Chapter 14
The Crown Prince That Sells Medicine Chapter 14
Episode 14. My secret strategy (1)
“I won’t tell you.”
“…yes?”
“They said they wouldn’t tell me.”
“….”
Sir Gardin closed his mouth.
Even so, he was the crown prince who suddenly had to face the second prince. Thanks to this, there were so many worries here that it was almost like a bountiful harvest, like the abundant grains overflowing on the green meadows.
It was a natural concern.
Because the 2nd prince is not an easy opponent. No, even by the standards of ordinary people, they are elites that are difficult to even surpass. However, the thin Crown Prince, who suffered from illness his whole life, said that he had a secret to defeating the Second Prince.
For a moment, I had hope.
Still, I’m speaking to the crown prince.
Because there is definitely something there.
I think you would have said something like that.
I hoped you could give me at least a small glimpse of hope. However, the prince’s words that followed were extremely cruel.
“I won’t teach you. “Why should I tell you that?”
“majesty?”
“Why?”
“You’re okay. It’s okay to just say you’re not confident you’ll win. No one will blame you. How dare you blame me? Is there anyone in this villa, or even in the ecliptic, who does not know His Majesty’s circumstances? “Isn’t that right?”
I tried my best to comfort the crown prince.
I tried to do that.
A ridiculously unreasonable and unfavorable match. How despairing must the Crown Prince be in facing this? So, you have to protect and comfort them yourself. Because he is the crown prince’s doctor. You have to do it yourself.
Clenching his fist and making a promise, Sir Gardin spoke passionately and with great sincerity. However, the crown prince’s only reaction upon returning was a bewildered laugh.
“Isn’t that so? “Not at all?”
“Yes?”
“are you okay. I won’t lose. Win. Of course, I can’t guarantee it yet, but the probability of losing is still slightly higher, but there’s still a chance to give it a try. Although there is a small chance of winning. Okay then? “Do you feel a little relieved?”
“No, not at all.”
“Tsk.”
“Your Majesty made it sound like you would tell the second prince the secret to winning, but you didn’t.”
“Isn’t that right?”
“Yes, I think you might be bluffing.”
“Tsk tsk. “Then, should I at least reveal some trade secrets?”
“yes?”
Sir Gardin flinched.
Trade secret?
The crown prince continued.
“Think about it. Anyone can see that I will lose to the 2nd prince. Even if I were a stranger, you would still think that way. But I have a trick to try in this match. It’s a special way. But should I casually say something like that in advance?”
“Ah…”
“Do you get the feeling now?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“yes. A secret that leaks out early is no longer a secret. If the 2nd prince hears the news and prepares, I will be the only one ruined. is not it?”
“As expected. But just-”
“Just?”
“I’m sad.”
“what?”
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince raises his eyebrows in this direction. Lord Gardin responded with a dejected look.
“You’re talking as if Your Majesty reveals the secret now and I’ll be the one to spread it around. “I’m not that soft-spoken person.”
“haha. “Did our Lord Gardin do that?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“So you were sad?”
“Honestly, it’s a bit like that, Your Majesty.”
“If I’m honest twice, they’re going to confront me?”
“Of course… no, your highness.”
“Tsk. That’s it. I’m going to sleep. “Please examine me before I lie down.”
“…I understand, Your Majesty.”
Sir Gardin barely managed to hide his expression.
His expression was stiff with worry.
‘Your Majesty, you are bluffing.’
Anyone can see that this is a battle in which the second prince has no choice but to win. However, he boasts that there is a secret to winning.
Does the secret really exist?
‘Probably not.’
Sir Gardin inwardly shook his head.
No matter how hard I tried to use my brain or how I looked at the situation through hopeful glasses, I could see no way for the crown prince to win. I couldn’t find any secret.
No, there seemed to be no answer to begin with.
‘The 2nd Prince has a great physique and has been taught swordsmanship by a great teacher since childhood. According to the rumor, you have already surpassed the level of a knight candidate.’
At that level, it is already at a level that ordinary people cannot dare to confront. But what about His Royal Highness? He is a person whose physical strength is beyond that of the average person.
‘How can I overcome that…’
The crown prince still has a calm expression.
Sir Gardin had to swallow an inward sigh at the sight. I felt like a dark cloud was filling my mind.
♣
The morning dawned early.
When I woke up, the sky was filled with dark clouds that matched my mood. But the crown prince seemed a little different.
“Are you awake, Sir Gardin? “If you wake up, please leave for a moment.”
“…yes?”
“There’s a guest here right now.”
Actually, a stranger had visited the crown prince’s bedroom. Gardin inwardly tilted his head.
‘visitor? At this early morning? already?’
It is only now that the eastern sky has become faintly bright. But there is someone visiting the crown prince’s villa, which is not even at the bottom of the market, at this hour.
Moreover, the visitor’s appearance and attire were strange. It was too ordinary and plain. He didn’t look like a nobleman. To put it in words, it’s like working sweaty all day…
“I’m the imperial palace blacksmith. “I called you.”
“Yes?”
“I guess I’m still half asleep. Please make room for me first. “Because I have something to ask you.”
“Ah yes, Your Highness.”
As if I was being pushed, I came out of the bedroom door.
I asked the guard guarding the door with a glance.
The guard shrugged his shoulders and answered briefly.
“The imperial palace blacksmith is correct.”
“….”
What on earth did His Highness call the imperial palace blacksmith for so early in the morning? Sir Gardin felt a surge of curiosity and puzzlement.
I pressed my ear to the tightly closed bedroom door. But no sound was heard.
No, I can’t hear it.
I think I hear something.
It may not seem like it.
