Surviving As the 5th Prince of the Ruined Kingdom

019

After the 2nd Prince and the fainted 2nd Queen left the courtroom, the atmosphere which had been tumultuous settled down to some degree, and the King summarized the situation.

“Summon Count Cliang to the witness stand.”

A man with neatly combed blond hair, not a single strand out of place, wearing an immaculate suit, took the witness stand.

It was Count Cliang, in his late 20s, speeding through the path of success as the chief clerk of the Royal Treasury Department.

After glancing at Evan once, he recited the oath in a clear pronunciation.

“As a witness attending this sacred royal trial, I solemnly swear before His Majesty the King and the noble bloodlines, to speak nothing but the truth without concealment or embellishment, and should any falsehood be found, to accept the ‘Punishment for Perjury’.”

Count Cliang’s oath, emphasizing certain words, caused Viscount Gavis’ expression to turn pensive.

The crime of perjury weighs heavily.

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If exposed, it would be a complete disgrace. Not only would it lead to being ousted from politics, but also having to pay mental anguish compensation to the victim who was nearly harmed by the perjury. Enough to shake one’s territory.

Such is the case even in a noble trial, so how much more so in a royal trial. Demotion of peerage, or even confiscation in severe cases, could occur.

As Viscount Gavis tried to send a pleading look towards the 2nd Queen’s empty seat, only then did he remember her being carried out after collapsing, turning his mind blank.

“Witness, please testify.”

“At around 11:30 AM on the 1st of December, Year 497 of the Kingdom’s calendar when the incident occurred, I, as the chief clerk of the Royal Treasury Department, was conducting a meeting regarding the budget for the New Year’s banquet. I cannot comprehend how Viscount Gavis, who was late to the meeting and received a reprimand from me, could have witnessed the dispute between the two Princes.”

The King turned his gaze towards Viscount Gavis.

“Is Count Cliang’s testimony truthful?”

“That, that is, well······.”

As Viscount Gavis stammered, sweating profusely, Count Cliang delivered the final blow.

“Here is the attendance log from that day. Viscount Gavis clocked in at 11:03 AM, over 2 hours after the start of regular office hours. Among those who witnessed me reprimanding him, the ones qualified to serve as witnesses in this royal trial are Marquis Charos, Marquis Wilron, and Marquis Waynes.”

Silence lingered in the courtroom for a moment.

Prince Akard, who had been dazed for a while, finally realized that the atmosphere was taking an odd turn.

*Kwang!*

Slamming the podium with both hands, Akard began ranting recklessly.

“I was mistaken about the time! Yes! Lunchtime! I had an appointment with him for lunch together. That’s when the bastard ambushed me!”

“Your Highness the 4th Prince, the Royal Treasury Department’s meeting room where the incident occurred is over an hour’s walk from the 3rd Cavalry Division’s training grounds.”

“Running, I could run there!”

“Running inside the palace goes against court etiquette.”

“f*ck! You should come running when I call you! Isn’t that right, Count Gabis?”

Count Gabis, who received Akard’s gaze, shook his head. Count Cliang answered on his behalf.

“We all had lunch together in the conference room that day.”

“Slander! Slander! You bastard!!”

Bang bang!

Akard, who tried to rush out by pushing over the witness stand. The security guards quickly restrained his actions.

“Let go! Let go of me, you bastards! Cliang!! Why are you suddenly acting like this? Tell me! Tell me!”

To Count Cliang, Akard’s screams echoed like beautiful harmonies.

‘The good-for-nothing son, now I can finally take him down.’

He had long argued that the Fourth Prince must be removed for the Second Prince’s succession to the throne. So when the Second Prince hinted at his intentions, he agreed to cooperate without hesitation.

‘And get rid of an incompetent parasite as a bonus.’

It was killing two birds with one stone since he could also eliminate the culprit who usually caused his indigestion. Count Cliang glanced at Count Gabis and then shifted his gaze to Evan.

“Let go of me, you bastards!”

Unlike the excited Fourth Prince, Evan consistently maintained a calm demeanor, observing the situation.

If Count Gabis was a parasite infesting Count Cliang’s pantry, then Evan was a caterpillar crawling on the grass of the garden. An existence he wasn’t even aware of.

