Chapter 4

Introduction to the Spoiled Prince - Chapter 4 (4/300)

#004

"Nothing's wrong, so go out."

"I saw the Fourth Prince being carried by a knight. It's not just nothing..."

"Where were you and what were you doing when the Fourth Prince had to be carried out?"

"......"

At my words, they became as silent as bees that have eaten honey. Unable to find the right words, they bowed their heads deeply. I gestured for them to leave.

"This is a matter between me and the Fourth Prince. It's not for you to meddle in. Now, go."

I thought they would understand after that. But the knight at the front, unable to control his emotions, suddenly lifted his head and was about to lash out, but the person next to him secretly grabbed the knight's arm.

"......"

I turned my head, uninterested in the ridiculous drama unfolding before my eyes. You should be grateful that I'm possessed. If it were the real Leos, your heads would have rolled.

They left the room with a brief bow, and I approached Parsi, who was still dazed.

"Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, but Your Highness..."

"I'm not hurt either."

Lifting my arms to show I was unharmed, Parsi let out a small, relieved smile. But soon, her face was clouded with worry again.

"Your Highness, I may be overstepping, but..."

"You're not overstepping. I'll pretend I didn't hear it."

At my words, Parsi bowed deeply, looking apologetic.

Are you going to be okay?

I don't know, damn it.

All sorts of thoughts swirled in my head, churning my brain.

"Huh."

Throwing myself onto the soft sofa, I gestured to Parsi. She cautiously leaned against me, her frail body resting on mine.

"Your Highness seems a bit different."

"I know."

The changes she speaks of and the changes I feel are different, I suppose.

I tightened my grip on her waist, feeling the warmth from my left arm. Her curvaceous body pressed against me, and my trembling hand calmed, my rapid breathing returning to normal.

...What have I done?

Ignoring the throbbing pain in my head, I closed my eyes. I then organized the impact of what had just happened on future events and came to one conclusion.

Fuck.

This is a real mess. In the original story, Leos only acted like a spoiled brat when in the palace.

He was a tyrant who indulged in evil deeds as he pleased with his subordinates but would bow and hold his breath in front of high-ranking nobles who posed a threat to him, including other princes.

That's how he survived and succeeded.

"Maybe it's a good thing I'm not the protagonist."

Imitating Leos' self-deprecating tone, I lifted my head and looked straight ahead.

Name: Leos von Rivera

Race: Human

Religion: None

Titles:

- Third Prince of the Rivera Empire

- Cursed Bastard

- Child of a Prostitute

Martial Arts:

- Sword Expert (Intermediate / Inactive)

- Class 4 (Master / Inactive)

Skills:

- Eye of Truth (A / Inactive)

- Instant Recovery (A / Inactive)

* Cursed by the Veil

The status window that appeared when I nearly died at Augustus' hands was still in front of my eyes.

If I had to describe it, it was a status window as simple as it gets.

There were no basic stats like strength or intelligence, no notable proficiency levels, and no additional explanations.

And for some reason, all the martial arts and skills were inactive. From the limited clues, it seemed to be due to the curse of the Veil mentioned in the last line.

"Ah."

A memory flashed through my mind. Before leaving the palace, Leos didn't waste his time.

He whipped himself harder than the other princes. But since no one taught him anything, he had to learn everything on his own.

He learned swordsmanship by secretly observing the knights' training and studied magic from books in the library.

Fortunately, he had talent and achieved considerable success.

The current emperor is known to be the strongest in the history of the empire. His eldest son, the First Prince, inherited the most of his blood and had immense potential from a young age, growing similarly to the emperor.

But Leos surpassed him through his own efforts.

It was an achievement no royal in history had accomplished, but a protruding nail gets hammered down. In an already oppressive situation, showing his prowess would invite unimaginable restraints.

That's why Leos took the desperate measure of wearing a cursed artifact to hide his strength.

"This is it."

A plain silver ring with no markings was on my left ring finger.

It was called the Veil, named after the curse it carried. This artifact, capable of sealing mana, had been passed down from ancient times, allowing it to deceive even the experts in the palace.

I remembered a scene from the side story where Leos, while wearing the ring, endured excruciating pain.

Can I walk this path?

First, I need to survive in the palace. I nearly killed Augustus, so there will be trouble.

From this point on, all sorts of trials and tribulations will come my way. I can't keep solving them like this.

