I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel

"Prince Zion......."

Priscilla murmured as she lay on the bed, her gaze fixed on the intricately designed ceiling.

Zion Agnes.

The master of Chimseong Palace, a discarded royal, her fiancé, and recently, her primary concern.

Not long ago, before entering the palace, Priscilla had been set on discussing a divorce with Zion.

However, Zion's apparent affection for her made the topic difficult to broach. It's why it took her so long to voice her intentions.

Surprisingly, Zion agreed to the divorce without hesitation.

Who else in the empire could compete?

She was a daughter of the influential Bammel family and was renowned for her stunning beauty. Yet, he accepted her divorce proposal without a fuss.

Zion's transformation piqued Priscilla's curiosity.

Despite her divorce declaration, she had reasons to stay in Chimseong Palace, and her curiosity was one of them.

'And there was that attack last night....'

The memory of the unexpected assault made Priscilla shiver.

She was forced to face the assassins in her nightclothes.

Could it be because she was caught off guard?

She barely managed to fend off the assassins who barged into her room. In fact, she was almost killed.

Then Zion appeared.

He emerged from the darkness, easily handling the assassins that Priscilla struggled to keep at bay.

He moved like a phantom, eliminating the assassins one by one. The sight was chilling.

After all the assassins were dealt with, Zion emerged from the shadows.

Priscilla felt relief, not shock or surprise.

'Prince... Zion?'

She remembered sitting down, calling out Zion's name.

She had questions about Zion's mysterious power, but above all, she felt grateful.

'He looks better now...... No.'

Priscilla quickly dismissed the thought that crossed her mind.

'But who would dare to attack the palace?'

What was more surprising was the attack on Prince Zion's palace, a place thought to be abandoned.

No matter how vulnerable the outskirts were, it didn't make sense.

An utterly inexplicable event.

And, curiously, Zion ordered a complete cover-up to keep the incident under wraps.

'Normally, you would inform the central and bolster the guards......'

Priscilla couldn't fathom Zion's intentions.

The change in his personality ensured that he wouldn't let this issue go unnoticed.

Then.

"Hmm?"

A sudden commotion outside drew Priscilla's attention to the window.

She saw a line of knights amassed outside the Chimseong Palace's main gate.

These weren't the palace's knights.

Their powerful aura surpassed that of the palace knights by a great extent.

Undoubtedly, these were the city's elite knights.

Slowly, steadily.

Between the ranks of knights, a figure approached the main gate.

"That person is......"

Surprise filled Priscilla's eyes.

---

---

Black Star River.

Zion wasn't entirely sure of the origin of this mysterious power.

Born with an instinctual grasp on it, he had always referred to it as the Black Star

Following the previous night's battle, Zion finally reached the 1st level of the Black Star.

'Leveling up is beneficial......'

But his physical burden grew in tandem.

And it would continue to increase as he furthered his proficiency with the Black Star River.

Zion Agnes's weak body couldn't withstand such strain.

Training might help, but with his inherently low physical specs, it wasn't a permanent solution.

'I need to enhance my body.'

Rearranging his priorities, Zion looked out at the knights assembled at the main gate of Chimseong Palace from the corridor window.

Dozens of knights stood still, their breaths perfectly controlled.

Zion's next meeting was with the commander of these knights.

"Prince Zion has arrived."

The courtier's formal announcement preceded the opening of the reception room door. Moments later, Zion saw a woman seated on the sofa, her gaze fixed on him.

Grey hair, characteristic of the Agnes royal family, fell in soft waves to her chest.

Her emerald eyes shone with a determination that brooked no injustice.

Lips pressed together in resolute stubbornness, her body emanated the strength of rigorous training.

Evelyn Agnes.

Zion's half-sister and a princess of the Agnes Empire.

'Did Evelyn Agnes and I share a close bond?'

Zion pondered this as he took a seat across from Evelyn, who observed him intently.

Evelyn Agnes was a recurring character in the 'Chronicles of the Hero of Frosimar' which Zion had read.

She was one of the central figures in the story, and the closest to the protagonist, aside from the hero.

Nicknamed 'Lion Princess', she was a force to reckon with. Already possessing world-class power in her thirties, she led one of the most formidable factions in the imperial city. Her unique charisma and fairness, coupled with the knights' unwavering support, positioned her as a likely candidate for the next ruler.

