The Emperor announced a Conquest of the Continent, including the demon realm, and wanted me to go spy on the Demon King...!
When I returned to the Count's residence, I put my face down on the desk in the office and cursed repeatedly.
I can't believe I have to go back to that place full of crazy people!
I couldn't disobey the Emperor's orders, and my resolve wasn't strong enough to run away from the hands of the Emperor and the Demon King for the rest of my life, so in the end I raised my head with blank eyes.
'I need to pack my bags.'
I already felt sick to my stomach thinking about having to live with people like time bombs around me again, but what could I do? The opponents were the Emperor and the Demon King. Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha.
...Fuck.
"Ugh..."
"Master...?"
"...?"
"I came to see you after hearing that you came back. Are you hurt?"
A man with an appearance that was not easily seen in this area stuck his head in from outside the door, observing.
Black hair and black eyes. Looks closer to a southerner than a northerner.
So... his name was Dan? He followed me from the shaman's village and starting learning the sword... But why was he here? Was there something wrong?
"No, it's okay. What's going on?"
I immediately straightened my back and responded as if nothing had happened. He was silent for a moment, probably because my attitude was absurd, but then he slowly opened his mouth.
With a bit of hesitation, the opened lips hesitantly spat out the words.
"I..."
"Count!"
Oh my. It seemed like he had made up his mind and opened his mouth.
I clicked my tongue inwardly at him, who had suddenly cut off his words, and then looked at the servant who suddenly barged in.
No separate reprimand was given. Even if it wasn't, that white face was very pitiful. If I scolded them here too, I think they would die of a heart attack.
Moreover, they, the people who use the Count's mansion, try to strictly maintain courtesy towards me.
So, it probably meant that something big had happened to the point where even etiquette was forgotten.
...Shit.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has come to visit!"
Oh, His Highness the Crown Prince? Look, it's a big deal.
No, wait a minute.
...The crown prince?!
"Why again!!"
"Hiek!"
Why did you come here without any message again?
I jumped up and hit the desk. As I put on my coat to show minimal courtesy, I glanced at the servant next to me who was panicking and chanting 'I'm sorry' like a mantra.
"Where is His Majesty the Crown Prince?"
"I'm sorry! Yes? No, he's in the parlor. The deacon is serving him…"
For some reason, someone other than Remember came to report, and it turned out that it was because the guest was the crown prince.
Without even hearing any more words from the servant, I hurriedly walked away.
I had completely forgotten about Dan, who was just rolling his eyes and watching me behind me.
***
"Honorary Count Deon Hardt beholds the Empire of the Future."
"Okay, I'm sorry for coming here so suddenly."
"No."
Crown Prince Elpidius smiled faintly as he looked at Honorary Count Deon Hardt, who greeted him calmly even though it was a sudden visit.
He was also calmer than usual today.
That was inevitable because what he was going to say now was a bit sensitive.
"You're going to the demon world?"
"..."
At that moment, Deon's eyes quickly scanned the room.
After confirming that no one was there, the eyes immediately looked directly at the crown prince. Bright red eyes and golden eyes met. It wasn't until a moment before he looked at the red eyes full of caution that the golden eyes gently opened.
"There's no need to look at me like that. Did you really think I didn't know the secret about you?"
"..."
"I am the next Emperor. Given my age, if I become Emperor, it will not be through the due process, but rather suddenly taking over the position because His Majesty had an incident. So, no matter when or when I become Emperor, isn't it natural to make all preparations thoroughly so that I can lead the Empire without any problems?"
In other words, this meant that the Emperor is sharing all important information with him.
"...Excuse me."
"No. It would be strange if you were not on guard."
Anyway.
He leaned against the back of the chair and crossed his legs.
"The reason I came here is to tell you what His Majesty couldn't say and to see your face."
"..."
"Shouldn't we take a good look at the face we won't be able to see for a while?"
It may seem like he was saying the opposite, but it was true.
Honorary Count Hardt would have taken care of it without having to tell him this. Elpidius, who knew that his brain was larger than average, opened his mouth leisurely, confirming his thoughts.
"You may already know, but His Majesty said that if the Demon King decides to go to war, you should return immediately."
"Alright."
"No matter what happens."
"..."
"He told you to definitely return."
Deon looked at the prince blankly.
It was impossible to tell what he was thinking, and his red eyes, which were almost eerie, looked motionlessly at Elpidius.
Elpidius did not avoid it this time. Golden eyes resembling those of a wild beast without any smile meet his gaze.
After a period of silence, it was Deon who retreated first.
"...I'll keep that in mind."
Contrary to his obedient answer, his eyes shone strangely.
The crown prince quietly watched the eyes that were lowered and hidden silently, then stood up.
"I am always grateful for your hard work."
***
Elpidius was very interested in Honorary Count Deon Hardt. It had both positive and negative connotations.
Who was Deon Hardt?
Isn't he the one who had both the title and the title 'hero' and stopped the Demon King and collected the body of the hero?
But he was also the 0th Corps Commander of the Demon King's army.
Yes, he was a hero of the Empire and the 0th Corps Commander of the Demon King's army at the same time.
