Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Hmm.

The emperors hand gently cradled his chin, lost in thought.

All departed, leaving the grandeur of the throne room unoccupied. With an air of sovereignty, the emperor sat upon his throne, subtle laughter escaping his lips.

Between myself and the second prince Asking for an opportunity to prove who is more qualified. Hehe, huh.

The emperors mind dwelled on his recently departed eldest son, Raciel.

The echoes of his sons words reverberated within him, growing more astounding with each recollection and contemplation.

There was no choice but to accept it.

Did that child ever have such a side?

Unfazed by the rulers authority and the weight of his influence, Raciel boldly confronted him. His unwavering confidence allowed him to hold his ground, standing tall and locking eyes with the emperor.

What added to the astonishment was that Raciel did not resort to aggression throughout the ordeal.

Usually, one would struggle against authority and pressure. They would cross the line in their defiance. That would be the typical reaction they should show.

Contrary to expectations, Raciel remained remarkably composed.

He displayed no signs of defiance, but rather exuded a sense of tranquility.

Not a single tremor betrayed his composure.

He steadfastly held his ground, maintaining a calm and rational demeanor in the face of mounting pressure. It was as if the weight of the moment didnt burden him at all.

Even going as far as a counter-proposal.

Initially, he had anticipated the boys swift surrender. He had assumed that his proposal would swiftly crumble before him.

Yet, it proved to be quite the opposite. Not only did the boy not yield, but he also surprised him with an unexpected counter-proposal.

An opportunity to prove qualifications.

The resonance of Raciels voice lingered in the emperors mind, vivid and clear. The calmness in his eyes, devoid of any agitation, conveyed a profound confidence that his counter-proposal would find acceptance.

If you allow it, in a fortnight, I will duel the second prince in swordsmanship.

It was he who had caught off guard, causing him to lose his composure. The sheer absurdity of it all was overwhelming.

Swordsmanship?

As soon as he asked, Raciel answered.

Yes, Your Majesty. I am currently under suspicion due to my weak body and frail strength. They say I cannot protect the crown princes position, that I cannot bear the weight. So, I want to prove that those suspicions are wrong and that I am qualified.

Do you want to show your health and strength?

Yes, Your Majesty. I want to face the second prince in a sword duel.

Do you think you can win against the second prince?

It is said that one must try to know the length and shortness of things.

How unreasonable. You should know that the second prince is the holder of the Single Circle of Asrahan Core Technique and has been trained in swordsmanship by a famous knight since childhood.

Yes, I am aware.

Then you must also realize that youve been sickly since childhood, unable to even run properly, let alone learn swordsmanship.

Of course.

And yet you want to compete with the second prince and prove your qualifications?

Yes, Your Majesty.

It seems unlikely that you can even last five minutes.

Again, we wont know until we try.

Are you that confident?

Yes.

To me, it seems reckless.

Please be indulgent, for I have my own thoughts on this.

Is that so?

Yes, Your Majesty.

As soon as his eldest son responded in that manner, a suspicion began to form within him. He sensed that the child was intentionally orchestrating this scenario, making a proposal that he knew would inevitably lead to his defeat.

Embracing this realization, he nodded his head with a sense of satisfaction.

Very well. I accept your proposal. I will decide the location of the duel and notify you. In 15 days, as you wish, prove your health by competing with the Second Prince in a sword duel. However, the condition of the competition is not victory, but enduring without falling for 5 minutes.

What?

Consider it a small gesture of kindness from me.

Undoubtedly, it was an act of benevolence.

In truth, it was an unavoidable outcome that the eldest son would be unable to surpass the Second Prince. In fact, it would be considered a miracle if he could endure even for a mere five minutes.

I wonder if he can hold out for even 1 minute or even 30 seconds.

Lost in contemplation, the emperor muttered under his breath.

Before long, he shook his head with a heavy sigh.

The outcome of this duel was certain, with the inevitable triumph of the Second Prince. It was an undeniable conclusion, and it seemed highly likely that Raciel had been well aware of this fact right from the start.

Such thoughts consumed the emperors mind.

Heh, I must have underestimated you. Your determination has never wavered.

