Episode 122: The Prince, the King, and the Villain

　Having concluded the post-war negotiations and the engagement with Sylphirosé, Siegfried and his party were set to return to the Eastern Front Army’s encampment.

“Well then, Count Kreving—I’m looking forward to the day we meet again.”

　At the moment of parting, Garfilia extended his large hand. Siegfried responded in kind, quietly grasping it in return.

　And so, Siegfried and his party’s brief stay in the royal capital of San Serodia came to an end.

　Right after that—in the guest chamber once Siegfried had departed.

“With Volfirio dead and a wedge driven against the Kirchhen Kingdom… things are going so smoothly it’s almost frightening. I don’t believe in the Light-Winged God that the Holy Church worships… but with everything progressing this well, I can almost understand the feeling of believing in divine grace.”

　Garfilia let the words slip out.

“I believe it’s all the result of Your Highness Garfilia acting decisively at the right moments.”

　His confidant, Lazro, replied.

“Hmph… don’t flatter me. I merely went along with your plan.”

“I only presented a few possibilities. It was Your Highness Garfilia who made the decision and put it into action. Thanks to your firm leadership, everything has proceeded smoothly. Truly, Your Highness Garfilia is the one who should become—the king.”

“Hmph…”

　Garfilia snorted in amusement, but he didn’t mind the praise at all.

　Yet at the same time, he felt a faint unease deep in his chest, clouding his expression.

(However… everything is progressing far too smoothly. Is this really unfolding exactly as Lazro and I planned?)

　It felt as if they were dancing on the palm of some unseen hand—a vague anxiety brushed across his mind.

　And it wasn’t as if he had no idea who that ‘someone’ might be. The silver-haired youth… Siegfried.

　But Garfilia lightly shook his head, dispelling the doubt.

(Impossible. He’s capable, sure. But I’ve driven a wedge into Siegfried with Sylphirosé. I’m the one holding the reins. If even that was within his expectations… then that man is practically a god—or a demon.)

　But neither gods nor demons exist in reality—that’s what he believed.

　Garfilia directed his gaze toward the sky spreading beyond the window, lost in a dream.

　The day he would wear the crown. The future of domination that lay beyond it.

 

◇

 

　In the king’s private chamber hidden behind the throne… the ‘King’s Inner Sanctum.’

　The aged King Radophilias leaned back in his chair, idly gazing at the view of the inner garden.

“Count Kreving… must have left the capital by now and be advancing along the road…”

　Along with the murmur that escaped his lips, the face of that young man floated in his mind. Those sharp, unwavering eyes, determined to forge ahead on the path he believed in without hesitation.

　And next, what came to mind were the figures of his own children—Garfilia and Sylphirosé.

(This engagement… I wonder which of them it will bring fortune to.)

　Radophilias had no intention of favoring either side. Both were his beloved children.

　To side with one would mean denying the other.

“…In the end, I once again… failed to make any decision at all.”

　His voice, as if acknowledging his own powerlessness, faded sorrowfully into the void.

　But even so.

　In his heart burned a single quiet resolve.

 

◇

 

　Siegfried and his party of ten had departed from the royal capital San Serodia, heading toward the Eastern Front Army’s encampment.

　Everyone was mounted on horseback, and their pace was swift.

“Was it really okay not to bring the princess along?”

　As their horses ran side by side, Leon questioned Siegfried.

“It’s more convenient for Princess Sylphirosé to remain in Serodonia. While I’m returning to Kirchhen, she’ll keep an eye on the domestic situation in Serodonia for me.”

　Siegfried planned to return to the Eastern Front Army encampment and, as acting commander, outline the future course of action.

　Meanwhile, Sylphirosé would stay within Serodonia and maintain contact with Siegfried.

“However, I secured a promise for a gift from the queen. It should arrive before long.”

“A gift? What’s that about?”

“Oh… curious, are you?”

“Well, yeah, of course I’m curious.”

　Anyone would be intrigued by such a cryptic remark. However, Siegfried seemed to interpret it in a different way.

“So, the princess knight is indeed concerned about the princess—alright then, one day I’ll ask Princess Sylphirosé and have her teach you how to become more princess-like.”

“—I don’t need that!”

“Is that so? No need for others’ opinions, huh. In that case, you should charge ahead on your own path… the royal way of the princess you believe in.”

“Hahaha!”

　Dominik’s laughter echoed from the rear. Reacting to it, Leon turned around.

“Hey, what are you laughing at!”

“Come on, don’t get mad. If you’re like that, you won’t make any progress on the royal way of the princess, you know?”

“Huh!?”

　Leon slowed his horse, falling in line with Dominik.

　And so began the bickering between the two officer academy classmates.

　Glancing at the scene sidelong, Fen addressed Siegfried.

“Even so… I thought for sure you’d take care of that first prince right there and then.”

　By eliminating Garfilia, enthroning Sylphirosé as queen, and then becoming the royal consort himself to effectively control Serodonia—Fen had assumed Siegfried was capable of pulling off something like that.

“You’re right. As a method for me to gain immense power… that would have been the simplest. However, Garfilia is currently hiding his shadow as a villain.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Garfilia has long been aiming for the position of the next king. He’s been crafting an image of himself as someone worthy of being king.”

　Unlike royalty who rarely showed up on the front lines, Garfilia often made appearances there. The policies he proposed to the king were also reasonably commendable.

　In contrast to Volfirio, who amassed wealth through illicit trade to aim for the throne, Garfilia was pursuing the crown through legitimate means.

“Of course, Garfilia has his own schemes brewing behind the scenes. But as a villain, it’s insufficient. It would be better to let him stew a bit longer, to mature—that man’s flavor will improve.”

“H-Huh…?”

“In any case, for now—it’s not yet the time to devour the evil known as Garfilia.”

“…So that means we’ll be taking it easy at the Eastern Front Army encampment for a while?”

“—Who knows.”