Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Crown Prince Pilgrimage
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“Your Highness, it’s time to dismount.”
The knight captain guarding Rainer spoke to him as he surrounded his vicinity. At those words, he pulled off his robe and took out the imperial treasure he had tucked in his bosom. It was an accessory that changed one’s appearance. He slipped a ring onto the ring finger of his left hand.
His black hair turned brown, and his golden eyes shifted to brown. His overall impression became utterly ordinary, like any passerby you might spot on the street.
He dismounted from his horse. People were nowhere in sight at the forest entrance, lending the place an eerie atmosphere. He asked the knight captain indifferently.
“Do I proceed on foot from here?”
“Yes, that’s correct. We’ll take our leave here.”
The knight captain assigned his three strongest knights under his command to accompany Rainer. Though the captain wished to follow as well, he could not while his liege, the Emperor, still lived. After a quick bow to Rainer, the knight captain departed for the capital with the horses they had ridden.
“Then let’s get going.”
“Yes!”
Rainer set off with the three knights, Kashan, and the pilgrimage chronicler. The group began ascending the mountain toward their first destination.
* * *
The Crown Prince Pilgrimage was a rite that crown princes undertook before ascending to the throne. To understand how the empire’s subjects lived, one had to experience it firsthand. Desk-bound theories had their limits and often diverged from reality.
Thus, every emperor in history had completed the pilgrimage. They reflected what they saw, heard, and felt into their policies, striving to ensure the people could live well.
‘Is this why Father Emperor told me to experience it myself?’
The atmosphere varied from village to village. Some thrived under benevolent lords, while others languished in poverty despite good intentions, due to unfortunate circumstances in the territory. He observed it all meticulously.
There was much to learn. Until now, he had only examined the people’s lives through reports. There was inevitably a gap between documents and reality.
He was grateful for it. Knowing the truth would allow him to craft future policies from the people’s perspective.
For the first time, the crown prince position—which he had always seen as merely filling his late brother’s shoes—began to feel truly his own. He felt guilty about it, yet thought his kind brother would understand.
“From here on, the reports have been somewhat lax.”
The Emperor’s reign was exemplary. His father truly loved his subjects and lived for them. Yet the empire was vast. There were always bad actors, and blind spots existed.
“So I must brace myself from now on?”
“Yes, and if Your Highness conducts yourself well, we might even turn this place around for the better.”
It meant there would be cause to appoint a new lord. He grasped the implication immediately.
“Let’s head in.”
By then, they had arrived at the territory. He sensed something off right away.
“Why are there only women here?”
Farming was done by women, shopkeeping by women, even carrying loads—all women. Not a single man in sight.
“Kashan, go find out why.”
Kashan dashed off to the local information shop branch. The rest headed to an inn.
“The five most expensive rooms here, and bring us your finest food.”
“Yes, understood.”
An elderly man at the counter took their order. They unpacked in their rooms and came down to the dining hall, which was eerily empty.
“Innkeeper, what’s going on?”
The most mild-mannered of the five asked. But the old man hesitated, saying nothing and merely serving the food.
‘Something’s definitely happened.’
He hoped Kashan would return soon with intel. Just then, the door burst open, and armed soldiers stormed in.
“We’ve had a report of outsiders at this inn.”
A rough-looking knight circled their table menacingly. The escort knights jumped up, positioning themselves to shield Rainer. Feigning ignorance, he said.
“We’re just travelers passing through. What’s this about?”
“No permission was given to admit outsiders. How did you get in?”
“We simply showed our identification. What crime is there in entering here?”
Word had spread among the nobles that the crown prince had begun his pilgrimage. No one knew when he might appear here. Anxious, the lord had ordered that any outsiders be seized on fabricated charges.
“You could be criminals hiding out here.”
“What nonsense is that? You make it sound like we’re felons.”
“A noble guest will arrive soon. We must eliminate any potential threats to serve him properly.”
The noble guest was already here. He was the very one they awaited. They simply didn’t know. He smiled coldly.
“I’d like to know what crime we’re accused of. Show us the evidence.”
“We’ll find out during the investigation. Seize them!”
With that, they bound Rainer and his group. The knights wanted to resist but obeyed his subtle signal to stand down and allowed themselves to be taken.
“Reflect on your crimes here!”
They were thrown into the underground dungeon of the lord’s castle.
“Your Highness, why did you let them take us? We could all die like this!”
“No need to get worked up.”
In truth, he wasn’t worried. Wherever they were, Kashan would track them down. As for the lord’s schemes, they’d come to light eventually. All they had to do was wait.
“What if you’d been caught while I was away?”
After waiting a long while in the pitch-black dungeon devoid of light, they stirred at the sound of Kashan’s voice.
“It was the only way to avoid a commotion.”
