Chapter 68 : Chapter 68
Chapter 68
I came out of the room. Outside the room, four knights and Elly were waiting for me.
“Sorry for being late. I had a few things to pack.”
“Not at all, Your Highness. But…… what is that bag?”
Elly replied with a light smile, then asked as she looked at the backpack I was wearing on my shoulder.
“It’s my personal luggage. Things like books to read and snacks for the trip.”
“I-I apologize, Your Highness. I should have packed it. I will carry it.”
“It’s fine. I’ll carry this.”
“B-but still……!”
“I said it’s fine. Really.”
As I waved my hand to refuse, Elly became restless, then soon stepped back as if she understood.
I gave her a gentle smile and said.
“Shall we go then?”
***
I came out of the royal palace and, guided by the knights, reached the front of the castle gate.
In front of the castle gate, there were other people waiting for me. They were the knights and soldiers who would take me to Misty Port, and the officials who had come to see me off.
Among the knights, there were a few who were particularly young, and upon closer inspection, Yoanna was at the forefront of those young children.
‘They said they were taking a few kids as squires for the knights, so they’re taking Yoanna too.’
Taking Yoanna on this march must mean that the knights had high expectations for her.
Otherwise, there was no way they would take her on a march to escort me, the Crown Prince.
At the head of the knights and soldiers stood Jereuth, as expected.
And at the head of the line of officials stood Heinshtangl and a woman.
‘It’s Olivia.’
Olivia. She looked to be about eighteen or nineteen, but her mature aura made it hard to guess. Maybe she was actually younger.
The first time I met Olivia was when I briefly saw her once in the banquet hall (conference room) when I was negotiating with the merchants. After that, I didn't have much contact with her, but recently I had been seeing her quite often.
The reason I had been meeting Olivia a lot recently was because Heinshtangl had been coming with Olivia when he came to report something to me or get my approval.
‘When I asked a complicated question or a somewhat ambiguous one, Heinshtangl would have Olivia answer instead.’
That’s right. Heinshtangl hid behind his daughter’s back and avoided his superior’s questions. Heinshtangl was such an incompetent and irresponsible father.
—That was by no means the case; Heinshtangl was a capable person, but seeing him consult Olivia, it seemed Olivia was even more capable.
I hadn’t officially hired Olivia as an ‘official’ yet, but she was probably working on various things with Heinshtangl more than most officials.
As I approached, Jereuth and Heinshtangl came closer.
“You have arrived, Your Highness.”
“Your Highness.”
“Yes. You all must have worked hard preparing for such a hasty departure. Though you, Commander, will have to work a little harder from now on.”
“For Your Highness, this is not even considered hardship.”
Jereuth spoke like the very model of a loyal knight and then glanced at the backpack on my back.
“I will carry the bag—.”
“Ah, this is my personal luggage, so I will carry it. I didn't give it to Lady Elly either.”
“Ah…… I understand.”
Both Elly and Jereuth seemed to be uncomfortable with me carrying a bag in many ways.
Well, it might be strange for the Crown Prince to carry his own bag.
Readjusting my backpack properly, I looked at Heinshtangl this time.
“Sir Heinshtangl.”
“Ah, yes!”
“I’ll be counting on you while I’m away from the royal capital. I’ve made sure to clearly organize most of the important matters, so it shouldn’t be particularly difficult.”
“I-I will do my best.”
“Don’t feel too burdened.”
“Haha……”
Despite the cool late autumn weather, Heinshtangl seemed to be hot, as he laughed awkwardly and wiped his sweat.
***
‘Don’t feel too burdened…… I’m grateful that he says that, but he says such burdensome things so easily.’
As Leonardo had said a moment ago, starting from today, Leonardo would be away from the royal capital for a while.
And in his place, it became Heinshtangl’s role to be responsible for and manage the royal capital for the time being.
Of course, plans for important matters such as the redevelopment of the royal capital and the training of new recruits were all more or less established. But there was still a lot to do besides that.
‘I’m so worried about what kind of punishment I’ll receive if I show an unsatisfactory result that doesn't meet his expectations when His Highness returns…….’
A superior’s expectations inevitably become a burden.
Also, since the Crown Prince had lent him ‘overwhelming’ power, Heinshtangl also had a commensurate ‘overwhelming’ responsibility.
“Haha……”
But since he couldn't openly show that he felt burdened to Leonardo, Heinshtangl just laughed awkwardly.
This time, Leonardo spoke to Olivia, who was next to Heinshtangl.
“Please help out a lot, Lady Olivia. Sir Heinshtangl is an excellent official, but with your help, Lady Olivia, there will be much more synergy. Just like you’ve been doing for the past few days.”
