Survival 134

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“You two seem quite close.”

“It’s a misunderstanding. I am devoted to serving the divine. My interactions with the third prince are purely formal.”

At these subtly dropped words, the saintess tilted her head in curiosity before softly smiling. A smile that perfectly matched her delicate and pure appearance. But I knew better. Misunderstanding, my foot. In the original story, several candidates for the male lead got closer in such ways. However, seeing that the distance between the two on the sofa wasn’t too close, I felt relieved.

‘It seems in the DLC, the third prince has been included as a new male lead candidate. I’m a bit envious.’

From a mid-boss to a male lead candidate, what a promotion. He was a villain who couldn’t escape death in any route, but now he’s on an upward trajectory.

Also, 

‘It would have been nice if our Luciana could have turned into an ally too!’

The saintess’s calm and mature older sister and a supporter who steadfastly assists and backs her up—an ice beauty character. How beautiful is that! 

Of course, I know it won’t happen since she’s already established in the ‘villainess’ position. Swallowing the sigh rising in my chest, I faced them again. 

I was the one who opened the meeting.

“Regarding the breaking off of the engagement, I have not yet conveyed it to my lord.”

“…I understand. It’s the lady of the Speda family we’re talking about.”

-Breaking an engagement? It was an agreement forged between the Speda duchy and the imperial family. Don’t mention it again.

Family honor. It was obvious that Luciana would oppose it, as anyone who knew her even a little could predict.

“Shall I tell you what I have in mind?”

“Speak.”

“The imperial side should change Luciana’s fiancé.”

Until yesterday, I had no intention of replacing him with the third prince.

‘Luciana’s partner has to be at least a male lead candidate to meet my standards.’

But now?

The saintess herself was guaranteeing it.

Leon Manhett was, without a doubt, a male lead candidate.

Of course, 

‘I’ll use it as a smokescreen.’

I don’t know what the game company was thinking when they rehabilitated that guy and made him a male lead candidate. A sinister and dark guy like him doesn’t suit the pure and kind Luciana at all.

When the third prince’s succession becomes secure, it will be easy to break off the engagement at an appropriate time.

“Do I understand your suggestion correctly?”

“Yes. The crown prince seems uninterested in my lord. How about informing the imperial family and changing the engagement target to the third prince?”

It would also be beneficial for the third prince. It was an opportunity to have the enormous Speda duchy as an ally. After all, wasn’t his goal the emperor’s throne? Whether it was breaking the engagement by mutual agreement or negotiating for the third prince to request the breakup first, it could be done. 

Of course, there was a possibility that the third prince’s side might refuse to break the engagement. 

‘Even if it’s DLC, the third prince wouldn’t have changed all his actions in the game. Just catching a few of those would be enough to make him beg for the breakup.’

It was a way to minimize the risks related to Luciana’s honor. 

Then,

“W-wait a moment!”

A hurried voice interrupted the conversation. Not just me, but even the third prince turned his gaze to René’s rude outburst. While it could be overlooked due to our alliance, I was puzzled by the urgency in his tone.

“Your Highness Leon, I believe it would be best to reject the current proposal.”

“Oh? Why is that? I’m all ears for my confidant’s advice.”

“In the end, isn’t this man just shifting the crown prince’s responsibility onto you, Your Highness Leon?”

‘…Tsk.’ 

She saw right through it. 

The third prince would bear the disgrace that should have fallen on Luciana. 

Yes, that was my plan. 

But I’m not without conscience. 

I had prepared compensation equivalent to the benefit I sought. 

However,

“It’s not something said for free. In exchange, the Speda duchy would support the third prince’s ascension to the throne.”

“You’re brazenly saying that without even getting Lady Speda’s approval.”

‘This woman… she hits where it hurts.’

At René’s remark, the third prince’s expression turned indifferent. 

Indeed, it was obvious that obtaining the cooperation of the Speda family required their consent. 

That included Luciana’s own intentions. 

…Given that I haven’t even mentioned the topic of breaking the engagement yet, my proposal was practically futile.

If Luciana had any intention, she would have brought conditions for negotiation by now. 

“Anyway, I oppose it. We can’t stake the third prince’s honor on an unguaranteed bait.”

-Zap.

Our eyes met midair, and sparks flew between me and the saintess.

Even without words.

Even without an intermediary, our intentions were clear.

-Can you handle this?

-Don’t you dare try anything with His Highness Leon.

A nerve-wracking standoff between those serving different masters. 

There was no way to back down.

‘…Wait, why is the saintess so earnest about the third prince?’

I serve Luciana, but that shouldn’t be the case for her, right?

“Haha, let’s put aside the conflict for a moment. This is a negotiation, after all.”

The one to mediate between us was, of course, the third prince.

“And Sir Byron, that proposal is indeed difficult.”

“Why? Is it difficult for you, Your Highness?”

“That’s part of it, but it’s also for Lady Speda.”

He raised a hand to stop René, who was about to protest, and added quietly to me,

“Do you think I’m any different from my brother?”

