Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: 36. If You Know Yourself and the Enemy, Victory is Assured in a Hundred Battles (2)
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After sending the marquis on his way, I attached two additional sword maidens to him. I even told them it was fine to reveal themselves and keep watch if necessary.
The marquis wasn't the type to gamble his life away, but you never knew what people might do. Just in case, it was necessary to tighten surveillance.
I stood before the crystal orb for long-distance communication.
It was a precious artifact I'd wrung from the marquis on top of everything else.
As I rubbed the crystal orb, a tiny amount of mana drained from my body.
『Your Highness.』
Vincent's voice soon echoed from the other end.
『Have you been well?』
"Yeah. Nothing going on at Winter Castle?"
『Winter is approaching again, so we're in the thick of war preparations.』
After exchanging greetings, I naturally ended up recounting the events in the capital.
『No way... His Highness the 3rd Prince...』
『Court Count, you say? I met him once long ago, but he didn't strike me as bold enough to pull something like that.』
Vincent was saddened by the 3rd Prince's rebellion, incredulous at the Court Count's betrayal.
『To think such a loathsome bastard exists!』
『All of it a frame-up? Why not reveal the truth? Aren't you wronged by this?!』
『Hmph. You must have your reasons. But they won't listen anyway—what's the point? It'll just churn up my guts.』
When I revealed the truth about the incident four years ago, he flew into a rage. When I said I had no intention of exposing it, he vented his frustration explosively but ultimately resigned himself, telling me to do as I pleased.
"That's why I'm saying... I'll be away for a while."
I told that Vincent I had business in the Empire.
『Are you in your right mind?!』
『Do you even know what that place is?!』
『You don't think the Empire's just the next town over, do you?!』
Vincent bellowed like a madman, his words eerily mirroring what the king had said to me. The emotions behind them were identical.
But Vincent's feelings weren't burdensome or uncomfortable in the slightest.
I just chuckled, which only made Vincent more incensed as he yelled louder.
『You stir up every damn mess and now the Empire? The Em-pire?!』
"Ophelia will handle the magic tower with the dwarves. As for you, find some promising noble brats..."
『So you're telling me to fight your battles, clean up after noble whelps, and handle everything Your Highness was supposed to do?!』
"War's Ballerhard's job anyway..."
『Dying on the battlefield is at least honorable! I'll drop dead at a desk cleaning up after you! I'll die faster sorting your messes than preparing for war!』
"Hey, how much mess have I even made..."
『The magic tower? Wizards and dwarves snap their fingers and it's done. Dwarves relocate and done. Lords see a tower pop up or new neighbors and that's it. Knight candidates grow with just water. Arrogant noble spawn lording over rangers? Just chuckle at the cute pups and move on.』
I shut my mouth. I had nothing to say, even with ten mouths.
After listening silently for a good while, Vincent, exhausted by his own rant, finally asked.
『So when are you going?』
"I'll wrap up loose ends in the capital over the next few days. Heading straight from here."
『When will you return?』
"Before the 18th birthday rite."
『Any later and I'll ditch the tower and everything.』
His voice thick with annoyance, I could only laugh.
"Oh, right. Send one ranger squad. Old man Nicolò too."
『Yorden'll do.』
"Won't he hate it?"
『If I say go, he goes. What choice does that punk have?』
I could picture the ranger grumbling about another long-term mission, face twisted like he'd eaten shit, and burst out laughing again.
My constant laughter only fueled Vincent's temper.
『More importantly, why the Empire?』
"Took you long enough."
『Answer me.』
"To check out the Empire's situation firsthand."
『That's your answer?』
Knowing he'd launch into another lecture if that was all, I hurriedly explained my plan.
Word was the Empire was in turmoil over imperial succession rights, with the 3rd and 5th Princes most likely to court me.
『So you'll let them?』
"Not sure about courting. But I'll stir up some chaos."
『Even as a foreign prince, wreaking havoc in the Empire will be hard to handle.』
"Why should I handle it?"
To the baffled Vincent, I replied indifferently.
"The screw-ups will be that idiot's doing."
Things in the capital were wrapping up smoothly.
All that remained was settling the schedule and route to the Empire, but even that was resolved when the king appointed me as the official delegation's representative to the Empire's New Year's festivities.
I just had to tag along with the delegation.
Of course, first I needed to select which of my knights would accompany me.
"I'm going. No question."
That was Kals's answer.
"The Empire, huh. Gotta see how great it really is."
That was Gerwayne's.
"I'd better pack."
Without even asking permission, Arwen left to prepare her things. Adelia vanished too, saying there was much to prepare for the long journey.
Nearly all my knights expressed willingness to join.
But I couldn't take them all.
With the delegation's slots limited, filling them entirely with my knights was impossible.
After much deliberation, I finalized the lineup.
