Another Perspective
Ikto Totos, who serves under my command as a Palace Imperial Guard, exited the room.
The atmosphere instantly relaxed, to the point where it even felt easier to breathe.
I am Count Stratege, supposedly a considerably high-ranking noble, yet that Kaijin—a noble who rose from being a hunter—had been unleashing killing intent without the slightest regard for my status.
He must have been furious, but he could have done that elsewhere.
"What shall we do?"
Inside the room were Palace Imperial Guards and civil officials; due to Ikto Totos's unusual state, only the tight-lipped ones remained.
Among them, a young blond-haired man asked my intentions without showing fear.
As the one overseeing the Palace Imperial Guards, Ikto Totos's report contained matters that could not be ignored.
I had already heard of the disturbance in the gardens.
A complaint from the Second Prince's faction had also arrived.
"In any case, violations of regulations can only be met with severe punishment."
"Will you swallow their claims whole?"
The civil official spoke as if urging careful consideration, but this was a situation where swift action was needed.
"First, there were three of them against the Second Prince alone."
From my perspective, whether they made the Second Prince cry is not even the issue.
Professionally, losing sight of a protection target is unforgivable.
"Secondly, despite there being only the wet nurse and the First Prince present, they laid hands on their swords."
Ikto Totos immediately intervened and prevented it.
This was because Ikto Totos had gone to inform the guards who lost the Second Prince of his whereabouts.
The Second Prince's side claimed that he had disappeared, surely kidnapped.
When found, he had been made to cry and had abrasions on his hands, so there must have been violence.
They claimed they acted to protect him because he had been harmed.
If this were true, it would mean a crime had been committed in the palace.
I thought it was a major problem, but as I listened in detail, flaws emerged.
There was no evidence of kidnapping; he was found by the First Prince's side who also revealed his location.
The abrasions were noticed later; they did not see the scene where he was harmed.
"No matter how you think about it, it's the Second Prince side's fault. They also admit to laying hands on their swords against the First Prince."
And the First Prince's side's claims that Ikto Totos conveyed earlier.
They found the crying Second Prince during a walk and, considering the problem, guided him to a conspicuous place.
While Ikto Totos searched for the assigned guards, the First Prince did not drag him around but waited with the wet nurse.
However, the Second Prince's people shouted at the First Prince and laid hands on their swords, showing not just disrespect but hostile intent.
In this situation, the Second Prince's side is disqualified as guards.
The privilege of being allowed to bear swords is guaranteed on the premise of corresponding discretion.
In fact, as an act of harming the First Prince, it wouldn't have been strange for Ikto to cut them down on the spot.
"Has Totos become surprisingly mellow?"
"Didn't he say the Second Prince's guards were nearly killed?"
The young blond laughed impudently, but those serving properly did not laugh.
This guy is skilled, quick-witted, but foul-mouthed, and probably not of good character.
From my perspective, he's a charming young whelp, but to others he's an insolent fellow.
He has talent, so I wish he'd learn a bit more about getting along in the world.
"After confirming the facts, they were the ones who laid hands on their swords first. Totos didn't even touch his sword."
When I heard the Second Prince's complaint and questioned them in detail, something felt off.
And through Ikto Totos's report, I could see they had tried to cover up their blunder and failed.
To call it the blunder of young, incompetent guards would be an understatement; it was too grave a mistake.
"They were originally young high-ranking nobles from the Duke Lucaios faction. The type who never considered selfless devotion as guards. I thought they'd make mistakes if something happened, but I didn't think they'd lack this much self-control as guards."
"However, if you punish them severely and create friction with Duke Lucaios, it will only be to your disadvantage, Count."
The civil official raised concerns, implicitly advising to ignore the First Prince's side's claims.
Having become the Emperor's in-laws and gaining momentum, and being an opponent I cannot cut ties with due to blood and marriage relations, I too do not want to make waves.
Since a Count's position involves many marriage alliances, I could look down on them if they weren't a Duke, but not responding here would be a bad move.
"But if I do nothing here, my discretionary authority will be infringed upon. Even if I could keep them on as a favor, judging by Totos's state, he would drive them out."
"Huh, what is he planning to do?"
"Perhaps he'll give them some 'training'?"
Totos is an upstart.
Therefore he was glared at and pushed around by natural-born noble children.
If he had been crushed by that, an Easterner wouldn't have made a name for himself in the central continent as a hunter.
There is precedent of him breaking the pride of noble children under the guise of training, demonstrating his skill, and driving them out.
"You be careful too."
