abcnovels
Chapter 460
Chapter 460
Chapter 460
After the discussion in the throne room ended, I parted ways with Leo and headed towards the inner palace. It was time to make my return greetings.
"I'm back, safe and sound."
"I'm glad to see you're well, Al."
My mother said this with her usual composed demeanor, unchanged from a year ago.
"I'm glad you're well." That was my line.
It seems her illness is still sporadic.
While relieved by this, I reached out for the sweets prepared by my mother. That's when I was blindfolded from behind.
"Who's there?"
"Who do you think...?"
A voice I hadn't heard in a while, but I couldn't mistake it. I answered without hesitation.
"You haven't changed, have you? Krista."
"I've changed. I've grown a bit taller. Welcome back, Al nii-sama."
She removed her hand, and when I turned around, Krista was there. She might have grown just a bit, really just a bit taller. It's a minor difference, but I guess it's a significant step for her. As I pat her head, a young girl behind Krista waves at me.
"Welcome back! Brother Al!"
Had she grown taller than Krista?
It was Rita, Krista's friend and a knight trainee. However, she was wearing a white cape. Seeing this, I laughed, and Rita looked surprised and knelt down.
"I greet you, Prince Arnold, as a trainee of the Imperial Guard!"
"A trainee of the Imperial Guard?"
"Elna said she would train her herself and forcibly pulled her in. She had enough achievements, so she was given special permission. But there's no Imperial Guard who hasn't passed the selection test, so she's a trainee. She's currently Krista's exclusive guard."
"I see. So basically, nothing's changed?"
"Yes, I'm always with Rita."
Krista said, separating from me, holding hands with Rita and smiling. Rita seemed unsure of what to do, just standing there in bewilderment.
As a trainee of the Imperial Guard, there are certainly etiquettes she should learn. However...
"There's no need to be so formal. Elna also takes a casual attitude towards me, right? It's a matter of time and place. Just act naturally now."
"Oh! As expected of Al-nii! Clear and simple!"
Rita nodded vigorously with a bright smile. Given Elna's attitude, she probably can't scold Rita.
"Well then, I'll be on my way."
I picked up a sweet, popped it into my mouth, and stood up from my seat. Even my mother managed a wry smile.
"Can't you stay a little longer?"
"I'll come again later. I just thought I'd finish up the return greetings today."
"Well, I'll prepare a meal for us later."
"I'd love that, my mother's homemade meal."
"I'll be back before it gets too late."
Shrugging my shoulders, I left the place.
In the outermost layer of the imperial city, there's a small dojo. I quietly peeked inside.
A man was there, swinging a sword on his own.
"...No more disciples?"
"It's a day off!"
When I muttered quietly, the man flatly denied. We locked eyes as he turned around.
"Hey, long time no see."
"You... Shouldn't 'long time no see' come first..."
With a grimace, Guy let out a sigh. But soon, Guy gave a sly grin.
"Well, never mind. Welcome back, Al."
"Yeah, I finally got out of the troublesome role of prime minister."
"I heard you stirred up quite a storm? Even going so far as to crack down on every noble?"
"Not to that extent. Well, something like that."
"The rumors have reached the imperial city, and your reputation is at an all-time low. They say you're venting your anger at the nobles, your royal highness."
"That's not it. I was simply fulfilling my duties."
"Since when are you so diligent? Isn't this part of some nefarious scheme?"
Ah, childhood friends, they know me too well I thought as I shrugged my shoulders. Guy changed the subject without pressing any further.
"That being said, the Empire has changed a lot this past year. That's what you came to hear, right?"
"It's helpful that you understand so quickly. I could ask Leo, but it's easier to understand when hearing it from a third party."
"Well, I only know rumors, but for now, the struggle for the throne is at a standstill. The high-ranking nobles around the Imperial Capital are almost entirely supporting Prince Erik, while it seems that the nobles in the remote regions are supporting Leo."
"That's as expected. From the beginning, the majority of nobles were on Eric's side. We have no choice but to give up."
"Most of the ministers are also in favor of Prince Eric. Yet it's a balanced fight because-- the leading western side of Duke Kleinert, the leading northern side of Marquis Zweig, and the leading southern side by Count Zimmel, or rather, he is now a Marquis. These three families are openly supporting Leo. Recently, the only nobles who have made accomplishments are these three families. Nobles with reputation side with Prince Eric, while nobles with substance side with Leo. That's how the commoners see the struggle for the throne."
Guy concludes his explanation of the succession dispute like that.
It's mostly as expected.
Guy is a commoner who doesn't know the details, but the actual situation probably isn't much different.
Nobles who dislike change side with Eric, while nobles seeking change side with Leo.
The reason the majority of nobles side with Eric is because there is no benefit in switching to Leo now.
Only those who helped in times of disadvantage are worthy of trust.
Now that the struggle for the throne has become a choice between two, you have to choose a side or there won't be a tomorrow.
People with some degree of position fear Leo.
If Leo becomes the emperor, those who currently don't have a position will get one.
At that time, someone will have to give up their position.
That wouldn't happen in Eric's case.
Maintaining the status quo is guaranteed. Eric is maneuvering in such a way.
Maintain or change.
Both have their merits and demerits.
"Also, this is a story from the Adventurer's Guild... The guild headquarters has started to gather high-ranking adventurers or station them around the kingdom. It seems they're on high alert because of the demon commotion a year ago."
"That's expected. There was a lot of damage."
Initially, the demon's subjugation was not public.
However, the damage was too extensive to hide.
A demon appeared in the kingdom and was subdued by an SS-class adventurer.
That's the guild's explanation.
But adventurers, unlike commoners, don't just swallow this.
The appearance of a demon is a big deal, and normally the surrounding adventurers would be mobilized.
The fact that multiple SS-class adventurers moved means it was a planned move.
Naturally, this leads to distrust towards the kingdom, where this all took place.
The recent movement of the guild headquarters only adds to this.
It seems they've decided they don't care what the kingdom thinks of them anymore.
"So, it seems that the number of S-class adventurers in the Empire will be increased. The guys at the Imperial City branch are nervous these days, worrying about potential friction with Silver."
"They wouldn't fuss like children, would they?"
"You can say that because you don't know Silver. Inside, he's a brat, just like Elna."
At Guy's words, I manage a smile, but I'm taken aback.
I can't believe Elna and I are being compared like this.
That's rude.
While suppressing the urge to deny this, I continue to listen to Guy's story.
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