The king let out a long sigh before answering.
"As usual…"
I snorted, and he gestured for me to sit.
As I took my seat, he stopped his work and looked at me with eyes that were now different—bright, sharp, full of hope.
"How old are you this year?"
"This year I'm fourteen, Father."
"Fourteen… it seems it's time you understand my work."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes. Even though you are the third prince, I must teach you so you can survive a little longer and carry on the banner of Melancia."
I smiled faintly, half mocking.
"Father, this will be difficult. Like a chick surrounded by a pack of wolves."
I knew he understood what I meant.
"I know you feel that way. Among your siblings, only you truly understand this kingdom. I must say… you are Melancia's hope to achieve true freedom."
"The other princes won't stay silent. And I… I have no one to support me."
"Count Godwin is there for you."
"Uncle Godwin? No—no, that's the same as making me a pawn of the Holy Empire!"
The king suddenly fell silent, looking at me with a small smile. I immediately understood the meaning behind that smile.
"Haah… this will be difficult."
"I believe in you. No matter how hard it is, you will surely find a way," he said calmly.
"Father… you're crazy for telling me to walk in this sea of blood."
He only nodded. We were indeed quite close. Often debating, exchanging opinions, and forming strategies together.
Even though I had no supporters among the nobles because the nobles here are rotten to the roots. I have built my own community among intellectuals from various backgrounds.
Four years ago, the king and I formed that group Oracle. Operating in silence, its numbers have now reached one hundred and fifty people, all of whom have sworn loyalty to the king.
Of course, we worked hard to hide this from the nobles. This is my hidden card, the foundation that will one day lead the kingdom to true freedom.
"Alright… I'll do it. But wait for me at the gates of hell," I said sincerely.
He nodded, his eyes still looking at me with a mix of hope and vigilance.
"Of course, I will wait no matter how long it takes."
I was slightly stunned and nodded.
...
A week later, I was assigned to govern a region called Ofia, an eastern territory under Godwin's influence.
As Father said, Godwin would protect me, even though he himself is moved by the Holy Empire. Even so, I must operate under his supervision. I know for certain he will place his people around me, ready to monitor my every move.
That's why I have to find them—understand who can be trusted and who are merely pawns of the Empire.
The journey to Ofia took two weeks, traveling by horse-drawn carriage.
During that time, all I wanted was to sleep, to push away all the burdens piling up in my mind.
I hoped the journey would go smoothly… that's what I thought, before my convoy was ambushed by a group of bandits.
As the horses reared due to a felled tree blocking the road, my guards—whose combat ability was mediocre at best took position in front, facing dozens of bandits.
I let out a sigh, stepping down from the carriage, while the bandits kept rambling about the treasures I carried.
Are they real bandits or hired men? That's what I need to confirm. From their faces, expressions, and clothing, it was clear: some were real bandits, the rest were not. Their firm attitude and movements reinforced that suspicion.
'Are they Duke Wyndel's men?'
I couldn't be sure yet, but the carving on one bandit's shoulder looked familiar.
'No… Wyndel's hired men. That's certain.'
One of the bandits shouted loudly, then launched an attack toward us. I immediately took one of the tools I had created in this world.
As my guards clashed with the bandits, several different men immediately targeted me. The moment they entered my range, I aimed the object precisely.
One bolt shot forward, piercing through one bandit's head.
The others were startled seeing their comrade die instantly, turning their heads in shock… and that was their fatal mistake. The next bolt struck his head without mercy.
The object in my hand was a crossbow with a magazine mechanism, capable of storing multiple bolts at once. Its cocking lever (lever/pump action) allows rapid reloading, while the main mechanism—the string draw, trigger lock, and sequential bolt loading enables continuous firing.
I designed the blueprint myself, then asked the Oracle community to build it.
'They made it well,' I thought.
This was my first time using it in real combat. Only four bolts remained. I immediately helped my guards by targeting the core of their coordination—their leader.
When the leader fell, chaos instantly spread among the bandits. I seized that moment, looking at my men firmly.
"Don't let them escape! Capture all these criminals!"
Not bad, some of them could be turned into additional labor.
...
I had a bit of trouble bringing along the six captured bandits—now officially my slaves. Throughout the journey, they kept hurling insults, but my mind was far more occupied calculating my next steps.
'There must be more of Duke Wyndel's men… and many escaped during the capture. That means I may have already drawn his attention,' I thought, while observing every movement of the bandits I brought. If that's the case, I don't mind.
Two factions of the kingdom shadow my every move. The right faction, the royalists, led by Godwin with the Holy Roman Empire behind him; the left faction, Wyndel, backed by the Sauri Empire. They watch me not to save me, but to turn me into a pawn in their game. There is a possibility that some traitors are hiding in the palace, even though the King and I have kept our relationship cold, formal, and cautious.
Duke Wyndel's extreme actions prove their impatience. I have two older brothers: the first prince, Phillipp, stands on Wyndel's side, while the second prefers the path of a knight, uninvolved in politics. And me? I don't fully side with anyone. The support I carry is minimal, because the King protects me in secret—just enough to begin my own steps.
