After regaining consciousness, Franz began to recover faster than expected.
The palace doctors, Bartholomew, and Cheraan all joined in, and they took turns guarding him, telling him not to move from his bed until he was fully recovered. In the end, he pretended he couldn't fight it and just lay there, but his body was starting to feel heavy.
“Just lie down quietly. Don’t even think about sneaking out.”
In the midst of all this, when Rogero came to visit, Franz thought that this was the perfect opportunity to break through the tight security, but the man he trusted rejected Franz’s offer outright. Franz, who was almost about to get out of bed, looked at Rogero’s hand pushing his shoulder with a look of bewilderment.
“Is this really so?”
“Oh, really. I promised the Crown Princess that no matter what happens, I won’t take you outside. That lady, the madam, also strongly advised me not to expose you to the cold air for the time being.”
Franz turned his head and looked out the window. The weather was bright and sunny, indicating early autumn.
“It’s not even the season for cold winds to blow. What are you talking about?”
“Forced or not, I won’t take you out. If something goes wrong, I can’t handle it.”
Rogero shrugged. Franz, sensing that no matter how much he tried to persuade him, he wouldn't listen, got into the seat relatively obediently, but he looked a bit embarrassed.
“Have you ever lived worrying about such trivial things?”
“How is this trivial? You have to make sense.”
Rogero's voice, as he responded, sounded as dry as dirt. The excitement that always seemed to hover slightly in the air had disappeared as if washed away. Only then did Franz look at him as if he found it a little strange.
"why are you like this."
"What?"
“You seem a bit strange today. You’re not blaming yourself because of me, are you?”
“Isn't that right?”
Franz was surprised by her attitude, which seemed to be asking if that was a good idea. The Rogero he knew would have been more proactive in expressing what he needed to do in the future rather than feeling guilty about something like this.
But surprisingly, and very strangely, Rogero seemed to have lost his temper. No one could blame him, but he had actually been in a very different mood the past few days than he had been up to that point.
The assassin who almost killed Franz and he had only met by chance on the battlefield, and they were complete strangers whose lives and deaths had not been known for nearly ten years, but Rogero felt a great sense of responsibility for this situation.
While Franz was speechless, Rogero rubbed his face with his palm several times as if he were very tired. His uniquely colored hair, which always looked lively, looked disheveled and sagging today. Rogero, who had been silent for a long time, finally opened his mouth in a heavy voice.
"Sorry."
“You don’t have to be sorry.”
“Still, I’m sorry. If I had killed him back then, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Franz shrugged and laughed.
“If it weren’t for him, someone rougher and more violent might have come to kill me.”
“That’s true, but... Ha, damn it. This isn’t something I’m good at. I wish I had just killed that bastard.”
The conclusion seemed a bit strange, but his message was conveyed well enough. Franz stretched out his stiff limbs and sat up.
Rogero stretched out his hand as if to support him, but then quickly withdrew it, as if he was embarrassed. It was the first time Franz had seen Rogero fidget so much, and he felt like playing a mischievous prank on him, but Franz gently suppressed the impulse. Rogero was already pale from the unfamiliar guilt, so he might have gotten really angry if he had teased him.
“I'm going back.”
Was that why? Rogero's short words were so unexpected to Franz. When he thought about it, it was obvious, but it was. When Franz blinked absentmindedly, Rogero, perhaps finding that reaction amusing, returned to his usual mischievous expression.
“Why? Do you regret it?”
“No, what...”
“You don’t feel sorry?”
“No, it’s a shame. It’s a shame. But that’s not the problem, it’s that you said something I never thought of.”
Rogero suddenly burst into laughter.
“What? You never even thought of me sitting here and starting a family with you.”
“This isn’t because of this incident, is it?”
Upon hearing that, Rogero rested his chin on his hand and made a “hmm” sound. He nodded his head for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders and stretched out his legs. He seemed to be stretching, but it was a strange movement no matter when Franz saw him.
“It’s about time I went back, but... I can’t say I had no influence at all. You, the Crown Princess, and your father all say that I’m not responsible for this, but I don’t feel that way myself. So, um... I think I should do my job properly.”
“If it’s your job...”
“That’s true, that’s true. Don’t worry. It won’t be that dangerous.”
Franz wanted to ask what was dangerous if going to war was not dangerous, but he kept his mouth shut. He knew that once Rogero had made up his mind, no matter what he said, there was no turning back.
