I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel

It was as though every palace knight had emerged.

A middle-aged knight, ostensibly the eldest among a contingent of about ten, stepped forth, his voice echoing out toward Zion.

Knight Wolfent Beer, the man responsible for the Imperial Palace's defense.

His countenance was a tangled mess of bewilderment and fury.

"How could you... Why would you murder Alec?"

He remained skeptical until one of his fellow knights came forward with the report.

Prince Zion of Agnes, the master of this palace, was known for his delicate constitution.

Consequently, he couldn't even undertake physical training, let alone make attainments in 'Astral', the imperial family's ability.

It was utterly unbelievable that such a frail prince would have brutally ended a knight—a virtual weapon of war—with his bare hands.

Yet the severed neck of Knight Alec, who had been safeguarding the main entrance, laid on the ground, refuting his disbelief.

Although he still couldn't fathom that Prince Zion was the direct executor, he grudgingly acknowledged the prince's involvement.

"He was so sin-ridden that it would be odd if I hadn't killed him, right?"

Zion directed his words at Wolfent.

There was a noticeable shift in him.

Previously, Prince Zion couldn't even muster an appropriate response to Wolfent.

But now, not only was he speaking up, he was also meeting Wolfent's gaze.

The calm, languid look in Prince Zion's eyes stirred an intense sense of estrangement in Wolfent.

'What in the world...'

"And that applies to all of you as well."

Gradually, gradually.

Zion advanced towards the knights, his voice barely more than a murmur.

"If there are four death-deserving crimes among you, I have no qualms about carrying out the execution right here and now."

There was no palpable intensity or strength about him.

Yet, his approach evoked an ominous feeling in Wolfent.

'He knows we had a hand in last night's assault.'

Indeed, it would've been odd if he hadn't figured it out.

Though they assumed it wouldn't drastically change anything, it seemed they were mistaken.

For Prince Zion was now pointing the finger at them for their crime and plotting their demise.

As Wolfent looked at Zion with momentarily faltering eyes, a dark decree escaped his lips.

"...End the prince's life right here."

A second attempt to murder Prince Zion posed no issue, as they'd already conspired to do so from the start.

There was only an initial hesitation in having a palace knight directly partake in a prince's assassination.

But it was decidedly better than meeting their own ends.

The Imperial City would hardly be affected by the death of a disgraced prince.

Even if it were, the ones they pledged their allegiance to were sure to shield them.

With a metallic rasp, a handful of knights at the back, who concurred with Wolfent's judgement, began to unsheathe their swords.

"Prince Zion!"

Fredo's voice echoed urgently upon witnessing this development.

Yet in that moment, Zion, who was facing the knights, wore a smile.

As though he had been eagerly anticipating this event.

It was exhilarating.

Genuinely exhilarating.

How much time had passed?

Since he last confronted enemies with swords drawn, intent on his demise.

Once the world came under his dominion, all Zion saw were the backs of bowed heads prostrating before him.

And that's why Zion found pleasure in the present scenario.

"Let's add another crime to the list. Attempted assassination of the royal family."

In a muted voice, Zion's form dissolved into the flickering shadows, rematerializing before one of the knights with a brandished sword.

"What...!"

Perhaps the knight didn't anticipate he would be the first target?

Or did he fail to consider that the prince, having never acquired combat skills, could move with such speed?

The knight's sword lifted in surprise, but it was too late.

Crack!

Zion's hand was already thrust through the knight's chest.

The knight, his eyes filled with disbelief, gazed down at his skewered chest as his life flickered out.

By the time the knight's body slumped to the ground, Zion was no longer before him.

Zion knew the truth.

With his 'Black Star', not yet ascended to a 1-star level, and this frail body, he couldn't confront these knights head-on.

So, he had to seize the opportunity before the knights could fully comprehend his capabilities and the unfolding situation.

Sheathe-

Once again, Zion's form blended into the darkness.

Soon, Zion emerged before the knight nearest to the fallen one, his right hand pulsing with a black aura.

Demonstrating his worth as an imperial knight, the knight reacted to Zion's movement and raised his sword.

If they clashed, Zion's hand would surely be cleaved by the knight's blade.

Yet at that instant, Zion's hand moved with spectral fluidity, finding its way beneath the knight's sword.

Thud!

A light reverberation sounded as the knight's sword was hoisted upward.

Zion executed a technique of barehanded sword deflection—a theory he understood yet had never utilized due to his lack of genuine combat experience.

