Foreword: Dark Clouds over Alexa
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※ Orgus’s Point of View ※
I never expected Father to fall ill so suddenly…
Because Prime Minister Zazan, the guy doing all the annoying work for me, is currently in Tiana to reorganize the invasion force, I must handle all the governmental affairs myself. And as I’m bogged down with lots of matters that are brought to my attention accordingly, I don’t have any time to go out and play either.
When I came back to my room while feeling irritated over all this, Prime Minister Zazan was waiting for me over there, although he was supposed to be in Tiana. Next to him was a guy I’ve never seen before.
“Zazan! Because you’ve been playing around in Tiana, I had to work myself to the bones with all the governmental stuff! How dare you come here to meet me as if nothing happened!”
“Please forgive me, Your Highness! The delay with the reorganization in Tiana is quite severe…”
What a useless idiot! For such a dullard to be allowed to hold such an important post like prime minister in our country is the height of folly!
“It’s your job to get it done, isn’t it!? Hurry it up and come back to the capital!”
“Y-Yes. Because of that, I have brought this person with me today. This is Bleach Oxner-dono, the one serving as representative of 『Hero’s Sword』. As you most likely already know, 『Hero’s Sword』 is an organization worshiping God Eutel. He is said to be a hero who received a divine revelation from God Eutel. The priests respectfully refer to him as 『Golden Hero』. If possible, it would be a huge help if you could lend him your ear!”
Zazan and the plump middle-aged man called Bleach Oxner bowed their heads.
If I remember correctly, 『Hero’s Sword』 is a religious organization of fanatics to revere God Eutel as god of justice. I feel like Zazan dropped that name on some sort of occasion, but when was it? Hmm, I’m sure I’ve heard it somewhere. And it should have been quite recently.
Oh! Right! When the mobilization of nobles for the invasion didn’t proceed as planned, Zazan mention that Bleach Oxner had labeled our upcoming military operation as 『Holy War』 and mobilized their believers as soldiers for us. Is that representative of 『Hero’s Sword』 now going to help with the reorganization at Tiana?
“It is an honor for me to meet you for the first time, Your Highness. My name is Bleach Oxner. My meeting with you must have been guided by His Lord, God Eutel.”
Bleach revealed a nasty smile on his greasy face while requesting a handshake. When I grabbed his hand, his palm was wet with sweat, causing disgust to well up in me.
Although it’s for the sake of reorganizing the invasion force in Tiana, Zazan must be mad to have brought such a fat, middle-aged man to me!
“Since Zazan asked me to listen to you, let’s hear what you have to say.”
I quickly stopped shaking his hand and offered him a seat to get this over with as soon as possible.
“Thank you!”
Bleach sat down and spread out a map on the table.
“This is?”
“This is a map depicting the territory inhabited by the mountain folk. It is directly adjacent to Elancia. The parts marked in red signify the clans that converted to our 『Hero’s Sword』,” said Bleach while pointing at the map.
Red marks were lining up right next to the territory of the Alkor family which ran over to the empire just recently.
“Hmm, I see. And?”
“We would like to borrow your authority in order to mobilize the mountainfolk for a 2nd 『Holy War』…”
Mobilizing the mountain folk for a holy war, huh…? Can these people actually become trustworthy soldiers?
“Can’t you recruit your believers from within the kingdom for a 2nd 『Holy War』?”
Bleach’s face froze upon hearing my question.
“I-I am truly sorry, but…we mobilized our believers for the earlier 『Holy War』 and many of them ascended to heaven in the process. Therefore, a further mobilization of the believers in the kingdom is hard, even in my position.”
Bleach used a handkerchief to wipe away the sweat dripping down from his forehead. He made me feel a wretchedness that went completely counter to the claim of him being a hero who received a divine revelation.
Humph, the remnants of my father’s policies which benefited the clergy, are the reason why many of the foolish citizens still feel grateful towards shams like him. I must correct this as soon as possible, but for now I should use whatever usable tool I have at hand.
“So you’re saying you’ll mobilize the mountain folk because it’d be hard to mobilize within the country, huh?”
“Yes. If we mobilize the mountain clans I showed you on the map for a Holy War, we will be able to launch 1,500 soldiers at the Erwin and Alkor families at Beck’s call. And if we time that with the royal army heading for Sura, Zaysan, and Benia…”
I guess the red marks on the map will become a dagger thrust at that pesky Albert. If we create a situation where the Erwin family cannot cooperate with Margrave Stephan, the possibility of retaking the three fiefs with just the regular army will be quite high.
At the same time it’ll allow 『Hero’s Sword』 to achieve its Holy war and Bleach to regain his dignity.
“It’s not a bad strategy, but――”
“Of course, I will not ask for your assistance for free, Your Highness.”
