“They...”
It was Carsis.
And behind him, hundreds of soldiers surrounded the wide plain.
“It looks like they were waiting for us.”
Ernest recited in a flat voice, even though there were more soldiers than they had expected.
“There seem to be more troops than I thought... Will that be okay?”
"...Well."
They did not expect them to just sit back and wait while they led their army to Hamelon. They expected them to gather whatever troops they could until reinforcements arrived from the capital. It was just a bit more than they had expected.
It was when Ernest was looking at Carsis, who was in the lead, with an incomprehensible gaze.
Graham stepped forward and the corners of his mouth twitched at the news that Carsis was blocking his way.
“It’s been a while, son.”
Referring to Carsis as his son.
Then, in an instant, the surroundings began to stir.
There were many rumors that Carsis was an illegitimate child abandoned by the Emperor, but this was the first time that the Emperor himself had acknowledged this.
“It seems like you’ve missed your father a lot too. It’s as if you’ve been waiting for me to come here to greet me.”
The Emperor continued speaking in his usual arrogant manner.
“If you surrender now, I will spare your life out of affection for you as blood relatives.”
Carsis, who was staring at the Emperor, just let out a hollow laugh as if he had heard a suggestion that was not worth hearing.
Meanwhile, Ernest looked at the confident Emperor with a puzzled look.
'What kind of confidence do you have to do that?'
Even though their forces may seem to outnumber them at the moment, they are woefully inadequate considering the forces in the capital.
Besides, the number of troops that Carsis has gathered is much greater than they expected.
If a battle were to break out in this state, it would be difficult to determine victory or defeat.
Also, the messenger who arrived in the capital by now will be organizing the military.
All they had to do was hold out and not collapse.
‘There’s no way my father wouldn’t know...’
If they are short on troops, the best strategy is to cut down the enemy leader and break their morale. However, the enemy leader, Carsis, has the power of healing...
It wasn't easy to kill him unless he suffered serious injuries.
'What on earth is the sword you gave to Fasher...?'
Once again, a familiar ominous feeling gripped his ankles.
He doesn't know what the identity of the sword in Pasher's hand is, but he can sense that the sword could determine the outcome of this war.
'I have to tell you this.'
At the very least, there was a need to warn Carsis about the dangers of the sword.
And he had to hand over Riventia to Bellona through Carsis.
'But how?'
It was while Ernest was trying to find a way to contact Carsis without the Emperor noticing.
After exchanging signals with the Emperor, the Fashet raised his sword high and shouted loudly as he led his troops into a charge.
'Shit.'
Before Ernest could say anything, the advancing soldiers began to mix with Carsis's soldiers.
Ernest bit his lips and quickly followed behind them.
A fierce battle began with sharp gold pieces clashing against each other, and Ernest advanced toward Carsis, fending off enemies who were swinging their swords wildly.
The Fasher, who had taken the lead, was blocked by the knights standing guard next to Carsis and could not get close to him.
'Now is the time.'
And Ernest, who thought that this was the moment to convey his intentions to Carsis, shouted:
“Carsis!”
Then he approached the soldier blocking his way, striking him with the back of his sword.
While he was frantically striking down his enemies, Carsis raised his head at the sound of a familiar voice clearly calling his name. Then, two pairs of red eyes met the air.
“Ernest.”
Carsis's eyebrows furrowed as he quickly identified the owner of the voice.
Were they looking at each other like that?
Ernest was the first to avoid eye contact.
He turned his head to check on Fasher's situation. Then he met Fasher's eyes, who were staring at him persistently while blocking the enemy's attacks.
'He's watching what I'm doing.'
If he continued the conversation without making any attacks, he could arouse the suspicion of the Emperor's puppet, Fashet.
Ernest then put strength into the sword he was holding and ran towards Carsis.
Clang!
The sound of metal scraping against the wind echoed through the air.
“You still have a short temper.”
It was at this moment that Carsis, who thought that Ernest had attacked him out of excitement like before, tried to push away the sword that was touching him.
Ernest, who had been staring at him, muttered softly enough for only Carsis to hear.
“Reventia is mine.”
"...What?"
At Ernest's unexpected words, Carsis' hand, which was trying to push him away, stopped.
“I found a red pendant downstream from where I found the Duchess’ body. You fooled me so well.”
“...”
