Interlude 5 - Idle Talk: Old Veterans
The sky was clear and bright. Laughter echoed throughout the royal capital.
All worries seemed to have vanished, and the atmosphere in the capital had become overwhelmingly cheerful. And why wouldn’t it? The announcement of the victory in the campaign, the royal family’s joyous occasion, and the Crown Prince’s Investiture for the First Prince had all been declared simultaneously. The people of the kingdom firmly believed that the nation’s prosperity would only continue to grow.
――― And then, that morning.
The First Prince’s marriage ceremony was officially decided during the morning council (TL/N: Changed from imperial meeting). It was to be held on a Day of Fortunate the following year. The nobles had reached a consensus: the First Prince, who had led the national army to repel the invasion from the northern empire, had proven himself worthy of ascending to the throne. He was now recognized as a Kingdom’s Strongest, Master of Both Pen and Sword, not just within the kingdom but also by neighboring nations.
The kingdom, especially the royal capital, was in a state of jubilation.
The prolonged campaign, which many had feared would drag on, had concluded in just half a year. The mobilized forces had avoided full-scale clashes, and casualties were minimal. Before the conflict could escalate into a large-scale, all-out war involving forced conscription, it had ended with only the mobilization of powerful nobles—who had powerful territorial armies—who had been reassigned as a punitive measure. The high-ranking nobles who attended the morning council breathed a sigh of relief.
――――
In the King’s office, after the morning council, the King and the Prime Minister dismissed everyone and faced each other. Both wore stern expressions, deeply troubled. The King stood by the tall, narrow window, gazing down at the joyous streets of the capital below. The Prime Minister sat heavily on a luxurious sofa, hands clasped under his chin, lost in thought.
A heavy silence enveloped the two. With everyone dismissed, even the usual attendants were absent. In this time of peace, it was allowed. Even the shadow guards were excluded, and the [Heavy Barrier] sealed off the office of the one who sat upon the throne of this kingdom. It was a space where the King could reveal his true self. The same applied to the Prime Minister.
During the morning council, in the audience chamber, or in the usual royal office, the Prime Minister upheld the master-servant relationship, embodying the way of nobility, always treating the King with utmost respect and propriety. But in this space, they reverted to their old roles as friends. They knew each other’s true natures intimately—each other’s flaws, thought processes, and deepest concerns. Thus, their words held no reservations.
“Prime Minister. What are you hiding?”
“...I’m not sure how to put it.”
“You know full well that when you act like this, it makes me uneasy.”
“Oh? What do you mean?”
“Are you dissatisfied with the decision to make the First Prince the Crown Prince? Or is it that his surroundings have been too prepared?”
“We faced an unprecedented national crisis. What’s wrong with using every tool at our disposal? He’s proven himself capable of handling it. I’d say it’s splendid. Besides, I didn’t oppose it.”
“That’s true, but... what’s making you wear ‘that expression?’ Is it the First Prince’s marriage? Are you worried about the balance among the noble families again?”
“The Prince’s fiancée, the daughter of the leading grand ducal house, is unanimously regarded as the ideal future queen. There’s no one more suited to the role. The Crown Prince’s investiture is also appropriate. May the kingdom’s future be bright... truly.”
“Then what is it?”
The King shifted his gaze from the bustling streets below and moved from the window to his imposing desk. He sat in the chair that was meant for the one who would bear the weight of this kingdom, a seat that could also be called a throne, watching the Prime Minister, who sat hunched over, deep in thought. The King couldn’t read him at all. He wondered if some unimaginable dark cloud loomed over the Kingdom despite the recent celebrations. The Prime Minister’s troubled expression, something he hadn’t seen in a long time, stirred unease in the King’s heart.
“First, there’s the matter of the leadership of the decimated Second Army Corps.”
“That was... brutal.”
“From a military perspective, the general staff insists there were no mistakes in their actions. Their formation was intended to blunt the enemy’s initial momentum. But this time, they were up against a formidable foe. However, there’s more to it. The situation is escalating, and it might not be limited to the military.”
“What is it? Go on.”
“It’s not just the military, but let’s start there. The Second Army Corps’ commander was skilled in warfare and adept at maintaining order. He was also known for his compassion. His troops were elite, his generals brave, and his staff was filled with br
“Public perception is often like that. Having caused the greatest losses in this war, the mask has been stripped away. They followed textbook formations without adapting to the enemy’s situation. Their army was overly specialized in crushing enemy vanguards, and they inexplicably placed their slow-moving transport units in the center, hampering the entire corps’ mobility. ...The list goes on.”
