Chapter 56
But that can't be. You're a prince of Solea, right? How could a prince of Solea end up in the Imperial Knight Corps...? Ah, perhaps!
My mother pointed the sword she held at my throat.
“Erebon, it seems you plan to betray your country and commit treason!”
“Kirine!”
My father raised his voice, but my mother wore an expression as if she had seized the perfect opportunity.
“Your Majesty the King, have I not warned you? This worthless boy is afraid he will lose the throne to my excellent younger brother and clings to the Empire. He must be beheaded immediately!”
In stark contrast to my mother's heated words, my father remained calm.
“Kirine. We have not yet heard the full story from Erebon. If Erebon truly intends to ally with the Empire, would he have handed you the sword? Would he have brought the army with him? Hand the sword here.”
“But...”
“Hand it over.”
My mother handed the sword to my father with an expression of displeasure.
My father examined the sword just as carefully as my mother had.
“Indeed. The dragon emblem symbolizes the Emperor. I thought handing you the sword was merely a way to keep you in check, yet you give a sword bearing the emblem of self.”
After inspecting the sword, my father stood and returned it to me.
“It seems the Emperor has taken a great liking to you. It's only been less than half a year since you left for the Empire.”
“There are many stories to share regarding that.”
“Surely you are not planning treason, as Kirine said?”
“Do you think I would do such a thing?”
“Of course not. We must hear the full story. There are many things I wish to ask and hear from you. What are you doing? Stand up at once.”
My father lifted me from where I still knelt on one knee.
“That’s it. Let me embrace you!”
A warm embrace.
My father hugged me as tightly as he could.
Although it had only been two months since I left for the Empire, returning home even for a short time made me feel the reality of being back with my family.
As we hugged, our eyes met with my mother’s spiteful gaze from the side.
“I have heard everything. You are fervently claiming that I should pass the throne to Rua, not you.”
If my mother learned that I had decided to yield the throne to Rua, what reaction would she show?
I felt sorry for the hardships she endured when giving birth to me and the near-death experience that resulted from it.
But that was separate. My mother’s desire to make Rua king was purely her own selfishness.
It stemmed from a desire to cause me even slight harm out of revenge.
It was little more than the tantrum of a child.
“By the way, how did the guards at the entrance handle it?”
“I had them unaware that I came here except to the two of you, and put them to sleep quietly.”
“It was an ambush. It sounds like my strength has grown in such a short time.”
“Do not be surprised. Although I am temporarily in charge, I have become a professor teaching swordsmanship at the Academy.”
“Good, good. First, drink a cup. I had been preparing to drink a lot of wine today because of your arrival.”
“What? But my age is still too young to drink alcohol...”
“It does not matter. I, the King, permit it.”
Sitting in front of my father and mother, I told them everything that had happened in the Empire.
From the story of Solea people attacking the envoys while I traveled to the Empire, to me and Rua entering the higher grades at the Academy.
From how I became the temporary swordsmanship professor and popular professor, defeating the other two professors and the two strongest students from the Academy to gain the Emperor’s approval.
My mother, unable to listen to the story from the beginning about me and Rua taking the Imperial Academy entrance exam with a clear head, gulped down several cups of alcohol.
After the story was mostly over, my father, who had been slowly drinking while savoring my words, patted my shoulder.
“I am truly relieved.”
“Which part do you mean?”
“That you are my son and a prince of Solea. If our blood ties were not enough, you might have already thrown yourself at the Emperor.”
“What brought me here today was exactly that. Regarding joining the Imperial Knight Corps.”
The Emperor said I could do as I pleased, but if I truly did so, it could cause trouble for Solea.
That is why I needed to discuss it with my father, the King.
“You must be cautious. The Emperor is cunning. The key is what conditions he has set for you.”
“He said he would allow me to command eight regiments as independent forces. He also entrusted selection to me. But above all, the most important point was that I did not need to be loyal to him and could prioritize my homeland.”
“Then what is the problem?”
“There is a problem.”
The one who answered quietly instead was my mother.
“Your Majesty the King, the greatest virtue of a knight is loyalty. How can it be that a knight without loyalty is even possible?”
“It is not possible. But as my son, I think there is value even if you obtain it this way.”
“Moreover, the Emperor is a wise man. He probably intends to keep this child close and slowly convince him.”
“Hmm...”
While my father fell into thought from my mother’s words, I spoke again.
“Please reconsider why I went to the Empire. The goal was to strengthen the alliance between the Empire and Solea. In that sense, is there any greater success than this?”
“Your words are correct. Yielding you is a somewhat dangerous choice, but it seems like a worthwhile adventure. As long as you are fine.”
“I am fine. If you are worried, I will swear an oath here. Above all, I prioritize Solea. And if...”
“If?”
“This might be a bold move, but...”
“Even if I abandon Solea, Rua is there. She is an even better younger sister than me.”
At those words, my father’s expression turned to surprise, and my mother’s face lit up with joy.
“Be careful with your words. Does that mean you will renounce your right to the throne if necessary?”
“That could be possible.”
“It could be possible! It has only been a short time since I informally offered you the throne, and you say such a thing...”
My mother’s face changed again as she listened to my father.
“Your Majesty the King. What does that mean? You said you informally offered the throne to Erebon?”
“That is right.”
“Both children are still young. How did you conduct such a matter secretly!”
My father frowned.
My mother’s voice was far too loud.
It seemed my mother’s usual temperament, combined with the alcohol, had gotten the better of her.
“Lower your voice. Calm yourself, Kirine.”
“If you are the King, could you remain calm in this situation?”
“Kirine!”
My father shouted, and my mother’s momentum finally subsided.
No matter what, my father was not as weak to alcohol as my mother.
“You said that as the King of a knight kingdom, personal strength is important, and as the King of the country, you must have the ability to strengthen your own nation. In my view, you lack neither of those for Erebon. That is why I made up my mind.”
“But you clearly sought my advice...”
“Kirine, you are the Queen of Solea. But the King of Solea is me.”
That meant the final decision rested with my father.
It was a reminder to understand your role.
“Yes, that is correct. Your Majesty the King is the only King of Solea.”
My mother’s reluctant words carried mockery and sarcasm, but my father did not raise his voice further.
My father spoke to me again.
“Erebon, there seems to be something. Something I do not know.”
“...”
“Speak. What is the thought and plan behind your words?”
I wondered if it had been foolish to say I had no issue with yielding the throne to Rua.
But I definitely had to say it someday.
“May I speak frankly?”
“You may.”
“Solea is not a great country.”
My father listened calmly even to those words.
It was an undeniable fact.
“Then?”
“So if I truly act for the sake of Solea, as King I should not stay only within the country but advance into the wider world.”
“That sounds like you wish to wander the world.”
Wandering the world was not entirely incorrect.
There were many things to prepare by traveling the corners of the world.
But it was different from the aimless wandering I did after my previous life when Solea fell and was exiled.
This was a purposeful wandering, one that would benefit not only Solea but the entire world.
“You should know this. For any reason, I will never abandon my homeland, Solea.”
My father nodded his head.
With that alone, I gained confidence.
Now, it was time to meet the rulers of the world again.