If he didn't know, he wouldn't have known, but now that he knows what the mission the empire had given him, he can't just ignore the words that he'll go back and do his job. But he also knows that he can't hold on to him and that he shouldn't. Franz can't do this or that, so his heart suddenly feels heavy.
“I told you there was no need to make that face. That was literally what I was going to do before the fluff on my forehead even fell off.”
“I know. But...”
“I advise you, Franz. You are too weak-hearted to sit on the throne.”
Franz turned his head and looked at Rogero.
“I... don’t think so.”
“A good and humane King is a good thing. He can be a saintly King. But being good and being weak is different. You know that.”
Of course, Franz knew this story well. Those who were not destined to sit on the throne were sometimes allowed to mix kindness and weakness. Delicacy, sadness, regret. It was okay to let such emotions sometimes dominate oneself. But the King could not do that. And he should not do that.
“You have to be able to put aside personal feelings.”
With that, Rogero added no more advice. Such is the suffering that must be endured by those who sit in the highest and most noble positions.
Love, regret, longing, worry. It is not a place where such emotions should be consumed solely for the sake of a single individual. However, Rogero was glad that Franz was not that type of person.
Rogero could love and trust him as a friend because he lacked the arrogance and unnecessary coldness that those who are worthy of the throne usually have. But now that he was leaving, he had no choice but to tell him to cut it off.
“It’s okay to be a little worried. Even if, to you, Rogero, that seems like evidence of weakness.”
At Franz's words, Rogero pursed his lips for a moment before smiling.
“Let me tell you one thing.”
Franz, who had been pressing his temples, raised his head at Rogero's words.
“His Majesty will not give up on his plan.”
Franz's eyes blinked a couple of times. The Emperor's plan that Rogero was talking about was most likely to occupy the southern part of the continent that he had previously mentioned.
“Is it possible to coexist with Rotair?”
“Well, based on our relationship so far, I would say it’s positive, but I can’t guarantee it. In the case of national relations, you can’t expect eternal friendship anyway. You and I, we may be friends, but if we meet under the flag of Delaka and Rotair, isn’t it quite possible that we won’t be like that anymore?”
“We are also keeping an eye on the situation in the South, but we must be careful. If we are not careful, other countries, including Rotair, could be drawn into the war. I don’t think that is what Your Majesty wants.”
If the chaos in the southern region spread to other kingdoms, it would be bad for Delaka as well. It would be an ambiguous situation where it would be difficult to get involved or to just stay out. Rogero also recognized this and nodded.
“I will send you frequent updates. If anything should go wrong, you will need to convince His Majesty the King to deal with it.”
“Okay, I’ll take care of that. Just make sure you don’t get hurt.”
Rogero smiled slightly and answered.
If I get bored, I'll just stow away to Rotair, so prepare a room for me and wait.
By the time Franz had risen from his post and was again assisting the King in state affairs, there had been some changes at Rotair's palace.
The first was the return of the ambassadors and the Prince of the Delaka Empire. Franz also went out with Judith that day to see them off and was surprised to see so many girls shedding tears as they watched Rogero leave. Even Judith was somewhat bewildered by the sight.
“He was originally a guy who got along well with people and had fun...”
Instead, Franz's voice was trembling as he spoke to himself, not knowing whether he was explaining or trying to understand. When he heard Rogero's joke about saving the Princess from Rotair, he laughed at it as nonsense, but now he thinks it was quite realistic.
The next noticeable change was that the doors to the Queen's palace, which had been closed for a long time, were opened again. Queen Gilsis, who had been ill for a long time, appeared in the banquet hall looking healthy and well as if nothing had happened. Not only that, but she acted as if she had never been sick.
King Jedecayer wanted to congratulate the doctor who had cured the Queen's illness, but for some reason, the doctor refused the reward and instead offered to give up his position as a court doctor, causing a minor uproar. It was only later that it was revealed why Jedecayer had made such a choice, but at the time, no one knew the reason. Except Judith.
Upon awakening, Queen Gilsis was informed that Krald would be granted the title of Grand Duke uke and would be sent to the lands on a mission to the Southern Margrave.
When King Jedercayer delayed giving him the title, everyone had seen the Queen act so wickedly and overturned, so they thought she would be arrogant and proud this time. However, that expectation was misplaced.
