The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

The Southern Incident was resolved.

Since the situation escalated too much than first anticipated, Leo was called back to the imperial capital.

To ask them about the situation in detail, Aneue and Jurgen were also called back to the imperial capital to be given their reward for their quick response as a pretext.

The group of people that were called also included me but……….

“Ah, this is bad……”

In front of my eyes is a group of people crowding at the gate of the imperial capital.

Leo and the imperial knights along with the knights from the southern local Lords who fought alongside them are marching into the capital. Leo was leading them into the capital gate but a fervent welcome was waiting for them so they can’t proceed normally.

“Prince Leonard——!!!!”

“It’s the triumph of the Hero Prince!!”

“Leonard-samaaaaaaa!!!”

“Please look at me!!!!”

Everyone knows that the purple signal fire has risen from the south.

The last time it was lit, the news of the Crown Prince’s death was delivered to them.

Everybody was prepared for the same thing this time but what was delivered was some mildly bad news about the damage done to the city of Bassau and that the scale of the incident was small for a national level incident.

Then comes the good news that their Prince had led knights and adventurers to fight and won against a large number of monsters and powerful Demons.

The people’s joy was just as much as the amount of sadness they were prepared to face.

Cheers were raised from the crowd to Leo and the others as if they were celebrating in a festival.

“It’s Lizelotte-sama!”

“Marshal-sama!!”

“Long live the Princess General!!”

When Leo and his group passed by, this time it was Aneue and her soldiers from her cavalry regiment.

She gave up the leading position to Leo since he was the main protagonist of this incident but she still received the same cheers as Leo.

She is a beautiful princess who defends their border and has the greatest military achievements among all the members of the imperial family. After they were able to witness her appearance after a long time, the people seem to be getting excited.

After her, it was mine and Jurgen’s turn.

The first person that the people started cheering for was Jurgen.

“That’s Duke Reinfeld!”

“It seemed he paved the way for Lizelotte-sama you know!”

“I heard that it was because of the Duke’s effort that Lizelotte-sama was able to arrive in the South in time!”

“Duke-sama!!”

There are quite a lot of people cheering for him.

Somehow, the people here seem to have quite a fast information network.

“There he is, it’s the Dull Prince.”

“I heard that he tried to go to help his younger brother at first but he got tired halfway there so he just left.”

“Even if he went there he would just be pulling their legs anyway.”

“That prince is really useless. I can’t believe that he and Prince Leonard are twins.”

“Why is he marching together with them? He should be a little ashamed.”

“That’s right That’s right! You damn Leech!”

“He is such a disgrace to the imperial family!”

Mocking voices and slanders were raised sporadically among the crowd.

There’s no end to such to it.

They are all mocking me with the same mouth they used to cheer for Leo.

I understand that is just how people are. So I push up my chest and take it. If I avert my eyes, the mockery will just start getting louder. After all, no one would want to recognize a pathetic royalty.

In fact, the one who will be in trouble if they can’t control their feelings is them.

They are plenty disrespectful enough but I am the only one in the imperial family that has a different outlook on such disrespects. They probably won’t get caught unless they throw something at me. However, if they start doing that then the city guards from the capital garrison who are taking care of the security will move.

It would be pitiful for them to get caught just because they throw something at me.

The satisfaction they are having is natural after all.

“Your Highness……if you wish, I can silent them for you.”

Jurgen concerningly offered.

If I wish for it huh, that does sound like what he would say.

I gently shake my head.

Seeing that, Jurgen smiles and looks forward.

Then,

“Please rest assured. Your kindness and strength, My knights and I, Jurgen von Reinfeld know about it well. Please hold yourself up with pride. Your Highness deserves it.”

“You think too highly of me.”

“In this world, the easiest thing to do is to do nothing. You certainly weren’t able to go to His Highness Leonard’s side. However, you have chosen to stop. I think the choice you made requires courage. At the very least, I and my knights have been saved by you. Even if it’s His Majesty himself, I will not allow anyone to deny that fact.”

“Stopping requires courage huh……..you really are strange, Duke.”

“Is that right? It sounds like a normal thing to say for me though.”

While having such a conversation, I can no longer hear the voices of the people.

Feeling thankful for his consideration, I headed to the castle with Jurgen.

“Welcome back! My children! My subjects! I am glad that everyone made it back safely!”

We were welcomed by Father in the throne room.

Everyone kneels down and lowers their heads to Father who is sitting on the throne.

“The adventurers who returned told us all about your fight. Solving such a big incident like this, you all can consider yourselves a hero! I have prepared a small feast tonight. I want every one of you to heal your fatigue there to your heart’s content.”

After saying that, Father clears his throat and looks at Franz, the prime minister.

