Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: 41. Lost One, But One Remains (3)
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Originally, I had planned to stay a few days at the border fortress to rest, but there wasn't time for that.
I explained the situation to the commander and ordered him to prepare for any possible provocations from the Empire.
Then I borrowed a horse and headed straight for the capital.
"Hyah!"
I rode without stopping day and night. I had to meet the descendant of the Sky Sovereign and his entourage waiting for me in the capital.
After pushing the horse relentlessly, I finally arrived at the capital.
"Y-Your Highness?"
Apparently, our group had arrived faster than the messenger from the fortress. The capital's officials looked utterly shocked at the safe return of me and my delegation.
Ignoring them, I headed straight for the palace.
I hurried through the palace gates and made for the throne room.
"Your Highness. His Majesty awaits."
Whether word had spread from the gates or not, the court knight guarding the throne room immediately announced my arrival and opened the doors.
"Your Highness!"
"Brother!"
Marquis Bilefeldt and Maximilian spotted me and broke into wide grins. The king on his throne above the dais smiled at me too—a rare sight. But there was no time for joyful reunions.
I strode right up to the descendant of the Sky Sovereign, who happened to be in the throne room at that moment.
"Doris."
"The debt is fully pai—"
"War."
"What?"
He froze at my abrupt declaration.
"The Empire is massing troops on the border with Dotrin."
His face stayed frozen in that innocent smile.
**
It had been a full year since we'd last met, but the throne room's atmosphere grew heavy.
The descendant of the Sky Sovereign and his entourage fidgeted, looking ready to hop on a flying dragon and return to their homeland at any second.
"Wait. I've just sent for someone; we'll know the full details soon."
I held them back.
Once the messenger I'd sent to Marquis Montpellier arrived, we'd get a clearer picture.
It wasn't long before Erhim Kiringger, whom I'd dispatched to the marquis, appeared. Marquis Montpellier was with him.
"Y-Your Highness..."
"Empire's internal situation first."
The marquis, looking like a cow led to the slaughter, finally spoke.
"War is definitely coming."
He stiffened upon seeing me, then dove straight into the report.
"The imperial family intends to wipe the Kingdom of Dotrin off the map entirely."
Jin Katrin shot me a resentful glare. She seemed to think I'd dragged her country into this mess unnecessarily. But it was a misunderstanding.
"The imperial family has long kept a close eye on certain families and kingdoms across the continent. They've even ranked them to gauge the differences."
The marquis revealed details about the imperial family's special watchlist.
It was news to me.
I couldn't help but frown. Glancing at Dolosis, I saw his expression mirrored mine exactly.
He was thinking the same thing.
"Name the kingdoms and families on that list."
I pressed the marquis for confirmation.
He hesitated, then began listing them one by one.
The Bayern family of the Sword Marquess, now rootless;
The Dotrin royal family, descended from the Sky Sovereign;
The Leonberger royal family, heirs to the Dragon Slayer's blood.
Families I knew well spilled from the marquis's lips.
All with over four centuries of history,
each boasting monumental achievements.
I sensed it instinctively.
The unfamiliar names were no different.
The emperor's special list concerned families of mythic caliber.
"They're after the relics,"
Dolosis said, and I added,
"Or the legacies themselves."
From the marquis, I'd heard of multiple attempts to seize my true body before.
That let me be certain.
The descendants of the Foresight Marquess were collecting these legacies.
Monopoly or suppression—the motive remained unclear.
But I could guess: it wasn't mere curiosity, and it surely wouldn't benefit any kingdom.
"The alert level for the Leonberger family has steadily dropped over the past few decades. But Dotrin's has kept rising."
As Dolosis and I exchanged glances, the marquis continued.
"Dotrin's conquest was already set in stone like a thorn in their side. The issue was timing. With such massive military spending, they need gains."
The true aim of this war slipped from his mouth.
"And it seems His Imperial Majesty sees value in eliminating internal threats through this conflict."
Diverting eyes from infighting nobles loyal to the imperial princes—before they bled the Empire dry—that was the real purpose.
The result: war with Dotrin.
"Soon, an official imperial statement will hold Dotrin responsible for the noble assassinations, delivered to every kingdom."
Whether the emperor truly found evidence of Sky Knights' involvement didn't matter. Once resolved to war, justifications were easy to fabricate.
Dotrin was just unlucky.
Caught in the Empire's internal purge. A warning to lesser kingdoms showing defiance was mere bonus.
"Two internal crackdowns, and they'll turn the whole continent to ash."
Jin Katrin sneered at the marquis.
He looked on the verge of tears under her hostile stare.
Understandable. No one here regarded him kindly.
Dolosis's men looked ready to devour him; the kingdom's officials reignited old grudges.
The marquis pleaded with me desperately, as if begging for aid.
I had no intention of defending him.
"Urk!"
Montpellier clutched his nose and screamed after a sudden punch to the face.
I kicked him down and stomped thoroughly.
"Wh-what the hell!"
After a solid beating, as he demanded why, I replied flatly.
"Obviously, while I was gone, your bad habits flared up and you pulled some stupid stunt."
The marquis went silent as a clam.
"And!"
Thwack!
"That list!"
Thwack!
"Why hide it!"
Thwack-thwack!
Montpellier curled up, screaming he'd die.
"What are you, an onion?"
Layer after layer.
Thwack-thwack.
I kept pounding him.
How to fix that vile knack for betrayal no matter how much I beat it out? I pondered.
Then reached a conclusion.
