Chapter 124 – His Majesty's Worries

Ahhhh! This is bad, this is bad.

What on earth has Yorsarge gone and done?

This is the biggest crisis our kingdom has faced since its founding, isn’t it?

The letter from the Church conveyed exactly what I’d heard from Brid earlier that day.

No matter how many times I looked at it, it wasn’t a dream. This was reality.

“Your Majesty, the Holy Knights have completely surrounded the castle walls. If they breach, the castle will fall in minutes.”

“I-I know that. So what did I do to deserve this? And what about Yorsarge?”

“He’s been restrained along with his retainer Larsen and thrown into the dungeon with Dazil.”

“Well done.”

Thanks to Brid, we’d managed to hold on by a thread.

Mails really is blessed with loyal retainers.

“Right. Make sure to support Mails from the shadows as he escorts the Saintess out of the castle.”

“Understood.”

As soon as the retainer withdrew, torches lit up inside the castle, and the view outside the windows brightened.

I didn’t tell them to be that obvious about it.

Oh well. That guy won’t notice anyway.

To think the day would come when I’d entrust this kingdom’s fate to him…

Aaahhh, this is too anxiety-inducing.

“Oh, right. What about the nobles loyal to Yorsarge?”

“Yes. They were shocked to hear about the divine oracle. No one knew.”

Of course. Even my spies hadn’t caught wind of it beforehand.

I’m glad the nobles didn’t get dragged into this mess.

“That’s a relief. But just to be safe, we can’t leave the First Prince’s faction in key positions.”

“Indeed. It’ll also prove their innocence to the Church.”

Retainers had been coming and going non-stop.

Overwhelmed by anxiety, I sat down on the sofa to try and calm myself.

“Will we really be okay?”

“Your Majesty, we’re keeping a close eye on the Second Prince. Please rest easy.”

He nodded firmly as he looked at me.

But I still couldn’t relax.

I couldn’t stay seated. Standing up, I peered out the window, paced around the room…

No report yet…?

“Your Majesty, report: the Second Prince has safely escorted the Saintess out of the castle.”

“Finally! Why did it take so long just to walk out?”

Retainers disguised as servants filed into the room one after another.

They’d been watching in disguise… Sorry to put you through that.

“Summon Mails here as soon as he returns.”

“Understood.”

I need to tell Mails to start acting with a proper awareness of his place in the line of succession from now on.

“Your Majesty, Second Prince Mails Debias has arrived.”

Mails entered the hectic office with Brid and a maid in tow. The three of them dropped to their knees before me.

Why the maid too?

“E-er, well done. Have a seat over there.”

“Yes.”

We all moved to the sofas, and with the three of them sitting across from me, the atmosphere grew awkward.

I plastered on a smile for now, pondering how to broach the subject.

They won’t like this.

“You know Yorsarge has been detained, right?”

“Yes.”

“Mails, you’ll handle the cleanup as the heir to the throne.”

“That’s a problem, Father.”

As expected.

Mails tried to stand, only to be held down by the maid and Brid.

Why the maid too?

“What is it?”

“Everyone knows I can’t handle state affairs. And I was the one who pulled the trigger this time…”

Mails’s voice trailed off smaller and smaller.

Hm? Pulled the trigger?

“What’s that about? I haven’t heard.”

Brid’s face said oh no.

Hey.

“Actually…”

An assassination attempt? Snake venom? The Saintess’s sister? I clutched my head as I listened.

At this point, who cares about the pervert stuff.

No good.

This kid’s out to finish me off.

“Your Majesty, the Saintess has tasked me with monitoring the Second Prince. So please don’t worry.”

The maid smiled brightly.

Strange, but she seems reliable.

“We should have the Third Prince inherit the throne and start his imperial education now…”

“Exactly, Father. Just like Brid says.”

The two of them smiled in unison.

“But during that flood last time, you were the one who secured the food supplies…”

“What are you talking about? That was just chatting with the ladies, right?”

“Exactly. It was pure coincidence. I figured buying extra during the good harvest would help the farmers too.”

The two exchanged nods.

“The prince was just showing off in front of the girls, saying stuff like ‘Hey, it’s been kinda dry lately, huh? What if we get floods next year?’ and ‘Floods would wipe out the crops, right?’ Then he ramped up the stockpiles.”

“Don’t say that!”

Mails laughed as he slapped Brid’s shoulder.

Good to see they’re close.

“Prince. Lord Brid. This is in front of His Majesty.”

The maid’s the most dependable one here.

“In that case, I’ll take charge of my little brother’s education.”

“Huh?”

“Meaning I’ll raise the Third Prince into a fine king. And I’ll serve as his aide.”

“Aide? The kid’s only five.”

“Hahaha. Father’s still young. You can work another twenty years.”

“Sigh… We’ll talk about that later. You lot, we’re heading to the dungeon now.”

“”””Yes!”””

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