The Prince Wants to Retire

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The Crown Prince Wants to Retire

6. Which line should I grab? (3)

The Third Prince shot up from his seat, momentarily flustered.

“Are you joking right now…?”

“Does it seem like I’m joking?”

Kariel interrupted the Third Prince, who was about to lose his temper, and gazed at the princes with a cold expression.

The two princes flinched at her gaze.

Though they would later become mages close to Sword Masters, they were still just children for now.

“Tch! Think it through. If I wanted to be emperor, would I do something like this?”

Remembering what Kariel had just done to provoke the Emperor Faction, the two princes stiffened.

The incident firmly placed Kariel on the Emperor Faction’s radar.

They were reluctantly supporting her due to the current Emperor, but they likely didn’t favor the Crown Prince.

If the situation further developed, they might even declare their support for one of themselves.

“Besides, becoming an emperor with this pathetic body would just be tiring.”

Kariel sighed deeply, looking at her own form.

Though she had improved recently, the lingering vulnerability made it tough to focus on fully healing her body.

For that reason, the position of emperor held no value for Kariel.

‘No more being a scapegoat.’

Kariel thought to herself as she gazed at the two princes.

“Then I ask again. Are you interested in the position of Crown Prince?”

The two princes’ faces scrunched up at his repeated question. They were still young but understood not to answer foolishly for such a serious matter.

“Just be honest. Don’t play coy about wanting to be Crown Prince later on.”

Kariel said this while taking a sip of tea.

The two princes hid their bewildered expressions, taking a sip of tea to calm their confused minds.

In the uncomfortable silence, when the two princes finally nodded slightly, Kariel smiled in satisfaction and spoke.

“Then let me state my terms.”

The Second Prince wore a ‘told you so!’ expression, while the Third Prince frowned.

He wasn’t as quick-witted as the Second Prince, so the idea of making this kind of deal felt uneasy for him.

Wondering what a request for a Grand Duke or Duke position might entail, or even asking for control of core Imperial regions, Kariel looked at the Third Prince with an amused glimmer in his eyes.

“Prove it.”

“What?”

“What do you mean?”

The two princes answered in unison to Kariel’s unexpected statement.

After taking a sip of tea, he looked at the two, who wore perplexed expressions.

“I mean what I said. Prove that you are worthy of the title of Crown Prince.”

“…In what way?”

The Second Prince asked with an uncomfortable expression, and the Third Prince frowned, looking at Kariel as well.

“You two are still young, so it’s hard to demonstrate political power. So do it with what you’re good at. You, through magic; you, through the sword.”

When Kariel explained the specific methods, he suggested that the Second Prince find a way to revive the empire through magic, while the Third Prince should think of a way to revive the declining empire through military strength.

“Isn’t this a bit unfair for me?”

The Third Prince said with a grimace.

The military was currently split among various factions.

Under such circumstances, being asked to find a way to revive the empire through military power was inherently disadvantageous for the Third Prince.

Conversely, the Second Prince could at least meet the conditions by excelling in creating magical tools.

“I know. That’s why I’ll make it fair.”

Kariel said with a deep smile.

The two princes flinched and tilted their heads, feeling a chilling sense from what seemed like a playful smile.

“I’ll soon create a situation where the entire military will have no choice but to move.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

The Third Prince asked, while the Second Prince also appeared curious.

“Remember that idiot who got caught leaking military secrets?”

“Ah….”

The Third Prince nodded knowingly, looking disappointed. After all, the military wouldn’t act just to catch a mere count, which left him disappointed.

Seeing his reaction, Kariel smiled brightly.

“Turns out that guy was just a pawn.”

“Is that really true?”

The Third Prince asked in shock, and Kariel nodded with a grin.

“…Can you tell me who the mastermind is?”

“The Emperor Faction.”

When the Third Prince cautiously asked, Kariel answered without hesitation.

The two princes gazed at Kariel in disbelief.

“Wait, do you intend to go after the Emperor Faction?”

The Second Prince asked in a small voice, as if he had caught on to something.

Kariel grinned, silently sipping his tea.

“Anyway, if you two are both determined to become emperor, then the Aristocratic Faction will splinter.”

