Chapter 23: More Than Half the World
“I’m serious about winning the succession battle. Eventually, I’ll have to confront my brothers openly. When that time comes, they will undoubtedly target my real sister, Lucretia. To avoid that, I enrolled her in the Royal Academy. …I never expected she would be kidnapped in a place completely unrelated to the succession battle during the entrance exam. Truly, my sister has a knack for defying expectations.”
“…Didn’t you prepare any guards?”
“Having guards would be like declaring that Rouge is Lucretia, wouldn’t it? Besides, I thought the academy would be safe. I specifically told her not to leave the academy grounds. Who would have thought she’d go out to buy clothes…?”
Prince Lucas seemed genuinely troubled, burying his head in his hands. I was starting to feel a slight headache myself.
Could it be that Rouge is more of a troublemaker than I thought…?
“That’s why I’m really grateful you’re here with me.”
“No… If I hadn’t met you, she might not have even gone outside the academy in the first place.”
“That’s a pointless argument. The fact remains that my sister met you. She was kidnapped, but she was saved by you. …And I hold your skills in high regard for rescuing her.”
“It’s not worthy of your praise, Your Highness. It was merely a series of coincidences.”
“Coincidences, huh? If that’s the case, then I can’t help but admire your ability to attract coincidences.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“You know exactly what I’m getting at. You must have an idea of what I want from you, right?”
“…You want me to become your ally?”
When I asked, Prince Lucas responded with a smile.
…Something about this gives me a bad feeling. Just because I saved Rouge doesn’t mean he’d go out of his way to recruit me…
“I’m just a backwater poor noble, you know? There wouldn’t be any benefit to incorporating me into your faction.”
“That’s not true. At the very least, I won’t have to worry about your background. The Pnosis Territory is the farthest from the Royal Capital and has the least strategic value. While it borders other countries, it’s surrounded by mountains, making invasion impossible. Since you don’t have any relatives in the capital, my brothers’ factions completely overlook House Pnosis. That’s why I can trust you.”
“I’m poor, so I might betray you for money.”
“If the only thought you have is about betraying for money, then you’re already qualified. How much do you want?”
“…I’m not in need of money at the moment.”
If I asked, he’d probably give me a few hundred gold coins…
“You really are something. Cautious and thoughtful. And you have the foresight to see ahead. I feel I can entrust my sister to you.”
“You want me to guard the princess?”
“It doesn’t have to be anything so grand. Just stay by her side and support her. As you know, she’s quite a handful, but she’s my only family, and I cherish her.”
“…I have no intention of leaving Rouge’s side, even without being told.”
“Thank you, Hugh. By the way, your skill is quite interesting, isn’t it?”
“—!?”
I almost let out a sound in surprise and quickly shut my mouth.
However, there was no doubt that my agitation had been noticed. In the flow of conversation, that stake had been driven into my heart far too naturally.
“Actually, my eyesight has long since recovered. Three years ago, the gods granted me sight.”
“…Could it be that your skill is…?”
“I can see what I want to see now. But this skill is so powerful that I end up seeing things I don’t want to see or don’t need to see. I spent two years learning to control this skill. So now, if I blindfold myself, I can suppress it to some extent.”
“That explains why you’ve been…!”
He had been walking confidently without a cane despite supposedly being blind, and he had pointed out the absence of a sofa in the previous room. In hindsight, there were many behaviors that seemed odd if he truly couldn’t see.
The feeling I had of being watched all this time wasn’t an illusion; I was genuinely being observed. And not just superficially. He might have even seen through my inner thoughts and emotions.
And my skill as well…
“I want you to stay by my sister’s side. But just guarding her isn’t enough for your potential. I need you to work according to your abilities; it would be a waste otherwise.”
“What do you intend to make me do?”
“Anything. But I don’t want to wear you out. I want you to be of help to me when it counts. You can enjoy your youth with my sister in the meantime.”
“…It seems I don’t have much of a choice, do I?”
Does he see the bomb I carry…? The «Brainwashing» skill or the rewritten «Ninja» skill? Either way, it seems Prince Lucas wants to use me as a true hidden blade.
Keep me out of sight until needed.
If I refuse, I could very well be executed under the pretext of my skill. Roan has been half-drawn, ready to unsheathe his sword at any moment. The odds of activating the «Brainwashing» skill in time are far too slim.
I’ve been completely outmaneuvered. There’s nothing I can do this time.
But giving up like this is far too frustrating.
“I have two conditions.”
“Let’s hear them. Speak your mind.”
“First, I don’t want to kill anyone if I can help it. I don’t have the resolve for that.”
“I can concede that.”
“Second, when you become king, I want just one reward from you, and then I’ll retreat to the Pnosis Territory. Please grant me that permission.”
“Very well. So, what do you want me to give you? Speak freely. A position as prime minister? Or perhaps gold and treasures? A territory of your choosing?”
“I don’t need any of that.”
What I desire is but one thing. I don’t need status, honor, or wealth.
“Give me your most precious person. She is all I need.”
Prince Lucas stood there, mouth agape for a moment. If he hadn’t been blindfolded, he would have surely shown a flabbergasted expression.
Eventually, as if he understood my wish, he burst into laughter.
“Haha! That’s a good one! Alright, when I become king, I’ll entrust my precious sister to you. But if she says she doesn’t want to, then this conversation is off, okay?”
“Of course. I have no intention of bending her will.”
Even if I possessed the «Brainwashing» skill that could manipulate anyone, that is one thing I absolutely refuse to do.
I want Rouge to be by my side of her own free will.