abcnovels
Chapter 456
Chapter 456
Chapter 456
In the northern part of the Empire.
Night.
We had stopped by the Marquis of Zweig's house, where there were originally no plans for the night.
"I'm sorry, Charl."
"I don't mind. But why did you change your plans?"
Charlotte von Zweig, the representative of the northern nobility, welcomed us, and I was in the Marquis of Zweig's mansion. Seeing Charl wasn't a rare occurrence. The province and the northern part of the Empire are close. Every time something happened, we would meet.
"There was an obvious trap. So, I decided to be cautious."
"An obvious trap?"
"The bridge on the planned route had fallen. We could cross by taking a detour, but if we were in a hurry, we needed to go through the forest. Many footprints continued in that forest."
"An ambush?"
"Possibly. It was too apparent, so I moved to what seemed like the safest place. Now that I think about it, the purpose might have been to delay us."
"Delaying you? Did something happen in the Imperial City?"
"There should be no emergency. But, there aren't many people who would be troubled if I returned."
"Did Prince Eric delay you to take measures?"
She caught on quickly.
Without saying a word, I nodded. If I returned, the balance maintained between Leo and Eric would change. They might have wanted time to make the first move.
"Honestly, I'm a bit relieved."
"Why is that?"
"It seems he's serious about the battle for the throne."
"What do you mean?"
"Until now, Eric has been inactive. He boasted the largest forces and disliked the idea of rashly fighting and having his advantage stolen by a third party. However, one can't ascend to the throne without engaging in some conflict. My worry was, is Eric even interested in the throne?"
Charl makes a face as if to say, "There's no way that's true."
Indeed.
Absolutely so.
If he wasn't interested in the throne, he wouldn't participate in the struggle for the Imperial succession. But, I couldn't feel the desire to become the Emperor at any cost from Eric. It seemed more like part of his larger goal.
"If my concerns are misplaced, then that's good. The problem isn't there, it's that Eric is making a move."
"He has the largest forces..."
"That's not it... Incompetent people don't gather the largest forces. Many believe Eric will win, which is why the largest forces have gathered under him. He's a smart person who has supported the Crown Prince intellectually. He shows his true worth in political negotiations, and on the battlefield, he takes on the role of a military strategist. Half of the Crown Prince's military achievements belong to Eric. The Crown Prince himself said so."
Since childhood, the two were always together.
Even their first battle.
Although Eric was younger, he was allowed to join the Crown Prince on the battlefield.
The Emperor's pride and joy.
Both of them were described as running wild by various countries.
When the two began appearing on the front lines, the Emperor, who until then had frequently quarreled with foreign countries, started to stay in the Imperial City.
If the two were together, they could replace him.
That was the judgment.
Eric was superior to the Crown Prince in terms of intellect.
That's where his reputation comes from, and it's not mistaken.
"The Kingdom is suspicious. They have significantly strengthened their military this year. They've been putting pressure on the surrounding small countries, making them provide supplies. The objective is clear."
"A rematch with the Empire? But why the hurry?"
"If a conclusion is reached in the Imperial succession, they know they can't compete. This has happened before. Besides, the Empire is still recovering. After all, it's only been a year."
I looked up at the starry sky from the window. There were many incidents, and in the end, it turned into a civil war. Blood flowed here in the North as well. Considering those who have gone, it's inevitable to think of the Empire's weakening. However, while some are gone, others have risen.
"Speaking of which, I heard the Imperial Guards have been reorganized."
At the topic I brought up, Charl frowned conspicuously. And then, she murmured,
"I really do dislike the Emperor."
I couldn't help but laugh at her candid remark.
The next day, we bid farewell to Charl and left the Marquisate of Zweig.
As we exited the estate, I had the carriage stopped.
A distinctive call echoed through the air.
Looking up, a white flying dragon was circling above us.
Recognizing me, it descended slowly.
On its back was a knight with a white cape.
"Thank you for the welcome, Finn."
"Yes, Prince Arnold. I assumed you would be at the Marquisate of Zweig as you weren't at the scheduled place, so I came to pick you up."
Finn responded with the same gentle smile as he had a year ago.
He was a different person in the sky during combat, but his ability was undeniable.
"I am Finn Brost, Captain of the Eighth Royal Guard Squadron. I will now be serving as your escort, your highness."
"I look forward to working with you, Captain Finn."
However, Finn had no subordinates around him.
In an unusual turn of events, he had been appointed as the captain of the Royal Guard Squadron without any subordinates because he was capable of performing at that level on his own.
Having such overwhelming power under one lord was excessive, and while I was there, he worked directly under the full authority of the northern region. After I left, Shal managed him as a force for the entire North.
However, he was appointed as the captain of the Royal Guard Squadron by my father, who was eager to reorganize the Royal Guard.
Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later.
Finn was just that powerful and unique.
"Now, with this, there shouldn't be anyone left to make fun of me. Let's head to the Imperial City right away."
"Yes, the Emperor is waiting."
"Is it for a lecture?"
"Who knows?"
Laughing, I returned to the carriage, and Finn took to the skies.
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