How to Live as the Enemy Prince

The main gate of the Kyris Royal Palace led directly to the Royal Road – a large artery that passed through the entire city. In front of the palace were two plazas that stood symmetrically on either side of the road: Hastuara Square on the east and Sispanian Square on the west.

At the centre of each plaza was a fountain bearing a statue of the founders. The human form of Sispanian stood in Hatsuara Plaza, and on the other side King Hatsuara stood in Sispanian Plaza, and both were positioned so that they looked at each other from afar.

The two statues were originally constructed to face the royal palace, but legend said that Sispanian, who came to the plaza as a dragon to see the statue of Hatsuara after his death, turned the two statues to look at each other and left.

As a result, the two squares were sought after tourist attractions of Kyris, there were many visitors and couples who came even on normal days.

However, the people who visited the plaza from dawn did not even set their eyes on the two famous fountains, instead competing for space so that they could stand as close to the palace as possible.

Today was the birthday celebration of King Rumein.

Early at dawn, a grand platform was built on the royal road before the palace gate, this would be where King Rumein would stand to greet his subjects. For those who had to stand far away, large crystal plates were erected in front of the two fountains. Images of the royal family would be projected onto the magical devices so they could be seen from afar.

Guards in charge of security were ready to handle any possible incidents. In the morning, the palace maids came out and began swarming busily, cleaning the platform and piling up commemorative gifts for those in the square.

Of course, the exterior of the palace was not the only place that was bustling. Preparations for the event were also in full swing inside the royal palace.

“Haaaaa,” Calian nervously let out a long sigh, he finally felt how important today truly was.

For the first time, there was no formal breakfast as everyone was too busy preparing for the festival.

Schatten had arrived just when Calian was stepping out of the bath. As Calian was not yet presentable enough to greet outsiders, Yan lowered the bedroom curtain before allowing Schatten in the room.

Because of that, only Schatten could be viewed from Calian’s side, and the prince noted that the tailor’s face seemed to have emaciated overnight. Judging from the fact that Schatten was still wearing the same clothes as yesterday, he likely pulled an all-nighter mending his clothes. Calian sent him off with his carriage once again, feeling both grateful and sorry. 

Yan drew the curtains away after Schatten left. 

“I’ll repeat today’s schedule for you while you’re preparing.” Somehow Yan was more nervous than Calian, and the attendant’s face was as stiff as if it had been molded out of clay. 

Calian had lost count how many times the schedules had been droned into his ear.

“At 9am, you will be formally greeting his Majesty for his birthday in an official setting, at 10am, you will take part in the greetings at the plaza. From 12pm, there is luncheon with their Majesties the King and Queen-” 

Calian stepped in, 

“At 2pm, I will be greeting the Central Aristocrats, at 5pm I will be greeting the Outer Aristocrats, 8pm Banquet ending at 11pm – I’ve memorised it all.” 

When he interrupted him, Yan laughed. He seemed to have realized how many times he had repeated the schedule.

“That’s right. You will have a meeting with the foreign ambassadors and envoys tomorrow, so it’ll be helpful if you listen to the noblemen’s conversation today.”

All Calian was looking forward to was the banquet, as Alan would come by when the banquet was almost over. Calian was impatient to see the mage, but at the same time he felt relieved.

‘Yes. It’s rather a good thing. I can’t get out of here before then.’ It would be a hectic day, and if Alan came and left in the middle of his scheduled activities, it would be a disaster.

Calian did not expect much from the meetings with ambassadors from countries or, to be exact, from Secretia. He knew the mission did not include Chase, and none of the Secretia nobles coming today would be anyone Calian thought were worth meeting. 

‘I don’t remember who will come. But even if I know someone, I can’t go and ask if Prince Chase is doing well these days.’

During this time, Bern had very poor relations with the nobility of Secretia. They opposed Bern when he said he would give up the throne to his half-brother Chase, the son of a concubine. To them it was only natural that the son of the Queen, Bern, will become the King – not one person supported his notion. 

Nothing could persuade him otherwise, so he became a knight devoted to Chase.

‘I can still remember their faces when I swore my loyalty to my brother.’

Yan’s voice interrupted Calian’s thoughts. This time Yan had a cautionary tone, but of course Calian had already heard the same thing so many times that it was getting boring. 

“When you greet the nobles, I’ll announce who you are from behind. Other than that, I don’t think there’s anything else you need to say. But if you have a word for them-”

Looking at Yan’s face full of worries, Calian drew himself out of past memories and a mischievous twinkle entered his eyes, 

“….If I forget anyone’s name, I should look at Yan, the most competent senior attendant Yan will tell me again, who they are. I can say hello first but I should never say my name or introduce myself since I am royalty,” Calian spoke formally

“Your highness, please lower your words,” the startled Yan said as he bowed low,

(Tani’s TMI Time – To lower your words is to speak informally – it means to speak to someone as if they are on a lower/equal level to you – when you speak to someone formally, you are raising them to a level higher than you – either due to status or just politeness. 

As Royalty, Calian should never lower himself or even put himself on the same level as Yan, not only is it demeaning to the status of the royal family, it can actually get Yan in a lot of trouble – in fact it borders on treason. 

Basically he’s teasing Yan.)

“Ah but do you think there would be anyone who doesn’t know my name? Everyone seems to refer to me in a rather special way, ‘Ahh.. that Calian!’,”

They were words that were said with wide round eyes and a smile but of course, they did not have a good meaning which is why Yan simply looked at Calian with a bitter smile instead of an answer. 

“Anyway, that will change too, from today onwards so stop worrying about everything. I won’t be making any mistakes.”

Calian had been a prince for a long time – was that all? Not only had he been a Prince for a lifetime, he had also been the Crown Prince and a Knight. Calian had more confidence than anyone else that he could act as the perfect Prince in front of people. So, while he was waiting for the festival, a thought came to his head.

‘The assassin will come anyway, so it would be better if I took this opportunity to mess with Silica’s plans and turn it all upside down,’

The only question that remained was – should he stand out? Or act in the shadows?