How to Live as the Enemy Prince

Calian spent a hectic week of waking up to the scent of tea, getting meticulously prepared in the morning, enduring breakfast and attending various lessons.

During that time, he butted heads with Franz another three times. 

During their swordsmanship class, Franz brought up Freya once again and Calian almost killed him, but passed it off as a mistake, and after that Franz became somewhat quiet. 

What was really surprising was Franz’s impressive ability with the sword. Calian’s own strength was terrible, of course, but Franz had done a fair job of blocking his attacks; to come from a family famous for its knights was not meaningless, he supposed.

Franz still glared daggers at him every time he saw him, but the number of times he made his scowling remarks against him had decreased. That was enough to satisfy Calian for now. 

One morning before breakfast, as Calian sat in front of a mirror, staring blankly ahead in a daze while a maidservant brushed his hair, Yan approached him and informed him of the day’s schedule.

“– and lastly Viscount Brissen, the Queen’s relative, will join you at dinner.”

“Hmm,”

Viscount Lennon Brissen.

He was the second son of Marquis Brissen and the brother of Queen Silica. 

Although he was born into a historic family of knights, he lacked skill with the sword and abandoned his weapon early on. He instead settled in one of the most prestigious lands in Kyris. 

‘He’s not competent enough to manage it though, so he essentially spends a fortune to have someone else administrate it instead. However, the fact that he has that much wealth is an ability of its own.’

“Are there no other nobles besides Viscount Brissen visiting?

“None, your highness. It is said that Viscount Brissen was due to prepare a congratulatory performance on the last day of his Majesty’s birthday celebrations however due to some circumstances, he is unable to participate and therefore came to apologise and congratulate his Majesty today. Having already come to the palace for such a purpose, he also wanted to extend his greetings to the Princes – which is the reason for this dinner,” 

“If that was the case, it should have been fine for only Franz to attend?” 

Yan’s face stiffened when he brought up Franz’s name directly. Calian knew that from Yan’s position, he would have a difficult time coming up with a suitable reply so instead, he said,

“Anyway, that’s fine,” 

Yan hesitated for a moment, before opening his mouth again – it seemed there was still something left,

“And I have something to tell you.”

Calian nodded to say ‘go on’. 

“Your highness’ safe will need to be opened again for a moment – would you like for me to do this for you this time too?” 

‘A safe? Do I own something like that?’ 

He had thought he was a penniless prince, but he supposed there must have been some money. 

Calian quickly searched his memory, and realized that the useless silver furniture in the corner of his bedroom was a safe.

He mistook it for a chair, and so he sat down on it sometimes. No wonder it was solid as a rock.

“Why the safe?”

“It’s, uh…”

Yan couldn’t finish his sentence. There could only be one reason for that: It had something to do with Freya. Yan continued forward carefully.

“The earnings sent by the caretaker of the Whitlin family have arrived.”

‘My mother’s name was Freya Whitlin. Then it must be from Freya’s property.‘

Perhaps King Rumein had given his concubine some wealth, and Calian seemed to have inherited it, without it passing over to another nobleman after her death. At the news of this unexpected income, Calian said,

“Let’s check it together. I’m curious of how much has been sent,” 

“I understand, your highness. And -”

Calian was ready for breakfast now, but he could sense that Yan had something else he wanted to add and nodded again.

“As you are aware, when your highness turns fifteen, you are able to appoint two more attendants,”

He wasn’t aware of that.

“As you will turn fifteen this year, the internal affairs official asked how you intend to select them. You may appoint them two or three months in advance of your birthday if you wish. And if you do not have a particular person in mind, the official can assign them for you.”

In summary of the news, Yan said,

“How about appointing two guards, as the other Princes have done?” 

Calian remembered the servants who always seemed to follow Randall and Franz. Since they carried no swords, Calian assumed they were regular escorts. He responded with new understanding on his face.

“So they were guards. No wonder they had good physiques.”

Excluding the Crown Prince – Princes of Kyris were usually not appointed a separate set of guards. The amusing part was that the fiercest of battles were usually fought amongst the princes, not the crown prince.

For that reason the princes personally hired guards, but this was illegal so it was customary for the guards to be disguised as servants instead. As carrying a sword would make them noticeable, those who were skilled with smaller throwable weapons would be selected.

Calian had known this, but he didn’t know he would be allowed additional men when he turned fifteen.

‘Did the original Calian have guards?’ 

If Yan had said this in the previous life and Calian had the money to hire guards, it was highly likely that he would have done so.

Calian had magic. There were guards. And yet he was assassinated. Then it was likely a formidable assassin capable of overcoming a 3-circle mage. Calian absentmindedly brushed his hand against his heart.

‘No. If it had been disguised as suicide, then it would be a clean job. If Calian were a capable mage, he would have left a trail of aggression or defense behind. It is more likely that the original Calian was not in a state where he could use magic like myself now.’ 

In any case, Calian had died two or three months before his birthday, and the guards were also likely assigned two or three months before his birthday. The parts that fit too well together to be a coincidence had him thinking, Either the guards didn’t stop the assassin, or one of the guards was an assassin. A multitude of other possibilities swirled in his mind.

Whatever the answer was, the guards would bring no benefit to him.

“I don’t think we should hire guards, there are others that may have already prepared for that.”

Yan looked stunned at his answer, but Calian did not elaborate any further.

Of course, the one that Calian wanted by his side was that child he planned to save, however there was a problem…

“I’m not completely sure, but I believe the person I want is a commoner. Will that be alright?”

Yan was definitely from an aristocratic family however the person Calian wanted as his escort would be a superior rank to Yan, who was an attendant. Calian seemed to be asking if he could treat a commoner as his superior.

An expression crossed Yan’s features that seemed to say, ‘Why are you asking me that?’ Calian had always thought this but Yan was the type to reveal his thoughts on his face.