Herscherik

The king's office was dominated by heavy air. The only thing that sounded indoors was the sound of the fountain pen the king ran over the paperwork and the occasional zero sigh from that king.

There was no blood in the king's face, and he was in a hurry to see it. I don't think it's strange when the king's aides fall. But the king didn't care about the surrounding worries or anything... he didn't even realize it, he just concentrated on the documents in front of him. But still, sometimes my hands stopped and I didn't even slightly move for a while, and I returned to work a few times.

Leaking a sigh he doesn't know several times, Soldier Gracis places a fountain pen and rubs his eyebrows with his hands. I couldn't sleep well for the last two days, so I had a terrible headache.

There is a reason that I did not sleep.

We lost touch with Hershelik's expeditionary army.

Until then, communication magic tools were used and regular communication was carried out without problems. But I've been out of touch for two days now. Scheduled position three days to the border fort. An attempt was made to request that soldiers be sent to the ground from the border fort to which they could be contacted, but that was stopped by senior military officials.

"The Imperial Army is approaching the border. It is not a good idea to divide the army of the border fort at this time of year.

Yes, the senior official keeps saying the words.

"The last few days have been bad weather and there has been a lot of floating magic in the air, so communication may just be unstable. Maybe there was just a flaw in the magic tools during the march.

Indeed, unlike magic tools installed in forts and other places, simple communication magic tools used during marches are susceptible to weather and surrounding floating magic for portable minutes. Because the magic tools that communicate with it are precisely constructed among the tools, once damaged, they cannot be repaired by the magician at the scene.

"Plus, it's domestic, so there's no danger.

I assure you so. Soldier couldn't say anything more and pulled back. But communication with the Expeditionary Army had not been restored either the day after that or the day after that.

If you plan to, you will arrive at the border fort tomorrow. Then we should be contacted tomorrow using the fort's communications magic tools, and Soluyeh tried to think so. But as if to crush such a soldier's wish, an official from the military bureau jumped into the king's office.

The stacked paperwork makes a noise and falls to the floor at the same time as the official's report ends while he breathes out. The gaze of the officials in the king's office turned only for a moment to the bundle of documents, but it also poured out with Soldier, the lord of the room. Soldier gazed openly at the reported military bureau official in front of him and did not even slightly move.

Soldier felt his heartbeat rise to react as well and his sweat erupted.

"Is that......... true?

I can get zero rubbed voices. Slowly standing up with his hands about his desk, a long piece of silver hair, gathering the light of the moon, fell off his shoulder.

Officials spit solely on the king's words, and went on to say them.

"…… 20,000 Expeditionary Forces have been ambushed and disintegrated. His Highness Hershelik also contacted about the disappearance and received a report from the Border Fort.

That was a report brought about earlier by correspondence from the border fort.

The official reports the current situation as it is, but Soldier sounded like it was saying somewhere far away. Words come into my head, but I couldn't get my thoughts together.

Soldier's mouth moved slightly. Looks like he said something, but he can't hear it, and the official asks back.

"Your Majesty?"

"……….

But even that is obscure, officials ask.

"My apologies, Your Majesty. Again……"

"Everyone, get out.

That was always a cold voice, unimaginable from a king with a mild smile. His eyes as if his emotions had disappeared shot out the official, and both the official and the officials in the office exit the office early enough. When the door closes and there is no sign of everyone, Solje repeats the earlier report in his head.

General Seguin, who was ambushed, took about two thousand cavalry horsemen and ran day and night into the border fort and avalanche. Confirming somehow that the confused General Seguin was still in rupture, the Expeditionary Army said it was ambushed by an ambush of Atrad troops.

For immediate confirmation, we tried to send troops, but the Imperial Army appeared as if we had measured the time on the plains along the border. That number is 100,000. It was ten times more military than a prior investigation. Due to confrontation with the Imperial army, it was not possible to send troops to the place where they had been ambushed, nor to confront the large army in a situation where reinforcements could not be expected.

Impossible, I just thought. It was the other party's move, which can only be considered as false as all the information this one collected was attempted, after the internal information of his own army was leaked.

Fu and Soldier change their mind.

(The information was leaked from the beginning…?)

All I could think of was that. He said everything was set up from the beginning.

The only thing floating in Soldier's brain is that guy.

