It's Not Like I Want to Play the Role of a Misunderstood, Good-for-Nothing Prince in a Villainess Story! - Chapter 17 – Sebastian's Diary

The prince has changed.

That’s the rumor whispered throughout the palace.

Prince Zeke.

The prince who turned 8 this year—he hates studying, runs away from even attending sword and magic classes.

A problem child who oversleeps every day and throws tantrums when something unpleasant happens.

Unlike Prince Tigos, two years younger who handles everything competently, his reputation is the worst.

And on top of that, he has the first succession right, so he’s a troublemaker.

Nobles who hear the stories watch from a distance, and the maids and butlers spread bad rumors.

Even his father His Majesty Halt and Empress Laura, despite their gentle personalities, were holding their heads.

Especially His Majesty Halt, having his own past experiences, seemed to love Prince Zeke while cautiously watching how things developed.

Just when I was starting to think this might be hopeless watching him—it happened.

Prince Zeke hit his head.

He slipped and fell while running in the hallway, but afterward he seemed fine, so no one paid attention.

However, early the next morning.

Prince Zeke’s personality had clearly changed.

Prince Zeke normally did outrageous things and didn’t really listen to people.

At first, no one noticed he’d changed.

However, I could tell from having watched Prince Zeke normally.

Something seemed off about Prince Zeke.

I saw him lamenting while looking in his room’s mirror “why am I Zeke…”

Wondering if he’d become even stranger than before, I watched, but after that he suddenly started showing interest in studying, swordsmanship, and magic.

Until now he’d run away saying it was troublesome… had something happened?

After that, when I told him about Lindl Duchy, he headed to Lindl Duchy for inspection leading guards.

Since it was a friendly nation I judged there’d be no danger, and informed the Lindl Duchy side that a prince would be coming for inspection.

Since Prince Zeke’s rumors had long since spread to neighboring countries, the reply came saying “do as you please.”

To not even receive a welcoming reception—how pitiful…

Prince Zeke returned soon after.

At that time, amazingly Prince Zeke returned bringing Rubert, Lindl Duchy’s foremost Jet-Black Knight!

Rubert was a knight whose name resounded even in other countries, but I hear he was sent to a regional city because his personality didn’t match Lindl Duchy’s current duke—a peculiar person.

How did the prince manage it?

Incidentally, the two knight order members attached as guards had been complaining before going, but lately they often visit the prince.

They seem to have taken a liking to him… hmm.

Originally I didn’t like Prince Zeke either, and would have abandoned him long ago if not for His Majesty’s orders, but lately…

After that, while Prince Zeke caused friction with Elliott-sama over Misty-sama’s matter and was let off, since then Lady Misty started coming frequently.

I knew that before this incident, Misty-sama had been enviously watching Prince Zeke, the two knight order members, and Rubert being lively together.

I’ve seen many times how she kept caring about Prince Zeke’s group despite Tigos-sama being beside her.

Perhaps she wanted to join the circle.

Certainly Prince Zeke’s personality has recently become gentler while also brighter, and he works hard daily on studying and swordsmanship.

Attracting people was a good tendency for someone who’ll become a ruler.

Shall I watch over slowly…?

That’s what I thought, but apparently His Majesty Halt proceeded with an engagement talk between Prince Tigos and Misty.-sama

His Majesty was busy and apparently hadn’t read my reports, so he didn’t know Lady Misty was helping Zeke-sama with dancing at the palace.

The moment he heard from me about Zeke-sama’s recent daily life, he panicked.

Worried that Prince Zeke, who’d finally been in a good trend, might become sullen and return to how he was.

Your Majesty… if you’ll regret it later, please at least listen to reports first.

At the breakfast table he acted calm, but I know that after meals His Majesty’s changed clothes had absorbed quite a lot of sweat—but I’ll keep quiet.

After that, the Seiran Kingdom welcome party began.

I didn’t think that country’s prince would propose to Misty-sama, nor did I think Prince Zeke would ultimately emerge as Misty-sama’s fiancé.

His Majesty was internally delighted.

Having proceeded with the talk, he’d been troubled wondering what to do if they actually accepted, so this was good.

Well, when Marquis Red was enthusiastic about engagement with Tigos-sama but the reply took a while to come, I thought Misty-sama wasn’t interested.

So I thought it’d be fine.

Besides, Prince Toprak of Seiran made a mistake.

Prince Toprak’s statements that the Seiran Kingdom was a great nation and looking down on Carlaan Kingdom—those slip-ups.

Doing that in front of Carlaan’s royalty and nobles was a complete blunder.

Up until partway, Carlaan’s nobles watched, thinking it was interesting entertainment.

However, making statements as if Prince Toprak saw the Carlaan Kingdom as below the Seiran Kingdom was bad—that picked a fight with all Carlaan nobles.

Prince Toprak was impressive for quickly noticing the change in atmosphere, but he should have noticed before speaking.

As a result, His Majesty and others who’d been watching the children’s interaction amicably rushed to settle the situation.

However, his evaluation of Zeke-sama changed a bit.

Biting at an opponent insulting his country despite knowing his own position would worsen—that was magnificent.

There was also the aspect that it was forgiven because he’s a child, but it became more prominent because Tigos-sama before him had easily backed down.

Quite a few nobles were sighing.

There’s no doubt he showed a posture of not yielding to Seiran as a Carlaan person.

Lord Elliott watching that had an ambiguous expression though.

“Phew…”

This diary I started writing when given the duty to watch Prince Zeke by His Majesty’s orders—it’s increased quite in volume.

The first half trashed Zeke-sama thoroughly, but now… no, let’s stop.

He might change further from here.

I don’t know if it’ll improve or worsen, but either way.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Sebastian relaxed his mouth while carefully storing the diary he’d just written.