Chapter 79

"... Yes. I understand what you mean."

Alter watched Vanderas, quite astonished.

If it was an imperial secret order as well as the emperor's final command, it meant there was an issue that absolutely needed to be dealt with.

On top of that, Vanderas had even mentioned Alter's father—as such, it was effectively a grave mission entrusted to him.

"I have prepared a letter on the desk. It is meant to be used as a decoy, so show it to the chief attendant when you leave here."

"Yes. Understood."

"This is the real secret order."

Vanderas took out something he had hidden and handed it to Alter.

Alter received it politely with both hands, then looked down at something.

Since it was folded like a small slip, it seemed it could be hidden quite easily.

"This secret order must not fall into anyone else's hands. You must visit the Grand Duke of the North yourself. Do not leave right away; it would be best to do so several months from now."

"I will obey the imperial command."

Alter hesitated for a moment, seemingly lost in thought, before quickly putting the slip away somewhere in his formal attire.

Judging from the emperor's words, there must be content inside of considerable impact.

Moreover, with himself chosen as the messenger, Vanderas was likely considering not only the Grand Duke of the North but the entire ducal household as well.

"And... will you listen to something I have to say?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I shall listen as a subject."

"I hoped you would listen not as a subject, but as the child of a close friend."

"... Yes, as you wish."

Alter waited, rather tense, for the next words to come.

Right now, facing the emperor, he was putting his life on the line.

If the existence of the secret order was discovered, not only himself but even his ducal house would be put in danger.

"The Grand Duke of the North... Zair has long fought the battlefield by my side. He always tried to guard me wherever I was and even valued the lives of his subordinates dearly. I still cannot forget that side of him."

"......"

"After becoming emperor, I tried to help Zair but it did not go as I wished. Nevertheless, Zair carried out his original duty faithfully. He served me as his emperor and helped me as a friend."

"......"

"I... while trusting Zair, was also jealous of him. Because he had what I could not. Do you know what that is?"

"... I am not sure."

Alter could roughly guess but could not bring himself to say it.

A single word could hurt the emperor's pride.

Thus, even by feigning ignorance, he chose to respect the emperor's will.

"Uriel Astille... your mother. I nursed feelings for her. I even confessed, in the end, but she did not accept my heart."

"......"

"Uriel, after marrying Zair, remained in the northern lands. I wished to bless the two of them, but I could not suppress my discomfort. Eventually, Uriel died."

"......"

"So I could not help but resent Zair. He should have protected her properly if he took her, so why did he let her life end so in vain?"

Alter knew the truth but could not refute it.

It was a truth that could not be understood by anyone.

Moreover, the emperor was still bound by the past, so he would try to deny even that truth.

"However... I still have faith in Zair. Even if he let Uriel die, is he not guarding the most dangerous front as Grand Duke of the North?"

"Yes, that is so."

"I finally realized it after seeing you. I harbored only wicked feelings. Everyone dies one day and leaves behind children. Forgetting that, I had resented the two."

Vanderas, belatedly, realized his own arrogance.

Even Zair must have wished for Uriel to live just a little longer.

It was merely fate that had intervened, yet he had unjustly shifted all the blame to Zair.

"Because you are the child of Zair and Uriel, I have shared my feelings. It is enough that you have listened to me."

"... Your Majesty, may I dare offer some advice?"

"Go ahead."

"Perhaps my mother... wished that Your Majesty would not suffer."

"... Perhaps so. The imperial family makes a fuss over even the smallest of things, don't they?"

Vanderas revealed a self-deprecating smile and finally faced Alter.

There was no longer any trace of Uriel in Alter.

It seemed that, at last, his lingering feelings for Uriel had faded, if even a little.

"I would like this conversation to remain a secret between you and me. Can you do that?"

"Yes. I will take it to my grave."

"To your grave... That means for quite a long time."

Vanderas remained silent for a moment, then finally turned his gaze away from Alter.

He had said all he wished and his longstanding emotions had somewhat subsided.

Now he needed to let him go, so that he could deliver the secret order.

"This conversation has gone on long enough. You should go. Don't forget to take the letter."

"... Yes. I look forward to the day we meet again."

Alter paid his respects politely and turned away.

Vanderas mulled over Alter's words but realized it was impossible.

Most likely, this moment would be their last meeting.

"Ah, right. There's something I forgot to say to you. Congratulations on your marriage. I truly wish for your happiness."

"... I am deeply grateful."

"And... tell Zair for me. Tell him I am sorry, and thank you."

"I shall carry out your imperial command."