Knowing what he wanted to say, Franz nodded and started talking.

“On this occasion, everyone who participated in the resolution of the Southern incident will receive a reward. Among you, those who have performed exceptional deeds will be bestowed a special reward directly from His Majesty here. Please step in front when your name is called.”

Saying so, the maids holding the rewards come standby near Father.

Upon confirming them, Franz started announcing the name of the receivers with a loud voice.

“First reward! The Eighth Prince, His Imperial Highness Leonard Lakes Adler, step forward!”

“Yes!”

After he replied, Leonard stepped in front and kneels before Father.

Seeing that, Father receives a sword from one of the maids.

It was a long sword with a golden falcon symbol engraved on its sheath.

It was the ceremonial sword used in appointing important positions for military officers.

“Eighth Prince Leonard had made the wise decision of raising the signal fire and leading many knights to prevent the situation from worsening during the Southern Incident. After that, to tackle the root of the problem, he led the charge at the forefront and defeated a Demon. For his meritorious deed, he is now hereby appointed the vacant position of the Honorary General of the Imperial Capital Garrison along with the right to attend the Privy Council.”

“I thankfully accepted.”

Leonard reverently accepted the sword.

Hearing that, there was an uproar among the ceremony attendees.

“Not just the Honorary General but the right to attend the Privy Council……!?”

“Isn’t that a bit too much…….?”

“So his achievement was that great huh……”

“This will make things unpredictable again you know……”

Even an Honorary General is still a General. This means that he just acquired the position equivalent to Gordon’s who is also an emperor candidate. Moreover, he now has an influence over the Imperial Capital Garrison. An Honorary General is an honorary position but due to the influence of his predecessor, the late General Dominique, Leo can move a considerable amount of force in the Imperial Capital if he needs to.

In addition, he was allowed to attend the Privy Council which Eric was originally the only one who was allowed to among the candidates. With this, he is now able to convey his opinion directly to Father without going through the ministers. And with Earl Baelz who had become the Minister of Industry, we now have two votes in the council.

In other words, this means that he has gained a solid voice and influence over national politics.

With this, the power structure of the succession war has changed.

Thanks to this incident, Leo is no longer just a newly emerging fourth candidate but one of the leading candidates who can even threaten Eric.

“Next, the second reward! Marshal Lizelotte Lakes Adler. Step forward!”

“Yes!”

This time, Lize-aneue stepped forward.

To such Lize-aneue, Father handed her a cane.

“Marshal Lizelotte had swiftly responded to Leonard’s signal fire and swiftly moved to action, leading the elite soldiers of the Eastern Border Army to the scene. Later, together with Leonard, she had paved the way to the city. For that meritorious deed, the Eastern Border Army will receive additional troops and expansion of its budget.”

“I thankfully accepted.”

As expected of Father.

He understands well that Aneue doesn’t need something like a medal.

Aneue who received the cane looked quite happy herself.

“Last, the third reward! Jurgen von Reinfeld. Step forward!”

“Yes!”

The last person called was Jurgen.

Father has prepared a large gem for Jurgen.

“Duke Jurgen, along with his knights, defeated the monsters and paved the way for Lizelotte to advance together with his foresight in creating an efficient route in case of an emergency, he is hereby bestowed treasures and an expansion of his territory.”

“I thankfully accepted.”

Jurgen who received the box filled with gems back down.

Now the special awarding ceremony is over.

After that, Father finishes the formal greeting and steps down.

Now, the rest is just the party tonight.

While thinking about such a thing, I heard the conversation of the participating ministers and influential nobles.

“It might be better to start approaching Prince Leonard huh…..”

“But it is already this late in the game……..”

“Attitudes are important you know, attitudes. You better present yourself to the emperor candidates too you know. It has become unpredictable who will become the next emperor after all……”

“But no matter how much bigger Prince Leonard is going to grow, Prince Eric’s faction still has the advantage of manpower. At least, Prince Leonard even has to use that Dull Prince. Their difference in personnel is obvious you know…..?”

“Certainly, that Prince has always causing problems…..it seems he didn’t even play an active role this time as well. Someday, he might just drag Prince Leonard down with him……..”

“But it makes you think right? If he even has to use that Dull Prince then right now he is obviously looking for more capable human resources. I think that now is our opportunity you know…….”

It seems they started to come up with various theories.

Playing an incompetent has its worth.

If Leo has to use even an incompetent like me, it means that he is having a manpower problem. With that line of thinking, I thought that people might decide to become Leo’s ally.

Even if we are siblings, he still utilized an incompetent like me. Those who don’t have much confidence in themselves and those who felt dissatisfied with their current position should decide to gather under Leo because of that.

That’s why I still have to remain incompetent.

Affirming my belief again, I left the place.