I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel

"Master, I've done as you asked. Both with the Night of Rest and at the main gate earlier."

As they journeyed toward the Chimseong Palace in the magic vehicle, Liushina turned to address Zion.

"Yes."

Zion, observing the world outside the window, confirmed her statement with a nod.

He had given her only two extra instructions.

First, intentionally leave signs of blood magic during the Night of Rest incident.

Second, if any disagreement occurred at the palace gate, don't conceal her use of blood magic.

Even though he had advised Liushina to enter quietly, Zion had foreseen some trouble at the main gate.

Bringing Liushina along was a strategic move.

'That's exactly why I gave that order.'

Zion had no plans to draw out the situation or let those who sought his life walk free.

So, he needed to draw them out. To achieve that, painting himself as a clear target was the most straightforward approach.

Eventually, while laying out the bait, the instigator would reveal themselves.

At that point, Zion planned to unleash his concealed vengeance on the perpetrator.

'Things unfolded better than anticipated.'

Zion reflected on Lergan Urschler, the leader of Icarus, whom he'd met earlier.

Thanks to Lergan's conversation with Liushina, Zion confirmed his suspicions about who was behind the attack on the Chimseong Palace and the manipulation of the succession ceremony.

And through Lergan, he made the Third Prince aware that the Night of Rest disappearance was linked to Zion.

'I'm curious about the outcome.'

A spark of anticipation shone in Zion's eyes.

In his past, when he ascended to the emperor's throne, there were no rivals. This intrigue offered him a fresh thrill.

Squeak!

The door of the magic car swung open, having arrived at the entrance of the Chimseong Palace.

"Master, isn't your palace a bit small for a prince?"

Zion entered the Chimseong Palace, choosing to ignore Liushina's words, whether she was genuinely clueless or simply teasing.

Greeting him first was Priscilla, waving her hand enthusiastically.

"It's been a while, Prince...."

Priscilla, audacious enough to claim it had been a while despite their meeting mere days ago, faltered when she noticed Liushina trailing Zion.

"Who is she?"

She asked, her face adopting a guarded expression.

Before Zion could respond, Liushina, eyes twinkling with amusement, cut in.

"I'm here because he's my master?"

"Mas, Master??"

As Priscilla struggled to make sense of Liushina's words, Zion turned to Fredo, standing next to her, greeting him with a satisfied grin.

"Why is she here?"

"She mentioned something about unfinished divorce procedures."

A lame excuse, and anyone could see through it.

She must be here to inquire about the earlier demon capture incident.

Priscilla had tried to press Zion for details, but he remained silent.

He had no plans to fill her in anytime soon.

"Kindly show her out."

"Hey, I can hear you!"

Priscilla protested upon overhearing Zion's whisper to Fredo.

Zion ignored her, taking Fredo and Liushina with him as he walked away.

"Wa, Wait...!"

Priscilla tried to stop Zion but held back, looking down in frustration.

Looking back, there was no reason for Priscilla to be here.

Hadn't she already declared a divorce?

But ever since she announced the divorce, Zion's importance in her life had only grown.

It wasn't love, but curiosity.

Her intrigue intensified each time Zion revealed a new facet of himself.

The attack on the Chimseong Palace and the demon hunting episode attributed to a dark magician.

Zion's image, controlling darkness at his will and overpowering his adversary, kept replaying in her mind.

So when the divorce rumors began, she pushed away all her suitors and found herself drawn to the Chimseong Palace.

"Why am I doing this?"

Priscilla sighed deeply, watching Zion move further away.

"I plan to reach out to the Shadows."

Zion, after a sip of his tea, quietly shared his intentions with Fredo and Liushina.

They were in the Chimseong Palace's library, where Fredo and Liushina had been formally introduced.

"The Shadows... what does that mean?"

Fredo sought clarity from Zion, clearly puzzled by the term.

"Shadows are typically code for assassination or intelligence groups. Isn't that right, Master?"

Before Zion could reply, Liushina chimed in.

Having been with Zion since the Black Forest, she had developed a habit of addressing him as 'Master'.

"That's correct."

Zion confirmed her statement with a nod.

"The Eternal Shadows, also known as the 'Empire's Eyes', is an intelligence organization under the Emperor's exclusive control. Consequently, no more than five individuals are aware of its existence. The headquarters of the Eternal Shadows are within the Imperial Palace."

An intelligence organization was a critical component in Zion's future plans.

He had to secure it, no matter what.

If Zion could secure control over the intelligence organization known as the Eternal Shadows, he couldn't ask for more.

"But if it's such a confidential entity, we need to first find its location..."

"I'm already aware of it."

Zion responded to Fredo's concern with a faint smile.

The location of the Eternal Shadows within the Imperial Palace was explicitly detailed in the Chronicle of Frosimar.

Zion's declaration sparked a flash of understanding in both Fredo's and Liushina's eyes.

Their master had yet to disappoint them with a lack of knowledge.

"Are you planning to reach out to them immediately?"

"No, I'll wait."

Zion shook his head at Liushina's question.

"I have assistance on the way."

Zion recalled his conversation with the Emperor.

