Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: 59. Bonds (3)
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It was a coincidence.
At the same moment, the same question slipped from both their lips.
The question, branching off in two directions, reached its two recipients in slightly different forms.
One let out a sigh, while the other wore a faint smile.
"─What kind of person was he?"
"Insolent and lazy. A pathetic wretch who stirred up trouble every single day."
"Confident and at ease. He had talent with the sword, but he never truly devoted himself to it."
"─Why was that?"
"Because he was lazy, plain and simple. That bastard just shirked every responsibility handed to him. Dumped his own burdens on his brothers like the trash he was."
"He didn't want to hurt anyone else. And though he'd never admit it, it was partly because of his brothers, too."
"─His brothers?"
"His older brother was superior in every way. So he just leaned on him for everything. Abandoned even his own duties and wasted his life away."
"He adored his brother too much. He had even greater aptitude for the sword, but he didn't train harder because he didn't want to surpass him."
"─What did those around him think?"
"A useless leech who couldn't do anything right and only caused problems. Fell for a simple trick and ruined everything. No excuses for that. Selfish to the bitter end."
"Everyone loved him. Sure, he played pranks a lot, but there was never any malice in it. He treated everyone the same, regardless of status or rank. Right up to the end, they all followed him, and he led them all."
"─The end?"
"Yeah. That bastard committed a crime that brought the kingdom down. And instead of taking responsibility, he begged for his life and ran. Everyone else died, but he slunk away like a coward. A trashy end, through and through."
"My mistake caused his kingdom to fall. And yet he never blamed me—he just fought with everything he had. Never surrendered. Everyone who faced him was left in awe."
"─That's hard to follow. The kingdom fell?"
"Ah, did I go too deep? Yeah, something like that happened. That guy's crime was the big one. Ancient history now—you wouldn't know about it."
"I don't remember it all that clearly myself. Just scenes of me blaming myself, and his kingdom burning. I couldn't even apologize properly. Back then..."
"─Well, fine. It's just a story anyway. So what happened to him in the end?"
"He got a second chance. One last shot to fix his mistakes. So he's working hard to set everything right."
"If I'm right, he went back to the past. I can see how desperately he's trying."
"─Has he changed much from before?"
"Of course."
"Not at all."
"─Really?"
"He's changed a lot. No more repeating mistakes, fixing his wrongs."
"He's exactly as I remember. Hasn't changed a bit, then or now."
"─I see. So, what's the point you're trying to make with this story about him?"
"Well, you see..."
"It's like..."
Yuri set down his teacup and wrapped up the tale.
"That's the story."
"I heard it well."
Yuri gazed at Graham's wrinkled face.
The words he'd shared weren't meant to save the man. No, they might even push Graham further down his chosen path.
But he didn't want to lie.
Sir Graham Hartpol wasn't the type to change his mind over a single piece of advice. Whatever he heard, he'd stick to his course.
This wasn't persuasion, then. It was respect for Graham.
"It was good meeting you, Sir Graham. I hope I helped."
"You did more than that."
Graham looked at Brioll's third prince and let a faint smile cross his lips.
Coming here had been a decision even he couldn't fully justify.
In all his years, he'd met countless people. Yet when he hit a dead end, it was Brioll's third prince—who he hadn't known long—that came to mind.
What would he say? That was the curiosity.
And he hadn't been disappointed.
"I'm glad I came to see you, Your Highness."
"Good to hear."
Graham recalled their first meeting.
The prince had a youthful face somewhere between boy and young man, but his bearing was that of a battle-hardened veteran.
He'd bluntly suggested Graham come to Brioll.
It was unexpected.
He might bear the overly flattering title of knights' exemplar, but it was hollow prestige. Rulers didn't welcome knights like him. They just wanted obedient hounds.
Yet the prince had wanted him sincerely.
That was when he'd started paying attention.
And it didn't stop there. The more he observed Brioll's third prince, the more new facets emerged.
His prowess in the Allied Forces was overwhelming, rivaling the prince's own father. His mindset, evident in his actions, inspired awe even in Graham—a true knight's heart.
He'd never seen royalty eat the same food as common soldiers or play cards with them.
Sometimes he wondered.
What if he'd been born in the Empire?
Or if Graham had been born in Brioll?
Would things be different?
Foolish thoughts.
"A world with no place for knights like me. And yet the ground beneath my feet keeps narrowing."
"Come to Brioll, then."
"Hahaha..."
Graham shook his head.
It was time to go. No more delays.
He stared quietly at the third prince, then thrust out his hand.
"Let's shake on it, Your Highness."
He'd seen the prince do this often.
This time, he wanted to offer first.
The prince looked a bit startled, then clasped his hand.
"Sir Graham, don't make it sound so wistful. Like we'll never meet again."
"We might not. Who knows what tomorrow brings?"
"True enough."
As they shook, Graham reflected on the story the prince had told him.
It was framed as about "someone," but it clearly pointed to the prince himself.
Impressive. While listening, he'd half-believed it was a real experience of the prince's.
But Graham knew it couldn't be true.
