regarding yesterday’s incident. You didn’t meet with any members of the royal family. Understood?”
“Got it. …By the way, was yesterday’s incident really just a coincidence?”
“From what I’ve investigated, yes. That person has always attracted such coincidences. The princess and the master were saying that it was probably the same this time.”
“…It sounds like there were a lot of struggles involved.”
“Absolutely! I’m just thrilled that you’ll be taking on that burden from now on.”
“Hahaha…”
If anything happens, I’ll find a way to drag her into it.
As I chatted with Alissa, we approached the carriage we had arrived in.
Glancing at the carriage, I noticed a mysterious silhouette resembling deer antlers through the window.
What is that…?
Alissa seemed to notice as well, her hand instinctively reaching for the sword at her waist. We both approached cautiously, and suddenly, a silver-haired girl popped her head out of the window.
As soon as she saw my face, she jumped out of the carriage, holding something.
“Hugh! You’re late! Where have you been?”
“Rouge, why are you…?”
“I was waiting in the carriage to go home with you. Was that not okay…?”
She tilted her head in question, and I shook my head vigorously. There was no way it was a problem. I had just been thinking how much I wanted to see Rouge.
“No, you shouldn’t just hop into a carriage like that…?”
Alissa’s perfectly reasonable remark made Rouge flinch, and she quickly apologized, bowing her head. Good for her for apologizing.
By the way,
“Rouge, what are you holding?”
I asked about the object she had been clutching. She was holding a large plush toy in her left arm, resembling a horse with deer antlers.
“This is Nokoko!”
“Nokoko…?”
“It’s a plush toy I got from… Prince Lucas when I was little. It’s called a Horsedeer!”
“A Horsedeer, huh…”
It’s a wild animal from this world that also existed in my homeland. It’s basically a horse with deer antlers, and I had secretly called it a fool.
…It’s probably just a coincidence, but what a ridiculous irony this has become.