The Crown Prince's Intent

A body adorned with silver and gold, bearing the Imperial crest.

Unlike the knight who had come last time, there were no owl feathers on their helmets, and they numbered 300 in all, soldiers included.

It meant they had come bearing more power than mere couriers.

“I pay my respects to the Great Flame's Consort! I am Gogen, Swift Knight of the Imperial Knights, at your service.”

“What brings you here?”

Ferda openly expressed his displeasure.

“I have come to announce a message from His Highness the Crown Prince. Might we borrow the platform?”

“The festival is in full swing, so if it is bad news, I'd rather hear it later.”

“There is no need to worry. It is not news that would spoil this festival.”

It would indeed be strange to throw out bad news out of nowhere after responding so late.

Ferda stopped playing the game of wills and lent him the platform.

While the nobles were still half-asleep, he shouted loudly.

“You came to enjoy the Beginning of Spring Festival, but an unfortunate incident occurred, leading to an unexpected crisis. You all stepped forward to help!”

Quite a few sent him dissatisfied looks.

Everyone already knew that Alexander had responded late.

“Because your devotion contributed not only to the defense of the Far East but to the protection of the Empire as well, we hold your achievements in the highest regard. Therefore, I, Alexander Arken, the Emperor's representative, formally invite you all to the Imperial Palace, where we will hold a banquet!”

Their eyes widened.

They were even more surprised than when they had heard that the Far East was under siege.

“There's a banquet at the Empire….”

“Isn't that supposed to be the most lavish place of all?”

Any young noble dreamed of the Empire Dream, and when the opportunity arose, their eyes were bound to light up.

Who would refuse after being entertained in the Far East and then being entertained again after moving to another location?

‘So that's why they rushed over in such a hurry.’

Their aim had been to hijack the festival.

As evidence of that, the festival had originally been scheduled for two days, but the second day had changed from eating and drinking themselves senseless to a day of sobering up and taking stock of themselves.

Of course, Ferda did not care much.

The festival had not been planned in the first place, and Ferda was not the type to enjoy himself with guests.

He was more eager for them to disappear quickly.

However, it did not seem they had rushed over just for that.

Olivia's words from yesterday still echoed in Ferda's ears.

“Regent, there is something I need to discuss with Marquis Vernel….”

As expected.

“Would you permit me to meet him?”

“The chief researcher is busy right now.”

“It is something I must discuss with him directly.”

Ferda frowned at the knight's persistence.

He replied as if tired of such an obvious ploy.

“Don't make me say it twice. Vernel is working on an important project that directly affects the development of the territory.”

“Marquis Vernel must be informed personally. As one of His Highness's subjects, he has the right to appear before the Crown Prince, and even you, Regent Ferda, cannot stop him from doing so.”

The commander's gaze was anything but ordinary.

If Ferda continued to block them, he seemed prepared to charge him with insulting the Imperial family.

“I'll concede.”

“Thank you.”

“However, I would like you to promise me one thing. No matter what happens, do not hold him responsible.”

“There is no need to worry. What grand responsibility could possibly arise from delivering a message?”

“I'd appreciate it if that were so.”

Ferda obediently went with them to Vernel's laboratory.

When he knocked on the door, Vernel slowly came outside.

The morning sunlight hit him in what was practically a darkroom, and he scowled sharply.

One might think he had slept until now, but the dark circles beneath his eyes testified to several sleepless nights.

“Um… What is it?”

“These people say they wish to see you. Spare them a moment.”

“Does it have to be now? I'm a little….”

“Sorry to take up your time. Just give us five minutes.”

“Tsk… All right.”

Vernel was dragged out despite wearing an expression that openly said he hated it.

Seeing that attitude, the Imperial knight gave a strange smile.

He cleared his throat and unfolded the document.

“Marquis Vernel! By order of Alexander Arken, acting Emperor of the Arken Empire and representative of the Imperial family! In recognition of your great contributions to the field of technology in this war, we wish to award you a medal and the title of count. Would you please board the Imperial carriage and accompany us to the Empire?”

It was absurd.

The words exaggerated his achievements, but the intent was obvious.

