From the son of a war hero. Past the Fifth Prince, and at last, all the way to Crown Prince.
What was astonishing was that he had done nearly all of it by his own power.
And I had earned the right to stand beside that astonishing man.
“Congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Of course, I would not let my guard down. Nor could I afford to become arrogant.
The Crown Prince had acknowledged that my contributions had played a large part in his rise to his current position.
But that did not mean I could go around with my shoulders puffed up.
I was a latecomer who had joined later. If I got too conspicuous, things would become rather troublesome.
Ever since that day, the strange looks cast my way had already increased.
The emotion contained in those gazes was the wariness of those worried about their rice bowls.
It was a kind of rejection from those who had supported the Crown Prince from the beginning.
“Thank you, little brother. Thanks to you, matters unfolded quite smoothly.”
That was why, even at the celebration party, I had shown my face as late as possible.
Only after waiting for the existing supporters to make enough of an impression on the Crown Prince.
Only after even those who, like me, had joined later had all offered their greetings.
Only then did I finally approach the Crown Prince’s side and offer my congratulations.
“I saw so little of you that I wondered if you had no intention of appearing.”
“How could that be? I merely waited because I knew Your Highness the Crown Prince had to attend to others first.”
You must have had plenty of help to make it this far.
Even if you treated the new arrivals with some disappointment in order to look after those with existing merits.
I can understand it as much as needed. I know. It can’t be helped.
If they reached the summit they had so longed for and found nothing there?
They would immediately turn their backs and become his worst enemies.
If one has rendered service, there must naturally be a reward befitting that service.
Purges are not something one carries out whenever one pleases. They are done when someone crosses the line.
No one has crossed that line yet. But it begins from now on.
The moment everyone relaxes, drunk on arrogance and relief that it is all over.
The very moment they say or do something they should not.
This man, who seems as though he will be on their side forever, will become the grim reaper.
“I heard the story, little brother. They say you wish to step down from the position of Executive Director.”
“Regrettably, that is so, Your Highness.”
“I do not understand. It is true that your name has been mentioned quite a lot, but strictly speaking, all of it was merely you doing what had to be done. As for the assessment that you became involved in the power struggle, you could simply say it came about by chance through a matter related to my wife’s family.”
“Even if I do, in the end an unfavorable reputation will remain attached to the Executive Office. There is only one way to cut it off before more rumors arise. The superior must take responsibility and leave.”
“Hmm.”
“Is that not originally the reason superior positions are created and paid more? So that they can take responsibility at times like this.”
At my answer, the Crown Prince smiled as though he was quite satisfied.
Was he satisfied simply by my professional statement that I would take responsibility?
Or was it because of my attitude in stepping back without showing any lust for power?
Whatever the reason, it was certainly a very positive smile.
“The Minister of Finance must be rather disappointed. When I heard him last time, he seemed pleased that, as your godfather, he would finally be able to look after you.”
“I have already heard every manner of nagging from the minister.”
“He is a good godfather. Is he not saying it because he is sincerely worried about you?”
Mm. When he mentioned my godfather, the atmosphere did not change in any particular way.
Seeing as there were no words that seemed to hint at anything, it was safe for now.
Well, my godfather had climbed all the way up to the position of minister, after all. He would know what he was doing.
When it came to political conduct, he was several times better than someone like me.
“It seems you have already made up your mind, so even if I try to persuade you, you will not listen.”
“If Your Highness the Crown Prince commands it, I will tear up my resignation at once and return to my post.”
“Hahaha! A loyal answer. But it is fine. Sometimes I must understand the actions of my loyal little brother. All the more so if this is not misguided stubbornness.”
Clink. The Crown Prince first tapped the glass in his hand against mine.
After we each took a sip of wine, we continued the conversation.
“So. What do you intend to do now? Surely you are not about to say you will leave this older brother behind and rest?”
“Until recently, I met the people Your Highness the Crown Prince recommended to me.”
At my answer, the Crown Prince’s eyes gleamed. He seemed to be expecting something.
I could immediately sense that I had to choose my words well here.
“As I observed them, one thought came to mind. That thought lit a fire under my resolve.”
“Lit a fire under your resolve?”
“I heard that recently, disturbances in the North have been growing more frequent.”
It was only for an instant, but a faint smile lingered at the corners of the Crown Prince’s mouth before vanishing.
This was it. The surest way to disappear from this man’s radar of suspicion.
From now on, countless people would be put to the test by that radar.
And I would remove myself from it before anyone else.
