Chapter 9

"Hmm... How is your body feeling?"

A priest, with a face so cold it was obvious, held my wrist and asked.

"Just fine. How much longer until I'm fully recovered?"

"Your Highness has been bedridden for a long time, so your vital energy is quite depleted. Using divine magic recklessly would be dangerous."

"Is that so?"

I couldn't help but laugh, finding it hard to take seriously.

They didn't even cast a proper healing spell, and even if they did, they would have come up with all sorts of excuses before reluctantly doing it.

As someone under the orders of Queen Liness, they were likely instructed to delay my recovery as much as possible. However, it's quite revolting for a healer to treat a patient this way.

- The foundation of a doctor starts with the understanding of the value of life.

This was the first advice given by the divine physician Hippocris when she began teaching me medicine.

She was a true doctor, treating both friend and foe without discrimination, but I was a bit different.

Having heard my story, they knew about the thorny path that lay ahead in my life, and their half-hearted treatment was no different.

Given that I had made a conscientious declaration to her, I couldn't view these priests, who were essentially doctors, in a good light.

It's not that I can't recover.

They are simply not doing it. Despite that, my body is steadily recovering on its own.

"I've heard that divine magic is quite powerful."

"Ah... Yes."

"I thought the grace of the goddess Priah would heal this level of injury quickly."

"Your Highness, you are saying this because you don't know better."

He openly mocked and ignored me, making me wonder if he had forgotten that the 16-year-old boy in front of him was a prince.

"I don't know?"

"Yes, knowledge of divine power is the exclusive domain of us priests."

"Hmm."

I looked at him with interest, and he smirked, muttering to himself.

"Of course, I understand that you are different from the wise Prince Kalus."

"Virtuous Deacon! This is in front of the prince! Watch your words!"

The problem was that this guy didn't have the brains to choose his words carefully.

"Do you dare to contradict me, a mere servant?"

He turned his head to scold Amy, ignoring me, and I couldn't help but sigh.

Crack!

Moreover, he didn't seem to be stopping. Despite my presence, he stood up and walked over, slapping Amy's cheek hard.

For a priest who claims to bestow love, his actions were incredibly rough, but it wasn't surprising.

His thoughts, corrupted by greed and as a lackey of Queen Liness, were all too clear.

'So that's why he's stuck as a low-ranking deacon.'

Even as a low-ranking deacon, he holds considerable influence with the backing of Queen Liness.

That's why he's settled here, indulging in his greed.

Reflecting on it, he must have lost all fear, to the point where his words bypass his brain entirely.

"What are you doing?"

I asked calmly, and he cleared his throat, slowly approaching and taking my hand again.

"If you let a servant speak so freely, your position will be compromised."

I saw Amy in the corner, biting her lip tightly while sobbing, her face full of anger.

Considering his character, she must feel wronged on my behalf.

At least she is one of the few people in this palace who is on my side.

"The treatment is complete. I'll see you in a fortnight."

"Alright."

I nodded calmly, and he got up arrogantly.

He stopped as he passed Amy and headed for the door.

"...That woman, she has a fine figure."

His lecherous smile made me frown.

"Amy."

I got up as if I knew nothing, leaning on my cane.

"These are esteemed priests. Please escort them to the palace gates."

"Yes..."

She bowed with a strained voice and followed the priest.

She must be furious. She must be very angry.

But feeling dirty isn't just your problem.

I silently watched the priest's back and slowly picked up the old sword by my pillow.

If he comes here to cause trouble, there's no reason to let him go.

I wiped the expression from my face and slowly moved.

* * *

A strange, cold feeling washed over me.

It wasn't exactly anger, given the accumulated experience over the years.

Saint Daphne said that one who can't control their anger is worse than a pig, but I had a different view.

Appropriate anger is a source of life and a guide to purpose. If annoyance is the key to progress, then anger is the driving force.

The sound of footsteps faded into silence.

As I slowly walked down the palace corridor, I saw Deacon Bort pushing Amy into a corner and saying something to her from a distance.

I couldn't hear what he was saying clearly.

"Prince... Prince..."

"Shut up."

Thud!