I spoke to the young man who had a tendency to get carried away, worrying for him from the bottom of my heart.
"That is not a sword for protecting. It is a sword for killing. When he gets serious, he shows neither hesitation nor mercy."
"Why did you hire someone like that, Count?"
"He's rough, but thanks to him, it's become easier to use the guards. I thought adding one with different coloring would inspire them. I was appalled by the foolish bullying, and even more appalled later, but the results were good."
With the glare that spoke of Ikto Totos's strength, it became easier for me to enforce discipline.
After that, being named by the Emperor and conveniently pushed to the sidelines became a reason to suppress dissatisfaction, which was fortunate.
Therefore, those who joined in the last two or three years don't know Ikto Totos.
I've heard voices calling him an upstart relegated to a sinecure, but Totos isn't engaging with them.
"......It's just the right time for tightening discipline."
The noble children of the Duke Lucaios faction will probably resign.
Made to crawl on the floor under the guise of training, coldly shown how inadequate they are.
If this were a place to first teach the discipline of the military as a group, that would be one thing, but this is a position that stands out as a prestigious post.
Since there are many with high self-esteem and pride, if I am looked down upon, I will face backlash.
"I will report to Duke Lucaios, and inform His Majesty beforehand that we will issue punishment here and obtain permission. The punishment will be... demotion, salary reduction, and house arrest for several days."
"His Majesty and Duke Lucaios are fine, but the nobles below them will say something."
The civil official worried about the response from now, but here too my perception differed.
"No, His Majesty will also intervene. Regardless of the difference in birth status, both princes are his sons."
The First Prince who was nearly harmed, the Second Prince who was not guarded.
Whichever is viewed more seriously, from a parent's perspective, he would blame those who created such a situation.
Since there was no actual harm, I must at least stop immediate beheading.
"No, perhaps I should extend the house arrest depending on the injury situation."
"Ah, are you assuming there will be injuries? Ikto Totos didn't seem taciturn and rough to me."
"With that?"
He had been unleashing killing intent just moments ago.
At my pointing this out, the young blond shook his head with a bitter smile.
This young man's perception will likely change from now on.
"In any case, let's prepare the documents deciding the punishment first. We lose nothing even if they interfere later."
The palace is a place of power struggles.
Always watching to see who is above and who is below.
But I have no intention of serving under anyone.
For that, I need to firmly grasp my own discretionary power and practical benefits.
"What I've learned from this incident is that Totos is completely on the First Prince's side. What about the former soldier feared as the Bloodstained, and the former teacher known as the Green-Tailed Prodigy?"
They are talents too good to be sidelined, but there are only a handful.
And since they aren't the type to stand out and get greedy, I didn't think they'd cause further problems, but if they're leaning toward one side, that changes things.
"Then there's the wet nurse. ......If she's a blood relative on the mother's side, she might have designs on the imperial throne."
"What, you don't think the First Prince hasn't made a move?"
My face grew stern at words that might invite future disaster, yet I wavered on whether to praise the young man's perceptiveness in reading my intentions.
In reality, I don't know what the First Prince or wet nurse said.
"Don't speak rashly. However, succession disputes have a hundred harms and not one benefit. The lower the possibility, the safer we are."
For the country, for myself, and for the duties of the Palace Imperial Guards.
This time it was a false accusation, but that doesn't mean it won't happen in the future.
If so, the bud should be nipped, and it's probably time the wet nurse is no longer needed.
Before the First Prince gets greedy from strange advice given by close associates out of sympathy for his situation, it's better to consider removing him.
Without power, he likely won't cause further problems.
"Shall we observe and shake them up if they show suspicious movements?"
I muttered while receiving the documents prepared by the civil official.
---
Wait, I need to check the line about "海人" again. The text says "狩人上がりの貴族である海人". This could mean "the Kaijin, a noble who rose from being a hunter" OR "the noble who rose from being a hunter, Kaijin". Given the foreign name Ikto Totos, Kaijin is likely another name. But "Kaijin" means "sea person" in Japanese. Given the "hunter" context, maybe it's "Kaijin" as a clan name. I'll keep it as "Kaijin".
Also "血染め" = Bloodstained (nickname)
"緑尾の才人" = Green-Tailed Prodigy (nickname)
The tone should be formal, political, with military discipline terms.
One tricky part: "どころか第一皇子への危害を加える動作として、その場でイクトに切り捨てられてもおかしくなかった"
"In fact, as an act of harming the First Prince, it wouldn't have been strange for Ikto to cut them down on the spot."
