This Bastard is Too Competent

“What the hell is the Seventh Prince doing right now?” 

Meanwhile, at the same time, the Second Prince was grinding his teeth at the entrance to the audience room.

It was for no other reason. 

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. His Majesty has ordered you to enter with the Seventh Prince…”

The Second Prince could not enter the audience room. It was due to the king’s order to come in with Ian.

That’s why he waited in front of the audience room for a very long time until Ian came. 

Meanwhile, the servant was nervous about how much longer the Seventh Prince would make the Second Prince wait. 

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. We have been looking for the Seventh Prince, but he is not in Crystal Palace.” 

“This guy is really trying to mock me.” 

It was then. 

“I didn’t mean to mock you.”

The Second Prince gritted his teeth at the voice from behind.

And this familiar voice was none other than Ian’s. 

Sure enough. 

“It’s just that the palace was so beautiful that I was late while enjoying the scenery.” 

Hearing Ian’s calm voice, the Second Prince was about to retort back at that young face. 

However. 

‘!’ 

The Second Prince’s pupils shook at the sight of the knight coming with Ian.

He was none other than Lavaltor’s eldest son, Fiosen, who was in charge of guiding Ian’s way.  

And when he brought Ian, the Second Prince seemed really flustered. 

“Why is Sir Fiosen…”

“I was just ordered by my father. He said His Highness the Seventh Prince is not familiar with the orientation of the palace yet.” 

The cold tone choked the Second Prince. Fiosen didn’t show up at all when he went to the First Knight Order.

And Ian smirked at the sight.  

In fact, Ian met Fiosen just around here.  

Of course, it didn’t take long to get back from the town to the palace. 

“Alright then, let’s break up here. You can go back slowly on foot, Third Young Master Karan.”

“Huh? What do you mean here? What about you, Prince?”

“I’m going home first since I’m busy.”

“What?! What do you mean going home first?”

Ian abandoned Karan and returned to the doghole alone. Of course, he could have brought him along too, but he didn’t do it on purpose.

Because Ian didn’t want to tell him the location of the royal palace’s doghole. 

And the doghole he opened was unexpectedly not in the first place he went out.  

‘Come to think of it, each royal family has a different passage.’ 

In other words, his own doghole that neither the Third Prince nor anyone knows.

Perhaps it might take Ian to a town other than the slum he visited with the Third Prince.

As he was about to check it out, a servant came running.  

Of course, the doghole wasn’t found out thanks to his quick action, but… 

“What? The Second Prince is waiting for me so I should hurry up?”

“Yes, Your Highness. The two of you have to enter together…”

“Then, there is no need to hurry.”

“Pardon?”

Despite the order, Ian took a walk on purpose and came to the main palace leisurely. It was to especially keep the Second Prince waiting. 

Of course, it might be a problem to make King Eloin wait. 

“His Majesty is talking to Duke Lavaltor right now.” 

Ian didn’t think the king would say anything about him being a little late when he was with his old friend, Duke Lavaltor. 

And in any case, as if it wasn’t enough to keep the Second Prince waiting, it must be a big shock to come with Fiosen. The Second Prince looked as if he were going to kill him, but Ian’s eyes glinted again.  

It was only natural.

‘You’re one of the people who bought the scented candles.’

Well, Galon was holding the evidence, so he better put it aside.

“Let’s go in now, Brother. How long are you going to keep His Majesty waiting?” 

The Second Prince looked at Ian in incredulity.  

Who had kept him waiting so far? 

However, the Second Prince soon walked to the door with a triumphant smile. 

‘This cheeky brat.’ 

Having Lavaltor next to him wouldn’t put him in the spotlight.

With that in mind, the Second Prince confidently entered the audience room.

It was a flawless royal gait, showing that he was not close to the first-in-line of the throne succession for nothing.

“The Second Prince and the Seventh Prince are entering the room!”

But it was a little strange inside.  

***

There were nobles inside.  

However, the Second Prince, who was used to receiving attention, was unusually flustered.  

‘What the hell is this atmosphere? Isn’t it the atmosphere in a trial?’

