What was the life of a prince?

This was something Sol always wondered about in the past. But now that he was one, he realized one thing.

It was a far more monotonous life than one might expect.

He truly only had two things to do.

Studying and training.

[Black Knights’ Training Zone]

The Black Knights were one of the finest elite groups of soldiers who served the Kingdom. They were once Lilith’s guard that she built from the ground up as she roamed alone on the battlefield after her awakening.

Now though, after nearly twenty years, it was a far larger force with new blood. They might not all have set foot on the battlefield but they were all experienced in their way and certainly talented knights.

As the sun steadily rose in the air and signaled the start of the day, two shadows were crossing each other and moving back and forth.

While the sounds of heavy swords clashing rang in the ears of the knights who were busy cheering and whistling.

Sol loved this place, as it was one of the rare moments when he left the vicinity of the tower of Babel.

‘… What a weird discussion…’

Blocking an overhead slash coming at him, Sol sighed quietly while remembering what happened not long ago.

Discussing with his aunt about the matter of losing his virginity was indeed rather weird. But well, it didn’t matter, not anymore anyway. He was already used to such embarrassing situations by now.

Whoosh! Clang!!

Instinctively blocking the incoming sword strike, Sol took a slide step before pointing his sword at the throat of his opponent.

“Sneak attack? I thought better of you.”

Raising an eyebrow, he sized the brown-haired young man in front of him with a slight grin.

Truth be told. He did not know his name. He had a weird relationship with the knights. One that was both close yet distant. More than once, he had remembered a name, only for them to vanish as they were sent to the battlefield and never came back. He had learned to take his distance a little since then.

The first time it happened had been quite the shock for him after all.

But now was the time to slowly break his fear. After all, they would all one day be his subjects to rules and his soldiers to lead.

“Haha, this was extraordinary your highness, I thought that I could finally win while you were out of it? As for sneak attacks. Heh…” The young man shook his head, “There is no such as a sneak attack in a fight?”

Sol smiled as he lowered his sword and let out a cough, “You are right. I guess I still have yet to assimilate this truth.”

“It will come with time, your highness. You certainly do not lack the talent to become one of the most renowned fighters of this era.”

“I did not even have my…”

He wished to continue but stopped as he saw the stars full of hopes in the eyes of the man. Those soldiers did not need him to humble himself here.

“Well, I believe I should have enough capacity to contract with a S rank.”

“Hahahah.”

The two of them shared a knowing look before exploding with laughter. In their surroundings, the other knights who were training were watching this scene with heartwarming gazes and cheered at the bold words of the prince.

How could they not?

In this world, what was needed, more than even a benevolent King was a powerful King and Sol’s genetic pool was good enough to bring unexpected results.

“Still, you are truly a genius. Your skills are still lacking, but even with me using mana, I am still having a hard time catching up with your speed and strength.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. Had you brought your Partner, I would have lost horribly.”

This was the truth. Humans had many shortcomings but once they awakened and were able to sign a contract, everything changed. Not all humans who awakened could have the capacity to sign a contract or a high-level one.

The knight gave a bitter smile and shook his head. He knew that Sol didn’t mean bad by saying it, but the simple fact that someone at his level would need to team up with his Partner to beat Sol showed how monstrous the boy was.

‘When he awakens, I don’t think I will even be able to see his dust.’

This was why the only one who could train with the prince regularly was Setsuna. Sol's knight and personal sword instructor.

Normally she would have been seen hovering around them like a mother hen, but it seemed that she had some work to deal with and he had no choice but to sacrifice himself.

Few knights liked fighting Sol.

Winning against the prince and eventually wounding his esteemed self was a constant worry. But at the same time, losing against someone without mana was also a shame.

Thankfully, since nearly all the young soldiers had been beaten by Sol as time passed, no one laughed anymore.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

While the truth was bitter, the knight showed no resentment at the obvious difference in talent.

Why should he? Sol was the future leader of this kingdom. In this world where might make right, serving a weak ruler only meant that your kingdom would have to go through different kinds of humiliation.

As such, the more talented was the happier everyone would be, and the more powerful Sol became, the more secure everyone would be.

“So, another bout?”

Just as Sol was about to nod,

“Your Highness. It’s time for your next lesson.”

A maid came and interrupted them, bringing an end to the training.

Sol frowned a little, as he did not like most of the theoretical lesson. He knew that all he had to do was to refuse and that would be it. At the end of the day, no one in this Kingdom could order him around.

But doing so would be shortsighted.

‘At least I shouldn’t reject knowledge.’

Knowledge was power. He didn’t know if he would make a good or a bad king, but he at least knew that he wouldn’t be very good if he didn’t at least make the effort to learn more about governing and politics.

“Well then, later.”

The knights all bowed in salute until Sol left the training ground.

.

.

.

The rest of the day proceeded much the same as Sol went lesson after lesson. From history and geography to lessons on politics and even mundane things such as chess and other social games before finishing with dances and oratory lessons.

All of this was necessary for him to become a good ruler and someone who would not be humiliated in high society.

