The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 119

Episode 119

On his way back after taking Flora to her room, Basilian found Walter waiting for him in the corridor.

"So you've finally arrived. Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Walter bowed again with perfect etiquette. Basilian checked that no one was around and pulled him into an empty room next door.

The moment the door slammed shut, he demanded sharply.

"What is your purpose?"

"What purpose are you referring to? Ah, approaching Your Highness?"

Walter grinned with a relaxed face.

"Why, to escort Your Highness back to the Imperial Palace, of course."

Infuriated by his attitude, as if stating the obvious, Basilian gritted his teeth.

"You have no idea how many people worried and searched for you after your sudden disappearance from the palace. It's time you returned to your proper place."

"Searched? For me? You mean for the Holy Sword, not for me."

Despite the sarcasm dripping from his words, Walter chuckled lowly.

"Please end your running away and return to inherit the Imperial will."

"Do you plan to drag me back by force?"

"How could I? I wouldn't dare do such a thing to Your Highness the Crown Prince. I merely think it would be better if you came with us willingly."

But there was no sincerity in his words.

"Ah, it seems Flora doesn't know Your Highness's true identity."

"......"

"Flora hasn't been a Young Lady for long and has never seen Your Highness, so she wouldn't have known even if you were hiding in a mercenary band. I don't know how you became friends, but shouldn't you tell her?"

"......"

"Ah, if it's difficult for you, shall I tell her for you? She might be surprised, but she has a good heart and would accept Your Highness's identity."

Walter was truly a Bellasia through and through.

He had assessed Basilian and Flora's relationship in just one day and was now probing to confirm that she was Basilian's weakness.

Faced with such unchildlike, slick social maneuvering and threats, Basilian let out an exasperated laugh.

"You're treating me like a complete fool. That's why you dare to be so arrogant."

"I repeat, that is not the case. You misunderstand."

At his words, spoken with a smug smile, Basilian scoffed again.

"Your words aren't even worth a reply."

Having smoothly shifted the topic away from Flora, Basilian asked,

"Let me ask you one thing. Why haven't you informed your father of my presence?"

"Why would you think that? I may have already told him."

"I'm asking because I know your father isn't the type to stay idle if he knew I was here."

"Hmm, I simply did as I pleased. I also wanted to speak with Your Highness a bit more."

Basilian couldn't hold back a laugh at the scripted response.

"You thought you could handle someone like me?"

"Pardon?"

"It seems you don't consider that an arrogant thought."

In that instant, Basilian drew the sword at his waist. The blade that flashed out instantly pointed at Walter's neck, making him flinch and jump.

"Why are you doing this, Your Highness?"

As Walter raised his arms as if surrendering and tried to subtly step back, Basilian extended the sword further.

"Does this look like an ordinary sword to you?"

At Basilian's words, Walter looked down to check the sword and was startled.

"...The Holy Sword?"

The Holy Sword his father, Duke Bellasia, had once shown him, telling him to remember it, was now held in Basilian's hand.

"H-how...?"

As the Crown Prince, he had been chosen by the Holy Sword. But because he couldn't wield it, hadn't the current Imperial family planned to use that as a pretext to kill him and give the Holy Sword to the new prince?

'With this, all our plans are ruined.'

Now that Basilian could wield the Holy Sword, it was no different from being chosen by the gods, making it difficult to simply kill him.

Even if he was still inexperienced, becoming the Holy Sword's master meant his skills would improve by leaps and bounds.

"Don't even think about moving. If you move just a little more, your head will be cut off."

At the deadly threat, Walter gulped.

"What must I do to make this sword leave me?"

Maintaining a facade of composure amidst the tension was the only social skill he could employ in this situation.

"Make me trust you."

It sounded simple, but the near-impossible demand made Walter suppress a surge of frustration and pull up the corners of his mouth into a smile again.

"There is another reason I haven't told my father."

Basilian raised an eyebrow as if telling him to go on.

