***
“Listen well, you wicked bandits who prey upon the people!”
A certain bandit gang’s mountain stronghold.
Since morning, someone had appeared at the entrance to the stronghold and was making a racket.
“Driven mad by petty greed! Since it is clear that you have plundered the people’s property, I, Edward of Basilite, shall punish you!”
“What’s with that bastard? Is he out of his mind?”
“Does he even know where he is? Now I’ve seen every kind of lunatic. Hey, you little shit! Get lost before we grab you and beat you to death!”
The bandits standing guard snorted—then their eyes went wide.
“Wait! Now that I look at him, that guy!”
“You know him?”
“H-he’s that! The idiot prince!”
“What? That bastard’s the idiot prince?”
“Yeah! Yeah! That’s definitely the idiot prince!”
“Holy shit, we hit the jackpot!”
The heavy blare of a horn shook the stronghold.
“It’s the idiot prince! The idiot prince has appeared!”
“For real!? Boys, let’s hurry up and catch him!”
“Where is he! Where!”
“A fortune’s right in front of us! Ahahaha!”
“Today’s our lucky day!”
Bandits wielding all manner of weapons came pouring out of the stronghold.
Edward, who had been watching from a distance, hurriedly put on a black mask and shouted.
“Catch me if you can!”
With a refreshing laugh, he began to run.
Blinded by money, the bandits chased after him in a frenzy.
Then, in the forest, they lost sight of Edward.
“Where’d he go?”
“Hey! You lot see him?”
“Huff, huff. We dunno. We came runnin’ from over there.”
“Ah, that son of a bitch, where the hell did he run off to? Slippery bastard.”
While some thirty bandits glared around with eyes lit like fire, a rustling sound came from the bushes.
A man dressed exactly like Edward from moments before appeared, wearing a black mask.
The bandits all let out cheers at once.
“Jackpot! The jackpot’s appeared!”
The bandits surrounded him and charged in.
But what was this?
The idiot prince they thought would be easy to catch was rather strong.
Every time the idiot prince swung his fists, screams burst out here and there.
“Don’t use ropes, just stab him with your knives! It doesn’t matter if he gets hurt! First, break one of his legs so he can’t move!”
The bandit chief shouted until his throat nearly burst, urging on his men, but the idiot prince was not an opponent blades could touch.
It was not a fight, but a massacre.
The bandits were beaten one-sidedly.
At some point, fewer than ten men remained standing on their own two feet.
The ground was overflowing with the dead and unconscious.
“Th-this isn’t the rumor I heard. Is he really the idiot prince?”
Terrified by the unexpected situation, the bandits began to flee.
At most, all they could do was run back into the stronghold and hide.
The idiot prince chased them all the way into the stronghold and wiped them out in an instant.
The same situation repeated itself every day.
—Edward would appear first and act as bait, and afterward Maru, dressed the same way, would appear and sweep away the bandits.
By using this formula over and over, Maru and Edward went on to subjugate the bandit gangs without hesitation.
And around two weeks later.
The two of them reported their achievements to the royal court.
The retainers gathered in the spacious hall could not hide their astonishment at the mountain of gold, silver, and treasures piled high in the center of the hall, reaching nearly to the ceiling.
“W-what is all this?”
“They say these are the goods plundered by the bandits His Highness subjugated.”
“His Highness subjugated this many bandit gangs?”
Maru stepped forward before the dumbfounded retainers and, just as before, began exaggerating Edward’s exploits.
“His Highness was truly incredible. His movements were faster than light. When a bandit swung his blade, tak! He blocked it, pak! He struck him down. Once he dealt with one, he couldn’t wait even a moment before rushing straight to the next—chak! Chak! Tak! Pow! It was just like watching the hero Lady Alexia herself, I tell you. And then…”
“Ooooh!”
As Maru’s tale went on, the retainers cheered and applauded.
Watching this, the king looked exceedingly satisfied, and the queen seated beside him also clapped soundlessly from time to time, wearing an extremely happy expression.
“That is all! As the royal clerk assisting His Highness, my report ends here!”
When the report concluded, the way the retainers looked at the prince had changed.
Every last one of them sent him gazes of admiration and reverence.
Edward swept his hair back handsomely and showed a satisfied smile.
What a truly shameless fellow.
“Clerk Maru. From next time, do tone down my exploits a little when you announce them. I feel embarrassed listening to it myself. Huhu.”
“S-so humble…!”
One retainer gazed at him with respect, then shouted loudly.
“Long live Prince Edward!”
The other retainers, swept up in the mood, shouted loudly as well.
“The light of our Kingdom of Basilite! Long live Prince Edward!”
The rumor that Prince Edward had wiped out a great number of bandits quickly spread beyond the palace.
“They say that idiot prince did this, you know—whisper, whisper.”
