The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

Next morning,

I told everyone that I was sick and held myself up in my room.

Leaving an illusion of myself on the bed, now everyone who sees it will think that I am sleeping in my room.

From there, I use transfer magic to move to a city near the southern border of the Empire and use it again to go directly from there to the Imperial Capital.

The place I transferred to is Gramp’s hidden room.

There is a familiar face waiting there for me. But that’s not gramps. He is probably resting in his book right now. He may only be in his thoughtform but it doesn’t mean that he stays awake all the time. If he doesn’t take proper rest then his spirit might collapse.

“Welcome back.”

“Sebas huh. How did you know that I will be coming back today?”

“I do not. I just waited here every day.”

“Every day…..you are really diligent huh.”

“You can’t work as a butler unless you are diligent after all.”

Saying so, Sebas handed me a silver mask and a black robe.

While putting on Silver’s outfit, I ask Sebas about the current situation.

“How is it going?”

“The faction war is going well. Lynfia-dono was very excellent.”

“Is that so. It seems I made the right choice huh.”

“So it seems. But Finne-sama is a little……”

“Did Finne do something?”

From the way he speaks, it doesn’t look like Finne something happened to Finne herself.

If something happened to Finne, Sebas wouldn’t be so composed like this. While calming myself down with that, Sebas gave me his answer.

“She had a meeting with the representative of the Ajin company on Lynfia-dono’s suggestion. Finne-sama was able to convince their representative to cooperate with us but……..”

“But? I thought I told you not to leave her side right? I do trust Lynfia but it’s too early to put my full confidence in her.”

“I am very sorry. I thought that if I go together with Lynfia-dono, the other side would be more cautious of us.”

“….Whatever. So? How did Finne persuade their representative?”

“She has made herself a bargaining chip. She offered the right to do as they please with her and asked them what they have in exchange. In the end, they folded without being able to present something of equal value and easily complied with our demands. In exchange for their cooperation, they only want to utilize Finne-sama’s name, an obvious request if I may say so.”

“Haa……”

Seriously.

She sure did something reckless.

I know that she was a child who doesn’t value herself but it is to that extent huh.

What would she do if they have something of equal value to offer.

“She’s really a troublesome child isn’t she.”

“That’s rich coming from you.”

An old man with a slightly transparent body suddenly appeared.

That’s my master as well as my great-grandfather. Gramps.

“What do you mean by that Gramps?”

“You always put your reputation as a secondary concern. That self-abandoning part about yourself is the same as her isn’t it?”

“Leave me alone. Having a position like this makes it easier for me to move.”

“That girl is probably having a similar idea. I’m fine like this. It’s better that way. The world sure is depressing isn’t it, Sebas. It is saddening when children can’t just be children.”

“Absolutely.”

The two old men sighed together.

Somehow, this is making me feel awkward.

It’s like I am the bad one here. Don’t mess with me.

“I would be able to live like a normal child forever if a certain someone changed the custom of the succession war when he was an emperor though.”

“Well, if a wise emperor naturally born then it would be possible…..but that will never happen. That’s why the succession war exists. It was made for those with the ability to be able to become an emperor. It’s rare to have so many excellent candidates after all.”

He imposed such a logic.

The dissatisfaction that has accumulated inside me is about to explode but since nothing will come out even if I let that out so I just head to the door without saying anything.

“Al.”

“What?”

“Don’t reproach the girl. You understand that right?”

“…..You don’t have to tell me.”

I have no qualification to lecture her.

I muttered in my heart while concealing myself with illusion magic and left the room.

—————

Leo’s room.

Even when I and Leo aren’t here, it is still Finne and the other’s base of operation.

That’s why I stood there, waiting for Finne.

Perhaps they just finished talking with our supporters, Finne and Lynfia returned to the room.

“ ! ? S, Silver-sama!?”

“Silver…….”

“Good day. Finne-sama. I have something to talk with you.”

“Y, Yes…..”

I turn my gaze to Lynfia.

Of course, Lynfia seems to be wanting to listen to the talk as well but I can’t allow that.

“Can you leave us alone for a moment? Adventurer woman, I met in Duke Kleinert’s territory.”

“I’m honored that you remembered me but right now I am acting as this person’s escort.”

“I want to talk with her alone. Give me some time.”

“….I am not doubting you but I can’t just say [Yes, alright] to this. Please forgive me.”

The never back down attitude of Lynfia is very dependable.

I wouldn’t entrust Finne to her if she is someone that would fold so easily. 

But right now she is in the way.

While I was thinking that, Sebas threw me a lifeboat.

“Then allow me to stay here as her guard. Please don’t worry, I will not disturb you.”

“….all right.”

“Well then, Lynfia-dono. Can you remain standby in another room?”

“……If Sebas-san said so.”

With that said, Lynfia finally leaves the room.

After confirming that Lynfia left, Sebas moved to an adjacent room.

Now we are finally alone.

“Welcome back. Since you came back here, something must have happened over there right?”

“Well, a lot happened but….that’s a story for another time.”

“?   for another time?”

Surprised, Finne curiously tilted her head

She’s probably thinking that there’s nothing to talk about other than that.