Hearing this, the two princes wore uncomfortable expressions.

If they started fighting over the position of Crown Prince, it would inevitably lead to divisions.

“The Emperor Faction becomes unnecessary in that situation. So I plan to use them as a sacrifice to strike at foreign nations.”

The two princes’ eyes began to tremble at Kariel’s plan.

“Taking down those parasitical nobles who have been feasting on the empire’s benefits. That will be the last thing I do before I step down from being Crown Prince.”

Upon hearing Kariel’s plan, the faces of the two princes grew serious.

“You might be forced to abdicate in disgrace.”

The Second Prince remarked, and the Third Prince nodded in agreement.

The ones who had siphoned off benefits from foreign nations weren’t just the Lower Nobles.

Even among the High Nobles, some could get caught up, and any misstep could see them not only losing the position of Crown Prince but also being wrongfully exiled under various charges.

Though still young, they were sharp enough to recognize that the Emperor might not be trustworthy.

There’s a chance the Emperor could easily throw Kariel under the bus to pacify the nobles.

“I don’t care.”

Kariel said with an indifferent expression as he sipped his tea with a bright smile.

“Now then! We’ve wrapped up our discussion… all that’s left is for you both to wait for your maternal family to reach out, right?”

At his words, the faces of the two princes twisted.

“Don’t treat us like children.”

“You’re just kids, though.”

Kariel replied with a smirk, filled with amusement.

The fourteen-year-old Second Prince and Third Prince were just beginning to shed their childishness.

Only the Third Prince, who trained daily, looked somewhat like a young man, while the Second Prince still resembled a child.

After hearing this, the Second Prince, who had been holding back his frustration due to his slow growth, found himself grumpy.

Then the Third Prince, beside him, scanned the Second Prince up and down with an amused expression.

“Tch!”

“Do you want to die?”

“Get your growth in check first.”

As the Second Prince released his mana, the Third Prince clicked his tongue and gestured toward Kariel.

The Second Prince made an ‘oops!’ expression and quickly suppressed his mana.

“That’s okay for now.”

Kariel, leisurely sipping his tea, noticed the curious looks directed his way from the two princes.

“I’ve heard rumors that you’ve been busy lately… did it bear any fruit?”

“A little? I’m able to walk around now.”

Kariel smiled in response to the Third Prince’s question, who nodded as if this was to be expected. Though it was still quite far from being fit, some muscle could be seen here and there.

“It’s called Body Technique, effective for physical enhancement. There’s a lot of wasted mana, but as long as I can live like an average person, I’d consider it a blessing.”

“Body Technique? Is it related to the Mana Cultivation Method?”

“Exactly.”

Being the genius he was, the Second Prince immediately recognized what Kariel had trained in.

“It must be dangerous.”

“So I’m just practicing the basics. I feel like it’s about time I raised the levels, but the risks make it tough.”

The Second Prince coughed awkwardly and suggested.

“Ahem! If you need any help, just let me know.”

The Second Prince blushed slightly in embarrassment, which Kariel and the Third Prince found cute.

The Second Prince, who had slower growth, seemed a bit stressed lately, and with Kariel regarding him like a child, it was only natural for him to sulk.

Meanwhile, the Third Prince chuckled, glancing at the Second Prince.

“Tch!”

“Do you want to die?”

“Get your growth sorted out first.”

As the Second Prince flared his mana, the Third Prince rolled his eyes at him while pointing at Kariel.

The Second Prince realized he had inadvertently let his childlike side show and quickly suppressed his mana.

“That’s acceptable for now.”

As Kariel sipped his tea casually, the Second and Third Princes gazed at him with curiosity.

“I’ve heard you’ve been up to something lately… has it produced results?”

“A bit? I can walk around now.”

The Third Prince nodded knowingly in response to Kariel’s words, implying he understood. Despite not being at full capacity yet, some muscle was starting to emerge.

“Body Technique is effective for physical enhancement. It does waste a lot of mana, but if I can live like a normal person, I’ll count myself lucky.”

“Body Technique? Is that related to the Mana Cultivation Method?”

“Yes.”

As expected from a genius, the Second Prince quickly recognized what Kariel was practicing.