Godwin clearly realizes that the King is focusing his attention on me, that is why he is betting on me. But I don't like my life being controlled by others. I move because there is a goal I must achieve, and in the meantime, Godwin can serve as my shield.
As I reflected along the journey, my convoy finally arrived in Ofia. In the distance, the calm blue waters of Iris Lagoon reflected the evening light. Not far from there, a castle stood proudly—the place where I must spend the next two years.
Father can only protect me for those two years. During that time, I must build strength, secure my position, and weave a secret network. Two short years to prepare something that will change the fate of this country. It will not be easy, but I must succeed—so that one day, Melancia's freedom truly becomes a reality.
"Prince, we have arrived," said one of the guards, opening the carriage door. In front of me stood a fairly large castle, rising proudly on the edge of Iris Lagoon.
"Haah… a tiring journey. Have you put those bandits in prison?" I asked as I stepped down from the carriage.
"We have thrown them into the fortress prison, Prince," one of the guards replied firmly.
"Hmm, good," I muttered, glancing at the castle for a moment before starting to unpack.
Suddenly, the head maid of the mansion ran toward me, looking panicked.
"Haah… please forgive me, Prince!" she cried, her breath uneven.
I waved my hand casually, calming the situation, and said, "Enough. Help me sort my belongings."
They immediately assisted the others in unloading the cargo, while I carried a single leather suitcase myself toward the mansion.
After entering my room, assisted by a servant, I saw that it wasn't very large, but comfortable enough. I let the servant unpack my suitcase and arrange my clothes into the wardrobe, while I decided to rest for a while. The journey by horse carriage was truly exhausting—my backside was almost numb. I need to have them make springs, because the shaking of that carriage is truly unbearable.
After resting, I woke up when a servant informed me about dinner. After eating, I opened the notebook I had compiled to execute my plan.
In truth, the King and I had already planned my placement in Ofia. This region is difficult for large armies to pass through, surrounded by mountains and hills, making it a strategic position to build strength quietly.
The land is fertile, but the people are not prosperous. They rely only on a single agricultural commodity wheat.
Hunting here is nearly impossible; once, someone tried herding sheep, and by the next day all the sheep were devoured.
And of course, this is a fantasy world. There are things called magical beasts monsters that live in forests or areas with high concentrations of Mana.
Coincidentally, this region is quite close to the Hunger Forest, which is famous for a legend: it is said that an army once entered that forest, was devoured by the creatures within, and never returned.
The forest is indeed a paradise for monsters, and clearly that army encountered them. Fortunately, the entrance to the Hunger Forest is quite far from where I am, so the risk is relatively small.
Additionally, there are no records of a stampede ever occurring in this area. A stampede itself is a situation where monsters surge in massive numbers, usually occurring in regions that naturally produce many monsters.
The main trigger is when the area becomes overpopulated, forcing them to move together, resulting in destruction.
'I hope that doesn't happen while I govern,' I thought, hoping that a stampede or monster attack would never strike this region.
As I immersed myself in notes and strategy, a soft knock was heard at the window. I opened it, and instantly the night wind brushed my face—cold, gentle, yet carrying a sense of alertness that was hard to explain.
Behind me, the shadow of a man knelt respectfully, his silhouette faint under the lamplight. The atmosphere was silent, filled only with the whisper of the wind and the faint rustling of leaves outside.
"Have you checked them?" I asked in a calm yet firm tone, my eyes sweeping over the group of intelligence operatives I personally formed, Auditore. They bowed their heads, their faces serious, as if sharing the same tension.
They are a group I raised myself, from people across the slums of the kingdom whom I selected and trained into shadows—my eyes and ears wherever I am.
"There are three people in this place who are suspicious, my lord," one of the Auditore reported, his voice calm but sharp, piercing the stillness of the night.
I straightened my posture, scanning the room. The lamplight cast dancing shadows on the walls, leaving dark spaces that could hide anyone.
My heart beat slightly faster—those three could be real threats, or just ordinary visitors who happened to look suspicious.
I leaned slightly toward the window, looking out at the nearly empty castle courtyard. The night wind drifted through, carrying the damp scent of Iris Lagoon, brushing past the trees and leaving a chill on my skin. Every detail out there, every shadow, could be a trap.
Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I spoke softly, "Observe them more closely. If there is any suspicious movement… deal with it cleanly."
"Yes, my lord," they replied in unison.
In an instant, they disappeared, vanishing like shadows. The capabilities of the Auditore have grown rapidly, and I am grateful for their existence.
The reason they did not assist during the earlier bandit attack was because I had ordered them to come here ahead of time. Not a single one was by my side during the journey, so I had to rely on my own guards.
Fortunately, I had prepared these measures beforehand. With their presence, I can be slightly more at ease, knowing that my eyes and ears are spread throughout the mansion, always ready to detect danger.