That is because the priority she set for herself is very low.

“…..I heard that you had a meeting with the representative of the Ajin company.”

“Yes! The negotiation went smoothly! Representative-san was also a good person as well.”

Saying so, Finne smiles.

It’s hard seeing her smile like that.

The reason for the bitterness I felt is obvious. It is like I am looking at my twisted self in a mirror.

I don’t regret what I have done. It was necessary and I will also do the same thing in the future as well.

But I am feeling guilty that I made the people around me feel like this.

“…..Hey, Finne. I know that this is not something that you should be hearing from me. You might even hate me for this. Even so, I still want to say this to you.”

“Yes?”

“I want you to take better care of yourself.”

It’s like throwing a boomerang. Just how many times did Leo tell that very same thing to me? But I was in such a position because I wanted to. I didn’t try my best and sacrifice myself for something like Finne.

How will Finne respond to that?

I could easily imagine. But this is the thing I must say to her.

While thinking that this is tough, I continue speaking.

“It’s hard for me to see you put yourself so low like that Finne. I know that you only wanted to be useful but you don’t have to try so hard.”

“….E, even so…..I….I want to be useful to Al-sama……..”

Finne mutters, her face is like she is about to cry.

Seeing her like that, regret grew inside me. I was inconsiderate. I thought that if I don’t complain or make a fuss about it, it would be all right.

Finne has never been away from the Duke’s territory. It’s obvious that she will be lost when she comes to the capital with me. Even so, she desperately wants to be useful.

I haven’t done anything for her in that regard. How many times have I taken her outside? Have I ever let her have a break?

My head was only filled with the thought of the succession war. To be honest, I don’t have any such leeway either.

The words of my mother crossed my mind.

You are always like this. That’s what my mother said when I left her at the inner palace.

At that time, I lightly brushed it away but maybe I have been reckless all this time.

I didn’t have time to rest but I should still be making one.

Had such a twisted situation continued, I might have lost Finne.

“Finne…..you are special.”

Saying so, I remove my silver mask.

The people who I can take off my mask in front of them are only Sebas and Finne.

Since Sebas knew from the very beginning the only person who found out my identity is only Finne.

“Al-sama……”

“The only people who I can show both of my faces to like this are only Sebas and you. Sebas is my guardian, he is something like a parent to me. That’s why….the first person I can show my faces to like this is you. The moment you know my secret, you are not just another person to me. Leo is my one and only little brother and you are my one and only sharer. Nothing will change that. It’s fine just by having you stay by my side. Having a person I can share my secret with like this, do you know how much you make things feel easier for me…..”

That’s right. It was easier.

I may have been spoiled by her.

Realizing that made me feel even more guilty.

“I, I’m……..I’m not someone special like that…..I am not a great person like Al-sama or Leo-sama…..b, but, since I know Al-sama’s secret…..I have to be useful to you……”

“Yeah, I was saved by you. Thank you. And sorry, I should have said this sooner.”

What I needed was happiness as a human being.

Even so, I didn’t tell that to Finne. That must be the reason Finne was so anxious about it. The fact that she knew of my secret alone already put Finne under pressure. 

That’s why she cares less and less about herself. She was only prioritizing the interests of our faction.

She must have thought that it would make me happy.

If I have to say it myself, that was despicable. I hate that part of my personality.

Hearing my words, tears fall from Finne’s eyes. It didn’t stop there, Finne covering her face with both of her hands and started crying.

Finne is still a 16-years-old girl. Even if it was her own will, I took her out of her territory and got her involved with the succession war where people do not hesitate to kill each other.

I have the obligation to take care of her mental health.

“Forgive me. I didn’t have room to think about you before.”

“Hic, Hic! It’s….not like that…..it…wasn’t…A, Al-sama’s…..fault…..”

“Then let’s make it our fault. Let’s reflect on it together.”

Saying so, I gently stroke Finne’s hair.

Finne is my one and only sharer.

We should reflect on it and be happy together.

I continued to stroke her hair until she calmed down.

Then.

“…..it’s….all right now….”

“Is that so?”

“Yes…..I’m fine now.”

With that said, Finne looked straight at me with her reddened eyes.

Her eyes are pure and strong. I can feel an immovable will from it.

“Please tell me…..what is happening in the south. I will help.”

“Yeah, I will be relying on you.”

Saying so, I started explaining the situation in the south to her without hiding anything.

The fact that the Sea Dragon will make its move soon. The fact that someone is trying to take advantage of the situation in the empire. And the fact that they must be stopped.

“Well, that’s about it. There’s only one man who plans to run the army to intervene in the situation in the south. It’s all right if he fails but the soldiers that will be sacrificed in the process are pitiful. I think that the best course of action here is to minimize the scale of the Empire’s intervention and defeat the Sea Dragon on our own.”

“Yes. I think so as well. So….I have an idea……a way to minimize the Empire’s intervention and save the south.”

“What a coincidence. I also have an idea as well. The problem is whether we can persuade the key person to do it or not. But I can’t do this myself. Can I leave that to you?”

“Please leave it to me. I will persuade them for you.”

At my request, Finne showed a soft smile and gracefully bowed.