The Imperial Banquet (2)
Alexis Imperatos Valtaria, the sole prince and crown prince of the Valtaria Empire, had chosen to study abroad in the Gael Holy Kingdom while attending the Imperial Academy entirely of his own volition. As an imperial prince, he was also a devout believer of the Earth Mother. He had even casually mentioned in private that if he had not been born the crown prince, he would have become a priest in the Holy Kingdom. That was how deep his faith ran.
At the same time, Alexis took a keen interest in the Saintess Party. The Hero. The Saintess. The Sword Saint. The Sage. The Mercenary King. He adored the tales of the heroes who had subjugated the Demon King with the innocent enthusiasm of a child. Whenever he read their heroic exploits, his face would fill with pure admiration.
His so-called “fanboy” obsession reached such fanatical levels that even his father and sisters could only sigh. There were rumors that the real reason he had abruptly left for the Holy Kingdom while studying at the prestigious Imperial Academy—which had produced the Saintess Party—was to follow in their footsteps.
This was because Beatrice, who had awakened the divinity of the Earth Mother, had answered the Holy Emperor’s summons, taken leave from the academy, and become the Second Saintess of the Holy Kingdom.
“Your Highness, it is time to board.”
“Understood.”
The knight commander escorting the crown prince bowed his head and spoke. Alexis rose to his feet.
“Have all my sisters arrived in the imperial capital?”
“Yes, they should have by now.”
“It has been a full half-year since I last returned home. Oh! I must prepare souvenirs for my sisters!”
“I have already prepared everything. Please do not worry.”
I wonder if my sisters are well. With a heart swelling with anticipation, Alexis lifted the trunk with ease.
“Where could the missing Saintess Party have gone? Perhaps they are fighting against the forces behind the Demon King…”
“……”
The forces behind the king who ruled the demon races… Did that mean the Demon King had been someone’s puppet? It was an absurd idea. The sort of wild delusion a boy fond of inventing crisis theories might entertain. Still, it was the perfect way to relieve boredom.
It would take another six days to reach the Valtaria Empire’s imperial capital. The knight commander signaled the waiting staff behind him and ordered them to bring refreshments.
“Sir Malbert, I hear there is a member of the Saintess Party whose identity remains unknown to the public!”
“Are you perhaps… referring to the War Maniac?”
“Oh! You knew about him?!”
“I did participate in the Racial War, after all.”
Malbert, the knight commander responsible for the crown prince’s escort, had been one of the key figures who led the empire’s legions in support of the Saintess Party. Naturally, he knew many secrets hidden from the world.
The War Maniac. The sixth member of the Saintess Party. How could anyone forget the man who had ravaged battlefields with ferocious storms of explosive bullets? Even after three years, the memory of those thunderous gunshots still echoed in his ears like roaring cannon fire.
At Malbert’s reply, Alexis’s body twitched with excitement. It was the crown prince’s habitual reaction whenever his chronic, insatiable curiosity was triggered.
“The first time I encountered the War Maniac was… during the Siege of Laigir, I believe.”
“The Siege of Laigir? That’s the battle where the Saintess Party captured the impregnable fortress defended by the Demon King’s main forces! It was the turning point that finally gave the Holy Kingdom the upper hand after being pushed back for so long!”
Are you a walking encyclopedia? Malbert broke into a cold sweat at the crown prince’s fluent, unhesitating answer.
“The one who utterly destroyed the impregnable fortress that had withstood countless fierce assaults was the War Maniac. He reduced both the walls and the fortress itself to rubble.”
“Ooh!”
The Siege of Laigir had been the battle in which the Holy Kingdom, continuously driven back by the Demon King’s army, had finally seized the advantage. Strangely, despite its critical importance, few detailed records of the event existed. Only the outcome had been briefly noted. The sole surviving report was a short notice of victory stating that the fortress had fallen through the Saintess Party’s efforts.
Why? It was almost as if there had been a desperate need to conceal the truth. It had been a historic battle in which the noble followers of the Earth Mother had vanquished evil forces. Such an event should have been recorded in meticulous detail for future generations.
Feeling uneasy, Alexis pursed his lips.
I shouldn’t have brought it up… He’s going to interrogate me nonstop for the entire six days until we reach the capital.
Malbert’s anxious prediction proved painfully accurate. For a full six days, the crown prince subjected him to a relentless barrage of questions worthy of a formal hearing.
“Sir Malbert! Sir Malbert!”
“……”
The knight commander had learned his lesson. He now understood exactly what happened when one stimulated a fanboy’s interest. He let out a heavy sigh. At this rate, the elegantly handsome crown prince was beginning to resemble a noisy parrot.
“Y-Your Highness…! It seems we must stop at the next platform.”
The train that had departed from the Holy Kingdom had already crossed the Valtaria Empire’s border and sped well past the Hohenberg Marquisate when the engineer spoke in a voice thick with alarm.
