The Kingdom’s Greatest Fool? No, I’m the Ruler From the Darkness ~The Hidden Face of the Fat Prince~ - Chapter 1: The Place of Reincarnation: A Weak Prince

Chapter 1: The Place of Reincarnation: A Weak Prince

It was merely one year ago that I, the great one, awoke in this world.

The cold morning light streamed through the window, and the moment I opened my heavy eyelids, I was struck with confusion.

As I tried to rise from the bed, I was bewildered by an unusual heaviness.

Looking down, I saw an unfamiliar, corpulent body.

When I took a small hand mirror and gazed at my face, I understood.

This is not Japan.

I am not Yamada Seiichi anymore.

The memories of my previous life came flooding back vividly.

The former me, Yamada Seiichi of Japan, a 50-year-old elite salaryman at Mitsubishi Corporation, met a miserable end in solitary death.

“Seriously… is this what they call isekai reincarnation?”

My flustered voice echoed in the shadowy room.

Even that voice was unfamiliar.

High-pitched, slightly shrill.

A young voice.

A servant hurriedly entered the room.

“Your Highness, what is the matter?”

Prince?

I am a prince?

Staring intently at my reflection in the mirror, I was left speechless.

A fat-laden, corpulent body, an unhealthy complexion, a double chin, and flabby cheeks.

Gradually, the memories of this body began to integrate.

The second prince of the White Rose Kingdom, scorned by women as “disgusting” and mocked by men as “incompetent.”

Victor Whiterose.

21 years old.

“It’s fine… just a bad dream.”

I told the servant and dismissed him.

Once alone, I sat on the bed and clutched my head.

Memories intertwined.

The 50 years of my life as Yamada Seiichi and the 20 years of memories as Prince Victor.

Both existed simultaneously.

My previous life was truly a series of downfalls.

Until my 30s, I walked the path of an elite, blessed with an enviable wife and child.

As the ace of the sales department, I successfully led numerous large-scale projects.

But once I entered my 40s, everything began to crumble.

Demoted due to a mistake in a major overseas deal.

Relationships with clients deteriorated.

I lost the trust of my superiors and was relegated to a dead-end department.

Debts piled up, and I drowned myself in alcohol day after day.

And the decisive blow was my wife’s betrayal.

Despite saying, “I love you,” five years ago, my wife had an affair with my colleague and left, taking our only son with her.

For some reason, I was even sued for alimony, left with nothing but debt.

The life that followed was truly hell.

Ignored at the company, abandoned by friends, without family.

Living alone in an apartment, spending my days with alcohol.

And then, on a certain winter night, I died alone, unattended.

What a miserably pathetic end.

“Yet, fate is such an ironic thing, isn’t it?”

Now, I am a prince.

No matter how unsightly, no matter how despised by those around me, my bloodline is undeniably that of royalty.

The second prince of the White Rose Kingdom.

The son of the third queen, Helena.

However, as I traced Victor’s memories, this life was by no means blessed either.

Since childhood, I was ridiculed for my appearance, treated with contempt even within the palace, in stark contrast to my older brother, Prince Lucius.

Disliking this, I gradually avoided interacting with people and fell into a life of indolence.

I didn’t study, didn’t train, and spent my days simply eating and sleeping.

Within the palace, I was whispered about as “the fat pig” or “the foolish prince.”

Only my mother, Queen Helena, doted on me.

But even she, being ambitious, sometimes saw me only as a tool.

“Why did I have to reincarnate into such a pathetic body?”

After about a week of wallowing in confusion and self-loathing, I made a decision.

“If I remain an ignorant, lazy prince, I’ll end up following the same path as my previous life.”

Realizing this, I began to study desperately.

But if I, who had spent years as a lazy prince, suddenly became diligent, it would arouse suspicion.

So, outwardly, I continued to play the part of a slothful prince while secretly amassing knowledge.

“Devouring books on magic, memorizing history texts, learning the mechanisms of economics, and understanding the intricacies of political maneuvering.”

Night after night, relying only on candlelight so as not to be noticed, I immersed myself in books.

It was an effort I had never experienced even in my previous life.

Stealing books from the palace library, hiding them in my room.

By day, I played the indolent prince as usual; by night, I studied fervently.

At first, it was truly grueling.

I could barely read the script of this world.

Victor’s memories included basic knowledge of reading and writing, but I had hardly ever used it.

Thus, reading was as laborious as climbing a mountain.

“What does this word mean?”

“What does this diagram represent?”

When stumped, I would summon a servant, claiming “I’m just a bit curious” while asking questions.

The servants were surprised but likely thought it was just the prince’s whim.

After a month, I realized anew.

This world possesses a power that didn’t exist in my previous life’s Japan.

Magic.

“Magic, huh… this is interesting.”

Upon researching, I learned that magic is a common force in this world.

