Chapter 23
“Have you eaten, Zionis?”
“Not yet.”
“Then have a seat.”
At Secundus's gesture, I sat down facing him.
The muscular prince was in the middle of a meal.
He had a huge amount of meat piled up in front of him, befitting his size.
“Where is brother Kateka?”
“He eats in his room.”
As befitting his nickname, the Reclusive Prince, Kateka Keshulei rarely came out of his room.
Staying at Secundus's detached palace was no different.
A servant approached me.
When he asked what I would like to eat, I asked what was for dessert.
He said there was a cake with wild strawberries, so I asked for that.
Secundus, who was watching, opened his mouth.
“You still like sweet things.”
“It's the meaning of life.”
I snickered.
Very, very sweet pumpkin pie or cake with cream and strawberries always made me happy.
It was a contrast to Secundus, who had several plates of lean meat and raw grains piled up.
Hmm, hmm, with every sound he made, a plate was emptied.
What flavor did he find in that oil-less lean meat?
Thick veins stood out on Secundus's forearm.
“So, you met Nebulo.”
“Yes, he asked me to deliver a message to you, brother.”
“I can guess without hearing it. He wants me to protect him, something like that, right?”
I nodded my head.
With a click, Secundus put down his knife.
As if on cue, the servants cleared the dishes and wiped the table.
Secundus, having received a napkin, wiped his mouth and said.
“Hmm. I'll deliver the answer myself. You don't have to worry about it, Zionis.”
I didn't want to visit Nebulo's detached palace again anyway.
I nodded my head without hesitation.
“The problem is brother Ferbias.”
“To think that even Nebulo noticed that brother Ferbias was angry……”
If even the unparalleled dullard Nebulo could see it, I could roughly guess the level of Ferbias's anger.
Secundus let out a groan, hmm.
“I heard his faction found another Treasure too.”
“Is that so?”
“It's as if the three factions have split two each. Isn't it funny?”
Including Mana Armor Valziart, seven of the ten Treasures were now in the hands of the princes and princesses.
It was a much faster pace than before my regression.
Was it because my actions had provoked my other siblings?
“The number is the same, but brother Ferbias is the last. He must be furious with that personality of his, but he's strangely quiet.”
“Is he plotting something?”
“Hmm.”
Secundus nodded his head.
Normally, it would be time to look for another Treasure.
But his intuition was warning him.
That he should be careful of Ferbias.
“I'll have to watch the situation a little more for now.”
Ferbias's faction was not lacking to be called the first.
Most of the nobles in the capital, Lutilium, were on his side.
It would be a similar level only if Leniar's and Secundus's factions were combined.
There was no chance of winning in a head-on confrontation.
“I can't figure out what he's plotting.”
‘It won't be long now.’
I smiled silently.
‘And it will be quite an interesting sight.’
Only I knew.
What would happen in the future, because I had already seen it and returned.
‘Because Ferbias's great rampage will begin.’
***
“Congratulations, Your Highness.”
“““Congratulations, Your Highness-!!”””
When one eunuch shouted, everyone followed suit.
Waving to the lined-up people, Ferbias Caseptus, the First Prince, walked on.
Beside him was the jade-eyed Amethus.
He spoke to those who followed him.
“Thank you. It is all thanks to you that I obtained the second Treasure. Everyone may rest for today.”
Not at all, what glorious words, what undeserved praise!
Trifling pleasantries, cliché etiquette.
He quickened his pace and headed straight for his office.
Amethus followed behind.
“…Close the door, Amethus.”
“Yes, Prince Ferbias.”
A rough sound, bang, was heard.
Amethus clicked his tongue softly.
This door was never closed quietly.
He was worried that he might have upset Ferbias.
There were no servants in the office.
Amethus naturally brewed tea and offered it.
Ferbias, having received the teacup, just glared at it instead of bringing it to his lips.
Then, he opened his mouth in a low voice.
“Everyone was congratulating me. What do you think, Amethus?”
“You have obtained another Treasure, so it is certainly a matter for congratulations.”
“Yes……”
Ferbias chuckled.
His golden eyes began to glint sinisterly.
He laughed, his shoulders shaking.
“…A matter of congratulations, you say, huh? A matter of congratulations……”
He spoke quietly, but his anger was palpable.
So much so that the teacup in his hand was trembling.
Amethus closed his eyes.
It was obvious what would happen next.
“…When I, this Ferbias, the eldest son of the Empire, have fallen the furthest behind--!!!”
A crashing sound was added to the roar.
It was because the teacup made by a master of Shetran was thrown against the wall and shattered.
The carefully brewed tea splashed onto Amethus's face.
His face was covered in hot tea, but the First Prince did not care.
“Why, for what reason! I can understand Leniar, but was there a reason for me to fall behind even Secundus, who has nothing but strength-!?”
“…It seems that Prince Zionis's joining was……”
“That damned, Zionis--!!!”
Craaack-!
The table broke in two.
It was made of a two-hundred-year-old Horam tree from the great mountain range.
Amethus felt a sense of regret but suppressed it.
He did not want to provoke him further.
However, Ferbias, without a thought for such feelings, approached him and thrust his face close.
“Yes, Amethus, you were right!”
His golden eyes blazed like a beast's.
“Your intuition that Zionis was dangerous was right, wasn't it? You were competent, huh?”
He glared at the tea-drenched Amethus and growled.
He was so close that their noses were touching, so Amethus had no choice but to avert his gaze.
