I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel

TL/Editor: Rungir

Schedule: none

Illustrations: none

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The light that filled the surroundings began to fade away.

With it, Zion's vision slowly returned.

"Prince Zion!!!"

Rohanna's almost tearful face came into view.

Had she been suffering greatly in her heart?

In the brief moment since he met the Black Dragon Kalonix in the forbidden area, the area under Rohanna's eyes had turned much darker.

"Are you unharmed, Prince Zion?"

She practically ran to him, scrutinizing his whole body.

Only after a thorough check did Rohanna let out a sigh of relief.

It would have been a grave matter if any royal was harmed within the Ascalon family's domain.

Had anything happened to Zion, she, who was in charge of guiding him, couldn't have escaped severe punishment.

"Could it be... did you enter the forbidden area and come back?"

"Yes."

Zion nodded in response to Rohanna's question.

"I see. Understood."

Rohanna's eyes filled with surprise at his answer, but she didn't ask anything more.

Perhaps she decided not to concern herself with information beyond her current status.

A commendable mindset for a subordinate.

"Also, Prince Zion."

With those words, Rohanna, now closely beside him, opened her mouth just loud enough for Zion to hear.

"The head of the Ascalon family has regained consciousness. Let's go right away."

The Cheongeomdang (Heavenly Sword Hall) of the Ascalon family was where the head of the family resided.

Its size was enormous, rivaling even the palaces within the Imperial City.

Although not as large as the Baeksung Palace, it seemed comparable to the size of the five castles surrounding it.

When Zion entered the head's bedroom in Cheongeomdang, he smelled a familiar scent.

The scent of death.

It was the same scent he had encountered in the bedroom of the late Emperor Urdios.

"Greetings to His Highness, Prince Zion Agnes."

Inside the bedroom, there were already guests.

Three middle-aged men, greeting Zion.

They were the current head's sons.

Each held the first, second, and third places in the succession order.

"I apologize for not being able to bring you here sooner, Your Highness."

Raily Ascalon, second in the line of succession, bowed deeply and spoke to Zion.

Unlike his other two brothers, who looked like typical warriors, Raily had a gentle demeanor, almost scholarly.

And just like his appearance, Raily was known to be the head of the Ascalon family.

"My father's condition suddenly worsened, and we had to take urgent measures, which caused the delay."

Raily's exceedingly courteous demeanor reassured Zion once again that the Ascalon family had decided to follow him.

"Please come this way, Prince Zion. My father has been longing to see you."

'Everyone must be thinking that the head of the family is close to death, and it makes sense.'

With that thought, Zion glanced at the three brothers and approached the bed where the head of the family lay.

Gradually, the figure of an old man came into Zion's view.

Ludwig Ascalon.

The head of the Ascalon family, the empire's greatest Sword Clan, and the Heavenly Sword Clan.

He was a unique entity who had achieved an unparalleled realm in the field of swordsmanship, earning the title of Sword King.

And as the fourth of the 'Seven Heavens', he was a monster who far surpassed the limits of the human species.

But,

'As expected...'

The Ludwig that Zion saw was in such a pitiful state that it was hard to believe he was the same person.

His body was gaunt, and his face was covered in black spots.

Sssk, sssk.

The sound of his death-filled breathing escaped his lips.

His appearance was all too similar to the late Emperor Urdios that Zion had once seen.

'It couldn't be helped.'

After all, the cause of Ludwig's condition was the same as what had killed Urdios.

'Heaven's Poison.'

A poison effective only on those transcendent beings who had reached the 'Heaven'.

The period until full intoxication was decades long, and the conditions for poisoning were exceedingly stringent, but once afflicted, it was absolutely incurable.

And, naturally, there was only one place that used such a poison.

Demon Territory.

'It's obvious that those who even swallowed the Imperial City would extend their hands to the Five Great Families.'

They must be deeply rooted, even more so than the Imperial City itself.

The Black Dragon Kalonix, whom Zion had just met, was also referring to the beings of Demon Territory when he spoke of darkness.

"It's been a while, Your Highness. Please understand that I cannot greet you properly due to my condition."

Ludwig, who had been staring at Zion, slowly opened his mouth.

His voice was hoarse.

Even in his voice, the aura of death lingered.

"You have changed so much since I last saw you."

Perhaps because he had heard it so many times before, Zion's eyes showed no particular emotion.

"What did you want to see me for?"

Not intending to exchange pleasantries, Zion went straight to the point.

After a brief silence, the Sword King spoke again.

"…I wanted to apologize before I die."

His voice was heavy with deep regret.

"For letting go of your hand in the past. I heard it from Alstein. How difficult it has been for you since then."

Twenty-four times.

The number of times Prince Zion's life was in grave danger.

Including assassination attempts, the number was much higher.

It was something Zion hadn't known.

No, he hadn't even tried to know.

He never dreamed that a fallen prince would face such opposition.

"I am truly sorry, Your Highness. I have nothing else to say. But I neither seek forgiveness nor make excuses. Even if I could go back, I would make the same choice."

There was no choice more foolish and dangerous than backing a powerless royal.

If Prince Zion had been supported during that time, it might have even threatened the survival of the family.

Ludwig was the head of the Ascalon family before he was Zion's maternal grandfather, and thus, he had no choice but to make that decision.

"Is that all?"

