Chapter 339
(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)
The Old Raccoon's Melancholy
Translator : PolterGlast
The beginning of the new year in Griffin, the
Imperial Capital of the Griffonia Empire, was a somewhat lonely affair
compared to usual. Normally, key nobles from all over would assemble to engage
in fierce debates, but now that the Third Prince's succession to the throne had
been finalized, such discussions were no longer necessary.
One of the primary parties involved was sweating away at the
southern front, preparing for a potential invasion from enemy nations.
Meanwhile, the other party had been confined to a detached palace a short
distance from the Imperial Capital since last year, simply waiting for the time
to come.
「Harry, just how much longer must I wait? How long must I remain
an ascetic, locked away in this detached palace!」
「Do not be so impatient. Soon, very
soon, the preparations for our maneuver will be in place. This is all part of
the steps for Your Highness to ascend the throne. You need only remain
composed as you proceed.」
「But... I can understand nothing
while staying here! What are that fellow's movements? What of our allied
generals? What of the movements of the Sura Principality, the Turncoat
Kingdom, and the Istoria Imperial Kingdom? Without seeing anything, I
cannot move!」
Glorious, though
granted a modicum of freedom of movement, was in a situation close to house
arrest and was growing increasingly irritated. And Harry, for his part,
intentionally withheld incomplete information, keeping Glorious in a
state where he 'could not move'. If he were to move on his own, everything
would be in vain.
「Your Highness, please wait a little
longer until the time is ripe. If Your Highness moves, it will draw public
attention, and there is a possibility they will catch wind of it. Right now,
waiting is paramount. By autumn of this year... you will be so busy you will
lack even the time to sleep.」
「It is taking too long... can it not be done at least before the arrival of
summer? To spend time idly doing nothing is unbearable agony!」
「Your Highness, there are things even
the current you can do. For now, please devote your heart to those who support
you.」
「Harry, even you... enough, begone.」
「Your Highness...」
Harry swallowed
the words he was about to say, bowed silently, and took his leave. He realized
that in their current state, further words were useless. If only... he could
deliver even one piece of good news... His worries were concentrated on that
single point.
※
In a room on the outskirts of the detached palace—a room
granted to Harry by the First Prince as a retirement chamber—Harry
sat alone. Harry himself was called 'Duke' for convenience, but he was
technically a 'former Duke'. Having taken responsibility for the previous
defeat, he had temporarily yielded the headship of the house to his nephew and
was forced into retirement. His own sons had also accompanied the First Prince
on the expedition, and thus were collectively excluded from the succession of
the peerage. Therefore, he had no choice but to yield the headship to his
nephew, who was still only a boy and had not accompanied the expedition. He had
convinced those around him that it was a purely formal and temporary
arrangement... Of course, regardless of the official stance, Harry
continued to hold the real power of the ducal house. Even so, he himself was
tormented by the heavy atmosphere and sense of stagnation.
「Phew...」
Upon returning to his room, Harry let out a heavy
sigh. He had been confined here for nearly a year, and the First Prince's
spirit had been eroded by an unaccustomed retired life to the point of losing
sight of the reason of things.
『He has lived a life largely
untouched by patience or endurance,
treated with the utmost deference at every turn. It is only natural he would
feel this way.』
Even thinking so, there was still a sense of helplessness.
If he was idle, he could simply compose letters of gratitude or encouragement
to the supporters who sustained him, without thinking of unnecessary things. In
that sense, there were many things he could do. But the First Prince seemed to
think that being served was a matter of course for a lord, and that loyalty was
something that welled up spontaneously.
「I may have erred in His Highness's
education...」
With a sad sigh, he could only mutter so and laugh at
himself. And there was another reason for his sigh: he had received letters
back from the Sura Principality and the Turncoat Kingdom
containing quite arrogant demands. These two nations were demanding the cession
of new territory in addition to what the Empire had gained, as well as war
reparations. Having learned the details of the war reparations the Empire side paid to the Kyle Kingdom, and
seeing the Empire's perceived weakness, they had suddenly become aggressive as
if seizing the moment.
