The Regressed Prince Holds Many Secrets

Chapter 20

A rumor spread through the Imperial Palace.

That Secundus had taken two Treasures, surpassing Ferbias and Leniar, who had only obtained one each.

And since he had also won over Zionis, who possessed another Treasure, wasn't it as if he had effectively taken three?

“There are even some who say that you, brother Secundus, will be the next emperor.”

“Hmm. It would be nice if it were that easy.”

The center of the rumor, the Second Prince Secundus, was not entirely at ease.

Kateka and I couldn't be optimistic either.

Three Treasures was certainly an excellent result, but the contest was not yet over.

“It's still a long way off.”

“…Obtaining them doesn't mean it's the end……”

The Imperial Throne, to the one who holds the most Treasures at the end of the Succession War.

Those who would usurp, shall usurp, and those who would protect, shall protect.

That too was a qualification for the emperor.

The Succession War stated as much.

“For the time being, we're on the defensive, whether we like it or not.”

“The checks from the other two factions are already formidable.”

The revealed Treasures totaled five.

One each for Ferbias and Leniar.

Two for Secundus, one for Zionis.

With three Treasures concentrated in one faction, the gazes upon them were unlikely to be favorable.

“It would be best to avoid crossing paths with brother Ferbias in particular, right?”

“I am already avoiding him.”

The First Prince, Ferbias Caseptus.

A man like the very embodiment of arrogance and pride.

He must be grinding his teeth at the fact that he had fallen behind not Leniar, but Secundus.

I quietly clicked my tongue.

‘I wonder if he’s going to come charging in with Amethus again.’

The possibility that the arrow of resentment would turn towards me was extremely high.

That's how those who prattled on about being perfectionists were.

They would go around with their eyes wide, searching for a speck of dust on which to pour out their emotions.

‘It’s as I expected, but it is annoying.’

It would have been even more so if I hadn't joined Secundus's faction.

Looking back on it that way, it was a wise choice.

No matter how much of a returned hero I was, in my current body, I couldn't stand against them alone.

“There was poison in my breakfast. It had been a while.”

“The artifact I gave you was helpful, wasn't it?”

Secundus laughed heartily.

“I get poisoned once every three days!”

“…I have it a little less. Once every ten days……?”

“A lot of troublesome things have been happening one way or another. We'll have to be more careful.”

There was a guy who came at them with a sword even during the day.

Now, blatant attacks that could hardly be called assassinations were frequent.

The number of spies had also increased.

It was difficult to catch them one by one.

But Secundus showed a slight grin.

“Still, the fact that we are ahead is undeniable.”

The muscular prince patted the shoulder of his brother sitting in front of him.

“Especially Zionis, it's all thanks to you.”

“Oh my, not at all.”

“Excessive humility is a form of arrogance, Zionis.”

“Is that so? Actually, I did think it was all thanks to my own greatness.”

I, who had been shaking my head, crossed my arms.

“I'm glad you recognize it.”

“……”

“……”

My brazen face shut the mouths of both Kateka and Secundus.

Even though he was their half-brother and shared their blood, it was impossible to figure him out.

However, it was less awkward than before.

Even though he was still, no, even more untrustworthy!

“…It's better to see than to be scared out of your wits. Still, be thorough with your security. It would be good if you stayed in my palace like Kateka.”

“I don't like changing where I sleep.”

“If that's the case.”

Secundus did not press further.

Their trust was still thin.

Instead, Secundus pulled a thin piece of paper from his pocket.

“Then how about this?”

What he held out was a ticket.

I read the letters written below the colorful picture.

“Juet Acrobat Troupe?”

“Hmm. Haven't you heard of it? I heard they're a pretty famous acrobat troupe and they've come to Lutilium this time.”

“Hmm.”

“It would be boring to just stay still.”

I scratched my cheek.

I wasn't particularly interested.

On the outside, I was eleven, but in my heart, I was already thirty.

Secundus spoke as if surprised.

“I thought you'd like it. Isn't this the age to like this kind of thing?”

The muscular prince began to read out the performance list written on the back of the ticket.

“Look. Smashing steel, swallowing swords, bare-handed fight with a lion……”

“That, you can do that too, can't you, brother?”

“I've been able to since I was about nine.”

Looking at my heartily laughing brother, I asked.

“You don't really mean for me to just go and watch, do you?”

“Hmm. That's right. We have to show the other factions, don't we? That for the time being, we won't do anything special and will stay quiet.”

Having obtained three Treasures, the watchful eyes had become sharp.

He didn't want to create any unnecessary trouble.