Once Bleach clapped his hands together, the door opened and beauties carried a wooden box into the room.
As soon as the beauties opened the box in front of me, it was filled to the brim with gold coins.
“Please accept this box and the women as my offering to you, Your Highness. It’s a display of my organization’s sincerity.”
Well, well, the women don’t look half bad, and the bribe doesn’t look lacking either.
“I shall gladly accept your sincerity, Bleach-dono. Zazan, send a part of the royal army’s equipment in Tiana to the mountain folk under the command of 『Hero’s Sword』.”
“Yes, I shall see to it at once!”
“Also, leave the reorganization of the army in Tiana to Marquis Blouriche and remain in the capital to serve as my assistant for governmental affairs.”
“Entrust it to Marquis Blouriche, you say?”
“Don’t talk back to me. Assist me with the governmental affairs I have to handle as a governor.”
What a thoughtless idiot. If he reflects on the meaning why Bleach sent me these beauties, he should be able to at least come up with the reason why I’m having him come back to the capital. Thanks to Bleach’s plan, the reorganization of the army in Tiana now has a clear objective. I’ll push all the annoying governmental duty on Zazan and enjoy some quality time with those beauties myself.
“Yes! At your will. I shall immediately send a letter to Marquis Blouriche in Tiana.”
“I will further the missionary work among the mountain folk to increase the number of soldiers we can mobilize.”
Zazan and Bleach left my room together.
“Now then, let’s take a rest.”
Once I beckoned them over, the beauties revealed broad smiles and sat down next to me.
■
Several days after the meeting with Bleach, I was called by my father to his sickbed. When I entered the sickroom, my half-brother Goran was already standing next to my father’s bed.
Tsk! Did Goran tell Father some unnecessary bullshit again!? And yet I had insistently told my father’s attendants to keep him away!
I greeted Father while keeping my face straight so as to not show my annoyance.
“Father, how are you doing?”
“Not good. Rather than that, have you been carrying out the governmental affairs without a hitch?”
“Yes! Please do not worry. I am borrowing Prime Minister Zazan’s help to make sure that everything is proceeding smoothly.”
Hearing my words, Father looked relieved.
“Work hard on the governmental duties while being aware of your standing as next king.”
“Yes, Father. I shall keep it in mind.”
Gorna had been silently lowering his head while standing at the side, but now he lifted his face and looked my way. That’s one cheeky look he’s giving me for the brat of a prostitute.
“Brother, rumors are going around about our royal army having been defeated crushingly by Elancia’s imperial army after you dispatched it to take back Sura, Zaysan, and Benia. I have also heard people talk about the remnants of the army having gathered in Tiana and being reorganized. If this proves to be true, it will be your responsibility as the one who forced the deployment.”
Goran’s lips curved upwards as if he was ridiculing me.
“Goran, what are you talking about? The army dispatched by Orgus should still be in the midst of battle, shouldn’t it?”
Not knowing the truth, Father immediately latched on to Goran’s words. I went out of my way to enforce a gag order on the nobles who participated in the battle and now that little bastard is spoiling all the hard work I put into this! Fuck!
“Goran, what you’ve been hearing is pretty obviously disinformation spread by Elancia! The royal army is still in the midst of its campaign! Don’t say things which would lower the morale of the troops, you idiot! As the current governor, I order you to leave this room at once.”
I looked at Father’s attendants, signaling them with my eyes to remove Goran.
“Brother, is the royal army really in the middle of battle right now? Are you sure you want to insist on that?”
Apparently having obtained information about what really happened, Goran showed no agitation over being lifted up on both sides by the attendants, and tried to ascertain the truth instead.
“The royal army is still going strong! They’re in the middle of recovering Sura, Zaysan, and Benia!”
As soon as I waved my hand, the attendants kicked Goran out of the room. Once I calmed my breathing which had become disheveled due to me raising my voice, I looked back at Father, who was watching me with a worried expression.
“Father, Goran is being misled by the fake information that’s being spread by our enemy, so you mustn’t believe him. As long as I’m commanding the royal army, they will never lose. Don’t worry and focus all your energy on recovering from your illness.”
“I see… Did Goran truly lie to me?” Father asked, a strong will dwelling in his eyes.
Turning such a stabbing, sharp stare at me…it’s really troublesome for Father to be such a worrywart. Since things will just become annoying if I tell him the truth, I’ll make up some suitable story, I guess.
“I’m having a part of the army reorganized in Tiana while also letting them get a rest. Elancia circulated that as us having fled and Goran totally fell for their ploy.”
Father grabbed my hand strongly and directed a look at me that contained an even stronger will than before, “A little while ago you said that the royal army won’t lose as long as you lead it. Seeing how you said so yourself, make sure that your own words come true. This will become a strength allowing you to rule as a king for a long time. Got it!?”