Ferbias continued to vent his anger.
“Shouldn't you be a little happier? You were competent, and I was incompetent, so you should be happy! Clap your hands, huh? And cheer too-!!!”
“…That is not so, Your Highness.”
“…Ha.”
The First Prince glared at his confidant.
With his beast-like golden eyes.
Amethus lowered his gaze further.
To calm his master's anger.
Ferbias, furious, raised his index finger.
“You……”
A mysterious glint flickered in Ferbias's eyes for a moment.
The Ars that shook the opponent's spirit, the ‘Prince’s Eye’.
But it soon died down.
It was too much.
No matter how angry he was, it was an excessive action.
“…No, no, no, no, calm down, Ferbias……”
He lowered the finger he had raised and gently closed his eyes.
He muttered the same words several times to regain a minimum of reason.
The light of the ‘Prince’s Eye’ had already completely faded.
“Like the eldest son of the Empire, like the eldest of the Great Emperor……”
His breathing gradually calmed down.
His beast-like aura also faded.
It hadn't disappeared, but was merely suppressed.
He took a deep breath.
“…My apologies, Amethus. I am very sorry.”
Ferbias, having barely regained his princely dignity, swept his hair.
His disheveled hair became neat.
Then he even gave a light bow towards Amethus.
“I was too irritable. Yes, I was irritable. I apologize for my slip of the tongue. Will you understand?”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
The jade-eyed man answered without hesitation.
Only then could Ferbias smile.
“Good, good……. You know it. I am very fond of you, Amethus.”
He placed a hand on Amethus's shoulder.
“When did we first meet?”
“I remember it was during the swordsmanship class at the academy.”
“Ah, yes… I remember. I was about eleven. Seeing you defeat the upperclassmen in a row, I was emboldened and charged at you and I was soundly beaten.”
The First Prince snickered.
He recalled Sdea Academy.
The place where they had spent their youth, the time that had passed.
“I was young too. To call you out in the middle of the night because I was angry and reveal my identity. Do you remember that too?”
“…How could I forget.”
“I apologize time and again, but I was really sorry about that.”
It's alright.
Amethus's face as he said so was not good.
He couldn't be without complaints.
How could he forget the feeling of discovering that the person he had beaten up was the eldest of the Great Emperor.
Ferbias saw through that face and snickered even more.
“You said. To forgive your disrespect with your life. Ha, what eleven-year-old would say such a thing?”
Ferbias stroked his chin.
“I've liked you since then. That's why I threatened the dormitory head and shared a room with you for all six years.”
“…This is the first I'm hearing of that.”
“Still, wasn't it fun? Now that I think about it, the memories are endless.”
Amethus nodded his head.
Whatever the reason, his six years at the academy remained as memories.
“I wanted to beat you at least once before we graduated. But I never did. How could you not go easy on me even once, knowing that I was the eldest of the Empire?”
“Because that would have been discourteous.”
“That's right. You are that kind of friend.”
Ferbias Caseptus's swordsmanship was superior to that of most masters.
It was the result of bone-grinding effort added to the bloodline he inherited from the Great Emperor.
However, Amethus's sword was still far.
It only grew further.
But strangely, it didn't feel bad.
“I was really surprised when you defeated the master from Maesh. Weren't you tempted by that title?”
“I felt that a title would rather dull the sword.”
“Huhu. I guarantee you. Someday, you will sit on the seat of one of the Ten Great Generals.”
Amethus did not answer.
He always felt awkward with praise.
Ferbias, knowing this, smiled softly.
“I was so surprised when you became a security knight.”
At that time, the entire academy was in shock.
A security knight of the Imperial Security Bureau was an honorable position that protected the peace of the capital, but it was not a job befitting a swordsman who had defeated a master before turning twenty.
“It would be a lie to say I wasn't disappointed.”
Ferbias dreamed of the Imperial Throne.
No, he was almost certain of it.
He was even obsessed with it as if it were already his.
And he believed Amethus would be by his side.
He thought it had to be that way.
“But you came running as soon as I called. You are still my best friend.”
“It is an honor, Your Highness.”
“Those were good times. They were very good times……”
The two men were friends.
They had been before, and they were now.
But it couldn't be the same as before.
One was the First Prince and the other was his confidant.
Respectful and casual speech, command and obedience, had already been mixed into their relationship.
“I must be getting old too, I often think back on my childhood.”
Ferbias felt a sense of nostalgia.
Because he was young, he was ignorant and because he was ignorant, he was happy.
A friend was a friend, and nothing more or less.
There was no need to bow his head or give rewards, he was just free.
A time that was enjoyable just to think about, but sad because he knew it had passed.
“…However, one cannot remain a child. Nothing would be accomplished.”
The fire that had been smoldering blazed up.
“For a sure victory, one must be prepared for anything.”
Blonde hair and golden eyes, blazing pupils.
At the sight that was the spitting image of the Great Emperor Continua, Amethus bowed his head.
“Even if I'm behind, I still have no reason to lose in a head-on fight.”
Ferbias Caseptus declared.
“I will turn the tables, Amethus.”
The jade-eyed man prostrated himself.
Deep, deeper still.
The sword that had reached the level of a master, the intuition that seemed to pierce the future, all of it was for this man.
He had decided so since his school days.
“I'll have to overturn this damned Succession War from its very rules.”
“You are right, Your Highness.”
“I need to meet the administrator of the Succession War.”
The First Prince said, as if spitting it out.
“Summon Dean Cornelius.”