Translator: AkazaTL
Pr/Ed: Sol IX
***
Chapter 104 The Hound That Lost Its Master
A month since I arrived in Akrishion.
And although I had to leave the Empire in a few days.
Even so, I did not bother trying to et Gillian.
I had no clear grounds, but I was certain.
‘I believed that in the end, you and I would et.’
That he and I would eventually et.
‘Interesting. You wouldn't have liked this spot.’
Because of every Sacred Festival, Gillian used to tell Alexar, who watched the fireworks from here, to stop watching the fireworks from a secluded place.
And whenever Alexar asked why he disliked this place.
“You ask why I don't like this spot? For a person who will beco the Emperor, there is a place that suits them better than a corner spot like this.”
Co to think of it, from this ti, Gillian was already coveting the carriage the Emperor rode.
Watching Gillian who sneakily showed that ambition only to , I could have a firr belief than my own existence.
And now that ti has flowed.
‘Do you still believe in even now?’
While stepping on the fragnts of belief that soone had shattered into pieces.
On the night when stars fell, the two people faced each other once again.
“Hein Reichart of Zodiac greets the noble Prince of the Empire. I apologize for failing to show courtesy as I was distracted watching the scenery.”
Perhaps thanks to practicing quite a lot.
I could offer a greeting more naturally than I thought.
“The night is truly good, isn't it?”
Without giving any answer to the apology I requested, Gillian took one step closer.
“It is so, Your Highness.”
“It is truly a relief. So many people ca to brighten this place, but it pained my heart that I couldn't prepare a proper return gift. It is fortunate that I can at least have such a good night.”
“To say there was no return gift. I will not be the only one feeling gratitude for receiving many things while staying here.”
“Is that so? If the guest says so, it is a truly fortunate thing, but.”
Showing a fresh smile, Gillian stretched toward the sky.
Pop-!
The firecracker that burst in ti scattered in all directions once more.
“I heard that the Grand Duke has truly done many things since taking charge of Zodiac’s state affairs.”
The afterglow left by the burst fireworks lingered in Gillian’s hand.
Folding the flower that blood brightly on his white palm, Gillian spoke.
“I hear the King of your country calls the Grand Duke the pillar of the nation?”
Gillian did not bother trying to hide that he was examining my surroundings.
“It is just an undeserved false reputation.”
“Well. I do not think so, but. Perhaps you know that?”
Gillian continued speaking with his gaze fixed toward the sky.
“That I have very, very good eyes for people. Actually, ever since the Grand Duke ca to the Empire, I have been watching the Grand Duke all along.”
“……Did you do so?”
“Yes. But watching the Grand Duke, I thought it was truly regrettable.”
“…….”
“If only I had t the Grand Duke just a little earlier, I could have made the Grand Duke a pillar of this continent, not the pillar of Zodiac.”
The two people looked at the sky standing side by side.
A situation that looked at a glance as if they were talking to themselves looking at the empty air, not speaking to each other.
“It is unfortunate. Since ti cannot be turned back.”
“Ti cannot be turned back…….”
However, the intentions of the two people were conveyed too clearly to each other.
“Haha, thank you. Thanks to the Grand Duke, I could think of a very interesting thought after a long ti.”
Gillian, hearing the words that ti cannot be turned back, burst into laughter.
“That is correct. Ti cannot be turned back. But still, it seems there are more things in this world that can be turned back than not.”
Before long, Gillian’s gaze reached the carriage carrying the Emperor and Themia exiting the city gate.
“For instance, things like foolish choices or things like that.”
Gillian’s gaze, which was cool like frost for a very brief mont, returned to its usual self before long.
“From now on, I intend to devote effort regarding things that can be turned back. Perhaps if you are curious about what work I will do, would you co find anyti?”
Gillian, turning his gaze to the fireworks bursting again, spoke.
“There will be no disappointing the Grand Duke. Then, have a good night.”
Pop!
After a while, Gillian's figure completely disappeared.
I lay down on that spot.
He said he would ‘devote effort for things that can be turned back’.
Then what I had to do was obvious.
