The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

This world is always cruel.

That was Ted’s thought as he looks at the road.

This road is leading to Marquis Percival’s territory.

Ted and his friends are traveling on it using multiple carriages.

The carriages house twelve orphans that Travis is currently taking care of along with their luggage.

Many children disliked this trip. For them, Travis’s mansion is a place of rest where they can live comfortably.

Ted understood their feelings well.

From the carriage window, he can see many people along the side of the road.

They are beggars.

Their lives depend on others’ compassion.

Before he was taken in, he also belonged to that side.

Ted’s hometown was a rural one. The dark and damp alley there was Ted’s home.

He didn’t even know the faces of his parents. He was already there when he recognized it.

As a child, he had no choice but to beg. Theft was more of an adult’s thing. If you cross them then you will be killed. Ted had seen many children who couldn’t bear the hunger and started stealing food, died because of that.

He couldn’t afford to die himself.

That’s why he did everything in order to live.

At first, he started begging.

Eventually, he learned that he needed to steal so he always did it while making it look like the work of someone else.

Soon, the thieves started to get suspicious of each other.

What ensued was a power struggle where the weak ones were killed.

And eventually, the turf became empty.

Before he knew it, Ted had his own turf with several followers.

“Ted-oniichan, what are you looking at?”

“It’s nothing.”

Saying so, Ted stroked the head of the girl sitting next to him.

The girl’s name is Pati.

They are not related by blood but Pati was a girl who lived in the same alley as Ted.

She just turned 8 this year.

It seems that the miserable life in the back alley has finally become a distant memory for her.

That’s why Ted didn’t show the view outside to Pati.

“Come on, I will read you the picture book Mia-nee bought us.”

“Really!?”

Ted and Pati were taken into Travis’s protection five years ago.

Due to the falling rain and the lack of shelter, Pati got sick and Ted had run around the town for someone to treat her.

At first, he went to a doctor who told him that he will not lift a hand unless Ted pays him.

Next, he went to a home of a wealthy family where he was told that a dirty orphan has no right approach.

Lastly, he went to a noble. And without even a single word exchanged, he was beaten.

Still, Ted continued to run around the town.

He kept at it even while his whole body was smeared with mud.

He kept grinding his head to the ground asking for help to the point of bleeding.

Still, no one helped him.

And when he hugged Pati who was dying of her illness in despair.

A girl with a funny speech pattern called out to them while offering them an umbrella.

“What’s wrong [desuno]?”

The funny speaking girl immediately noticed Pati’s condition and hurriedly called over Travis who was nearby.

It was after that.

That they were put inside a carriage and taken to the doctor.

It was the doctor who refused to help them.

The doctor who told him that he would never help them unless they have money. He initially was reluctant to help but when Travis gave him a few gold coins, the doctor immediately changed his attitude.

He treated Ted and Pati as if they were some noble children and Pati quickly recovered.

After Pati recovered, Travis had gathered the children living in the alley.

Then, he asked, ‘Won’t you come live with me?’

All of the children nodded to him with a smile and were taken to his mansion.

After that, Travis kept taking in such children and when a child reached a certain age, they would be sent out of the Dominion with the help of Travis’s acquaintance.

The reason behind sending them off like this is that the Dominion provides no education on martial arts nor academics.

Originally, Ted was already old enough to leave the mansion but due to Travis’s declining health and Mia’s work, he stayed to take care of the other children.

“Hey, Hey, Ted-oniichan.”

“Un?”

“Where are we going?”

He doesn’t know how to answer that.

Ted didn’t know what would happen at their destination.

After they arrived at Marquis Percival’s territory and the Princess successfully escaped to the Empire, what will happen to them after that?

Helping the Princess escape the country bear no benefit for them.

Rather, they have lost their place to live.

They were already in a dangerous position due to Mia’s work but once they openly help the princess escape, this country will see them as its enemy.

That’s why they have to run away.

However, Ted didn’t feel like blaming Mia or Travis.

Their kindness has saved him and Pati.

The bad one is this country.

It is this country’s fault that good people can not live here.

“…..Ted-oniichan?”

“Ahh, we are going to the border. After that…….I wonder what will happen? I’m looking forward to seeing for myself.”