That's why, as the next Emperor, Elpidius had to know more about him.
If he swung the sword without knowing much about it, he could get hurt.
'I want to have a friendly relationship rather than a coercive one.'
The bond becomes a stronger shackle than anything else.
He didn't know what the Emperor thought, but Elpidius always had Deon Hardt's betrayal in mind.
As most of the base was here, it was unlikely, but if there was a 'human world' from over there...
'If we provide an environment and benefits that surpass the advantages of...'
"Brother! Did you have a good time meeting Count Hardt?"
"...Alethea."
"You didn't bring me."
Immediately, Elpidius, with a friendly smile, approached his younger sister.
"I had no choice because I had to talk about something important."
He ordered the attendant who followed them to prepare a tea table in the garden, and turned to the garden, walking at the same pace as Alethea. He naturally guided her steps and confirmed that there was no one around. He lowered his voice and opened his mouth softly.
"After Uncle, Alethea, you and I are next."
"I know. So, I'm learning everything I need to learn. Brother, why are you so impatient?"
"..."
Was he impatient?
Elpidius fell silent, feeling as if she had somehow hit the nail on the head.
Thinking about it, he had been impatient recently.
The Revolutionary Army led to Honorary Count Hardt's residence previously. In the end, he died without even being able to conquer the stronghold, so it failed to achieve any significant results, and while the Revolutionary Army was still holding on, his uncle even declared war. Moreover...
The silence seemed to be longer than expected, and they arrived at the garden before they knew it. The tea table was prepared. Elpidius, who sat down, slowly opened his tightly closed lips.
The biggest problem that made him impatient.
"Uncle is hallucinating."
The Emperor's condition was not as good as expected.
The Emperor was having nightmares. He knew it right away. He tried to call the imperial physician, but his uncle's firm refusal forced him to wait and see. He never thought it would lead to hallucinations. In fact, he'd been having nightmares for quite a long time, so maybe it was only natural.
The Emperor's nightmares started when he ascended to the position of monarch. It became extremely severe during the Eight Year War.
'In the end, like this...'
Why on earth did it start?
No, 'why' was not important. The important thing was that even though he knew, he did not take action. It was his own 'action' of not calling the physician that let it get worse.
He felt guilty. But he still couldn't call the physician.
"Huh? No, since when... no, before that, did you call the physician?!"
"Uncle refused."
"But you can't just leave it as is!!"
"How can I break Uncle's stubbornness?"
What about those people who were already dead?
Since his living uncle was several times more important to him, he visited him again during the day and tried to persuade him again. He did it right away.
But his uncle was adamant.
"There's nothing I can do about Uncle's pathological sense of responsibility."
"You have to say it right. It's not responsibility, it's guilt."
"Yes, guilt."
To be more precise, it could be said to be a terrible combination of guilt and responsibility.
Elpidius, who remembered his uncle who tried to take responsibility for the dead, sighed quietly and looked at Alethea with a rare, stern expression.
"Okay, Alethea? We don't have time."
There were big problems that will arise if they did not rush, but there was no harm in rushing.
From the day he noticed the hallucination problem, the crown prince completed almost all handovers from the Emperor. So that if a problem arose, he could immediately take over and continue working.
At least so that the Emperor can run wild on the battlefield to his heart's content without worrying about other issues.
Now all that remained was the question of Deon Hardt.
At first, not knowing anything, he approached him thinking he was simply trying to gain his uncle's trust. There would be no harm in building a friendship with him as the crown prince.
However, now that all information has been shared, perspectives had no choice but to change.
'After all, he is a Corps Commander. A double agent.'
Of course, after that, he approached him casually as usual, but...
Today, when his gaze changed and he began to look at him more closely, something subtly bothered him.
'Actually, I should say that I discovered it.'
Elpidius concluded his speech in a muttering manner, thinking about the person whose identity he could not confirm and who had not yet been completely defined, as there was a strange feeling about him.
"...So, Alethea, focus on what you are learning now. I will do my best."
"The situation is such that we must at least stop the war..."
"Has our persuasion ever worked so far?"
"..."
No.
As they said, the two had tried to stop the Emperor's actions, which bordered on self-harm, several times.
If they had succeeded back then, things wouldn't have ended up like this.
Alethea's shoulders slumped.
"...I'll try my best..."
If she couldn't help her uncle directly, she could help him indirectly.
For Alethea and Elpidius, Eduardo Desert was such precious family that they wouldn't mind turning the world against them for him.
'I'm sorry.'
Elpidius raised his head, remembering his uncle's voice still vivid in his ears.
Unlike that day, an extremely clear and clean sky filled his view.
'It's my fault. I will take full responsibility.'
'No, you don't have to do that.'
What difference did it make if he answered in his mind now?
Elpidius calmly raised the cooled teacup, finally answering in his mind to his uncle's voice, which was apologizing for things that did not need to be apologized for and taking responsibility for things that were not necessary. A lot of time had passed since then, and while trying to take responsibility for things that their uncle should not have been responsible for, they ended up taking on even bigger responsibilities.
Everyone was young back then. It was a crime to be young in the imperial palace.
The tea was bitter.