Duke Lavaltor, who had always supported him, was staring at him with chilly eyes. Even the nobles of the faction who supported him had pale faces, giving him a sense of foreboding.

It was then. 

“Duke Lavaltor, didn’t you say that you came to find me here because you have something to say? The prince is here, so tell me now.”

“Thank you very much, Your Majesty.” 

The Second Prince smiled secretly, although momentarily nervous at those words.

By this time, he could be sure of the reason why he and Ian were called together.

‘Yes, Lavaltor has finally moved due to the case of my arm.’

The Second Prince was surprised for a second, but it must be the case.

Obviously, he lost his arm while wielding a sword, which eventually led Lavaltor to step in himself, so it seemed that Duke Lavaltor was a bit angry about it. 

But the Second Prince didn’t care much. 

‘Well, I can hear the complaint later.’

Therefore, the Second Prince looked at Ian as if he had won. 

Yet at that moment, Duke Lavaltor, with frosty eyes, opened his mouth. 

“I’d like to break the engagement between the Second Prince and my daughter. Please grant my request.” 

‘Wh… what?!’

For a moment, the Second Prince almost forgot his position and shouted. He didn’t expect such unbelievably ridiculous words to come out. 

Eventually, he shouted in panic.

“I can’t believe you are breaking my engagement with your daughter! Duke, why are you doing this to me all of a sudden?” 

Soon, however, the Second Prince flinched after meeting the duke’s eyes. 

It was the eyes looking at a dirty beast. 

In the end, the Second Prince cried out as if it was unfair.

“No way! The royal marriage is a promise between His Majesty and Duke Lavaltor, not just to the individual but to the royal family…”

However, the protesting Second Prince was instantly taken aback. 

It was because of the icy gazes around him.  

And toward the confused prince, Duke Lavaltor uttered heartless words. 

“Even if it’s a promise with my predecessor, I can’t give my daughter to a beast.”  

“Duke Lavaltor, what are you talking about now—”

Right at that time. 

“Your Majesty, I have brought the thing as you ordered.”

Lavaltor’s eldest son, Fiosen, who came behind Ian, brought something.  

It was a tray covered with a cloth.

Soon the king beckoned, and Fiosen presented it to the audience.

And upon seeing it, the Second Prince’s face hardened in an instant. Because he knew whose thing it was as soon as he saw it.

At the same time, the place where it was. 

The Second Prince glared at Duke Lavaltor and his son with eyes full of fury. 

‘So, this is why you kept me waiting at the First Knight Order.’

“This is what I found in the Second Prince’s palace. The thing on the cloth is bits of flesh and blood of a woman.”

Finally understanding the situation, the Second Prince clenched his teeth and shouted. 

“I don’t know anything about it, and even if it’s Lavaltor, they dare search my palace! This is against royal etiquette!”

“It doesn’t matter. Continue.” 

“Your Majesty!” 

“I heard that the Seventh Prince had his things stolen by an attendant. He said he seemed like an attendant of the Second Prince, so I searched for him.” 

The Second Prince gritted his teeth and glared at Ian.  

Nevertheless, Fiosen continued.  

“Not only this but there were also torture tools and… unspeakable items in the secret basement of the Second Prince’s palace, Your Majesty.” 

“It’s a misunderstanding! They are just gifts from friends from other countries. My souvenir…”

“The items were deeply stained with blood, indicating more than a few traces of use.” 

“…!” 

The Second Prince tried to make excuses, but it didn’t work.

In addition, as if struck with a decisive blow, the Second Prince’s chamberlain, who was dragged by the knights, shouted.

“I… I really don’t know anything! I just did what the Second Prince told me to do.” 

“What did he do?” 

“It’s… it’s…” 

The chamberlain glanced at the prince for a second. 

“Hi-His Royal Highness secretly captured and detained his servants and used beatings and tools to satisfy his sexual desire. Not only that, if they die, they should be buried in the backyard of the palace…”

“You mean you were just watching it?”

At Fiosen’s oppressive words, the Second Prince exclaimed. 

“This is a scheme! He is a spy planted by another successor—” 

“You bastard! How dare you just watch your lord go astray!” 

The Second Prince glared at Fiosen, who deliberately ignored his words. 

