No matter how many times he pulled the cart, the result was the same.
Finally, the soldier who gave up pulling the cart sighed and said.
"It looks like the cart is broken. I will bring the carriage here."
Initially, they had intended to move the cart to where the wagon was, but when the cart refused to move, the soldier decided to bring the carriage here and left.
At that moment, Carsis was also about to return to the mansion.
He caught sight of a woman coming out of the mansion.
Her dark green hair, which reaches down to her waist, flutters in the wind.
"Thank goodness. It's not too late..."
Bellona, who was smiling faintly as she looked at the cart parked in front of her, slowly took each step.
Then she swept the crude wooden coffin over with her hand.
It was a very shabby coffin for one that belonged to the Crown Prince of an empire.
"...I heard it. You saved Carsis."
And then you died.
This morning, Carsis came to see her and told her everything that had happened at the spire.
What Ernest asked of Carsis and the fact that he wanted to see her until the end.
When she heard those words, Ernest's existence became an indelible scar on his heart.
She is so grateful to him and so sorry.
“I won't forget... Ernest.”
The sincerity you gave me.
And...
"Carsis and I will create the empire you've been dreaming of. So just watch over us..."
Above, with the people I love.
The tears that had been gathering in her eyes finally flowed down her cheeks.
And then it fell with a thud on the wooden coffin.
"Goodbye, Ernest."
Bellona, who had been sweeping the coffin for a long time, took off the robe she was wearing and covered it over the coffin.
In the cold winter, she hopes the path she takes will be at least a little warm.
So much time has passed.
The cart that seemed to have broken down started moving again.
As if there were no more foolishness.
Clang!
Hamelin, inside the Emperor's barracks.
There, the sound of objects being thrown to the floor along with the Emperor's shouts echoed throughout the place.
“That's what you're saying now...!”
The Emperor, hearing of what had happened the previous morning, picked up the candlestick that was on the table and threw it down.
“I'm sorry, I'm sorry...”
A soldier who had barely escaped the battle that had taken place beneath the spire fell flat on his face at the Emperor's feet.
When Fasher noticed that Ernest was trying to make secret contact with Carsis, he swore to him the night before that he would bring soldiers and offer Carsis's head.
But what came back was not Carsis's head, but news of the defeat of his allies and Ernest's death.
There was too much to lose for it to have happened overnight.
The biggest loss among them is...
"Then what about the sword that Fasher was carrying? What happened to that sword?"
It was a sword made by none other than Dean Eluka.
“When I heard the news and went to the tower, Fasher's sword was gone.”
Paulo answered on behalf of the soldier who didn't know much about swords.
When Fasher who had requested troops was too late, he ordered someone to check the spire, but it was already over.
Graham sighed at Paulo's words.
Deaneluka was a holy relic that was as difficult to obtain as Riventia. But the sword made from the holy relic was taken away by enemies without even being able to wield it properly.
His mouth felt bitter.
“According to another soldier who survived there, His Highness was trying to hand something to the traitor.”
"What?"
"It was a red necklace."
“If it's a necklace...”
The Emperor, gripped by anxiety, pulled the rope from around his neck.
Contrary to fears, Riventia was unharmed.
But there couldn't be another red necklace that could be used to trade with traitors other than Riventia.
'No way...'
Graham looked down at the necklace in his hand.
“That guy Ernest...”
Did you betray me?
It was a very possible story.
Because his son has been sympathetic and gentle since he was little.
Moreover, when he handed over the Riventia, didn't he blame himself for Hazel's death?
Graham bit his lip as a belated realization dawned on him.
The only good thing was that Ernest was already dead.
"It's good because he can pay with his life for betraying his father."
Everyone in the barracks held their breath at the Emperor's mutterings that were filled with anger.
No matter what, Ernest was the only child he acknowledged.
Everyone seemed to be disgusted by the sight of the Emperor muttering that he was relieved rather than showing any sorrow at his son's death.
“It's a shame that Deaneluka fell into their hands, but don't worry too much.”
"Aren't you worried? If reinforcements come from the capital without Deaneluca, we'll all be killed!"
Although the number of people that Fasher brought with him was not large enough, they were capable of being considered core troops.
But those people either died in battle or were taken prisoner and fell into the hands of the rebels.