(Barbasse…… the man…)

The man was after Hershelik's life from the beginning. Not being able to reach Hershelik in the castle, he dared to create a situation in which even the royal family could not refuse, and sent Hershelik to accompany the army. And did you make a back deal with the Empire and provide information on this dispatch? That's not all. Originally a conflict area on the border is a place where there is constant war with the Empire. I may have offered that land. Haven't you given Hershelik's annihilation or himself to the Empire in return? No, it's about the man. To be even more certain, he may have released his own assassins.

(Hershelik…………)

The smile of the last prince floats in his brain. And the smile overlapped with the face of the once beloved princess.

'It's okay to have this kid even if I'm gone.

Yes, she said. And he passed away entrusting my son.

"I was wrong…………"

Soluyeh shrugs. None of the usual soft vibes were present in the voice.

"I was wrong from the start…………"

Why, did I try to be king?

I lost my daughter, I lost pride, I lost friends, I lost my beloved, and now, again.

Why, I tried to endure.

From mourning, from agony, from anger, from loss.

"Even now..."

That's what I said. Soldier's jade eyes were filled with madness. With those eyes, Soldier looks at the sword placed in the corner of the room.

Soldier flutters his legs as if he could be drawn to the sword. I stepped on a document that said it was important that had been scattered all over the floor, but it didn't go against my will, and slowly I took the sword in my hand and it released from my sheath.

The slender sword of silver. I had it for protection, but never used it. One wave sounds the sound of slashing the wind, making sure that it can be handled without any problems and putting the sword back on the sheath. Next, he utters demonic words, converts magic into wind attributes, and builds exploratory magic.

Shortly before the magic was activated, the door leading to the hallway was opened. Soldier's magic ended in failure because his consciousness went there, and the wind blew all over the room, causing the paperwork to strike the universe.

Those who rushed in through the door breathed with their shoulders, and searched for the Lord of the room, surprised at the indoor where the documents danced like petals because of the wind.

"Father, which way...... Father!?

Marx, the first prince, who broke into the room, found the person he was looking for as the paperwork danced, but was surprised to see what the person had in his hands. My father had a sword in his hand. Since his birth, Marx has rarely seen his father hold a sword. To the extent that I saw him as a decorator at the festival, I had never seen him pull out his sword.

"…… Is that Marx?

The voice that called his name was also usually thought of as a cold out voice. Soldier usually calls his family with a very soft voice. Even the minister may change his tone somewhat like a king, but he has such a tender voice that his personality is all over the place.

But now, the voice calling itself, unlike usual, Marx found that the air stuck indoors filled him.

"Father, what..."

I couldn't put it into words until the end to ask if I was. I swallowed the words because the gaze I pointed at from Soldier was cooler than my voice. Unconsciously, Marx almost carries his hand to the pattern of the sword, and when he notices it, he grips his fist before gripping the pattern. I understood that my father was under a lot of pressure.

(To Father, I can't believe I feel the pressure... fear.

But Marx remembered what people had heard. My father had inferior swordsmanship and magic compared to my late father's brother. But that's compared to my father's brothers. From what I've heard, my father is strong enough to antagonize as much as a Kingsguard knight if he's a sword arm and a senior magician if he's a magic arm. Either one of you will have that ability. But not so many people have both abilities.

"… I am the culprit.

To Marx, who shut up, Solje said quietly. It always had a far cry from the Kind King, with a mild look on his brilliant face.

"Father, please calm down.

Serve and Marx says calmly.

The culprit, that is, Wolfe Barbasse. No, that's not all. It turns out that my father's culprit refers to all those who took part in Barbasse, who nest in the castle.

"There are so many things I regret being taken away from me already. Then that's the point………………………"

"Father."

Says Soluyeh with his eyes dwelling in quiet madness.

Why have you ever endured regret? When I lost my first daughter, I should have killed him on that spot without giving in to threats. We should have cut off all those who oppose us. That way, I'm glad I don't endure the fear of being deprived of my loved ones every day. He said he didn't have to lose Hershelik.

Marx could not move to his father, who held the pattern of his sword.

Marx doesn't hate Barbasse either, when it comes to lying. The moment I received the report that the Expeditionary Army had been ambushed and destroyed, I thought of the face of the man who plotted it. And I regretted it violently.

(I always take the back.

