Chapter 721

Chapter 721

721. [Side Story] Lake Kingdom (2)

The day after the victory declaration ceremony.

Lake Kingdom's King's Castle. Audience Chamber.

"..."

The king, who had been filled with dignity and joy until just yesterday, now sat on his throne with an extremely dark expression.

In front of the deeply concerned king stood a young woman and man.

The woman was Princess Ariel, and the man was...

"Christian."

It was Prince Christian.

The prince, who shared the same beautiful silver hair and turquoise eyes as his sister, emitted a somewhat precarious aura.

The king reprimanded the prince.

"Why didn't you attend the victory declaration ceremony yesterday?"

"..."

Christian, standing silently, did not answer. The king's fist slammed down on the armrest of the throne.

"Do you not realize how important yesterday's event was? Envoys from major countries around the world had gathered!"

"..."

"It was a chance for you, the future king, to meet them and make your presence known! Why did you not show yourself? Do you really wish to break your father's heart?"

Christian remained silent. The king held his forehead with his hand and shook his head.

"We almost embarrassed ourselves at a place meant to uphold our country's prestige..."

"..."

"In the end, Ariel took care of everything you were supposed to do, and she did it flawlessly!"

Christian's eyebrows twitched, and a curt voice came from his tightly closed mouth.

"Then just leave it to Ariel from now on."

"...What?"

Christian sneered at the bewildered king.

"Even the position of the next king. Give it to my excellent sister instead of me, the useless one. Ariel will surely handle it all perfectly."

"You...! How can you say such things...!"

The king was not the only one shocked; Ariel also looked at Christian with a pale face.

Just as the enraged king was about to shout at his eldest son—

"Cough, cough!"

Instead of an angry roar, weak coughs escaped the king's lips.

He covered his mouth with his hand, coughing continuously. Blood seeped through his fingers.

"Father?!"

Ariel, alarmed, rushed to the king, while Christian, in a state of shock, could only watch as his father coughed up blood.

"Haah, haah..."

The king barely stopped coughing up blood.

Holding back tears, Ariel wiped her father's mouth with a handkerchief. The king, receiving his daughter's care, quietly looked at his wayward son.

"I don't have much time left, Christian."

"..."

"Look. Even after defeating all the monsters in the world and becoming the king of the most powerful country on the continent, life is still this futile."

The king shook his head.

"Do not waste your life, Christian."

"..."

"It's not too late. If you start your training to become the heir now, you can still be the next king of this country..."

But before the king could finish, Christian turned around and stormed out.

"Christian! Christian...! Cough, cough!"

Calling out his son's name, the king coughed heavily a few more times. Bloodstained lips muttered.

"That foolish boy... I don't have much time left to cover for his stupidity."

"Father..."

"I have no choice, Ariel. If your brother doesn't come to his senses soon, I will name you as the crown princess. You will be the next king..."

But Ariel shook her head firmly.

"Father. Even though my brother is lost right now, with the right people guiding him, he will surely become a good king."

"..."

"I will support him well. So please, focus on recovering your health."

Looking blankly at his smiling daughter, the king bitterly lowered his head.

"Please take care of him, Ariel. Both your brother and this country..."

As a king, as a father, unable to hide his complex feelings.

***

From an early age, Christian felt out of place.

It was because he realized that his sister Ariel was better than him in every way.

And, not only in the talents necessary to be a king but also in character, he realized he was inferior to his sister.

"I think it would be better if I just disappeared."

Mage Tower Street.

True to its reputation as a magical kingdom, the Lake Kingdom was filled with various mage towers and research labs. Christian was in one of the largest facilities, the "Mage Research Lab."

Christian, sprawled on a large sofa in the director's office, grumbled.

"If I weren't here, Father wouldn't be hesitant and troubled, and Ariel wouldn't be suppressed, unable to spread her wings."

"Please don't say such things, Your Highness."

Director Dirandahi smiled awkwardly, trying to soothe Christian.

"You know how much His Majesty the King and Princess Ariel care for and love you."

"Damn it, yes. I know. They love me, which is why they cover for me living like this. But..."

"So this substitute only needs to cover for you for a month."

"...Alright."

Christian, having made up his mind, nodded firmly.

"Let's do it, Dirandahi."

"Yes, Your Highness. I will prepare immediately."

As Dirandahi left the underground room, Christian called out.

"Thank you, Dirandahi. I'll make sure... to repay you greatly someday."

"Haha. No need to mention it."

Dirandahi smiled kindly.

"Your Highness's happiness is my happiness."

After Dirandahi left, Christian turned his gaze toward the boy in the glass enclosure and slowly approached the glass wall.

Christian nodded toward the bewildered boy whose appearance had suddenly changed.

"Hey, you."

"Yes, yes?"

"What's your name?"

The boy hesitated and answered in a barely audible voice.

"I... don't have one."

"What?"

"Non-citizens usually don't have names. I-I'm sorry..."

Clicking his tongue in frustration, Christian raised his voice in front of the shrinking boy.

"From now on, your name is Christian."

"Yes? But..."

"While I'm away, you will be my shadow, my stand-in, my substitute... You must pretend to be me."

Christian asked coldly.

"Can you do it?"

There was no way he could say he couldn't.

Non-citizens follow orders. That was the life of a non-citizen in the Lake Kingdom.

If they didn't follow orders or failed...

They would die.

The boy, squeezing his eyes shut, tremblingly bowed.

"I will do as you command, Your Highness..."

***

A few days later.

Christian boarded a ship prepared by Dirandahi and set off for the Eastern Continent in search of the magic of immortality.

And the nameless boy, having received intensive training to act as the prince's double, was secretly placed inside the castle.

- Remember. The moment you're discovered, you die.

Mage Research Lab Director Dirandahi had repeatedly threatened.

- Mimicking the prince is easy. No matter what anyone asks, don't answer and just scowl as if you're angry. The prince is known as a rascal, so no one will easily approach you. Just stay quiet in your room. Understood?

Finally, Dirandahi had firmly grabbed the boy's shoulder.

- If you do well in this, you won't have to worry about your livelihood in the future.

Wearing a perception-dampening necklace, the boy stood awkwardly in the middle of the prince's room.

‘How did this happen...’

He still couldn't tell if this was reality or a dream.

Just a few days ago, he was cleaning up rat carcasses in the sewers, and now he was pretending to be the prince of this country...

‘But it's not a difficult task. I just need to stay quiet and endure for about a month.’

The boy, trying to calm himself, nodded firmly.

"Brother!"

The door burst open, and Princess Ariel came running in with a bright smile.

"Ice cream from the North has arrived! Let's eat together. I saved your favorite ice strawberries, Brother!"

"..."

Frozen in surprise, the boy soon came to his senses.

She was the sister Ariel, the person the prince had warned him to be most cautious of. The only person in the castle who was kind to the prickly prince.

‘It’s, it’s okay. Just do as practiced. Just do as practiced.’

With the cold expression he had practiced relentlessly for the past few days, the boy narrowed his eyes and looked at Ariel.

But before he could say a word—

"...!"

Shing!

Ariel drew her sword from her waist and pointed the blade sharply at him.

‘What?’

Before the boy, who was stiff with shock, Ariel demanded in a firm voice, pointing her sword at him.

"Who are you?"

"...?!"

"You're not my brother! Who are you?"

Not even an hour had passed since the boy started pretending to be the prince in the castle.

Having done nothing, he was immediately discovered.

Feeling aggrieved and bewildered, the boy couldn't help but swallow a tear.

--TL Notes--

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