Chapter 5

"I'm sorry!"

"It's not Iku's fault to apologize. Don't worry about it. Thank you for coming to help."

"That's just common sense. However, it's unacceptable for the palace guards to put their hands on the hilt of their swords in front of Princess Aisha."

Back in the room, Iku apologized to me.

Harti was crying in frustration as Terry and the others left like they were running away.

It seems that the woman in the dress is a nurse or caretaker for my younger brother and is from a fairly high-ranking noble family.

There are also three guards assigned to her, so her status is indeed high.

"What did Princess Aisha do! I'm not saying she should be grateful, but to almost kill her! She is still the child of the same emperor!"

"I'm sorry, Harti. I should have been more careful."

"No, no, that's not something the princess should be concerned about."

Herkov opened his mouth with a bear-like face, but since he originally had a fierce animal face, it was intimidating just by itself.

However, I could tell that his expression was out of concern for me.

Wearrel's ears and tail were standing on end.

"In any case, this is a failure of the guards. It's only natural that they should be punished for drawing their swords in front of the prince."

"But, will it do any good to say that?"

The adults were at a loss for words in response to my question.

Well, that's one reason for their frustration.

The person in charge of the palace guards is also a high-ranking noble, and since I am not the child of a consort, it's likely that they won't take me seriously.

I know that my father rarely comes, and to be honest, my attendants are not of high status.

In fact, Iku, a baron, and Harti, from a viscount's family and with a noble title, are the only nobles among them, while Wearrel and Herkov are not nobles at all.

Even if we complain, there is no one who will take action to improve the situation, and such issues tend to be swept under the rug over time.

Feeling uncomfortable just being unpleasant, I decided to take this opportunity to reconsider my position.

"Is it okay for me to have the emperor as my backer?"

He is the one who provides the most convenience for me and guarantees my identity.

However, Harti, pressing a handkerchief to her eyes, mentioned another name.

"Originally, the Niftas Earl's family should be Princess Aisha's backer."

"Oh, right. My name is Iscalion Niftas, so I belong to the Niftas Earl's family."

Iscalion is the name of the empire and the emperor's family name.

However, my father, who was the third son of the Niftas Earl, became the emperor, and since then, Iscalion has been the family name.

I am the only one in the Iscalion family with the Niftas name.

I had forgotten about it because I don't use my real name, and in this world, nicknames are used in everyday life, but my official name is Asgyros Friosario Movino Iscalion Niftas.

It's a tough, long, and hard-to-pronounce name, so I like the nickname Aisha.

"Does the earl's family do anything?"

"Nothing! Not even seasonal letters! They haven't visited once since I left the earl's family!"

Summarizing Harti's anger, it seems that the Niftas Earl's family is supposed to provide the foundation for me to live as a noble.

However, the earl's family has cut ties with me.

Therefore, they do not introduce me to influential people in the palace who can help me, nor do they arrange for a tutor to provide the necessary education.

Currently, it is Harti who is teaching me noble manners.

"Do I really need the Niftas name?"

"Well, Your Highness, being smart, you'll understand quickly. It's to impress upon people that you are the emperor's son but not legitimate."

Herkov explained it casually.

From his dissatisfied tone, it seems that there are deeper adult issues involved.

However, this raises even more questions.

"Why did I almost get my sword drawn on by Terry this time? Even though I am so far removed from the throne. Most of all, I have never appeared in any official capacity. It's an overreaction to suddenly do that without even knowing what kind of person I am."

When I presented my doubts, Wearrel explained with a sigh.

"The fact that the emperor rose to power from a low birth is also a factor. No matter how high-born one is, if there is a precedent for a low-born person to succeed, the possibility cannot be denied."

"Does that mean I could become emperor if Terry wasn't there? Is that why Terry was crying and reacting like that?"

It doesn't quite make sense, but does it mean I am seen as a threat to that extent?

Seeing my confusion, Iku added.