Furthermore... setting aside the Istoria Imperial Kingdom—or
rather, the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy—the 3 countries meant to be used
as bait were also hesitating to give a clear answer. These 3 countries were
terrified of that brat—the man called the Ever-Victorious General or the
Hegemon, who had merely risen by riding the current of the times—more than the
bait presented before them. To them, the brat who had advanced to their
neighborhood seemed more terrifying than the Empire, which was a future source
of trouble. At this rate, there is no telling how many years it will take to
complete the encirclement net that will thoroughly suppress the Third Prince.
As he pondered this, he held his head in his hands alone in
his room. At that moment, the darkness in the corner of the dimly lit room
wavered faintly.
「Heh heh heh... Harry, you
seem to be in quite a bit of trouble.」
「Who goes there! Ah... m-my
apologies.」
As the man who suddenly appeared from the darkness connected
with the memory of the last time he saw him, Harry let go of the sword
in his hand and knelt.
「It is no matter, you seem
unaccustomed to this form yet?」
The man who spoke so and sat vigorously on the sofa with
agile movements was the man who had once been an old man with faltering
movements.
「I am sorry, in an instant, it seems
my body reacts naturally...」
「It is fine, it is fine. You were
originally a warrior; it means you have not withered. By the way, you seem to
be struggling quite a bit?」
「...」
Harry was at a
loss for a reply. The Master's way of speaking could be taken to refer to
either the incident just now or the diplomatic challenges.
「Fufufu, it is both. Internal worries
and external threats—my grandson who pulls everyone's leg is a troublesome one
indeed.」
「Ah, no... I am no match for the
Master's perceptiveness. It is exactly as you say.」
「Thinking so, I have come to grant
you wisdom.」
「My word!」
「First, regarding the two southern
nations—you may simply reject their demands. According to your plan, one of
them would have to act as the vanguard, after all. They are merely hesitating
as they weigh the potential losses they would suffer at that moment.」
「But then no one will...?」
「You should tell them, 『Since the talk has been settled with
the conditions shown previously, assistance is no longer necessary.』」
「But not yet...」
「In addition, tell them, 『In the unlikely event that you join
the war under the previous conditions, we will not treat you coldly.』 If there is someone who moves
before them, they will think other nations are trying to gain the lion's share,
and they will begin to move in a panic.」
「Then the Master has already?」
「A plot is not the same as bowing
your head and pleading. It is about devising a way to make them proceed of
their own accord along the path you have shown.」
「Your advice is deeply engraved in my
heart.」
「Also, as for the cowards in the
north who are playing the opportunists, my subordinates will handle them.
However, those immature fellows have a tendency to use schemes and drown in
them. They are immature ones whose thoughts do not reach the means of execution
even if they play with grand schemes. To make them understand that, I have not
taken any action until now, but it is about time.」
「Then the Master himself?」
「No, even if I don't lift a finger,
those fools will likely realize it on their own. The darkness those three
nations harbor, that is. Once they connect with the upper echelons of even one
nation, their scheme will naturally proceed. Therefore, let us have these
letters sent out under your name. These three are for the upper echelons of
each nation with whom you have ties. Arrange for the final one to reach that
fanatic (Castro).」
「Wha...」
Looking at the documents accompanying each letter, Harry
could not hide his surprise. Because those documents were stamped with the
Imperial Seal of the current Emperor— a
man who should have been deep within the inner palace of the capital, a
resident there for years who had supposedly lost all interest in imperial
governance.
「Just how did the Master...?」
「I have a person (daughter) in the
inner palace who has received my will. For something of this level, it can be
managed.」
Saying so, the man vanished into the darkness as if mocking
the stunned Harry. Even after the man vanished, Harry thought
about something for a while, then raised his face as if he had made a decision.
「Hmph, with this, it is hard to tell
who is the master of the Empire. Such an evil influence is not for the sake of
His Highness. I must perform the final service I can do while I still can...」
Muttering so, he began to write several letters. One in particular he wrote carefully, and with a flood of emotions... The next day, messengers flew from Harry to various places. Carrying the letters issued in his name... Triggered by this, the upheaval would accelerate toward 'that day'.
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