Rather than saying I need to get it back, are you asking for help?
“If that’s the reason, then of course I should help you.”
When I nodded willingly, the great sage's eyes widened slightly.
“I thought you’d reject it or hesitate, but you accepted it right away. It’s a bit surprising.”
“Did I seem like such a bad person?”
“Rather than that, it’s because if I take back the heart, you’ll be in a lot of trouble.”
“That’s true. If Dragon Heart disappears, I won’t be able to mine Puras indefinitely anymore.”
The Leopold family's main source of income is pura, and if we can no longer mine it, our finances will be in trouble.
“Knowing that, you still accepted my request? Why?”
“Well, that’s the right thing to do.”
Even if the Red Dragon had offered its heart to enrich Leopold's domain, it would have been uncomfortable.
If the first Duke Leopold had taken it by force for his own greed, it was all the more right to return it.
Then the great sage lowered his gaze and muttered as if talking to himself.
“I like it a little.”
It was a very small voice, but it was audible to my ears, which have better hearing than most humans.
I think I've won his heart a little with this.
I didn't have any intention or heart to do that, but... Well, it's better than being hated.
“So, Great Sage, do you think the dragon’s heart is in that special place?”
“That’s right. The more important something is, the more likely it is to be hidden in a secret place where no one can reach it.”
That's right.
“Besides, considering that he hid that fact from his descendants, there’s a high possibility that the Dragon Heart is being stored in some other form, disguised as something else. Like Pura, for example.”
The moment I heard his words, a sword came to mind.
The sword that my father usually used, was sealed in the deepest part of the basement.
“Judging from your expression, I guess you have an idea.”
It would have been right to answer yes and show him the sword.
"...No."
That's true, but why is my mouth lying?
Are I sad that I gave him the Dragon's Heart so late?
I don't think so.
“Right. If the descendants touch it carelessly and it turns out to be a disaster, they wouldn’t have put it in a place where it can be seen.”
Fortunately or unfortunately, the great sage passed over it without much doubt.
Because of that, I also missed the time to tell the truth.
No, I just don't want to talk about it.
I don't know why, so I felt a little frustrated.
“Have you ever been there?”
“Yes. It was a place like a study, filled with books and materials.”
“Books and materials? My goodness, you made a secret place and used it as a study. You guys are ridiculous.”
The great sage clicked his tongue as if he were very angry.
As I thought about the books and materials, things I had briefly forgotten came to mind.
Curses, blessings, etc. Materials whose meaning I couldn't understand, and my father's diary.
"If..."
Knock knock.
I was about to ask about that when I heard a knock.
Is Perdes back?
“Excuse me, Your Excellency.”
An unfamiliar voice. It wasn't Perdes.
In that case, the Great Sage had to hide his presence here.
“Hold on a second... Where did you go?”
While I was looking at the door for a moment, the great sage disappeared without a trace.
There's no sign of an open window, and the door isn't open either, so where did it go?
Knock knock.
"Your Excellency."
“... Come in.”
After confirming once again that there was no Great Sage, I answered.
The servant who opened the door and came in reported urgently.
“His Majesty the Emperor has summoned all the nobles in the capital, including Your Excellency, to the great conference room.”
Could it be that he called all the nobles...?
“What happened?”
“They said the Allied Forces invaded last night.”
It's already started!
I was filled with joy as I had waited for a long time, but I couldn't show it, so I suppressed it.
Instead, I opened my eyes wide in surprise and asked the attendant.
“Is that true?”
“Yes, Sir. So please hurry to the conference room, Your Excellency.”
"Yes."
The thing I've been waiting for so long has started, so of course I have to go.
The only thing that bothers me is that the Great Sage asked me to take him to a special place.
I guess I'll have to ask to go later.
Or go alone.
I glanced at the seat where the Great Sage was sitting, then followed the attendant to the conference room.
I met Perdes on the way and went to the conference room with him, but I was caught at the entrance to the conference room.
“Your Highness the Prince cannot enter.”
To be exact, it was Perdes who was captured.
Princes other than the Crown Prince must not participate in politics.
This was because this absurd rule was applied even in the urgent situation of the Allied invasion.
Anyway, it's just useless and annoying.
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Perdes also frowned as if he didn't like it.
“Is it not okay to just sit still and listen?”
“No.”
As the knight came out decisively, Perdes' face became even more wrinkled.
