It was a spectacular event, that's for sure.

Many carriages formed an entourage, with Prince Jakob's vehicle occupying the central position.

There were horseback soldiers, foot soldiers, and all kinds of Knights accompanying him as he entered the Academy City and made his way to the Royal Academy. The crest of the Royal Family made everyone lower their heads in respect, and the usually busy streets were made to be completely desolate, just so the royal procession could run smoothly.

It was only at sunset that Prince Jakob Randalorion reached the gates of the Royal Academy, and with a triumphant voice, he declared:

"With the power that His Majesty has bestowed upon me, I make this declaration. In the name of the Randalorion Royal Family, we have recognized the ascent of a new High Rank Knight, one who embodies the valor of legends and the strength of a thousand men. Javier Aditi… has now been officially recognized by this Royal Mandate—an irrevocable status without reproach!"

And just like that, my name traveled far and wide throughout the Academy and the entire City….

… Eventually reaching me in my residence.

************

"Hahaha! Did you like the announcement?" Prince Jakob, now seated in front of me, laughs heartily as he speaks with a booming voice.

I smile and nod, taking a sip of the tea that I was served just moments earlier.

We are currently in Prince Jakob's guest residence, and I was invited to have tea with him after the official awarding ceremony. Unlike the third prince, who sought me out in my own home, the first prince's approach isn't too forward.

However, he has certainly shown more sincerity than Korrin.

Not only did he make an exaggerated declaration, one that is guaranteed to cause my reputation to skyrocket, but he also sought an audience with me the same day he arrived.

It's late evening now, already marching into night, and despite his clear exhaustion, he still decided to meet with me.

This is an act of reverence—one I can appreciate.

'He also brought a lot of gifts, though I'm not sure which are from the Royal Family itself and which are from him. Regardless, he's already off to a good start. Let's see where this goes…' I take another sip of tea and wait for him to say something.

Just like clockwork, he does.

"Sir Javier, I believe you already know why I'm here…" He smiles at me, his eyes deeply showing a burning desire for cooperation.

However, I decide to feign ignorance.

"To deliver the mandate of the King? Yes, I am aware… and I appreciate you coming personally."

"Haha! Apart from that…"

His face turns a little awkward, and I see him sink into contemplation. He's most likely weighing his options, wondering if he should simply be straightforward with his intentions or probe first.

The former would be preferred, while the latter would be overbearing.

I patiently wait for his judgment.

"Sir Javier… I wonder what you think of me. About my chances of succeeding my father as the next King of this Kingdom." He begins with a much stronger position than I expected.

"You are his first son. You are most likely to be the Crown Prince and future King."

"But…?"

"What makes you think there is a but?" I ask him, taking another sip.

"Please, sir Javier… do not insult my intelligence." Prince Jakob sighs while staring at me with a helpless smile. "I know you are well aware of the current situation."

Actually, I'm not aware at all.

I just have a few guesses that have some veracity to them.

"Prince Korrin's accomplishments exceed your own, and he has built something of a reputation among the populace. He is the preferred choice by popular opinion, which means your position has been threatened." I finally give a straightforward response.

To this, the first prince nods.

A wise man admits to circumstances and clearly acknowledges his flaws.

It's a good thing that Prince Jakob knows his current situation and does not display vitriol at me for pointing it out.

To be honest, it isn't that the first prince is incompetent by any means.

In fact, he became King in my past life.

The reason for his brother's rise, as well as his own downfall, can be traced to my involvement in this life. I changed too much, starting from the J-Tutorial Club, to the Royal Academy Incident, to stopping the Civil War.

I involved Korrin in all of these events, and he ended up gaining a lot of the spotlight as a result.

In more ways than one, I am the one responsible for his success.

This is the main reason why his current attitude bothers me. Does he not have enough self-awareness to understand that if I hadn't improved his reputation in the Royal Academy with the J-Tutorial Club and the many counsels I gave him during his tenure, he wouldn't have had such an impact in the Academy? Even after he left, who held the fort and ensured the Royal Faction continued to prosper?

The Royal Academy Incident was one of his springboards, but who sent him that letter and helped him nab Professor Alaric and all those other Noble Professors who were using Brutus as their tool?

This went a long way to suppress the Noble Faction, and I was largely to thank for it.

Then, what about the Fargos Money Laundering and Business Bubble Scheme?

Sure, he used his authority to help me dismantle the business and stop the perpetrators, but he benefited greatly from this single incident, which wouldn't have been possible without me.

The more I rose in fame, the further his reputation also soared.

Leading to this moment.

'Right now, it's clear that Korrin is leading by a wide margin. Compared to him, the first prince doesn't have too many noticeable accomplishments. All his achievements, which would be pretty decent in isolation, now look unimpressive compared to Korrin's….' I can sense Prince Jakob's frustrations even from my seat.

It's not like he isn't working hard or trying his best.

But how can he possibly compete?

It's why he recognizes his need for me, as I am the only one who can better consolidate his position and strengthen his chances of becoming Crown Prince.

"I… would like us to collaborate, Sir Javier." His frank tone is refreshing, and he leans forward in a business-ready manner. "You have greatly aided Korrin thus far, even helping him exceed me when he previously had no benefit. I have done my research, and I know you're behind all of his major accomplishments. I don't know the deal he made with you, but I am willing to do even more if you can switch sides and support me instead."

Ahh…

It appears there is some misunderstanding here.

The first prince thinks I'm already in cahoots with Korrin, when in reality, no such thing has happened. In fact, I'm just learning of the Royal Family's interest in me.

