The Bastard First Prince Doesn't Want to Die

Chapter: 123

The arrival of the reinforcements led by my grandfather had turned the tide of the battle. Under the command of a seasoned veteran, the army formed a strict formation.

To call them reinforcements was actually an understatement. Most of them were already trained warriors.

I heard they were private soldiers of various influential people from different regions.

I wondered what conditions my grandfather had set to obtain the king's permission for this. The more I thought about it, the heavier my shoulders felt.

And I wasn’t the only one feeling weighed down.

Several elders, clearly uncomfortable with the general, a prominent figure in the capital's military, avoided places where he frequently appeared.

It made me realize just how influential my grandfather was.

Though I didn’t want to rely on him, I couldn’t help but feel reassured when the general so openly expressed his support.

However, there was one problem.

Or rather...

“Your Highness.”

It was just... a bit uncomfortable.

“…Yes, General.”

I turned to my grandfather, who had spoken to me, and lowered my sword awkwardly.

My grandfather was in full armor, having just finished training.

“Were you practicing your swordsmanship?”

“Yes.”

Several days had passed since my grandfather had arrived at Wolhan Fortress.

And I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.

I had been practicing swordsmanship for a while.

Since my grandfather and his men were training most of the troops, I had nothing else to do.

I couldn't stay cooped up in my room, as my dear crow, Gon, would have nagged me endlessly.

So I went out to practice swordsmanship, but the Lord of Wolhan Fortress, who happened to see me swinging my sword in the training ground used by the soldiers, was horrified.

He said that an assassin might appear again.

Honestly, wasn't that a bit of an overreaction?

Anyway, the Lord of Wolhan Fortress had me moved to a private training ground within the inner walls.

For reference, this training ground was quite a distance from the outer training ground where the soldiers trained.

So, my grandfather's sudden appearance wasn't a coincidence; he had deliberately sought me out.

I had encountered him unexpectedly in other places yesterday as well. Not in the training ground, but...

After meeting my grandfather like this several times, it became increasingly clear to me that he was following me.

“I hope I’m not interrupting your private time, Your Highness.”

My grandfather said as he approached me.

Not wanting to say yes, I shook my head.

“No.”

“I’m glad I’m not disturbing you.”

My grandfather stopped about five paces away from me.

I looked at the ground, adjusted my clothes, and then looked back at my grandfather.

With a faint smile, he said, “You’ve improved remarkably. The precision of your strikes, your posture, your footwork... I dare say, they are all first-rate.”

“...It’s embarrassing to receive such praise from you, General.”

“Excessive modesty is poison. Don’t underestimate your efforts. The value of your time and perseverance should be recognized.”

Ummm.

I ran out of things to say, so I just turned my head and continued swinging my sword.

There was silence.

Only the sound of the sword cutting through the air could be heard.

After a while, my grandfather spoke again.

“If I’m not disturbing you...”

His tone was low and gentle.

“...there are a few things I’d like to ask.”

I stopped swinging my sword and turned to face my grandfather completely.

“Yes, please do,” I replied readily.

But my grandfather remained silent.

Silence.

And more silence.

My grandfather simply stared at me with an enigmatic smile.

...Why?

The longer he was silent, the more nervous I became.

“...General, why... why are you doing this?” I asked cautiously, but my grandfather only responded with a strange action.

He chuckled!

I was terrified.

A shiver ran down my spine.

Even though it was hidden by my sleeves, I was sure that goosebumps would be all over my arms if I rolled them up.

There were very few people who could scare me, but my grandfather was doing it with a few words and a meaningless chuckle.

As expected of a general. It wasn't just a title he had earned.

But even so, if he wanted to scare me, he could have simply shouted or cursed at me.

After all, the unknown is usually more frightening than the known.

Was he doing this on purpose?

As I was building up fear and tension within myself, my grandfather slowly opened his mouth.

“When I saw you in the palace, you looked rather thin. Your complexion has improved. Have you been eating well lately?”

Why is he suddenly talking about food?

It was an attack without any clear meaning. I quickly racked my brain.

But I couldn't understand the meaning of his words.

He must be saying this because there was something he didn't like about what I was doing.

I had to think fast. What had I done wrong?

Then, I remembered something Gon had nagged me about the other day.

