I Was Reincarnated as a Villain Prince’s Follower, but I Refuse to Be Ruined—Turns Out the Prince Is Surprisingly Competent - Chapter 18

The next day, Rufus attended school without any issues. His complexion looked good, which was a relief, but a week passed quickly without any further progress in his magic. Seeking more clues on how to acquire magical skills, I spent my lunch breaks looking through related books in the school library. However, every book began with the assumption that one could already use magic and focused only on how to develop it. I remained at a loss as to how someone could start using it in the first place.

(Is there anything from the original story that could be a hint… ah.)

I remembered something. In the original story, to stop Reinhard—the biggest obstacle to winning Chris over—Rufus had once forced him to drink a mana suppressant. Normally, this drug was developed to protect the body from “Mana Overload,” a condition where the magical energy circulating through the system becomes too strong for the physical frame to handle.

(Is Rufus also being forced to take mana suppressants… or is it possible he’s consuming them without knowing?)

A mana suppressant has the effect of stifling the flow of magic in the body. If someone mixed it into Rufus’s meals, he wouldn’t be able to use magic even if he possessed mana. It was clearly unnatural that Rufus had been unable to use magic for so many years despite having the aptitude. If suppressants were being used…

That day, I didn’t go to the Royal Palace with Rufus; I asked to return to my own mansion first. Before leaving, I told Rufus firmly not to eat or drink anything served at the Royal Palace, no matter what it was. Rufus looked puzzled, but he agreed, saying, “I understand.” I returned to the Royal Palace carrying a lunch box and drinks prepared by my family’s chef. By now, I had reached a status where I could enter and exit the palace just by showing my face.

Once I was shown to Rufus’s room and we were alone, he spoke.

“Why did you go back home?”

“Rufus. Is there a chance that mana suppressants are being mixed into your food?”

Rufus’s face turned pale with shock.

“…I never considered that possibility.”

“I don’t have proof, but for a while starting today, please don’t touch any food or drink served in the Royal Palace.”

“So, I must endure hunger to be able to use magic?”

“You don’t have to endure anything. Eat this. It’s a meal and drink I had my chef prepare. Breakfast and lunch are sold at school, so they should be safe. For dinner, eat what I bring you. But it would look strange if you skipped your palace meals entirely, so I’ll eat yours instead.”

“…If there really is a suppressant in it, how many people in the palace do you think are involved?”

“Only a few, I think. There’s no need to involve a large group for something so bold. A poison tester wouldn’t be able to tell if a suppressant was in the food just by tasting it.”

“Do you think the Crown Prince is involved?”

“Do I really have to answer that? There is no one else who stands to gain from this. Let’s just watch and see how it goes for a bit.”

“That means we’ll be eating together for a while.”

“Just bear with it.”

“Bear with it? There’s no need for that. I get to eat with a friend. Of course, I’m happy about it.”

“I had them make sandwiches for today, but tell me if there’s a dish you like. I’ll have them match your tastes.”

“…I’m sorry for making you go to so much trouble for me.”

“I’m the one who suggested this in the first place, so it’s only natural that I support you with everything I’ve got.”

“I must work hard too. I won’t let your efforts go to waste.”

For the next few days, Rufus continued to eat the meals I brought him while spending his time in a corner of the garden, focusing on visualizing the flow of magic.

“…The flow of mana within me…”

Rufus muttered, holding his hands out like a bowl as if scooping up water. Watching the serious look on his face, I looked on with a prayer in my heart, hoping it would work.

“…It’s hot.”

Rufus’s brow furrowed slightly. Just as I was about to run to him to see what was wrong, he whispered, “«Flame».”

In the next instant, with a roaring sound, crimson flames erupted from his palms.

“Fire…”

The shimmering flames rose toward the blue sky and then vanished. Rufus stared at his palms with an expression of pure shock.

“Rufus… th-that just now…”

“Did you see it?”

“I saw it!”

I shouted, overcome with excitement.

“It wasn’t an illusion… right?”

“Can you do it again!?”

Rufus closed his eyes and held his palms up toward the sky again.

“«Dance, Flame…»”

This time, flames that were visibly more controlled were born. As if everything that had been suppressed for years was finally overflowing, the fire leaped energetically into the air. It was more beautiful than any magic I had seen in the original story; I felt goosebumps all over my body.

“Amazing… You’re amazing, Rufus!!”

Unable to sit still, I ran over and hugged him. Though surprised, Rufus caught me and held me tight.

“You startled me.”

“Sorry. I’m just so happy!”

“…Thank you. This is thanks to you.”

We held each other firmly.