‘Wait. Because I will clearly teach you what it ans that it cannot be turned back.’
The biggest reason I wanted to co to the Empire was because I wanted to confirm with my two eyes the prey I had to hunt.
Not the old and cunning Gillian who tried to poison Alexar in the past, but the young Gillian.
And the prey finally t under the fireworks, letting hear a breathing sound much more vivid than I expected.
During that ti, I believed the emotions I harbored toward Gillian would be vengeance and rage.
But that was not that.
I realized only after hearing the breathing sound of the prey.
‘I had forgotten. That I was a hound by nature.’
However, if there is a difference from the past, it is that the master to hold my leash no longer exists now.
The prey witnessed with two eyes today was much more appetizing than expected.
Feeling a thrill at that fact, I closed my eyes.
“…….”
It was a truly good night.
***
Across three days and nights from then, the Sacred Festival unfolded truly grandly.
The people rejoiced and shouted cheers, thankful for the opportunity to be excited with peace of mind that ca after a long ti.
The delegations of each country, hiding in that gap, ticulously shared the secret intentions and sincerity prepared from far away.
While everyone spent busy days like that, ti flowed diligently-
“When do you plan to depart?”
“We plan to depart imdiately as soon as the boarding personnel are confird. Even if it is a little stifling, please wait in the cabin until the airship rises to the orbit.”
“I will do so.”
I, having boarded the airship, tilted the coffee cup and calmly counted the results the journey of the past month brought.
‘It is regrettable that I cannot drink this coffee anymore.’
First, the rumor that the sword of Zodiac’s Grand Duke ‘Hein Reichart’ is quite fierce will soon be conveyed to every corner of the continent.
‘Along with the rumor that his personality is terrible.’
Since Skada will hear the unconventional proposal I handed over through Ned, now I will have to strive to prepare a price that can convince him.
And…….
‘Zephyros…….’
Recalling that na, I emptied the coffee cup in one breath.
Gillian, and Zephyros.
Grasping the reality of the ‘perceived threat’ and the ‘unperceived threat’ was an excellent result, but.
Still, feeling stifled in the chest was unavoidable.
‘Let’s not rush. Since ti still remains…….’
I laid my body on the bed with both hands clasped behind my head.
And around the ti a low breathing sound regularly leaked from the mouth of him who closed his eyes.
Vroooom-
The airship that would guide him to Zodiac began to float its heavy body into the empty air while letting out a strange sound.
***
“Your Majesty, they say Grand Duke Reichart has just passed the city gate.”
“Is that so? I understand.”
Friedrich, hearing the words that Hein’s return was imminent, sprang up from his seat.
“Lord Sang, did you hear? They say the Grand Duke will arrive at the palace in a little while.”
“Yes, this small person also heard this. Your Majesty.”
Was Hein’s return that welco? Seeing Friedrich raising his voice with twinkling eyes, Sheldrick nodded his head quietly.
“Haa, I was worried what if sothing bad happened to the Grand Duke by any chance. It is truly, truly a relief.”
“Hoho, Your Majesty. Are you that happy that the Grand Duke returned?”
“Of course. The Grand Duke is the pillar protecting this country. Isn't it a natural thing to be happy that the person who left for a far and difficult path on behalf of has returned to his original place?”
Friedrich, who showed an expression asking why ask sothing obvious at Sheldrick’s question, soon made an awkward expression.
“O, of course, Lord Sang is also a pillar supporting this country. However…….”
A calm smile ford on the mouth of Sheldrick looking at Friedrich, who belatedly realized he was overly excited and blushed.
According to the experience of assisting from a close distance for the past month, the new King of Zodiac possessed all the qualities to beco a sage king who would remain in history evenly.
However, watching the young King equipped with excellent qualities, Sheldrick often had to feel regret.
‘No matter how much he possesses the qualities of a sage king, he is a child who has only turned fourteen. He tries to shoulder too many burdens.’
Since Hein left Zodiac, Friedrich stepped into state affairs with eyes truly lit up.
