Chapter 32: The Anticipated Four Years Later (4)

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The great hall, just like before, was filled with countless nobles and high ministers.

However, the atmosphere this time was completely different.

It was solemn and serious, for it was the occasion where the test for the royal succession would be announced.

King Laskan, seated on the throne upon the platform, slowly rose from his seat.

“Let the three princes come forward!”

At his command, Ashuran, Valet, and Raion, who had been standing on the left, stepped forward and knelt on one knee before King Laskan.

“First Prince Ashuran Canel has come forth!”

“Second Prince Valet Canel has come forth!”

“Third Prince Raion Canel has come forth!”

Hearing the three princes’ responses, King Laskan stepped forward and spoke.

“From this moment, each of you will reach into this pouch and draw a sphere bearing the name of a territory. The test will be to live there for two years, holding equal authority to that of the lord of the land.”

Ashuran and Valet both appeared composed, as if they had already been informed of the details.

Originally, only Raion was supposed to be surprised in this situation.

However, he too wore a calm, unshaken expression.

‘It seems Duke Alito has already secured the nobles and ministers, just like in the original future.’

Regardless, Raion had successfully held the line up to the limit he needed to prevent.

After that, he had gained five more years to grow stronger on his own.

King Laskan, looking over the princes, opened his mouth again.

“Then Ashuran, step forward first and draw from the pouch.”

At that command, the First Secretary, Raphael, came forward holding a pouch.

Ashuran took several steps forward to meet him.

Raphael presented the black pouch embroidered with a golden lion.

Ashuran reached into it, drew out a sphere, and handed it to Raphael.

Malren, Praizen, Clarman, Chelon, Arenvatz, Dolianche, Cayden, Molin, Kright, Virand, Vaizen, Jaycal, Hasein, Kanas—

There were a total of fourteen territories, and all their lords had agreed to take part in this matter.

It was because Duke Alito had already exchanged letters with them before King Laskan’s announcement.

“The results will be revealed once all have drawn. Valet, step forward and take yours.”

At King Laskan’s words, Valet quietly walked forward and drew a sphere.

Next came Raion’s turn.

Raion stepped forward and reached into the pouch.

At that very moment, a faint smile appeared on Duke Alito’s lips, standing at the front among the ministers.

Of course, Raion fully understood the meaning behind that smile.

Clatter! Clatter!

The sound of marbles rolling echoed within the pouch.

Then one came to rest in Raion’s hand, and he lifted it out.

“Here it is.”

“The three princes have now drawn their spheres.”

Upon hearing this, King Laskan slowly spoke.

“Open the spheres.”

At his order, Raphael opened Ashuran’s first.

“Prince Ashuran has drawn the southern territory of Virand.”

“Ooooooh∼!”

The nobles and ministers reacted favorably all at once.

Virand was a region close to the royal capital’s lands, bordered by the Kingdom of Rozarin to the southwest and the Kingdom of Laboner to the southeast, making it a hub of active trade.

Then Valet’s sphere was opened.

“Prince Valet has drawn the eastern territory of Dolianche.”

Once again, the nobles and ministers showed great approval.

Though Dolianche bordered the Danas Federation to the east and the sea leading to the Kingdom of Dolkin—making it seem dangerous—it was also a land where trade and commerce flourished greatly.

Both princes had drawn remarkably favorable territories.

Now only Raion’s sphere remained.

“I shall confirm it.”

First Secretary Raphael slowly opened the sphere. His lips parted as the contents were revealed.

“Prince Raion has drawn the territory of Kanas.”

At once, murmurs of disapproval burst forth among the nobles and ministers.

“The territory of Kanas? That’s a land surrounded by seas and mountain ranges infested with monsters—it’s nearly inaccessible!”

“Isn’t that the only cursed land in all the Canel Kingdom?”

Their murmurs filled the great hall.

It was known as a place of despair, a land forsaken by all.

Just as one of the ministers had said, the seas and mountains around it teemed with monsters.

Entering or leaving required risking one’s life, so there had been no interaction with other territories.

However, Raion had known from the beginning that he would end up there.

Meanwhile, King Laskan’s expression darkened.

“Silence, all of you!”

The two elder princes had drawn fine territories, but the youngest, Raion, had received the worst of all.

He wanted to overturn the result right away, but his dignity as king would not allow it.

“Since the territories are decided, each prince shall select no more than ten subordinates and depart within seven days!”

Because it was a test, a restriction was placed so that even as princes, they could not take a large retinue.

King Laskan rose from the throne without saying another word.

