Chapter: 231
“So, did the Pitiful Prince manage to beat the gloomy loner Prince?”
Not even once.
Not even once. In any field.
Cecil Soladin was expected to compete with the First Prince from the moment he was born, yet he never once gained an advantage against him.
If not gaining an advantage was all there was to it, that would be one thing. But that wasn’t all.
Cecil was always just beneath the First Prince’s feet.
No matter how hard he tried. No matter how much effort he put in. No matter what means he borrowed.
The First Prince, who didn’t know the word “defeat” and had overwhelming talent, made Cecil into something less than mediocre.
Amidst countless defeats, Cecil both hated and understood the First Prince, who didn’t even consider him a rival.
If he were in the same situation, he wouldn’t have felt a threat from the opponent either.
“Of course, you must have won, right? Even a cute little girl like me beat him.”
Thus, when Cecil heard the news that the First Prince had lost to the Allen family’s Young Lady, he asked the one who delivered the news if they were joking.
He simply couldn’t imagine the First Prince losing.
But that news was all true.
The First Prince had challenged the match first, lost in that match, and even received an insult from the Young Lady of the Allen family.
A massive crack had formed in the wall that was the First Prince, who was thought to be unbeatable and had once believed he would take down anyone that tried to topple him.
Cecil laughed upon hearing the news. He burst into laughter so that those who followed his family could hear. “See? The First Prince is only human after all. Even the deficient child of the Allen family accomplished this. No matter how incompetent you may be, you could at least do something like this.”
It was the same when he heard these words from his parents.
He nodded his head and smiled as usual, and when they spoke of how Lucy Allen seemed to dislike the First Prince, he confidently assured them he would manage a good outcome.
Then, one night while left alone, Cecil pondered.
Was it truly because he was incompetent that he had never beaten the First Prince?
“Could it be that you’ve never won even once? Given that, do you really think you’re more capable than me?”
Time passed, and even now, Cecil couldn’t stop doubting his abilities.
He didn’t doubt it because the First Prince was too capable, but because he feared it was due to his own incompetence that he could never take him down.
“Then, if I challenge you to a duel, you won’t back down, right?”
Every time the name Lucy Allen popped up among the gossipers, Cecil’s doubts grew.
Someone said it was just a festival game. If the First Prince had been serious, would such a little brat even be an opponent?
Another said he had witnessed that festival scene, and it was a trick possible only because it was a festival. In a real combat situation, she wouldn’t even be a match.
One loquacious individual chimed in with, “The First Prince was just being considerate for Sir Benedict Allen’s honor. It was a way to raise the reputation of his lacking daughter.”
Though they spoke differently, if carefully considered, they said the same thing.
If it was a normal match, the First Prince would never have lost.
Lucy Allen’s victory over the First Prince was possible only because it was an abnormal situation.
Listening to such talk made Cecil want to ask them just one thing.
If your stories are true, then what does that make me, who couldn’t win against the First Prince even using any petty trick in any situation?
What the heck am I, less than that little girl?
“Well, the Pitiful Prince can crush someone like me with ease, right?”
“Second Prince?”
Hearing a fearful voice, Cecil opened his eyes and exhaled a long, heavy breath while glancing around.
Everyone was watching him, gauging his reactions.
It wasn’t hard to know why.
They all believed that as soon as Cecil reached out, Lucy Allen would catch him.
Since he had squared off with the First Prince, naturally, he should move to this side.
They assumed he wouldn’t simply watch as the person he clearly hated became king.
They believed he would be captivated by the Second Prince’s personality.
A lion would naturally fall under a lion’s rule.
Born from the martial family, it was only natural he would follow a warrior.
And what was the result?
Not only was he simply rejected, but he also faced appalling insults.
“Pitiful Prince.”
“Pitiful Prince, huh?”
It was a term familiar to Cecil.
It was what his parents would throw out whenever they scolded him for losing to the First Prince.
But he never expected to hear it from someone else’s mouth.
Stretching his back and nervously playing with his fingers, Cecil spoke without lifting his head.
“Arch.”
“…Yes?”
“I want to hear about this situation.”
Arch was one of those who had raised his voice, saying Lucy Allen would join the Second Prince’s faction.