In the end, the king gestured to drag the chamberlain away. He was to be investigated separately.  

As the chamberlain was dragged out with a howl, Duke Lavaltor said in a frigid voice. 

“Hence, I confided this to His Majesty because I could no longer leave the Second Prince alone as my daughter’s fiancé.” 

At the same time, the nobles were convinced. 

“I wondered why Lavaltor brought up the dishonorable engagement breakup…”

It was the work of the mighty Lavaltor.

He would never do anything reckless related to the honor of the royal family just by this evidence.

However, the beautiful young lady of Lavaltor was a talented woman who graduated from the Academy at the top of her class. It was too much of a waste to hand a 16-year-old princess who had just gone through the coming-of-age ceremony to such a cruel man.  

“Now, all the related nobles involved in the royal affairs have gathered. So, only if Your Majesty will decide…” 

“Do you want me to deal with it right here?” 

No, in the first place, the marriage between the Second Prince and Lavaltor was not just a personal issue. There were too many factions intertwined in it.  

It must have been the reason that the related nobles were summoned. Regardless, the king spoke coldly.

“I respect your opinion, Duke, but you can’t break a marriage contract with this alone. I’m sure you know that well.” 

This marriage agreement signified Lavaltor’s loyalty to the royal family.  

There was no way the royal family would let go of Lavaltor to the extent that they would break up his engagement simply from this evidence alone.  

‘Yes. This is what royalty does. You can’t just throw me away with that.’

Lavaltor couldn’t possibly take away his daughter’s fiancé, who had not even seized the throne, because of this in the first place.

Even so, Duke Lavaltor bowed his head to the king.

“Your Majesty, do you remember what you told me before? You said you would listen to what I wanted as a friend, only once.” 

King Eloin groaned for a moment. It was something he clearly remembered.

However, what the king was worried about was something else. 

“Is that what your daughter wants?” 

Duke Lavaltor nodded. 

“In fact, I’m here to break the marriage agreement myself, and she still wishes for it at this moment. I have expressed my intention that my daughter does not have to be with His Highness the Second Prince.”

Duke Lavaltor continued in a cold voice. 

“Furthermore, wasn’t it a promise to marry one of His Majesty’s descendants, not the Second Prince?”

“In other words, you want to change the betrothed?”

“Please understand the heart of a father who has a daughter, Your Majesty.” 

The nobles fell into a great uproar.  

This was because the exchanged words just now implied that Lavaltor might switch to support his opponent.  

‘Then, isn’t it most likely the Third Prince? Lavaltor has been wanting to make the Third Prince his apprentice…!’

‘No, it may be the Fourth Prince who is known for his good manners.’

The future succession war would be worth seeing.

But the king laughed. 

“Then, it doesn’t matter with the Fifth Prince or the Sixth Prince, who have nothing to do with the succession, does it?”

“!!” 

The mighty duke had to be reined in. Knowing that this would be an unusual case, the king tried to block it in advance.  

The nobles were divided in joy and sorrow at the words. 

However, at this time, the Second Prince’s heart sank.

It was inevitable.  

He had seen where Lavaltor’s eyes were directed to.

‘Don’t tell me the reason you brought him here…’

Just as he feared.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. The other princes are also excellent, but by your permission, I would like to ask the Seventh Prince to be with my daughter, if only he allows it.”

At Duke Lavaltor’s words, both the Second Prince and Ian opened their eyes wide. 

No, why would Ian’s name suddenly pop out here? 

Yet, Ian didn’t pay much heed as if he was watching a fire across the river. 

Of course, the nobles looked completely different.

“Wait! Doesn’t this mean that Lavaltor will support the Seventh Prince?” 

“That’s right…! Well, the age difference between Lavaltor’s daughter and the Seventh Prince is not that big…!” 

“H-however, what will happen then? The Seventh Prince’s sponsor must be…!”  

The shocked nobles were making a fuss.  

This was no ordinary matter.  

And at this very moment, one person was seething with anger, unlike Ian, who looked nonchalant as if this had nothing to do with him. 

It was Duke Garcia.  

His eyebrows uncharacteristically arched high. 

This bastard?  

Is he asking for a fight now?