I was always behind when I lost my friendship with Octavian and when I found out what was going on in the country. This time, too, if Hershelik resolutely opposed going, he could have avoided it.

I can't take any further back, Marx thinks.

(If Father shakes the sword, let him bear the stigma himself.

Yes, Marx is determined.

Fortunately, I have excellent younger brothers beneath me. I have no regrets, even if I no longer have the right to inherit the throne.

"Father..."

Marx called his father with determination.

Someone slapped Marx on the shoulder that made me so tense. If Marx looks back, there's Luke, the king's lead butler, who nods at him and shows him. Then he entered the office one step ahead of the prince.

"Your Majesty… No, Soldier.

"Luke."

Soluyeh, called by his name, calls by his friend's name. And after being lost for a few moments, I said as I took my gaze off my friend.

"Don't stop me, Luke. I am………………………."

"The lead butler will not betray the Lord no matter what.

Luke spins his words to block Solje's words.

"But my friend asked me to talk to you about you.

That was once a promise to a woman who was called a pet princess and admired. The very thing she was afraid of, it finally happened.

"Soldier is a gentle king. But if he tastes despair and fear again, he can no longer be king.

As she predicted, Soldier was dying to be king.

"Protect Soldier... and stop when you have to.

Luke closes his eyes once and opens them. And stared straight at each other.

"I have to stop before the man she loves steps off the road.

Tensions increased between them.

Another intruder appeared as if to break such an indoor tension.

"Excuse me.

"…… Will?

Marx calls the name of the intruder. It was William, the second prince, who showed up. William witnessed the tragedy of the king's office and, after tying his mouth just a little, whined only one word.

"…… I see.

And I looked one by one at the three eyes I couldn't move, and then I leaked my sigh.

"Father, brother, and Lord Luke, please calm down.

Even a look in a fed up windy tone. But it never made fun of the three of us, it was William's. I am told that the neat facial facial expressions inherited from my parents always seem grumpy because they do not work at all other than at work. That's why people don't notice if they're in a good mood. William, such an emoticon unfortunate second prince, throws words at the murderous humans.

"I have been told by Hershey to make sure to stop everyone.

"……… What?

Marx made a voice pointed between them. William keeps saying things to his brother like that.

"It's a message from Hershey. 'In case you're missing, I don't want you to hurry until your body comes out'.

"Does that mean Hershey was expecting this? I don't know. Why you?

Marx has a longer relationship with Hershelik than William, in one way or another. When Marx blamed William for feeling as if he had been left alone, his brother answered with a shoulder strapped to his brother's gaze.

"I also hear that from Hershey. Says: 'My father would definitely stop me if I told him, and I'm worried that Brother Mark is emotional and easy to understand. But Brother Will is going to deal with it calmly.' I mean. So I won't let you out of this room until your heads are cold.

William declares clearly. And to my father, who couldn't move, William kept saying.

"Father, if Father moves you now, it may be an obstacle to what Hershelik is trying to accomplish. Please be patient.

"… William, do you know what Hershey is trying to do?

"No. You couldn't tell me.

Hershelik didn't say anything. I just wanted William to be the toothpicker in the event.

To his father, who shut up to William's words, he stared straight into his eyes and opened his mouth.

"If you still say you will take hard means with that sword, please slash me first. I will never go anywhere.

"William......"

"If Hershey really doesn't come back, then I'll take care of everything, even if it doesn't bother your father or your brother.

To William, who had a quiet will behind his blue eyes, Soldier looked at the fine sword only once, and shook his head. As Luke approached him and deposited his sword from Soluyeh, Soluyeh fell into his chair like a puppet with a broken thread. A woman called out to him like that.

"Your Majesty…."

"…… Perla?

When Soldier, called, turned his gaze, a woman who was not supposed to be here stood. Her hair melted with the same fine red balls as Marx's, her polished red balls eyes, her tall, well-adjusted body, and her colorful incense was still in her twenties, Perla, Queen of the Kingdom of Gracis.

"Your Majesty, I must apologize to Your Majesty.

After closing the door, Perla lowered her head deeply.

"I was told by Barbasse. Send a letter to your home country. If you don't leave, Your Majesty and Marx will be like daughters.

Perla still remembers that loss. My daughter, who was finally able to grab hold of herself, was getting cold a few days after that.

