Sunset

When Fiene and the others entered the escape route, the sun outside was about to set.

Gordon's rebellion, which had begun at noon, was proving impossible to settle in a single day and was on the verge of carrying over into tomorrow.

"Marshal, the enemy's assault is weakening."

"They aren't going to attack with nightfall approaching, are they? Gordon has learned to use his head, at least a little."

Liese muttered as she watched the enemy army before her.

Liese's army, with the East Gate as its defensive stronghold, numbered roughly two thousand. Gordon's army, attacking from all sides, numbered roughly eight thousand.

The fact that they had held off an offensive by a force four times their size was due to Liese's command, the valor of the Imperial Guards who had been around the Emperor, the difference in the soldiers' quality, and many other factors working together.

However, they were still hopelessly outnumbered. Many of the generals who had not taken part in the rebellion had been captured, and they could not expect reinforcements from within the Imperial Capital.

A prolonged battle would put them at a disadvantage. Yet the longer it lasted, the more hope began to appear. That was the unstable situation they found themselves in.

As time passed, the soldiers would grow exhausted and openings would appear. However, if the Valiant Duke or Erna arrived in the meantime, the situation would change completely.

In these circumstances, Gordon did not attempt a reckless nighttime assault.

He knew Liese and her soldiers would not be broken so easily, and he feared that attacking in the darkness, with visibility impaired, would invite a counterattack.

Liese's troops were border guards. Trained always with defense in mind, they could fight without difficulty even at night.

They could even strike the enemy and break through the encirclement.

If they could get the Emperor out under cover of darkness, they would gain an even greater advantage.

Liese had intended to carry out that plan if the enemy attacked, but Gordon's decision to wait had made it impossible.

"How is it, Liese?"

"If Father weren't here, I would have launched a surprise attack on Gordon and taken his head already. But with you here, it's difficult. That's why we're having trouble."

"I... apologize."

At the implicit suggestion that he was in the way, Johannes drooped his shoulders.

Liese, however, asked him a question in return.

"Leave the battle to me. More importantly, which of them do you think will arrive first?"

"You mean Erna or the Valiant Duke?"

"Yes. Only someone who wields a Sacred Sword can break through this situation with a single blow. There are only two people in the Empire who can wield one right now: Erna, who went to rescue the Saintess, and the Valiant Duke, who made preparations in advance. Which one do you think will arrive first, Father?"

Hearing Liese's words, Johannes fell silent for a moment.

Normally, the Valiant Duke would arrive first.

Erna, who had gone to rescue the Saintess, could not return until she had saved her. The Valiant Duke, on the other hand, could act on his own judgment. The difference was enormous.

However...

"If one of them is coming, it will be Erna."

"And your reason?"

"Arnold is in the castle. The House of Amusberg is deeply loyal. Despite being able to seize the Empire by force at any time, it has always remained a sword. Erna, as a member of that house, is no exception. Moreover, Erna's loyalty has been directed toward Arnold since she was a child. Leonart, who is at her side, is the same. Once they learn what happened, the two of them will come to Arnold's aid with their lives on the line. And Arnold is counting on that."

"You mean Al set this up?"

"He has keen powers of observation. He even saw through the Saintess's staged death. I cannot imagine Arnold failing to notice Gordon's suspicious movements. Despite that, he even sent Sebas to Leo's side. He must have done so in preparation for this very situation. If so, the two of them will turn around and come straight back as soon as they rescue the Saintess."

"I see. He deliberately chose not to go with them so that he could remain behind and make them return at full speed. That does sound like something Al would do."

"He is good at using other people, but he is even better at using himself. Arnold has almost no value as a hostage, but to Leonart and Erna, he would be the ultimate hostage. By remaining behind, Arnold has become a shackle weighing them down."

If Al is in the Imperial Capital, Leo and Erna will definitely return there.

Returning there will be their absolute priority.

They will come back at full speed and fight Gordon.

"Then Sebas is there to rein them in if the two of them get too carried away?"

