Prince Liam Halheim and his entourage moved along the winding, serpentine path towards Validor - Muddy paths and harsh rains tormented the group. Amongst the servants, they whispered, "Oh, poor Prince Liam..."

However, what they didn't know was that Prince Liam actually was not Prince Liam.

Prince Liam was actually Norbert Halheim, a sage many generations down from the Age of Torment - An era of global destruction due to a massive civil war that prompted the collapse of civilization.

Norbert Halheim, which led the Halheim Consortium of businesses watched on, as he sipped his fruit wine while the heat from the blast erased him and his building. There was a brief, sharp pain amidst a white flash and as Norbert next opened his eyes, the first thing in his eyes was a farmer carrying a bucket of water with pure, clean river water that he had just drawn.

"What?" Norbert/Liam looked around and he saw a few steps back, someone he recognized, not as Norbert, but as Liam - Janine Rivers, a young maid that couldn't be older than 20. Liam kept quiet and kept walking down the cobbled bridge that connected the farmlands to the capital as he digested his thoughts. Why was he sent back in time to a no-name prince? He had never remembered the name of Liam. Are they even connected despite the similar surname?

Entering the streets of Stoneford, he watched as the peasants hustled and bustled, the markets thriving with people peddling their goods - The aroma of venison being cooked on sticks drifted to his nose. Liam gulped - He hadn't smelled proper food like this since the Age of Torment began, they only had bars packed with nutrients that were tasteless.

"Janine, can you please get one for me?" The 15 year old Liam pointed at the venison stall and the maid quickly bowed, hurrying up to the stand to purchase one and the maiden, with silken brown hair, large eyes and thin red lips hurried back, her cheeks flushed a slight shade of red, held out the stick of venison meat in her hand.

"Prince Liam, please." She bowed as she held the stick out and Liam took it and greedily took a bite out of it. The juice of the meat poured out into his mouth and he sighed happily.

"Thanks, Janine!" He said cheerfully and this left the maid stunned.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Prince Liam was not a nasty prince by any measure, but he wasn't exactly the nicest as well.

Janine smiled and bowed as she quickly backed away, leaving a small distance between herself and Liam under the watchful eyes of the Royal Guards that followed them incognito.

Liam sat down on a bench as he watched the people going by as he processed the information readily available to him. The Halheim Kingdom, with their finances barely struggling onwards, plagued by court politics seemed to be holding everything together through the sheer will of King Sigmund who was, by all measures, an average king with unlimited patience. However, his eagerness to be diplomatic has constantly ended up with compromises that left the royal family and the interests of the nations at a disadvantage.

However, King Sigmund's health was failing, with concoction after concoction of medication being administered to him every meal just for him to have enough energy for a few conversations and important edicts - He has already handed most of the responsibilities to Crown Prince Hubert, who, almost certainly, will purge Liam once he comes to power.

Liam's estates were not large by any measures, in fact, he could do much better with what he has.

"Janine, we are returning home. I have things to do." Liam got off the bench and walked towards the mansion in the distance, as his obedient maid hurried behind him.

Once he was home, he summoned all of the servants and maids - Bring every single painting and ornament that he had bought over the years to the central hall.

"Is the Prince okay?"

Liam heard the remarks as they hurried away to carry out his bidding while he enjoyed fresh water at his seat. Janine carried in a painting that could only be described as abstract at best, which Liam, the previous Liam, that is - Had spent a fortune on.

"He had such shitty taste..." Liam muttered under his breath as he smiled.

As everything poured into the room, Liam could only lament the amount of money wasted. He made up his mind - He was going to sell it all for Gold, silver or bronze coins - Something he can use, instead of something that he can only bury with him when he is dead.

"Head Butler, I want you to bring everything to the auction hall and sell it. As much as you can and as soon as you can." Liam said briskly as he looked upon a man with greying hair, scars on his face. The Head Butler was Morgan Vepo, an ex soldier who had retired and was taken into the royal household as a butler, as thanks for saving the life of King Sigmund during a hunt.

Morgan blinked a few times, "Prince Liam? Are you sure? You spent a lot of time and-"

"I'm sure. Do it now." Liam nodded and true to his soldier background, Morgan asked no more and instead swiftly carried out his orders, having the servants empty the hall of the paintings and other weird ornaments such as a golden hairpin.

Retreating into his study, Liam went to the study and picked up a quill, dipping it into the inkpot and beginning a draft of how he would spend his next 6 months in this body.

Of course, he needed money. A lot of it.