The moment the knight registered his disarmed state, Zion had already taken the initiative.

Thud!

Almost as if anticipating the knight's reaction, Zion's extended foot forcefully trod upon the knight's instep.

"Thi...!"

The staggered knight, incapable of retreating, was left off balance.

Rising from the opposite side, Zion's knee shattered the knight's ribs along with the armor encasing them.

Crack!

"Aargh...!"

A tortured scream erupted from the knight, cut short by the grim reality that Zion's hand had already severed his neck.

"You wretched cur!!"

The other knights, snapping out of their stupor, finally retaliated. A burly, bearded knight thrust his sword towards Zion's back.

Was it a whisper from the darkness that alerted him?

Without even turning, Zion tilted his head slightly, seizing the blade that had come uncomfortably close, pulling it forward.

"Wha, what...?"

The knight, unable to resist Zion's surprising strength despite his untrained and weak physique, was yanked along with his sword.

Phew!

Zion's initial plan was to dispatch these knights before they fully understood the situation, but circumstances had spiraled out of control.

No, it was beyond mere chaos. It seemed a total rout was imminent.

'I'll snuff out their lives before that comes to pass.'

As soon as this resolution solidified, Sir Wolfent charged at Zion like a bolt of lightning.

Whoosh!

Wolfent's sword, glowing with a white aura, exuded a steely resolve. He closed in on Zion rapidly and swung his blade without a second's hesitation.

It was a decisive strike, aimed at severing Zion's life thread.

Zion, who sensed the impending blade, cast aside the corpse of the beheaded knight and stretched out his hand towards Wolfent.

"Fool!"

A sneer curled on Wolfent's lips.

Thus far, Prince Zion had caught the swords barehanded, but those blades were ordinary.

If his sword, saturated with a potent concentration of mana that formed a secondary blade, clashed with Zion, it was clear whose hand would be severed.

'I'll cleave your neck along with it.'

Wolfent's sword picked up speed, and the moment Zion's hand made contact...

The knight saw it.

The darkness flickering from Zion's hand.

"!!!!"

His sword, upon encountering that darkness, vanished without a trace.

Thump!

Zion's hand, having shattered the mana-infused blade, pierced Wolfent's heart in an instant.

"How did you..."

A stunned whisper escaped the knight's lips.

The final scene that unfolded before Wolfent's eyes was that of a gleeful Prince Zion, a black star spiraling in his gaze.

Thud.

After casting a cursory glance at the collapsed Wolfent, Zion flexed his hand.

'This seems to be my limit.'

A slight tremble plagued his fingertips.

His remarkably frail physique was protesting even these minor exertions.

'I need to fortify myself.'

As he surveyed the vicinity, he found a plethora of eyes trained on him.

Unbeknownst to him, the palace knights and servants had amassed in front of the palace.

Their expressions indicated utter confusion at the unfolding situation.

"Your Highness, might you explain why you took these actions?"

One of the knights, who had not partaken in the previous night's assault and thus survived in obliviousness, inquired of Zion.

Zion's composed gaze met the knight's.

"Who is your liege?"

"Excuse me?"

"I don't repeat questions."

"...It's Prince Zion."

Entranced by Zion's whispery voice, the knight responded.

"The lord owes no explanation to his servant."

Such was Zion's stance, always.

"Neither explaining."

He had never justified his actions to anyone.

"Nor persuading."

He never sought to enlighten anyone.

"All that is your duty towards me."

It was incumbent upon those who stood before him.

"Those men committed transgressions and simply received their due punishments."

The knight, who had been tremblingly maintaining eye contact with Zion, gradually lowered his gaze.

"…Understood."

He was clueless about the current scenario and his course of action.

The aura of command.

The aura of command that he had never sensed from Prince Zion before now compelled the knight to bow.

Zion, having scrutinized the knight for a moment, surveyed the multitude of individuals gazing at him, their eyes brimming with an array of emotions.

'...Not yet.'

Locking eyes with a select few among them, Zion mulled over his thoughts and addressed the crowd.

"From this point forth, anyone who discloses palace affairs to outsiders will be answering with their life."

Was that proclamation a signal of sorts?

"We will heed your orders."

As if overpowered by Zion's aura, the knights and servants of the palace began to bow their heads in acknowledgment.

Zion, sauntering through the throng of bowing heads as if it was the norm, directed his steps towards the palace.

'It's merely a step, no…'

He had barely taken the initial step.

Zion's gaze wasn't fixated on the palace towards which he was headed, but something beyond it.

***

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