Carsis bit his lip, not expecting that the Riventia he was desperately looking for would be in Ernest's hands.
Of all the people, it was Ernest who picked it up. He was thinking that it might have made it more difficult to get Riventia back. Ernest continued.
“I’ll give it to you. Take it to Bellona. But first...”
Ernest, who had stepped back from Carsis for a moment, swung his sword at him once more.
“Shouldn’t we at least pretend to fight? Other people are watching.”
Carsis asked as he took Ernest's sword again.
“...What are your intentions?”
Then he glanced at Ernest as if trying to figure out his intentions.
That would be the case because the last thing Carsis remembers is Ernest driving Bellona to the brink of death.
“What is your intention...”
Ernest smiled bitterly at Carsis' question.
“Well, let’s just say I’m tired.”
“...”
“First of all, eyes are watching us before I hand over the Riventia to you here.”
As he said that, Ernest glanced at someone.
“Be careful with the sword of that knight who is fighting your subordinates. It is a sword given to him by the Emperor, and I have a bad feeling about it. And that guy is constantly watching us, right? That’s why you and I need to work together appropriately.”
Ernest then struck Carsis with his sword several more times, and Carsis blocked all of his attacks.
“Meet me at midnight in two days, beneath the Spire of Jamesburg. I will hand you the Riventia then.”
Carsis, who had been listening to Ernest in silence, asked.
He couldn't believe that the Crown Prince suddenly changed his attitude and offered to give him Riventia.
“How do you know it’s not a trap?”
“Believe it or not, it’s your choice, but I don’t think you can afford to.”
“...”
“She's dying, Bellona.”
As soon as he finished speaking, strength entered Carsis' sword that was touching Ernest.
Ernest's body stumbled for a moment, unable to withstand the force, but he quickly regained his composure.
“Just trust me, Carsis.”
“...”
“Because I want to save Bellona.”
Carsis bit his lip as if conflicted by Ernest's words.
He was right. Carsis had no time to check whether Ernest's words were true or false. Bellona didn't have much time left.
In the end, Carsis decided to believe Ernest's words and muttered.
“If you lie, you won’t die a good death.”
Ernest's expression lightened at the fact that Carsis trusted him.
“Of course. Then now...”
Ernest glanced around again and said:
“Cut off my arm. Just enough so that I can’t use it for a while.”
"...What?"
Carsis looked startled and asked back at Ernest who suddenly swung his sword at him.
“If we point our swords at each other and the fight ends without either of us getting hurt, what would they think?”
He was right. Originally, it was a fight that would not end without one of the two dying. If both of them returned safely, it would be enough to cause misunderstandings among others.
After thinking about this for a moment, Carsis took a step back from Ernest and readjusted his sword.
And he struck without a moment's hesitation.
"Your Highness!"
At the same time, a voice shouting Ernest's name echoed through the battlefield from somewhere.
The first day's battle ended in a mess as Ernest's injuries resulted in the loss of troops.
In fact, the longer they stalled, the more advantageous it was for Carsis, so there was no need to chase after those who escaped with Ernest.
After the battle, Carsis returned straight to Jamesburg's castle and told Bellona what he had said to Ernest.
“...I see, Ernest...”
Bellona, who had been silently listening to what Carsis was saying, remembered what Ernest had said to her in the past.
"Because I always wanted to run away. From my position as Crown Prince, from this country, and from my father, the Emperor."
He had always found it burdensome to live up to the Emperor's expectations. When she first heard that, she thought it was just the childish tantrum of a Prince who had grown up preciously.
The current Crown Prince was desperately struggling to escape the Emperor's shadow, even though it might put his own life in danger.
Bellona's face flashed with gratitude and regret as she recalled the fact that Ernest had also recovered Hazel's body a while ago.
And as he looked at the faint smile blooming on her face, Carsis pulled Bellona's face closer.
“Carsis?”
Bellona's eyes widened in surprise at Carsis's sudden actions.
“What are you thinking about?”
“I just...”
She was about to continue, saying, "I was thinking of Ernest," but then closed her mouth.
Somehow she felt like she shouldn't say those words.
Then she looked closely at Carsis' face.
Although he didn't show it, his eyes were trembling slightly.
'Are you anxious?'
He was afraid that she would be shaken by Ernest's sudden change in attitude.
