Chapter 29: First Prince vs. Second Prince vs. Third Prince
Led by Alissa, I entered the reception room located within the school building. It was primarily used to entertain guests and was designed to be soundproof for confidential discussions.
“It seems like this place is safe enough,” Alissa said.
“Does that mean our opponent is someone we need to be cautious about?” I asked.
“Of course! We’re dealing with a duke’s family here. If they decide to make trouble, living in this country would become impossible.”
“Even for you, Alissa…?”
“Well, if I were to throw away my current position, my lifestyle, my comrades, friends, and family, I might manage somehow.”
That would be almost the same as dying…
I could feel Alissa’s strength thanks to her «Ninja» Skill. Even the top-tier warriors in this country would have to risk their lives if they opposed her…
“So, can you tell me what exactly happened?”
I explained the earlier events to Alissa. During the process, I also conveyed that Lily had likely figured out Rouge’s true identity. After hearing everything, Alissa’s expression twisted as if she had bitten into a bitter bug.
“This has turned into quite a troublesome situation… Not only the matter concerning Princess Lucretia, but the fact that Duke Lecherie referred to the daughter of House Puridi as ‘the woman who will become my wife’ is a huge problem. That’s for sure, right?”
“I definitely heard that. Is it still not public knowledge?”
“At least, it’s the first I’ve heard of it. I don’t think Prince Lucas knows either. If that’s true, we need to mobilize our forces to prevent it.”
“…I’m sorry, Alissa. I’m not well-versed in this, so I don’t quite understand. If Duke Lecherie’s engagement with Lily were to be established, what kind of problems would arise…?”
“Well then, let’s start with a review of the Succession War. Do you know why the Succession War is happening, Hugh?”
“That’s because His Majesty the King isn’t in good health, right…?”
“Correct. His Majesty has been suffering from chronic health issues, often spending days in bed. While I can’t say it outright, the common understanding within the Royal Castle is that it won’t be long now.”
“So, the successor issue has come to the forefront because of that…?”
“There are six princes with the right of succession, all born from concubines. The first princess, born from the queen, is our boss—the current captain of the Knights Order. There were voices hoping for the first queen in the kingdom, but she declared her withdrawal early on and is now stationed at the border with a neighboring country, trying to stay out of the succession war.”
“So the first princess distanced herself from the Royal Capital to avoid being used as a pawn.”
“Exactly. The knights not aligned with Prince Lucas are staying at the fort near the border, following our boss. All remaining forces have pledged their loyalty to Prince Lucas under the master.”
“Is that why Prince Lucas was able to gain control of the Knights Order…?”
“Our boss had a fondness for both Prince Lucas and Princess Lucretia.”
…I see, so that’s the reason. Perhaps the bureaucrats are also supporting Prince Lucas due to someone’s influence within the Royal Castle.
“Now, back to the succession issue. Currently, the three princes considered strong candidates are: the first prince, Prince Slay, who has the support of the nobility; the second prince, Prince Brute, who receives backing from the military and guards; and our third prince, Prince Lucas, who is supported by the Knights Order and bureaucrats.”
“Logically, the first prince should gain the right of succession, right?”
“That’s true, but all three are children of concubines, and Prince Slay’s mother came from a royal family that once opposed us. While he may have the support of the nobility who value bloodlines, he lacks popularity among the military and the common people.”
“That’s why the military supports Prince Brute…”
“Prince Brute’s maternal lineage comes from a general who was called a war god during the previous war. His family still holds significant influence over the military, so it’s only natural for them to support Prince Brute over Prince Slay, who has blood ties to the enemy royal family.”
So that’s how the Succession War began. Initially, it was a conflict between Prince Slay and Prince Brute, and now Prince Lucas is quietly eyeing the throne as a third force…
“At the moment, Prince Slay is slightly ahead in the succession race, followed closely by Prince Brute, while our Prince Lucas is just getting started. The movements of the duke’s family will be crucial from here on out.”
“There are three duke families, right?”
“They’re often referred to as the three great duke families. Being major nobles directly branched from the royal family, their power is immense. They possess vast territories, essentially making it feel like there are three countries within the Kingdom of Reese. Their level of power is incomparable to other nobles.”
“Are the duke families supporting Prince Slay…?”
“No, no. All three duke families have declared early on that they will remain uninvolved in the Succession War. So, technically, we shouldn’t have had to worry about them…”
“So, behind the scenes, a marriage arrangement between Duke Lecherie and House Puridi was progressing.”
“House Puridi is the leading faction supporting Prince Slay. There’s no doubt that Prince Slay is involved in this arrangement. If this marriage is finalized, it would practically secure the succession for Prince Slay. Our faction would be finished before we even get to the main stage.”
That’s why Alissa said we need to mobilize our forces to prevent it.
Thanks to Alissa, I was able to deepen my understanding of the Succession War.
“…Still, Prince Slay and Marquis Puridi are terrible. No matter how much they want to bring Duke Lecherie into their faction, marrying a fifteen-year-old girl to him is just wrong. And that talented daughter of House Puridi would become his seventh wife? It’s just too pitiful.”
“Is it true that she would be the seventh wife?”
“He’s known for being a lecher. There are rumors that he has several other girls and throws wild parties every day.”
“……………………”
“I understand how you feel, but you mustn’t act rashly. If you make a mistake, it could endanger not just you and Prince Lucas, but also Princess Lucretia.”
“I understand that much.”
“Good. I’ll report this to Prince Lucas, but what will you do, Hugh?”
“…I want to talk to Lily once. I might be able to gather some useful information.”
“Understood.”
“Also, could you pass a message to Prince Lucas for me?”
I entrusted Alissa with several messages and decided to wait on the bench for Lily to return.
Lily finally appeared as the sun began to set.