In the end, it was with a tired expression that he finally went back to his room.

“Sigh~ I am beaten!”

Jumping on his bed— after wiping off the remnants of water droplets left on his body and hair with a towel, then leaving said towel on a basket after being done with the task— Sol released a sigh of contentment as he felt the comfy softness of his cozy bed, healing the soreness of his fatigued body, and refreshing his equally exhausted mind.

Today had been a little rougher than usual, which was understandable with him being distracted after having that remarkably bizarre exchange with his aunt, Lilith, at the start of this day. The contents of the conversation and the ominous ending still persistently resonated within his mind making him feel restless about a tumultuous future ahead.

But he had no wish to think more. He was so exhausted that he had to take a private shower on his own to refresh himself and release some of the accumulated fatigue. Truthfully, he would’ve very much preferred just dozing off in his bed as soon as he entered the room but the putrid smell he had piled up all day made him think better.

However, just as he was about to enter the realm of dreams and serenity, away from all the worldly troubles….

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

….Someone knocked on the door of his room, interrupting the serene slumber he wished to achieve.

‘Huh? Who would come to my room at this time of the night?’

"The door’s open. Come in."

“Excuse me. Sorry for interrupting you and your sleep, your highness.”

A buxom maid elegantly walked into his room and bowed deeply with a refined curtsy.

“Oh, it’s you…”

He immediately recognized the identity of the intruding maid— It was Milia.

“So, what do you want, Milia? Any particular reason for coming to meet me at this hour?”

He nonchalantly inquired while he sat up in his bed, eyes still droopy, and slightly limpid, from the lack of sleep and the previous preparation of trying to enter a sleeping state.

“Her Majesty informed me about the discussion she had with you this morning.”

"Ah…I see. Well, Aunt Lilith told me to consult with you, specifically, about…courting women, I suppose. According to her words, there aren’t any restrictions aside from noblewomen.

"I'm a little embarrassed to say this, but I'm honestly lost as to what to do now. You are already aware of my rather…limited interaction with people. So…do you have any good ideas in mind?"

He couldn’t exactly go to a brothel now could he? This would be quite humiliating if the prince had to resort to such services.

Seemingly waiting for those exact words to escape Sol’s lips, Milia walked slowly towards him— a seductive flair added to her refined gait full of elegance— with a large, almost creepy, smile etched on her beautiful mature face. The sudden change of her aura made him befuddled.

"I indeed have many ideas for you to get more experience with women. But, for your first time, Her Highness specifically asked that you would have intercourse with someone you could believe in."

A growing suspicion lingering and rising in the depths of his heart— since the very start of this chat— bloomed into reality when he was pushed back on the bed by one of her, slightly tanned, dainty hands.

"Or...is Your Highness not willing to lay down with an old maid like me?"

Sol gulped audibly in nervous anticipation, thinking of the ensuing events. He would be utterly lying if he said that he had never harbored any perverted thoughts or carnal fantasies about the buxom head maid.

Admittedly, Milia had been a mother figure in his new life, but for reasons unknown, that had been the primary cause for even more unspeakable, lecherous, scenarios to bloom in his mind now and again, scenarios he was ashamed to even imagine conducting in reality. The allure of taboo pleasure was just that much captivating.

“You must be exhausted after such a long day, so I am here to give you a massage, your highness.”

“You don’t have to do that, Milia….”

Even though Milia was extremely beautiful, to almost criminal levels, and he indeed had some, questionable forms of, desires toward her, he would never destroy their current relationship by forcing her to do something she didn't wish to.

Lust may be part of his name but he was not one to fulfil his lust at the detriment of others.

Milia, fully understanding what he meant by those words, smiled, almost chuckled, as she corrected his misunderstanding of her intentions.

“You are our master, and a maid must show their utmost hospitality and willingness to serve their masters, what’s more, I wish, from the bottom of my heart, to give you an evening massage to soothe the day’s weariness.”

The bewitching smile etched on her, mature and charming, face hid no illusion about the kind of massage he would receive from her. The aura surrounding her transitioned to a besmirching one with each passing second.

She resumed her seductive gait, slowly, almost teasingly, reaching towards the bed he lay on, the moment she reached his position, she halted, then slid down between his legs and crouched in that position.

The following moment, the charming maid reached out her dainty hands and abruptly began rubbing his crotch, sensually, over the thin fabric of his tight trousers.

Her slender fingers and soft palm felt inexplicably warm even through the fabric and the rapturous sensation quickly brought his member to partial erection inside his tight pants, further tightening the constraints.

He had to hide a shudder of ecstasy from running throughout his body at the carnal pleasure she was experiencing from her touch alone. Even though he hadn't been a virgin in his previous life, it was difficult to claim that he was experienced in the sexual department. His plight was enhanced by the fact that his current body was still that of a virgin's and completely in the middle of his teen years, at least in human terms.

Milia— knowing and ignoring his cute attempts of putting up a subconscious resistance— began to remove his pants as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do in this situation.