From the court knights, I picked Kals as representative. Arwen and Adelia—who'd follow no matter what—were locks from the start. I added the unreliable Eus triplets (Gerwayne and his two comrades, always one mishap away), plus Gunef and one sword maiden.
That settled the knights for the delegation.
Soon after, the king's announcement appointing me as delegation head went public.
Marquis Villepeld later told me the nobles had buzzed endlessly about the lineup.
Ignorant of the rift between king and me being mended, they gossiped that including me wasn't benevolent. Some radicals even claimed the 1st Prince's absence would let the 2nd Prince take the throne.
All baseless nonsense, of course.
The Empire trip was my decision from the outset, and the head spot made it official—ensuring imperial officials wouldn't treat me lightly.
But nobles unaware of our improved relations spun it as me clashing with the king over war merits, ultimately exiled abroad.
I ignored the rumors entirely—not even worth calling rumors.
The deeper they believed our discord, the smoother things would go ahead.
The king shared my thinking.
"Soon, those schemers eyeing our feud for gain will be in for a shock."
"Looking forward to it."
We chuckled facing each other, then awkwardly fell silent. The king cleared his throat unnecessarily, averting his gaze.
The misunderstanding was cleared, no grudges left—yet this awkwardness lingered inescapably.
"Father-son relationships are like that."
When I confessed to the late-visiting marquis, he smiled warmly, saying most fathers and sons were the same.
"I see."
With nothing more to say, I silently shared drinks with him.
"Oh, right. Delegation lineup's set, they say. Even found someone to assist Your Highness."
When I asked who, the marquis said something odd.
"Volunteered personally, apparently."
"Who volunteers for a year-long round trip with no gains?"
"Had their reasons."
A mischievous glint appeared in the marquis's wrinkled eyes.
He wouldn't reveal who, no matter what.
"Then just go if you're gonna be like that?"
"Was just leaving anyway."
The marquis rose smoothly.
"Bring booze next time."
Irked at his daily visits draining my liquor, but he ignored it.
The palace was quiet, yet bustling.
At a glance, the kingdom seemed unchanged, but beneath, the king was purging traitors.
It was tough, demanding long effort.
The royals lacked power for a mass purge.
Still, the king, vowing to curb nobles as much as possible by my return, brimmed with rare zeal.
Marquis Montpellier stood by him.
After I shared my plan to meddle in imperial succession, he'd fully committed.
"If things go Your Highness's way, kingdom-Empire ties change. Treaties might vanish, us treated as imperial allies. I'd earn merits too, no?"
Not thinking of rice cakes, I just wanted imperial chaos—that was enough.
Montpellier dreamed rosy futures on his own.
Harmless delusion for me, so I played along.
Everything progressed smoothly.
Not entirely, though.
"What the hell's happening inside there."
My main body refused to wake, no matter how I shook or called—the wastrel silent.
Something was happening inside, but unknowable, frustrating.
Time was short.
The Empire eyed my body hungrily; heading there holding it was like delivering it gift-wrapped.
Thus, before leaving, I planned to entrust it to Maximilian.
Demon swords preyed on human flaws, but Maximilian had none. He'd never succumb to whatever lurked in the blade—safe to leave with him.
Time flew.
The delegation's departure loomed.
A week before, a middle-aged noble visited.
Though not young, his refined looks and attire made him strikingly handsome.
Yet his face felt familiar.
First time seeing it, but like someone I knew.
Shall I use Appraisal? As I pondered, he spoke first.
"I should have greeted you sooner, but my incompetence delayed matters—only now finished and come."
"Shiorin of Eastern Kirguyen."
His words revealed why he seemed familiar.
Shiorin Kirguyen—Arwen's father.
"Honored to serve Your Highness henceforth. The house's glory."
He was the delegation's de facto leader, whom the marquis wouldn't name.
I eyed Shiorin Kirguyen.
Cold, haughty impression; precise, no excess.
"You look alike."
Uncannily so, father and daughter.
No response to my brief remark—indifferent attitude just like hers.
Until Arwen arrived.
"Your Highness!"
Disheveled hair from rushing, she bowed to me then saw her father.
Shiorin Kirguyen's expression at her was indescribable.
Nostrils flaring, brows twitching, face flushed beet red.
He'd surely heard the rumors about his daughter. No wonder he disapproved of her choosing to be my knight, courting infamy.
I rose.
Not wanting to see Arwen clash with her father over me, I planned to mediate.
No need.
"My daughter!"
Shiorin spread his arms toward her.
Cold haughtiness gone. Overflowing affection, at a loss.
"No word in nearly two years—how can you be so heartless!"
Thus revealed why he'd volunteered for the unwanted Empire delegation.
I watched the awkward pair awkwardly.
Waiting in vain for her approach, Shiorin strode forward, arms wide, ready to embrace.
At her father's sight, Arwen,
"His Highness is watching! Mind your dignity!"
shuddered in horror.
Genuinely. Utterly mortified.