Not only did they lose men, but the morale of those who remained was also broken.
The Emperor clenched and unclenched his fist repeatedly as if he were anxious.
“I have a bad feeling about this.”
Never had such ominous thoughts crossed his mind, except when he heard Oroz's prophecy that a child would be born who would kill him.
"Your Majesty, please calm down."
Paulo spoke to Graham, who couldn't hide his anxiety.
"Oroz's prophecy foresees our victory, so there is nothing to fear. Isn't that right, Young Lady?"
Paulo looked at Deborah, who was standing on one side of the barracks.
Deborah was silent for a moment at her words,then smiled.
"...Of course. Don't worry too much, Your Majesty."
The Emperor slumped his shoulders as he finally felt relieved at the sight of Deborah answering in a soft voice.
On the other hand, Paulo, who had been staring at Deborah with a strange look, opened his mouth.
"I have something to talk to you alone, Your Majesty. Could you please step aside? You all should also leave."
"Yes."
At Paulo's words, everyone, including Deborah, bowed to the Emperor and left the barracks.
So, only the Emperor and Paulo were left in the barracks.
"What's wrong, Paulo?"
Paulo, who was looking at the closed barracks, looked at the Emperor.
Then he began to speak with difficulty as if he had been thinking about it for a long time.
"Your Majesty. I think I should proceed with what I told you earlier."
“As for what we were talking about before... Are you talking about finding a successor to the Barley family?”
"Yes. No matter how much I think about it, the only way out of the current situation is through the power of the Barley family."
“Heir to the Barley family…”
Graham leaned back in his chair and recalled a musty memory.
The kidnapping of the successor to Barley, which he had personally ordered.
He had long ago kidnapped the Duchess who was pregnant with Barley's heir, for their close relationship with House Jupiter and their power was a threat to the Emperor.
Well, he usually finds Barley's power a bit annoying.
The power of time.
Barley could regress, allowing them to return to the past whenever they wished.
And Graham was annoyed by the Barley family, who had the power to say that they were more powerful than he was. However, he thought it was too good of an ability to kill them, so he locked the Duchess up in a tower where no one would come looking for her.
"If I had known things would turn out this way, I should have been more proactive in looking for it. If I had, I would have had Barley's power in my hands by now."
The Emperor licked his lips as if he was truly sorry.
The kidnapped Duchess of Barley died giving birth to a baby boy, and the baby was locked in the tower, isolated from the world. That is until a young girl entered the tower.
"By the way, are you sure that the successor of Barley is alive? He seems too quiet for someone alive..."
"Actually, a while ago, someone came forward in the East who said he saw a man with only one golden eye. He was about the same age."
“Oh, really?”
At those words, the Emperor's complexion noticeably improved.
The successors of the Barley family have been born with strange eyes for generations, with one eye as bright as the sun and the other as a golden eye.
In a kingdom where there aren't many people with golden eyes, only one eye is golden.
It was a situation where anyone could not help but suspect him of being Barley's successor.
'If only the power of Barley could fall into my hands...'
A ray of light seemed to shine through the sky covered in dark clouds.
Graham ordered Paulo in a voice brighter than before.
"Then send someone to the east right now and find him as soon as possible!"
“I have something to tell you about that...”
Paulo trailed off as if he was saying something important.
“I think I'll go to the East myself.”
“...You yourself?”
"Yes, Your Majesty. Since this is such an important matter and one that requires time, I think it would be better for me to take charge of it myself rather than leaving it to someone else."
That wasn't a wrong statement.
Finding trustworthy people to send to the East was also a problem, and no matter how trustworthy they were, they were no better than Paulo.
However, the Emperor was anxious about being alone on the battlefield without Paulo, so he tried to dissuade him. However, Paulo's will was firm.
"So when do you plan on leaving?"
"I plan to leave this place as soon as I am ready. Don't worry too much... Your Majesty, there is Oroz who can see the future by your side."
He continued with a smile that seemed to reassure the Emperor.
“As long as Oroz's prophecy points to our victory, Your Majesty will remain strong.”
That would only be possible if the 'we' referred to in the prophecy included the Emperor.
The Emperor didn't notice.
The fallacy of the prophecy that Deborah spoke of.
She never once said that the subject of 'we' who won the war was the Emperor.
