The Crown Prince of Barghest

“That must be him!”

“The young prodigy?”

“The one set to inherit the throne of Barghest!”

“With him at the helm, Barghest is set for years to come!”

“All hail Prince Sylas!”

All of them are such idiots. Every last one of them. But it’s nice to be flaunted like this. To have all the wealth, women and riches I want, what better life could I ask for? At the age of 12, I had already dethroned my brothers in the running to become the next king. Well, it was easy. They were just too trusting for their own good. Who would have believed that I would be the one to spread the rumours that would completely smear their names.

“Don’t worry brothers! I swear that even if I become king, you would be my loyal aids and right hand men.” 

To say that they bought that crap easily would be an understatement. Well, it’s like I have two loyal dogs wagging their tails for me now so that’s a plus for me I guess. Whatever I wanted, my father had made sure that I would get it. Any woman that caught my eye, any relics I wanted, anyone I didn’t like was even executed. I thought I had it all until that day.

“Greetings, I am Celena von Lestia, daughter of Duke Lestia.”

I was completely taken aback. Never have I witnessed such beauty in my life. True to her name, it was as though she resembled the beauty of the moon. The instant I returned from the party, I had my father send a demand to the Duke Lestia to hand over Celena. But I was told that the Duke had laughed hysterically at the messenger and kicked him out of his domain. How could he? The audacity of a mere duke to refuse the requests of a prince. Since that day, I had sent multiple requests to have her meet me. Each time was met with rejection. That was until the day I had learned the satisfying news that she had no blessings. After all, in our kingdom, the blessing-less are reduced to mere slaves. Such a thought had excited me. However, I learned that the Kingdom of Babel did not follow the same customs. I thought, for the first time in my life, I had hit a roadblock. Then I heard of the chatter of the soldiers.

“Finally, we’re getting rid of Babel.”

“It was about time. Their territories are rich in resources.”

“Have you seen their women? What I’d do to have a taste of that!”

Hearing that, I burst into my father’s chambers. Wanting to find out the truth.

“Father? Is it true? That we are taking Babel?”

“Yes.”

“Then I have one request…”

To keep Celena safe and have her delivered to me. That was the one request I had. After all, what good is she if she doesn’t have a title, land, or protectors? It was mercy on my end to have her turned into my slave. But what I didn’t expect was that our forces would be wiped out in an instant. By none other than the man who had laughed at my request. Duke Lestia. How infuriating. If it had come to that, I would go over to demand her myself… eh? Go over? Didn’t that already happen? Why was I now in Babel?

Prince Sylas now found himself in his own room back in Barghest once more.

What am I…? That’s right! That blasted maid! Who cares if she has an Olympian blessing her? What can a blessing from a god that is not known for fighting do?! Once I get the celestial prototype, I’m going to make her wish come true and level her precious master’s city… Master? That’s weird…? I thought her master was… Celena? Wait… something isn’t right…!

‘I have quit working for the Lestia household and now serve under a new lord’

What…? It feels like I’m forgetting something important here… How did I get back to Barghest in the… The… commoner…?! That... who... who is that commoner? Was there a commoner? Wait... something doesn't add up...?!

“Ah… I was so close to finding out too… I didn’t account for the fact that you had encountered Charlotte…”

As if snapping out of it, Sylas realised he was in a room that was completely dark. He couldn’t see an end to the darkness.

“I–... Where am I?! What have you done to me?!”

“Just a peek into your head... I thought I could end this peacefully for you but... It seems that your spirit, like your attitude, is just too stubborn to give in so...”

Walking out of the darkness, Kei emerged, smiling as if there was not a care in the world. At that moment, Sylas felt genuine fear. The smile he was looking at, it was not of someone who is genuinely happy. But more of someone who had nothing to lose.

“Let’s begin, shall we?”