The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

Chapter 99: The Lovely Smile

Al-kun, are you on a patrol?

Well, more or less.

After leaving that shop, I am walking the street together with Sonia.

This is because Sonia still has to continue her shopping.

Also, as to not get involved in more trouble, I asked Sonia to put on her hood and let me buy the things she needed for her.

More or less?

Im just here to take a breather. Im a little stuck you see.

Thats why you have those black circles under your eyes?

Well, yeah.

I touch under my eyes.

I dont notice it myself since I dont look into the mirror but my face is probably pale as well. I have been up all night lately after all.

Are you tackling a difficult task?

Do I look like such a person? People around here are calling me the Dull Prince you know?

Dull Prince?

You dont know? Im the prince who got all his good points absorbed by his twin brother, the Dull Prince who is the laughing stock of the imperial capital you know.

There is no one in the Imperial Capital who doesnt know about my reputation.

With that said, this means that she came from the outside.

Well, she doesnt look like she lives here and she looks more like a traveler as well.

Im not too familiar with the Imperial Capital you see. But is it true that Al-kun is being talked about that way? The city guard earlier seems pretty respectful to you though?

Its because my younger brother is one of the candidates for the throne. That guy is from my brothers faction so he just did that for appearance sake. Theres no one who really respects me like that.

I look at the sky as I say that.

Except for those who I can call relatives, that is simply a fact. I did something like a royalty would earlier but something like that was only natural. It wouldnt be weird to think that it was bad of me to borrow the power of the city guard either.

People would say that if Im a royalty then I should act like one but even before that, my bad reputation was already too big. People wont change their impression of me just because I did some good once in a while.

Even if the people who saw the earlier scene now have a good impression of me, it was only temporary. It has no effect on the peoples overall impression of me.

The impression and the title of the Dull Prince will not disappear unless I have some great achievement.

I dont mind if it doesnt ever disappear and I dont have any motivation to make it disappear. It might be easy in the past to clear it up but it has already piled up too much.

Dont you feel bad? Being treated like that.

I dont know. To be honest, I am already used to it.

I seeso we are the same huh.

Sonia said that and lightly touched her ear.

It is the semi-long ear, the symbol of a half-elf.

Sonia must have been persecuted a lot because of it. Theres no way that her circumstance is the same as mine.

Mine is the result of my actions while Sonia was born with it.

We are not the same. If you are already used to it then you are definitely stronger than me. I cant possibly stand it. No matter what I do, I am still a prince after all..I have been protected by my blood since I was born.

Somehowhearing you say it like that it was like you hate being a prince though?

I hate it. Both this position and myself who accept it. If I can give it away then I would love to. I know that I am being spoiled for thinking like that. Thats why I hate myself more and more.

My desire to live however I want came from that.

As a normal person admiring something special. I yearn for that sense of normalcy.

How good would it be if I can start a simple family in a simple house rather than a castle.

I want to live my days normally like the people here. But I am not allowed to do that. Even if I abandon my position as a prince, my bloodline will never let me go. My father will probably mercilessly marry me into some noble house.

The blood of the imperial family is powerful. Many excellent people are born from it. It has birthed people with strong magic power like me and Zandra, people who are excellent in swordsmanship and martial arts like Lize-aneue and Gordon, and even a versatile guy like Leo.

It is the result of us continuing to take in excellent blood for generations. Now, the blood of the imperial family is too strong to simply let go.

Is that so. Then we are the same. I hate my birth too you know. I dont need the elf blood in me. I just want to live like a human. Still, that is not something that is allowed to me.

..it seems we really are similar in a strange place huh.

Seems so. Well, I have already accepted things as they are. It was tough when I was a kid but I was able to endure it because there were gentle people around me. they were kind people like Al-kun you knowwhen I go out I would still be persecuted though.

Saying so, Sonia smiles.

It was a cheerful and lovely smile. My lack of sleep and negative thoughts turned brighter just by seeing it.

To think that I would get cheered up by the smile of a girl I just met today.

Thank you. I am a little cheered up now.

I didnt do anything though?

Your smile was wonderful.

When I told her my honest feeling, Sonias face turned red.

Seeing her like that I laughed at her and Sonia frowned at me.

Y, you were teasing me right.

Im not. You really did make me feel like giving it my all again.

Seriouslydo you always say that to a girl?

It depends on my mood.

Al-kun really has a talent as a womanizer huh

Well, thank you.

I continue walking while laughing.

Talking with Sonia is fun. A part of the reason for that would be that Sonia is more sensitive to the sense of distance between people.

She often observes the other party and right now she knows that I am in a good mood. Perhaps she did that unconsciously.

It is sad thinking that the environment she lives in made her do that but right now I am grateful for it.

Its great to hold a conversation where the other party doesnt get irritated all the time.

