When I mentioned that I'd been raised under house arrest, General Wageris's expression gradually grew stern.
"…………Why did you agree to this campaign?"
"Because it was the most convenient option."
It might mean playing into the enemy's hands, but if there's profit to be had, why not go along with it?
It's all I can do, after all.
"Convenient for whom?"
"For me."
General Wageris's breathing grew rough.
He seems angry, but that's not my concern.
They say I'm being dragged into military action, but he'll have to treat this as work and accept the situation.
I'm a soldier belonging to the nation, acting on the nation's decision.
If he has complaints, he shouldn't be telling me here—he should have grasped and stopped the movements of the dukes who decided to use me himself.
Being caught up in others' schemes is only natural.
That's what politics is—the clash of human intentions.
This comes from my experience of being constantly dragged into things while always being one step behind.
"You bastard…………!"
"Ah, wait. Ikt, there's someone outside."
Sephira's warning came regarding someone who appeared to be observing us.
Basically, people don't approach my tent, and those nearby are almost all laborers.
Military officers don't come unless they have business, and neither did the Imperial Guards.
And since Sephira said Ikt would know the person by face, I sent him.
"Excuse me, Prince Asha. I would like you to hear what this person has to say."
What Ikt brought back shortly was a young man I recognized.
"Huh, why are you here!?"
I asked without thinking.
After all, this young man was someone I'd seen at the palace—a gardening apprentice working in the gardens.
At my voice, the apprentice gardener blushed.
"What about your gardening work? Did something happen?"
"No, um, I can't believe Your Highness remembers someone like me………… hehe."
If we've met that many times while I was gathering alchemy materials or collecting spices for wine, of course I'd remember.
"It's fine, really! I mean, if we didn't give at least one flower to the Emperor's son in the Emperor's garden, that'd be ridiculous, right!?"
He seems to have accumulated some frustrations.
I should talk to the gardeners when I return, or rather, first investigate who this "superior" is.
"Yes, the Imperial Guards take priority now. If it's reached the laborers, it's beyond the point where we can settle this by simply confining the Guards."
"If they're rebelling, commoners without status will be beheaded immediately."
General Wageris declared mercilessly.
The highest punishment in this country is death, though it's rarely carried out.
But military punishments are different.
When the army is moving, it means battle is near, and for that, we must march in step.
Therefore, to set an example and prevent desertion, killing on the spot is not avoided and is permitted.
It's a necessary measure and also shows the difficulty of fighting.
I was taught that by Helkov.
"Um, are you really going to execute everyone?"
"We won't do that, so don't worry. The Imperial Guards are under my jurisdiction, and since we learned of the rebellion beforehand, if we stop it, there's no reason to execute them."
The still-anxious apprentice gardener finally asked after hesitating.
"…………Is that alright with you, Prince Asha? Even after leaving the palace, do you still have to endure so much?"
"Rather than endure, it's my role. You follow someone in garden management you have complaints about because it's work, right? There's endurance there, but isn't it because you understand it's a job you must bear?"
I spoke to the apprentice gardener, thinking of how to make it easy to understand.
"I borrowed the Imperial Guards from His Majesty the Emperor. If they commit a disgrace and are punished, those who would view it as the Emperor's flaw would appear. His power as Emperor would be doubted. As the Prince, I cannot create that opportunity."
The apprentice gardener hung his head as if regretting having asked.
If getting angry and raising my voice would solve it, I would do so.
But knowing that would cause even more unpleasant problems afterward, I cannot act rashly.
"…………So it's for your old man, huh."
At General Wageris's words, I doubted my ears.
No, I know the word "old man," and I had people who called their fathers that in my previous life too, but since reincarnating, this is the first time, and it's the Emperor.
For some reason, I feel strangely unsettled.
While I'm surprised, General Wageris looks away and continues.
"They're gathering numbers and serious. Even if the laborers don't join, the armed side has more numbers than those guys. They've already passed the stage of calling them out to talk. What do you plan to do?"
I thought that if it were just a minority planning, it would be one thing, but they've already decided to move and are even recruiting.
Moreover, the laborer mentioned "superiors," and the ones secretly talking beside the toilet were officer-class attendants of the Imperial Guards.
Someone who can command the Imperial Guards is trying to take up arms.
If I don't clearly strike and crush this, it will become a situation where I cannot maintain my dignity as Prince.
And General Wageris, who is leaving this to me, seems unwilling to push his own way through this matter.
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Next: Marching in Step with the General 5