Or: "it wouldn't have been remiss if Ikto had cut them down where they stood"
"切り捨てる" in martial context often means "cut down without mercy" or "kill".
"稽古と称して" = under the guise of training / under the pretext of practice
"花形" = star / leading role / prestigious position
"口の固い者" = tight-lipped people / close-mouthed individuals
"手を打つ" = take action / settle the matter
"滅私奉公" = selfless devotion / selfless service
"綱紀粛正" = enforcing discipline / rectifying order
"いっそ" = rather / instead / if anything
"芽は詰むべき" = the bud should be nipped / nipped in the bud
"入れ知恵" = giving advice / putting ideas in someone's head (often bad)
"揺さぶる" = shake up / test / probe
The translation looks solid. I'll do a final polish for flow and natural English while keeping the Japanese structure where appropriate.Another Perspective
Ikto Totos, who serves under my command as a Palace Imperial Guard, exited the room.
The atmosphere instantly relaxed, to the point where it even felt easier to breathe.
I am Count Stratege, supposedly a considerably high-ranking noble, yet that Kaijin—a noble who rose from being a hunter—had been unleashing killing intent without the slightest regard for my status.
He must have been that furious, but he could have done that elsewhere.
"What shall we do?"
Inside the room were Palace Imperial Guards and civil officials; due to Ikto Totos's unusual state, only the tight-lipped ones remained.
Among them, a young blond-haired man asked my intentions without showing fear.
As the one overseeing the Palace Imperial Guards, Ikto Totos's report contained matters that could not be ignored.
I had already heard of the disturbance in the gardens.
A complaint from the Second Prince's faction had also arrived.
"In any case, violations of regulations can only be met with severe punishment."
"Will you swallow their claims whole?"
The civil official spoke as if urging careful consideration, but this was a situation where swift action was needed.
"First, there were three of them against the Second Prince alone."
From my perspective, whether they made the Second Prince cry is not even the issue.
Professionally, losing sight of a protection target is unforgivable.
"Secondly, despite there being only the wet nurse and the First Prince present, they laid hands on their swords."
Ikto Totos immediately intervened and prevented it.
This was because Ikto Totos had gone to inform the guards who lost the Second Prince of his whereabouts.
The Second Prince's side claimed that he had disappeared, surely kidnapped.
When found, he had been made to cry and had abrasions on his hands, so there must have been violence.
They claimed they acted to protect him because he had been harmed.
If this were true, it would mean a crime had been committed in the palace.
I thought it was a major problem, but as I listened in detail, flaws emerged.
There was no evidence of kidnapping; he was found by the First Prince's side who also revealed his location.
The abrasions were noticed later; they did not see the scene where he was harmed.
"No matter how you think about it, it's the Second Prince side's fault. They also admit to laying hands on their swords against the First Prince."
And the First Prince's side's claims that Ikto Totos conveyed earlier.
They found the crying Second Prince during a walk and, considering the problem, guided him to a conspicuous place.
While Ikto Totos searched for the assigned guards, the First Prince did not drag him around but waited with the wet nurse.
However, the Second Prince's people shouted at the First Prince and laid hands on their swords, showing not just disrespect but hostile intent.
In this situation, the Second Prince's side is disqualified as guards.
The privilege of being allowed to bear swords is guaranteed on the premise of corresponding discretion.
In fact, as an act of harming the First Prince, it wouldn't have been strange for Ikto to cut them down on the spot.
"Has Totos become surprisingly mellow?"
"Didn't he say the Second Prince's guards were nearly killed?"
The young blond laughed impudently, but those serving properly did not laugh.
This guy is skilled, quick-witted, but foul-mouthed, and probably not of good character.
From my perspective, he's a charming young whelp, but to others he's an insolent fellow.
He has talent, so I wish he'd learn a bit more about getting along in the world.
"After confirming the facts, they were the ones who laid hands on their swords first. Totos didn't even touch his sword."
When I heard the Second Prince's complaint and questioned them in detail, something felt off.
And through Ikto Totos's report, I could see they had tried to cover up their blunder and failed.
To call it the blunder of young, incompetent guards would be an understatement; it was too grave a mistake.
"They were originally young high-ranking nobles from the Duke Lucaios faction. The type who never considered selfless devotion as guards. I thought they'd make mistakes if something happened, but I didn't think they'd lack this much self-control as guards."
"However, if you punish them severely and create friction with Duke Lucaios, it will only be to your disadvantage, Count."
The civil official raised concerns, implicitly advising to ignore the First Prince's side's claims.