“What~? My, he seems like a changed man~”
Whenever people met, they were busy talking about the prince.
The public opinion of the prince, which had been poor, gradually began to change into something more favorable and positive.
Later, after hearing through his people of the public sentiment among the commoners, the king nodded with satisfaction.
“I chose the right man.”
As the king’s trust in him deepened, Maru’s life in the palace became even more comfortable.
When the king moved Maru’s room to one larger and more splendid than before, the people in the palace took the hint and treated Maru accordingly.
No matter what Maru did, almost no one tried to stop him.
***
“Is that for His Highness to eat?”
A maid passing through the corridor asked when she saw the silver tray Maru held in both hands.
On the silver tray were a bottle of alcohol, fruit, and a chicken dish.
Maru smiled brightly.
“Yes.”
He passed her and headed for the prince’s room.
At the door, he kicked it hard with his foot.
The door opened at once.
“Oh, you’ve come.”
The prince welcomed Maru with a bright smile.
“What are you carrying?”
“Food for me. The table’s clean, right?”
“Use it as much as you like.”
As soon as Maru entered, he set the silver tray down on the table and began to eat.
“You come have a drink too.”
“I’m fine. I have to see His Majesty later.”
The prince was engrossed in choosing the clothes he would wear for the next bandit subjugation.
“When I go out to sweep them away this time, I should wear something even more grand and splendid. Clothes that will further elevate my prestige.”
“You’ve really let this go to your head. I guess you’re enjoying this, huh?”
“This is the life I always wanted. The retainers look up to me, and my parents view me favorably as well. Thank you, Maru.”
Maru laughed quietly and drained his cup.
“Anyway, if you’re changing to a new style of clothing, don’t forget to have mine made the same.”
“But of course. Are we not one in body and mind?”
“One in body and mind?”
A hollow laugh escaped Maru.
He thought it was nonsense.
“But you said you’d show me the princess, yet it’s been weeks and I haven’t seen hide nor hair of her. You sure you even have a younger sister?”
“Hahaha. Trust me. Before we arrived, she went down to the provinces leading a delegation because of trade negotiations, so what can be done? She’ll return soon.”
“When exactly?”
“From what I’ve learned, it’s about time for her to arrive. If she’s late, the day after tomorrow; if she’s early, perhaps today.”
“I hope she comes today.”
Maru tilted the bottle, poured himself a drink, and downed it in one go.
After that, as he exchanged this and that with Edward and became somewhat drunk, his mother suddenly came to mind.
‘Come to think of it, I never sent word about myself. Since the island disappeared, she’ll think I’m dead.’
He looked back at Edward, who was still loitering in front of the large wardrobe.
“Do you happen to have letter paper?”
“If it’s letter paper, it’s over there. Look on my desk.”
He rose from his seat and went to the desk, where he saw fine-quality paper and an expensive-looking quill pen.
“As expected of a prince. You use good stuff. I like it.”
“If you like it, then I’m happy too.”
Maru pulled out an antique chair and sat at the desk.
“I’m going to write a letter, so go outside for a moment.”
“Mm? I have to choose my clothes.”
“I’m writing a letter to my mother. It’s embarrassing.”
A moment later, Edward, neatly dressed in walking clothes, grasped the doorknob and smiled.
“To think someone is in my room while I am not—what a novel experience. Very well. I’ll be in the garden, so come call me once you’re done.”
“Don’t go somewhere tucked away.”
“I’ll be by the fountain in front of the palace. Then, write your letter well.”
When the door closed, Maru gripped the quill and began writing the letter.
Because he had not seen her in so long, there was much he wanted to say, and the words came without pause.
Mother.
It’s me, Maru.
I was drinking in a refined manner with a friend of high status, and I thought of you.
On this day, more than ever, I miss your kindness as you would personally pour me drinks by my side, telling me how pretty your prince was whenever I drank.
You may perhaps receive a report from Carlisle saying I have died.
Please do not be alarmed, and be at ease.
I am healthy and doing well in a place called the Kingdom of Basilite. (Absolutely do not send anyone.)
And not long ago, I saw something amusing here.
There was a version of you from when you were younger than I am now.
I was inwardly amazed again and again by how truly incredible the feats you accomplished in the days when you were as free as a bird were.
I am so happy to be your son.
At the same time, I came to want to resemble you even more.
I, too, will quickly accomplish great things like you and contribute to our kingdom… (omitted)
At last, Maru rolled up the finished letter.
“Ah, why is it so spicy?”
Sniffling, he rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand.
He stretched long and wide.
“Shall I go out for the first time in a while?”
He would go out alone, mail the letter, and come back.
Since it was for his mother, he wrote the recipient as a woman named Helen who lived in a rural village in his homeland.
It was a receiving address secretly used by agents operating away from the country to communicate with the royal palace.