"Perhaps. Sebas is also easy to deploy. He will be a powerful asset when we attack the Imperial Capital."

"Then Al must be doing something in the castle as well."

"I have high hopes for him. Do you remember? Arnold and Leonart searched out the castle's hidden passages together."

"Yes, I remember. In every letter, he bragged about finding yet another hidden passage. At the time, I thought he meant to draw a map of the entire castle, but that knowledge looks useful now. Al knows more about the castle than anyone."

"So even playing around isn't wasted."

As he said this, Johannes gazed off into the distance.

He had scolded Al countless times for running around and playing throughout the castle. Al had never even acted repentant, but now Johannes was looking forward to the fruits of that play.

"You never know what life will bring. Not long ago, I never imagined things would turn out like this. Of course, I never imagined the time would come when I would rely on Arnold, either. Life is a strange thing..."

"If we could always see what lay ahead, life would be easy. Whether it was my brother's death or Gordon's rebellion, once something has happened, we cannot change it. All we can do is decide how to bring it to an end, and we are almost always reacting after the fact. Even when we think we have prepared for every possibility, it is never enough, and unexpected things keep happening. But not everything is bad. Sometimes something better than expected happens. Al is a perfect example."

Al had been scorned by everyone in the country as the Dull Prince.

Johannes knew that better than anyone.

There had been times when he thought, How dare they mock a prince? But as long as Al himself said nothing, there was nothing he could say as Emperor.

All Johannes could do was tell Al to shape up.

And whenever he did, there was always a small hope in his heart.

Prove them wrong. Find the strength to stand up.

With that hope in mind, Johannes scolded Al, while Al continued to let it wash over him.

However, circumstances changed Al.

Leo joined the struggle for the throne and began showing a side of himself he had never revealed before.

"Everyone calls Arnold the Dull Prince. Even when he accomplishes something, his starting point is so low that few people reconsider their assessment of him. Gordon must underestimate and despise him as well. Perhaps that may be his undoing."

"If Al can accomplish all that, perhaps no one will ever call him the Dull Prince again."

"Who can say? Arnold probably likes being called and treated as the Dull Prince. In truth, Arnold lacks motivation. Someone who only acts in times of crisis is difficult to evaluate."

"It should be obvious if you think about it. Someone who excels through hard work is a prodigy. Someone who excels without working hard is a genius. Al is clearly the latter. He has a natural gift for outmaneuvering others. Such gifts are difficult to come by and worthy of recognition."

"If everyone could see the value of that talent, I would have no trouble. Besides, Arnold sometimes deliberately acts in a way that prevents people from recognizing him. Surely—he is still hiding a side of himself that he has not shown even us."

Johannes sighed after saying that.

Then he murmured as he looked at Liese.

"I suppose I was conceited. I prided myself on being a respectable emperor, but I could not even see the true nature of my own child. That is why this rebellion happened. Forgive me. I have done nothing but make you suffer."

"It is only natural for a child to help a parent. It is only natural for a marshal to help the Emperor. You have nothing to apologize for. I am the one who must apologize. After my elder brother's death, I shut myself away at the border. I was in pain. But as your eldest daughter, I should have stayed by your side and supported you. You were suffering the most, after all... If I had been beside you, this rebellion might never have happened. Forgive me."

Hearing Liese's words, Johannes gave a faint laugh.

Then he said:

"Perhaps the rebellion is not such a bad thing after all. I was able to speak honestly with my daughter... Liese. You know what to do if the enemy approaches me, don't you?"

"...Yes. When that happens, I will take your life, Father."

"Then do so. As Emperor, I cannot allow rebels to take my head. If you are the one to cut me down, I will not mind."

With that, Johannes laughed and left the scene.

Left alone, Liese slowly looked at the encircling enemy army, then at the castle.

"Do not worry... Once I have cut down Father, I will send those fools after him as well. I will make them atone for their folly in the afterlife."

Hoping it would not come to that, Liese wiped her sword clean of blood.