Vol 1 Chapter 32 – The Prince’s Concerns【Vol 1 – Spoiled Princess Arc】

“Phew… Honestly, Father is…”

Several days had passed since the incident where King Rei had nearly died from his beloved daughter’s cookies. Orace was walking down a hallway, heading outside.

Walking behind him was Walter, his loyal knight.

His stern face was twisted into a wry smile.

“King Rei dotes on Princess Debora quite a bit, so…”

“Even so, there ought to be a limit. Besides, did that man not know about Debora’s homemade cooking? It nearly caused a huge uproar.”

The panic of the Prime Minister, King Rei’s loyal knight, was especially off the charts.

His flustered state was a little amusing.

“Well, the things Debora makes aren’t usually life-threatening. They’re just… atrocious…”

Knowing full well how terrible Debora’s cooking was, he couldn’t believe it when he heard that Erik had eaten several of those cookies.

There’s a limit to how nice someone can be.

He couldn’t help but give a wry smile, but Orace then composed his expression.

“This won’t do. We’re about to head to the Hegstett territory. We don’t know what might happen, so I need to stay sharp…”

“Indeed. According to the results of our investigation, they are undoubtedly guilty.”

Walter agreed with Orace’s words.

Officially, this is labeled as an investigation, but there’s no doubt Biriel Hegstett is involved in the attempted assassination of Debora.

Considering how he treats his domain’s people, it wouldn’t be surprising if he did something like that.

And now, two members of the royal family have to venture there, albeit for an investigation.

“Ordinarily, I’d want to take a large contingent of guards, but…”

“You know that’s not possible.”

Orace gave a wry smile.

This time, Biriel has been informed that royalty will be visiting.

We can’t just exercise strong-arm tactics like suddenly barging into the Hegstett territory to investigate.

No, actually, with King Rei’s authority, it would be possible.

However, if we did that, it’s highly conceivable that the other nobles who witnessed it would become alienated.

The Kingdom of Vilemse is ruled by the powerful monarch King Rei, but he doesn’t run the country all by himself.

The power of the nobles who hold fiefdoms throughout the land is also significant.

Therefore, we have to go out of our way to explain even to Biriel beforehand that we are coming.

Furthermore, we can’t go with a large, conspicuous escort.

That would be tantamount to saying we don’t trust the nobility.

Thus, we can only take the bare minimum number of guards.

“However, that applies to entering the Hegstett territory. Have the knightly order stationed right at the border, just outside. I don’t think he’s that foolish, but there’s always an outside chance.”

“Sir!”

However, neither Orace nor Walter had much trust in Biriel.

Who could trust a noble who oppresses his people and toys with them as he pleases?

So, they would have the knightly order wait in a place where Biriel wouldn’t notice, outside the territory.

It seemed improbable, but if Biriel were to bare his fangs at them, as long as they could somehow escape and reach that point, they could, in turn, eliminate Biriel.

The reason it seemed improbable was that even if he hypothetically killed two royals, Biriel would have no future beyond that.

King Rei, the head of the country, is still alive and well. And if Biriel were to kill Orace, who, unlike Debora, is adored by the populace, he wouldn’t gain their support either.

If two individuals with rights to the throne were assassinated, it would be a great loss for the Kingdom of Vilemse, but not enough to cause its downfall.

King Rei is still capable as a man; if he were to take a concubine or the like, he could easily produce two or more children.

“So, this is probably just needless worrying, but…”

“However, there’s no harm in being prepared. Prince Orace, you are not someone who deserves to be killed by the likes of Biriel.”

Heh…

Orace gave a wry smile at Walter’s high praise.

He didn’t consider himself to be that good of a royal.

He figured he probably just looked good by comparison, as King Rei and Debora often appeared rather terrible.

However, there was no need to go out of his way to deny it in front of someone who was kind enough to praise him.

Orace offered his thanks and then his expression hardened once more.

“…I also need to keep an eye on Debora, who’s coming with us.”

“That should be fine. Since she left on what she calls her ‘adventure,’ she hasn’t thrown a single ‘tantrum.’ I was wondering how things would turn out, but it seems to have yielded good results for Her Highness the Princess. Besides, Erik-dono also…”

“Yes, that’s it.”

“Hmm?”

Orace explained to Walter, who tilted his head in confusion.

“It’s true, Debora seems to have turned over a new leaf thanks to this. I can’t thank Erik-dono enough for looking after her….However, you heard Alfred’s report, didn’t you?”

