Chapter 29: Weakling (2)

Authors Note: Here's the chapter. As always, let me know if you find a mistake, and please follow, rate, and favorite since it really helps bring more visibility ^^

"9th brother? Are you ignoring me? What's going on? Why's everyone gathered here?" Caellum cheekily asked when it seemed that Emrys was trying to ignore him.

He could see his other siblings' faces wrinkle in distaste as they stared at him, and even Emrys's brow twitched slightly before he responded with a gentle smile.

"I would never ignore you, little brother. I was just surprised to see you at the training grounds, that's all. You're looking well."

'So you're saying I looked horrible before? Funny kid.'

"No, he doesn't. This is the problem with you, 9th brother! You're too nice, but you should tell him the truth that he looks terrible. Everybody knows that he got sloppily drunk yesterday and vomited all over the place, and now it looks like he got into a fight and lost. He's a disgraceful stain on the royal family's reputation. Look at how red he is, he's probably even drunk now." Francesca shouted as she glared at Caellum, whose pale face was unusually flushed and sweaty with dark bruising under his eyes and around his nose as if he had been hit.

Repeatedly.

Good. He definitely deserved it.

She was still angry because Caellum's words in the throne room had gotten her in trouble with her mother, and she was punished with extra studying and etiquette classes while being banned from attending fun activities with her noble friends.

"A man can't have a drink or two to celebrate his freedom? Don't be such a prude, 6th sister; otherwise, you'll get wrinkles."

"What did you say to me? And who the hell is your sister?" Francesca growled.

"Aiya~, how scary~"

Caellum waved off Francesca's words before turning back to Emrys.

"What's happening, 9th brother? Why is everyone gathered? Did I miss an announcement from the king?"

As far as Caellum knew, there wasn't anything special going on, and Masha certainly hadn't reported anything. Why were his siblings, including the 1st prince, who didn't even live in the palace, here today?

"Hey, you! With the white hair! Are you ignoring me? You'd better answer me right now!" Francesca interrupted again, but Caellum just stared expectantly at the 9th prince while pretending she didn't exist.

'Please explain, Mr. Saint!'

'Your innocent, cute, adorable younger brother is desperately pleading with you for more information.'

'Aren't we friends after we made a deal together? Let's continue to get along.'

Just as Emrys opened his mouth, Francesca grabbed Caellum's shoulder and wrenched him to face her.

"I said, stop ignoring me!"

"Okay. I'm not ignoring you. What's going on?"

"You really don't know?" Francesca asked him with a condescending smile.

'You think if I knew, I'd be repeating myself like some broken record? Some of us actually use our vocal cords for important things, not screeching like a harpy and asking dumb questions.'

Instead of saying how he really felt, Caellum gave her an innocent smile, "No, I don't know. Please enlighten me, 6th sister."

"Who the hell is your sister? Call me by my title."

"Apologies. Please enlighten me, 6th Princess."

"Hmph. Very good. Today is evaluation day," Francesca pronounced proudly.

"….."

'Am I supposed to know what that is?'

Seeing that Caellum had a blank expression, Francesca clicked her tongue.

"Tsk, I should have known such an announcement would be wasted on the person who hasn't even set foot onto the training grounds a day in his life."

'So if you knew that I'd never been here before, why would you not explain it properly? I really wonder if you have rocks for brains or any brains at all.'

"For those of us who actually TRAIN, we get the honor of letting Knight Commander Vance, one of the 2 sword masters of the kingdom, look over our training. You- Do you even know what a swordmaster is?"

"Isn't it just someone who uses a sword really well?" Caellum replied dryly, watching as the expressions of his siblings and the guard captain twisted at his lackadaisical answer.

"No, you idiot. A sword master is someone who has reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship, which allows them to use an aura that they can use to strengthen their body and infuse their weapons. You spent a month in the library and supposedly studied before that, yet you don't know about aura? Are you stupid?" Francesca replied condescendingly, making Caellum want to roll his eyes.

Of course, he knew what a swordmaster was; he was new to the world, not illiterate.

From what he remembered, Mr. 12 over there recruits one as an ally and eventually becomes one himself before he starts eliminating his siblings on his journey to being a hero and heir.

And from his readings in the library, Caellum knew that a swordmaster, or rather [weapon]master, was one of the pinnacles of strength a human could reach in this world and was highly valued and considered a military asset by any kingdom that was lucky enough to possess one.

The Emberfield kingdom didn't have a lot going for it, but luckily, there were two sword masters in the kingdom.

The oldest sword master was the guard and knight captain, Aldis Vance, who oversaw security for the royal palace and commanded the army in times of war; the second was Duke Joren Ironmere, Concubine Belladonna's father and Emrys' grandfather, who defended the northwestern border and commanded the navy.