'This actually explains Korrin's lack of effort compared to the other princes. He must believe I'm already on his side, which is why he is taking the familiar approach and not aggressively trying to win me over.'

Oh my…

Since when has my life turned into this?

Everyone has their misconceptions about me, and despite previously thinking I was a neutral party, it appears I have already picked a side in the eyes of others.

After all, if the First Prince is thinking this, it means he isn't the only one.

But this is also a good thing.

It helps to boost my level of importance in his eyes, as well as the level of urgency.

'Now let me see your sincerity!' I lick my lips.

"I promise ample compensation for your efforts and open acknowledgment, unlike Korrin, who has chosen to be silent about your contributions. Of course, if you desire privity, that can also be arranged. Most importantly, I will elevate your status to that of High Noble, one worthy of your status. Count… even Duke. It will take some effort, but I am willing. Also, I wonder what you think of my sisters, Sir Javier. Whichever one you fancy… I'm willing to offer her hand to you in marriage. That would make you my in-law, a close relative to the King, and a member of the Royal Family itself. What do you think?"

All of these are interesting and beneficial rewards for merely offering open support.

Honestly, I doubt I really need to do much in terms of 'backing' my preferred candidate. As long as I openly display a preference towards one of the princes, I can sit back and let the misunderstandings do my work for me.

But—

'Out of everyone, the third prince's offer is still better.' I sigh to myself. 'The first prince has said a lot of good things, but all of these still make him the superior. He is at the center of the orbit, and I merely derive authority from him.'

Whether it is a Noble Position or being a member of the Royal Family… it still ends up inferior to the actual ruler of the Kingdom.

Plus, all of these things will benefit Jakob's reign in the long run.

There's no real sacrifice.

'Claus offered his loyalty and subservience. He would do anything I wanted him to do… as long as that meant he would become king.' I smile to myself, feeling moved. 'That's the most attractive thing I can think of.'

The older princes simply think too highly of themselves.

They have their pride to worry about, and in their eyes, I am merely a tool to use to gain power.

Only Claus sees me as a necessary precondition.

I like that.

'Honestly, I'm not overly ambitious, nor am I power hungry. But it would be more beneficial to me if the apex leadership in this Kingdom knew they couldn't restrain me at all. I wouldn't be bound by the Kingdom's laws, and I could even make demands from the Royal Family anytime I desire. Isn't that freedom?'

Despite having thoughts that favor Prince Claus the most, I maintain a calm expression.

Not even a sliver of my thoughts gets leaked out.

"Let me think about it, Prince Jakob," I respond after being silent for a while.

He smiles knowingly and nods.

It would have been too strange if I had chosen to support him right away. Even if I were to eventually choose his side, taking my time with such a decision is the wise thing to do.

"Then, as a gift to prove my sincerity… I will give you some information, Sir Javier." Prince Jakob proceeds, his eyes reflecting with deep intent. "I am not sure you are aware of this, but Duke Marcus Ravenwood's son, Julian, holds you in deep contempt."

"I am aware," I sigh.

"Well, word has been going around that he is making covert moves against you."

"Oh?" My eyes flash almost immediately. "Tell me more."

"As the Royal Family, we have spies everywhere, even hidden in the Noble Faction. Our sources tell us that Julian Ravenwood has been meeting with all kinds of Nobles lately—particularly ones who have strong influence. Your name has also come up many times, and it seems his target also involves the Royal Academy."

'This guy… Why is he causing more problems for me now?'

I feel a pang of anger.

I already have a lot on my plate at the moment, but to think a Temporary Duke, who is meant to be on the Royal Faction as an ally, is also scheming against me.

Unbelievable!

"Tell me… who are the Nobles he has been meeting up with?"

I know a few Nobles myself, so maybe I can glean more information from them.

"Most of them are from the Noble Faction, but he is also drawing in a lot of Nobles under him to aid him in this endeavor. Count Rashford, Earl Singleletter, Viscount Greydark, Viscount Mordred, Count Thornvale, Earl Klau—"

"Thornvale? Kaelen Thornvale?" I ask, with my eyes widening slightly.

Finally, some good news!

Honestly, I don't recognize most of the names that the first prince mentioned, but I have a good relationship with the Count. He also strikes me as a friendly, good-natured man.

I could absolutely have him help me in this matter.

'Maybe he can act as my spy and give me information on what Julian is planning. It might take a while, but if Count Kaelen can gain his trust, he'll be privy to that brat's inner operations.'

It also seems Earl Klaus is involved in this scheme.

Why am I not surprised?

In any case, I have to put a stop to Julian's petty revenge before this problem becomes too large.

'The way Julian is moving, he is uprooting himself from the Royal Faction to the Noble Faction, and it seems he intends to take as many Nobles with him. If he succeeds, that would be catastrophic for the balance of the Randalorion Kingdom.'

I can't let that happen.

"Thank you for the information, Prince Jakob." I smile, rising to my feet as I reach for his hand.

We shake hands, and after laughing for a little while longer, I take my leave. The First Prince offers to see me off, but I respectfully decline and walk back in solitude.

All of a sudden, it seems like a lot is happening at once.

Thankfully, Summer Break begins in two days, which not only means I can see my Aunt for the Potions, but I can also visit Count Kaelen Thornvale and hopefully nip the Julian problem in the bud before it grows in scale.

Once I'm done with these urgent matters, I'll make up my mind regarding the Princes.

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