A sense of comprehension washed over the emperor as he contemplated Raciels true intentions.

The eldest son had purposefully opted for a fair duel to concede the succession instead of accepting the emperors lenient concession. It became clear that Raciel had planned to intentionally lose in an unimpeded duel, thereby passing on the position of Crown Prince to the Second Prince.

In doing so, Raciel aimed to bestow upon the Second Prince not only symbolic authority but also a more legitimate claim to power

You have chosen to sacrifice yourself, havent you?

With a heavy heart, Emperor Asterion tightly gripped the armrest of his throne. A complex smile formed on his lips, a mixture of emotions.

Pride welled up within him.

His eldest son, who had often disappointed him and been deemed a lost cause, had independently made this remarkable decision. It brought immense satisfaction and a surge of pride.

The emperor and the Second Prince.

Their interpretations of the duel proposal were starkly divergent, residing in completely different realms of understanding.

I have no intention of losing, tsk.

Given Raciels sickly appearance and frail disposition, to the point where he struggled to get through each day, it was only natural that no one anticipated him to emerge victorious in the duel against the Second Prince.

Such expectations were par for the course.

However, Raciel simply snickered in response.

I understand how you feel.

Raciel truly grasped the essence.

In the novel, Theodor Palermo Magentano, the Second Prince was depicted as a genuinely admirable character. He possessed sincerity, intelligence, and a strong sense of responsibility. Among the cast of characters, he stood out as one of the few who genuinely mourned the loss of Crown Prince Raciel.

If only he had responded properly to the great war, that would have been nice.

A character who had met a tragic fate due to his inability to fulfill his most crucial role.

That was the Second Prince Theodor in front of him.

Gazing directly at Theodor, Raciel spoke, Anyway, its an irreversible situation now. I made a proposal to His Majesty, and he accepted it. But now you want to cancel it? Ridiculous.

Your Highness

Go back. I want to rest.

Are you really going to choose such a futile sacrifice?

Lets see on the day of the duel.

With a dismissive wave of his hand, Raciel signaled the guards to courteously escort the Second Prince out of the room.

As the Second Prince made his retreat, he cast a pitiful glance in Raciels direction. The bitter smile on Raciels face deepened, further influenced by the presence of Gardin, who had been discreetly searching through the rooms corners.

Gardin?

Yes, Your Highness?

What are you doing?

Ah, as you can see, Im packing things.

It wasnt a lie; Gardin had indeed begun tidying up his personal belongings within the room. Raciel arched an eyebrow inquisitively, intrigued by Gardins unexpected behavior.

Packing things?

Yes.

What kind of things?

Moving things.

Moving?

Yes, Your Highness.

Explain.

Ah, thats because youre going to have a duel with the Second Prince in a fortnight, right?

Thats right.

Yes, so when the duel is over, the position of the Crown Prince will be passed on to the Second Prince, and then you will no longer be the Crown Prince

So, Ill have to pack my things from this Star Palace, where the Crown Prince resides, and move to another palace?

Yes, Your Highness.

Aha. So youre packing in advance?

Yes, Your Highness.

Gardin wore a proud expression on his face, exuding an air of accomplishment. It was almost as if he was silently proclaiming, Did I not do an excellent job?

Wow. Our Gardin is so well-prepared and thorough, huh? Very impressive, right?

Thank you, Your Highness.

Yeah, well. But what should I do?

Pardon?

If I win the duel, I might have to fire you, Gardin.

Pardon?

I said, Ill fire you.

Yes?

Choose. Should I fire you from your job or cut off your head?

But, Your Highness?

Huh. What?

Its okay if you fire me or cut anything. However-

However?

Isnt it too much for you to have a sword duel considering your physical condition?

Tsk.

Today seemed to be a day rife with misunderstandings.

Even Gardin seemed caught up in the same pattern.

Raciels disappointment was evident as he cast a disapproving gaze at Gardin and clicked his tongue in frustration.

Whats too much? Im going to win.

Really?

I have a way to win.

A grin spread across Raciels face.

Enduring for a mere five minutes in a duel against the Second Prince.

It was a means to shatter everyones expectations in that encounter.

With confidence, Raciel revealed the secret plan he had harbored from the very start.