The Bastard First Prince Doesn't Want to Die Chapter 123

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter: 123

The arrival of the reinforcents led by my grandfather had turned the tide of the battle. Under the command of a seasoned veteran, the army ford a strict formation.

To call them reinforcents was actually an understatent. Most of them were already trained warriors.

I heard they were private soldiers of various influential people from different regions.

I wondered what conditions my grandfather had set to obtain the king's permission for this. The more I thought about it, the heavier my shoulders felt.

And I wasn’t the only one feeling weighed down.

Several elders, clearly uncomfortable with the general, a prominent figure in the capital's military, avoided places where he frequently appeared.

It made realize just how influential my grandfather was.

Though I didn’t want to rely on him, I couldn’t help but feel reassured when the general so openly expressed his support.

However, there was one problem.

Or rather...

“Your Highness.”

It was just... a bit uncomfortable.

“…Yes, General.”

I turned to my grandfather, who had spoken to , and lowered my sword awkwardly.

My grandfather was in full armor, having just finished training.

“Were you practicing your swordsmanship?”

“Yes.”

Several days had passed since my grandfather had arrived at Wolhan Fortress.

And I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.

I had been practicing swordsmanship for a while.

Since my grandfather and his n were training most of the troops, I had nothing else to do.

I couldn't stay cooped up in my room, as my dear crow, Gon, would have nagged endlessly.

So I went out to practice swordsmanship, but the Lord of Wolhan Fortress, who happened to see swinging my sword in the training ground used by the soldiers, was horrified.

He said that an assassin might appear again.

Honestly, wasn't that a bit of an overreaction?

Anyway, the Lord of Wolhan Fortress had moved to a private training ground within the inner walls.

For reference, this training ground was quite a distance from the outer training ground where the soldiers trained.

So, my grandfather's sudden appearance wasn't a coincidence; he had deliberately sought out.

I had encountered him unexpectedly in other places yesterday as well. Not in the training ground, but...

After eting my grandfather like this several tis, it beca increasingly clear to that he was following .

“I hope I’m not interrupting your private ti, Your Highness.”

My grandfather said as he approached .

Not wanting to say yes, I shook my head.

“No.”

“I’m glad I’m not disturbing you.”

My grandfather stopped about five paces away from .

I looked at the ground, adjusted my clothes, and then looked back at my grandfather.

With a faint smile, he said, “You’ve improved remarkably. The precision of your strikes, your posture, your footwork... I dare say, they are all first-rate.”

“...It’s embarrassing to receive such praise from you, General.”

“Excessive modesty is poison. Don’t underestimate your efforts. The value of your ti and perseverance should be recognized.”

Ummm.

I ran out of things to say, so I just turned my head and continued swinging my sword.

There was silence.

Only the sound of the sword cutting through the air could be heard.

After a while, my grandfather spoke again.

“If I’m not disturbing you...”

His tone was low and gentle.

“...there are a few things I’d like to ask.”

I stopped swinging my sword and turned to face my grandfather completely.

“Yes, please do,” I replied readily.

But my grandfather remained silent.

Silence.

And more silence.

My grandfather simply stared at with an enigmatic smile.

...Why?

The longer he was silent, the more nervous I beca.

“...General, why... why are you doing this?” I asked cautiously, but my grandfather only responded with a strange action.

He chuckled!

I was terrified.

A shiver ran down my spine.

Even though it was hidden by my sleeves, I was sure that goosebumps would be all over my arms if I rolled them up.

There were very few people who could scare , but my grandfather was doing it with a few words and a aningless chuckle.

As expected of a general. It wasn't just a title he had earned.

But even so, if he wanted to scare , he could have simply shouted or cursed at .

After all, the unknown is usually more frightening than the known.

Was he doing this on purpose?

As I was building up fear and tension within myself, my grandfather slowly opened his mouth.

“When I saw you in the palace, you looked rather thin. Your complexion has improved. Have you been eating well lately?”

Why is he suddenly talking about food?

It was an attack without any clear aning. I quickly racked my brain.

But I couldn't understand the aning of his words.

He must be saying this because there was sothing he didn't like about what I was doing.

I had to think fast. What had I done wrong?

Then, I rembered sothing Gon had nagged about the other day.