Zion asked, with a slight smile as if seeing through Ludwig's heart.

Such an apology was neither here nor there for him.

After all, it was something that happened before he entered this body, and he would have done the same if he were Ludwig.

"…And, though it may be shameless of me, I have a favor to ask."

After a moment of silence, the Sword King spoke of what really mattered.

"Would you accept our Ascalon family?"

In Ludwig's eyes, a firm resolution was evident as he spoke.

"I know you still view our family unfavorably. After all, we once let go of your hand. That's why I'm asking you with my head bowed.

Even if it means offering my own head as a condition, I am willing to do so."

Such a submissive stance was unexpected from the head of the Heavenly Sword Clan.

In fact, Ludwig had already decided to serve Prince Zion after thorough investigation and testing.

But he couldn't shake off his last doubts.

That's why he planned today's meeting, and upon seeing Zion, his doubts turned into conviction.

'Those eyes.'

Eyes that looked down upon everything with overwhelming weariness.

Who else but someone with such eyes would be fit to rule the world?

Eyes that the old Prince Zion never had.

'And one more thing…'

During his investigation of Prince Zion, Ludwig had accidentally come across a piece of information.

Its veracity was uncertain, but according to it, Prince Zion might be the very person the Ascalon family needed most right now.

So, this request was also Ludwig's last struggle for his family.

'This isn't too bad.'

Seeing the head's demeanor, Zion smiled inwardly.

If there was still an arrogant attitude, he would have shaken the board again to take control, but it seemed unnecessary now.

"I don't need your head."

Despite the inward smile, Zion's voice was devoid of any emotion.

"I want your family to pay a different price."

"What would that be…?"

Ludwig's eyes, filled with curiosity, turned to questions.

Looking straight into the eyes of the Sword King, Zion slowly opened his mouth.

"The hidden swords of your family."

"…!"

"Hand them over to me."

The question in the head's eyes turned to astonishment at these words.

Like the eternal shadows in the royal family, the Ascalon family also had hidden swords.

A force that never revealed itself, only moving under the head's command or when the family's existence was in danger.

How could Prince Zion possibly know about their existence?

"What do you mean by that…"

"There's no use pretending. I'm talking about the group that Lucas Ascalon is a part of."

"……."

Ludwig fell silent at Zion's mention of the group's leader.

Supporting Prince Zion was one thing, but handing over the hidden power of the family was an entirely different matter.

'As expected, he won't accept it right away.'

Zion smiled slightly, observing the hesitant Sword King.

He had anticipated this reaction.

Therefore, Zion put forth another card he had prepared.

"If you hand them over, I'll also cure your illness."

"!!!!!"

At Zion's words, Ludwig's eyes widened to an extent that was incomparable to before.

The same was true for the three heirs who had quietly approached.

"What do you mean, Prince Zion!"

"You can cure my father's illness?"

The Sword King's condition had never improved, despite everything they tried.

That's why, even coming from Zion, they found it hard to believe.

The complex emotions in their eyes and the agitated atmosphere in the room.

Zion subtly observed the reaction of one of the heirs.

Then,

"Is that true?"

Ludwig, with trembling eyes, asked in disbelief.

He knew the exact state of his body.

A condition that could not be cured unless a god performed a miracle.

That's why he had already given up on treatment.

"I do not say I can do things that I cannot."

Zion replied lazily to the Sword King.

It was the same 'Heaven's Poison' as Urdios had, but several things had changed since then, making this statement possible.

Firstly, the level of his 'Black Star Technique' had significantly improved, and Ludwig's condition was much better than the late Emperor's.

It seemed that he hadn't been fully poisoned for very long.

'With this level, the Black Star Technique can negate the poison inside.'

Of course, it would have to be done several times due to his weakened body.

"Really……."

As certainty filled Zion's words, Ludwig's eyes began to fill with hope.

If he could really be cured, handing over the hidden swords to Prince Zion would be an easy decision.

His life was worth that much, if not more.

"Then consider it accepted."

Seeing Ludwig, Zion slightly lifted the corner of his mouth and lazily extended his hand.

He could start the treatment right away, but there was something he needed to do first.

"And there's something I want to ask."

"Please, go ahead."

The Sword King looked at Zion, as if asking what it was.

"What are you planning to do first, once you're healed?"

"What? What do you mean…"

Ludwig's eyes filled with confusion at the question, but Zion continued.

"Before coming here, I met the Black Dragon."

"……!"

"He said something. That what he wants now and what you, as the head of the family, want are the same."

At those words, Ludwig's eyes, which had momentarily held a dazed expression, slowly began to darken.

Soon, a cold voice flowed from his lips.

"First, I would need to deal with the vermin that are eating away at the entire family."

"And what if one of those vermin is right here, right now?"

Zion, looking at the Sword King with lazy eyes, asked again.

Swoosh-

Simultaneously, Eclaxia slipped into the hand that Zion had lazily extended.

"Of course, I would need to cut off their breath immediately, wouldn't I?"

Ludwig replied, his eyes coldly gleaming.

"Your Highness, why suddenly the sword…?"

The heirs, who were watching from the side, voiced their confusion at that moment.

"I think so too."

Smirking at Ludwig's words, Zion, swish!

With Eclaxia, he cut the throat of Ludwig's second son, Raily Ascalon.

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