"My father seems intent on making the young prince the Crown Prince, following the current Imperial family's wishes, and having him ascend as Emperor. But my thoughts are different."

He tried his best to hide his trembling and continued.

"I am destined to be the next Duke Bellasia. I wanted to see for myself what kind of person my future liege is."

At his bold statement, Basilian asked with a completely humorless face.

"Is that so? And what did you find?"

"...What is there to say?"

In Walter's memory, the Crown Prince was an utterly shabby, pitiful figure.

A worthless person with no charisma, someone who would follow if you just grabbed and shook him.

But the Basilian before him now was completely different from the young boy in his memory.

'He looks like he'd devour the Imperial family if left alone.'

That couldn't be allowed.

An useless, worthless being should occupy the highest position so that those around him could shine brighter.

'It seems we absolutely must not let him become Emperor.'

"You are magnificent. To the point where I truly wish to serve you."

Walter was wise enough not to make the mistake of voicing the thoughts in his head.

"Is there anything I can do to assist Your Highness the Crown Prince?"

Instead, he continued in an affectionate tone, pretending to be on his side.

Though it was a flawless performance to anyone watching, Basilian didn't believe him.

From the start, he had suffered much pain in his young life, witnessed sorrow, and tasted despair.

Though his life had been short, he knew the bitter taste of betrayal better than anyone, so he wasn't easily fooled by such sweet words.

But he nodded with a satisfied expression, pretending to be taken in.

"Don't follow me and leave me be. I will return to the Imperial family when the time is right."

"But unlike before, you now know how to wield the Holy Sword. Wouldn't it be better to return quickly and establish your foundation? I can help you with that."

"That is also for me to decide on my own. Don't concern yourself."

With those final words, Basilian sheathed his sword.

"You'd do well to keep your mouth shut until I return on my own. The moment I am forced back to the Imperial family, I will come for the head I didn't cut off today."

Ending with that deadly threat, he left the room without waiting for Walter's reply.

Though he maintained a calm expression, his footsteps quickened considerably.

'I must go to the Young Duke immediately.'

He had to leave this castle quickly before the Bellasias made their move. Even if it was the dead of night when everyone was asleep.

No, he had to use this time when he wouldn't attract people's attention.

After Basilian disappeared, Walter, left alone in the room, felt a stinging on his neck and looked at his reflection in a mirror.

"No wonder it hurts. There's a cut."

Perhaps imbued with the Crown Prince's cursed power, even this tiny wound felt twice as painful.

"He seems like he'll run away immediately..."

Now that he could wield the Holy Sword, the Crown Prince was no longer someone one could easily deal with alone.

"It seems I have no choice but to inform Father after all."

Thinking that whether he lived or died was now in his father's hands, he left the room with light steps.

'But shall I give him a little time to run? That would be more fun.'

Walter, who had been heading for the Duke's office, stopped and turned back towards his own room.

If things weren't going to go his way anyway, he might as well have some fun.

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The next morning.

Finally, the day had come to leave Duke Bellasia's castle.

But something was strange.

"Basil is coming with us? But he left in the middle of the night?"

She just needed to get her luggage and board the carriage, but Basilian was nowhere to be seen. When she asked, she received an astonishing answer.

"Yes, it seems Basilian was worried."

"...No, I'd be happy if he came with us. But why did he leave first instead of leaving together?"

"Hmm, well, his mercenary band happened to be nearby, and he had a task to entrust to them."

"News from a mercenary band reached the castle? This Bellasia Castle?"

'This isn't Lucifer territory; they wouldn't deliver news about some mere mercenary.'

When Flora looked at Benio with suspicious eyes, cold sweat trickled down his back.

After Basilian told him he was in danger of being captured because Walter had discovered his identity, Benio had helped him sneak out in the middle of the night.

Heading straight north risked pursuit by Duke Bellasia, so they decided to ask the neutral Marquis Eisollen for help.

To keep this secret, he had made up a plausible excuse, but even he had to admit it sounded strange.