Alter bowed again and quietly exited the bedroom.

Vanderas, feeling much calmer, closed his eyes.

Now, he merely awaited the arrival of death.

'If there is a next life... I wish to be united with you... Uriel....'

* * *

Brillie visited the headquarters of the Setinos Knight Order for the first time in a while, but had no choice but to return immediately.

She had heard completely unexpected news, and the atmosphere within the order was rather grim.

Why had such a decision been made?

'Why hand over the knights? He could've kept them...'

Brillie continued to ponder, not caring that her teacup was going cold.

The Setinos Knight Order had built their reputation without belonging to any noble house.

With the next Sword Saint at its center, it was all the more in the spotlight—who could have imagined he would abandon it himself?

'Just what does he intend to do after abandoning those people?'

Unable to understand his intention, Brillie frowned.

The next Sword Saint, Lang Couster, had abandoned the Setinos Knight Order and disappeared somewhere.

He could have at least arranged for succession, but even that he left to his successor.

The commander she knew was never so irresponsible.

'Left like this, they'll surely fall apart. Shouldn't I step in to deal with it before that happens?'

Brillie could not turn her back on the Setinos Knight Order.

She had once served as vice-captain, and several capable individuals remained in the order.

Instead of leaving them to languish, wouldn't it be better to recruit them into the Illenat ducal household's knights?

'We're restructuring the private soldiers anyway, and we are short of knights...'

Brillie still hadn't given up on her goal to become Duke Illenat.

If she reinforced the family's forces with the Setinos Knight Order, her father would surely be pleased.

Moreover, she could bind a portion of the household under her authority, which would help in many ways.

'Me becoming stronger is important, but I really do need more soldiers.'

Brillie, having experienced both subjugation battles against monsters and the northern war, realized this anew.

No matter how overwhelming one's individual strength, facing multiple foes without troops was difficult.

If she went up against a formidable enemy, the soldiers would have to disperse but maintain the formation to hold the line.

'Father told me to be prepared. Maybe that means...'

Brillie had already picked up on it, vaguely, from her father's words.

He would not bow to the crown prince, and would present countermeasures worthy of that stance.

If things could not be resolved amicably, he might persuade officials and nobles and take drastic measures.

'Could it really come to that? Unless the crown prince loses his mind....'

* * *

Alter entered the society's training ground, but could hardly concentrate on magic.

The conversation with the emperor was too intense, and he couldn't ignore the secret order given to him.

Just what was he supposed to do in this situation?

'Going to see Father right away isn't a good idea. It would look suspicious.'

He had been summoned by the emperor and interviewed in private.

That alone was known by the emperor's chief attendant, other attendants, and the escort knights.

By now, direct imperial family members and high-ranking officials must have also been informed.

'The moment suspicion falls on me, it gets dangerous. That's why the emperor told me to leave only after several months.'

Even so, Alter had hidden the secret order perfectly so far.

The chief attendant only checked the fake letter meant as a decoy, and the escort knights didn't conduct a body search.

But those around would question the emperor's actions and naturally associate everything with Alter.

'I could read the secret order myself, but... I mustn't. Once broken, it can't be restored.'

The emperor trusted him and entrusted him with the secret order.

He'd called it the final imperial command, and the center of the slip was even sealed in some way.

As this was tied to the Honor of the Grand Duke of the North, acting recklessly would be out of the question.

'Maybe the emperor is trusting Father...'

"It's rare to see you here. Feels like it's been a while, doesn't it?"

Alter, belatedly shaking off his stray thoughts, turned towards the owner of the voice.

Approaching cautiously in a loosely worn robe was—

"Ms. Terosa, how did you come all the way here?"

"Fufu... Does it suit me? It's a bit of a shame it hides my figure, but I couldn't refuse to follow the rules here."

Terosa lightly straightened her hair, showing a bright smile.

She had moved in secret, intent on becoming someone like Brillie.

She hadn't had high expectations, but as unexpected results came, she couldn't simply ignore them.

"Are you planning to become a mage?"

"Well... they say I have talent, so I thought I'd try it for a while."

"Uh... Did you get official permission from the society?"

"The great mage himself granted me permission. They said I had impressive talent, so it would have been hard to refuse."

"...?"

Alter was a bit suspicious, but then gave her some benefit of the doubt.

As the great mage, Alraune took pride in his role and would never permit bribery or shortcuts.

If he asked Alraune directly, he would surely get a definitive answer.

"Then, can I think of you as the great mage's apprentice?"

"Exactly. I'm now in the same position as you, Lord Alter. Fufu..."