Me! Me!
Yuri wanted to raise his hand.
He had fought countless battles against orcs as a mercenary. They were enemies he never wanted to face again.
Count Sydor, who had become a figure of terror to those monsters, was undoubtedly an extraordinary man.
Calcio grinned aggressively and continued.
“Do you think those monstrous orcs care about some mana method nonsense?”
Baron Defer, caught off guard, fell silent.
Sensing Genard’s discomfort, another noble quickly spoke up.
“Well, you’re not entirely wrong. But the prince is still young, so his judgment is…”
“Immature?”
“Uh…”
Calcio glanced at Yuri, who in turn stared down the noble.
The man faltered, unable to continue.
“See? Immature, my foot. And…”
Calcio thumped his chest.
“Anyway, it seems the prince has no intention of backing down. Are you planning to forcibly extract the core or something?”
“What nonsense!”
“Then what’s the point?”
Calcio slouched back in his chair like a street thug.
“The prince agrees, right?”
He smiled, baring his teeth, showing no sign of intimidation toward Yuri.
Yuri just shrugged in response.
“See? But everyone sitting here is just driving the prince crazy. The palace sure is a boring place.”
“Boring? How rude!”
“It’s the truth.”
“By that logic, the border has been quiet lately! Even with all the budget they get…”
“Is it only quiet when hundreds die? You don’t even look at the soldiers who die regularly, do you?”
“They say the border’s been calm recently…”
“On the day I left the border, four died. I personally covered the shroud on a friend I had breakfast with that morning.”
“…”
“Orcs never rest, my lord.”
Yuri recalled the past.
Around this time, the neighboring Klein Duchy, adjacent to Briol, had problems, and orcs crossed the border amid the chaos.
He remembered the damage had been severe.
Yuri asked, “Are the orcs moving?”
“Yes.”
“Anything unusual?”
“Very ominous.”
“And Klein?”
“Huh?”
Yuri tapped his temple, signaling the question again.
“How does the Klein Duchy look to you?”
“Well…”
The baron scratched his head.
“It seems the border guards have withdrawn. There’s trouble, it seems.”
“What about the border villages?”
“They’ve been razed.”
Yuri closed his eyes.
Probably a civil war.
He wished he had more useful information, but nothing came to mind. He had been too busy causing trouble to care about Briol or other nations’ affairs.
He regretted it.
As Yuri mulled over the memories, Calcio hurriedly spoke.
“It’s a disaster. People dying, being dragged off as slaves. I doubt the nobles care.”
Yuri muttered without realizing it.
“Wasn’t it the duke’s third son who caused this…?”
All eyes turned to him.
Some looked sharply, as if trying to read his thoughts; others looked shocked, as if he’d said something absurd.
A young prince, the third son known for troublemaking, speaking as if he understood foreign affairs—it was ridiculous.
Yuri cleared his throat.
“Anyway, I think this meeting’s been long enough. Don’t you agree?”
“Long enough?”
“Let’s discuss something bigger than trivial mana methods. Like defenses against the Klein Duchy and the orcs.”
Saying that, Yuri stood.
Though still a small boy, no one here dared stop him.
No matter what anyone said, he was the son of Fiore Briol, the third prince of Briol.
Yuri straightened his back and scanned the nobles’ faces one by one.
Then his eyes met Genard’s.
“Your Highness.”
Genard paused, then spoke again.
“I’ve heard you’ve changed a lot lately. As a loyal subject who cares for you, I must say I’m a bit worried.”
His gaze was dark and heavy.
He no longer seemed like the shallow noble who’d been spouting empty flattery earlier.
Duke Uzes, Genard Jattery.
A rotten noble, but one not to be underestimated.
Yet Yuri wasn’t afraid of him. That was true in his past life and now.
But for different reasons.
Back then, he was a reckless fool who didn’t think.
Now, he truly understood what to fear.
“Duke Uzes.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Is this your first time seeing a teenage boy?”
Genard gave a bitter laugh.
“It’s that age, you have to understand.”
With that, Yuri turned and walked away.
Ignoring the piercing gazes on his back, he left the senate chamber.
As soon as Calcio Erancia left the palace, he returned to his lodgings and carefully took out the crystal orb he’d tucked away in his backpack.
After wiping its smooth surface with a cloth, he placed it on the table.
“Are you there?”
He spoke to the orb.
“This is Calcio, my lord count.”
Soon, the face of Count Sydor, Jaime Theodore, appeared.
Though not very old, years of battlefield experience had carved deep wrinkles into his face.
Two scars ran across his eyes and cheeks—wounds left by the orc warlord just before his death.
[How was the senate meeting?]
His voice was rough and slow, as if he needed to catch his breath between words.
“Just the usual empty talk.”
[Details.]
Calcio explained what had happened.
Jaime frowned.
[The third prince did that?]
“Yes.”
[He’s not that kind of person.]
“There are widespread rumors that he’s changed. Though how sincere they are, I can’t say.”
[What do you think?]
“His gaze didn’t seem bad.”
[We’ll have to watch him. And the senate nobles?]
“Just as you expected. They didn’t even care.”
[Of course.]
“I’ll report directly to His Majesty.”
[He won’t act.]
“If I explain it well…”
[Fiore isn’t a bad king, but he can’t be a good one either.]
“Wait a moment.”
Calcio glanced down the hallway, then locked the door.
“If you say things like that and someone overhears, I’ll be dragged off.”
[Don’t worry. Like I said, he’s not a bad king.]
“He actually seems like a good man.”
[Aside from his humanity, he’s obsessed with the sword.]
Jaime twisted his eyebrows.
[Those obsessed with the sword have no interest in the outside world.]
“So you mean they’ll just leave Klein to its fate?”