From this point on, he could only hope that Raion would handle things on his own.

As the king left the great hall, Queen Elina followed closely behind him.

Meanwhile, the nobles and ministers were gathering around Ashuran and Valet.

They believed the outcome of this succession test was already decided.

Naturally, no one approached Raion’s side.

Then, Duke Alito walked up to him with a sly smile on his lips.

“Prince Raion, I hear you have chosen Kanas. You must have quite the ordeal ahead of you.”

His words carried not encouragement but pity.

“I didn’t expect Your Grace to be concerned about me.”

“But of course, isn’t that only natural?”

“Well… I was the one concerned about you, actually.”

“What do you mean by that?”

At Alito’s question, Raion stepped closer to him.

Then he whispered, just softly enough that no one else could hear.

“Since you deceived everyone by preparing a pouch with two openings, weren’t you afraid of being caught? That’s what worried me.”

In an instant, Duke Alito’s face stiffened.

Only Raphael, the First Secretary, and Duke Alito knew that the pouch had two openings.

“You needn’t be frightened. I won’t tell anyone.”

Leaving those words behind, Raion turned and exited the great hall with Patrick and Jade.

The two, who had been waiting outside, had no idea what had transpired within.

“What happened in there, Your Highness?” Patrick asked.

Raion pulled out the paper he had drawn from the sphere and handed it over.

[Kanas]

Patrick tilted his head in confusion.

“What is this?”

“We have to depart there within ten days. Until then, prepare everything we’ll need from the palace annex.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“That’s the test. To go to the territory and restore it.”

Patrick’s expression turned incredulous at Raion’s calm response.

“But that’s the land called the Land of Death! Then where are the other princes going?”

“Brother Ashuran to Virand, Brother Valet to Dolianche.”

“Those are prosperous territories for trade! How could there be such a difference…”

Unlike those two regions, the only merit of Kanas was that its territory was two to three times larger than a normal one.

However, since it was nearly impossible to travel in or out, that advantage was meaningless.

Of course, such details did not matter to Raion.

In the original future, he had also gone to Kanas and had eventually discovered its hidden strengths — which he still remembered.

The secret passage in Kanas he had once mentioned to the merchant Fordman was one of them.

“You don’t have to worry. This is exactly what I wanted.”

Patrick, now filled with anxiety, asked frantically,

“But it’s hard even to enter that land! Will knights and soldiers accompany us? Surely that’s the case?”

“The number is limited to ten. Well… counting me, we’ll have six in total.”

Raion began folding his fingers one by one as he counted.

Including himself, Patrick, Monica, Jade, Caldein, and Dike — six people altogether.

It was just the number he needed — no more, no less.

“What in the world are you thinking, Your Highness!”

“More importantly, the Captain of the Knights is coming from behind.”

Trine, who had left the great hall a bit later, was now approaching Raion.

“Your Highness! Are you truly planning to go to the Kanas Territory? It may be wiser to forfeit your claim to the throne!”

That was how dangerous Kanas was.

Even its lord must have accepted this arrangement while desperately hoping someone from the capital would finally take his place.

“You don’t need to worry about me. In fact, I’m glad you came.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Raion pulled a sealed letter from his coat and handed it to him.

“Please take this.”

“What is it?”

“Keep it safe. Only open and read it if His Majesty the King faces danger — or if any sign of such danger appears.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“For now, please don’t question it. Just trust me. We’ll take our leave.”

With that, Raion ended the conversation and departed the royal palace completely with Patrick and Jade.

Meanwhile, Duke Alito met with Queen Elina in the reception room. He couldn’t get Raion’s words out of his head.

“Why have you called me here?” she asked.

Queen Elina was in high spirits, pleased that Raion had drawn a territory where success was impossible.

But Duke Alito was the complete opposite.

In fact, he was more disturbed than ever.

“He knew.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean Raion knew that we tampered with the pouch!”

At those words, Queen Elina’s face stiffened.

“The Third Prince? How could he possibly know that?”

To make their deception flawless, they had even brought Raphael — one of the king’s close aides — to their side.

They had believed no one could possibly see through them.

Yet Raion had seen straight through the trick hidden within the pouch.

It had been crafted with two openings — one leading to spheres containing Kanas, opened only when Raion reached inside.

“I have no idea how, but he knew exactly what we did! And worse, he knew — and let it happen!”

Alito’s fist slammed onto the table, trembling not from fear but rage.

Queen Elina frowned deeply at the sight.

“So Raion knew we were deceiving him and just let us do it?”

“That’s right…!”

“But why would he do that?”

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