“That must be perilous.”

“That’s why I’m only practicing the basics. I feel like it’s time to elevate the levels, but it’s not easy with all the risks involved.”

The Second Prince swallowed nervously before speaking.

“Um, um! If you need help, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

Feeling embarrassed, the Second Prince’s face heated, and Kariel and the Third Prince exchanged glances, thinking he looked adorable.

With his slower growth, the Second Prince had been feeling slightly stressed lately, and of course, Kariel’s teasing didn’t help.

With a mischievous smile, the Third Prince chuckled, casting a sideways glance at the Second Prince.

“You should deal with your growth issues first.”

Kariel found it amusing and got up from his seat.

“It’s great to see my little brothers again. I should check on the younger one, too.”

“Are you talking about Miriel?”

“What’s wrong? Is that a problem?”

In response to Kariel’s question, the Second Prince cleared his throat.

“No, that’s not it.”

The two princes felt a tinge of discomfort at visiting their sister, who they hadn’t seen in a long time, but it was crucial to do so.

Regardless of who became the Emperor, ensuring the safety of the royal family was a priority.

To guarantee not just their own safety but also that of Miriel, they needed to create a sense of ‘We are family!’ from a young age.

“Since we’re already on the topic, let’s go quickly.”

“……Yes.”

“Of course.”

As they replied with somewhat uncomfortable voices, Kariel dragged the two princes along toward the Princess Palace.

Because the decision was made so suddenly, Kariel and the two princes didn’t let the Princess Palace know of their arrival.

As they climbed into the wagon heading to the grand palace, the Princess Palace soon came into view.

The Princess Palace, with its outwardly extravagant appearance, stood out like any other palace.

But something felt off to Kariel.

Though it appeared splendid at a glance, there was something strangely shoddy about its design.

‘Something is definitely wrong here.’

Kariel tilted his head, recalling Miriel’s tales of hardships from her childhood.

Having been frail like the Empress, Miriel’s mother could not hold out long in the Imperial Palace and died.

Thus, she was raised by a wet nurse from her maternal side, but curiously, Miriel sent that wet nurse packing as soon as she grew up.

“There’s definitely something going on.”

“……Excuse me?”

The Second Prince asked, surprised by Kariel’s murmur.

Instead of answering, Kariel intentionally disembarked from the wagon with the princes, heading quietly into the Princess Palace.

Just as Talion was about to announce the Crown Prince’s arrival with a loud voice, Kariel preempted him, quietly entering with his two siblings.

“Your Highness!”

“Shh!”

He silenced the guards at the entrance of the Imperial Palace as he entered with the two princes.

“Your Highness!”

One of the maids bowed, and the attendants nearby quickly followed suit.

“Where’s Miriel?”

“She should be in the garden, Your Highness.”

“The garden, huh….”

Kariel replied and headed straight for the garden.

There, he found Miriel sitting alone, looking forlorn.

“You seem lonely.”

“Um….”

The two princes swallowed their voices at the sight of Miriel.

While they had family and young nobles visiting them constantly, even the Crown Prince had a bunch of young nobles come and visit.

Moreover, it was common to have young attendants lingering nearby every day.

But Miriel had none of that.

“Where’s the wet nurse?”

At Kariel’s cold question, the nearby maid quickly lowered her head to respond.

“Um, there seems to be some urgent matter….”

“Urgent matter? What could be more important than taking care of a little princess?”

With a sharp glare, Kariel murmured to the two princes.

“Play with Miriel.”

“Where are you going?”

The Second Prince asked as Kariel looked around the Princess Palace.

“I need to check this place out.”

Sensing something unusual in Kariel’s tone, the two princes did not comment further but headed towards Miriel.

Seeing this, Kariel began scrutinizing the Princess Palace properly.

*

The next day, news spread that Kariel had danced with a sword at the Princess Palace with the two princes.

Soon after, rumors circulated that two dukes had secretly sought out Kariel, sending the capital into chaos.

Nobles were shaking their heads in uncertainty, unsure of whom to align with next.

Amidst their confusion, a newspaper office released a bold claim.

“There is nothing left for them but prison.”