Having become the Emperor's in-laws and gaining momentum, and being an opponent I cannot cut ties with due to blood and marriage relations, I too do not want to make waves.
Since a Count's position involves many marriage alliances, I could look down on them if they weren't a Duke, but not responding here would be a bad move.
"But if I do nothing here, my discretionary authority will be infringed upon. Even if I could keep them on as a favor, judging by Totos's state, he would drive them out."
"Huh, what is he planning to do?"
"Perhaps he'll give them some 'training'?"
Totos is an upstart.
Therefore he was glared at and pushed around by natural-born noble children.
If he had been crushed by that, an Easterner wouldn't have made a name for himself in the central continent as a hunter.
There is precedent of him breaking the pride of noble children under the guise of training, demonstrating his skill, and driving them out.
"You be careful too."
I spoke to the young man who had a tendency to get carried away, worrying for him from the bottom of my heart.
"That is not a sword for protecting. It is a sword for killing. When he gets serious, he shows neither hesitation nor mercy."
"Why did you hire someone like that, Count?"
"He's rough, but thanks to him, it's become easier to use the guards. I thought adding one with different coloring would inspire them. I was appalled by the foolish bullying, and even more appalled later, but the results were good."
With the glare that spoke of Ikto Totos's strength, it became easier for me to enforce discipline.
After that, being named by the Emperor and conveniently pushed to the sidelines became a reason to suppress dissatisfaction, which was fortunate.
Therefore, those who joined in the last two or three years don't know Ikto Totos.
I've heard voices calling him an upstart relegated to a sinecure, but Totos isn't engaging with them.
"......It's just the right time for tightening discipline."
The noble children of the Duke Lucaios faction will probably resign.
Made to crawl on the floor under the guise of training, coldly shown how inadequate they are.
If this were a place to first teach the discipline of the military as a group, that would be one thing, but this is a position that stands out as a prestigious post.
Since there are many with high self-esteem and pride, if I am looked down upon, I will face backlash.
"I will report to Duke Lucaios, and inform His Majesty beforehand that we will issue punishment here and obtain permission. The punishment will be... demotion, salary reduction, and house arrest for several days."
"His Majesty and Duke Lucaios are fine, but the nobles below them will say something."
The civil official worried about the response from now, but here too my perception differed.
"No, His Majesty will also intervene. Regardless of the difference in birth status, both princes are his sons."
The First Prince who was nearly harmed, the Second Prince who was not guarded.
Whichever is viewed more seriously, from a parent's perspective, he would blame those who created such a situation.
Since there was no actual harm, I must at least stop immediate beheading.
"No, perhaps I should extend the house arrest depending on the injury situation."
"Ah, are you assuming there will be injuries? Ikto Totos didn't seem taciturn and rough to me."
"With that?"
He had been unleashing killing intent just moments ago.
At my pointing this out, the young blond shook his head with a bitter smile.
This young man's perception will likely change from now on.
"In any case, let's prepare the documents deciding the punishment first. We lose nothing even if they interfere later."
The palace is a place of power struggles.
Always watching to see who is above and who is below.
But I have no intention of serving under anyone.
For that, I need to firmly grasp my own discretionary power and practical benefits.
"What I've learned from this incident is that Totos is completely on the First Prince's side. What about the former soldier feared as the Bloodstained, and the former teacher known as the Green-Tailed Prodigy?"
They are talents too good to be sidelined, but there are only a handful.
And since they aren't the type to stand out and get greedy, I didn't think they'd cause further problems, but if they're leaning toward one side, that changes things.
"Then there's the wet nurse. ......If she's a blood relative on the mother's side, she might have designs on the imperial throne."
"What, you don't think the First Prince hasn't made a move?"
My face grew stern at words that might invite future disaster, yet I wavered on whether to praise the young man's perceptiveness in reading my intentions.
In reality, I don't know what the First Prince or wet nurse said.
"Don't speak rashly. However, succession disputes have a hundred harms and not one benefit. The lower the possibility, the safer we are."
For the country, for myself, and for the duties of the Palace Imperial Guards.
This time it was a false accusation, but that doesn't mean it won't happen in the future.
If so, the bud should be nipped, and it's probably time the wet nurse is no longer needed.
Before the First Prince gets greedy from strange advice given by close associates out of sympathy for his situation, it's better to consider removing him.
Without power, he likely won't cause further problems.
"Shall we observe and shake them up if they show suspicious movements?"
I muttered while receiving the documents prepared by the civil official.