Ah…

Alfred, a knight belonging to Orace’s faction.

He had secretly dispatched him to guard Debora.

The content of the report Alfred gave Orace upon his return was a bit problematic.

“I believe Erik-dono to be a trustworthy person.”

“Yes, I do as well.”

Even when faced with King Rei’s utterly unreasonable treatment, Erik, far from resisting, willingly accepted it.

He’s subjected to such unreasonableness that one could say there are hardly any who would sacrifice themselves to that extent, even for the sake of their homeland.

Furthermore, he was forcibly dragged into a dungeon by Debora, who is feared as the ‘Spoiled Princess,’ and there he even got caught up in something as nefarious as the ‘Beginner-Killing Chamber.’

There are also reports that he has repeatedly taken the brunt of her explosions with his own body.

And yet, Erik doesn’t blame anyone, nor does he show any sign of doing so; he just stoically endures.

“…Isn’t he too perfect?”

That was what suddenly made Orace uneasy.

He’s far too perfect as a human being.

Indeed, Erik’s responses are those of an outstanding individual.

Even when faced with unreasonableness, he doesn’t resist, nor does he break down. No matter how many times he’s about to be crushed, he gets back up and simply continues to exist.

—Could Erik truly be human?

“…And then there’s that from Alfred’s report…”

“That’s right.”

—Berserker.

That was the word in Alfred’s report.

It said that even after receiving a lethal dose of poison and having his body wounded multiple times, he confronted Brecht, who was targeting Debora.

And what’s more, while smiling.

“If he’s a berserker, an existence that deviates from the norm, then that unusual nature of his would make sense. Those guys are the type with several screws loose in their heads.”

“…That is certainly true. Berserkers, who seek battle and welcome death in its midst… They are a terrifying bunch.”

Orace and… Walter, in particular, often engage in combat.

Among all the life-or-death struggles they had survived, berserkers were what terrified them the most.

They believed berserkers were not human.

Normally, humans are beings who shun battle.

No one desires pointless conflict, and they try to avoid it as much as possible.

Even if there’s an unavoidable fight, it’s a given that they’d hate to experience pain there.

That’s a human being with normal sensibilities.

…But berserkers are different.

They leap onto the battlefield with glee, and no matter how wounded they become, they don’t stop, nor do they even flinch, instead pressing forward to snatch away the enemy’s life.

For them, pain is not a source of fear. Death is not something to be shunned.

Rather, they thoroughly enjoy the process of taking an enemy’s life.

“But, is it really true? To me, Erik-dono doesn’t seem like that kind of person…”

“Yeah, I think so too. But Alfred is an excellent knight. I can’t imagine him filing a false report.”

Ughm…

Since he hadn’t directly witnessed Erik in combat, it was all the more difficult to believe he was some kind of berserker.

“It makes me wonder if the Hero-dono’s saint-like kindness and patience might be a front to hide his berserker aspect.”

“Th-That can’t be… You think Erik-dono is deceiving us…?”

“It’s just a hypothesis. Or perhaps, it’s a dual nature that Hero-dono has unconsciously created.”

Orace, speculating like this, began to dislike himself.

To have to suspect someone who has done so much for his sister and father…

However, for the sake of the country, its people, and his sister who had grown attached to Erik, he had to be the one to do this dirty work.

Seeing Walter fall silent with a troubled expression, Orace smiled.

“But I too believe this idea has little credibility. That’s precisely why, during this investigation, I intend to learn not only about the Hegstett territory but also about Hero-dono.”

“I-I see…”

Part of the reason he was going along was worry for Debora if she were alone, but he also intended to ascertain Erik’s true nature.

There were numerous reports of Erik protecting Debora by putting his own body on the line, so he did trust Erik.

However, berserkers tend to attract unnecessary battles.

If Debora were to get caught up in something like that and lose her life…

“Ew. You’re coming too? Me and Erik are enough.”

“…Erik might get blown up again, so I’m worried if I, a healing magic user, am not there.”

“He won’t explode unless there’s a reason. Probably.”

“…Hmph, I wonder about that.”

“Me! Royalty!”

As Orace was lost in thought, lively voices reached him.

It seemed that while walking and pondering, he had arrived at the meeting place with Debora and the others.

Debora and Miriam were glaring at each other and bickering.

Standing between them, giving a wry smile, was Erik.

Seeing this side of Debora, which he had never witnessed before, Orace offered a warm smile.

“…Well, this is fine for now.”

“Indeed.”

Orace and Walter chuckled together and headed towards them.