Like Davey, Baris was one of the people who deeply hated Queen Lynesse. He didn’t agree with how the queen abused her authority to abandon Davey, even though Davey wasn’t her biological son.

“I will go to Father and tell him!”

“Don’t cause an unnecessary scene, you two.”

“But!”

“That’s enough. I can handle things on my own. And besides, both of you are eradicating the bandits in the countryside.”

“Yes….”

“That’s true.”

To be honest, it was quite surprising that both of them, even Princess Winley, were out there eradicating bandits. But then again, Winley also shared Baris’ loud personality and didn’t like living the palace life. Magic was also a natural fit for them, so the two of them grew into a different kind of life than the average nobility like seeds.

“It’s not great for you to be seeing blood, especially when you should be enjoying nothing but nice and pretty things.”

“This fool would probably get really hurt if I weren’t there,” Winley grumbled to herself and pinched Baris’ cheek.

Baris frowned. “Dude, what?”

“Am I wrong? You always just rush in like an assault tank!”

It was Queen Lynesse’s idea to throw these 14-year-old kids into battle. If they weren’t talented, something bad might have happened. Thinking that the entire idea was ridiculous, Davey chuckled. “Okay. When are you thinking of coming back?”

“I feel more comfortable there, to be honest. I don’t like fighting, but at least I don’t have to live in this suffocating palace.”

It seemed that Baris and Winley wanted to stay there as well.

“Still, the Royal Concubine Anisha is here. Oh…. Don’t tell me you guys haven’t gone to meet Her Royal Highness?” Davey asked, then noticed the guilty looks on Baris’ and Winley’s faces. He sighed, waving for them to go. “You two, go already. What are you doing here?”

“Shriek! Yes!”

“Brother, we’ll come back in the evening!”

Looking at how Baris and Winley bolted out of the room like lightning with darkened expressions, Davey couldn’t help but let out a joyful laugh. Amy, who was waiting to take care of Davey from afar, also smiled faintly with her head down. She found the whole moment to be quite wholesome.

* * *

Currently, the palace had one queen and two concubines. Lynesse Bariatta, the eldest daughter of Duke Bariatta, was the queen in place of Davey’s late mother. The First Concubine was Anisha, and the Second was Alice. Baris and Winley were Anisha’s children.

The problem was that the First Concubine, Anisha, fell out of favor with Queen Lynesse; unlike Alice, who was a faithful follower of Queen Lynesse, Anisha was quite close with Davey’s mother.

Since Queen Lynesse strongly despised anything remotely related to Davey’s mother, she found Anisha to be quite a thorn in her eye. Also, since the former queen treasured Anisha’s biological children, Lynesse did everything she could to get rid of Anisha’s children.

To be more accurate, First Concubine Anisha sent her children away before Queen Lynesse could do anything, since the countryside where Baris and Winley stayed was close to her family. The knights loyal to her family were probably protecting the two with their lives too. Baris and Winley, both young and feisty, knew the true situation. And they were furious that their mother was living in fear of Queen Lynesse.

It was quite dark when Baris returned to the palace.

After hiring new helping hands, Amy was overjoyed to the point of tears. She could see the wrecked palace starting to return to its original condition. Davey wondered, ‘Did I make her work too much?’ When he asked, Amy energetically shook her head and rejoiced like a child, exclaiming that it was a good thing for him.

“Big brother, since you have awakened, are you becoming the crown prince?” Baris asked.

Winley also exclaimed, “Of course! Brother! You will definitely be a great king!”

“What?”

“Well, wouldn’t you be? Since the position of crown prince of the Rowane Kingdom is currently vacant.”

“That’s true.”

“If so, big brother, you…”

Thump! Davey flicked Baris on the head with his finger. He no longer wanted to hear what Baris had to say. Since Davey’s physical abilities have transcended the average human, it wasn’t surprising that his finger flick caused so much pain.

“Keugh?!” Shouting in pain, Baris stared at Davey with shock in his eyes.

Davey’s dream was to live a long life, where he could just peacefully enjoy his hobbies in leisure. He thought, ‘But you want me to become king, the tragic position where most die from overworking?’

“Stop with the useless comments. Come, let me pour you another drink.”

“Big brother, I am still a minor.”

“Huh~ Keep pretending to be so justly! Brother, I am ready for your drink~” As if she was being affectionate, Winley raised her wine glass toward Davey.

“That minor is still better than his brothers, who are doing nothing but leeching off the food and doing stupid things in this palace.”

As if he agreed with what Davey just said, Baris chuckled. “Well then, I can’t help but have a drink!” He took a big gulp of the wine Davey poured him. “Whoo… That tastes good.”

“My mother left it for me.”

“Oh… Then shouldn’t we leave it to cherish?”

“Why leave a bottle that is meant to be consumed?”

Baris stared at Davey in surprise. “Big brother, you’ve changed a lot.”

“Have I?”

“Sure, big brother. Before, you never let go of anything that your mother has left behind.”