In his month here, Caellum hadn't come across either, so how lucky was he to get to see one in action today?

"Thanks for the explanation, 6th princess. I'm looking forward to watching the training. Hopefully, I can learn something just by observing." Caellum told the 6th princess sincerely.

He was truly thankful.

"Hmph."

"But…that explains why you all are gathered, but why are these guys lined up? Are they getting one-on-one training with Commander Vance as well? How generous." Caellum pointed to the guards who were lined up and standing at attention.

He recognized quite a few, including his usual day guards, who took him on a walk throughout the palace while he was confined, and of course, Zahra, who was standing at his very back.

"Of course not. Only the royal family members get that honor. They're here to spar and demonstrate their skills to the knight commander and to us, so that they can be promoted or chosen as knights. You really don't know anything, do you? What have you been doing all your life?" Francesca looked down at Caellum as if he were pathetic.

"I was trying not to die since I have no maternal backing," Caellum replied dryly while ignoring the sharp look the 12th prince gave him.

At the blunt words, Francesca froze, since there wasn't a rebuttal to make, since the words were true.

Everyone in the palace knew the queen didn't like the 13th prince and that the king didn't care about any of his children as much as he did Emrys. If it weren't for the influence of their mothers and the family behind them, their quality of life would be just as bad, if not worse than that of the 13th prince.

As she stared at those purple eyes that seemed to look down on her despite their owner being useless, Francesca swallowed her temporary unease and shoved Caellum back, making him stumble and almost fall.

"Well, if you knew that, you should have made yourself useful instead of being a waste of space who can't even do anything right. Then maybe your life wouldn't be so hard, you weakling."

"I'll try to keep your advice in mind, 6th princess," Caellum replied as he collected himself and looked away.

He really wasn't in the mood to argue with a rocks for brains princess who thought she was giving out profound advice.

Instead, it was much more interesting to observe his siblings.

Especially the tension between the 3 prince's.

Emrys was smiling gently while looking at the guards, while the 1st and 12th princes stared at him like starving wolves looking at a bleeding steak.

Especially the 1st prince, who looked especially resentful.

After all, everyone knew who the king's favorite child was and why the crown prince hadn't been announced, despite the first prince approaching 30 and the 12th prince being the queen's only son.

It was all because of Emrys.

Sensing the tension between the three princes, or perhaps returning to the schedule that Caellum had interrupted, Aldis Vance stomped his foot loudly to get everyone's attention.

"Enough blathering. 13th Prince, what is your purpose for being here? Are you sparring today?" Aldis asked him coldly.

He was not the least bit impressed with the 13th prince and considered him a nuisance.

The only reason he hadn't kicked him out or punished him for rudely interrupting was because of the King's blood running through his veins.

"No, thank you." Caellum immediately declined the sparring offer with all of his heart, "I'm just here to look around, observe those who are training, and shop around for someone that I can knight."

"What could you possibly need a knight for? You rarely leave the palace where your safety is handled." The knight commander pointed out.

'This body has been eating poison for who knows how long, and you dare tell me that my safety is handled? You're also complicit, aren't you?'

Caellum's impression of the knight commander immediately dropped several levels, but he kept his tone light and friendly as he responded.

"Well, I've decided to change that. As the 6th princess said, I went drinking, got caught in a fight, and after losing, I realized that it would be convenient to have someone beat up anyone who dared to slight me. So here I am."

"….is that right?" the knight commander growled, staring down the flippant prince who didn't look phased in the slightest.

"Yes, sir. So please don't mind me and carry on with your regularly scheduled program. I'm excited to see the renowned training of one of the two swordmasters of our illustrious kingdom, the strength of my siblings who will become the pillars that continue to push our kingdom forward, and the guards who will continue to protect us all." Caellum said with a sloppy salute.

"No."

"I beg your pardon?" Caellum asked, completely confused.

"If you don't participate in sparring, then you can't observe today. It would be useless for you anyway." The knight commander said firmly.

He hated those who weren't serious about the martial way, and upon hearing Caellum's lackadaisical manner and his plan to use one of his guards, he absolutely refused to tolerate it.

"Eh?"

"And as for getting a guard to become your knight, I refuse to allow you to force any of these guards to follow your silly whims. If they don't agree to be your knights, you cannot forcibly take them away. I won't allow it."

"Huh?"

"Am I clear, 13th prince?"

'What the heck are you saying, old man?'

"Are you participating in sparring, or are you seeing yourself out, 13th prince?"

Caellum couldn't believe what he was hearing.

'You want this weak body of mine to spar with these trained soldiers? Are you crazy? Even the 6th princess is more muscular than me!'