I was reincarnated as the carefree duke’s second son, and somehow, my random remarks got me treated like a hero
**《Side: Ice Defy Minty》**
Since the day I was born, my body has always been frail. Every day, I suffered from high fevers and coughing fits, making physical activity out of the question. Despite being fully aware of my position as the eldest son of the Minty royal family, I lost count of how many times I lamented my own inadequacy for not being able to do anything.
I envied those who could live normal lives. Until the age of twelve, I spent my days fighting illness on my bed, reading books, and exercising only my mind while my body remained still.
After turning twelve, I finally gained some mobility and was able to go outside.
But this didn’t mean I could endure intense physical activity—just that I could move my body enough to leave my room and walk around.
That’s why I turned to magic.
Magic is something one can wield based on their internal mana capacity, and it turned out that I had a strong affinity for ice magic. Moreover, my innate talent as a mage with an above-average mana pool allowed me to excel in magic.
However, knowing that magic alone wouldn’t be enough for someone of royal blood, I diligently studied tactics, strategy, and politics without fail.
For someone like me, the only form of entertainment I could enjoy indoors was board games.
Strategic games where you place pieces on a board and think through your moves were both enjoyable and part of my studies.
“Brother, you’re not only talented in magic but also very wise.”
Though I appreciated the words of my younger brother Hughy, who was healthy and skilled in swordsmanship, I couldn’t help but feel envious of him—a feeling that lingered deep within me.
By the time I turned fifteen and was finally able to engage in physical activities, my lack of training meant my swordsmanship was far inferior to others.
Magic and strategy.
Those were the only two paths available to me.
It was during this time that I saw *him*—the man who seemed to have everything, the ideal figure I aspired to be.
The first time I met Brid Slayer Harkens was six months before entering the academy, at a grand social gathering held in the imperial capital’s academic city.
This event, attended by royalty and children of noble families, was a crucial political arena where diplomatic maneuvering between nations took place. Just attending required a certain level of dignity and education.
For me, whose health had always been fragile, this was one of the first social gatherings I’d ever attended.
So, I quietly stayed in a corner seat. Amidst the nobles dressed in their elegant attire, dancing and conversing, Brid arrived late.
“Prince Brid Slayer Harkens has arrived!”
As the announcer called out his name, the entire venue buzzed with excitement, all eyes turning toward the entrance.
What appeared was a man worthy of the title “Second Prince of the Empire.”
Tall and muscular, his physique rivaled even that of knights. His sharp gaze and dignified demeanor overwhelmed the presence of the other nobles.
I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
“How enviable…”
I muttered under my breath, unable to contain my admiration. His appearance and bearing were exactly what I envisioned when I thought of a strong, ideal man.
But that admiration was completely shattered just minutes later.
“What is this?!”
Standing in the center of the hall, Brid quickly scanned the room and walked toward a group of servants of common birth standing in a corner.
“Hey, bring me a drink.”
His commanding tone froze the atmosphere. While it wasn’t uncommon for royalty to give orders to servants, there was no trace of respect or decorum in his voice—qualities that nobles and royals were expected to embody. Instead, his tone carried a condescending sneer.
When he carelessly grabbed a glass and tilted it, spilling a few drops of wine onto the floor, he simply shrugged and said nonchalantly:
“Clean it up. Isn’t that your job?”
The surrounding nobles exchanged confused glances. Some whispered amongst themselves, averting their eyes.
Witnessing this scene filled me with disgust.
Royalty should embody dignity and serve as role models for others. But his behavior was the exact opposite.
Was he nothing more than a barbaric beast?! Was he so arrogant about his natural talents and status?
Later, when a young noble of common birth approached him to greet him, Brid sneered and said:
“I can’t believe someone like you is even here… Well, try not to embarrass yourself too much.”
The young man flushed red with embarrassment and was left speechless.
Watching this unfold, I clenched my fists tightly. The thought of someone like him being praised as the “Empire’s prince” made my blood boil.
He possessed everything one could desire, yet he used his talents and status to belittle others—a far cry from the ideals I sought.
“Brid Slayer Harkens…”
Just uttering his name filled me with anger. From that day on, I harbored an indescribable sense of revulsion and rage toward him.
Above all, I completely lost any respect for him. Yes, Brid was undoubtedly powerful. But as a person, he was someone I could never admire.
On the way home from that social gathering, I still remember the words my father, the king, spoke to me:
“Ice, you must never behave like Prince Brid of the Empire. What you should strive to become is a wise king.”
“A wise king?”
“Yes. Even we royals are human. We rely on the support of others to reign. Never let arrogance cloud your judgment as royalty.”
“I understand, Father.”
From that day forward, I began training to surpass Brid.
If I couldn’t beat him in raw power, then I would gather strength in other ways. I couldn’t afford to lose to Brid.
If I was inferior in ability, I would surpass him in every other aspect.
It was during this time that I met Fly Eltor.
Unlike the tense atmosphere of the empire, he was an awkward, somewhat absent-minded man who introduced himself as the second son of a duke, claiming to be ordinary.
As someone proficient in magic, I could tell—he was naturally gifted in magic and, like me, possessed wisdom.
“Master Ice, I’ve investigated Fly Eltor.”
“Tell me.”
“In his territory, he spends most of his time playing around, but he’s beloved by the townsfolk. It seems that when he was young, despite having a large mana pool, he lacked aptitude for elemental magic and was overshadowed by his older brother, Eric Eltor.”
Another wise individual bound to magic, yet cursed with the inability to use elemental spells.
Hearing this, I felt a slight kinship with him.
“So, he’s struggled too…”
As the second son of a duke, his future was tied to his family. Yet he bore the weight of the struggles that came with his high status.
I developed a fondness for Fly Eltor, a man burdened with all the hardships of his position.
“Someday, I’d like to challenge him to a board game.”
I had lost to Fly in a flag-capturing exercise during class. But next time, I wouldn’t lose. And unlike Brid, I didn’t want to lose to Fly either—not for the same reasons.