That appearance seed to shout with his whole body that he would fill the empty spot of the Grand Duke.
Watching such an appearance, Sheldrick had to feel infinite pride and simultaneously feel pity on one hand.
But now, Friedrich showed an expression a boy of that age would make for the first ti since Sheldrick assisted the King.
That fact made Sheldrick relieved.
“Lord Sang, we shouldn't be like this, we must prepare to welco the Grand Duke. Since he revealed his intention to decline a separate welco event, a banquet won't do, but shouldn't the ministers gather in one place and welco the Grand Duke who has been on a long journey?”
“Since I already conveyed the word, the ministers must be heading to the Great Hall by now.”
“Is that so? Then let’s go quickly. Lord Sang. I will take the lead.”
Friedrich headed to the Great Hall with a flushed face.
In the Royal Palace of Zodiac which had been quiet for a while, vitality that was rarely seen began to overflow.
***
“Your Excellency, it’s been a while!”
“We really, really wanted to see you.”
“Is there any place you are uncomfortable?”
Seeing the Haken mbers lining up on both sides and congratulating the safe return of their Lord, I shook my head slightly.
“I ask you, speak one at a ti. I can't understand what you are saying.”
However,
“Your Excellency! We waited!”
“If perhaps your ti is okay today, could you check our training results?”
However, despite my dissuasion, the Haken Knight Order did not stop chattering.
Eventually, , who arrived at the Grand Duke’s office breaking through the unceasing shouts,
“Your Excellency, truly you worked hard on the long journey.”
Ismael welcod with a big laugh that he rarely showed.
“What work? I rested so well I’m worried my body might have stiffened.”
Changing into clothes for an audience with the King, I asked about the trends during that ti.
“Was there nothing special?”
“That is so. Your Excellency.”
“What about His Majesty? Since it was the first ti he handled state affairs alone, there must have been many difficult points. Was there no troubleso matter?”
“Although there were a few tricky matters, they passed without incident. It must be thanks to Lord Sheldrick assisting His Majesty so ticulously.”
“I see.”
“That is so. At first, there were a few who doubted Lord Sheldrick’s ability, but I know that after he showed his ability, the disrespectful energy also soon subsided.”
At Ismael’s explanation, I nodded my head.
Since I headed to the Empire imdiately after submitting a table requesting Friedrich to appoint Sheldrick as ‘Chief Minister’, I had not yet seen his work style.
But hearing the explanation, it seed he took control of the Ministry of Interior more easily than I expected.
‘Since he is a person with such outstanding ability, clumsy bureaucrats wouldn't have been able to act arrogantly.’
Sheldrick was a scholar who would remain in history, having left books that ford the basis of administration and governance studies to manage the Empire’s internal affairs.
From the start, he wouldn't have been an opponent the frogs in the well could do anything about.
‘And the guys brazen enough to hold out without sha were already weeded out…….’
I, who finished changing clothes, headed to the Great Hall and asked Ismael.
“Ah, perhaps a banquet is not prepared, right?”
“……That is so. Your Excellency. Haha, actually His Majesty asked several tis. Saying isn't it right to create a seat to praise the hard work no matter what.”
“So?”
“I reported that I told him repeatedly there is no need to create such a seat whenever His Majesty asked.”
“You did well.”
I nodded my head and touched the necklace in my bosom.
The cool sensation the ‘Magic Armor of Spirit Soul’ gave seed to be conveyed to my whole body.
‘I am busy even examining this guy, I can't waste ti tied to such a useless seat.’
Watching the back of Hein moving with large strides toward the Great Hall, Ismael nodded his head unwittingly.
It was not only the King who felt relief that Hein returned.
‘His body stiffened because he rested well? Your Excellency lies truly well.’
Unlike the words just now, Hein’s spirit seed to have beco sharper during that ti.
Although he couldn't know what happened in the Empire, the Lord returned as a famous sword with its edge erected.
Ismael could feel one side of his chest becoming proud.
After a while.
“Hein Reichart greets Your Majesty!”
In the Great Hall of Zodiac, a signal sound announcing that I had returned rang out.
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