Most nobles have some aptitude for magic and receive training to hone it.

But the lazy Prince Victor had barely received such education.

“However, I should have some aptitude for magic.”

Upon investigation, I learned that magical aptitude is heavily influenced by bloodline.

I should have inherited the talent for earth magic from my father, the king, and the talent for dark magic from my mother.

Earth magic is basic and easy to learn, while dark magic is advanced and difficult to master.

“This is it. If I master magic, I can gain power in this world.”

I resolved.

By studying magic, I would increase my worth and change how others perceive me.

In my previous life, I fell from being a corporate elite, but this time, I’ll aim for the top from the very bottom.

Three months passed, and my efforts began to take shape bit by bit.

I understood basic magical theory and could practice simple earth magic.

I could create small walls of earth in my room or harden the ground, modest but significant progress.

At the same time, I began to understand this world’s political structure.

The White Rose Kingdom is a mid-sized nation located in the center of the continent.

To the north lies the belligerent nation of Skarge, with which tensions are constant.

Within the kingdom, many nobles form a complex power structure.

“I see, politics here is similar to the corporate world of my previous life.”

Power struggles, factional disputes, meritocracy versus nepotism.

These were things I experienced in my previous life’s corporate world.

But in this world, they are more raw, battles waged with lives on the line.

“I lost in my previous life, but this time, I’ll win.”

I swore so.

The former Yamada Seiichi lost his status, his family, everything.

But Prince Victor is different.

I’ll gain power in this world and stand at the top.

To do that, I must first overcome my weaknesses.

My appearance cannot be changed overnight.

But knowledge and magical power can be increased through effort.

“Training my body would draw too much attention.”

If I started swordsmanship training, I’d attract unwanted scrutiny.

So, I decided to focus on magic.

Magic can be practiced in secret.

“Let’s start with earth magic.”

Earth magic is basic and considered easy to learn.

Indeed, after a few months of practice, I could use basic earth magic.

Under the moonlit night sky, I continued practicing magic in the corner of my room.

Gathering particles of earth in my palm, forming shapes.

Starting with simple spheres, I gradually challenged myself with more complex forms.

“Focus… focus…”

Sweat beaded on my forehead as I manipulated magical power.

In this world, magical power is like a muscle in my previous life’s terms.

The more you use it, the stronger it becomes.

But overuse leads to exhaustion.

“Alright, this is good.”

A small castle of earth floated in my palm.

An intricately detailed model.

It took six months to reach the point of performing such delicate work.

“It’s only the beginning, but the progress is undeniable.”

I smiled.

The former Yamada Seiichi was a man who, in the end, forgot how to strive.

After promotions, he rested on my laurels, neglecting self-improvement.

And then, he fell.

“This time is different. This time, I’ll stand at the top.”

I vowed.

In this world, with magic and wisdom as my weapons, I’ll become someone everyone acknowledges.

And as my study of magic progressed, I made a surprising discovery.

The magic of this world was remarkably compatible with the physics and mathematics knowledge from my previous life.

There was a concept called magical formulas, which resembled mathematical equations or physical laws.

“This is… my past life’s knowledge can be put to use!”

In my student days, I joined the tennis club to be popular with girls.

The techniques I learned there for using my body—especially how to transfer force and shift my center of gravity—were surprisingly effective for manipulating magical power.

“Magical power is, after all, just energy. It’s the same as an equation.”

The law of conservation of energy and the concepts of motion equations I learned in physics helped me understand magic.

Using mathematical thinking to construct magical formulas and the body control techniques honed in tennis to manipulate magical power.

“From the ankles to the hips, from the shoulders to the wrists, I channel magical power in a spiral… and release!”

When I discovered this method, my magic’s power increased dramatically.

It was an original method of magical power manipulation not found in existing magic books.

And then, on a certain night in the fifth month, I made a grave mistake.

I failed to control my magical power and caused a massive pillar of earth to erupt in my private chambers within the castle.

The pillar broke through the ceiling, reaching the floor above.

“Oh, no…!”

The castle was thrown into an uproar. Speculations of a terrorist attack or a plot by an enemy nation flew about.

But no one suspected the lazy second prince.

“What a terrifying magic… who could have…?”

While those around me held such conversations, all I had to do was pretend to tremble in fear.

Everyone believed that an incompetent, indolent prince could never wield such powerful magic.

That became my greatest defense.

“Making opponents let their guard down was a basic tactic in business negotiations in my past life.”

After this incident, I became more cautious in practicing magic.

And I realized that the mask of the “incompetent prince” was my greatest weapon.

No one was wary of me. No one saw me as a threat.

Strategically, that was an immeasurable advantage.

“Keeping my physique unchanged was the right choice.”

If I slimmed down and became muscular, it would arouse suspicion.

My current fat, unsightly body was the perfect disguise.

Several months later.

My magic practice was evolving day by day.