The palace doctors, Bartholomew, and Cheraan all joined in, and they took turns guarding him, telling him not to move from his bed until he was fully recovered. In the end, he pretended he couldn't fight it and just lay there, but his body was starting to feel heavy.
“Just lie down quietly. Don’t even think about sneaking out.”
In the midst of all this, when Rogero came to visit, Franz thought that this was the perfect opportunity to break through the tight security, but the man he trusted rejected Franz’s offer outright. Franz, who was almost about to get out of bed, looked at Rogero’s hand pushing his shoulder with a look of bewilderment.
“Is this really so?”
“Oh, really. I promised the Crown Princess that no matter what happens, I won’t take you outside. That lady, the madam, also strongly advised me not to expose you to the cold air for the time being.”
Franz turned his head and looked out the window. The weather was bright and sunny, indicating early autumn.
“It’s not even the season for cold winds to blow. What are you talking about?”
“Forced or not, I won’t take you out. If something goes wrong, I can’t handle it.”
Rogero shrugged. Franz, sensing that no matter how much he tried to persuade him, he wouldn't listen, got into the seat relatively obediently, but he looked a bit embarrassed.
“Have you ever lived worrying about such trivial things?”
“How is this trivial? You have to make sense.”
Rogero's voice, as he responded, sounded as dry as dirt. The excitement that always seemed to hover slightly in the air had disappeared as if washed away. Only then did Franz look at him as if he found it a little strange.
"why are you like this."
"What?"
“You seem a bit strange today. You’re not blaming yourself because of me, are you?”
“Isn't that right?”
Franz was surprised by her attitude, which seemed to be asking if that was a good idea. The Rogero he knew would have been more proactive in expressing what he needed to do in the future rather than feeling guilty about something like this.
But surprisingly, and very strangely, Rogero seemed to have lost his temper. No one could blame him, but he had actually been in a very different mood the past few days than he had been up to that point.
The assassin who almost killed Franz and he had only met by chance on the battlefield, and they were complete strangers whose lives and deaths had not been known for nearly ten years, but Rogero felt a great sense of responsibility for this situation.
While Franz was speechless, Rogero rubbed his face with his palm several times as if he were very tired. His uniquely colored hair, which always looked lively, looked disheveled and sagging today. Rogero, who had been silent for a long time, finally opened his mouth in a heavy voice.
"Sorry."
“You don’t have to be sorry.”
“Still, I’m sorry. If I had killed him back then, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Franz shrugged and laughed.
“If it weren’t for him, someone rougher and more violent might have come to kill me.”
“That’s true, but... Ha, damn it. This isn’t something I’m good at. I wish I had just killed that bastard.”
The conclusion seemed a bit strange, but his message was conveyed well enough. Franz stretched out his stiff limbs and sat up.
Rogero stretched out his hand as if to support him, but then quickly withdrew it, as if he was embarrassed. It was the first time Franz had seen Rogero fidget so much, and he felt like playing a mischievous prank on him, but Franz gently suppressed the impulse. Rogero was already pale from the unfamiliar guilt, so he might have gotten really angry if he had teased him.
“I'm going back.”
Was that why? Rogero's short words were so unexpected to Franz. When he thought about it, it was obvious, but it was. When Franz blinked absentmindedly, Rogero, perhaps finding that reaction amusing, returned to his usual mischievous expression.
“Why? Do you regret it?”
“No, what...”
“You don’t feel sorry?”
“No, it’s a shame. It’s a shame. But that’s not the problem, it’s that you said something I never thought of.”
Rogero suddenly burst into laughter.
“What? You never even thought of me sitting here and starting a family with you.”
“This isn’t because of this incident, is it?”
Upon hearing that, Rogero rested his chin on his hand and made a “hmm” sound. He nodded his head for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders and stretched out his legs. He seemed to be stretching, but it was a strange movement no matter when Franz saw him.
“It’s about time I went back, but... I can’t say I had no influence at all. You, the Crown Princess, and your father all say that I’m not responsible for this, but I don’t feel that way myself. So, um... I think I should do my job properly.”
“If it’s your job...”
“That’s true, that’s true. Don’t worry. It won’t be that dangerous.”
Franz wanted to ask what was dangerous if going to war was not dangerous, but he kept his mouth shut. He knew that once Rogero had made up his mind, no matter what he said, there was no turning back.
