The Insipid Prince's Furtive Grab for the Throne (Japanese: 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, Hepburn: Saikyō Degarashi Ōji no Anyaku Teii Arasoi: Munō o Enjiru SS Rank Ōji wa Kōi Keishōsen wo Kage kara Shihai suru) 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 and later acquired by Kadokawa Shoten under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint since September 2019. A manga adaptation with art by Yukino Amagai has been serialized online via Kadokawa Shoten's Young Ace Up website since December 2019. Both the light novel and manga have been licensed in North America by Kadokawa. An anime television series adaptation produced by Maho Film premiered in July 2026.
Contents
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. Arnold has no intention of becoming emperor, so in order to protect his own life, he secretly works behind the scenes to support his younger brother Leo, whom he believes is more worthy of the throne.
Characters
Arnold Lakes Adler (アルノルト・レークス・アードラー, Arunoruto Rēkusu Ādorā)
Voiced by: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (PV), Yuma Uchida (anime)
Leonard Lakes Adler (レオナルト・レークス・アードラー, Reonaruto Rēkusu Ādorā)
Voiced by: Kikunosuke Toya (anime)
Fine von Kleinert (フィーネ・フォン・クライネルト, Fīne fon Kuraineruto)
Voiced by: Ai Kayano (PV), Manaka Iwami (anime)
Elna von Amsberg (エルナ・フォン・アムスベルグ, Eruna fon Amusuberugu)
Voiced by: Maaya Uchida (anime)
Lynfia (リンフィア, Rinfia)
Voiced by: Kaede Hondo (anime)
Eric Lakes Adler (エリク・レークス・アードラー, Eriku Rēkusu Ādorā)
Voiced by: Atsushi Tamaru (anime)
Gordon Lakes Adler (ゴードン・レークス・アードラー, Gōdon Rēkusu Ādorā)
Voiced by: Ryōta Takeuchi (anime)
Zandora Lakes Adler (ザンドラ・レークス・アードラー, Zandora Rēkusu Ādorā)
Voiced by: Mitsuki Saiga (anime)
Johannes Lakes Adler (ヨハネス・レークス・アードラー, Yohanesu Rēkusu Ādorā)
Voiced by: Kazuhiko Inoue (anime)
Christa Lakes Adler (クリスタ・レークス・アードラー, Kurisuta Rēkusu Ādorā)
Media
Light novels
Written by Tanba, The Insipid Prince's Furtive Grab for the Throne began serialization as a web novel published on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō from February 3, 2019, to February 4, 2024. It was later acquired and published by Kadokawa Shoten as a light novel with illustrations by Yuunagi under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint since September 1, 2019. Seventeen volumes have been released as of July 2026. The light novel is published digitally in English on Kadokawa's BookWalker website.
Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Yukino Amagai began serialization on Kadokawa Shoten's Young Ace Up manga website on December 25, 2019. Ten tankōbon volumes have been released as of July 2026. The manga adaptation is also published digitally in English on Kadokawa's BookWalker website.
Anime
An anime adaptation was announced during Kadokawa's "Sneaker Bunko 35th Anniversary Festa!" livestream on September 24, 2023, which was later confirmed to be a television series that will be produced by Maho Film and directed by Yūji Yanase, with Kazuyuki Fudeyasu handling series composition, Kazuko Tadano designing the characters, and Akki composing the music. The series premiered on July 6, 2026, on Tokyo MX and BS Fuji. The opening theme song is "Script", performed by Buddiis, while the ending theme song is "Suteki na Kanchigai" (素敵なかんちがい; A Wonderful Mistake), performed by Kurawan. Crunchyroll is streaming the series.
Reception
By September 2023, the series has over 1 million copies in circulation.