If a rumor spread that Zionis, a prince belonging to the faction, was leisurely watching acrobatics, their vigilance would probably ease a little.

“They're performing something different every day for a whole week, so go and watch.”

“Acrobatics in a world where the magic train runs……”

“You talk too much. If you keep it up, I'll have you submit a review. Six thousand characters for each performance, every day. Seven times in total!”

“It is because the magic train runs that a person's sweat is all the more beautiful and valuable! Ah, I am already looking forward to it, brother!”

“……”

I gave a bright smile.

A review was absolutely out of the question.

Six thousand characters a day, that wasn't something a human could do!

And for a whole week!

Did such a person even exist in this world?

“I will have a joyful, bright, and happy time!”

“…An acrobat troupe, I'm not really feeling it.”

Shion (30 years old, regressor) could not hide his awkwardness.

The closer he got to the acrobat troupe's tent, the louder the clamor became.

The laughter of children had a power that made words like 'hero' and 'destiny' feel embarrassingly out of place.

The path to the tent was lined with street stalls.

I wanted to eat some sugar-dusted sweets, but the long line made me give up.

The crowd was immense.

In a few particularly crowded spots, there were members of the acrobat troupe.

It seemed they were giving a light preview of their skills before the performance to draw people in.

A clown juggling seven daggers with his feet while doing a handstand on a large ball, a bipedal wolf dressed to the nines and speaking with a perfect imperial accent, a magician creating all sorts of shapes with fire.

The people stared, mesmerized, exclaiming, "Wow, wow."

‘…That magician, his face looks familiar.’

A man with round glasses perched on the tip of his nose, holding a long pipe.

When he blew, butterflies of fire and smoke emerged.

The children giggled, but I knew those were spirit butterflies.

It was a considerably high-level magic.

‘Henry Horbi. The guy who later becomes the security chief of Erta……’

To the west of the Empire, beyond the great mountain range, were several countries.

Even if all their powers were combined, they couldn't match the Great Empire of Cordis, but countless countries, peoples, and people were there.

Erta was one of those countries.

‘The Juet Acrobat Troupe, how could I not know.’

The more I looked, the more familiar faces I noticed.

For instance, that bipedal wolf with the imperial accent, his name was Pen-Houchil.

That clown was, hmm, what was it, anyway, one of Henry Horbi's subordinates.

‘On the outside, they're an acrobat troupe, but in reality, they're a Western spy group.’

It was something from before my regression.

I had stayed in the West, beyond the great mountain range.

They always feared an invasion from Cordis.

So they sent numerous spies to monitor the situation, and the particularly skilled ones posed as an acrobat troupe and traveled throughout the Empire.

‘…Let's pretend not to know. I might form a connection with the Brotherhood again.’

There were those called the Dawn Brotherhood.

A transnational secret society created by some leaders west of the great mountain range.

I had a connection with them before my regression, and it was possible a connection would form this time as well.

‘It's also too early.’

I let out a soft laugh and turned my gaze.

I saw children playing.

It was a joyous day.

It wasn't the time to cause a scene.

Besides, the Great Empire of Cordis wasn't so fragile that anything would happen just by leaving their spying activities unchecked.

Ah, come to think of it……. I nodded my head.

I was wondering why they suddenly came to perform in Lutilium, but it seemed they had come to observe the situation of the Succession War.

“…But there's still something I don't understand. I really don't understand.”

I shook my head and looked up.

A man with chestnut hair was there.

“Why are you so excited, Pies?”

“This Pies really wanted to see the Juet Acrobat Troupe's performance!”

Pies Roesti was in a state so ridiculous it was creative.

He was meticulously stacking items engraved with the Juet Acrobat Troupe's crest, like a staff or glasses, on his body.

He was wearing seven hats stacked on top of each other, each engraved with a different pattern.

It seemed to be a very important detail to him.

“Look at this, Your Highness! It's a wolf woman doll. It even talks when you press it. In a very perfect imperial accent!”

His arms were full of dolls, he wore two capes, and he had bought a lot of toys whose purpose was hard to guess.

Since he was buying them with his own money, there was no reason to say anything, but I couldn't help but look exhausted watching him.

“…Who on earth would look at you and call you a imperial guard.”

“Pardon? What did you say?”

“Nothing, never mind.”

A passing member of the acrobat troupe stopped for a moment upon seeing my face.

She was a tall woman, and she seemed to be wondering if I was the Fifth Prince Zionis, but after seeing the creatively dressed Pies standing next to me, she shook her head and left.

She must have thought that no prince would bring along an entourage dressed like that.

“Let's go in, Pies. It's starting soon.”

“Aren't you buying anything? You didn't have a snack today, did you?”