By the way, I havent asked you why you dont have enough sleep yet right. What are you playing so late at night?

Play?

Am I wrong? It wasnt work right?

Yeah, right. It is kind of a play I guess. I was doing something like a quiz you see. I couldnt solve it so I dont have enough sleep lately.

Because you are frustrated?

Do I look frustrated?

You are not right now but when I first met you at the store you looked very frustrated you know.

Well, a part of that is because of that shopkeeper though.

But it wasnt just because of that.

I was certainly frustrated.

At myself who cant arrive at the answer in this crucial stage.

The person who gave you that quiz must be quite terrible. Troubling Al-kun like that.

No, I dont think so. I am only frustrated at myself. Well, I dont really know but..I think the answer is somewhere nearby but I cant reach it at all. I think that I must have missed something and if I can find it I will be able to find the answer right away but I dont have an opportunity to do that yet. Thats why its even more frustrating for me to not be able to figure that out you see.

Do the people around you know the answer?

Probably not. The guy who gave me that quiz was amazing. To be honest, I am pretty confident with my brain but now my confidence is shattered. The answer seems to be near and yet it is far away. Thats why I want to refresh myself and come out here.

I see. Al-kun really is diligent huh. If its me, if I know that I cant do it then I would probably give up already you know.

Sonia said with a cheerful smile.

Well, she looks like a person who would say that.

But this case is different.

Rebecca and the letters she has will greatly affect the development in the future. The person who obtains it first will be able to decide how the situation will flow from now on.

No matter what, defeat is not allowed in this battle.

While I was thinking so, Sonia points at a stall.

She probably wants me to buy something from that stall.

We continue shopping while having a casual conversation with Sonia pointing out the things she wants with her finger.

Hey bro, you on a date?

Do we look like that?

Yeah. consider this service from a middle-aged man. Do enjoy it alright.

After that exchange, the shopkeeper guy gave me a bottle of juice as a service.

Sonia, who didnt think that she would get mistaken for my lover, panics and tries to deny it while waving her hand but the shopkeeper only waves his hand in return.

Ahh, he was so pushy..and  I already told him that we are not a lover too.

Well, it was a special service so just accept it.

Its because Al-kun didnt deny him in the first place alright! Wasnt it like we were tricking him!

Dont get angry now. its delicious you know.

Mou

The juice is much diluted than the one I drank at the castle.

Still, it tasted many times better. Perhaps it tastes better because I came out to buy it myself rather than something that was served to me.

Yeah. its so delicious.

Sonia who was complaining earlier also drank the juice in a good mood.

I must thank that shopkeeper later.

By the way, what does Al-kun think about your brother?

My brother? You want to know what I think of him?

You told me that he got all your good points so your little brother must be really excellent right?

Yeah, he solved the Southern incident and he is famous among the people here as the Hero Prince right now.

.Never mind. I know what you think of him just from your expression.

Nn? What do you mean?

I was thinking about asking you whether you like or dislike him but the answer already shows on your face. When I mentioned your brother, you looked really proud, you know.

Hearing Sonia, I look down.

Did I make that kind of face? I never noticed that.

Certainly, I am proud of Leo as my younger brother. But I have never heard anyone say that to me before.

After all, it must have been because of what happened in the South. That case was a big deal. It was when Leo declared himself to be the next emperor to me as well.

Yeah, I really am proud of him.

Thats right. I admit. I dont know anyone who is as kind and strong as he is.

Is that so.then maybe he is trustworthy.

Sonia muttered and took the bag I was holding from the side. She then turned around and headed toward the back alley.

Seeing her like that I followed after her in a hurry but Sonia suddenly put the bag on the ground.

Then she suddenly hugged me.

Wai!? What are you doing!?

Twelve oclock today. I will take Rebecca to the clock tower that can be seen from the south gate. Bring Prince Leonard there.

!?

I was surprised and my eyes were wide opened.

When was it that I was this surprised.

After Sonia whispered that into my ear, she gently separated from me and pick up her bag.

So, Sonia! You are!?

I believe in you Al-kun. I will give you 5 minutes. Only five minutes from twelve oclock alright? If you cant make it in time I will be forced to use my hidden hand.please dont make me use it okay.

After she says that, Sonia runs away.

I stretched my hand out to her but it only passed through air.

My hand couldnt catch Sonia.

Then I slowly calm myself down. There is only one person who would mention Rebecca like that.

Sonia is Rebeccas strategist?

I stare at the direction Sonia left.

I expected Sonia to casually walk back to me but that didnt happen.

It was not a joke someone as cheerful as her would make.

I should have forcefully stopped her but I was taken by surprise so I didnt think of that.

.no choice but to go huh.

Theres no clue to follow anyway.

I can only trust in Sonia and go.

I decided so and hurried back to the castle.