Chapter 211: The Prince’s Inn

"My father is my father, and I am me. We severed our ties a long time ago. Besides, as the son of a concubine, my father probably does not even consider me his child. I believe I have already been removed from the Holywood family register as well."

"Oh? That’s strange. I heard that you were the minister’s pride and joy."

"You must have heard incorrectly. My father hates me."

Viktor continued speaking in his usual calm, detached manner. Just listening to him made Qiu Nuoya feel that there was some deeply rooted conflict between him and his father.

"Well, if that is what you say, Uncle, then let’s leave it at that. In any case, your identity is clear, and I don’t think there is anything suspicious about your fellow adventurers. Arana, has your opinion changed?"

"Ah, no. If that is what you say, Your Highness..."

Arana had lost all the momentum she had shown earlier. She glanced toward Viktor.

She was probably still only half-convinced. Then again, even Qiu Nuoya could hardly believe it himself.

Still, considering how naturally Viktor was able to converse with the prince, it was probably all true.

Qiu Nuoya had already realized that Viktor came from a noble family when he first heard the name Silvermere, but he had never imagined that Viktor was the son of a minister.

Wait, if Cassian, the Minister of General Affairs, is Viktor’s father, then he must naturally be older than Viktor, right?

Could he have been serving as a minister since this country was first founded?

And maybe he’s actually one of the most powerful and influential figures in the entire country?

Qiu Nuoya stole another sideways glance at Viktor’s profile.

As always, Viktor’s expression remained unchanged.

Qiu Nuoya had always assumed that Viktor must have experienced many things in his past, but perhaps there was a much more complicated and difficult history hidden behind him than Qiu Nuoya had ever imagined.

Once again, Qiu Nuoya felt that there was no end to the depths of Viktor’s past.

...

The inn where the princes were staying, and where they took Qiu Nuoya and the others, was probably the finest luxury hotel in the entire city.

The moment they entered the lobby, Qiu Nuoya felt the softness of the thick carpet beneath his feet. Looking around, he could not see a single other guest dressed as casually as they were.

It was immediately obvious that this was not a hotel where ordinary adventurers like them would normally stay, and the gazes from the people around them were painfully obvious.

The hotel itself was elegant and solemn. There were no children running around making noise, nor were there any vulgar drunks shouting loudly.

Instead, Qiu Nuoya could clearly hear the whispers of the guests who looked at their unmistakably adventurer-like appearance.

"Why are those lowly people in a place like this...?"

Yet the prince’s group showed no concern whatsoever about the attention they were receiving. Qiu Nuoya could not help admiring how unfazed they were.

The hotel staff, meanwhile, did not even frown at them. They treated Qiu Nuoya and the others with exactly the same courtesy as any other guest.

I suppose this really is what you would expect from a first-class hotel.

The room they were shown to was probably the most expensive suite in the entire hotel. In fact, calling it a room hardly seemed appropriate. Considering its enormous size, it could easily have been called a house.

Qiu Nuoya and the others could only stare blankly.

The suite was unquestionably larger than the house they had lived in back in Oraria. It was furnished with all sorts of luxurious furniture and decorations, and just thinking about how much a single night here must cost was frightening.

When Qiu Nuoya sat down on the sofa they were invited to use, his body sank softly into the cushions.

Even that alone was enough to make him feel restless.

"How should I put it... I can’t relax in a place like this."

Qiu Nuoya nodded at Igor’s quiet mutter.

Warren and Xiao Tao seemed to feel the same way. The only person who remained completely unfazed was Viktor.

"That reminds me, Your Highness, why are you staying in a place like this? For the heir to the throne to dine at a casual restaurant among commoners without even a proper entourage is hardly what one would call appropriate behavior."

"Why? A king is only a king because of his people, is he not? I believe a king cannot properly govern a country without understanding how ordinary people live. Since I have not yet become king, I intend to take advantage of every opportunity I have to experience such things. In fact, I believe members of the royal family should be much closer to their people."

Huh?

Qiu Nuoya had expected something completely different.

He had heard that the prince traveled around various countries while chasing after women, so he had assumed the prince was a rather foolish prince. But the prince was actually saying something surprisingly sensible.

I really shouldn’t judge people based solely on my preconceptions.

"We are currently traveling throughout the country in an effort to improve it. There are many things we could never learn by simply staying inside the castle, so we are traveling to see the lives of ordinary people with our own eyes and find ways to improve the country."

"Well, I’m mainly doing it to level up."

Shangguan Wan’er’s casual interruption completely ruined the prince’s impressive speech.

Everyone turned toward her with the same expression.

"Eh?"

"Why are you all looking so surprised? There’s no way this sheltered prince would travel around the country just for that! I’m traveling from place to place to raise my level as a Saintess because my level isn’t high enough yet. While I’m at it, we’re solving problems along the way. And all of this is because of you, Taotao! You abandoned your duty as the Hero and ran away!"