“What is the matter, engineer?”
They had passed the Hohenberg Marquisate, yet it would still take five more days to reach the capital. A stop? What could possibly force them to halt a train running at full speed?
Malbert stared at the engineer with questioning eyes. The man quickly explained the order that had just reached the train.
“It appears an unidentified group has severed the monorail. Her Highness Ludmilla, who was traveling by train, has also been detained as a result.”
“This is treason against the imperial family…!”
Nothing had been confirmed yet. But the act was unmistakably directed against the Valtaria imperial house. Cutting the monorail of the train carrying both the crown prince and a princess could only be interpreted as an assassination attempt.
“Her Highness Ludmilla is waiting at the next platform.”
“My sister?”
At the engineer’s words, Alexis’s previously rigid expression brightened instantly. Even though an unidentified group had carried out an attack, the crown prince showed genuine delight at the prospect of reuniting with his sister.
My sister is waiting. His body practically vibrated with excitement as he waited for the train to reach the platform.
It was highly likely the work of someone inside the empire. After pondering for a long moment, Ludmilla finally spoke.
“It may be an internal rebel faction hostile to the Valtaria imperial family.”
“…A rebel faction, you say?”
The Valtaria Empire stood at a singular, unrivaled pinnacle as the continent’s supreme ruler. This was the result of relentless conquest and sweeping internal reforms. Yet any great transformation inevitably demanded sacrifice. The current emperor, Barbarossa, was praised as a bold and wise ruler, but in his youth he had been notorious for carrying out numerous purges. He had used the banner of reform to relentlessly eliminate anyone he deemed impure.
“They lack the courage for open rebellion, so they resort to sabotage. Looking at how sloppy and amateurish this plot is, there is no doubt.”
Though she hated to admit it, the social faction were unrivaled professionals when it came to destructive operations. One could always tell from experience. The clumsy way they had cut the monorail made it obvious. A patrolling soldier had discovered a bomb planted on the rails. Once detected in advance, the conspirators must have frantically lit the fuse.
It was immature malice, bungled from beginning to end.
“Your Highness Ludmilla, the crown prince has arrived.”
“Is that true?”
While Ludmilla and the others were searching the monorail, a knight came running from the platform. The crown prince had arrived. It could only mean Alexis. So he had returned from the Holy Kingdom. She had heard he was studying theology at the academy.
“Sister!”
“It is good to see you looking healthy, Alex.”
A beautiful boy with striking, tousled curly hair appeared with a bright smile. In the gentle youth’s appearance, not a single trace of resemblance to the emperor could be found. The miracle of genetics was truly remarkable. To think such a mild-mannered son had been born to that hot-tempered, mustached emperor. Hmm… Then the only blood relatives who had inherited that ferocity were Ludmilla and Elizabetta.
“I received the report. An unidentified group severed the monorail, correct?”
“That is why I was investigating with Lord Edanant.”
The crown prince’s gaze, which had been savoring the joy of reunion, turned toward me. I offered a polite greeting and spoke.
“I am Edanant von Hohenberg, second son of the Hohenberg family.”
“A Holy Sword user…! I-is that right?! And I heard you are the younger brother of Hero Maximilian!”
“That is correct.”
“Woaaah!!”
The golden-haired youth jumped up and down, eyes shining with admiration. What is with him? It was as if he were greeting an idol. No matter how famous I had become, such an excessive reaction was rather troubling. I shot Ludmilla a pleading glance, hoping she would restrain him.
But Ludmilla simply chuckled and left her excited younger brother to his devices.
“You must have seen the Saintess Party with your own eyes!”
“Yes, since I visited the Hohenberg family on several occasions.”
“Wow! I am so envious! To think you stood face-to-face with the heroes of our age who defeated the Demon King…!”
“……”
I had encountered many admirers of the Saintess Party before, but Crown Prince Alexis displayed a level of fanaticism that bordered on mania. Is there really anything to envy? All I had done was entertain the parasites who kept invading my family. It was hardly noteworthy.
“Th-the Holy Sword…! Is the weapon you are currently carrying the Holy Sword?!”
“It is the Holy Sword Aldebaran.”
“Aldebaran! One of the Four Holy Swords of Annihilation that symbolizes the hero of the Holy Kingdom…! This is my first time seeing it in person!”
“I see.”
Alexis swallowed hard. The crown prince’s blue eyes overflowed with intense interest and admiration. So he was an ardent superfan of the Saintess Party. What a regrettably lowbrow taste. The realization almost made me feel sorry for him.
“Here it is.”
I unbuckled my belt and handed over Aldebaran, scabbard and all. Alexis trembled from head to toe, completely at a loss for what to do.
“Th-the hero must have wielded Aldebaran himself, correct?”
“Of course he did.”
The moment I answered, Alexis’s reaction grew even more intense.