1 The Exiled Prince!

"Your Highness, the esteemed guests from the Beleth Empire shall be gracing us with their presence today."

“Another day of the old man not listening to me then.” A handsome young man around the age of sixteen rose out of his bed and let out a frustrated sigh.

The young Prince Ryan Von Roald was ambitious and had clear goals.

He had consistently offered suggestions regarding the improvement of the Finis Kingdom and expansion of their territory, but his father, King Reginald Von Roald, was too much of a pacifist, rejecting all ideas that might lead to animosity between kingdoms.

“And now, the strongest human empire has come to our kingdom.” Ryan shook his head and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. “What are we going to do now? We’re going to end up as their vassal kingdom, aren't we?”

He glanced in the direction of his maid and noticed the professional stance in which Joan stood, allowing him to freely speak his mind without interruption.

With her back held straight and her lovely, long, pink hair pinned neatly behind her head, she cast a fleeting gaze upon him, her emerald green eyes shining.

Ryan liked hearing her voice, but she had always kept everything professional and wouldn’t share any opinions. She would never talk unless she had to inform him of what he needed to know as the sixth prince.

“Pardon me, Your Highness, but His Majesty awaits your—” Joan was cut off by the sound of the double doors opening.

“Big brother, big brother, come play with me!” A young girl, twelve years of age, ran up to the Prince and threw her hands around him.

Sunlight had barely seeped into the palace, yet the energetic child was not at all sleepy.

The child immediately felt a hand gently patting her head.

"I'm really sorry, Rose. I would love to play with you, but I don't have time to play right now. You see, some very important people are coming to visit our kingdom from the Beleth Empire, and Father needs all of us to be present for their arrival today. Don't you remember?" Ryan said with a smile.

With his blond hair and blue eyes, he bore a striking resemblance with his sweet younger sister, inherited from their mother, who held the position of the King's second concubine.

“Oh, okay.” Rose pouted. “When they’re gone, do you promise to play with me?”

“Of course. I promise.” Ryan nodded firmly. Even though he did not see eye-to-eye with his father, it did not mean that Ryan did not get along with his family.

In fact, it wasn’t only his full-blooded sister that he was close to, but also all of his siblings in the royal family.

It was easy to assume that, with all the suggestions and advice he had given to his father, Ryan would earn the ire of his older brothers, but that wasn’t the case.

Ryan had no desire to rule the Finis Kingdom. He wanted something more to himself, without being shackled by the prior engagements that his father had long made.

If an opportunity presented itself, he’d take it and use it to the fullest!

“Let’s go, brother. Mother and everyone are surely waiting!” Rose said.

———————

"Your Majesty, I do believe it is in the best interest of the Finis Kingdom to establish cooperation with the Beleth Empire. Unrest has been brewing beyond your borders, and we have the resources and power to aid your kingdom. Rest assured, this alliance shall prove to be mutually beneficial for all parties involved." A beautiful young woman spoke with a well-measured smile.

Her silver hair moved as her blue eyes glanced around the room, taking everyone in. She momentarily glanced at Prince Ryan’s way.

The eloquent lady was none other than Princess of the Beleth Empire, Princess Celeste Argentum.

‘Just as I thought. They’re interested in adding us to their list of vassals for their conquest of power.’ Ryan thought with a small frown on his face.

He was seated in the King’s Throne Hall along with the Princess of the Beleth Empire, accompanied by her retainers and diplomats.

Among all kingdoms, the Finis Kingdom was the furthest from the Beleth Empire, bordering the Beastkin territory. They were able to avoid the Empire's eyes before, but now that they had expanded, it was unavoidable.

“T-that certainly sounds ideal, Your Highness.” King Reginald spoke, trying to sound calm to maintain his regal air, but it was clear that there was nothing he could do but agree.

‘Hah. They didn’t even need to threaten us. Father immediately bowed.’ Ryan hid his disappointment. Fortunately, the meeting would finish soon.

———————

“How dare you get in my way, peon!” Princess Celeste shrieked at the maid in the hallway.

She raised her hand, about to teach the maid a lesson, but a hand seized her wrist.

When he heard someone shouting earlier, Ryan quickly went over.

“I would think twice before you do anything like that, Your Highness,” he said.

His normally bright blue eyes turned a shade darker and his lips were pressed into a thin line.

His fierce expression was fearsome, but the sight of it caused the maid, Joan, to feel something blossom in her chest.

She shook her head, wanting to discourage the Prince from getting into trouble for her sake.

‘Why would he risk himself for someone such as myself? It’s better to let this go.’ Joan thought.

“You…” Princess Celeste’s shoulders trembled in anger as she looked at Ryan's hand on her wrist. She glared fiercely at him. “Unhand me!”

“Hands off the Princess of the Beleth Empire!” Several knights moved forward and quickly drew their swords. The blades all pointed at Ryan’s throat, pressing deep enough to draw blood.

Ryan gritted his teeth but stood his ground.

‘If only I had magic like my older brothers, then they wouldn’t be even able to lay a single finger on me.’ Ryan thought.

He was reborn into a world filled with magic, but perhaps because he came from another world or he merely had ill luck that his body had no innate magic talent whatsoever.

However, that didn’t stop him from doing the right thing.

Before the situation could escalate, rushed footsteps sounded, signaling the arrival of everyone.

“Your Highness, Princess Celeste, please excuse my interruption. The gentleman is my son, the Sixth Prince of Finis Kingdom,” King Reginald said respectfully and then looked at his son worriedly. “What seems to be the issue?”

"It seems, Your Majesty, that the issue lies in the fact that your son fails to recognize that my actions were to discipline the failure of your servants. What has been done to me is an act not only against myself but to the entire Beleth Empire, as I'm sure you can understand,” Princess Celeste said sharply.

Ryan’s eyes narrowed, but when he looked at the face of his father, King Reginald, he saw the cold sweat beading on his forehead, contrasting the regal poise he was struggling to maintain.

The King was trying to rescue his son from the Beleth Empire's threat, but it was clear that they were severely outmatched.

‘Or maybe not… this might be the opportunity that I was waiting for!’ Ryan's eyes brightened.

“Father,” he called out to his father, wearing a smile on his face. “The issue it seems is that the Sixth Prince of the Finis Kingdom protected one of his servants. I suppose this will only be rectified if a suitable punishment is given. Or if the prince who caused the ire does not exist.”

“The ire of the Beleth Empire is solely sourced from the fact that a prince from a lowly kingdom has dared to disrespect their Princess,” Princess Celeste said.

King Reginald Von Roald’s face grew weary. The lines on his face seemed to have grown even deeper when he heard the words coming from his son and the princess from the empire.

It was with a heavy heart that he looked at his son and spoke.

“For the misdeed that you have committed against the Princess of the Beleth Empire, I am afraid that you will be stripped of your status and rank, Ryan Von Roald. You will no longer be the sixth prince of the kingdom, and you shall be exiled from the palace.”