They intended to whisk away the Far East's only technician who understood magitech engineering, did they not?

Ferda had been brimming with the urge to overturn the whole thing on the spot, but Vernel beat him to it.

“Uh… So you're saying I have to attend?”

He answered with bleary eyes.

Perhaps it was different from what he had expected, because the commander continued with a slightly flustered look.

“That's right. You will come with me—”

“Um… I'm sorry, but do I really have to go?”

“W-What did you say?”

They had clearly come without even considering the possibility of refusal.

Vernel scratched his head with a tired expression.

“Are you refusing the favor of Alexander Arken, acting Emperor and representative of the Imperial family?”

“It's an exceptionally busy time… I don't have time to goof off. And as far as I know, unless it's an order from His Imperial Majesty, I don't really have to attend….”

“He is the future Emperor. To behave so insolently—”

“The future Emperor, not the Emperor right now, right? I'm busy with the work in front of me, and it requires me to think.”

Vernel muttered like a lethargic, depressed man.

“If I move somewhere else, I'm bound to forget something, and then I'll only end up worrying for no reason… And once I start worrying, I can't get my own work done… Ugh.”

Vernel scratched his head irritably, as though something were poking at it.

After sighing again, he raised his eyes to look at the Imperial knight.

The commander asked him as though he could not believe his ears.

“You refuse to appear before him for such a trivial reason?”

“Uh… I suppose…? To the Imperial family, it is a trivial reason. Medals and titles are nice, but I don't really need them… I want to do what I can do. That's why. I'll be staying behind.”

Having driven the nail in, he nodded toward Ferda.

“I'm sorry, Regent. I'm right in the middle of something, so I don't even know what I'm saying.”

“Don't apologize. It was my mistake to call you out at a time like this.”

“Anyway, I'll be going. Sorry.”

Vernel muttered that and promptly shut the door.

Even after hearing and seeing it himself, the commander could not believe it.

Whenever people heard the words Imperial knight, they would first grow tense, and whenever their achievements were praised, they were always met with excitement and gratitude.

Vernel's attitude had gone beyond rudeness and reached a strangely refreshing level, leaving him speechless.

Since he was already going this far, Ferda decided to drive the nail in himself.

“I said I wouldn't hold him responsible, so I would appreciate it if you refrained from making pointless remarks.”

* * *

The next day, the young ladies and gentlemen awoke from their hangovers, bathed, and dressed in neatly laundered clothes befitting nobles.

Everyone left the castle with excited faces.

The Empire had acknowledged them.

The young gentlemen had been recognized for their contributions simply for having taken part in the battle, while the staff officers and knights who had bravely stepped forward had even been promised medals separately.

Four people at Valdrova Castle had officially been recognized for their achievements.

The chief technician, Marquis Vernel.

Hestia's administrator, Isabella Iorga.

William, the captain of the constabulary, who had established the basic tactics for the tactical infantry.

And even Ferda, the regent.

Isabella had played a decisive role in bringing down the colossal monsters as a fifth-circle mage.

Likewise, Echidna had distinguished herself, but they announced that they had omitted her name because she was a witch and could not be admitted to the castle.

Ferda had not intended to send her anyway.

She was a human who had come all the way to this castle merely after seeing Zed's face; what sort of enticements would she be subjected to if she went as far as the Imperial Palace?

There was no need to ask Vernel, since he had already refused.

Isabella had little expectation of the Imperial family and declared that she would focus solely on her work as an administrator, so she would not attend.

Ferda likewise politely declined to participate for the same reason.

In the end, only William would head to the Imperial Palace.

“Are you really sure it is all right for me to go?”

Even apart from his achievements this time, William was a talent worth coveting.

He had been the top man even when he served under Duke Urray, and he was a man with the qualities of a knight, possessing charisma as well.

Though he had betrayed his lord.

“They said that if even you did not go, it would be no different from declaring that we wished to become enemies.”

“I suppose so. I have no choice but to bear that burden, but….”

His expression suggested he was not entirely convinced.

Ferda did not try to persuade him.

Instead, he left him with only one final word.