Pointless worry.
He wasn't someone I'd keep around forever anyway.
Crack!
A momentary surge of killing intent—I must've failed to control my strength.
With a breaking sound, Montpellier foamed at the mouth and rolled his eyes back.
"Hm."
Silence fell.
Marquis Bilefeldt, who'd wondered how I'd tamed the rat, nodded in realization. Less satisfaction, more disbelief at such a creature.
The king was expressionless. But somehow relieved. As expected, Montpellier had caused havoc in my absence.
"Brother..."
I warned Maximilian, gazing at me with admiration, not to imitate.
He followed me too closely; he might pick up bad influences.
One mad dog was enough.
Maximilian mustn't end up like me.
A prince born with kingly qualities walked a different path from a wastrel like me.
"Violence is a last resort—avoid it if possible."
I earnestly advised the innocent prince.
A few gave incredulous looks, but it didn't matter.
"What now?"
I asked Dolosis.
"What else? We fight back."
Surprisingly serene. Tense, but calm.
No trace of fear for the looming war.
"I guarantee it."
He exuded strong confidence instead.
"If the Empire thinks Dotrin's visible strength is all there is, they'll lose big in this war."
Jin Katrin chimed in at his unshaken declaration.
The emperor's judgment was ultimately sound: once princes fell on the battlefield, feared civil war wouldn't erupt.
Inspired by their resolve, I added lightly,
"Try to go easy on the Third Prince, if you can."
Let that disaster fully spread his wings.
Of course, war wouldn't go as planned.
If it would, the Sky Sovereign's lineage wouldn't have bided their time in hiding all these years.
But no need to point it out.
Now was the time to steel spirits.
"Surely not..."
The king frowned at my expression.
"The kingdom isn't ready yet."
Worried I'd rashly aid Dotrin, he preempted: no war footing possible. What a worrywart.
As if anyone thought we could challenge the Empire now.
"I'll go to Dotrin with my knights."
As an individual, not the kingdom.
"Nonsense! How can a crown successor be so reckless!"
The king predictably exploded.
"The greater the Empire's losses against Dotrin, the better for us."
I persuaded him.
Dotrin mustn't fall easily. Only if they held firm and bled the Empire could our near-province kingdom reclaim true sovereignty.
"You and a few knights won't change the tide. That's arrogance, overconfidence."
"One knight faces only a fraction of the foe at a time, but that fraction can sway the whole."
"Ever consider you're not that fraction?"
"You and Maximilian are here."
"Is that any answer!"
The king roared in fury.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness—this warrants deliberate discussion over time. Too grave for snap decisions."
Marquis Bilefeldt intervened to mediate.
"We've shown ugly discord before guests. Please overlook it, considering the circumstances."
The king apologized to Dolosis, reined in his emotions, and left the throne room.
"Your Highness, such headstrong behavior."
Bilefeldt scolded me the moment the king was gone.
"What'd I do?"
"You vanished and just returned. If you'd gauged His Majesty's worries, you wouldn't have said that here."
"He's right, brother. Father's concern during your absence was immense. Bad timing."
Even Maximilian sided with him.
I felt wronged.
A chance to weaken the Empire on a grand scale, or build my own legend on a small one—why the fuss?
Incomprehensible.
"Sometimes, Your Highness seems hopeless outside swordsmanship."
Probably from lack of love growing up, wandering wild—the marquis muttered.
"Brother, rest first after the long trip. Once your hot head cools, you'll see reason."
Maximilian pulled me along.
"Come. Don't you need the item you left with me?"
Unable to resist, I left the throne room.
Just before, Dolosis bid farewell.
Urgent situation—he'd fly to the homeland immediately, leaving men for contact if needed.
I waved casually: sure.
No grand goodbye.
We'd meet again soon.
Parting from Dolosis, I went to Maximilian's quarters.
There, I reclaimed my entrusted item.
Dragon Slayer. The true blade still showed no reaction.
**
Three days passed.
Dolosis and the Sky Knights had all returned home; only Jin Katrin remained.
He relentlessly squeezed Montpellier for Empire troop numbers and formations.
Meanwhile, I convinced the king.
And finally got permission.
"Remember: your true battlefield isn't Dotrin."
He repeatedly urged no overexertion abroad.
Of course, restraint in war wasn't purely willful, so it was just generic "be careful."
I replied I knew.
Rising early amid preparations, the king suddenly mentioned my uncle.
"I plan to honor Count Bail Ballerhard as the kingdom's Paladin."
I blanked.
All continents called Quad Chain knights Paladins, but our kingdom used Silver Lion instead.
After honoring the Royal Knights fallen at Frost Mountain four centuries ago as Paladins, restraint became tradition to commemorate their sanctity.
To my knowledge, no one since the Ekyon triplets and those knights received the title. Yet the king would give it to my uncle.
Something welled in my chest. I hid it.
"Vincent will be thrilled."
I stood calmly after a flat remark.
The king stopped me.
"I hope 'Paladin' no longer means only the fallen."
I chuckled inwardly.
Just say "come back safe." So stubbornly indirect.
"I'll visit before leaving to say goodbye."
With that, I left his chambers.
Much to do.
Select accompanying knights, visit Winter Castle, arrange a double for my role. Officially, the kingdom wouldn't intervene in Dotrin's war—nor would I leave it.
Only officially.
Bustling about, I didn't forget the priority.
The three-year grace from Sigрун and the Elder High Elf had flown by. The promised day loomed.