“Calm down, Perdes.”
Getting angry won't change anything.
“I’ll tell you everything I said later.”
“...I think I heard the same thing before.”
“Haha, that’s right.”
I wanted to cheer Perdes up, so I laughed out loud on purpose.
Fortunately, it worked, and Perdes' stiff lips loosened.
“I'm waiting.”
“Yes. Oh, and.”
I whispered softly in Perdes' ear so that no one else could hear.
“Please tell the Great Sage that I am sorry for not being able to fulfill his unexpected request right away.”
"...Ask?"
“Yes. If it’s okay, you can go alone. Of course, you can tell them that I’m not responsible for what happens afterward.”
Perdes nodded, indicating that he understood.
“Please.”
I gave Perdes another word and went into the conference room.
The Emperor had not yet arrived, so the high seats were empty.
The same was true for the noble stones.
Since the nobles were suddenly summoned, that would be natural.
Most of the nobles who came now were officials working in the central palace.
“Welcome, Duke.”
But why has Duke Lucien already arrived?
I looked at the Duke of Lucien sitting across from me.
Then the Duke of Lucien blushed slightly and covered his mouth.
“It’s embarrassing when you look at me with such passionate eyes.”
What the hell. You crazy guy.
“Wow. Look at that frown. That hurts me.”
“Just get hurt and don’t talk to me.”
“Is that okay?”
The Duke of Lucien smiled, resting his arms on the desk and his chin on his hand.
“Don’t you want to know where your loyal dog is and what he’s doing?”
If you're talking about a loyal dog, you're probably talking about Sir Aldor.
“As expected, the Duke sent that note.”
“Did you know?”
“I guessed so.”
Duke Lucien tilted his head as if he found it strange.
“But why didn’t you come to me?”
“Because there is no reason to go.”
In fact, I tried to go there, but Perdes stopped me, so I didn't go.
It was also thanks to Perdes personally going to Leopold's estate and confirming that Sir Aldor was there.
“Are you saying you aren’t curious about that man’s whereabouts?”
“Yes. I already know, so there’s no need to wonder.”
“You already know?”
The Duke of Lucien's eyebrows furrowed.
“That can’t be true... Isn’t the Duke misunderstanding something?”
“What are you trying to say?”
Just as the Duke of Lucien was about to say something, the door opened and the nobles rushed in.
The Duke of Lucien kept his mouth shut and leaned back against the chair.
Then he gave me a look that suggested we talk again later.
“...”
I turned my head away, ignoring the gaze.
His last words bothered me, but I decided not to worry about it since it was certain that Sir Aldor was in Leopold's domain.
“Have you heard the news? The Allies have invaded!”
“I heard. It hasn’t even been a hundred years since the peace treaty was signed, and now you’re invading? You make a mockery of promises.”
“The empire’s economy was shaken by counterfeit gold coins, so they probably thought now was the opportunity.”
“As expected, the culprit who spread the counterfeit gold coins was the Allied Forces...”
The conference room became noisy as the empty seats were filled.
The subject, of course, was the Allied invasion.
While I was listening to every word the nobles were saying and observing their reactions, the innermost door opened and the Crown Prince came in.
The Emperor was not visible.
I waited, wondering if he was coming late, but the closed door did not open again.
The Crown Prince sat in the highest seat as if it were a given.
If the Crown Prince sits there, it means the Emperor will not come.
It's not like the Emperor didn't come to the meeting to discuss measures against invasion by other countries.
What kind of nonsense is this?
The other nobles also murmured in confusion.
“Is His Majesty the Emperor not coming?”
When the Duke of Lucien asked openly, the Crown Prince nodded with a sad expression.
“His Majesty had already been feeling unwell, but he collapsed from the shock he felt when he heard the news of the Allied invasion, so I had no choice but to come alone.”
"That...!"
“As His Majesty is feeling unwell, he has been entrusting His Highness the Crown Prince with some matters...”
Perhaps because it was expected, only a few people were surprised and most were indifferent.
“Is His Majesty okay?”
“Yes. The palace doctor said that if His Majesty just regains his strength, he will recover quickly.”
Eyes that fold like crescent moons and the corners of the mouth that go up.
Sparkling golden eyes.
“So, I hope everyone here will do their best to help His Majesty regain his strength.”
In the smiling face of the Crown Prince, the Emperor was seen for a moment.
