Chapter 42: 2nd Prince Kade

“Hoo-hoo, Prince! What is that building?”

From the moment she got on the carriage, Erka was looking out the window, wondering what was so strange.

She had to put three cushions under her because the height of the window did not match her viewpoint, but she let out a new exclamation every time without even adjusting her legs, as if her posture was not uncomfortable.

Bellot Ridge, a place you must pass through on your way to the islands from the Northern Plains.

As soon as I passed the pure white walls and entered the castle gate, Duke Bellot hurriedly ran out to greet me.

“Your Highness, I am glad you returned safely!”

“I’m back.”

The old man with a large frame, Lanan de Bellot. 

Looking at him, I suddenly thought of my grandfather.

Speaking of his mother, he did not forget his grandfather’s message asking him to convey his thanks to the Duke.

I think I’ll have a lot to talk about with him today.

“Wow! Doesn’t he look like a warrior with quite a great spirit?”

Erka, who got down from the carriage with a bang, circled around Duke Bellot and spoke.

How should I describe her appearance after she was freed from the shackles of her tribe? 

She looked even more childish.

So that’s why, hmm, I think I finally understand briefly why Frennila and Werhe left her behind and went abroad.

It would be natural to consider Erka’s attitude rude, but fortunately, Duke Bellot’s face had an expression like that of a cute child.

I guess the visible appearance is important.

“Your Majesty, who is this lively little lady here?”

Oh, I had forgotten for a moment, but thanks to Duke Bellott’s choice of words, a past mistake suddenly came to mind.

For a moment, his expression hardened and he looked at Erka-sama. 

Did she hear it? 

No, more than that, did she remember it?

​In an instant, Erka-sama appeared before my eyes.

“Prince, didn’t that warrior just call me ‘kid’? I thought he meant ‘brave warrior’?”

As expected, you remembered. My mouth was smiling now, but it wasn’t a smile.

“But I have to correct one thing. I’m not just a ‘kid’, I’m a ‘small kid’!”

Cold sweat runs down my face.​

Erka, who was standing in front of Duke Bellot, seemed to have taken my expression as a sign of positivity, and began to introduce herself in the Imperial language she had learned over his shoulder.

“I am Erka. I am not a kid. I am a little girl! Please take care of me!”​

“Hey, you little punk?”

I ended up hitting my forehead.

Duke Bellot looked at me with a questioning look at the words that came out of the blue while looking at her cutely as if she was his granddaughter.

Erka interpreted that strangely again,

“What do you mean, does this brave warrior doubt that I am a ‘small boy’? If so, then tell me that I will show you my skills!”

A brave warrior speaks with his actions rather than with words.

Erka snorted and then ran to the carriage’s cargo area to retrieve her beloved sword.

I appealed to the Duke of Bellot with desperate eyes while she briefly left the room to fetch her weapon.​

“Your Majesty, there is a deep story here. … She thinks the word ‘little one’ means a brave warrior.”

Then the Duke quickly reacts, saying that he has fully grasped the situation.

“Is it because the immigrant people are obsessed with the word ‘kid’ because they value military power? But how did such a misunderstanding arise?”​

That’s right.

I don’t know if I should call it improvisation or a cursed beak, but I managed to resolve the confession to Frennila in the palace, but I don’t know how to resolve this one.

“I’m here, I’ll show you my swordsmanship skills right now!”

​She took down her great sword and, as always, drew her sword from its scabbard, struggling.

According to the original imperial law, it is a crime from the moment you draw your sword in front of the prince and duke.

But none of the soldiers around her rushed to stop her, as if they thought she was just a little kid playing around with a sword that wasn’t suitable for her.

But the moment she took hold of the knife, her mood changed.

One swing, three swings, five swings, seven swings. 

The sword she swung once left scars in the air as if she had swung it three, five, seven times.

The series of attacks that followed, as if ignoring gravity, and the swift sword swinging from the small girl’s body made the onlookers doubt their eyes.​

Finally, raise the power from your lower body as if you were cutting through the sky.

The attack created a ripple in the atmosphere, leaving a trail of light behind.

Erka, who had finished her sword dance, quickly returned her sword to its scabbard, grumbling again.​

Clap clap clap.

Starting with the Duke of Bellot, those around her gave her applause of admiration.

“That was a very good sword dance, Miss ‘Ttangkki’.”

Duke Bellot emphasized the word ‘small boy’ as if trying to fit the situation.