“Individually, their actions aligned with military theory and strategy. But they lacked a cohesive vision. In fact, the First Army Corps and the territorial armies that followed managed to salvage the situation, proving the Second Army Corps’ leadership incompetent. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Command under the First Prince, which reorganized the kingdom’s army that had been thrown together and reestablished the frontlines, demonstrated the optimal solution through flexible unit operations and mobile warfare. The old man simply couldn’t anticipate that the battlefield would change, huh. Well, fine. But you see, it’s not just the old man; that’s one of the worries.”
“......Are you referring to the son of the Minister of War, who served on the Second Army Corps’ staff?”
“He was desperate for glory. After being stripped of his honorable status as the heir and reduced to a mere son of a marquis, it’s understandable. After that incident, he was stripped of his position as heir and granted permission by the Minister of War to remain in the royal capital on the condition that he enlist in the national army as a common soldier. The military needs capable individuals, but... it was too lenient.”
“...Indeed, too lenient. Many in the military were aligned with the Second Prince. And the most prominent among them was the Second Army Corps’ commander.”
“The military isn’t a monolith, and that’s incontestably a problem under your reign. Those who’ve lost power are scrambling to regain it. If we could guide their efforts in a positive direction, it wouldn’t be an issue. A good example is the high comital family—an off-shoot of the Minister of War—transferred to the northern frontier. The current high countess is flawless, yet she was forced to clean up the mess left by her predecessor and his heir. Despite that, she succeeded. Of course, she’s a talented woman educated as a shadow of the grand ducal lady...”
“So, there are still fools in both the military and the bureaucracy who don’t understand their positions... is what you’re saying?”
“Yeah, exactly. And their numbers are still high. We’ve shown leniency by reassigning them, but many still don’t grasp the situation. Worse, some of these idiots are engaging in court intrigues.”
“You mean those who are fine with the First Prince’s ascension but still opposed to his marriage?”
“They’re trying to cloud the light and draw benefits to themselves. This will only increase.”
“......Are they pushing to have their daughters become concubines?”
“It’s not impossible, is it?”
“Well... I suppose not. I remember similar situations.”
“I thought so. Well, we can only hope the First Prince and his fiancée have a child soon, though with those two, it might be an unnecessary worry. The real problem lies with those who stand by their side.”
“Are the current aides unsuitable?”
“They are.”
The Prime Minister crossed his arms and looked up at the white ceiling. He exhaled slowly, his expression filled with anguish. The King, amused by his demeanor, waited for him to continue.
“The aides who’ve been with him since his weaker days are no good. They’re capable—rare administrative talents, even. But they only nod along with the Crown Prince’s words. They can execute his directives, but they fail to grasp the underlying intentions. As a result, they often run full speed in the opposite direction, even inserting their own biases. In my eyes, they’re failures. A true aide must have the ability to think for themselves and make decisions on what is right or wrong. ...You’re lucky to have me.”
“And here I was wondering what you would say... Well, you’re not wrong. Is there no one who can speak up to him? With the authority already established, it’s uncertain if anyone will step forward... It’s regrettable that during his time at the Magic Academy, attention was focused on the second son, who was seen as the next in line...”
“Well, there’s the fiancée. And that guy... if he proves himself...”
“That guy? Who are you talking about?”
“The heir to the Minister of War. He’s now a staff officer in the royal guard, standing behind the Crown Prince. More accurately, no one maneuvered more subtly during this campaign than him. That alone shows he has a keen eye. Of course, capable individuals must shoulder their responsibilities. Now, Your Majesty, let’s discuss what’s truly troubling me.”
“What is it, so formal... When you wear that expression, it usually means the kingdom is in peril. ...Very well, speak.”
“The kingdom’s crisis... or, to borrow his words, it’s something that ‘concerns the world’s trajectory.’ Brace yourself, for the fate of the world may rest on a single individual.”
“What?!”
“He he he, things are getting interesting. I never thought I’d see something this thrilling at my age. Well, I’m dragging you into it too. After all, the opponent is the world.”
The Prime Minister laughed darkly. The King’s face paled.
That day, the lights in the King’s office did not go out until the next morning.
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