Chapter 119
"What? Could you say that one more time, please? What did you say about Prince Tsetsedora?"
Das-san came to me in a panic utterly unlike that of a seasoned merchant. Sensing that something serious had happened, I took him with me to see Raiz-sama for the time being.
Raiz-sama took one look at him and immediately arranged a place where we could hear him out.
"As I said, Prince Tsetsedora is asking Rudek for a conference." There had been no misunderstanding.
That explained Das-san's panic.
The emperor's son was asking to hold talks with Rudek, which was currently at war with the Empire. Normally, that would have been unthinkable. But after calmly listening to Das-san's story, I realized that this was not someone else's problem, either.
After we had delivered Lururia, Prince Tsetsedora and Lururia had read my letter together, just as promised.
Prince Tsetsedora had initially been skeptical of its contents, but after Lururia suggested, "Even if we're wrong, why not investigate?" he had secretly begun looking into Second Prince Fillemas and the minister in question, Basol.
The result went without saying. After all, I knew the future.
After reporting it to his father, Emperor Drak, Drak's reply was unexpected.
"If you were the one to notice it, then you can be the one to solve it."
Drak, Emperor of the Greedle Empire.
He was a remarkable man known as the second coming of Gransweul, the root cause behind the creation of the Sixteen Autocratic States. He had begun as the lord of Greedle, which was no more than a territory in a small nation in the eastern part of the continent. After seizing control of his homeland, he expanded his power at astonishing speed and built the Empire as it existed today in a single generation.
Drak's strength lay in his thoroughgoing meritocracy, which also made him much like Gransweul. He cared nothing for status or birth and sought talent alone.
Hearing that call, many bandits and drifters gathered around Drak. The fact that he could calmly command such a collection of people with all sorts of quirks was itself proof of his extraordinary nature.
He valued talent alone. He applied that way of thinking to his sons as well.
Drak's four sons were each entrusted with the management of a territory while still young. If problems arose in the lands they governed, they were reprimanded mercilessly along with their retainers. At worst, a retainer would lose his head. Literally.
In other words, Drak had told Prince Tsetsedora to prove his ability.
Prince Tsetsedora had thought that speaking to his father would bring the matter to an end, so he was bewildered. Compared to his brothers, Prince Tsetsedora had the gentle, laid-back temperament of a youngest son and had been content with his position as a provincial lord.
His other brothers were engaged in a fierce struggle for succession, but they did not regard Prince Tsetsedora as a rival and simply treated him as their brother.
Even Emperor Drak apparently had not considered Prince Tsetsedora a candidate for succession. That was precisely why he had spoiled him.
But then the youngest son demonstrated his talent. Consequently, the emperor decided to assess his abilities.
Prince Tsetsedora was at a loss, but then events took an unexpected turn.
A messenger arrived from Second Prince Fillemas.
The message read: "I have something important to discuss with you about my future. Depending on how things go, I may even have to ask Father to renounce my claim to the succession. So, if possible, I would like you to come to the imperial capital and advise me. Of all my brothers, you're the only one I can confide in."
In the story I knew would be told in future generations, I had never understood why Prince Tsetsedora had been in the imperial capital, but now it was clear. Fillemas had summoned Prince Tsetsedora intending to involve him from the very beginning.
As it happened, the emperor and the First Prince had only just departed on a campaign against Tsanadefor. In that situation, even someone as laid-back as Prince Tsetsedora would realize that this was a trap.
So Prince Tsetsedora and Lururia devised a plan.
They would pretend to fall for the ruse and sandwich the rebel army between themselves and Drak's main force. The emperor agreed to help as long as he was not the primary attacking force.
There was one thing that bothered me, though. When the plan was being devised, Das-san had suddenly brought up Lururia's name. He seemed unaware of it, but could it be that she was the one who came up with the plan...
Despite my speculation, Das-san continued his story.
That day finally arrived.
Prince Tsetsedora arrested Minister Basol and waited for Fillemas to arrive.
Unaware that his plan had been exposed, Fillemas came strolling in, only to be surrounded before he could reach the imperial capital by the emperor's main force, which had been secretly lying in wait alongside General Gafor the Greatsword.
Caught off guard, the rebel army collapsed without putting up any meaningful resistance. Apparently, the outcome had already been decided before a proper battle could even begin.
Thus, the rebellion was stopped before it could take place, but Fillemas escaped amid the confusion of the fighting and fled the Empire by ship.
"I see. I understand everything up to that point. But how does this lead to Prince Tsetsedora's visit?" Raiz-sama's question represented the consensus of everyone present. Well, Drew didn't seem interested, so everyone except Drew.
"Fillemas fled to Golbel."
"To Golbel? But if he traveled through our waters, wouldn't he have been spotted?" Raiz-sama furrowed his brow. Having someone move freely through his country's waters was hardly desirable.
"I don't know much about that part, but perhaps he was lucky. Apparently, he disguised himself as a merchant ship from another country, at least in appearance," Das-san replied, seeming slightly reluctant to discuss it.
"...Well, never mind. If he sought asylum in Golbel rather than the Southern Continent, we should assume there was already a secret agreement in place."
"Yes, I think so, too. We learned immediately that Fillemas had fled to Golbel by questioning those who had failed to escape. When we contacted Golbel, they replied that they were confused because your country's prince had suddenly arrived asking for asylum. They said they would hand him over immediately if we wished."
"So the prince was abandoned."
"It would seem so."
"Then it will end with him dying in an 'accident' while being handed over. Golbel wants to silence him, and..."
Das-san picked up General Raiz's words.
"That would be the least troublesome outcome for both countries. The Empire may find it galling, but even if they took Fillemas back, he was destined to be sentenced to death anyway. Executing one's own son would cause considerable unrest. In that case, it would be less trouble if he died in another country."
"But Fillemas didn't die. Is that what you're saying?"
"Yes. Suddenly, circumstances changed."
After saying that, Das-san paused to wet his throat. His story was finally reaching its climax.