2. Friend Candidate
The prince of Llahendia, Lydian, had a twisted personality.
He’d crushed the two potential aides who were introduced to him as his companions. By that, he’d defeated Baldi, the son of the knight captain, in swordsmanship—and Carter, the son of the treasurer, in a duel of mental arithmetic.
“In this world, I’m unrivaled. I’ll become the number one swordsman in Llahendia—no, in Isas!” Baldi boasted of his swordsmanship skills.
“I’ll explain everything that is there in the world to you. Be grateful that I, the most intelligent being in the world, was born here.” Carter looked down on his surroundings.
But after Lydian, the child prodigy, took them down a notch—both metaphorically and literally—they shut themselves up in their mansions.
Well, not like Lydian cared.
“I thought they’d be a great match for me, but I was mistaken. Those who gloat over their talent will only stop growing and cause trouble, so I don’t need them.”
Lydian spoke with a cute smile on his face.
After that, nobody offered their sons to be his friend candidates anymore. The king and the queen were worried. “At this rate, he’ll just become a one-man king with no one to rely on!”
Furthermore, after the incident with Baldi and Carter, Lydian received a boost of popularity. “All hail, the prince of justice who thwarts evil!” Partly because of how good-looking the prince was, and partly because the two weren’t well-liked.
In the aftermath of that incident, when Lydian took in Buffeg, the royal couple welcomed him with open arms and didn’t conduct a proper background check.
“Welcome! From now on, you’re a part of us! I shall bestow upon you the title of court wizard! In terms of social status, you shall rise to the rank of duke!”
“Please take care of my son, m y f a m i l y!”
They bowed to Buffeg.
Buffeg, who was relatively weak to temptation, replied, “Uh, OK.” And was officially given the role of guardian by Lydian’s parents.
Afterwards, Buffeg found himself in charge of the mediation of friend candidates, along with the communication with the nobles. Although Lydian had Dargal on his side, he was a foreigner and most importantly—
“—I’m a member of a warrior tribe. I don’t have any idea about court etiquette, nor the desire to learn it. Oh, but I’ll comply with any orders related to assassination or capture. Feel free to contact me if you have one.”
Due to his ability to [hold a proper conversation], Buffeg was made to handle all the negotiations. Until now, the royal couple’s trusty maids and chamberlains had been acting as Lydian’s guardian. Freed from their duties, it was as if a huge burden had been lifted from their shoulders, and they thanked Buffeg by gifting him confectioneries or straight up paying him.
It went without saying that if dozens of people gave them, they’d just pile up. Thus, Buffeg’s private chamber was filled with a mountain of gifts. Almost like his schedule but replace the word ‘gifts’ with ‘tasks’.
Shedding tears of blood, Buffeg said that he’d choose less workload over being paid.
Seeing how burdened Buffeg was, the royal couple seemed guilty, and offered mental care under the guise of a tea party.
In fact, the king even offered Buffeg, “Would you like a territory? Considering your notorious deeds, you deserve that much.”
However, Buffeg, who was always exhausted from overseeing Lydian’s daring deeds and negotiating with nobles, declined because he couldn’t afford it.
A customary tea party was scheduled that day, attended by a bunch of ladies. In a sense, it was a harem…
The topic naturally switched to Prince Lydian.
A veteran maid shared her story:
“As someone who’s been serving His Highness Lydian for a long time, I can honestly say that I was blown away from the moment he was born. Instead of a baby’s first cry, his first words were [Whether it’s above heaven, or it’s under heaven, only I reign supreme]—and the whole place was in an uproar.”
Followed by the queen:
“—After which he soared into the air, before taking his first bath. At that moment, I knew he was different.”
…Rather than ‘different’, that kid was just out of this world.
—Thus, the legend continued. Apparently, seven days after his birth, Lydian finished reading all of the royal archives. When he was one year old, he taught himself magic. When he was two years old, he ventured outside and dominated the royal capital’s mafia. At the age of four, he dueled against a mythical warrior tribe, before naming one as his spy.
Dargal was the strongest warrior of that tribe.
“—That’s why we’re worried about Lydian…”
Buffeg could only nod to the crying queen. How strange. Isn’t the purpose of this party to aid my mental wellbeing? By the time he noticed that something was amiss, it was already too late. The king boasted of his son’s heroic (illegal) deeds.
Isn’t the king supposed to be fair and just? Buffeg wanted to point out if the king was being too lenient, but… It was at that moment he realized that the king’s gaze was… off.
“Ah, he was too immersed in his own story!”
Realizing that, Buffeg soon made his escape.
He was a fleet-footed man.
In addition to a nutritionally balanced diet, Buffeg went to bed early and got up early, and his complexion improved. As such, he’d changed his class from a [Creepy Old Man] to a [Your Average Middle-Aged Aristocrat]. Moreover, since he was originally an aristocrat, his etiquette was flawless.
Although serving the palace had proven to be quite a challenge, since he received an exceptionally high annual salary and a prestigious title from the royal couple, he reached an epiphany. “Ah, this kind of life might not be so bad after all…”
After spending some time in such a life, Buffeg became popular at the court.
—Amongst the aristocratic uncles, anyway.
“Please make my daughter the prince’s fiancée!”
“No, no, my daughter!”
Oblivious to Lydian’s twisted nature, they targeted Buffeg—the solitary prince’s sole spokesperson—and made a pass at him day and night.
“I have a prized wine! Won’t you come to my house?”
‘At last, I can make friends!’ Thinking that, Buffeg accepted the sweet invitation. But it turned out to be a sales pitch in disguise! Soon, he found himself dealing with more suitor proposals.
By the way, the king and the queen fled, saying, “Buffeg is in charge of all Lydian-related things!”
…As for Lydian himself.
“Hm, I’m at an age where I should at least get engaged. But well, I’m not interested.”
He wasn’t interested.
Not like Buffeg could picture the hellspawn involving himself in love and romance-related stuff, anyway.
“…Well, throughout history, there were many people who got married in their 40s, so there’s no rush.”
Thus, Buffeg postponed the problem.
Soon after that, Lydian said, “I fell in love with a girl at first sight.” And Buffeg was out cold for three days and nights.
Translator’s Note:
Bro this Lydian is that [perfect neighbor/relative’s son A] every Asian parent compared you to
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