So, revealing my existence might not be a bad idea. If I draw attention, any harm done to me could have unpredictable repercussions.

"Phew..."

Parsi, exhausted from the earlier events, was fast asleep in my arms, her slightly open mouth breathing softly. She looked so cute that I wanted to let her stay like that a bit longer, but if everything went as I wished, I wouldn't be in this novel.

Knock knock.

A light knock came from the door.

"Is this for real this time?"

I gently shook Parsi, waking her from her light sleep. Then, I got up and straightened my disheveled appearance.

The first trial seems to have come sooner than I expected.

* * *

"Knight Nas, Damian, greets the Third Prince, Your Highness."

The person at the door was a supporting character, unlike the extras who visited my room earlier.

Damian of the Red Flame.

His lustrous red hair shone over his elegant uniform, showcasing his presence. The man, with a handsome appearance rivaling Leos, bowed respectfully before me.

"The First Prince, Your Highness, has summoned you."

Princes using the word "summon" with each other. This clearly shows the gap between us. I stared at Damian without a word.

'He is indeed handsome.'

Standing well over six feet tall with long, model-like limbs, his body under the uniform was well-built. He was the type of handsome that women would love.

Damian was originally a subordinate to the First Prince. In reality, he was more like a lackey.

For some reason, he would carry out any dirty command without question. At least, it wasn't the kind of loyalty that could be called genuine.

Anyway, this character, who had no significant role, suddenly became prominent in the middle of the story. With his red hair, red eyes, and handsome appearance, he gained support from some readers. Then, a fan illustration of him with incredible quality captured the hearts of women, and he received countless female fans afterward.

A funny situation where a minor character gained increasing popularity. I suggested adding a bit more to his story, and the author accepted it.

As a result, sales increased by a fifth, and it became a reminder of how important a character's charm is.

"Your Highness?"

Caught up in the strange feeling of meeting a well-known character for the first time, I was lost in thought when he called me with a puzzled look.

"I heard my brother is looking for me."

"He is waiting in the palace."

I answered with a light cough, and Damian bowed even deeper, speaking to me. His tone was polite, but the hidden aura was forceful.

"I would love to go immediately, but unfortunately, I was injured in the earlier commotion."

Jokingly expressing my reluctance to go, Damian reached into his coat as if he expected this.

"This is a potion granted by the First Prince, Your Highness."

"......"

He's prepared for me to run. If I resist here, I don't know what backlash might come later.

Better to take the hit first. No matter how harsh, he won't kill me.

"Parsi, tidy up the room until I return."

"......Understood."

She bowed deeply at my words. I put on the royal uniform coat hanging on the chair and gestured to Damian to lead the way.

"Let's go."

I followed Damian with a fearless expression.

"Wow."

Leaving my palace and entering the First Prince's, I couldn't help but marvel. My palace was already more magnificent than buildings I had seen in Europe, but compared to the First Prince's, it was like a cottage next to a skyscraper.

The path was paved with white marble, and the corridor was lined with ornate columns with geometric patterns, a sight usually seen in Europe.

Each decoration was breathtakingly beautiful and seemed to be of immense value, something I had never seen in my life.

"......?"

Damian looked at me with a slightly embarrassed expression as I kept exclaiming in amazement. Feeling embarrassed, I waved my hand as if nothing was wrong and closed my mouth, looking around.

The sights were not just the palace decorations.

The gardens on both sides of the corridor were covered in snow. There must have been some measures in place inside the palace, but this was an open corridor.

Yet, by some magical harmony, not a single snowflake or gust of wind penetrated this space.

Lost in the sight I had never seen before, we soon reached a large door.

"Your Highness, it's Damian. I have brought the Third Prince, Your Highness."

He knocked gently on the door.

Creak.

The door opened, and I followed Damian into the room.

"......"

The scene that greeted me was honestly overwhelming.

This was just one of many reception rooms, not the First Prince's personal chambers.

But what kind of opulence is this?

Colorful diamonds were scattered like pebbles on the street, and beside them, dazzling jewels of unknown names displayed their presence, each one radiating an overwhelming beauty that could not be ignored.

And at the center, a man who was only two years older than Leos but exuded a natural aura and presence that dominated the room.

"Leos."

A soft, gentle voice called my name. I shook off the awe of the room's splendor and looked at the man before me.