Fortunately, it looks like we’ll be able to get through today safely.

Erka shrugged her shoulders with a proud expression, perhaps thinking that she had been recognized by a great warrior from a foreign country.​

“Prince, I think I understand even without you interpreting. I’m sure you’re acknowledging me as a ‘small child’?”​

“…yes.”

It’s a triumphant expression.​

As soon as I saw that look on her face, I made up my mind.

During this journey, no matter what happens, let’s not teach her the Imperial language.

If you value your life.

…

“By the way, Duke, it seems like things are quite hectic at the mansion. What’s going on?”​

I couldn’t feel it from outside, but once I entered the mansion, the atmosphere seemed distracting and it seemed like something was being prepared.

It couldn’t be because of him. 

He had never mentioned that he would visit Bellot, so he probably didn’t know that he would barge in like this.

“I couldn’t explain it to you because the circumstances were not favorable. The First Princess’s people are currently visiting the territory.”

1. Princess? Why is she in Bellot territory?

​“I hope you don’t misunderstand. I was the one who sent the telegram asking to speak to the First Princess.”

From what I hear, it seems like they’re planning to meet secretly without making it public.

Making such a decision at this time would mean that the Duke of Bellot, who had maintained neutrality, had made a choice.​

By the way, why didn’t you get the support of Duke Bellot, who values ​​legitimacy and justification? 

The First Prince’s character is also quite good. 

Thanks to that, things have become easier for us.

Suddenly, the time before regression comes to mind.

When I first started my activities, Duke Bellot was already dead and no longer in this world, let alone taking anyone’s side. 

Of course, it could have been natural death, but it raises many questions about His Majesty the Emperor’s fall, so what if he too was killed by someone else?

Even a stone bridge needs to be tested before crossing.

The safest string and fence for me right now is my mother’s name.

It is necessary to preserve as many lives and strength as possible of the allies within it.

“Your Majesty, I’m sorry to bother you while you’re busy, but I have a long story to tell you.”

About his mother’s death, about the plague that had struck the North, about what might befall the Empire in the future.

If you explain the series of events, he will become a more powerful ally than anyone else.

“His Majesty the Emperor may not have collapsed from illness.”

*

“It’s been a long time since I’ve breathed the air of the Empire.”

Second Prince Kade, who had been heading to Istian under the pretext of studying abroad, got out of the carriage and took a deep breath.

As expected, Rontania is different.

Is this what they call a correction of memory? 

Whether it’s Jedo or Istian, both places where people live, why does the air here feel better? 

It’s probably because of my mood, which I can’t explain in words.

‘By the way, no one is coming to pick me up.’

I didn’t expect anything, so I wasn’t disappointed. 

I just packed my only bag and headed to the now empty Second Prince’s Palace.

Since there is no one to welcome him, he just drops his luggage off in the room he used to use.

Then, he heads straight to the First Prince’s Palace instead of the Imperial Palace to pay his respects.

I heard a lot of stories before I came. 

Currently, Brother Kale is in conflict with Sister Kaela and is dividing the power of the system.

‘Give me room in that position? How pathetic.’

Even though he was my own older brother, I felt so pitiful.

To be honest, he may not have been crowned, but he is close to being the crown prince, so is this the only way he can handle things?

The same goes for your mother. 

Is this the result of your choice? 

I want to confront her and ask her.

If I had been in that position, it would have been different.

I must have been told to keep my place, so that I would know my place. 

The disgust rising inside me is directed at my own bloodline.

“The Second Prince is coming in!”

As he entered the First Prince’s office, Kade hid his negative emotions and smiled brightly.

“Brother, how have you been?”

“Kade, I heard you were coming back today, but I was so busy that I didn’t pay attention. I’m sorry.”

“You are the one who has to do big things, so there is no need to get caught up in small things. Don’t worry about it.”

“You must be quite tired. Go and get some rest. Let’s have dinner together in the evening.”

“…all right.”

Don’t you care? 

No, you probably don’t. I don’t like that attitude, which seems like it’s caring but is completely indifferent.

He tries to fix his expression, lowers his head, and leaves the office. 

“I feel dirty.”

Tsk, he clicked his tongue, quickly straightened his clothes, and hurriedly left the seat.

There was no more time to waste, because there was so much to do.

He returned to the empty Second Prince’s Palace, quickly unpacked the luggage he had brought, and locked the windows and doors.

Until the appointed dinner time arrived and the guide arrived, Kade did not come out of there.