I am not a noble who looks down on the people as inferior beings, then glorifies himself simply because I carry royal blood.
Since I learned of my position as a prince, I have held onto one simple principle: do the job properly. Because the king has given me this duty, I will carry it out with all my heart.
I was placed in this remote region under the pretext of training myself as the successor to the throne. However, I know the real reason. The king realizes there are too many eyes watching him, and even his every step must be calculated with care.
The time he has given me is not much. Two years—and I must use them as best as I can.
For now, I must understand this place. This castle, the region of Ofia, and the people who live within it. How they survive, how they think… everything matters.
To be honest, I don't like being the center of attention. Because of that, I must move carefully—even if it means disguising myself. Moreover, the hatred toward nobles in this region is quite high. One wrong step could cost me my life.
Now I walk through the streets of Ofia. Up close, this city is far different from what it looked like from a distance—the foul stench of humans, animals, and poorly maintained sewage fills the air.
Living in this era is truly horrifying. How could stories in manga or novels portray it so beautifully? The reality is far dirtier… and far crueler.
One thing caught my attention—the freshness of the food.
'Uh… can this even still be called a fresh apple?'
I grimaced. The apples in front of me had clearly passed their prime—their skins were darkened in places, their texture soft, some even beginning to rot. And yet, they were still being displayed and sold.
I looked at the seller for a moment, then asked, "Is this still edible?"
The man looked back at me without much expression. "If you want something better, it costs more," he replied shortly.
I glanced at the basket behind him. Nothing there looked truly fresh.
"Isn't there anything better than this?" I asked again.
He snorted lightly. "If you want fresh, go find it yourself in the fields. What reaches the city looks like this."
That answer was simple, but it explained a lot.
'Poor distribution… or someone is manipulating the supply chain?'
I fell silent for a moment, then picked up one of the apples, slowly turning it in my hand.
"How much?" I asked.
"3 copper coins."
I was immediately shocked.
"WHAT!?"
The seller didn't even flinch, as if my reaction was normal.
"Too expensive? Then don't buy it," he said flatly.
I looked at the apple in my hand again, then at the man's face. This wasn't just high pricing—this made no sense. With this kind of quality, it shouldn't even be sold.
"With a condition like this… you still sell it at that price?" I asked, my voice lowering, sharper.
The man clicked his tongue. "If you don't like it, go somewhere else. It's all the same here."
I went silent.
'All…?'
My mind immediately started working. The condition below is already this bad. I had expected low welfare and widespread poverty… but this far exceeded my expectations.
The price of rotten apples set that high—even comparable to the value of a usable short sword. This is not just poverty… this is distortion.
'The distribution chain is broken… or deliberately broken.'
My gaze swept across the market once more. Tired faces, forced transactions, and a standard of living that had fallen so low they no longer even questioned it.
*'This country… has rotted to its roots.'*
I slowly clenched my fist.
'If that's the case, fixing it from the surface won't be enough.'
I took a slow breath, calming the turmoil in my mind.
'I have to destroy it… and rebuild it from the ground up.'
That is the only way this country can truly achieve freedom.
I cannot blame the merchant. This is not merely an individual fault—this is a systemic failure. And now, I know where to begin.
Food prices this high cannot exist without control. There is a cartel behind it. If I want to restore public trust that has already fallen, then I must destroy them first.
After returning to the castle, I immediately summoned the Auditore to begin an investigation. It didn't take long for them to find the answer—a group of back-alley criminals controlling the market. They are the ones monopolizing distribution and controlling food prices.
However, that is not all.
Behind them, there are merchants playing dirty. Manipulating prices at will for greater profit. They are not merely going with the flow—they are part of the problem itself.
My people have suffered long enough… and now they are being squeezed dry.
"Is there anyone else behind them?" I asked, my voice low.
"No, my lord. However, it is known that some of those merchants come from the Sauri Empire," one of the Auditore replied.
"Do they see this kingdom as a cash cow!?"
My anger flared for a moment, but I quickly restrained it. This is the first time I truly hold control over a territory. Even though I had expected a situation like this, the reality is still difficult to accept.
I took a slow breath.
"Prepare yourselves… we will begin the cleansing."
"Yes, my lord!"
The room fell silent again. Now I was alone in the study. Without delay, I rang the small bell at the corner of the desk. Not long after, a servant entered and bowed respectfully.
"Call the head guard here."
"Yes, Prince."
A moment later, the door opened again.
"Harris Anderson, reporting to the Prince!"
He saluted firmly. He is nearing the end of his bachelor years, yet unmarried, just like the others. We all agreed not to be bound by personal ties before our goal is achieved.
He is not just an ordinary knight. He is one of Oracle—someone I can truly trust.
"Sit. There's something we need to discuss."
Harris obeyed without much talk, sitting upright in the chair directly facing me. His back straight, his hands resting on his thighs, like a knight always ready to receive orders at any time.
I deliberately didn't go straight to the point. My gaze studied his face for a moment, trying to read his reaction before opening the conversation.
"What do you think about this region?" I finally asked, my tone light, as if it were just small talk.
Harris didn't answer immediately. He thought for a moment, then tilted his head slightly before showing a faint smile—a strange smile, as if he was testing me.
"What do you think, Prince?" he replied calmly. "You've gone around, haven't you?"
I let out a soft breath, the corner of my lips slightly lifting.
"That means we share the same view," I answered briefly.
I leaned back in my chair, then looked at him more seriously. The atmosphere in the room changed instantly—no more pleasantries.
"Alright… I'll speak directly."
I leaned forward, clasping my hands together on the table.
"We will begin eliminating the cartels that manipulate food prices… permanently."
I deliberately emphasized the word "permanently." This was not just ordinary regulation. This was eradication.
Harris's gaze immediately hardened, showing he understood the direction of this conversation.
"I have identified several individuals who are potentially dangerous," I continued. "They are the core of this problem. If they fall, their system will collapse as well."
I paused for a moment, letting my words sink in.
"Can you do it?"
Harris let out a quiet snort, then without hesitation struck his chest—a knight's gesture of oath.
"For the homeland… I will do it," he answered firmly.
I nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. Gather the people you can trust. We'll move quickly before they realize anything."
I paused for a moment, then added in a lower tone.
"I will also be on the front line."
As I expected, Harris's expression changed drastically.
"No, Prince!" he said quickly, his voice slightly raised. "Why must you go personally? That's too dangerous!"
I looked at him calmly, unaffected by his panic.
"This is not just a military operation," I replied slowly. "This is about trust."
I stood from my chair, walking slowly toward the window, looking out over the castle—toward the city I had seen with my own eyes earlier.
"The people here have lived in fear and uncertainty for far too long," I continued. "If I only hide behind the castle walls, I will be no different from the other nobles."
The night wind blew softly, moving the curtain beside me.
"They need to see it for themselves… that there is someone who truly acts for them."
I turned back toward Harris.
"That there is still hope."
The room fell silent again.
Harris looked at me in silence. His expression slowly changed—from rejection, to doubt, and finally… conviction.
As if he was reaffirming the decision he had made all this time.
"I understand…" he murmured softly.
He rose from his chair, then knelt with one knee touching the floor, bowing his head deeply.
"I swear… I will protect you with my life."
I looked at him for a moment, then nodded slowly.
Harris then turned and began his work, while I also needed to prepare myself, gazing at the moon that night. The land of Ofia would no longer be the same from this moment on.