Chapter 93
"Nils, my brother. Do you think I entered the military school without any preparation?"
Sil, addressing the young man looking down at him, immediately stood up to create some distance before speaking to them again.
"Are you not aware of my mother's influence?"
"......Even as a concubine, she had wealth and connections in abundance...... If that's the case, are you here under your mother's orders?"
In response to the question from the young man called Nils, Sil only offered an ambiguous smile without a direct answer, using cryptic words to draw their attention and keep the conversation going. Such tactics were a clever way to buy time until help arrived, but that depended on the premise that help would actually come.
Even if it were instructors or other students, Sil and Severi had slipped out of the campsite and into the forest without telling anyone, not even us in the same squad. If they didn't return, one of the instructors on watch might have noticed, but it's likely Instructor Doan had already taken measures to cover that up.
In short, no matter how much time Sil and Severi bought, help was never going to come under normal circumstances.
While it's understandable that they couldn't share their situation, who would be foolish enough to face a brother aiming for their life without any preparation? As I thought this in exasperation, a creaking sound came from the dagger I was gripping tightly, and I hurriedly relaxed my hold.
Suppressing the urge to grab Sil by the face and berate him, I refocused my attention on their ongoing conversation.
"That concubine must have it tough, going to such lengths for her cowardly son."
"Who are you calling a coward......?"
"I'm talking about your brother, who cowers at the thought of war and constantly watches other nations' reactions. I heard he even objected to our father the other day."
"In the midst of internal strife exhausting our nation, my brother merely advised against conflict with other countries, thinking of the nation and its people."
"If he truly cared about the nation and its people, shouldn't your brother just relinquish his claim to the throne? I don't think he should use the nation and its people as an excuse while refusing to do even that."
I had heard that in Sleiran, the order of succession changed frequently, and the struggle for the throne was incessant, with the First Prince and the Third Prince fiercely competing in recent years.
That's probably why, apart from the contenders themselves, even their younger siblings were scheming to undermine their rivals, as seen here.
"If you're telling someone to give up the throne, shouldn't that apply to the First Prince, who lacks the qualities of a king?"
"Hoh...... So you insult my brother?"
"Isn't it well-known that despite being the First Prince, he rarely leaves his room and spends his time buried in books?"
"My brother is erudite and versatile, skilled at commanding others. That's why all I need to do is hunt down someone like you, who fell into the trap he set."
The problem now is Nils, who dismisses Sil's provocations with a scoff.
He neither gets angered by Sil's taunting attitude nor revels in his overwhelming advantage. Like a snake slowly constricting its prey, his unpleasant method of gradually cornering them makes me frown.
"Even if he's a coward, if his own brother is killed by another nation, even Dick, who speaks sweetly of peace treaties, will have to reconsider."
"The first one to be suspected will be you, Nils, my brother."
"I wonder about that. My brother and I, who are Dick's rivals, are attending a gala at the palace tonight."
"......What?"
"Right about now, a substitute should be standing by my brother's side, pretending to be me."
"A substitute......?"
"So the first to be suspected will be the military in Taurus, where your corpse will be found. Given the constant conflicts and the inconvenience of having a rival nation's royalty fall into their hands, wouldn't it be natural for them to find reasons to dispose of you?"
"......You scum."
"I've gone out of my way to indulge your futile struggles, and yet you speak to me like this. Well then, shall we wrap this up soon......?"
Nils, with a languid air, slowly tilted his head and raised his right hand, pointing his index finger at Sil.
"Kill them and dump their corpses in front of the Taurus gate."
He declared coldly.
In an instant, the knight standing behind Nils drew his sword, and Sil and Severi immediately readied their daggers.
As the knights gradually closed the distance, Sil and Severi attempted to retreat, but behind them was a river.
Thinking back, it feels like Sil and Severi rarely spoke about themselves, always keeping things between the two of them. Sil never let his smile fade, never revealing his true thoughts, while Severi, with his unreadable expression and few words, always seemed on edge to prevent their identities from being exposed.
"Honestly......"
Disputes between the East and West are constant, but they aren't openly at war. People from both nations come and go freely, and trade continues. There are nobles who relocate due to marriage or other reasons, and I've heard that even royals from other countries have enrolled in the academy under the guise of studying abroad for a few years.
While it might be common for commoners, domestic royals, or nobles, there's likely no precedent for foreign royalty enrolling in the military school. However, if formal permission was obtained, with clear conditions documented to avoid future conflicts, and both nations agreed, it might have been possible to enter the military school—where no classified information is handled—without hiding one's identity.
In the midst of a succession war, acting selfishly without telling those important to you was a complete misstep.
If I make it back safely, the first thing I'll do is give him a good scolding...... I thought as I stood up.