It barely touches the cochlea.
Is it an illusion or is it intentional that I feel like I can’t hear key words just by a single perilla leaf?
But don’t worry about shaking your feet like that for a while.
Sir Gardin felt something strange and looked away. And then I made eye contact with the guard who was looking in this direction.
“….”
“…hmm! “Wow!”
I suppressed my shyness and lifted my ear from the door.
And on the other hand, I made a promise.
‘I’m curious so I guess it won’t work. ‘I’ll have to ask the blacksmith when he comes out later.’
I guess I called the blacksmith this morning. And the current situation seems to be requesting the production of something. Is this the ‘secret plan to beat the second prince’ that His Majesty the Crown Prince spoke of last night?
It seemed like that.
So I was worried.
‘Why are you requesting alternative production? I don’t know what it is, but… you shouldn’t damage your health further by trying strange things or doing unnecessary things.’
I hoped it wasn’t like that. I decided that if you were to try something reckless or dangerous, I would stop you.
So I’ll check it out. I made a promise and waited for the blacksmith to come out.
But that was then.
Someone approached at a brisk pace from across the hallway. He was the chief chamberlain of the villa.
“Chief Chamberlain? “What are you so busy with so early in the morning?”
It’s not that it wasn’t, but the chamberlain’s expression seemed somewhat urgent. The content of the answer that came back was also the same.
“What’s going on? It’s a big deal, Sir Gardin. “Your Majesty… just announced something unbelievable.”
“You mean this is unbelievable?”
“Well, haha. The battle between His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Second Prince. “His Majesty announced the location where the fight will be held.”
“Where do you mean the place?”
“It’s a Roy-Harvey suburb. Do you believe it? “It is said that the battle will be held on a bridge in the center of the Imperial City, where thousands of citizens will watch.”
“…Yes?”
Gardin was astonished after hearing the chamberlain’s answer.
♣
“The order to hold a confrontation in the center of the Roy-Harvey Bridge… is too cruel.”
This is the deepest part of the imperial palace.
Second Prince Theodore requested to see the emperor early in the morning. And now, he was clenching his fists in obeisance to the emperor, his father and the ruler of the empire.
It was because of anger.
“The fact that you accepted my brother’s offer to fight me… I could understand that. Because it was what my brother wanted, because he made the sacrifice himself, for a greater cause… I could understand it that way. But no matter what, this is not it.”
“What do you mean it’s not?”
The emperor’s serious question.
Second Prince Theodore raised his head.
“You really don’t know? A showdown on the Roy-Harvey Bridge… That bridge is located in the very center of the Imperial City.”
“Know.”
“Are you also aware that if you do this, countless eyes and ears of the citizens of the Imperial Capital will be directed to the bridge where the confrontation is taking place?”
“Of course.”
The emperor’s answer was without hesitation. He spoke in an annoyed tone, as if asking why he was asking something so obvious.
“Besides, the Roy-Harvey Bridge is the largest bridge in the imperial capital. Since the space is wide, wouldn’t it be very convenient for a confrontation?”
“your majesty.”
“This decision was made after taking into consideration everything you just said. No, Jim, I hope that happens. I hope that as many people as possible will witness this fight and capture it in their hearts. That’s what Jim means.”
“But you are going too far. Even though you said you made a sacrifice, do you really need to go to that extent? “Do you really need to make your brother a political scapegoat in front of everyone?”
“I decided to do so because it is the path that will give you a stronger legitimacy.”
“I don’t need the legitimacy that you get that way.”
“You may not need it, but this empire will.”
“Abama!”
“Before I am the father, I am the ruler of this empire. In addition to being the father of two sons, he is also responsible for the lives of millions of people who served in the empire. But now you are trying to mislead the cause by being driven by personal and petty feelings of kinship.”
“Haona….”
“It’s done. There is no need to hear any more. The stability of the empire is more important than personal information about blood relatives. “This confrontation will cause a bitterness in your heart for several years, but by establishing a more solid successor structure, this empire will enjoy stability and prosperity for decades.”
“….”
“At that level, wouldn’t it be a big deal if that child, Rakiel, suffered humiliation in front of everyone?”
“….”
Theodore bit his lip.
The gaze of a father, or rather an emperor, looking down on oneself. The moment I saw those strong gazes, I realized.
None of his appeals will work. The Emperor will not pay any attention to any pleas or complaints. And I will calmly watch my brother collapse in front of everyone due to the decision he made today.
Because that’s politics.
‘older brother.’
Suddenly, I thought of the crown prince I met last night. He wasn’t someone I particularly respected on a human level. They were just half-brothers who had the same father. Moreover, he had been sickly since childhood, and had never been able to fulfill the role appropriate to his power.
But… I didn’t know that he would steal his brother’s place like this.
‘I was hoping for a slightly more moderate approach. It wasn’t like this.’
Even if there was a confrontation, it would have been okay in front of a few nobles. Not only that, but in front of tens of thousands of citizens. My brother should break down in front of him.
Once again, I felt so sorry for my brother.
‘sorry. Me too… there is no other way. Since His Majesty has no intention of going back on his decision, I…’
Crack!
He clenched his fists as he stepped away from the emperor’s presence.
‘When the fight begins… I will end it as quickly and cleanly as possible so that my brother’s honor is protected as much as possible so that he does not suffer.’
The 2nd prince made a firm determination.
Of course, he didn’t even know in his dreams. At this moment when he was making a solemn promise, Rachiel was actually welcoming the emperor’s decision.
‘Why, on that bridge? ‘Are you going to fight in front of tens of thousands of people?’
Then…it’s rather good.
A happy smile appeared on Rakiel’s lips.