‘Another thing to worry about.’

This incident made him realize it.

An unidentified caterpillar for now.

Whether it will become a butterfly or a moth after the pupal stage is still uncertain.

If it becomes a butterfly, he’ll let it into the Second Prince’s garden to suck nectar, but if it becomes a moth…

‘The moment it sheds its skin, it must be crushed.’

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Court, if you continue to cause further disturbance, you will be forcibly removed, and it will be considered an admission that you falsely accused the defendant. Additionally, the crime of insulting the sacred royal trial will be separately aggravated.”

The King’s stern warning.

Akard finally closed his mouth.

He knew that insulting the royal trial was a far greater crime than falsely accusing Evan.

The somewhat calmer Akard.

He acknowledged that the verdict would be that he falsely accused Evan.

‘The petty bastard…….’

He understood it as the Second Prince warning him to restrain himself for the time being. What punishment would be imposed?

Solitary confinement, perhaps?

Or maybe even solitary, if it’s too severe?

‘Damn it. I’m suffocating. All because of that bastard.’

Akard glared at Evan, the one who had brought him to this state, as if he wanted to devour him. Evan, in turn, snickered at Akard’s gaze.

Meanwhile.

There was one person whose mind was in turmoil as he watched the two princes engaged in a staring contest.

‘What degree of punishment should I impose?’

It was the king presiding over the trial.

– Your Majesty, this is the tobacco sent from the Arya Kingdom. **It is said to aid in a good night’s sleep, made by finely grinding the leaves of the invigorating herb and the flower of reverie.**

A few days ago, the second queen who had visited him.

– **Although they share no mother, he has committed an unspeakable act of violence against his own blood.** I believe he should be severely punished, in the spirit of “strict punishment for a warning.” **If he spends time with the soldiers guarding the kingdom from barbarians at the Berington Fortress, he will surely realize the importance of family.**

The king, who had lit the tobacco and taken a puff, nodded to the second queen amidst the distorted world.

Looking at the current situation, it seems there is friction between the second queen and the second prince······.

It is impossible to hold Evan accountable for now.

– Although they share no mother, he has committed an unspeakable act of violence against his own blood.

Suddenly, the king’s lips twisted as the second queen’s words came to mind. He glanced at Akard, who did not resemble him in the slightest, and then at Evan. Evan, too, bore no resemblance to him.

When they were young, he had not noticed, but Evan’s face, now with more defined features, bore an uncanny resemblance to the previous king who had wielded absolute power.

For some reason, Evan’s appearance, so unlike his own, was strangely pleasing.

***

I snickered at Akard’s fiery gaze directed at me.

It was clear what he was thinking.

‘Solitary confinement, or maybe even solitary, if it’s too severe.’

Many will likely think that Count Cliang’s intervention this time was a warning from the second prince for the fourth prince to restrain himself.

They would have no idea that the second prince had resolved to deal with the fourth prince, the ticking time bomb.

I turned my gaze towards the king.

Our eyes met. The initially hazy eyes, like those under the influence of drugs, seemed to have regained some focus.

Is he troubled by the impending judgment?

I intend to ease that burden for him now.

“Your revered Majesty.”

This time, I directed my gaze towards the audience.

“And the busy royal elders. I know that in the royal court, if a new crime is discovered, it can be judged on the spot. So! I now wish to reveal the crimes of the innocent Fourth Prince here.”

My clear, firm voice echoed throughout the courtroom.

I raised a sheet of paper.

“You must all be wondering what this is that I’m holding up. This! This is the record of the treatments and examinations I’ve undergone over the past five years.”

Akard’s eyes widened, sensing the gravity of the situation.

“Year 492 of the Kingdom, November 10th. Fractured ribs. Dislocated left shoulder. Depressed cheekbone.”

The day Akard first struck me.

“You bastard! What the hell is this!”

Bang! As he rushed towards me, kicking over the podium, the royal guards swiftly restrained him.

“Stay quiet.”

At the King’s order, they covered Akard’s mouth.

“Mmph- Mmph-“

I recited Akard’s records of assault again.

“Year 493 of the Kingdom, January 20th. Torn ligaments in right shoulder. Fractured right wrist.”

