I reincarnated as the hated villainous prince, and thought to live as I pleased in this life, but it turns out I’ve been unconsciously making saintly moves. I’m trying to create an evil kingdom, but for some reason, everyone respects me!

“Alright…”

I’m not sure what the respectful address was about, but for now, having safely finished my practice, I clenched my right hand tightly, savoring the afterglow of victory.

As I thought, compared to my previous life, my body feels significantly lighter.

Moreover, I was able to handle magic smoothly for the first time, so it seems I’m fitting into this world more than I expected.

And above all, the basic abilities to make Sword Emperor Mirua kneel…

Generally, many view Esmeralda as an ‘incompetent’ and ‘lazy’ person, but it seems he originally possessed excellent abilities. If he had lived a little more seriously, he might have become a king ruling a country…

…Right, since I’m here, I might as well try that.

“Status Open.”

As I chanted, familiar numbers from my previous life appeared in my vision.

—

Esmeralda Dia Vefeld Level 3

Physical Attack: 102
Physical Defense: 97
Magical Attack: 142
Magical Defense: 87
Agility: 95

—

“What, what…!?”

This was certainly surprising.
I understand the level being low, but the individual stats are too high for that level.

Especially considering that in the game, the protagonist’s physical attack power barely exceeds 100 in the late double digits.

A status stronger than the protagonist who later saves the world, what is this…!?

“― No, it was a complete defeat, Prince Esmeralda.”

Lost in thought, suddenly Mirua spoke from behind me.

“To think that all my sword strikes were blocked and then countered with the Brilliant Cherry Blossom Strike. Were you secretly training hard without me knowing?”

“…As if. That’s too much trouble.”

Confused about how to respond, I said what Esmeralda in the story would probably say.

“No, you can’t fool my eyes. The swordsmanship you showed just now is not something you can do by fluke. Prince Esmeralda, you must be at a level only achievable through serious training.”

“…………”

This is troublesome.
This Mirua, even in the story, was a character troublesome enough to be feared by the final boss. There’s no way I could fool her with a simple lie.

“Oh my, what’s this, Esmeralda and Mirua? What happened?”

And.

Attracted by our commotion, Princess Yuricia Li Vefeld, the first princess, came to the scene. With long blonde hair down to her waist, she was a woman perfectly fitting words like “dignity” and “nobility”, unlike me.

“Princess Yuricia, were you here?”

“Yes. I heard quite a commotion for a practice, so I became curious.”

“No, my apologies for that.”
Saying so, Sword Emperor Mirua bowed her head.
“Actually, Prince Esmeralda has grown remarkably in the time I haven’t seen him… He even managed to score a point against me.”

“Esmeralda did…?”

Even Yuricia seemed dubious, twitching her eyebrow.

In her behavior, she didn’t even try to look at me. It was evident she viewed me — no, all her siblings who could threaten her succession to the throne — as enemies.

“…Haha, is that so? Your concern for the royal family’s members, as usual, shows why you are called the Sword Emperor.”

“………? No, it’s not concern, Prince Esmeralda really has…”

“Then, I’ll take my leave here. Mirua, when you’re tired of… entertaining, feel free to end the practice.”

With that, she bowed slightly and returned through the door she came from.

“………”

Mirua, too, seemed surprised, staring at the door without moving.

Her words were polite, but she clearly harbored malice towards me. Given the game’s setting of a bloody struggle for the throne, it probably stems from that.

…Indeed, in this environment, it’s no wonder Esmeralda’s mental state could collapse.

As the fifth prince and not a child of the legitimate queen, he almost had no chance of ascending the throne.

Yet, he’s caught in such a pointless struggle for power, with no allies around…

It’s quite reasonable for him to lose all motivation in everything.

“Hahaha…”

That’s why I couldn’t stop laughing.

Esmeralda Dia Vefeld, the tyrannical villainous prince.

A prince abandoned by both royalty and the public, with no relation to the succession of the throne.
In a sense, a position with great “power” but almost no “responsibility.”

Therefore, I can live as I please.

Waking up when I want, eating what I like, keeping the women I fancy by my side, and getting whatever I desire…

“Not bad, is it?”
“At least, compared to the lousy

days of my previous life, it’s almost like heaven.”

It’s no wonder I couldn’t stop laughing.

“………Hmm?”

As I was laughing alone, I suddenly realized Mirua was still beside me.

“What’s the matter? The practice is over, isn’t it? Why don’t you go home?”

“No… Even in such a situation, Prince, you do not show any signs of agitation… Rather, you are calm and composed.”

“Huh…?”

“I think that a true Sword Emperor should always be unflappable, calm, and composed at any time… Given your swordsmanship earlier, Prince Esmeralda, you may have already surpassed me.”

“What are you talking about? I’m just―”

“Therefore, please allow me to witness it. I want to see what Prince Esmeralda, who has been secretly training, will do from now on.”

What’s this?
I haven’t done any special training, yet she’s talking like this.
And Mirua, she’s even shining in her eyes.

Usually, she’s arrogant, hardly paying attention to others.

“…I don’t quite get it, but are you saying you want to be my subordinate?”

“That’s one way to put it, yes.”

I see.
A villainous prince with a Sword Emperor as a subordinate.
I don’t understand why she changed her mind, but it’s not a bad idea to be cool.

“Huh.”
I let out a smile and, fluttering my cloak, said,
“Very well, follow me, Sword Emperor Mirua. You will be the first of my subordinates.”