Chapter 251
The night Gordon ceased his attack.
For Wilt, the Imperial Capital, where the conflict between Emperor Johannes and Third Prince Gordon continued, it was a quiet yet ominous night.
On such a night, a group raced onward.
"As expected of Saintess-sama. It's amazing that you can increase everyone's travel speed."
The group was divided into two forces, one on land and one in the air.
The land contingent consisted of more than a thousand cavalrymen. In the air were griffins, along with knights flying as fast as them.
It was Leo and the others.
"But it seems like a heavy burden."
"I know. Using the Sacred Sword is exhausting too. But... we need speed right now. We can't afford to hold back."
Erna murmured beside Leo.
Leticia, wielder of the Sacred Staff, had activated it to increase everyone's travel speed.
Thanks to its effect, Leo and the others had reached a point within half a day's travel of the Imperial Capital.
However, the cost was high.
Increasing their travel speed did not increase their stamina.
Soldiers from the Nelbe Ritter were dropping out one after another, and even the Griffin Knights could no longer hide their fatigue.
Yet Leo, who should have been the most exhausted of them all, was racing at the head of the group.
Riding a griffin flying faster than usual was itself enough to consume a considerable amount of stamina, but it was no burden to Leo.
It was painful, but this was such a grave crisis that the pain hardly mattered.
"...You're right. Leticia is using the Sacred Staff despite how hard this is because she understands how we feel. It would be rude to worry about her."
Leo said that and glanced behind him.
Leticia, who was activating the Sacred Staff, was riding behind another Griffin Knight.
Since she was exhausted to the point of collapse and using the Sacred Staff on top of that, there was no telling when she might lose consciousness.
Even so, Leticia continued using the Sacred Staff.
The Empire's vital forces had left the Imperial Capital to rescue her, and Al had handed Leo most of his forces to save her, leaving himself in danger.
Leticia blamed herself for everything and continued gripping the staff tightly.
However, that was not all that filled her heart.
She had a premonition that if anything happened to Al, Leo would break. That was why Leticia was forcing her exhausted body onward.
For Leo's sake, and for her own.
"Wouldn't it be something if it turned out there had never been a rebellion at all?"
"If only that were true... Vin always anticipates many possibilities before acting. Since Vin judged this one highly likely, I think it's certain that something is happening in the Imperial Capital."
The strategist Vin had accurately predicted Gordon's rebellion. His decision to act alongside the Nelbe Ritter in advance had also been in preparation for it.
For Vin and Arnold, Gordon's rebellion was within the range of their predictions. The unexpected development was Leticia's abduction.
The Nelbe Ritter, which should have been close enough to rush to the Imperial Capital at once, had wound up a considerable distance away from it.
They were using Leticia's Sacred Staff to make up for that gap, but it was still taking time.
That was what concerned Leo.
"The key to a rebellion is speed. If we dawdle, reinforcements will arrive. I don't think Brother Gordon or the generals around him will overlook that."
"Are you saying it's more likely that the rebellion is already over?"
"...Yes. If nothing is done, the rebellion will probably succeed."
"His Majesty and the Chancellor are there, aren't they? I can't imagine they made no preparations."
"I agree. The problem is what move they made. The amount of time we can buy will depend on that one move."
A halfhearted measure would buy them only so much time.
If they were going to stage a rebellion, the final day's martial arts tournament was the obvious opportunity.
If a rebellion broke out during that event, which began at noon, roughly half a day would already have passed since its start.
Would they make it in time?
Anxiety welled up inside him, but Leo forcibly suppressed it.
Worrying would not change their speed. In other words, it would change nothing.
"Al will be all right, won't he?"
"I think he will. Brother doesn't fight battles he can't win. The fact that he sent Sebas to us means he thought he could manage even without Sebas there. Let's trust him for now. Trust Brother."
"Yes. Al will be all right. He's probably scheming as usual."
Erna murmured as if trying to convince herself.
Hearing those words, Leo slowly drew a breath.
Negative emotions spread easily. If he became anxious, everyone following him would be seized by anxiety as well.
"Yes. We may not be in the Imperial Capital, but there are still reliable people there. Father is there, and so is the Chancellor. And if it comes to it, Brother Trau is there too, so everything will be fine."
"Hearing you mention Prince Traugott makes me worry about all sorts of things..."
"Well, he's eccentric, but he's an incredible person, you know?"
Trying to reassure Erna, whose expression had grown even more anxious, Leo turned his gaze forward.
If Al were truly alone, Leo would be beside himself with worry, but Al still had family around him.
"It's all right. Brother is someone who values his family. He's strong when he's with his family."
Those were sincere words.
Al could not work hard for his own sake, nor did he.
That was precisely why knowing he had people around him reassured Leo.
"I'm sure Brother is doing his best. At the same time, he's probably waiting for us. Brother hates working hard, so he probably wants to say, 'You take it from here,' as soon as possible. Let's hurry."
"Yes. If it's Al, I'm sure that's exactly what he's doing."
With that, the two hurried toward the Imperial Capital.
■■■
At the Imperial Capital's eastern gate,
two men were confined in a room normally used as a soldiers' break room.
They were Konrad, Gordon's younger brother, and Henrik, Zandra's younger brother.
"Brother Erik! I didn't know anything! Please let me go!"
Erik appeared before the two of them.
His body was spattered with blood.
He had been wielding a sword on the front lines until just moments ago.
He was not particularly skilled with a sword, but he had never neglected his training. People would not follow a man who relied on brains alone. A man who could not even wield a sword when the time came could never win anyone's trust. Having watched the Crown Prince for so long, Erik understood that well.
A man did not need to be strong, but without the spirit to go to the front lines and inspire the soldiers, he could never become Emperor.
"Is that all you have to say? You can't even ask whether Father is safe in a situation like this, and you call yourself a member of the imperial family?"
"Ugh... That's..."
"If Brother Erik is safe, then Father must be safe too. That's good to hear."
Konrad, who had been lying on the floor, let out a long yawn.
Seeing that, Erik furrowed his brows.
"Henrik aside, you must have heard something, didn't you, Konrad?"
"If I had, I'd have stayed behind at the castle with them. If I started a rebellion there, I'd be the one getting arrested, wouldn't I? My life matters to me."
"Hmph. Who knows? You're a slippery one. When this is over, I'll interrogate you. Be prepared."
"Scary, scary. Still, I'll brace myself."
With that, Konrad lay back down on the floor.
Seeing him do so, Erik left the room.
He had come because he thought the two of them might know something useful, but judging by their behavior, they appeared to know nothing.
"How did it go, Prince Erik?"
"Chancellor? It was a waste of time. Neither Gordon nor Zandra is the sort to value family. We should assume those two have been discarded."
"I thought so. I agree. But if that's the case, they cannot serve as hostages."
"Indeed. Assigning Imperial Guards to two men who cannot serve as hostages would be a waste. I would like you to lend me the available Imperial Guards."
"Oh? Do you have a plan?"
"There are still forces in the Imperial Capital. I'll mobilize them."
The Chancellor immediately understood what Erik meant.
"I see. Even under cover of darkness, breaking through the encirclement would be dangerous, wouldn't it? Besides, I doubt they will move so easily."
"I know it's dangerous. But I am the eldest son now. It is my duty to protect Father. Besides, I am good at negotiations."
Seeing Erik say that, the Chancellor gave a single nod.
Taking that as his approval, Erik immediately put his plan into action.