I'm the third son of a viscount's family, but I have a claim to the throne. - Episode 6

“I met a boy who was nearly killed by his stepmother, the First Queen. We became friends, and I’d like to bring him to the royal academy as my attendant. Could we fabricate a story about him being the illegitimate child or third son of a suitable branch family?”

After casting a disguise spell on Jairus to alter his appearance, I led him through the house to my father’s study. Once I confirmed my father was alone, I dispelled the disguise and made my request.

My father took one look at Jairus—particularly his face or maybe just his eyes—and promptly spit out his tea before bursting into laughter.

“You want to make the king’s son the attendant of a viscount’s third son?!”

It did sound absurd.

But surely it was better than letting the king’s son wander as a disguised apprentice adventurer, only to be captured and sold to slavers.

“Wouldn’t it be safer for him to buy time until adulthood by disguising himself as a rural noble’s attendant and receiving an education? Besides, having an ally at the academy would make me feel more secure,” I reasoned.

Whether we stayed together after reaching adulthood was uncertain, but during our time at the royal academy, having a reliable companion to train with as an adventurer’s apprentice would undoubtedly increase our safety.

“An adventurer’s apprenticeship straight from the palace would indeed be reckless,” my father said, turning to Jairus. “But after two assassination attempts, surely the king will take decisive action. By now, he’s likely gathered enough evidence to suppress the Queen’s family.”

Oh? My father was aware of the assassination attempts and the surrounding circumstances?

“…Was I just a pawn used to gather leverage against the Kesbart Ducal House, the Queen’s family?” Jairus asked quietly.

“They probably didn’t initially see you as a real threat. You’re too young and too far removed from the Queen’s children. But after the first failed attempt, they likely disregarded warnings to stop.

If the Kesbart Ducal House has grown arrogant enough to defy such warnings, the king will have no choice but to curb their influence. While the Queen herself may not be confined, the Kesbart family can expect significant penalties. It will serve as both a punishment and a warning not to underestimate the king,” my father explained, calmly brewing a fresh pot of tea.

Despite being a former prince, my father had lived as a poor viscount long enough to make his own tea without summoning a servant. I hastily stood to assist him, but he waved me off and motioned for me to sit back down.

“Would the king really take action against the Queen’s family for the sake of a concubine’s son?” Jairus asked skeptically, his tone restrained but hinting at doubt.

“The Queen’s family must have some power to support the Crown Prince when he ascends the throne. But unchecked, such families tend to grow too influential. If the kingdom is stable, the king would welcome a legitimate reason to cut them down to size. The first assassination attempt may have been overlooked, but a second attempt will be used to its fullest advantage,” my father said, returning with the teapot and cups.

“Have you been in contact with the king?” I asked, surprised.

My father shrugged. “A prince who loses a political struggle is the farthest removed from the king’s inner circle and often becomes a rallying point for discontented factions. Sharing information benefits both sides and serves the kingdom’s interests.”

“I see… You and the king aren’t as estranged as the rumors suggest,” Jairus remarked softly, a hint of melancholy in his voice. Were he and his older brothers distant as well?

“The purpose of concubine-born children, except when the Queen fails to produce heirs, is to dilute the royal bloodline and strengthen ties with the nobility. In some ways, concubine-born princes are more valuable than the Queen’s second sons.

By attempting to kill you, they’ve disrupted that balance. The king’s anger is only natural,” my father explained, pouring tea.

“Is that so…” I murmured, surprised.

“Of course, I only learned this after losing the political struggle and being married into a viscount’s family,” my father added with a shrug.

It made sense. In fantasy novels, overly ambitious or foolish princes were often imprisoned or exiled. By contrast, this kingdom’s approach seemed surprisingly pragmatic—allowing princes to marry and produce children while using royal tutors to guide them.

The policy reflected a broader strategy of using the royal bloodline to enhance the kingdom’s overall strength.

“Even so, wouldn’t weakening the royal family’s dominance pose a risk?” Jairus asked.

“The era when the royal family ruled purely through magical might is long over. The remaining concubine system exists to produce more royals and strengthen the nobility’s magic. That’s the belief of both the previous and current kings,” my father explained.

The days when royals relied on large-scale destructive magic to inspire fear likely ended soon after the kingdom’s founding. Enhancing the nobility’s magical abilities provided more practical benefits for national defense.

“But then why is my future so uncertain?” I asked.

If the purpose of concubine-born princes was to strengthen noble houses, why wasn’t the royal family arranging suitable marriages for them?

“It turns out lower-ranking nobles are more intimidated by the royal bloodline than expected.

When we suggested marrying Carpeus into a lesser noble family, they declined in fear. As for higher-ranking families, they prefer subordinates they can easily control, rather than potential threats. In short, those with claims to the throne are often seen as ‘too much trouble’ and are politely refused,” my father sighed.

“Maybe you should have married into a poor count’s family instead of a viscount’s,” I suggested.

Historically, no prince with a claim to the throne had married into a baron’s or viscount’s family without being disowned or exiled. This problem should have been anticipated.

“I tried too hard, and the Kesbart Ducal House’s arrogance made them plenty of enemies. Secret supporters balanced the competition between me and Fernand to the point that civil war nearly broke out.

I genuinely believed Fernand’s fiancée would be disastrous as the nation’s queen, so I fought seriously for the throne. Meanwhile, the king delayed resolving things, trying to identify the forces backing me. In the end, I was married off to the lowest noble rank where I’d have no clear claim to the throne,” my father admitted with a wry smile.

So, the root of all this trouble was my father’s overzealousness. Well, fair enough.

“Does this mean Jairus and I would be pursued if we tried to leave the kingdom?” I asked.

“It’s possible,” my father replied.

In that case, I needed to either find a satisfying life within the kingdom or devise a flawless plan to disappear completely.

“In the meantime, to ensure the third prince doesn’t end up sold to slavers, please help me enroll him at the royal academy as my attendant. Protecting him here would be far easier than trying to track him down later,” I argued.

Surely keeping him close was the simpler solution.