I'm the third son of a viscount's family, but I have a claim to the throne. - Episode 1

“Father, why aren’t you a duke?”

As someone who was somewhat bright and making steady progress in swordsmanship, “I” was reasonably doted on by my father. Being the third son—a position that wasn’t even considered a spare—there was no need to raise me strictly, so perhaps that’s why he could affectionately indulge me without much concern.

So, when my father was unusually lounging in his study with a drink in hand, I casually asked him a question that had come to mind during a social studies lesson with my tutor.

My father, who married into the Calberg Viscount family, bore the title of Viscount Calberg. However, as I had learned during that day’s lesson, he was actually the first prince of the previous king. Under different circumstances, he could have even become king himself.

At the time, I responded to the lesson with a simple “Wow!” and moved on. But later, I recalled another lesson mentioning, “The children of kings often become dukes to support the royal family.” That led me to wonder: why wasn’t my father a duke, or even a marquis or an earl, but only a viscount?

However, it wasn’t a question I should have asked, especially not when the former first prince was deep in his cups and brooding.

Without a word, he punched me so hard I went flying into the bookshelf, hitting my head and spending the next five days unconscious.

During that time, I somehow experienced a fast-forward replay of “my” life in another world. When I woke up, the “me” of this world had merged with the “me” from the other world, becoming “I.”

When I awoke, my pale tutor explained to me that my father had excelled too much in academics and swordsmanship. Despite being the son of a concubine, he was perceived as a potential threat to the second prince, the son of the queen. As a result, he was exiled by being married into the historically significant yet impoverished Calberg Viscount family.

The irony wasn’t lost on me. My father had been raised as the first prince, destined either to become king or wield considerable power as a duke. He worked hard, only to lose almost everything because of it.

From the perspective of “I,” who now had memories of another life and knowledge from light novels, it made sense. A prince only four years younger than the legitimate heir could easily be seen as a threat to the stability of the kingdom. The fact that my father and his aides hadn’t foreseen this danger was both naive and foolish.

“The real issue is that I also have a claim to the throne,” I murmured after the tutor, who had shared these forbidden truths, left the room. I leaned back against my pillow, deep in thought.

If I worked too hard and stood out, I might follow in my father’s footsteps. Worse, as an unremarkable viscount’s son, I could be discreetly assassinated without much fuss.

On the other hand, if I was too incompetent, I’d have no prospects for the future. Striking the perfect balance to avoid either outcome would be a delicate tightrope to walk.

“Well, still, this is a rare chance at reincarnation in another world,” I said, grinning to myself. “I need to think carefully and plan wisely to see where I can take this starting point.”