"His Highness, Yuri, is here!"
As soon as the announcement rang out from outside the palace, a thin and frail young man with a head that was about twice as big as that of a normal man his size came rushing in from outside. There was sweat dripping down his face, and as he ran, he urgently yelled, "I'm here to offer Father a birthday present! I'm not too late, am I?"
Everyone in the palace turned to Yuri in unison with surprise etched on their faces.
"Wasn't His Highness in attendance this entire time?"
"I'm not sure; I don't recall seeing him, though. As expected of the most forgettable prince."
"Most importantly, even His Majesty didn't seem to have noticed his absence."
All of the officials wore rather peculiar expressions, with hints of ridicule in their eyes.
The first and second princes each had their strengths, and they had always been evenly matched in the past few years, maintaining a fine balance, so no one knew who would inherit the throne in the end.