"Your Highness, being smart, might not understand. In our country, we say that suspicion breeds suspicion. The doubts in your mind project a false image of you. Without knowing the real you, indeed, because they don't know you, they don't realize how far off they are."

"Does that mean, to Terry and his surroundings, I am a villain plotting to usurp the throne?"

What a ridiculous assumption.

Moreover, my personal beliefs and principles are completely ignored.

"There are also factional issues."

Harti, wiping away her tears, straightened her handkerchief and explained.

It seems that my existence is a problem for those engaged in power struggles.

The ruling party of the emperor, my father, is the Duke of Lukaios faction, which is the consort's family.

With Terry's birth, the faction's power is expected to grow over time.

For the factions competing for power with the Duke of Lukaios, I am the only one they can use to shake things up.

For those who want to join the Duke of Lukaios faction, denigrating and spreading rumors about me is a way to curry favor with the faction's members.

"Isn't there something else they could do?"

"I think so too. But to run a country, which is a collection of people, it's impossible with just the emperor. Factions are necessary, and the emperor currently relies solely on the Duke of Lukaios. So, the Earl of Niftas, who has managed to join that faction, wants to ride the winning horse."

Herkov's tone was light, but his face remained fierce.

The Earl of Niftas, who should be my backer, is neglecting me for self-preservation.

They have no intention of taking care of me and risking the wrath of the powerful Duke of Lukaios.

"Another possibility is that someone is targeting the unprotected Princess Aisha to undermine the emperor. The Marquis of Strategos, who doesn't want to lose his current power to the Duke of Lukaios, and the Duke of Eulasion, who has a higher bloodline but missed the throne. The list goes on."

According to Wearrel, my father also faces strong opposition due to his bloodline.

I've heard of it, but apparently, he is trying to change the old, outdated situation.

The empire is long-lived, so there are many outdated and dysfunctional systems and institutions.

To implement new things, it is necessary to cut out the old and unnecessary, but there are people who cling to the old and unnecessary.

I shouldn't know such things as a five-year-old, but I do because of the discussions happening right in front of me.

When I stay quiet, I am small enough to be out of everyone's sight.

So, they forget about my presence and exchange information passionately.

"The Duke of Lukaios is trying to abolish the old rule of primogeniture. In that sense, he is on the emperor's side."

"However, he is neglecting the emperor's children. It's frustrating that he can't report this to the emperor because he can't afford to be on the duke's bad side right now."

Wearrel looked troubled, and Harti's frustration was evident.

So, this empire follows primogeniture.

That's why I, the firstborn, am being neglected because I am not the child of a consort.

This might be the result of my father forcing the issue, and that's why they are abnormally wary of me.

If it were absolutely impossible, it would be one thing, but the lingering possibility of exclusion is what keeps them suspicious.

So, is it really that dangerous for me to even interact with my brother?

To me, power is not such a good thing.

"I've never even thought about wanting the throne."

I muttered without thinking, and my attendants fell silent, remembering my presence.

Feeling awkward, I tried to lighten the mood with a joke.

"I'm currently obsessed with alchemy. If I were in a position to become emperor, I wouldn't have time for such things, right?"

"Hehe, talking to Princess Aisha sometimes makes me feel like I'm talking to an adult with the same perspective. The environment shapes you, but there's no need to rush into adulthood."

Iku said kindly and smiled, but I sensed a tense atmosphere in his forced smile.

"By the way, I've memorized the faces of those incompetent guards, so I'll make sure to discipline them appropriately. Don't worry, I plan to teach them that there are ways to neutralize enemies without drawing swords."

Does that mean he plans to severely punish the three who put their hands on their swords under the guise of training?

Just because there won't be official penalties, it seems Iku is angrier than I thought.

I hope he doesn't cause friction with the guards.

"Go easy on them, okay?"

My request was brushed off with the adults' polite smiles.

Updated daily

Next: The Marquis's Hand 1