“If that’s the reason, then of course I should help you.”
When I nodded willingly, the great sage's eyes widened slightly.
“I thought you’d reject it or hesitate, but you accepted it right away. It’s a bit surprising.”
“Did I seem like such a bad person?”
“Rather than that, it’s because if I take back the heart, you’ll be in a lot of trouble.”
“That’s true. If Dragon Heart disappears, I won’t be able to mine Puras indefinitely anymore.”
The Leopold family's main source of income is pura, and if we can no longer mine it, our finances will be in trouble.
“Knowing that, you still accepted my request? Why?”
“Well, that’s the right thing to do.”
Even if the Red Dragon had offered its heart to enrich Leopold's domain, it would have been uncomfortable.
If the first Duke Leopold had taken it by force for his own greed, it was all the more right to return it.
Then the great sage lowered his gaze and muttered as if talking to himself.
“I like it a little.”
It was a very small voice, but it was audible to my ears, which have better hearing than most humans.
I think I've won his heart a little with this.
I didn't have any intention or heart to do that, but... Well, it's better than being hated.
“So, Great Sage, do you think the dragon’s heart is in that special place?”
“That’s right. The more important something is, the more likely it is to be hidden in a secret place where no one can reach it.”
That's right.
“Besides, considering that he hid that fact from his descendants, there’s a high possibility that the Dragon Heart is being stored in some other form, disguised as something else. Like Pura, for example.”
The moment I heard his words, a sword came to mind.
The sword that my father usually used, was sealed in the deepest part of the basement.
“Judging from your expression, I guess you have an idea.”
It would have been right to answer yes and show him the sword.
"...No."
That's true, but why is my mouth lying?
Are I sad that I gave him the Dragon's Heart so late?
I don't think so.
“Right. If the descendants touch it carelessly and it turns out to be a disaster, they wouldn’t have put it in a place where it can be seen.”
Fortunately or unfortunately, the great sage passed over it without much doubt.
Because of that, I also missed the time to tell the truth.
No, I just don't want to talk about it.
I don't know why, so I felt a little frustrated.
“Have you ever been there?”
“Yes. It was a place like a study, filled with books and materials.”
“Books and materials? My goodness, you made a secret place and used it as a study. You guys are ridiculous.”
The great sage clicked his tongue as if he were very angry.
As I thought about the books and materials, things I had briefly forgotten came to mind.
Curses, blessings, etc. Materials whose meaning I couldn't understand, and my father's diary.
"If..."
Knock knock.
I was about to ask about that when I heard a knock.
Is Perdes back?
“Excuse me, Your Excellency.”
An unfamiliar voice. It wasn't Perdes.
In that case, the Great Sage had to hide his presence here.
“Hold on a second... Where did you go?”
While I was looking at the door for a moment, the great sage disappeared without a trace.
There's no sign of an open window, and the door isn't open either, so where did it go?
Knock knock.
"Your Excellency."
“... Come in.”
After confirming once again that there was no Great Sage, I answered.
The servant who opened the door and came in reported urgently.
“His Majesty the Emperor has summoned all the nobles in the capital, including Your Excellency, to the great conference room.”
Could it be that he called all the nobles...?
“What happened?”
“They said the Allied Forces invaded last night.”
It's already started!
I was filled with joy as I had waited for a long time, but I couldn't show it, so I suppressed it.
Instead, I opened my eyes wide in surprise and asked the attendant.
“Is that true?”
“Yes, Sir. So please hurry to the conference room, Your Excellency.”
"Yes."
The thing I've been waiting for so long has started, so of course I have to go.
The only thing that bothers me is that the Great Sage asked me to take him to a special place.
I guess I'll have to ask to go later.
Or go alone.
I glanced at the seat where the Great Sage was sitting, then followed the attendant to the conference room.
***
I met Perdes on the way and went to the conference room with him, but I was caught at the entrance to the conference room.
“Your Highness the Prince cannot enter.”
To be exact, it was Perdes who was captured.
Princes other than the Crown Prince must not participate in politics.
This was because this absurd rule was applied even in the urgent situation of the Allied invasion.
Anyway, it's just useless and annoying.
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Perdes also frowned as if he didn't like it.
“Is it not okay to just sit still and listen?”
“No.”
As the knight came out decisively, Perdes' face became even more wrinkled.