Night after night, I locked myself in my room, engrossed in magical research.

Outwardly, I continued to play the lazy prince, but inwardly, tremendous changes were taking place.

“Perfect.”

Particles of earth formed complex shapes above my palm.

An original magical theory applying the physics and mathematics knowledge from my past life.

A technique I developed through self-study, without being taught by anyone.

From the basics to advanced applications of earth magic, I had nearly mastered it all.

And I had begun researching dark magic, which I should have inherited from my mother.

Dark magic is considered advanced and difficult to master.

But by applying physics knowledge, there was nothing I couldn’t understand.

“What is darkness? The absence of light. In other words, if I understand light magic and invert it…”

In the midst of such research, tomorrow’s schedule crossed my mind.

“Tomorrow… it’s my birthday, isn’t it?”

As Prince Victor, I would be turning 21.

A royal birthday is a grandly celebrated event.

Many guests are invited, and the party is held lavishly.

But Prince Victor’s birthday was merely an event held “out of obligation” within the palace.

“Well, that’s fine.”

For appearances, a birthday party would be held.

But the expressions of the gathered nobles would hide contempt and mockery.

Presents and congratulatory words laced with disdain for Prince Victor.

Even so, I would play the fool, pretending not to notice and laughing it off. That’s my current position.

“As long as everyone keeps underestimating me, it’s all to my advantage. One day…”

I smiled. My birthday one year from now would mark the true beginning of my plan.

—

The next morning, I was awakened by a servant.

“Your Highness, congratulations. Today is your birthday.”

The servant’s voice was polite, but a faint trace of contempt flickered in their eyes.

I pretended not to notice and let out a big yawn.

“Oh, today, huh? What a hassle.”

Saying so, I slowly rose from the bed, dragging my heavy body.

“His Majesty and the Queens are waiting to have breakfast with you.”

“Hmm, that’s unusual.”

Normally, I eat alone in my room.

Dining with family is rare.

Especially on a birthday morning, it must be to stage a semblance of family harmony.

On the corridor to the dining hall, I passed by her.

Eleanor Frostheart.

Transparent blue eyes like ice, silvery blonde hair, a refined and noble figure.

The eldest daughter of the Frostheart Count family, renowned as the palace’s greatest beauty.

“Good morning, Prince Victor.”

A voice as cold as ice.

Her greeting was polite on the surface, but her eyes held clear disgust.

“M-Morning, Eleanor.”

I returned the greeting with a stutter, playing the part of a fool flustered by being addressed by the woman he pines for. Eleanor gave a slight, scornful laugh.

“Happy birthday. I’ll attend the party.”

With that, she passed by swiftly.

Left behind was the faint scent of her perfume.

“Damn it…”

I gritted my teeth.

Even in my past life, beautiful women never gave me the time of day.

Even when Yamada Seiichi was at the height of his glory, truly beautiful women never spared him a glance.

And in this life, it’s the same.

Eleanor is the fiancée of Alexander Granblue.

The eldest son of the Granblue Duchy, considered the kingdom’s most handsome man.

In her eyes, a fat, shabby prince like me is probably less than livestock.

“I’ll show them one day…”

I swore.

My longing for Eleanor wasn’t just romantic.

It was a desire to be acknowledged.

A fixation to be recognized by those beautiful people who looked down on me in both my past and present lives.

—

Eleanor Frostheart, after passing by Prince Victor, let out a small sigh in her heart.

“Honestly, that prince is unbearable to look at.”

In the palace, perfect conduct is demanded.

No matter how much disgust she felt inwardly, she had to behave courteously on the surface.

That was her duty as the daughter of the Frostheart Count family.

Especially with Prince Victor, her disgust grew each time she saw him.

A fat, unclean body, eyes always gleaming with greed, a vulgar laugh.

It was intolerable to Eleanor that someone of royal blood could be in such a state.

And above all, that gaze was unbearable.

The way he looked at her oozed unmistakable desire.

A gaze filled with the urge to possess, as if she were an object.

“So different from Lord Alexander.”

The image of her fiancé, Alexander, rose in her heart.

Jet-black hair, deep blue eyes, refined features, a tall and graceful build.

A gentlemanly demeanor and sharp insight.

And above all, the kindness to respect her as an individual.

“Oh, I wish we could hold the ceremony soon.”

The two were officially engaged, but the wedding was still some time away.

Due to political reasons, their engagement period was to be extended.

In the meantime, Eleanor maintained her position in the palace, honing her qualities as a future duchess.

“I must attend tonight’s party with Lord Alexander.”

She let her shoulders slump slightly.

She truly didn’t want to attend Prince Victor’s birthday party.

But as a matter of palace etiquette, she had to make an appearance.

“Let’s get it over with quickly and leave.”

She resolved.

She wanted to spend as little time as possible with Prince Victor.