Chapter 43: Who Becomes What?

Chapter 43: Who Becomes What?

Fiosen flinched at Ian's request.

He had no choice but to do so.

"Sir Fiosen, I'd like to take you as my squire.”

“!”

Fiosen was visibly perplexed.

He had been feeling that way since Ian sent a provocative letter stating “I have information that could destroy Lavaltor,” but it was a more absurd request than he expected. In the first place, there was no nobleman who ever thought of making the successor of a duke a soldier.

But that wasn't the most surprising reason.

‘It’s just as Father said.’

Fiosen turned his eyes and looked at Duke Lavaltor.

In fact, it was because of what Duke Lavaltor said before Ian came.

‘He'll probably ask for me.’

Duke Lavaltor had precisely predicted that Ian would ask to take the heir of the duke, whom others were reluctant to do.

The only difference from the Duke's prediction was...

"Did you say a squire?"

"Yes. It is as you heard. Or would Duke Lavaltor prefer to be my knight? It would not be a bad condition.”

Lavaltor burst into laughter for the first time.

What Ian proposed was the lowest-ranking knight among the knights.

In other words, in Kaistein, it meant reserve knights who did not receive a title, and they served their lords by doing all sorts of menial tasks like a servant.

Hence Duke Lavaltor sneered.

‘This little boy. You want my son to do odd jobs?’

And Fiosen, who thought Ian would ask for his sister’s hand in marriage in place of the Second Prince, said in a panic.

He had a lot to say, but that wasn't important now.

"Well, Your Highness, please think again. There are many other knights besides me. Even if they are not as good as my father, in the First Knight Order..."

But Ian smiled instead of answering.

‘It would be an even more absurd request to ask to be the fiancé of Duke Lavaltor’s daughter in place of the Second Prince.'

There was no way Lavaltor would listen. In the first place, Ian didn't want to choose his partner here.

In addition, he had his own reason for choosing Fiosen.

‘Fiosen will be greater than Duke Lavaltor in the future.’

Fiosen revealed his true worth when Duke Garcia trapped Duke Lavaltor and threatened his life.

Later, he would be known as ‘Fiosen of Iron Wall.’ Because of him, Garcia could not even annihilate Lavaltor and proposed peace.

So, of course, it was Fiosen if Ian had to choose.

‘Galon specializes in attacks, and Nathan specializes in sabotage.'

Both were rather far from the defensive.

“Ah, by the way, Garcia’s second son and third son are working all the time. Squires often do miscellaneous works, but an escort knight has to be by my side 24 hours a day. You know what that means.”

At Ian's meaningful words, Duke Lavaltor raised his lips.

How could he not?

‘Are you saying we can spy on Garcia?’

The squire did errands according to Ian's words. In other words, it meant that if it was Ian's errand, he could go in and out of Garcia's mansion naturally.

Sure enough, Ian's golden eyes curled.

“Isn't the first thing you wanted to put a spy on Garcia? It wouldn't be a bad picture."

Duke Lavaltor looked at Ian in contempt.

“Will Garcia let my son wander around?”

“I just have to give him work to get around.”

It meant that he would actively support Garcia so that he could take a look.

So, Duke Lavaltor, who originally intended to kick Ian out only after hearing the story, listened.

“I haven’t heard anything about my daughter yet.”

Ian smirked at the remark.

And at this moment, he willingly began to unravel information that nobody knew.

That's right.

“It’s a pity to say this as his younger brother, but the Second Prince has a strange sexual preference.”

“!?”

They stood stiff with a shocked look on their face.

There was no other thing they could do.

‘Did Lavaltor not even expect this?’

Although in the future, it was too late to turn back.

‘If he is still a fiancé, they can break the marriage.’

In the past, the Second Prince hid it so well.

However, during the second half of the succession war when others invaded the Second Prince’s palace.

In a secret room hidden in the deepest corner of the palace, they found a gory scene of blood and pieces of flesh scattered around. That was when Duke Lavaltor found out about the hidden fetish of the Second Prince.

‘Unfortunately, it was too late by then. The duke's daughter was killed by the Second Prince.’

In the past, with this as an opportunity, Lavaltor advanced to the royal castle.

But Ian didn't have to tell them all of it.

"You'd better look into the Second Prince one more time. He is too dirty to hold such a bright and beautiful princess."