“EHH!? There is something there?”

Pati smiles happily.

Seeing that, Ted let out a small sigh.

In the unlikely event that the Princess is truly using Mia.

Naturally, Travis would have expected that already but if that happened, they will have a harsh time escaping.

It’s not that he hates it.

He can brush it off thinking that there’s no helping it.

However, He doesn’t want to see Mia and Travis’s kindness betrayed.

“It would be fine if they don’t trust the likes of royalty and aristocrats from the start…….”

While muttering so in a small voice, Ted turned the page of the picture book and read it to Pati.

At the Throne Room of the Imperial Sword Castle.

Emperor Johannes received a report from the Prime Minister.

“That concluded the report. If all goes well, I expect that this will be over in a week’s time.”

“Good work. The rest will depend on Lizelotte huh.”

“……Your Majesty. May I ask why you entrusted capturing the Dominion to Lizelotte-sama?”

“You were against that decision, weren’t you. It’s unusual for you to question something that has already been decided huh?”

“I simply want to learn the meaning behind your decision. There are only demerits in leaving this matter to Lizelotte-sama. I accepted it as it is Your Majesty’s decision. However, if we take a close look, we have already concentrated a large amount of our fighting power in the north. I think that an addition of a small amount of force should be enough in capturing the Dominion.”

“So you thought that sending Lizelotte is going overboard?”

“Yes. Excuse my rudeness but……with that much military power, anyone would be able to capture that country. If Your Majesty has already read that Duke Reinfeld would rally the knights to support the north then I think that you should have left the invasion to him from the beginning. Your Majesty could have His Highness Arnold leads the army as well.”

“The Sokal empire is staying silent about this and the army there is huge. If Lizelotte captures the Dominion then we can move on to take the Kingdom with Lizelotte attacking via a different route.

“I understand that. However, about Lizelotte-sama…..there is a serious problem about her.”

Johannes bitterly smiles at the Prime Minister who kept persisting on the matter.

He understands his reason.

“The death of the Crown Prince is still weighing down on Lizelotte’s mind. That’s why you think that she might run out of control?”

“Yes, exactly. Moreover, Your Majesty has pushed all responsibility regarding the invasion to His Highness Arnold. If Lizelotte-sama started rampaging then the one who has to bear the responsibility will be him. What is the true meaning behind this, Your Majesty? His Highness Arnold is doing brilliant work reconstructing the north. Are you hoping to lower his reputation?”

“As an emperor……I will not intervene with the succession war. The reason I left everything to Arnold was that I couldn’t stop Lizelotte myself.”

“……..what do you mean?”

“Lizelotte probably thinks that if she can avenge the Crown Prince then she doesn’t mind losing her position. So if I were to give her my full authority and have her bear the consequence herself…..she would still do it. My daughter is like that. But-.”

“It would be different if His Highness Arnold is the one bearing the responsibility?”

“I don’t know. At least, I think that she would think twice about it. If Lizelotte truly recognizes Arnold…..then I’m sure that they won’t have any problem capturing the Dominion.”

“In my opinion…..I think that Lizelotte-sama still hasn’t recognized His Highness Arnold yet. She just loves him as her younger brother.”

“Arnold still won’t get serious after all. That’s why she still can’t recognize him. Arnold might think that is fine but……if he has to face a difficult problem then he will be forced to take it seriously. Not as a younger brother, but as a prince who holds the same rank.”

Saying so, Johannes smiles and stands up from the throne.

Understanding his true intention, the Prime Minister bowed to Johannes.

And asks him a question before he leaves.

“Your Majesty……who do you think should sit on this throne.”

“……the throne is given to the winner. It will not be given to those who are not trying to win. After all, no one would recognize such an emperor. That’s why we have a succession war. The person who sits on the throne will not be decided by their qualities or abilities. The one who can sit on it is only someone who has the resolve to do it. The throne does not care about the Emperor’s preference. If I can decide on such a thing……then what is the purpose of having a succession war?”

“……I have overstepped my bounds. Forgive my rudeness.”

Just like that, Johannes left the throne room.

The Prime Minister also left.

While thinking ‘What a difficult clan to serve’.

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