Now, faced with scrutiny, he merely fumbled over his words without providing a proper explanation.
Cecil sighed at him, and then called out to another person.
“Tommy.”
“Um, Second Prince… that is…”
“Explain.”
“Uh… well…”
While this continued, the thoughts within the Second Prince’s faction were generally the same.
They believed they were merely saying what the Second Prince wanted to hear.
If they offered honest counsel, they’d be met with loud reprimands, forced to only speak what was desired, while in the end, the choice remained their own, so why were they being blamed?
Well, it was said.
“Holden.”
“Yes, Second Prince.”
“Speak.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect such a situation.”
Who would have predicted that some crazy girl would call a prince pitiful, and much less that she would say she didn’t want to come under someone less capable than her, who insisted on a duel instead?
“We lacked research on the Young Lady.”
“Indeed, we did.”
“Everyone will too. Please forgive us.”
The Second Prince ground his lips and let out a long sigh.
“Okay. I’ll forgive you. But instead, you must train with me in the future.”
“Thank you.”
““Thank you!””
This training approached closer to punishment or torture than merely a physical workout.
Among the second-year students of the academy, notorious for their physical prowess, it was common for fainting to occur.
As soon as the Second Prince’s faction heard the word “training,” they began to panic, but among them, no one refused.
Any objections would mean a daylong torment filled with dueling the Second Prince.
“Alright, let’s move on. About the match Lucy Allen proposed.”
Lucy Allen stated that if he wanted to draw her in, he had to prove he was more capable than her. Accept the duel and defeat her.
“It’s a contest to see who can conquer the Academy Dungeon first. You’re confident, right? Of course, you are?”
Cecil nodded at the proposition.
He didn’t agree because he expected a favorable outcome; in fact, his thoughts hadn’t even gotten that far.
He agreed because anger boiled in him from the insult Lucy Allen had dealt.
In terms of position, Cecil was higher, but in reality, he was the one who had to cling to Lucy.
And it was because he couldn’t let Lucy’s last words slide.
“You’re allowed to run away. The gloomy stalker Prince couldn’t beat me, so how could the Pitiful Prince?”
If even the First Prince couldn’t do it, how could he?
You’re a loser.
I’m a loser.
“If you win against me, I’ll serve you as a subordinate. But that won’t happen, so dream big; I’ll be generous this time. Well, the more I think about it, I’m really nice, you know?”
No.
I’m not a loser.
I’m not incompetent.
I can beat the First Prince.
I can inherit the throne.
I will.
I will.
The bloody taste in his mouth snapped Cecil back into reality.
Stretching out his hand to touch his lips, he realized the bloody taste. His chewing lips had split.
Wiping the red stain from his index finger with his thumb, he glared and said, “Come up with a perfect way to take her down. Right now.”
I will definitely claim victory over Lucy Allen.
By defeating her, I’ll prove that I’m not incompetent.
I will accomplish what my brother could not.
Thus, I will gain recognition.
Absolutely.
“Any dirty trick will do. As long as I can win.”
No matter what trick it takes.
*
Before the entrance of the academy opened on the last weekend.
I visited Alsatine’s shop and received the various items he had prepared.
Each item he handed to me was of better quality than I had expected.
Could it be that being next to Karia boosted Alsatine’s abilities?
After leaving the shop with a grin I could hardly hold back, I thought, wow! With this, the dungeon strategy seems way more manageable.
As soon as the entrance to the dungeon opens, I might even be able to tackle it right away! Should I challenge it?
After all, what my grandpa demanded was an overwhelmingly unattainable performance.
Only then could the arrows turn back to the Second Prince instead of applause for my abilities, right?
If I could conquer the dungeon as it opened, I’d surely meet that demand perfectly.
Besides, the quicker I strategize the dungeon, the faster I receive rewards from the Shoddy God.
This reward is going to be quite attractive for me, you know.
“Employer!”
Lost in thought about this quest given by the Shoddy God, I looked up at Karia’s voice.
She emerged from the alley, beckoning me to follow, and showed me several men sprawled across the alley.
“It seems the Second Prince really wants to beat you badly.”
She said.
“He’s forgotten the fact he needs to recruit you.”
They are the ones who were trying to ambush me.
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