“Year 493 of the Kingdom, March 2nd. Fractured nose. Depressed cheekbone.”

“Year 493 of the Kingdom, May 3rd……”

.

.

.

“Year 497 of the Kingdom, October 25th. Skull fracture and bruises all over the body.”

The courtroom fell silent.

The royal ‘elders’ who met my gaze coughed awkwardly and averted their eyes. I saw my sister dab at her eyes with a handkerchief. I did tell her not to come.

Looking back now, I’m grateful I didn’t end my own life, and paid respects to the ghost prince still residing within me.

He had been waiting.

For a moment like this.

The one who had curled up desperately as those around me laughed and chattered, leaving me overnight, cried out to Akard:

‘You started this.’

The pain inflicted on my body was nothing.

Those who etched scars into my very soul will inevitably meet their downfall.

Soothing the restless ghost prince within, I stared directly at the King.

“He was severely injured. But is there a way to prove that the Fourth Prince was behind it?”

“It may not be possible to prove everything, but some aspects can be substantiated. Among those who witnessed the incident, there are individuals qualified to testify truthfully in this sacred royal trial. They are all prepared to take the witness stand and are waiting outside.”

The knights that the Second Prince had assigned to guard him, fearing his reckless behavior.

They all belonged to the Second Knightly Order, whose members were entirely composed of heirs from noble or knightly families.

– ······.

– Pardon me.

Some of those who had silently or with occasional murmurs of apology provided me first aid eventually inherited their titles over time.

Their willingness to testify was tantamount to the Second Prince openly declaring to the King his intent to abandon the Fourth Prince.

“Very well. Let them all enter.”

Shortly after, the knights came in and testified to Akard’s assault being factual.

Akard, who was initially apprehended by the palace guards and behaving erratically, soon resigned himself to watching their testimonies with a dull expression.

“This has taken longer than expected. I shall render my judgment.”

The weary King looked at me, Akard, and the audience in turn.

“The plaintiff Akard Lionel’s accusations are dismissed. This is ······.”

Naturally, I was exonerated of the false charges.

“······ an act of contempt for this royal trial ······ Therefore, Earl Gabis Londowell is hereby removed from his position and demoted to Viscount, and furthermore, the nearby ······.”

The perjuring Earl Gabis was exiled from the palace, demoted, and part of his territory was annexed as a royal dominion.

“······ Moreover, based on past precedents, additional offenses unrelated to this case are also punishable ······.”

Remaining was the matter of Akard, who had falsely accused me and assaulted me for five years. While I inwardly cried for execution, it was realistically impossible.

Perhaps exile.

But to a place where the Second Queen could look after his welfare.

“······ You are ordered to spend five years in self-reflection on Sokhamdo Island.”

The judgment aligned with my expectations, and I heaved an inward sigh of relief.

「Your relationship with Akard Lionel has dramatically deteriorated.」

「You have achieved the ‘Implacable Foe’ achievement.」

「You have gained 10,000 RP.」

Ah, there was such an achievement.

I glanced at Akard’s status window.

[Relationship: Hostile]

Words that seemed to blaze fiercely.

The last of the red letters signifying a negative relationship, I finally figured out what it meant.

In the solemn atmosphere, I barely held back the corners of my mouth from turning up.

***

The subsequent procedures proceeded swiftly.

This morning, before the fainted Second Queen regained consciousness, Akard was sent into exile.

I was calmly reading a magic book in the study.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

Alfonso, who had brought afternoon snacks, entered. The fellow who had set down cookies and tea opened his mouth.

“Your Highness, the Second Queen has awoken.”

“I see.”

“Huh? Already? How in the world did……”

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How did I know? A sudden notification popped up while I was reading that my relationship with the Second Queen had dramatically worsened.

With this, there are now two people hostile toward me.

I glanced at the [Name Register] and paused.

“Hm? Your Highness, why the sudden reaction?”

Just now.

Akard’s name had disappeared.

“……. Ah, it’s nothing.”

Feeling thirsty, I closed the magic book and brought the tea Alfonso had brought to my lips.

“This tastes awful. Did you brew this?”

“How rude of you!”

Only my taste seemed to be ruined.

Still, my thirst was somewhat quenched.