Perla then enclosed the secrets she had received from the minister.

I don't know what it is, but I heard this surprise attack by the Imperial Army and found out that the letter was the cause. The minister took root in the empire and the principality and brought his enemies into the country. The Principality of Parche is not equivalent when it comes to being a friendly country. The kingdom is above the kingdom. If the minister with substantial powers threatens, the Principality of Parche will have to obey. If the kingdom and the principality waged war, the armament would rise to the kingdom, and the principality would become a nation. So the Principality has no choice but to obey.

(Does the man lean toward the country for his own sake………!

Soldier gets angry at the minister and his impudent self. But before that, the queen trembles in the terror before her eyes. She was deeply hurt, just like herself. But I couldn't realise it was all about me.

Soluyeh hugs her as she approaches Perla.

"It made me feel hard. Shit, Perla.

Soluyeh says a heartfelt apology in his ear. Marx and William who were on the spot. Yes. I couldn't help but look away, but the tears conveyed Perla's cheek as to whether the tension had dissolved in the words.

"No, no! No, Your Majesty!

But Perla's next words were unexpected.

"I was going to reject the Minister's words, though I was lost. Her son… Hershelik visited the room when he decided to refuse to help his daughter with her enemies.

He appeared untouched in the room, knowing everything. And he asked me to write to him on it.

"Please believe me.

That's what I said. He looked like her now that she was gone. To her as bright and powerful as the sun.

"So I was urged by Hershelik to send the secrets of the minister to my country along with the letters I wrote. But I can't believe he's going missing...!

Soldier supports the sobbing perla, and when he leads it to the chair, he holds the hand of the queen with one knee. The queen just apologized.

Having heard the queen's words, the two princes look at each other and take a deep sigh.

"That's why…………"

The whine belonged to Marsk.

Marx was a little uncomfortable with Hershelik in that parliament where Hershelik decided to be an Expeditionary Force Commander. At that time, Hershelik showed his leaders to everyone. It's like showing off your powers. No, because the power of the head belongs to its Lord, there is no problem in saying that it is the power of Hershelik. But the usual Hershelik doesn't make a futile tease of their power. Besides, I don't treat them like things. I mean, I needed to show it off. Why did you need it? Why did you dare provoke the minister?

In other words, from that time on, Hershelik came to the conclusion that he had taken measures.

"…… for now, when you come back, your fist bones are definite.

My eldest brother snorted and agreed to his words. In them, the anxiety and anxiety I had felt earlier had disappeared.

In the conference room of the fort on the border with the Atorad Empire, a man was supported on both sides by soldiers and appeared before the generals in charge of guarding the border.

The man was the only man to have reached the border fort on his own, an expeditionary army that had been unheard of three days earlier.

"We will report………"

The man opened his mouth weakly. All the armor paid for was damaged and bandages were wrapped around the head that would have been handled, concealing half the face.

"The army is almost devastated… I am…."

So the man is supported by soldiers on both sides as his knees fall. I can't help it if it does. He is a soldier in general. I was able to ride a horse, so I got away from it, but it would be the limit of my health already.

"Okay.

The old general in front of him snorted heavily at the words of the soldier. He is called Count Bartolt, a general who guards the border. Having experienced many battlefields, he fought a steady battle that represented his character and, more than once, repelled the enemy's attacks. If you compare Roland, a fiery general, to a spear, Bartolt is a guardian general known as a shield.

The next person Bartolt turned his gaze on was the man who turned bright blue in the seat set in the corner of that room.

"General Seguin, what does this mean?

"Wow, I am……………"

Seguin couldn't talk any more. It was yesterday that he fell to the border fort. Thanks to a run day and night, two thousand cavalry, including Seguin, fled into the border fort. Immediately afterwards, the Atorad Imperial Army was placed on the plains on the border side, making it impossible to move in order to send troops.

"I didn't know a general of an army would abandon his soldiers and run away wanting to save only his own life... shameless.

Yes, Bartolt throws up and leaks a deep sigh. Now there was something more important than the bluer general in front of me.

"…… Your pursuit of responsibility falls behind. What are we going to do with the Imperial Army that's going to attack us tomorrow?

Hearing the words on his back, the man with a bandage around his head supported by the soldiers leaves the room behind. No one noticed that that mouth was laughing.