episode_0122

If we had to be specific about the war, it was okay to say it was a kind of group task.

In fact, it was only a metaphor, so the reality was added.

It would have been much better if things had gone well with just a small number of people leading it, like an ordinary group task, but war is a problem that even a superman on a white horse cannot handle alone.

How great it would have been if Rudolph himself had control over all the soldiers.

However, from dukes to counts and barons, the moment a word is uttered, even if it is more of a request than an order, isn’t it creating a stir as if a promise has been made?

So, it was his job to coax and comfort him, and to continually imprint his goals and rewards.

What if you get angry rashly and get so upset that you end up on the other side? Among the nobles, there was a sensitivity that was inappropriate for their age and was not in demand.

It was already a rebel group that lacked justification and legitimacy.

The people’s support was not very high, and the Pope was so unhelpful that it was better to remain silent. The only thing I had to offer was a page, so I couldn’t lose even that.

“Count of Ravenna.”

“Did you call me, Your Majesty?”

“You must be tired as there was a lot of work today. Don’t just stand there, come and sit down.”

Not long after, the Count stood up. The pitch-black night sky shone through the slightly open tent door.

I thought he might have been sleeping at this time, but he must have been awake because he had something to worry about, so he immediately answered the call. And Rudolph knew well what the problem was.

After showing appropriate respect, the count raised his head and faced his emperor.

His forehead was wrinkled with worry, and his eyes were slightly unfocused and wandering. Fatigue seemed to pile up the most on him as he had to fight alone against his allies rather than his enemies.

“In times like these, I am even more grateful for people like the Count who maintain their position on the battlefield until the end.”

“Isn’t it natural for a subject to listen to his lord’s orders?”

“Obvious doesn’t mean it’s easy. Especially on a day like today.”

For a while, nobles who had behaved indecently talked behind their backs, and formal words were exchanged among them to confirm each other’s loyalty and trust.

Of course, I didn’t call him to talk about such trivial matters.

However, it was a topic I was cautious about asking about right away, so I had to go around and around like this. That’s what politics originally was.

Unknowingly, the conversation drifted towards the immediate aftermath of the battle.

It was as intended. Rudolph, whose soy sauce was burning like a candle on the table, finally decided that it was okay and got to the point.

“Now that we’re talking about today’s battle, I’d like to ask you a question.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I heard that a knight said something to you. Do you understand what I’m talking about?”

The Count of Ravenna nodded slowly.

What can I say about what that means? I guess it’s because of the article that recently claimed to be my child.

It was a topic that none other than the Count himself had thought about more than anyone else. It was a car that never left my mind until just before I received the master’s call.

“Of course it is.”

If you say “, is it true?”

“I have given you an order to look at the records in my territory. Soon we will be able to determine the authenticity.”

“Yes, Heinrich may be telling lies and trying to create unnecessary trouble.”

Of course, as Rudolph said, he could have been lying by hiring a double.

However, in the Count of Ravenna’s opinion, Heinrich was not so shallow-minded that he would tell lies that would soon be revealed.

He spent three days and three nights in the middle of winter wearing only one set of clothes.

At first glance, he seems to have the temperament of a gambler like no other in the world, who knows how to gamble with his life even in front of the Pope. In fact, most people in the world accepted it this way.

However, the true value of that action was not its boldness, but the meticulousness with which it was laid out so that the Pope could not refuse the pardon in the first place.

When I heard the whole story, I was honestly impressed.

In short, Heinrich was meticulous and smart.

Moreover, he had the patience to endure hurting his pride and authority for the sake of his goal.

There was no way such a person would touch just a count with such trivial lies.

That was one of the reasons why I told him to look up the records, but I had already half-concluded it in my head.

“But Heinrich is not the type of person who does things for no reason. There must be some basis for this, so I think I need to find out a little more about this.”

“Understood, Your Majesty. We will let you know as soon as we learn new facts.”

Judging from the following words, it seemed like this was a conclusion that Rudolph was also able to reach.

Maybe that’s why I could see that he was still wandering between doubt and certainty.

But I had one more reason to turn that suspicion into half-confidence.

After the battle, I continued to worry.