Olivia asked back without erasing her characteristic expressionless face.
“I understand Your Highness' intention to help my father. But Your Highness, what does ‘synergy’ mean?”
“Ah, synergy……. Um, to put it simply, it means ‘creating better results by helping each other.’”
“I see. Thank you for another great lesson today.”
Olivia’s tone was certainly polite and seemed happy, but it was difficult to find any emotion in her voice. So, in a way, it could also sound sarcastic.
Because of that, someone in Leonardo’s position might have been displeased with Olivia’s voice and tone, but Leonardo laughed it off lightly as if he didn't mind such things.
“Yes, then I will trust you all and be on my way. Other officials, please also work hard and honestly.”
—Yes, yes!
—We will do our best!
—Long live His Highness Leonardo!!
—Please have a safe and peaceful journey!
Of course, the officials were inwardly happy that the tyrant was leaving for a while, but they didn't show it at all on the outside. Instead, they only praised Leonardo.
Perhaps some of them even wished for the Crown Prince to meet with misfortune during his journey.
—Caw! Caw! Caw!
As if the crows were watching those officials, they flew in a flock in the clear sky. There were no officials who didn't know that those crows were Seria's crows.
Also, there were no officials who didn't know that if they had any foolish thoughts or plotted something, those crows would come to their mansions. There had already been such a precedent.
Thus, Leonardo’s trivial yet heartwarming, but by no means light, farewell ceremony ended—
As Leonardo got into the carriage with the Head Maid, the knight at the forefront, Peralta, shouted loudly.
“Open the gate!”
***
As soon as she confirmed that Leonardo’s carriage was leaving the royal palace under the strict guard of the knights and soldiers, Olivia spoke to Heinshtangl.
“Then I will return to my office, Father.”
“To your office?”
“Yes. I have some paperwork I was working on yesterday.”
At his daughter who spoke while maintaining her characteristic expressionless face, Heinshtangl said worriedly.
“Why don’t you rest for a bit? You probably haven’t been able to sleep properly for the past few days.”
“I slept whenever I had a spare moment. And above all, I don’t have time to rest if I don’t want to disappoint His Highness when he returns.”
“Of course, it’s important not to disappoint His Highness. But still, if it’s just to the extent of not disappointing him, you should have time to rest?”
At Heinshtangl who was worried about her, Olivia replied in a passing tone as she looked at the castle gate through which Leonardo’s carriage had passed.
“I cannot be satisfied with not disappointing His Highness. Since he is an ‘interesting’ person, I want to catch his eye.”
“……His Highness is an ‘interesting’ person?”
“Yes. He is different from the boring men I have seen until now. Although he is younger than me, he is someone from whom I can learn a lot and whose daily conversations I look forward to. That is why I went to see His Highness under the pretext of helping you, Father.”
“……”
“Furthermore, the word ‘synergy’ that His Highness mentioned earlier, that is the language of the Angla Empire. To think of amazing policies at such a young age and even use the language of the Angla Empire so naturally…… It will take more than ordinary effort to catch the eye of such a person. Because I was not born with the luck of the Head Maid who happens to be by his side.”
Judging from Olivia’s words, it seemed she already knew the word ‘synergy.’
But the fact that she asked Leonardo for the meaning of the word might have been a way of testing him.
But anyway, what was important to Heinshtangl was something else.
“Olivia. That……. What do you mean by wanting to catch His Highness' eye?”
While asking his daughter, Heinshtangl hoped that it wasn't what he feared.
Although Heinshtangl respected, honored, and served Leonardo as his lord, he still thought he was not suitable to entrust his daughter to. Leonardo was too cruel a person.
To her father’s important question, the daughter answered ambiguously.
“Well.”
That voice was somehow different from usual. It was a faint but emotional voice.
That ambiguous answer was a headache for Heinshtangl.
***
Rattle— Rattle—
On the way from the royal castle to the walls of the royal capital.
The carriage rattled. It shook a little more than the bus I used to take to college.
Considering that the body was shaking this much even though the interior of the carriage was luxurious, perhaps the level of carriage technology in this world was not that high yet.
Still, since it was the carriage I was riding in, they must have prepared it with great care.
‘Come to think of it, it’s been a really long time since I’ve been outside the royal castle.’
It was the first time since I went on an inspection to see how the people were living a long time ago.
‘It was so quiet back then…… but now I can hear people talking a bit. I can also hear what sounds like workers shouting at a construction site.’
Though not many, I could also hear the laughter of children. I could also hear merchants soliciting customers.
It was much better than the past when it was dead silent.