‘These little brats have such good memory.’

“Okay, so what is it that you have to tell me that brought you here in the middle of the night?” Davey sensed that Baris had something to ask, so he quietly asked in the quick moment of silence. After his question, Winley pulled out a small letter from her small pouch. Davey asked, “And this is?”

“It is the continent’s swordsmanship competition that is held every five years! This time, it is being held in the Duchy of Felicity.”

“Oh? Hm…”

It was something similar to the Olympics. Held by the continent, there were various competitions for several different categories, such as swordsmanship, magic, archery, and literature. Countries took turns hosting them, and it was an opportunity to gain great prestige for those who win. Since the well-known and strong individuals who had promising futures all gathered at these competitions, it was one of the largest attractions. It was so popular that nobility contacted brokers to get some tickets to watch the swordsmanship competitions.

“Big brother, you must strike while the iron is hot. You’ve rarely been outside the palace, right?”

“Right?”

“So… I petitioned to Father!”

As Baris puffed his chest while proudly shouting, Winley nudged him in the waist with her elbow. She said, “Hey, I did all the talking! You did nothing but just stand around and smile, you beefy lump.”

As the two bickered once again, Davey just silently stared at their sudden announcement. “Dude, what did you say?”

The swordsmanship competition was certainly one of the best attractions, since many promising, skilled people participated to make their name in the continent. And since it was a competition to promote harmony in the continent, anyone from warriors to royalty was able to participate if they had the skills.

“Ahem! Big brother, look at your younger brother, who received a ticket to the preliminary round!” Baris said proudly, while patting his chest.

“Wow, really? It seems like you’ve improved a lot.” Davey pretended to be quite surprised, but he could see the refined mana in Baris’ body. ‘Intermediate expert.’ He could tell Baris had reached an astonishing level for his age, meaning that he wasn’t just ordinarily gifted.

“I am participating, big brother, that’s why I am asking you. Would you like to take a stroll outside?”

“Brother, you can also explore the capital of the Duchy of Felicity with me, Winley! Heehee! ‘The City of Water’ is going to be so beautiful!”

Davey was grateful because he could tell that Baris and Winley had put their heads together and thought of this for him, who had woken up from his sickbed.

“If you’re worried that it will be too tiring, don’t worry! I will carry you if I have to!”

“I heard from Sir Ramdas from the palace that you’re recovering at a very fast pace.”

“You silly fools.” Davey smiled at Baris and Winley. He also did think that his life was more at ease now, so perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to watch that kind of competition just this once. And he could even participate as well…right?

* * *

“Isn’t it a good opportunity?” A woman’s eyes shone with a deadly light from inside a dark room.

“I never imagined that he would climb into the dragon’s mouth himself.” Queen Lynesse, who was staring at her cold tea, spoke emotionlessly. She didn’t even bother to look at the lady-in-waiting silently listening with her head down. “Shari.”

“Yes.”

“There’s no reason to let someone, who wants to die, live, right?”

“There is only one chance to attack them on their way to the Duchy of Felicity. We will seize this opportunity to spill the blood of your target.”

“The plan will backfire greatly if your attempt fails.”

“They will surely not be able to come out alive.”

Even if they were not related by blood, they were members of the royal palace, but Lynesse Bariatta seemed to feel no guilt even when giving such an order.

“Okay, but you never know what will happen. Finish the job personally.”

“…As per the contract.”

Shari, the lady-in-waiting, held back her cruel desire to kill, and answered emotionlessly.

* * *

The continent’s swordsmanship competition had mostly youngsters with bright futures participating, so the weight it carried was truly amazing. Of course, it was safe to say that no one was against Baris’ participation in the competition.

However, it was a little odd that Queen Lynesse, who could never stand seeing someone else’s child prosper, agreed to Baris’ participation in the competition and Davey’s accompaniment with pleasure. If Baris were to win an award, his position in the palace would become much stronger compared to Carlus, who was only relying on her backing. And since Queen Lynesse did not want that to happen, she should have opposed Baris’ participation without a doubt, but for some reason, she happily allowed it.

She also seemed to willingly agree to Davey joining the group as an excuse for his recuperation. It was like she was confident that Baris would not be able to win, or because she had other plans in mind.

A group of people approached Davey and his party, who knelt on one knee on top of the mana gate altar. It was the gate connected to the land closest to the Duchy of Felicity.

“Raise your heads.” The voice was strict, with a hint of wariness.

Everyone silently raised their heads to look at the middle-aged man gazing at Davey, Baris, Winley, and the party going to the Duchy of Felicity. It was Krianes O'Rowane, the king of the Rowane Kingdom. He was the king of this country, and also Davey’s father. It was the first time Davey was seeing King Krianes, almost six months after his awakening.

‘You’ve done a great job avoiding me.’ Davey thought while staring at the king. Davey no longer saw the confident and cheerful king in his father anymore. In the period of six years or more, his father had transformed into a completely different person; the king had become a lion, weary and worn out.