Chapter 54: Even Trash Can Be Recycled 5

As our conversation touched upon his past runaway experience, Prince Friedrich seemed to regard me with a hint of envy.

In response, I offered a faint smile and remarked:

“Well, it certainly wasn’t an entirely fruitless endeavor, but from experience, I must advise that it was not the wisest choice. Granted, hardship can foster growth, but people can change significantly through sheer determination, without necessarily enduring such trials.”

As I spoke, I found myself steering the discussion more towards military service than running away.

The two shared the commonality that adversity ultimately leads to maturity.

However, upon reflection, one realizes that the hardships could have been avoided through personal resolve, rendering the entire process somewhat futile.

Of course, I do not mean to trivialize the noble cause of defending one’s nation. Rather, my conclusion is that personal growth is better achieved through ordinary life experiences than mandatory military service.

As I conveyed this candid sentiment, following my lament over wasted potential, Friedrich regarded me with a somewhat startled expression.

However, a bright, relieved smile soon graced his features.

“…I understand your meaning. I shall remember your words. Truly… Thank you.”

With those words, Friedrich offered me a slight bow, which I reciprocated. Observing him, a thought crossed my mind:

‘Initially, I had dismissed him as mere trash based on the original work… But after this conversation, he seems surprisingly relatable.’

Whether due to our similar ages or shared noble status, I could not say. Nonetheless, I found myself forming a rather different impression of this Friedrich than I had held an hour prior – that of an affable, if naive, companion.

Prince Friedrich of the Palatinate was a man who had grown accustomed to receiving excessive expectations from those around him.

From childhood, he had been a quiet, bookish lad, fond of reading and strolling – a gentle soul incapable of anger. Tragically, Friedrich’s mild demeanor was ill-suited for the turbulent fate that awaited him.

This tragedy began to unfold when he entered adolescence and lost his father, the previous Prince-Elector.

Despite his tender years, Friedrich naturally inherited his father’s title and the immense responsibility of ruling the Palatinate – a major region within the Imperium.

This overwhelming burden proved too much for the young, inexperienced prince.

The complexities of governance, the rigid and exacting education, compounded by the constant weight of others’ expectations – each day was a torment for Friedrich.

Unable to endure this anguish, he even attempted to run away, but this failure only cemented his resignation to his fate.

Even his mother, who should have understood and nurtured her suffering son, did no such thing. Instead, consumed by the notion of molding him into a stalwart defender of the heretical cause, she entrusted his education to the strict tutelage of Anhalt.

However, this approach only exacerbated Friedrich’s inherent meekness, fostering an excessive reliance upon Anhalt, his subject.

Thus, despite his loyalty as a sovereign, Anhalt – harboring ambitions beyond mere fealty – began scheming to elevate Friedrich to the Imperial throne, regardless of his lord’s wishes.

And Friedrich could only comply with Anhalt’s machinations, lacking the will to assert himself. His very presence in Bohemia was merely a result of Anhalt’s designs.

Yet, upon arriving here…

A figure unexpectedly caught Friedrich’s eye, disrupting his usual passive acquiescence to Anhalt’s stratagems.

Santana Andreas, the son of Count Turen.

His initial impression was of a self-assured, dignified young man.

Though outwardly around Friedrich’s age, Santana exuded an entirely different aura.

Piqued by curiosity, Friedrich’s interest heightened upon overhearing a conversation between Anhalt and Santana – of Santana’s youthful runaway escapades before his recent return.

Instinctively, Friedrich felt a yearning to converse with Santana personally.

A fellow noble of similar age who, unlike himself, had succeeded in escaping his oppressive reality before returning – Friedrich sensed an inexplicable kinship and camaraderie towards him.

Seizing the opportunity when Anhalt instructed him to rest for the day, Friedrich sought out Santana.

And…

Their ensuing dialogue had offered Friedrich a refreshing experience unlike any he had known.

As a Prince-Elector, an isolated existence devoid of true peers with whom he could converse freely, Santana’s companionship was the first time Friedrich felt his words truly resonated.

Moreover, learning that Santana had transformed from an even more timid youth into his current, confident self after exploring the world, Friedrich found himself struck by a profound, invigorating sense of admiration and yearning towards this man.

‘Someone similar to me… No, who overcame circumstances perhaps even harsher, and grew into such an assured individual. If I were to make an effort… Could I too become like him, one day?’

Though of the same noble age, Friedrich’s status as a Prince-Elector – second only to the Emperor – granted him incomparably greater rank and power than Santana, a Count’s eldest son.

Yet, at this moment, Friedrich felt as though a radiant sun had manifested before him.

One who had begun as he had, but found his own path through adversity.

As a result, this individual now shone with a dazzling, unwavering brilliance – a source of light illuminating the way forward.

Recognizing this, Friedrich silently offered gratitude to the God he had fervently prayed to since childhood.

Gratitude for casting a guiding light upon his once aimless, stumbling path through the darkness.

Although barely an hour in actual duration, Friedrich felt this exchange held more value than any previous conversation in his life.

After bidding farewell to Santana – his first true ‘friend’ – he departed, only to soon encounter an agitated Anhalt searching for him.

“Your Highness! Where have you been? I have been looking everywhere for you!”

“What seems to be the matter? If my memory serves, I was told there were no pressing matters today.”

“Yes, that was indeed the case. However, an urgent issue has arisen that requires your attention. Regarding the impending war, there is a need to coordinate the command structures between our forces and those of Bohemia. Your presence and input are necessary for these discussions.”

Anhalt’s fluid words carried a sense of urgency, yet he omitted the specifics of Friedrich’s required role – an explanation deemed unnecessary at this juncture.

After all, Anhalt’s role entailed presenting the details during the discussions themselves.

As the Prince-Elector, Friedrich’s presence and nominal assent would suffice, as it always had.

And as he regarded Anhalt…

After a brief silence, Friedrich spoke, his tone carrying a peculiar hesitance and distinctive meekness.

However…

His words were not the simple acquiescence Anhalt had anticipated, as had been the case until now.

“When you mention coordinating command structures… What precisely do you mean by that?”

“Pardon?… Why do you… ask…?”

Caught off guard by Friedrich’s unexpected inquiry, Anhalt instinctively responded with bewilderment.

And…

Observing this, Friedrich seemed to gather a measure of resolve as he continued.

“Well… Is it not only natural for me to inquire? No. In fact, if my memory serves, it was you, Lord Anhalt, who instructed me never to answer a question with another question…”

“!Ah… Y…Yes. My… My apologies… Your Highness.”

Realizing his misstep, Anhalt began to perspire slightly as his words faltered.

Regarding his momentarily speechless chancellor, Friedrich spoke with a hint of impatience.

“So? Explain it to me again. What was this about coordinating command structures between the Bohemian forces and our own?”

“Y…Yes? Ah… Y…Yes… That is… Your Highness…”

Within mere hours, Friedrich’s demeanor had undergone a palpable shift.

Caught in a whirlwind of bewilderment, confusion, and uncertainty, Anhalt could only stumble through the required explanation…

“Umm… I cannot condone it.”

“…Pardon?”

“I cannot condone it, I said. Regardless, we are guests here. Would it not be problematic to impose ourselves excessively?”

“…..”

Despite an air of awkwardness, Friedrich’s tone conveyed a clear refusal.

In response, Anhalt could only gaze upon his lord with a dumbfounded expression.