‘But…… why is it getting quieter?’
When I first came out of the royal castle, the surroundings were quite noisy. But as time passed, the surroundings became quiet.
Drrk—.
Out of curiosity, I opened the carriage window. The window was not made of glass but of wood, and it was structured so that you could see outside by sliding it sideways.
I looked outside. I wanted to know why it was so quiet.
And what I saw was—.
—…….
—…….
—…….
—…….
—…….
—…….
—…….
—…….
People were silently bowing their heads towards the knights and soldiers escorting me, and towards my carriage, as if in silent prayer. I was taken aback. I hadn’t ordered such a thing.
Through the window, I asked Jereuth, who was riding a horse next to the carriage.
“Commander. Did you order those people to be quiet?”
“No, Your Highness. No one ordered them.”
“Then why are they doing that?”
At my question, Jereuth answered proudly.
“They are showing their respect, to Your Highness.”
“……A show of respect?”
“Yes. Because Your Highness has saved their lives. Look at them. They have changed a lot from when you and I came out to the royal capital before.”
Hearing that, I saw that the people had indeed changed a lot. It wasn’t that they had all gotten fat and clean.
But I could definitely feel a ‘vitality’ in them. It was as if those who had been sad, not wanting to live for tomorrow, were silently telling me that today was worth living.
‘……I feel somewhat proud.’
I had only carried out the purge and various reforms because I wanted to live. But to think that it had made people that happy…… well, not happy, but feel that ‘life is worth living,’ my heart felt heavy yet happy.
“Your Highness is loved by the people. I have met many kings and seen many nobles until now, but I have never seen a ruler loved by the people. Furthermore, there are few rulers who are even loved by their soldiers. I had an audience with the emperor of the Angla Empire, who commands the continent in the war against the demons, but even he, who is called the ‘Iron-Blooded Great Emperor,’ was not loved by his soldiers. They respected and feared him.”
“……Is that so.”
“Yes.”
I recalled the famous sayings of the ancient sages I had heard in a college philosophy lecture.
Mencius said, 「”A good ruler wins the hearts of the people.”」.
Machiavelli said, 「”The virtue of a leader is directly related to the well-being of the people.”」.
King Sejong the Great said, 「”Making the people happy is the most important responsibility of a king.”」.
Cicero said, 「”The virtue of a ruler determines the happiness of the people.”」
I took that philosophy lecture by chance, because I had to fill my credits, and to be honest, I thought it was a really useless illusion back then, but it seems that wasn't the case.
‘Until now, I have only been scheming to survive…… but from now on, I’ll try to think a little for those people—.’
Just as my gaze blurred and I was about to have a rather moving thought.
Thud!
Perhaps a stone got caught in the wheel, and it lifted me up and then dropped me.
……My butt hurts. The moving moment was shattered.
***
After riding in the carriage for about four or five hours, my body gradually got used to it. My back still hurt, and my butt kept lifting up and down, so it felt like it would get flattened, but it got better somehow.
Humans are fickle; when the carriage was uncomfortable, my nerves were on edge, but as I got used to it, I started to get bored.
When I was in the royal castle, I was always busy reading books, having meetings, or checking documents, so perhaps this leisure felt awkward.
Elly, perhaps because she was used to the carriage, or perhaps because her posture was naturally straight, had been staring straight ahead in the same posture since we departed.
Occasionally, she would ask me, 「”Your Highness, are you not tired?”」 or give me a snack.
‘Come to think of it, Elly has been wearing heavy makeup lately too. And she seems to be wearing perfume.’
Elly usually didn't wear makeup and never wore perfume. But for the past few days, she had been whitening her skin and drawing her eyeliner a bit sharply.
I wasn’t sure, but her style was similar to Olivia’s.
‘Is this the latest trend? Besides, that perfume smells very familiar.’
I felt like I could remember it, but I couldn't. I seemed to have smelled it on my pillow, but my memory was hazy.
I thought it would be better to start a conversation than to go on in boring silence, so I started one.
“You’ve started wearing makeup lately.”
“Pardon? Ah…… yes.”
Elly was watching my reaction. I wondered if she felt burdened because I brought up her appearance, but it didn't feel like that. Rather, for some reason, she seemed to be expecting my evaluation.
Since becoming the Crown Prince, the only things I’d gotten better at were social skills and reading people’s expressions, so I could roughly guess Elly’s inner thoughts.
And as if my guess was correct, Elly couldn't look me in the eye properly and said.
“……I tried to dress up because I thought Your Highness preferred this kind of makeup or appearance.”
“I do?”