If there is a surviving child, I wonder who it is.

Even after thinking about it for a while, there was only one answer.

‘The name was definitely Leo.’

Although it was twenty years ago, it was as vivid as if it had been drawn before my eyes.

Partly because I had an excellent memory, but most importantly, it was an unforgettably special experience.

When I said this to Leo when I was about seven years old.

‘No, you’re wrong. I am your father.’

‘Sonna!’

‘Get out of this town. And don’t come back again.’

‘Sonna… … .’

An ordinary child of that age would have just kept tilting his head, not knowing what was going on.

If he was precocious and had a good sense of humor, he could have appeared confused and at a loss.

But Leo didn’t do that.

Even though they were mumbling something incomprehensible, what was reflected in their eyes was not fear or embarrassment.

Even though his gaze was downcast, his will to live more was evident.

It would be hard to say that he was an ordinary child, as he quickly left with a gold coin given to him out of kindness.

Leo, if I were to compare him.

I felt like an adult trapped in a child’s body.

From the beginning, he was a bright-blooded guy.

So it wouldn’t be strange for us to meet like this after twenty years.

At that time, he wondered if he should get rid of the regret even if it meant getting blood on his hands, but in the end, he gave up out of complacency, asking what a seven-year-old could do.

Now that I have to blame myself, it was a useless regret and a lingering regret.

There was just one thing that bothered me.

“Thank you for answering my call late at night, Count. The battle is over, so let’s get well together before the next battle, and we’ll talk about this later when we know more.”

“Sonna… … .”

“What did you just say?”

“Nothing. Well, let’s go back first. May your Majesty rest in peace.”

That was the only thing Leo said to me instead of asking or complaining.

What that child said must have had some meaning.

It could have been raw hatred directed at me, or it could have been a pledge to take revenge. I only thought that it would be so because I was standing in front of him again like this, but I still didn’t know what it meant.

There was no way to know if what I guessed was true, but the time was not far when we could end that long, bad relationship. Wouldn’t it be possible to confirm when that time comes?

As he left Rudolf’s barracks, the Count of Ravenna walked among the soldiers guarding him and pondered those words in silence.

“Sonna… … .”

A question with no one to answer lingered in my head.

*****

By the time we returned from the emperor’s tent, it must have been past midnight.

As much as I taught her that she needs to go to bed early and wake up early to grow quickly, Lisia had already gone off to dreamland. I quieted my voice so as not to wake the girl, went to the bed next to her, and closed my eyes.

And the next day, when I opened my eyes, I couldn’t shout out the early bird wake-up call like usual.

Feeling that something heavy was sitting on my arm, I turned my head, and before I knew it, Lisia, who had been in a different bed until yesterday, was already taking that place.

“What on earth is so good about a guy like me…? … .”

As I lay there muttering and waiting, Lisia, her eyes frowning in the morning sunlight, began to wriggle.

Then, I stretched out and rolled over out of bed. I swung my lighter arms a few times and stood up.

In the past, I would have seemed a little embarrassed by this, but now I guess I’m used to it, so there wasn’t much of a reaction.

He just casually brought some bread, handed me one, and said this, as if he was just doing everyday things.

“How was the meeting?”

I thought this meant that we had been together for a long time.

I told Lisia the story I heard from the emperor the night before. After cutting out unnecessary rhetoric, there wasn’t much content.

“-First of all, His Majesty seems to think so. What do you think?”

“The war situation has been sluggish so far. As of today, the decision has clearly not been reached. So, I think the future strategy can be summarized in one word.”

“What is that?”

“It’s a team fight of the soul… … .”

And from the answer that came back, I immediately learned from whom Heine had learned those words.

Should I say that I am glad that we seem to be friendly friends?

I just decided to think positively.

As we spent the morning chatting, not long after, I heard a voice calling me from outside the tent.

“ Sir, are you inside?”

I got up right away and walked outside.

Sure enough, Heine was in front of him.

“What’s going on, Your Highness?”

“You listened to your father’s story together yesterday. It seems that a separate unit will be needed to deal with Rudolph in the battle after winter.”

“Yes.”

“There are some knights and soldiers assigned like that.”

Heine said with a grin.