If he didn't know, he wouldn't have known, but now that he knows what the mission the empire had given him, he can't just ignore the words that he'll go back and do his job. But he also knows that he can't hold on to him and that he shouldn't. Franz can't do this or that, so his heart suddenly feels heavy.
“I told you there was no need to make that face. That was literally what I was going to do before the fluff on my forehead even fell off.”
“I know. But...”
“I advise you, Franz. You are too weak-hearted to sit on the throne.”
Franz turned his head and looked at Rogero.
“I... don’t think so.”
“A good and humane King is a good thing. He can be a saintly King. But being good and being weak is different. You know that.”
Of course, Franz knew this story well. Those who were not destined to sit on the throne were sometimes allowed to mix kindness and weakness. Delicacy, sadness, regret. It was okay to let such emotions sometimes dominate oneself. But the King could not do that. And he should not do that.
“You have to be able to put aside personal feelings.”
With that, Rogero added no more advice. Such is the suffering that must be endured by those who sit in the highest and most noble positions.
Love, regret, longing, worry. It is not a place where such emotions should be consumed solely for the sake of a single individual. However, Rogero was glad that Franz was not that type of person.
Rogero could love and trust him as a friend because he lacked the arrogance and unnecessary coldness that those who are worthy of the throne usually have. But now that he was leaving, he had no choice but to tell him to cut it off.
“It’s okay to be a little worried. Even if, to you, Rogero, that seems like evidence of weakness.”
At Franz's words, Rogero pursed his lips for a moment before smiling.
“Let me tell you one thing.”
Franz, who had been pressing his temples, raised his head at Rogero's words.
“His Majesty will not give up on his plan.”
Franz's eyes blinked a couple of times. The Emperor's plan that Rogero was talking about was most likely to occupy the southern part of the continent that he had previously mentioned.
“Is it possible to coexist with Rotair?”
“Well, based on our relationship so far, I would say it’s positive, but I can’t guarantee it. In the case of national relations, you can’t expect eternal friendship anyway. You and I, we may be friends, but if we meet under the flag of Delaka and Rotair, isn’t it quite possible that we won’t be like that anymore?”
“We are also keeping an eye on the situation in the South, but we must be careful. If we are not careful, other countries, including Rotair, could be drawn into the war. I don’t think that is what Your Majesty wants.”
If the chaos in the southern region spread to other kingdoms, it would be bad for Delaka as well. It would be an ambiguous situation where it would be difficult to get involved or to just stay out. Rogero also recognized this and nodded.
“I will send you frequent updates. If anything should go wrong, you will need to convince His Majesty the King to deal with it.”
“Okay, I’ll take care of that. Just make sure you don’t get hurt.”
Rogero smiled slightly and answered.
If I get bored, I'll just stow away to Rotair, so prepare a room for me and wait.
***
By the time Franz had risen from his post and was again assisting the King in state affairs, there had been some changes at Rotair's palace.
The first was the return of the ambassadors and the Prince of the Delaka Empire. Franz also went out with Judith that day to see them off and was surprised to see so many girls shedding tears as they watched Rogero leave. Even Judith was somewhat bewildered by the sight.
“He was originally a guy who got along well with people and had fun...”
Instead, Franz's voice was trembling as he spoke to himself, not knowing whether he was explaining or trying to understand. When he heard Rogero's joke about saving the Princess from Rotair, he laughed at it as nonsense, but now he thinks it was quite realistic.
The next noticeable change was that the doors to the Queen's palace, which had been closed for a long time, were opened again. Queen Gilsis, who had been ill for a long time, appeared in the banquet hall looking healthy and well as if nothing had happened. Not only that, but she acted as if she had never been sick.
King Jedecayer wanted to congratulate the doctor who had cured the Queen's illness, but for some reason, the doctor refused the reward and instead offered to give up his position as a court doctor, causing a minor uproar. It was only later that it was revealed why Jedecayer had made such a choice, but at the time, no one knew the reason. Except Judith.
Upon awakening, Queen Gilsis was informed that Krald would be granted the title of Grand Duke uke and would be sent to the lands on a mission to the Southern Margrave.
When King Jedercayer delayed giving him the title, everyone had seen the Queen act so wickedly and overturned, so they thought she would be arrogant and proud this time. However, that expectation was misplaced.
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