“You heard correctly, little brother. There is news that the barbarians are moving again.”
“If possible, I would like to go north, assess the situation, and look into countermeasures afterward.”
“To the north, you say? You, who already went east just one year ago?”
“That is correct.”
At that, the Crown Prince shook his head, saying he was reluctant.
Had I not carried out an envoy mission in the east for as long as a year?
He could not send someone who had suffered for so long in a foreign land to another harsh region.
Leaving all other reasons aside, was that not too pitiful?
For now, none of it was entirely a lie. But it was not all true either.
It was true that, since I had suffered abroad, I was guaranteed comfortable rest.
But depending on one’s choice. Depending on necessity, it was entirely possible.
And above all, this man was emotional, yet also cold-hearted.
He would pity one who had suffered, but for the sake of the empire, he would endure it.
“After spending a year in the east, I realized something. We must block external threats before we can set internal affairs in order.”
“But the north is different from the east, little brother. The grassland tribes may have had some favorable feelings toward our empire, but those barbarian bastards do not. We and they are enemies. We can never reconcile.”
The barbarians had, since the days of Condor. No, since long before then.
Plundered the north, abducted and murdered countless people.
There had been large-scale revenge in the current situation, back when he was a war hero.
Countless barbarians had been killed, and dozens of villages burned.
Those who lost their families at that time were the core of the current barbarians.
Each side was the other’s enemy, an adversary to be killed and erased.
It was not a place like the east, where one could fight moderately and reconcile moderately.
Kill or be killed. One of the two had to come to pass.
We called them barbarians, but barbarity applied equally to us.
To break this cycle, in the end, one side absolutely had to submit.
The empire could not possibly be the one to do so, so in the end, that target would be the barbarians.
“And yet you still intend to go, little brother?”
“Only if the north is stabilized even a little can we pay more attention to internal governance, can we not?”
“You call it stabilization, but in reality, you will have to fight them. Are you all right with that?”
“I have seen several times how a gap that could have been blocked with a few sandbags was left unattended until it had to be sealed with a massive boulder. I wish to serve as those sandbags.”
If things continued like this, trouble would inevitably break out in the north.
Not merely at the level of some barbarians attacking the border and harming people.
If bastards who had forgotten the terror of the Founding Emperor and remembered only revenge gathered together.
And began striking the north on a large scale, there would be no chaos like it.
‘Science has not yet reached the stage where it can overcome savagery. We need more time.’
In the past, barbarians had defeated settled nations through force.
Even with the advancement of technology and science, it had been very difficult to bridge that gap.
But at a certain point, those traits would eventually be filled in completely.
The empire would soon enter that stage. The development of gunpowder was the starting point.
However, it was not at the stage I remembered, where guns and cannons were fired.
For now, it was the most basic of basics. A means of toppling the enemy through shock and fear.
To make up for that part, we had to show its potential.
Others would tilt their heads, wondering what on earth could be done with this.
That was not because they were ignorant, but because it was something they had never seen before at all.
I was the only one who knew the future. Therefore, it was right for me to go.
“Sandbags, is it. Goodness. There is something I always think when I look at you, little brother. Would you care to guess?”
“That I am a strange little brother who says things unbecoming of his age?”
“If you had been my older brother rather than my little brother, I might at least have understood.”
The Crown Prince, who had been patting my shoulder, thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.
“As it happens, they say they are selecting an inspector to examine the situation in the north. If you have truly made up your mind, I can recommend you. Whether you actually take that post is another matter.”
From the moment the Crown Prince recommended me, the inspector position was practically decided.
Those words meant that it would be settled as soon as I brought it up, so I should think it over again.
In response, without the slightest hesitation, I brought up another request.
“There is someone I would like to go with.”
“Say it. Though I feel I already know who it is.”
“I would like to be accompanied by Sedrun.”
“He is a friend who likes liquor and women, and finds someone of your style uncomfortable. Are you truly all right with that?”
“On the way, I can at least keep him company as a drinking companion in moderation.”
“If you wish to ride at a gallop, I suppose it is necessary to tame a rough wild horse to some extent. Very well. I will put my influence to use.”
The Crown Prince readily granted my request, then went one step further.
“Is there nothing you need to ask of the Bureau of Armaments?”
“Would that truly be all right?”
“Of course. I was the one who attached you to that side.”
“Then I would like to take a few people and some items from the Bureau of Armaments.”
There were plenty of people to fight in the north, but the things I needed would not come from there.
I had been worried that perhaps it would be impossible because they were treated as confidential, but fortunately, it was not.