“No need to buy anything here. There are exclusive vendors in the special seating.”

“Ah! It's my first time in the special seating.”

Pies excitedly led the way.

He kept chattering about how he had always wanted to see the Juet Acrobat Troupe's performance since he was a child.

I followed behind with a smile.

I also smiled at Secundus's hidden confidants.

There were a few that Secundus had sent, saying it might be dangerous with just Pies alone.

“This is certainly special seating, not even having to stand in line.”

“It's simply that there's no one here.”

“Pardon? Why, when it's so good?”

Pies began to tilt his head.

He looked back and forth between the bustling line for the general seating and the empty entrance for the special seating.

The entrance to the special seating was almost silent.

I let out a soft laugh.

‘What do you mean, why? We’re in the middle of the Succession War. This isn't the time for everyone to be enjoying their leisure time.’

The next emperor was currently being decided.

Wouldn't they need to figure out who would sit on the throne as soon as possible to get in line faster?

Anyone who would mindlessly go to a performance during the Succession War wouldn't have been able to enter the capital, Lutilium, in the first place.

‘No one would ever come unless they were extremely idle or foolish.’

***

‘Just as I thought, it’s completely empty.’

As expected, there were almost no people inside the special seating area either.

The only ones visible were retired old nobles or young children.

We'll have plenty of space.

Having found a seat, I gestured to Pies.

“Come on, Pies.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Watch the stairs……”

“…Whoa!”

“…I told you to be careful.”

Clatter.

Pies, coming down the stairs, tripped on his cape and fell.

In the process, he collided with a girl who was passing below, and a shrill scream erupted.

“Kyaa!”

I clutched my forehead.

“Good grief… I knew this would happen……”

“…My apologies, Your Highness.”

“Just get up.”

Whether you get hurt or not is your own fault.

Pies Roesti stood up hastily with a slightly hurt expression.

I approached the fallen girl.

Then, feeling awkward, I spoke in a princely tone.

“My apologies for our knight. Are you hurt?”

She couldn't have been more than fourteen.

She was a small girl.

She was dressed as a handmaiden, but her attire was from the northern region.

I could roughly guess her master's taste.

The girl kept her head bowed low and began to speak in a small voice.

“…S-s.”

“S-s?”

“S-s-s-s-s-sorry……”

The girl began to tremble uncontrollably.

She looked like a frightened rabbit.

I was quite taken aback.

She didn't seem to be badly hurt, but she seemed to fear me.

“Don't tremble. Why are you trembling?”

“H-h-h-how dare I b-b-b-block Y-Y-Your Highness’s p-path……”

Feeling a sense of familiarity, I glanced at Pies.

Pies Roesti whispered, ‘Even I don't stutter that much!’

I held out my hand to the girl.

“You know me. Do you work in the Imperial Palace?”

“Y-y-y-yes, I d-d-d-d-do, Your Highness……”

“Calm down!”

I clapped my hands, clap.

Her trembling subsided a little.

But the girl still seemed unable to shake off her fear.

There was a way to handle such situations.

“Now. Calm down. Do I look like I'm angry?”

“…N-n-no.”

The girl looked at me with trembling eyes.

She looked deeply at my face, at my bright smile.

I gave a faint smile and asked.

“How about it? A little calmer now, right? As you know, I am the Fifth Prince Zionis. What is your name?”

“…My name is Hes.”

“Alright. Hes. Your green eyes are pretty.”

For a few seconds, our eyes met.

Her trembling rapidly faded.

Only then did the girl gain the assurance that I would not harm her.

‘Good heavens, Your Highness, where did you learn such an old-fashioned pick-up line?’

Pies raised his hand and spouted nonsense, but I pretended not to hear.

“Alright, Hes. Nothing happened. So don't tremble.”

A metal cookie tin was rolling on the floor.

Hes had dropped it when she fell.

Fortunately, none of the contents had spilled.

I picked it up, dusted it off, and held it out to Hes.

“Now, go back to your……”

“Hey-!”

Someone shrieked.

“How dare you lay a hand on my handmaiden!”

The sound of stomping feet was loud.

It was almost on par with Secundus.

The voice was not unfamiliar and I felt a strange sense of displeasure.

The footsteps approached, and a corpulent face was thrust forward.

“You insolent brat! I won't let you off… huh, Zionis?”

“…Brother Nebulo?”

A face as plump as a salmon in its prime, a corner of the mouth that loved to sneer at others, a half-brother who wanted to pretend he wasn't but couldn't be anything else.

Nebulo Le Etier, the Fourth Prince.

‘There was one idle and foolish prince after all!’