“What do you mean by that…”

“Even if I were to be engaged to her, she would ultimately be disappointed, just as with my brother. I am not interested in her either.”

The third prince crossed his arms and asked me once more,

“Do you think your lord, Lady Luciana Speda, would want such an outcome?”

“…Hmm.”

“Me bearing the disgrace is a separate matter. How would she feel about another broken engagement?”

…To be honest, I only considered the circumstances Luciana was in. 

I thought that if the third prince took responsibility and announced the breakup, public opinion would hold him accountable for everything. 

Therefore, I didn’t consider Luciana’s own feelings in the matter.

‘No, these are all just excuses.’

How could I fail to consider the feelings of my most cherished character, who should be my top priority? 

I was a failure as both an attendant and a fan. 

With deep guilt, I immediately nodded. 

“Let’s scrap it.”

“You don’t hesitate.” 

“An attendant’s duty is to fulfill their lord’s desires. I will deeply take to heart the third prince’s advice.”

As I sincerely bowed to him for pointing out what I had overlooked, René, with a pouty face, chimed in, 

“I don’t mind as long as it doesn’t harm His Highness the third prince.”

“René, do you have a sharp plan?” 

“Well, if it comes to this, we’ll have to make the crown prince himself declare the breakup.”

That’s no easy task. 

Three sighs fell upon the table. 

“My brother would never take the initiative due to his pride.” 

“It’s not just pride. He would also fear the criticism that would follow.”

Breaking off an engagement made between noble families carelessly would mark him as an honorless beast. 

Even for a crown prince who commands the empire, the stigma of being the one to first mention breaking the engagement would not be taken lightly. 

“I have something to say.”

In the now heavier atmosphere, the saintess spoke up. 

She held a newspaper in her hand. 

“What is that?” 

“It’s a newspaper from a few days ago. Sir Byron, please take a look.” 

The front page of the newspaper she placed on the table prominently featured a repulsive figure. 

“The crown prince…” 

“It’s from the noble faction’s press. The article contains quite a few critical points.”

Silently, René pointed to a part of the interview included in the article. 

[What is the most important virtue for a leader of a nation?] 

[A willingness to listen to the people? The strength to repel any external threats?] 

[No. It is the ability to ensure the continuation of the royal line.] 

[In that sense, the crown prince’s current injury raises doubts about his ability to fulfill that duty properly.]

The meaning was simple. 

-If an impotent man becomes emperor, the line will end! 

-Or prove otherwise, if you can?

A provocative tabloid. 

The article, crafted to mock the crown prince of a nation, made the third prince’s brows furrow. 

“It’s unpleasant. They’re just eager to bring down the royal family.” 

“But it’s certainly an unexpected method.” 

“A method? Sir Byron, what method do you see in this newspaper?”

The crown prince’s injury, huh. 

I could understand why she showed this. 

And also,

The one behind this scheme. 

‘She’s more radical than I thought.’

Ignoring her as she averted her gaze, I turned to the third prince beside her. 

“In short, wouldn’t it be enough if the crown prince were rendered incapable of maintaining the engagement?”

Even if he were engaged, if he couldn’t produce an heir, the engagement would naturally fall apart. 

The third prince, tilting his head in confusion, soon widened his eyes in shock as he grasped the implication. 

“…Hahaha! This is indeed an unexpected solution. Turning my brother into an impotent man. As expected of René.”

After laughing heartily for a while, the third prince cleared his throat. 

“However, it’s practically impossible. My brother is a warrior with exceptional swordsmanship and a strong aura.”

The third prince shook his head, saying that there was no practical way to realize such a plan. 

“You won’t know until you try.”

“…Sir Byron? If caught, we would all be executed for insulting the royal family. Take it as a joke.”

But seriously,

Isn’t it worth trying?

In the original story, the protagonist and the crown prince often lost their lives together in a game over. 

Even now, he hadn’t avoided getting kicked in the groin by me. 

Isn’t this the most realistic way to declare a breakup with Luciana without any trouble?

“Sir Byron, your eyes look dangerous.”

“I will consider it as a last resort.”

Sigh. 

“If you do attempt it, aim for the dispatch training.”

The third prince, while seeming to dissuade me, subtly provided a concrete suggestion. 

‘Indeed, for someone blinded by the desire for the throne, this is an excellent opportunity.’

The crown prince’s loss of sexual function would mean the third prince ascends to power. No wonder he was excited.

“By the way, what do you mean by dispatch training?” 

“According to recent reports submitted to the royal family, the chaos caused by monsters throughout the empire has worsened. Even with the involvement of second and third-year students, there’s a shortage of manpower.”

The third prince gave a chilling smile.

“In the form of dispatch training, my brother’s guards would be fewer. It would be the best time for you to accomplish the task.”

It irked me a bit that he was openly trying to involve me in his plot.

“…I will keep that in mind.”

I could almost feel my foot itching to kick the crown prince where it hurts.

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