“Yes. Um…… you said Lady Olivia was a beauty before. So I tried to dress up similarly to her.”
At those words, I remembered what I had been trying to recall earlier.
‘I thought the perfume smelled familiar, was it the same one Olivia uses?’
Besides that—
‘Did I ever say Olivia was a beauty?’
Of course, Olivia was a beauty. Not just men, but even women would admit it.
But I couldn't quite remember saying such a thing. Still, it was unlikely that Elly would say something I hadn't said, so perhaps it was something I said without much meaning at some point.
“Lady Olivia is a beauty, indeed. But the same goes for you, Elly.”
“……Pardon?”
“I’m saying you are pretty too, Lady Elly.”
This was my honest feeling. Olivia was definitely a beauty, but Elly was just as pretty.
Of course, I didn't mean that Elly was pretty as a woman. It was in the sense of ‘pretty’ that you would say to a close younger sibling or a cousin.
Although my body was twelve years old, my mental age was in my mid-20s, so that was how I felt about Elly.
“Is…… that so?”
“Yes. So you don’t need to follow Lady Olivia and wear makeup or perfume. Every person has their own charm.”
I spoke as if a teacher was counseling a female student. I thought I had said it rather well.
……Though it might be a bit strange for me, who was only twelve, to give such advice.
In the midst of that, Elly bowed her head even lower and said, as if muttering.
“Your Highness…… is truly a good person.”
***
Jereuth.
Riding his horse, staying close to Leonardo’s carriage and guarding the surroundings, his gaze was sharper than when he went to any battlefield.
‘His Highness is the treasure of the kingdom. He must absolutely not be exposed to any threat.’
Jereuth, who was escorting Leonardo with that mindset, thought as he watched the slowly setting sun.
‘We should start preparing to camp around here. We’ve come further than our target distance by following the Lainuve River, so there’s no need to push ourselves further. His Highness must also be tired from his first carriage journey. Besides that…… is it thanks to the elven blood flowing in His Highness? The trees are providing shade. Thanks to that, the horses and soldiers were much less tired, and we were able to travel a great distance.’
Jereuth, thinking to himself, asked at the carriage window.
“Your Highness, may I open the window?”
Drrk—!
At Jereuth’s question, Leonardo immediately opened the window and replied.
“Yes, Commander. Is something the matter?”
“We are about to stop the march and prepare to camp. Near the river……”
Jereuth, who had been speaking calmly, trailed off due to the atmosphere inside the carriage.
‘Did something happen?’
Leonardo’s demeanor and expression were the same as usual. But the Head Maid was strange. She couldn't raise her head properly, and her ears were bright red. She was also clenching both her fists tightly.
She didn't seem to be unwell, so she must be embarrassed about something.
‘I knew the Head Maid adored His Highness…… was she embarrassed because they were alone? But she’s served His Highness for a long time, so there shouldn’t be a particular reason for that.’
It bothered him a little, but Jereuth decided not to mention anything about Elly.
“So you’re saying we will camp here, in this vicinity?”
At Leonardo’s question, Jereuth snapped out of his thoughts.
“Ah, yes. That is correct. Of course, if Your Highness orders us to move further, we will.”
“No. Please proceed as you have planned, Commander.”
“I understand.”
Jereuth replied and gestured to a nearby knight. The knight, recognizing the gesture, shouted to the troops.
—Halt! We will camp here for today!
At the knight’s shout, the carriage slowly came to a stop. As the knights dismounted, the horses grazed on the grass on the ground. The soldiers, who had walked a long distance carrying heavy armor and weapons, each gathered their equipment in one place and began to prepare for camping.
Jereuth, who had been scanning the knights and soldiers with his eyes, spoke to Leonardo.
“Then, Your Highness, I will also go and prepare for camping.”
It was a bit strange for Jereuth, who was essentially the commander, to prepare for camping, but considering his personality, it was rather natural.
Just as Jereuth was riding his horse towards the campsite.
Leonardo, leaning his upper body on the carriage windowsill, asked Jereuth in a slightly louder voice.
“Commander! Is there anything I can do to help?”
It might have been a trivial question for Leonardo.
But for Jereuth, it was by no means a trivial question. The same went for the nearby knights and soldiers.
Every knight and soldier stopped moving and looked towards Leonardo and Jereuth.
‘……His Highness is offering to help with camping?’
‘A royal…… preparing a camp? With us?’
‘Did I hear that right?’
‘Why? For what reason? No, seriously?’
‘……Um? Eh? Huh?’
Representing everyone’s questions, Jereuth asked Leonardo again.
“Are you saying…… you will help with the camp preparations, Your Highness?”