People don't change.
Not even death changes that.
Even if the man in the story really returned from death, he wouldn't become someone like the prince. He'd revert to that pathetic figure eventually.
Stories were just stories, Graham thought.
"Your Highness."
"Yes?"
"If you ever go back to the past again, tell me first."
Graham tossed it out as a joke.
Yuri laughed.
"I never said I did."
"It sounded just like you."
"Impudent. Was I really that pathetic?"
"Who knows what people are capable of."
"Hahaha, fair enough. Same goes for you. Best not to, but if you ever go back, give me a heads-up."
"I will."
"Safe travels."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Graham followed the third prince's guidance out of the palace.
"Off to the Empire?"
"No."
"Where, then?"
"Secret."
"Thought I was the only one with secrets. You're just like me."
Graham was heading straight to the Joachim border to link up with Yalta. An Imperial force, prepared in secret, would strike the Joachim palace in a flash.
He'd chosen not to turn from tragedy.
If he didn't go, more lives would be lost.
He'd stop at least that much.
Blood on his hands was inevitable, but it was his burden to bear.
"Farewell, then."
Graham took one last look at Brioll's third prince and turned away.
It was strange.
He'd come up with reasons, but he still couldn't pinpoint why he was so drawn to the prince. Their bond wasn't that deep, yet he'd made this detour.
Suddenly, the prince followed.
"Sir Graham."
"Yes?"
"Forgot one part of the story."
The prince whispered something brief in his ear.
Graham tilted his head, then burst out laughing.
He hadn't seen that coming.
The third prince even had a storyteller's gift.
"Is that so?"
"It is."
"Looks like I did well, then."
"I appreciated it back then."
Graham gave Brioll's third prince an unnecessary bow, eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Truly, farewell."
"Safe travels, Sir Graham."
Graham left Brioll.
If the world's fate pulled him one way, he had his own place to be.
Ireine sat silently for a while after hearing Ekaterina's tale.
Returning to the past? Hard to believe. Yet it all fit together too neatly, leaving her unsettled.
Like mud caked stubbornly to her shoe sole.
"A fascinating story."
"Wasn't it?"
Ireine admitted it.
Ekaterina's words had swayed her, at least somewhat.
"Alright. Let's say you're telling the truth, Princess."
"Okay."
"Mind if I ask something personal?"
"Go ahead."
"You two seemed awfully close..."
"We were."
"Which makes me wonder..."
It wasn't a crucial question. But Ireine was dying to know.
"Who made the first move...?"
True or not, she had to ask. Other people's romances were always the most intriguing.
Ekaterina answered without hesitation.
"Me."
"Pardon?"
"I chased him."
"Why?"
Ireine raised her voice unwittingly.
Yuri Brioll, her business partner, was a fine man, but for someone like Ekaterina—with beauty that could shatter heavens—to approach first? Unbelievable. No one would pass that up.
Ekaterina smiled faintly as she replied.
"I thought I'd lose him."
"Lose him how?"
"He was popular. He never noticed, but he was surrounded by people eyeing him..."
"Oh, uh..."
"Memories are fragmentary, but I felt the urgency."
"I see. So how did you first approach him?"
"Just struck up a conversation."
"Ah, right. Once you spoke to him, he must've fallen right away."
"Nope."
"Huh?"
"He wasn't interested."
"What the...?"
Ireine cursed under her breath. This goddess approaches first, and he brushes her off? Unforgivable.
Ekaterina burst into laughter.
"Thanks for the reaction. Believe me now?"
"Uh..."
Ireine snapped to. She'd gotten too invested.
"Well, you know. Haha..."
She couldn't deny Ekaterina had convinced her.
It aligned with her own thoughts in places, and details only Ekaterina could know wove naturally into the tale.
And facing that unreal face kept making her want to believe.
Beauty was a terrifying weapon.
Ireine let out a long sigh.
"Fine, Princess. Assuming it's true, let's talk."
"You're stiff again."
"Ahem. So, what do you want from me...?"
"Oh, the catalog first."
"Pardon?"
"The catalog."
"You said you didn't need it earlier..."
"Might as well shop while I'm here. I like new things."
"Understood. Here's something perfect for you. This one—with that adornment on you, it'd be..."
"Pretty."
"Exactly."
"But isn't it too flashy?"
"Modest compared to your beauty."
"Hehe..."
"And this one too..."
Ireine eagerly hunted for items suited to Ekaterina.
The two leaned over the catalog, chatting amiably.
Midway through their warm exchange, a signal came from outside.
Ireine excused herself to Ekaterina and cracked the door.
"What is it?"
"Something's come up."
"What?"
"Well..."
As they spoke, noise leaked through the gap.
"Go see."
Ireine peered out the hallway window.
An angry mob marched the streets of the imperial capital.
"What's this?"
She strained to hear their chants.
"My god..."
Ireine pressed her forehead.
"What the hell?"
Calls to smash Joachim's would-be imperial assassin, hunt down every Joachim in the capital, and hang them filled the air, shaking the streets.