-You've been sleeping on the streets for so long, you've turned into a beggar."

...Ah! That's it!

Realization dawned on me, and I bowed my head.

He was disguising a reprimand for my gluttony behind a smile.

“...I, I’m not usually like that. I did eat two bowls of rice this morning, though.”

I had eaten rice porridge in the morning and asked the servant for another bowl because I wasn't full. And I had finished both bowls completely.

The servant had looked surprised and commented that I had eaten a lot.

Ugh. Could that servant have been my grandfather's spy?

Now I had to be suspicious even of the servants who brought me food.

There was no one I could trust in this world. ...Could it be that one of the reasons he came to Wolhan Fortress was to spy on me?

I remembered when he had scolded me severely.

-"Do you think it’s a small matter to be the laughingstock of the common people as a prince?"

I tried my best to explain myself. But I’m terrible at making excuses.

I stammered foolishly. “I, uh, I don’t always eat like that. It’s just that, um, I was hungry today.”

Then, an unexpected reaction came.

My grandfather burst out laughing.

“Two bowls, huh?”

What? What is this? This is scary.

“It’s good to see that you’ve been eating well. Perhaps you’re still growing.”

No, no. I’m not going to grow any taller.

“I don’t think I’ll grow any taller from here.”

“Sometimes, people continue to grow even after they reach the age of twenty. It’s rare, but you might be one of them. You still have a long time before you turn twenty, so I suggest you consider that possibility.”

I smiled awkwardly.

“Haha…”

Was this some kind of high-level sarcasm? ‘You're still a kid, you brat. When will you grow up?‘ Something like that?

He was smiling kindly, but it was probably a fake smile, right?

...Yeah, that's entirely possible. When I was in Blood Cloud Fortress, the Governor of Seopyung always had that annoying grin on his face.

And everything he said was so irritating. How could he be so irritating with every word he said?

That's a talent.

Do you know what it's like when your fists clench every time someone opens their mouth?

I suspected that he might practice saying irritating things before bed.

My grandfather isn't as annoying as the Governor of Seopyung, but...

"Do you still enjoy sweets?"

"...What?"

What was that supposed to mean?

Rustle-

My grandfather took something out of his pocket. It was a small pouch made of silk, sewn together with colorful threads.

He approached me and handed me the pouch.

"I would like to give this to you."

I had no idea what it was for, and questions filled my mind.

I took it anyway.

"Would you like to open it? If it's not a bother."

Why did he keep mentioning being a bother?

I felt uneasy, but I opened the silk pouch as he asked.

Inside, there were a handful of candies wrapped in paper. The smell of fruit and sweetness filled the air. They were colorful too.

Kids would love this. If I showed this to Jincheon, he would go crazy.

That's when I realized.

"...Ah!"

He was treating me like a child!

It was definitely a subtle way of putting me down.

He was clearly telling me to stop acting like a spoiled brat!

"Do you still enjoy sweets?" My grandfather asked.

I could feel cold sweat dripping down the back of my head.

It was clear. This was a test.

A test to see if I was still an incorrigible wastrel, a spoiled brat.

Ahem, ahem.

I cleared my throat and replied calmly, "No, I don't. I'm too old for that now."

Sound mature, sound mature!

I'm not a spoiled prince cooped up in a corner of the palace! I'm a pawn who will go out and achieve great feats and avenge you!

But my grandfather's smile faltered.

"...Oh, is that so?"

Somehow, my grandfather's expression darkened slightly.

"Yes, you’re too old to enjoy such things..."

He paused mid-sentence. He took a deep breath.

"I was just remembering how much you used to enjoy sweets."

How long ago was that? I don't know.

I shrugged it off.

"Most children like sweets. It's nothing special..."

Isn't it? Of course, there might be exceptions, but I've never seen a child who didn't like sweets.

"Nothing special... Is that so?"

Now, my grandfather's expression was calm again. A serious, expressionless face.

I guess I passed the test.

I glanced at him and asked, "So, what did you want to ask?"

I thought he might ask about my future plans.

That's what I thought when I asked, but my grandfather just chuckled and left the training ground after saying that he would see me again.

But he told me to take the candy.

"Hmm."

I opened the pouch, popped a candy into my mouth, and looked in the direction my grandfather had left.

"Sweet."