And that assistance arrived precisely a week later.

The People's Palace, the epicenter of the Imperial City.

In its expansive holographic room, about a dozen individuals had assembled.

One of them, Princess Evelyn Agnes of the Lion, surveyed the gathering with heavy eyes.

'This seems like the first time we've gathered outside of state council meetings.'

Evelyn saw reflections of men and women sporting the same deep grey hair she had.

They were her siblings.

'Or more accurately, my competitors,' she corrected herself with a bitter smile.

The Agnes lineage, enhanced with celestial genes, had vastly surpassed the limits of ordinary humans.

These beings, capable of cold-bloodedly killing their own kin for self-interest, stood before her.

Among them, Evelyn might have been the only one still retaining a semblance of humanity.

The reason for this rare assembly of the royal family was the same.

'Why this sudden convocation...'

They had been summoned by the Emperor, Urdios Agnes.

So, barring the Crown Prince who was away from the Imperial Palace, the rest of the royal family had convened in the holographic room, each accompanied by one or two attendants.

Of course, the motive behind this sudden summoning by the ailing Emperor remained a mystery.

"Brother Enoch, it's been a while. You still carry that gloomy expression and unkempt hair, like a corpse, don't you?"

A woman, her long ash-colored hair cascading in waves, tilted a teacup with regal poise. She broke the silence with a smirk.

Princess Diana Agnes.

One of the strong contenders for the throne, she had amassed solid support from the Fairy Forest and managed the major establishments of the Imperial City, along with the empire's most potent elemental army, the 'Egrasia'.

Unlike the average human, her ears were pointed, a trait inherited from her fairy mother.

"Diana, you still carry that sickening scent unique to half-breeds."

The response came from Third Prince Enoch, his deep grey hair in a relaxed tousle, an inscrutable expression on his face.

His relationship with Diana was rumored to be the most strained among the royals, who were already far from cordial with one another.

"Or is it the revolting stench of your detestable hobbies, Brother?"

They gazed at each other, their calm eyes showing no sense of hatred.

Yet, lurking deep within, a murderous intent roiled like stormy seas.

"Oh, speaking of which, how's that progressing?"

A thought seemed to strike Diana, and she clapped her hands as she spoke.

"I refer, of course, to one of Brother Enoch's sordid pastimes: tormenting the youngest. How fares that endeavor these days?"

Her eyes traced a sly arc, a knowing smile on her face. She glanced at Evelyn, aware of Evelyn's sympathy for the youngest prince, Zion Agnes.

Evelyn, however, merely met her gaze, giving nothing away.

"That boy is a stain on the Agnes royal bloodline. His mere existence tarnishes our lineage and brings us harm. I'd prefer if he vanished immediately."

Enoch's response was surprisingly heated.

Certain individuals just irk you without cause, their mere sight provoking irritation.

For Enoch, Zion Agnes was one such individual.

No, he found Zion even more irritating given the boy's involvement in the recent Night of Rest incident.

At that moment,

"Hahaha! But I hear Zion passed the succession ceremony this time around? Quite surprising, wasn't it?"

A robust man with a stylish beard, who had been eavesdropping, interjected with a hearty laugh.

Fourth Prince, Utekan Agnes.

With full backing from the northern giants and a unique boisterous personality, he enjoyed immense support from the military.

At first glance, he seemed like a brute whose mind was muscle-bound, but no one present was deceived by this exterior.

They all knew he housed more venom than a thousand serpents.

If he were truly as dense as he appeared, he wouldn't have survived this long.

"Oh, I heard about that too. Truly unexpected, right? I didn't even believe the youngest would partake in the succession ceremony. But to think he'd pass, despite the apparent rigging..."

Diana, agreeing with Utekan, cast a covert glance at Enoch.

"Even so, it's nothing more than a dying insect's last twitch. So what if he passed the succession ceremony? There's little else he can achieve. Even if he were to step foot in this People's Palace, he's powerless. No, he'd struggle even to ensure his own survival."

Enoch responded with a dismissive snort.

Passing the succession ceremony equates to earning the right to ascend the imperial throne.

Given Zion's lack of influence, he was likely ill-equipped to withstand the resulting pressure, incomparably greater than anything before.

"One ought to understand their station to live long."

While Enoch had heard from his confidant, Lergan, of Zion's transformation, it didn't immediately alter his longstanding perception of Zion.

Diana and Utekan, neither contesting Enoch's statements, quietly shared a knowing smile.

Their views of Zion were largely congruent with Enoch's from the onset.

"Zion has transformed."

Evelyn, who had been silently listening, finally spoke.

"He has undergone significant change lately. I, too, was taken aback by his recent demeanor. He won't be as defenseless as you assume."

"Really, now? How about we place a wager then?"

Enoch smirked and proposed to Evelyn.

"I'm intrigued to see how long this new Zion endures in the People's Palace."

Sarcasm tinged Enoch's words.

"That does pique one's curiosity."

A new voice echoed.

All heads turned towards the reality room's entrance, from where the voice originated.

There stood,

"I too am curious how long I'll endure."

Zion, a dark smile gracing his lips, strode into the reality room.

***

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