It was Carsis.
And behind him, hundreds of soldiers surrounded the wide plain.
“It looks like they were waiting for us.”
Ernest recited in a flat voice, even though there were more soldiers than they had expected.
“There seem to be more troops than I thought... Will that be okay?”
"...Well."
They did not expect them to just sit back and wait while they led their army to Hamelon. They expected them to gather whatever troops they could until reinforcements arrived from the capital. It was just a bit more than they had expected.
It was when Ernest was looking at Carsis, who was in the lead, with an incomprehensible gaze.
Graham stepped forward and the corners of his mouth twitched at the news that Carsis was blocking his way.
“It’s been a while, son.”
Referring to Carsis as his son.
Then, in an instant, the surroundings began to stir.
There were many rumors that Carsis was an illegitimate child abandoned by the Emperor, but this was the first time that the Emperor himself had acknowledged this.
“It seems like you’ve missed your father a lot too. It’s as if you’ve been waiting for me to come here to greet me.”
The Emperor continued speaking in his usual arrogant manner.
“If you surrender now, I will spare your life out of affection for you as blood relatives.”
Carsis, who was staring at the Emperor, just let out a hollow laugh as if he had heard a suggestion that was not worth hearing.
Meanwhile, Ernest looked at the confident Emperor with a puzzled look.
'What kind of confidence do you have to do that?'
Even though their forces may seem to outnumber them at the moment, they are woefully inadequate considering the forces in the capital.
Besides, the number of troops that Carsis has gathered is much greater than they expected.
If a battle were to break out in this state, it would be difficult to determine victory or defeat.
Also, the messenger who arrived in the capital by now will be organizing the military.
All they had to do was hold out and not collapse.
‘There’s no way my father wouldn’t know...’
If they are short on troops, the best strategy is to cut down the enemy leader and break their morale. However, the enemy leader, Carsis, has the power of healing...
It wasn't easy to kill him unless he suffered serious injuries.
'What on earth is the sword you gave to Fasher...?'
Once again, a familiar ominous feeling gripped his ankles.
He doesn't know what the identity of the sword in Pasher's hand is, but he can sense that the sword could determine the outcome of this war.
'I have to tell you this.'
At the very least, there was a need to warn Carsis about the dangers of the sword.
And he had to hand over Riventia to Bellona through Carsis.
'But how?'
It was while Ernest was trying to find a way to contact Carsis without the Emperor noticing.
After exchanging signals with the Emperor, the Fashet raised his sword high and shouted loudly as he led his troops into a charge.
'Shit.'
Before Ernest could say anything, the advancing soldiers began to mix with Carsis's soldiers.
Ernest bit his lips and quickly followed behind them.
A fierce battle began with sharp gold pieces clashing against each other, and Ernest advanced toward Carsis, fending off enemies who were swinging their swords wildly.
The Fasher, who had taken the lead, was blocked by the knights standing guard next to Carsis and could not get close to him.
'Now is the time.'
And Ernest, who thought that this was the moment to convey his intentions to Carsis, shouted:
“Carsis!”
Then he approached the soldier blocking his way, striking him with the back of his sword.
While he was frantically striking down his enemies, Carsis raised his head at the sound of a familiar voice clearly calling his name. Then, two pairs of red eyes met the air.
“Ernest.”
Carsis's eyebrows furrowed as he quickly identified the owner of the voice.
Were they looking at each other like that?
Ernest was the first to avoid eye contact.
He turned his head to check on Fasher's situation. Then he met Fasher's eyes, who were staring at him persistently while blocking the enemy's attacks.
'He's watching what I'm doing.'
If he continued the conversation without making any attacks, he could arouse the suspicion of the Emperor's puppet, Fashet.
Ernest then put strength into the sword he was holding and ran towards Carsis.
Clang!
The sound of metal scraping against the wind echoed through the air.
“You still have a short temper.”
It was at this moment that Carsis, who thought that Ernest had attacked him out of excitement like before, tried to push away the sword that was touching him.
Ernest, who had been staring at him, muttered softly enough for only Carsis to hear.
“Reventia is mine.”
"...What?"
At Ernest's unexpected words, Carsis' hand, which was trying to push him away, stopped.
“I found a red pendant downstream from where I found the Duchess’ body. You fooled me so well.”
“...”