[Probably.]
“That must sting. Must be exhausting…”
[How about the third prince?]
“What do you mean?”
[Find out.]
“Should I investigate him?”
[If necessary.]
“I will. How’s the border?”
[Same as always.]
Suddenly, Jaime turned his head.
Urgent voices came from beyond the orb. It sounded like a battle had broken out.
[I’ll contact you again.]
“Yes.”
Calcio saluted Jaime and put away the orb.
“What now…”
He leaned against the window and sighed deeply.
Below, the bustling streets of the palace district stretched out—a strange sight for someone who usually stayed at the border.
The capital was peaceful, yet soldiers died daily at the frontier.
Sighing at the gulf between the two, Calcio stared blankly out the window.
“Huh…?”
But what was this? Calcio rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
“The third prince?”
Black hair slipped from beneath a hood—it was familiar.
Yuri Briol.
But his figure vanished into the crowd in an instant.
Calcio stared after him, then shook his head.
“No, it can’t be.”
Yuri walked the royal road, hood pulled low.
“This is making my heart race. Reminds me of old times. I used to run away from home all the time when I was a kid.”
“Three times a day, you say?”
“Something like that. I was a delinquent. I flew over walls.”
“You flew when you were little?”
“I was a prodigy.”
He had wanted to bring Jared, but he was on duty guarding the palace entrance.
So he brought Hernando instead.
Hernando was excited.
“What’s got you so hyped? You can leave the palace anytime.”
“You’re not the prince.”
“So?”
“It feels like I’m the one breaking the rules. Oh, that little lady’s staring at us. Did she figure us out?”
“She’s just admiring my good looks.”
“Huh?”
With Hernando’s help, Yuri slipped out of the palace. Deceiving others was easy for him.
“So, what are you going to do now? Something naughty?”
“No way. Even if I did, I wouldn’t do it while you’re here.”
“That’s disappointing.”
Though he seemed to be guarding Yuri, Hernando was, after all, a Fiore loyalist.
Yuri wanted to make Hernando his own.
“Hernando, I’d rather you not tell anyone about what happens today.”
“Ah, I can’t promise that. You know me.”
“Do as you like.”
“Where are we headed?”
“The casino.”
“Huh?”
“An illegal casino.”
“Whaaat?”
“The biggest one in the palace district.”
“Whaaaat?”
“You know it, right?”
“No, you just said you wouldn’t do anything bad…”
“I won’t. Just show me the way.”
“Well, I…”
“Going to pretend you don’t know?”
“I do know. I know well. They say if I get drunk and pass out, I end up there instead of home.”
“Let’s go quietly.”
“Is this really okay…?”
Yuri glanced around the street.
People bustled about, their faces a kaleidoscope of expressions—some smiling, others weighed down by worry.
Suddenly, Yuli locked eyes with the owner of a street vendor’s stall. The man waved and gestured toward his goods.
“Take a look around!”
The entire city pulsed with life.
In Yuli’s past life, all of this had been trampled under the imperial army’s boots.
The horrific scenes of destruction and the vibrant capital now before him felt worlds apart.
“Ernando.”
“Yes?”
“Let me be clear from the start.”
“About what?”
“All of this is for Briol.”
Ernando’s face tightened, as if misunderstanding Yuli’s words.
“How much are you planning to gamble away…?”
Ernando licked his lips.
“Fine. Let’s shake up the casino tonight. With your skills, Prince, I think it’s doable.”
Yuli chuckled softly.
Ernando was overestimating his card skills.
Yuli had swept through the palace card tables thanks to a few tricks, but that didn’t mean he could win money against a casino.
Besides, Yuli had no intention of gambling tonight.
“Just get us there quickly.”
They soon arrived at the red-light district, where scantily clad women tempted passersby.
“You shouldn’t be looking at things like this.”
Ernando tried to cover Yuli’s eyes, but Yuli brushed his hand away.
“Enough. Just show me the way.”
“Y-yes…”
They stopped in front of a five-story pavilion.
Beaded curtains hung from every window, catching the sunlight and scattering it in sparkling patterns.
The sight was familiar to Yuli.
The Sujeongru.
The largest pavilion in the capital. He had frequented it often in his past life.
“The gambling hall is in the basement, right?”
“How do you know that?”
“Just a feeling.”
The man guarding the entrance recognized Ernando.
“Long time no see, sir. And this must be…?”
“This is…”
“My nephew.”
“Ah, I see. A handsome young gentleman.”
He rubbed his palms together.
“You learn about drinks and games from your elders, don’t you?”
“Y-yeah.”
“Perhaps you’d like to go upstairs…?”
“Oh no! What a terrible idea!”
“Haha, so you’re heading downstairs.”
“Yes. Please show us the way.”
“Ha ha ha. Right this way.”
They descended to the basement through a back door, where burly men stood guard at the stairs.
“Prince, if I may say…”
“Watch your tongue.”
“Oh, what should I call you?”
“Nephew, remember?”
“Still…”
“Just call me whatever’s convenient.”
The door opened.
A reddish glow welcomed them.
The endless rows of tables were packed, no empty seats in sight. Gamblers with bloodshot eyes pushed chips forward relentlessly.
“Shall I show you to a table inside?”
The man asked in a subtle tone, implying the VIP section where huge bets were placed.
“Before that,” Yuli said, “I forgot to bring money. I’ll need to borrow some.”
“Excuse me?”
“Right, Uncle?”
Ernando’s face flushed with embarrassment, while the man’s lips curled into a knowing smile.
“That’s fine. Of course it’s fine. Ha ha ha.”
Ernando jabbed Yuli’s side in protest, but Yuli ignored him.
“Loan consultations are always welcome here.”