He might have already tried to touch the young lady. Or he expressed his desire a little bit.

At Ian's words, the honest and upright Fiosen was taken aback.

"No, that... How did you know that?”

“My brother’s palace, a secret room hidden in the corner. The truth will be there.”

This was enough.

Duke Lavaltor was sure to find the fatal weakness of the Second Prince.

Duke Lavaltor and Fiosen exchanged glances at Ian's words.

‘What do you think?’

‘If that's true... we have to stop it somehow.'

"Why books all of a sudden?"

"That's what His Majesty wants me to deliver to the prince!"

"!"

Ian wondered why the king had sent him books all of a sudden, and Heinley said, out of breath.

"You are going to take a test. The nobles want to confirm your qualifications as the owner of the Crystal Palace. So, please study."

Ian's expression was distorted by those words.

‘Huh? These?’

Of course, Ian had taken a test in this regard in the past. But that was a very long time ago.

It was a test to pull him out because he was hiding behind the Duke so much. If he failed, he would be deprived of his qualifications as a successor.

But this time, it was the qualification as the owner of the Crystal Palace.

‘I'm speechless.’

Then Heinley smiled insidiously.

"Don't worry. There are a lot of good teachers in Garcia."

But Ian snorted.

It was because he remembered Heinley who was bullying him under the pretext of education.

“Whew. You can't even do this? You, the so-called royalty? You can't do it right?”

Ian fumbled under the bed.

"Didn't I tell you to clean up properly? It's full of dust.”

"S, sorry? No way I’m cleaning under the bed...!"

"Do it right, why don’t you? The teacher's story comes next."

Heinley stormed out in anger and went to get cleaning tools.

But Ian was lost in thought.

‘The Crystal Palace test.’

He knew roughly what was going to come out, and it wouldn't be too difficult to pass.

Just.

‘It feels awful. At least I should get something if I pass. It’s mine, so why do I have to take a test to get their approval?’

As he was thinking about how to get back at those who asked for it.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

A servant came in.

"This is a letter from Third Young Master Karan."

Ian checked the letter immediately after sending out the servant.

[The conversation with the merchant went well. She is hoping to see you tonight right away.]

Ian smiled. Karan seemed to have done a good job.

Then when Ian was about to lay the scented candles away early on.

This time another servant found him.

"Your Highness, His Majesty summoned you. He wants you to come to the main palace right now."

Ian got up, burning the letter from Karan.

***

The royal conference room.

‘I didn't expect to be summoned here.’

This was a meeting place where nobles and the king gathered to discuss major policies.

Of course, Ian from the past never came in. It was because his qualifications, such as acting as a government official, had never been acknowledged.

As Ian was about to go inside, he heard some sound. It must have been time for a break.

It was then.

“The new star of Kaistein, The Seventh Prince, enters the room!”

As Ian entered, the conference room fell silent in an instant.

"Did you call for me, Your Majesty?"

"Well, now that he's here, we can proceed.”

‘!'

It was the king at the top of the stairs who spoke.

The king was looking at Ian with interest.

"It's just that I think you need a teacher."

Ian secretly flashed a smile at the remark.

‘You choose a teacher for something like that?’

He didn't know for sure, but it was obvious that the nobles were fighting over the position of Ian's teacher.

Having the title of the teacher of a royal family would bring a lot of benefits and, at the same time, sate their curiosity about Ian, who was nominated as a successor.

As expected, the king said.

“All of this comes from the agenda that proper education and examinations are required as the owner of the Crystal Palace.”

“!”

In short, the nobles were nitpicking him. The king could cover up this kind of agenda, but Ian didn't know it.

‘He is enjoying it.’

The king was also curious.

"You don't need to feel too pressured. It's a basic skill that any royal family and the owner of the Crystal Palace should have. And although it is customary to determine the teacher by royal law, there are a lot of people who want to take charge of your education. So, I decided to call you because I thought it would be best for you to decide for yourself.”

Ian smiled inwardly.

‘What? Teacher?’

Ian was confident that he would pass the test without it.

Rather, it was something else that mattered.

“You can send the teachers one by one to make it fair.”

The king raised the corners of his mouth.

"Oh?"

"However, Your Majesty, the Crystal Palace is mine, so why do I need a test? If I take the test, please give me a reward accordingly. Only then will I take the test."

Ian raised the corners of his mouth meaningfully.