Carsis bit his lip, not expecting that the Riventia he was desperately looking for would be in Ernest's hands.
Of all the people, it was Ernest who picked it up. He was thinking that it might have made it more difficult to get Riventia back. Ernest continued.
“I’ll give it to you. Take it to Bellona. But first...”
Ernest, who had stepped back from Carsis for a moment, swung his sword at him once more.
“Shouldn’t we at least pretend to fight? Other people are watching.”
Carsis asked as he took Ernest's sword again.
“...What are your intentions?”
Then he glanced at Ernest as if trying to figure out his intentions.
That would be the case because the last thing Carsis remembers is Ernest driving Bellona to the brink of death.
“What is your intention...”
Ernest smiled bitterly at Carsis' question.
“Well, let’s just say I’m tired.”
“...”
“First of all, eyes are watching us before I hand over the Riventia to you here.”
As he said that, Ernest glanced at someone.
“Be careful with the sword of that knight who is fighting your subordinates. It is a sword given to him by the Emperor, and I have a bad feeling about it. And that guy is constantly watching us, right? That’s why you and I need to work together appropriately.”
Ernest then struck Carsis with his sword several more times, and Carsis blocked all of his attacks.
“Meet me at midnight in two days, beneath the Spire of Jamesburg. I will hand you the Riventia then.”
Carsis, who had been listening to Ernest in silence, asked.
He couldn't believe that the Crown Prince suddenly changed his attitude and offered to give him Riventia.
“How do you know it’s not a trap?”
“Believe it or not, it’s your choice, but I don’t think you can afford to.”
“...”
“She's dying, Bellona.”
As soon as he finished speaking, strength entered Carsis' sword that was touching Ernest.
Ernest's body stumbled for a moment, unable to withstand the force, but he quickly regained his composure.
“Just trust me, Carsis.”
“...”
“Because I want to save Bellona.”
Carsis bit his lip as if conflicted by Ernest's words.
He was right. Carsis had no time to check whether Ernest's words were true or false. Bellona didn't have much time left.
In the end, Carsis decided to believe Ernest's words and muttered.
“If you lie, you won’t die a good death.”
Ernest's expression lightened at the fact that Carsis trusted him.
“Of course. Then now...”
Ernest glanced around again and said:
“Cut off my arm. Just enough so that I can’t use it for a while.”
"...What?"
Carsis looked startled and asked back at Ernest who suddenly swung his sword at him.
“If we point our swords at each other and the fight ends without either of us getting hurt, what would they think?”
He was right. Originally, it was a fight that would not end without one of the two dying. If both of them returned safely, it would be enough to cause misunderstandings among others.
After thinking about this for a moment, Carsis took a step back from Ernest and readjusted his sword.
And he struck without a moment's hesitation.
"Your Highness!"
At the same time, a voice shouting Ernest's name echoed through the battlefield from somewhere.
***
The first day's battle ended in a mess as Ernest's injuries resulted in the loss of troops.
In fact, the longer they stalled, the more advantageous it was for Carsis, so there was no need to chase after those who escaped with Ernest.
After the battle, Carsis returned straight to Jamesburg's castle and told Bellona what he had said to Ernest.
“...I see, Ernest...”
Bellona, who had been silently listening to what Carsis was saying, remembered what Ernest had said to her in the past.
"Because I always wanted to run away. From my position as Crown Prince, from this country, and from my father, the Emperor."
He had always found it burdensome to live up to the Emperor's expectations. When she first heard that, she thought it was just the childish tantrum of a Prince who had grown up preciously.
The current Crown Prince was desperately struggling to escape the Emperor's shadow, even though it might put his own life in danger.
Bellona's face flashed with gratitude and regret as she recalled the fact that Ernest had also recovered Hazel's body a while ago.
And as he looked at the faint smile blooming on her face, Carsis pulled Bellona's face closer.
“Carsis?”
Bellona's eyes widened in surprise at Carsis's sudden actions.
“What are you thinking about?”
“I just...”
She was about to continue, saying, "I was thinking of Ernest," but then closed her mouth.
Somehow she felt like she shouldn't say those words.
Then she looked closely at Carsis' face.
Although he didn't show it, his eyes were trembling slightly.
'Are you anxious?'
He was afraid that she would be shaken by Ernest's sudden change in attitude.
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