“The fact that you can use magic now means… as I thought…”

It meant that mana suppressants really were being put in his food.

“I don’t care. I never had any allies in the palace to begin with. This just confirms it. I won’t be shocked by it now. As long as I have you, that’s all that matters.”

Just then, the voices of knights drew closer. They must have seen the flames. I tried to pull away, but Rufus wouldn’t let go of me easily. His eyes crinkled with amusement as he finally released me at the very last second. Immediately after, the knights rushed in.

“Who goes there! Using magic inside the palace grounds is—”

“My apologies. I thought practicing indoors was dangerous, so I came out here.”

The arriving knights watched with shock as the flames danced in Rufus’s hands.

“Your Highness… magic… C-Congratulations!”

A knight shouted and dropped to his right knee. The other knights followed suit.

“We must inform His Majesty at once!”

“No, I haven’t fully mastered it yet, so keep quiet for a while. I want to show my father something properly refined.”

“Understood, sir!”

However, by the next day, the news that Rufus could use fire magic reached the King’s ears anyway.

“…With this, the Crown Prince will realize we noticed the suppressant in the food. He might try another cowardly move.”

“It’s better if he moves boldly. That saves us the trouble of looking for evidence. The more the Crown Prince struggles, the bigger the ripples he’ll cause.”

“You were thinking that far ahead?”

“Of course. I knew you couldn’t keep people’s mouths shut in the palace. Also, from today on, make sure you only eat food from your own home. He might try something other than suppressants.”

“…Poison?”

“It’s a world where anything can happen.”

“But what about our meals?”

“I’ll handle that on my end.”

The next day, the King came to see Rufus immediately. It was a moving sight; when Rufus performed his fire magic in front of him, the King was moved to tears as if it were his own achievement.

“It’s a miracle! I never thought… Ah… truly… you are my son… Your mother would surely be happy as well…” the King whispered, his voice trembling.

“Your Majesty… no, Father. I am sorry for causing you so much worry until now.”

“No, there is nothing to apologize for. You did well, Rufus.”

“It is thanks to Jeremy being by my side.”

Even at a time like this when he could have taken all the credit, Rufus credited me so honestly.

“Jeremy. You have supported Rufus well. I thank you.”

“In light of this, I wish to participate in the Hunting Festival with Jeremy as my attendant.”

Participants in the Hunting Festival are allowed to choose one attendant.

“Your Highness, surely that’s… I think it would be better to choose a proper knight!”

“Do you dislike the idea?”

“I don’t dislike it. But the attendant’s presence can decide the outcome of the match.”

“It’s precisely because it decides the outcome that it must be you. I have no intention of trusting my back to anyone else now.”

To be trusted that much was a blessing, but it was also overwhelming.

“Jeremy. I ask this of you as well,” the King added. “This is the first time Rufus has ever trusted someone this much. You may think me a doting parent, but I want to grant my son’s wishes as much as possible. Please.”

“Your Majesty!? Please raise your head! I understand!”

I didn’t have the heart to refuse when both the King and his son were bowing to me. Since Rufus acquired magic, even my own reputation had somehow gone up. Apparently, an incorrect rumor was spreading that it was specifically because I was there that he became able to use magic.

“Let them talk. It’s not a bad rumor, after all,” Rufus said nonchalantly.

The way the knights, soldiers, and servants looked at me changed as well. Instead of just being “that guy who hangs around Rufus,” I was now seen as the excellent right-hand man the Prince trusted more than anyone.

“Jeremy. I shall grant you a room in the palace. I will also issue a pass for you to enter and exit the palace freely. Please, continue to support Rufus and offer him your counsel.”

“I… I am deeply honored, Your Majesty.”

After being summoned by the King again, I received such a reward.

Meanwhile, once he had found the starting point, the talented Rufus rapidly learned how to control his magic and improved by leaps and bounds. Despite having refused teachers before, Rufus realized he couldn’t say that with the big goal of the Hunting Festival ahead. He asked the King for help and began receiving instruction from a court mage.

During that time, I watched over him from the closest distance while also receiving instruction myself. Since I had been chosen as his attendant, I wanted to avoid the worst-case scenario of dragging him down. Perhaps because being able to use magic gave him confidence, Rufus mastered everything he was taught without being haunted by his past traumas.

(This is basically a cheat code…)

Normally, this is the kind of thing the “reincarnated hero” Jeremy should have had, but Rufus, the former villain prince who hadn’t even been reincarnated was the one doing it. Controlling the flames with such grace, Rufus shone brighter than anyone, and he was so charming I couldn’t look away.