“Calm down, Perdes.”
Getting angry won't change anything.
“I’ll tell you everything I said later.”
“...I think I heard the same thing before.”
“Haha, that’s right.”
I wanted to cheer Perdes up, so I laughed out loud on purpose.
Fortunately, it worked, and Perdes' stiff lips loosened.
“I'm waiting.”
“Yes. Oh, and.”
I whispered softly in Perdes' ear so that no one else could hear.
“Please tell the Great Sage that I am sorry for not being able to fulfill his unexpected request right away.”
"...Ask?"
“Yes. If it’s okay, you can go alone. Of course, you can tell them that I’m not responsible for what happens afterward.”
Perdes nodded, indicating that he understood.
“Please.”
I gave Perdes another word and went into the conference room.
The Emperor had not yet arrived, so the high seats were empty.
The same was true for the noble stones.
Since the nobles were suddenly summoned, that would be natural.
Most of the nobles who came now were officials working in the central palace.
“Welcome, Duke.”
But why has Duke Lucien already arrived?
I looked at the Duke of Lucien sitting across from me.
Then the Duke of Lucien blushed slightly and covered his mouth.
“It’s embarrassing when you look at me with such passionate eyes.”
What the hell. You crazy guy.
“Wow. Look at that frown. That hurts me.”
“Just get hurt and don’t talk to me.”
“Is that okay?”
The Duke of Lucien smiled, resting his arms on the desk and his chin on his hand.
“Don’t you want to know where your loyal dog is and what he’s doing?”
If you're talking about a loyal dog, you're probably talking about Sir Aldor.
“As expected, the Duke sent that note.”
“Did you know?”
“I guessed so.”
Duke Lucien tilted his head as if he found it strange.
“But why didn’t you come to me?”
“Because there is no reason to go.”
In fact, I tried to go there, but Perdes stopped me, so I didn't go.
It was also thanks to Perdes personally going to Leopold's estate and confirming that Sir Aldor was there.
“Are you saying you aren’t curious about that man’s whereabouts?”
“Yes. I already know, so there’s no need to wonder.”
“You already know?”
The Duke of Lucien's eyebrows furrowed.
“That can’t be true... Isn’t the Duke misunderstanding something?”
“What are you trying to say?”
Just as the Duke of Lucien was about to say something, the door opened and the nobles rushed in.
The Duke of Lucien kept his mouth shut and leaned back against the chair.
Then he gave me a look that suggested we talk again later.
“...”
I turned my head away, ignoring the gaze.
His last words bothered me, but I decided not to worry about it since it was certain that Sir Aldor was in Leopold's domain.
“Have you heard the news? The Allies have invaded!”
“I heard. It hasn’t even been a hundred years since the peace treaty was signed, and now you’re invading? You make a mockery of promises.”
“The empire’s economy was shaken by counterfeit gold coins, so they probably thought now was the opportunity.”
“As expected, the culprit who spread the counterfeit gold coins was the Allied Forces...”
The conference room became noisy as the empty seats were filled.
The subject, of course, was the Allied invasion.
While I was listening to every word the nobles were saying and observing their reactions, the innermost door opened and the Crown Prince came in.
The Emperor was not visible.
I waited, wondering if he was coming late, but the closed door did not open again.
The Crown Prince sat in the highest seat as if it were a given.
If the Crown Prince sits there, it means the Emperor will not come.
It's not like the Emperor didn't come to the meeting to discuss measures against invasion by other countries.
What kind of nonsense is this?
The other nobles also murmured in confusion.
“Is His Majesty the Emperor not coming?”
When the Duke of Lucien asked openly, the Crown Prince nodded with a sad expression.
“His Majesty had already been feeling unwell, but he collapsed from the shock he felt when he heard the news of the Allied invasion, so I had no choice but to come alone.”
"That...!"
“As His Majesty is feeling unwell, he has been entrusting His Highness the Crown Prince with some matters...”
Perhaps because it was expected, only a few people were surprised and most were indifferent.
“Is His Majesty okay?”
“Yes. The palace doctor said that if His Majesty just regains his strength, he will recover quickly.”
Eyes that fold like crescent moons and the corners of the mouth that go up.
Sparkling golden eyes.
“So, I hope everyone here will do their best to help His Majesty regain his strength.”
In the smiling face of the Crown Prince, the Emperor was seen for a moment.
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