We sat around Elhardt’s bedroom and began discussing our plans.
Although it was somewhat cramped, this was the safest place for security reasons. Kay had modified the measures Cradion had installed to keep Elhardt isolated. Not only were conversations inside completely cut off from the outside, but it was also impossible for anyone to sneak in without going through the door.
“My goal is to completely identify and eliminate the Cradion agents and traitors hiding within the kingdom.”
Elhardt explained his plan first.
“We can’t make a fresh start without cutting out the rotten parts.”
That was why he had pretended to lose the political struggle and come to Cradion as a hostage.
“I’ve already finished compiling the list.”
Even so, there was a reason he had not returned.
“That’s… to uncover the secrets of the Cradion imperial family. If we don’t shake things up from this side, we’ll have to go to war again.”
The current imperial family had many suspicious aspects.
Before it was known as an empire, the Kingdom of Cradion had maintained decent relations not only with Bardia but also with the other kingdoms.
Yet under the current emperor, it had suddenly started wars and drenched the continent in blood.
“What’s most suspicious is the Crown Prince. He appeared out of nowhere one day, yet no one found that strange.”
Of course, the Emperor had declared that the Crown Prince was his illegitimate son and had formally adopted him with the Empress’s consent.
But the Crown Prince’s appearance resembled neither the Emperor nor any of the women rumored to have been the Emperor’s lovers.
It was only natural to question whether he was truly the Emperor’s son.
Even if he was, there should have been people who challenged his legitimacy.
Yet everything passed far too quietly.
The imperial nobles of Cradion could not defy the Crown Prince, who could be considered the true ruler of the empire.
Even the factions that existed in every political sphere were nowhere to be found here.
Elhardt found that strange and decided to investigate it himself.
He believed that if he could uncover this bizarre secret, he might be able to create chaos within the empire.
If he could do that, Cradion would be unable to mobilize its army immediately, giving Bardia time to prepare.
“I want to avoid war if possible. Bardia has already exhausted a great deal of its national strength defending itself against Cradion’s invasion.”
Elhardt spoke with a grim expression.
“It would be best to negotiate an end to the war without shedding any more blood. But if that’s impossible, then at least we need to secure enough time to prepare.”
I could tell just by looking into his sorrowful, mourning eyes how desperately he must have struggled to find a way through all this.
I’m glad he thinks the same way I do.
War was a monster that fed on the blood of innocent people who had done nothing wrong.
The best course for everyone was to minimize its scale as much as possible.
But that also meant…
“It won’t be easy.”
Carthaeus nodded.
“It would be much simpler to just turn the Imperial Palace into a sea of flames.”
“So that’s what the new Pope has to say about it.”
“That’s only in comparison, you brat.”
I watched Carthaeus bicker with Kay for a moment before speaking to Elhardt.
“You can consider the expedition party part of Bardia’s forces.”
At my words, he shook his head.
“That’s… far too shameless a request. What the expedition party deserves is sufficient compensation and rest, not another mission.”
“So you pretended not to know even after realizing who I was?”
“That’s one reason… and there’s another.”
As he said that, he stared straight at me.
I suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
I had a feeling I knew exactly what he meant.
Unlike him, who had honestly confessed his feelings to me, I still wasn’t ready to give him an answer.
“Th-that… Anyway… the expedition party can’t disband yet. After seeing what happened to Bardia, do you really think we can rest easy?”
In the end, I chose to change the subject.
“…I have nothing to say. I’m ashamed.”
Seeing him bite his lip with a pained expression made my chest ache again.
He had probably spent most of his life on the battlefield without ever having a moment of peace, so why was he apologizing?
The ones who should be bowing their heads and begging forgiveness were someone else entirely.
“It’s not something the prince should feel sorry for.”
“If you think about it, it’s also our fault for leaving on the expedition while trusting the ones we left behind. We should have made sure they were properly kept in line before we departed.”
“Tsk.”
Carthaeus clicked his tongue, seemingly deeply shaken by the corruption within the Church.
“The descendants of the expedition party are still living in Bardia. I won’t hold the victory ceremony until their peaceful lives are secured.”
What kind of victory ceremony could there be when the country was on the verge of collapse?
“That’s right. Even if you received compensation from a dying country, it would only make you uncomfortable.”
“A dying country? Isn’t that a bit harsh?”
I scolded Kay while keeping an eye on Elhardt’s reaction.
“But you thought the same thing, Captain.”
Well… that was true. Bardia really was on the verge of collapse.
“Even so! How can you put it so bluntly? You’ll hurt the prince’s feelings!”
Elhardt, who had been watching Kay and me argue, ran a hand down his face before speaking.
“…I understand the expedition party’s intentions. It would be even more foolish to stubbornly refuse simply to protect my pride.”
“You made the right choice.”
I spoke brightly.
If Elhardt had refused our help, we would have had to move separately, so I was relieved.
“Our goals are the same. Of course we should cooperate.”
Everyone nodded at the satisfactory conclusion.
“Come to think of it, that Crown Prince fellow…”
Carthaeus suddenly spoke with a frown.
“He seems like someone who exists outside the providence of God.”
What…?
“What does that mean?”
“If he were a creation of the Goddess, he should naturally react to divine power. But he didn’t. It was almost as if…”
Carthaeus thought hard about what he could compare it to, then snapped his fingers.
“Yes, like a golem.”
“A golem…?”
It had been a long time since I’d heard that word.
There had been a mage in our expedition party, but he had never been interested in creating golems.
He always said it was much more fun to burn or scorch everything instead.
Wait.
“Then what about his connection to demons?”
“If divine power doesn’t work on him, there’s no way to know. A demon would naturally react to it, but he doesn’t seem to be one.”
“He can control mana, and divine power doesn’t work on him either. He’s a real headache.”
As I lamented, my thoughts suddenly turned to the person sitting before me.
A man whose body possessed an absurd level of magical resistance, to the point that he could simply tear apart the restraints designed to absorb mana with his bare hands.
“Elhardt is a mage’s natural enemy.”
At my mutter, Rick chimed in.
“That’s right. His Highness can simply swat away most magic with his bare hands.”
“Oh…”
Carthaeus examined Elhardt from head to toe with keen interest.
“He certainly looks quite sturdy, but to be that resistant…”
Why was he smiling so contentedly…?
Sensing my gaze, Carthaeus cleared his throat and said,
“Come to think of it, don’t we need a way to cooperate naturally without revealing the expedition party’s identities from now on?”
“Indeed. The Captain can’t remain a maid even after we return to Bardia, can she?”
Kay agreed.
“Why not? I enjoy being a maid.”
“It’s not enough for you to enjoy it. You don’t even know how to properly serve someone.”
I was dumbfounded by Kay’s words.
“Who’s good at something from the very beginning? I can just work on it from now on.”
“Why put in such pointless effort?”
Hmm?
…He did have a point.
Elhardt, who had been blinking as he listened to Kay and me, spoke up.
“I have a good idea.”
“If you’re thinking of proposing, don’t.”
“……”
Elhardt froze.
“…I was just joking, but I guess I was right.”
I muttered under my breath, and the tips of his ears turned bright red.
“It is the best method, though.”
“Elhardt, I’m from three hundred years ago. It’s better if you don’t get involved with me.”
“I don’t care.”
He answered firmly.
“Things like an age gap don’t matter. If anything…”
Elhardt paused for a moment and took a deep breath.
Then he blurted it all out in one go.
“I think my type has always been older women.”
“……?”
“Maybe around three hundred years older.”
Silence fell over the room.
Kay turned his head away, Rick stared at the ceiling, and Bella covered her mouth with her hand.
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