She was the sole woman in the royal family who sought to back the hero's party.

'No, more accurately, she intended to.'

Her death preceded her support, and ultimately, it was a futile effort.

Suddenly,

"Are you feeling okay?"

With calm assurance, Evelyn looked at Zion and spoke.

"What do you mean?"

Zion responded in an unusual tone, prompting a question from him. Evelyn raised an eyebrow at his informal address, but she didn't correct him and instead answered.

"I heard about an attack last night."

'So, word has gotten out.'

Noticing the worry in Evelyn's eyes, Zion understood she knew about the attack. It would have been odd if she didn't. The assault occurred within palace walls, it was inevitable that it would be discovered, even if Zion remained silent. The news simply spread faster than anticipated.

Regardless, he didn't believe Evelyn was behind the attack. It wasn't like her; she was someone who wielded honesty and fairness as her weapons.

"I'm fine, as you can see."

There was a change in him.

Evelyn saw it when Zion met her gaze and responded. Was it the aftereffect of last night's attack?

'Poor kid.'

Evelyn's eyes filled with sympathy and pity. Zion was her brother, discarded here due to his limited abilities. His royal birth and low capabilities subjected him to years of scorn. His life was hard enough, and now someone had tried to take it. It wasn't surprising that he had changed.

"I'm glad to hear that. I'll find and punish the attacker soon. Also, I've brought some knights today. They'll be stationed in the palace, so you can feel secure."

"No, that's not necessary."

Zion declined her well-intentioned offer. Evelyn looked surprised, but Zion was firm. Even if her knights were stationed here, it would only provide temporary safety and increase the number of prying eyes on him.

"I have adequate security. But why are you here?"

"…I was worried after hearing the news. Despite being half-siblings, you are still my brother."

Evelyn sipped her tea and addressed Zion again after uttering those words.

"You'll be coming of age soon. You understand that entails a succession ceremony, right?"

At that moment, Zion instinctively understood the real reason behind Evelyn's visit.

The Succession Ceremony.

It was a ritual every Agnes royal had to undergo in the year they came of age. It was essentially a prerequisite to be considered for throne succession.

Simply put, those failing the Succession Ceremony wouldn't be eligible for the throne. In addition, it granted entry to the Baeksung Palace, the heart of the imperial city, instead of the outer court. This was akin to offering them a chance to consolidate their power.

"You should abandon the idea of the Succession Ceremony."

Evelyn suggested that Zion forfeit the ceremony. Initially, she assumed he would. The ceremony didn't require leadership or charisma but personal strength. Those without power weren't fit to become an emperor, a long-standing tradition in the Agnes royal family that highly valued individual power.

It would be nothing short of a suicide mission for the powerless Zion, a fact he was likely aware of. However, Zion's response shattered Evelyn's assumptions.

"Why should I?"

His voice was as calm as a still lake. He looked at her with cool, serene eyes and asked her the question.

"Do you ask out of ignorance?"

"Why do I have to?"

"...I didn't realize you were so reckless."

Worry and annoyance filled Evelyn's gaze. Did he comprehend his predicament?

"You won't make it through the Succession Ceremony."

She could say this with confidence, being a firsthand witness.

"You lack both strength and skill."

Her voice was ice-cold.

"You'll collapse during the first trial. Even if you do pass and get into Baeksung Palace, it's much harsher than the Succession Ceremony. You won't last a day, let alone a week."

An overwhelming rumble!

Was she trying to intimidate him into changing his decision?

As her stern words echoed, an imposing energy radiated from Evelyn, vibrating the entire room. Six stars shone brightly in her eyes.

Celestial Sea.

A power unique to the Agnes royal family's direct descendants.

A sovereignty over everything in the world.

"Abandon the Succession Ceremony."

With her six-star Celestial Sea exposed, Evelyn ordered Zion again.

Yet, amid an aura that could make even an experienced knight hesitate, Zion was smiling.

He was staring into Evelyn's eyes as if he found the situation amusing.

"I have a question."

He seemed to be challenging Evelyn's oppressive aura, stretching from the reception room to the entire Chimseong Palace.

Slowly, Zion murmured.

"Who says I lack power?"

A single black star twirled within Zion's curved eyes, bright and clear.

***

Thanks for reading! Zion is toooooo sick.

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