-You've been sleeping on the streets for so long, you've turned into a beggar."

...Ah! That's it!

Realization dawned on , and I bowed my head.

He was disguising a reprimand for my gluttony behind a smile.

“...I, I’m not usually like that. I did eat two bowls of rice this morning, though.”

I had eaten rice porridge in the morning and asked the servant for another bowl because I wasn't full. And I had finished both bowls completely.

The servant had looked surprised and comnted that I had eaten a lot.

Ugh. Could that servant have been my grandfather's spy?

Now I had to be suspicious even of the servants who brought food.

There was no one I could trust in this world. ...Could it be that one of the reasons he ca to Wolhan Fortress was to spy on ?

I rembered when he had scolded severely.

-"Do you think it’s a small matter to be the laughingstock of the common people as a prince?"

I tried my best to explain myself. But I’m terrible at making excuses.

I stamred foolishly. “I, uh, I don’t always eat like that. It’s just that, um, I was hungry today.”

Then, an unexpected reaction ca.

My grandfather burst out laughing.

“Two bowls, huh?”

What? What is this? This is scary.

“It’s good to see that you’ve been eating well. Perhaps you’re still growing.”

No, no. I’m not going to grow any taller.

“I don’t think I’ll grow any taller from here.”

“Sotis, people continue to grow even after they reach the age of twenty. It’s rare, but you might be one of them. You still have a long ti before you turn twenty, so I suggest you consider that possibility.”

I smiled awkwardly.

“Haha…”

Was this so kind of high-level sarcasm? ‘You're still a kid, you brat. When will you grow up?‘ Sothing like that?

He was smiling kindly, but it was probably a fake smile, right?

...Yeah, that's entirely possible. When I was in Blood Cloud Fortress, the Governor of Seopyung always had that annoying grin on his face.

And everything he said was so irritating. How could he be so irritating with every word he said?

That's a talent.

Do you know what it's like when your fists clench every ti soone opens their mouth?

I suspected that he might practice saying irritating things before bed.

My grandfather isn't as annoying as the Governor of Seopyung, but...

"Do you still enjoy sweets?"

"...What?"

What was that supposed to an?

Rustle-

My grandfather took sothing out of his pocket. It was a small pouch made of silk, sewn together with colorful threads.

He approached and handed the pouch.

"I would like to give this to you."

I had no idea what it was for, and questions filled my mind.

I took it anyway.

"Would you like to open it? If it's not a bother."

Why did he keep ntioning being a bother?

I felt uneasy, but I opened the silk pouch as he asked.

Inside, there were a handful of candies wrapped in paper. The sll of fruit and sweetness filled the air. They were colorful too.

Kids would love this. If I showed this to Jincheon, he would go crazy.

That's when I realized.

"...Ah!"

He was treating like a child!

It was definitely a subtle way of putting down.

He was clearly telling to stop acting like a spoiled brat!

"Do you still enjoy sweets?" My grandfather asked.

I could feel cold sweat dripping down the back of my head.

It was clear. This was a test.

A test to see if I was still an incorrigible wastrel, a spoiled brat.

Ahem, ahem.

I cleared my throat and replied calmly, "No, I don't. I'm too old for that now."

Sound mature, sound mature!

I'm not a spoiled prince cooped up in a corner of the palace! I'm a pawn who will go out and achieve great feats and avenge you!

But my grandfather's smile faltered.

"...Oh, is that so?"

Sohow, my grandfather's expression darkened slightly.

"Yes, you’re too old to enjoy such things..."

He paused mid-sentence. He took a deep breath.

"I was just rembering how much you used to enjoy sweets."

How long ago was that? I don't know.

I shrugged it off.

"Most children like sweets. It's nothing special..."

Isn't it? Of course, there might be exceptions, but I've never seen a child who didn't like sweets.

"Nothing special... Is that so?"

Now, my grandfather's expression was calm again. A serious, expressionless face.

I guess I passed the test.

I glanced at him and asked, "So, what did you want to ask?"

I thought he might ask about my future plans.

That's what I thought when I asked, but my grandfather just chuckled and left the training ground after saying that he would see again.

But he told to take the candy.

"Hmm."

I opened the pouch, popped a candy into my mouth, and looked in the direction my grandfather had left.

"Sweet."

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]