Was he on guard?

An acolyte standing at a distance saw me appear silently and opened his mouth to shout, but I was faster.

He collapsed instantly after being hit by the sheath, and I continued walking with a cold expression.

The secret step technique, Yueling Step, wasn't fully integrated into my body yet, but it wasn't easy for a low-ranking deacon like him to notice.

Bort didn't expect me to come, and he was smirking at Amy.

"Remember this. You must come to my room alone. Remember, Prince Davey's life is in my hands."

"That's—"

"Regicide? What do I care. I'm not incapable of taking the life of a half-breed prince; I just choose not to. If you don't listen to me, I can kill you right now. Queen Liness would even praise me. There are no allies of Prince Davey in this palace."

"..."

"Of course, who would dare to punish me, a shepherd of the holy goddess Priah and a loyal servant of Queen Liness? Ha ha ha!"

Everyone knows how powerful Queen Liness is in the palace.

I chuckled, revealing my presence.

"Good. I needed a proper excuse anyway. Amy."

"Wh-What? Your Highness!"

"What is the punishment for insulting the royal family?"

The deacon Bort, who hadn't noticed my presence, widened his eyes in shock.

At the same time, I drew my sword from its sheath.

Flash!

Speed is my creed.

6. Fight fire with fire.

It seems Bort was interested in Amy's beauty and was harassing her.

His perceptiveness was impressive, but I didn't need to see it to know.

I needed a proper excuse, and this was perfect.

"Keh?!"

A metallic sound rang out, and hot blood splattered everywhere.

Amy, shocked by the scene, opened her eyes wide and trembled.

"Gr-Gr... Why...?"

Bort, lying on the ground, looked up at me with a horrified expression.

He didn't expect me to approach silently and strike.

Even if he could move, he was so weak that he needed support.

I approached silently and swung my sword.

Not just anyone, but one of Queen Liness's lackeys in the palace.

Seeing his bewildered face, I said expressionlessly.

"Don't make me repeat myself."

"Immediate... execution, Your Highness."

Despite trembling, Amy answered my question clearly.

I slowly wiped the sword and smiled coldly.

Perhaps he had let his guard down, thinking no one would really do such a thing, even though the law allowed it. His face was a mix of confusion and fear.

"Did you hear that?"

"Gur... Queen Liness... will not... let this go. Even in the Holy Kingdom..."

"Thanks for the advice. But I assure you, no one is on your side."

I quickly stabbed his heart, which was already bleeding, and pulled the sword out.

His body convulsed and then went limp.

He was dead.

I wiped the blood from my sword and sheathed it, and Amy looked at me in shock.

"Your... Your Highness... Why...?"

"Why? You just said it. Insulting the royal family and attempted regicide are punishable by immediate execution."

She burst into tears at my words.

I patted her back, and she finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

Even someone as innocent as her must have seen people die in this palace.

This place has seen countless deaths behind the scenes.

In the past, I was naive and unaware of such things.

"Are you calmer now?"

After comforting her for a while, I teased her, and she bowed deeply, realizing her mistake.

"Forgive me, Your Highness..."

"You did well. Have the guards remove this corpse. There are no knights here."

She looked at the fallen Deacon Bort with a trembling face.

"Your Highness..."

She is perceptive. She quickly understood the consequences of what I had just done.

Deacon Bort was from the Holy Kingdom, a servant of the goddess Priah and a lackey of Queen Liness.

He was sent by her to monitor me and delay my recovery.

Outwardly, a loving queen who sent a deacon to protect her stepson.

Inwardly, a despicable woman full of sinister schemes.

Regardless, beheading him was no small matter.

Even if it was for insulting the royal family, beheading him without a trial was a significant issue.

Rumors would likely spread throughout the palace that the first prince, Davey Ol Ron, had gone mad.

This would further damage my already precarious position.

In the worst case, I might be exiled to the outskirts of the palace as a madman.

If the Holy Kingdom protested, I might even be taken as a hostage.

Regardless, it was a cause for celebration for Queen Liness, who viewed me as a thorn in her side.

Of course, I didn't do this without understanding the consequences.