While surprised by Father’s firm grip, considering he’s supposed to be an old, sick patient, I clasped back.
“I understand. Please leave everything to me, Orgis.”
“I’m counting on you.”
With those words Father let go off my hand and fell asleep on his bed once again. Afterwards, I strictly ordered the attendants to keep Goran away from Father, and left the sick room.
■
※ Goran’s Point of View ※
Because I had been kicked out of Father’s sick room, I returned to my own room in the royal villa.
“Orgus denied it, but going by his expression back then, the stories about his army having suffered a crushing defeat against Elancia must be true.”
Count Balt, who was a close friend of Albert, the one who was called Crown Jewel of Wisdom in our country, was present in my room.
“It looks like the details Albert-dono mentioned in his letter were true. The royal army is being controlled by Orgus-dono, meaning all the reports from the Military Department are lies. Besides, it has become a rumor that many nobles of the Satzbalm, whom I have investigated, have gone missing.”
Count Balt, who received the letter from Albert and brought it to me, had also been doubtful of the contents depicted in the letter, but after investigating things on his side, he apparently reached the conclusion that the letter was speaking the truth.
“I would love to question Orgus’s responsibility on this as he was the one forcing this expedition, but Father is lying in his sickbed and now that the government has been seized by Orgus’s faction, my options are very limited.”
“I think now would be the time to increase our allies. Fortunately, the letter of Albert-dono, which you delivered to the king, still shows some effect. The voices doubting Orgus-dono’s qualification as successor are growing louder by the day. On the other hand, your frugal lifestyle and sociable disposition give many nobles a peace of mind, resulting in the number of nobles on our side steadily growing. I believe we need to lie low while waiting for our chance.”
“I know. I’m just a spare to replace Orgus in case something happens to him. I know my own position in this.”
Many nobles regard the crown succession of my half-brother Orgus as an unshakable truth. However, some nobles hate him for his rudeness and lack of consideration, resulting in them naturally gathering around me. Once I made a faction out of them, disputes started to continuously occur between Orgus’s and my factions. Worried by that, Father called me to his bedroom and admonished me to support my half-brother, but――
I must protect my life by myself. My rude and quick-tempered brother won’t let someone like me live. Even though I feel bad for Father, I have no plans to stop the fights between our factions.
“By the way, a new letter has been delivered from Albert-dono. Are you going to read it?”
While minding the eyes around us, Count Balt offered me the letter he had put away in his pocket.
“I will.”
If Orgus learns about me being connected to someone who fled to the Empire, it will very likely allow him to take my head. Therefore, I quickly accepted the letter, unsealed the wax seal, and opened the letter.
Telling me to not let anyone of 『Hero’s Sword』 get close to me…just what is going on? If I remember correctly, Albert should be a priest of the Egelea Temple. So why is he warning me about the 『Hero’s Sword』, which is a religious organization worshiping God Eutel?
Even while being bewildered about the letter’s contents, I soaked it in oil, set it on fire with a flint, and let it burn down.
“What was it about?”
Count Balt apparently didn’t know its content, and so he asked me.
“I was warned to not let anyone of 『Hero’s Sword』 to get close to me. I don’t know why he brought up the name of an organization believing in God Eutel, but…”
Hearing the name of 『Hero’s Sword』, Count Balt’s expression visibly changed.
“I heard rumors that Bleach, the representative of 『Hero’s Sword』, sent great numbers of believers to the earlier invasion while calling the war a 『Holy War』. Moreover, I also heard some rumors about him approaching Orgus-dono. And to go even further, many people say it’s an organization that is corrupted by the higher ups of the temple.”
“I see, a rotten religious organization, huh? In that case, I can fully understand Albert-dono’s warning. I suppose it means keeping them away will grant me more supporters.”
“He probably meant it in such a way, yes.”
“In that case, inform all the nobles in our faction with relations to 『Hero’s Sword』 to cut their ties with that organization. Also, make sure to investigate the movements of 『Hero’s Sword』 in detail.”
“Yes, Your Highness! As you command.”
“I’d like to build a good relationship in the future with Albert-dono. Gather information which would delight him.”
“Yes! I will begin right away.”
After watching Count Balt leave my room, I sat down on my chair.
Albert von Erwin, huh…? If I had been just a bit quicker in meeting him, he might have wielded his shrewdness as my right arm during the strife over the crown succession. My brother sure did something foolish there. But he probably doesn’t understand that our Alexa will perish, if he continues to drive out all capable personnel to the Empire.
As I remembered the face of my brother, who always loathed me, I decided to grab my sword and go practice in the courtyard because I felt irritation welling up inside myself.
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