The Insipid Prince's Furtive Grab for The Throne (最強出涸らし皇子の暗躍帝位争い 無能を演じるSSランク皇子は皇位継承戦を影から支配する) is a Japanese light novel series written by Tanba and illustrated by Yuunagi. It was serialized online from February 2019 to February 2024 on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō. It was later acquired by Kadokawa Shoten, who have published sixteen volumes since September 2019 under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint. A manga adaptation with art by Yukino Amagai has been serialized online via Kadokawa Shoten's Young Ace Up website since December 2019 and has been collected in nine volumes. Both the light novel and manga have been licensed in North America by Kadokawa. An anime television series adaptation produced by Maho Film is set to premiere in July 2026.
Plot
In the Ardrasia Empire, after the death of the crown prince in battle, the struggle for the throne among the princes has become heated. Since losing the struggle for the throne could even cost one's life, the lower-ranking princes are constantly at risk of assassination. The seventh prince of the Ardrasia Empire, Arnold Lakes Adler, continued to be incompetent and he is mocked by the nobles as the "leftover prince" because his twin brother, the eighth prince Leonard, had stolen all of his good qualities. However, Arnold is actually the strongest prince, and his secret identity is "Silver", a skilled SS-rank adventurer who hides his face behind a mask and completes difficult requests using powerful magic.