Finally, the soldier who gave up pulling the cart sighed and said.
"It looks like the cart is broken. I will bring the carriage here."
Initially, they had intended to move the cart to where the wagon was, but when the cart refused to move, the soldier decided to bring the carriage here and left.
At that moment, Carsis was also about to return to the mansion.
He caught sight of a woman coming out of the mansion.
Her dark green hair, which reaches down to her waist, flutters in the wind.
"Thank goodness. It's not too late..."
Bellona, who was smiling faintly as she looked at the cart parked in front of her, slowly took each step.
Then she swept the crude wooden coffin over with her hand.
It was a very shabby coffin for one that belonged to the Crown Prince of an empire.
"...I heard it. You saved Carsis."
And then you died.
This morning, Carsis came to see her and told her everything that had happened at the spire.
What Ernest asked of Carsis and the fact that he wanted to see her until the end.
When she heard those words, Ernest's existence became an indelible scar on his heart.
She is so grateful to him and so sorry.
“I won't forget... Ernest.”
The sincerity you gave me.
And...
"Carsis and I will create the empire you've been dreaming of. So just watch over us..."
Above, with the people I love.
The tears that had been gathering in her eyes finally flowed down her cheeks.
And then it fell with a thud on the wooden coffin.
"Goodbye, Ernest."
Bellona, who had been sweeping the coffin for a long time, took off the robe she was wearing and covered it over the coffin.
In the cold winter, she hopes the path she takes will be at least a little warm.
So much time has passed.
The cart that seemed to have broken down started moving again.
As if there were no more foolishness.
***
Clang!
Hamelin, inside the Emperor's barracks.
There, the sound of objects being thrown to the floor along with the Emperor's shouts echoed throughout the place.
“That's what you're saying now...!”
The Emperor, hearing of what had happened the previous morning, picked up the candlestick that was on the table and threw it down.
“I'm sorry, I'm sorry...”
A soldier who had barely escaped the battle that had taken place beneath the spire fell flat on his face at the Emperor's feet.
When Fasher noticed that Ernest was trying to make secret contact with Carsis, he swore to him the night before that he would bring soldiers and offer Carsis's head.
But what came back was not Carsis's head, but news of the defeat of his allies and Ernest's death.
There was too much to lose for it to have happened overnight.
The biggest loss among them is...
"Then what about the sword that Fasher was carrying? What happened to that sword?"
It was a sword made by none other than Dean Eluka.
“When I heard the news and went to the tower, Fasher's sword was gone.”
Paulo answered on behalf of the soldier who didn't know much about swords.
When Fasher who had requested troops was too late, he ordered someone to check the spire, but it was already over.
Graham sighed at Paulo's words.
Deaneluka was a holy relic that was as difficult to obtain as Riventia. But the sword made from the holy relic was taken away by enemies without even being able to wield it properly.
His mouth felt bitter.
“According to another soldier who survived there, His Highness was trying to hand something to the traitor.”
"What?"
"It was a red necklace."
“If it's a necklace...”
The Emperor, gripped by anxiety, pulled the rope from around his neck.
Contrary to fears, Riventia was unharmed.
But there couldn't be another red necklace that could be used to trade with traitors other than Riventia.
'No way...'
Graham looked down at the necklace in his hand.
“That guy Ernest...”
Did you betray me?
It was a very possible story.
Because his son has been sympathetic and gentle since he was little.
Moreover, when he handed over the Riventia, didn't he blame himself for Hazel's death?
Graham bit his lip as a belated realization dawned on him.
The only good thing was that Ernest was already dead.
"It's good because he can pay with his life for betraying his father."
Everyone in the barracks held their breath at the Emperor's mutterings that were filled with anger.
No matter what, Ernest was the only child he acknowledged.
Everyone seemed to be disgusted by the sight of the Emperor muttering that he was relieved rather than showing any sorrow at his son's death.
“It's a shame that Deaneluka fell into their hands, but don't worry too much.”
"Aren't you worried? If reinforcements come from the capital without Deaneluca, we'll all be killed!"
Although the number of people that Fasher brought with him was not large enough, they were capable of being considered core troops.
But those people either died in battle or were taken prisoner and fell into the hands of the rebels.