With help from Kashan’s subordinates, they escaped the lord’s castle unscathed. In the basement of the information shop, they learned the village’s true situation.
“It was the foolish scheme of someone desperate to break into central politics.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Emperor’s birthday is soon, isn’t it? He exploited the territory’s people to offer a lavish tribute.”
A massive bird lived in the forest they had passed through. A ferocious beast from legend, with enormous size and stunningly beautiful feathers.
“Wait, then…?”
To craft a coat from those feathers as a tribute to the Emperor, he had conscripted all the men. Most never returned alive. How could ordinary farmers handle a monster like that?
Moreover, the bird was an endangered species, making it illegal to hunt.
“Ha, ridiculous.”
Rainer found it genuinely amusing—and infuriating. The idiocy of thinking the Emperor would be pleased by such a gift. And the rage at exploiting his people for personal gain.
“I’ll handle this myself.”
“Yes, we’ve prepared everything for you to do so.”
Kashan handed him incriminating documents. Then he summoned the capital inspectors.
“Tomorrow should be interesting.”
The fool was no doubt dreaming of a lavish life ahead. But Rainer could not forgive happiness built on others’ sacrifice. A cold smile played on his lips.
The next day arrived. Unlike before, he didn’t bother concealing his appearance. His true face felt strangely unfamiliar after so long, but he strode directly to the lord’s castle without delay. The lord collapsed in shock at his arrival, as expected.
“Y-Your Highness, what brings you here…?”
“During the pilgrimage, I may go anywhere. Is there a problem?”
He spoke icily. The lord fawned, rubbing his hands, while sweating bullets inwardly.
‘The coat isn’t even finished yet… What now?’
The lord hadn’t imagined Rainer knew all his misdeeds. Deciding to make the best of it, he showered Rainer with exotic hospitality to ingratiate himself.
Rainer found it laughable. The intent was transparent, and since he needed to buy time anyway, it suited him fine.
“Our territory this time…”
He even listened patiently to the drivel, laced with boasts about himself that turned his stomach each time. Those around them trembled in fear.
‘When will they arrive…?’
He ate listlessly, half-listening, when the inspectors burst in. The lord jumped in alarm, and Rainer said coolly.
“Arrest him.”
“Y-Your Highness! What is this?!”
“Not only did you hunt an endangered species without authorization, but you conscripted the people for your personal whims.”
He thrust forced labor documents at the lord. Behind him, inspectors hauled in the bird’s carcass, its feathers nearly all plucked, leaving it skeletal.
“Th-this!”
“No excuses. Go quietly.”
“N-no! It must be overzealous subordinates!”
Predictable. Rainer smirked as Kashan produced another document bearing the lord’s handwriting. He pretended to skim it before closing the folder.
“Both in your handwriting.”
“Th-that’s…”
“Enough pointless excuses.”
With that, he turned and exited the castle. The inspectors bound the lord’s family. Heart-wrenching screams echoed behind him. He thought them nothing compared to the territory’s people’s cries.
“Handle the cleanup.”
He delegated to the inspector captain, who bowed deeply.
“Yes, Your Highness. Safe travels on the rest of your pilgrimage.”
“As if there’s any doubt.”
He chuckled softly. Outside, the rest of the group awaited.
“Let’s move out.”
He looked forward to the road ahead even more.
* * *
The pilgrimage continued. He met many subjects. To those beaming with joy, he wished even greater happiness. For those in shadow, he fought.
“I love Uncle so much.”
“Don’t you have to go?”
In the process, he formed bonds with many. The people’s happy lives moved him deeply, stretching the schedule further.
“You must go.”
His steps never came easy. He wanted to make them happy, vowing to live his life for them.
Heeding the Emperor’s words to never forget what he saw and felt, he recorded every experience, reflecting on it and pondering how to shape the empire. Only now did he grasp the true meaning of being crown prince.
Time passed well beyond the planned duration.
“This is the last village.”
“I see.”
It felt bittersweet. He wanted to learn more, know them better. But duty called him back—to embrace them sincerely.
To mark the pilgrimage’s end, a grand entourage had been prepared. Entering so openly felt awkward, as he’d rarely done so, and he regretted not seeing the people’s true lives.
So he slipped away from the lord’s welcoming feast. A festival filled the streets. He walked among the joyful villagers, their smiles lifting his spirits.
As he wandered, a familiar figure caught his eye. Thump! His heart seemed to drop.
A familiar, longed-for voice reached his ears.
“How was the festival today?”
“It was really, really fun!”
“Really? Hearing that makes your auntie so happy.”
“Actually, I like you more than Mom!”
“…Is that so? What a sweet girl our Raiji is.”
The woman hugged the child as she spoke. Up close, black hair and blue eyes became visible. The child stared right at him. Instinctively, he rushed forward and embraced the woman.
“I missed you.”