“Do as your heart tells you.”

William, who had hesitated, ultimately decided to head to the Empire as the representative of Hestia Village.

Morning had come, and the Imperial standard-bearers prepared to depart at the front.

Before making his own proper move, Ferda met with one person.

“Princess.”

Olivia Arken.

Her once-pure, warrior's face had returned to the glamorous face of a princess.

“Did you summon me because you missed me?”

She made a teasing joke that could easily be misunderstood, her eyes smiling.

It was only possible because no one else was nearby.

“Do you really think this incident will allow you to enter politics?”

He knew the Empire's disposition.

That was why, even with these achievements, he could not imagine her being able to enter politics.

“Don't worry.”

Olivia smiled faintly.

The confidence of before could no longer be felt in that smile.

It felt as though she, too, sensed defeat coming.

Ferda handed Olivia something.

“What is this?”

“It is a report in which the administrator assessed the contributions to the operation using the data on those who took part in it.”

In reality, Mori had done it.

Since it had been calculated using only objective data, its margin of error was narrower than that of anything even most experts could produce.

Olivia's contribution was a whopping 45 percent.

It would be no exaggeration to say she had handled virtually everything.

It also noted that if her contribution to the development of the Far East had been included, it would easily have exceeded half.

She looked somewhat flustered by the unexpected favor.

She stared at Ferda's face, then smiled faintly.

“Please thank the administrator for me.”

It was neither the smile she wore behind a mask nor the one she showed only to him.

Before he could try to find its meaning, she climbed into the carriage.

Unlike what he had expected, thinking there would be a long journey to the Empire, the Imperial army's mages prepared a magic circle in the open ground.

Though it was some distance away, Ferda knew what the huge magic circle they were drawing across the open ground was.

A teleportation gate.

It was a magic circle connected to the Empire's triumphal arch by a spell that linked two spaces.

The larger it was and the longer it lasted, the more mana it consumed, but as with any national ceremony, efficiency came second.

The enormous gate opened successfully, revealing the Empire's colorful main boulevard beyond.

The street grew noisy with cheers from people who had come out and were peering through the gate.

The young ladies and gentlemen could not hide their excitement.

They felt as though they had become heroes from a story, generals returning from a great victory.

Carrying the dreams and youthful fervor of childhood with them, they entered in a line.

Hestia, which had been bustling as though midwinter had suddenly arrived, fell silent in an instant.

Unlike the now-deserted Hestia, what touched their skin was the warm spring sunshine.

Ferda blankly savored the lingering warmth.

As the tension left him and drowsiness washed over him, he slightly closed his eyes, thinking he might take a short nap.

At that moment, Luri's voice pierced his ears.

“The master has gone out to exterminate monsters.”

He sprang up with his eyes wide open.

Whatever else, he could not sit out a fight.

* * *

The monsters that had been waiting to cross the line the moment an opportunity arose.

Several of them brazenly approached, and Valdrova immediately set out to punish them.

Filthy chunks of flesh upon the black earth.

Amid them, pure, gleaming red scales tore viciously through the enemies.

Hadn't it been a whole month of confrontation?

All those emotions must have built up during that standoff, leaving her itching for action.

She was releasing what had been compressed within her with extraordinary ferocity.

Ferda sat down.

It had been a long time since Luri had brought over a tea table specifically because Ferda watched Valdrova's fights without fail.

“Would you like a cup?”

“Please.”

He melted the chill of the summit with black tea and watched her form.

As always, it ended in Valdrova's overwhelming victory.

The heat of the battlefield warmed Ferda's body along with it.

‘She'll return home just like this.’

That was what the fixed pattern suggested.

Wishing he could watch her a little longer, Ferda also started to rise from his seat.

But this time was different.

Instead of spreading her wings to return to her lair, Valdrova stared fixedly at the upper slopes of the lonely mountain.

There was no doubt.

Valdrova was looking directly at Ferda.

‘Why?’

No sooner had he wondered that than her wings began to flap.

She was heading somewhere higher, not to her lair.

Toward the summit of this lonely mountain.

It was the very place where Ferda stood.