Not only did they lose men, but the morale of those who remained was also broken.
The Emperor clenched and unclenched his fist repeatedly as if he were anxious.
“I have a bad feeling about this.”
Never had such ominous thoughts crossed his mind, except when he heard Oroz's prophecy that a child would be born who would kill him.
"Your Majesty, please calm down."
Paulo spoke to Graham, who couldn't hide his anxiety.
"Oroz's prophecy foresees our victory, so there is nothing to fear. Isn't that right, Young Lady?"
Paulo looked at Deborah, who was standing on one side of the barracks.
Deborah was silent for a moment at her words,then smiled.
"...Of course. Don't worry too much, Your Majesty."
The Emperor slumped his shoulders as he finally felt relieved at the sight of Deborah answering in a soft voice.
On the other hand, Paulo, who had been staring at Deborah with a strange look, opened his mouth.
"I have something to talk to you alone, Your Majesty. Could you please step aside? You all should also leave."
"Yes."
At Paulo's words, everyone, including Deborah, bowed to the Emperor and left the barracks.
So, only the Emperor and Paulo were left in the barracks.
"What's wrong, Paulo?"
Paulo, who was looking at the closed barracks, looked at the Emperor.
Then he began to speak with difficulty as if he had been thinking about it for a long time.
"Your Majesty. I think I should proceed with what I told you earlier."
“As for what we were talking about before... Are you talking about finding a successor to the Barley family?”
"Yes. No matter how much I think about it, the only way out of the current situation is through the power of the Barley family."
“Heir to the Barley family…”
Graham leaned back in his chair and recalled a musty memory.
The kidnapping of the successor to Barley, which he had personally ordered.
He had long ago kidnapped the Duchess who was pregnant with Barley's heir, for their close relationship with House Jupiter and their power was a threat to the Emperor.
Well, he usually finds Barley's power a bit annoying.
The power of time.
Barley could regress, allowing them to return to the past whenever they wished.
And Graham was annoyed by the Barley family, who had the power to say that they were more powerful than he was. However, he thought it was too good of an ability to kill them, so he locked the Duchess up in a tower where no one would come looking for her.
"If I had known things would turn out this way, I should have been more proactive in looking for it. If I had, I would have had Barley's power in my hands by now."
The Emperor licked his lips as if he was truly sorry.
The kidnapped Duchess of Barley died giving birth to a baby boy, and the baby was locked in the tower, isolated from the world. That is until a young girl entered the tower.
"By the way, are you sure that the successor of Barley is alive? He seems too quiet for someone alive..."
"Actually, a while ago, someone came forward in the East who said he saw a man with only one golden eye. He was about the same age."
“Oh, really?”
At those words, the Emperor's complexion noticeably improved.
The successors of the Barley family have been born with strange eyes for generations, with one eye as bright as the sun and the other as a golden eye.
In a kingdom where there aren't many people with golden eyes, only one eye is golden.
It was a situation where anyone could not help but suspect him of being Barley's successor.
'If only the power of Barley could fall into my hands...'
A ray of light seemed to shine through the sky covered in dark clouds.
Graham ordered Paulo in a voice brighter than before.
"Then send someone to the east right now and find him as soon as possible!"
“I have something to tell you about that...”
Paulo trailed off as if he was saying something important.
“I think I'll go to the East myself.”
“...You yourself?”
"Yes, Your Majesty. Since this is such an important matter and one that requires time, I think it would be better for me to take charge of it myself rather than leaving it to someone else."
That wasn't a wrong statement.
Finding trustworthy people to send to the East was also a problem, and no matter how trustworthy they were, they were no better than Paulo.
However, the Emperor was anxious about being alone on the battlefield without Paulo, so he tried to dissuade him. However, Paulo's will was firm.
"So when do you plan on leaving?"
"I plan to leave this place as soon as I am ready. Don't worry too much... Your Majesty, there is Oroz who can see the future by your side."
He continued with a smile that seemed to reassure the Emperor.
“As long as Oroz's prophecy points to our victory, Your Majesty will remain strong.”
That would only be possible if the 'we' referred to in the prophecy included the Emperor.
The Emperor didn't notice.
The fallacy of the prophecy that Deborah spoke of.
She never once said that the subject of 'we' who won the war was the Emperor.
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