Chapter 190
Ronak’s report of a decisive victory in the battle with the Jerpan Archipelago.
I heard that report through the crystal ball.
Since it was a great victory, I should be smiling and happy.
But for so reason, my heart wasn’t at ease.
‘……A lot of people must have died.’
The ones who died in this battle were people from another kingdom.
So there’s no reason for , the ‘King of the Plank Kingdom,’ to be heartbroken. The only ones I’m responsible for are the people of the Plank Kingdom.’
‘Is that not right…….’
Perhaps because I’ve experienced war before.
The death of soldiers didn’t feel like soone else’s problem.
They were also soone’s father, brother, younger brother, husband, friend, son.
And that doesn’t change just because they are people from another kingdom.
‘Was this the best way.’
There might have been a better way.
Perhaps there was a future where the Jerpan Archipelago could have been persuaded through ‘diplomacy,’ not ‘force.’ A future I hadn’t thought of, and…… perhaps a future I hadn’t strived for.
“……”
As I was quietly thinking.
Jereuth, the highest-ranking knight among those who were listening to Ronak’s report with , spoke.
Hagen and Yoanna were dispatched to the Gryphon unit of the ‘Griffon Aircraft Carrier’ and were not present, so Jereuth was the highest-ranking officer.
“Your Majesty, are you alright?”
“What?”
“Your expression is not good.”
Ah, so that’s what he ant.
Was my expression that bad?
The other knights looking at also had slightly worried expressions. Beyond serious, worried expressions.
Perhaps so of them thought I would be happy to hear the news of a great victory.
‘For the morale of the military, I should celebrate the victory, but…….’
For so reason, I didn’t feel like it.
But still, as a king, I cannot act according to my feelings. The responsibility I bear is too great to act on my feelings.
“Haha, of course I’m alright. I was just thinking about sothing.”
“……”
“Please convey the news that our navy has won a great victory to each city. Inform the soldiers as well, and let’s celebrate the victory today without training.”
“I understand, Your Majesty.”
“Yes. And since the situation has now been resolved, I will return to my room.”
As I stood up from my seat, Jereuth and the other knights also stood up.
They all had very serious expressions.
‘It seems they’ve all noticed that I’m not genuinely happy. Well, it would be strange if they didn’t know.’
But the people and the soldiers will be happy without knowing my feelings.
They will naturally be happy since we’ve won a great victory in the war.
‘Should I…… also rest a bit today.’
I wasn’t nervous or worried about losing the war.
Because a complete victory was already promised in the .
But now that I think that we’ve won an overwhelming victory and eliminated all the enemies.
For so reason, my heart felt heavy.
……That’s how I felt.
***
The military eting room that Leonardo had left.
A sense of tension still lingered there.
All the knights were lost in various thoughts about the king’s expression and voice a mont ago.
Then, one of the high-ranking knights muttered.
“Really…… one cannot help but respect our king.”
He didn’t say why one couldn’t help but respect the king.
But all the knights nodded as if in agreent.
“To feel sorry even for the death of the enemy.”
“If he’s like that…… he must be truly sad when an ally dies.”
“That is why, in any situation, His Majesty will adopt the strategy with the least amount of damage. Even if he himself suffers a loss.”
“That’s probably right.”
In fact, feeling sorry for the death of an enemy was a great weakness for a king or a knight.
Because such a weak heart is of no help in war.
But King Leonardo was different.
He had predicted the invasion of the Jerpan Archipelago early on and thought of a way to block it perfectly.
He even sent an envoy to find a way for peace.
But in the end, the Jerpan Archipelago foolishly plucked the feathers of a sleeping Gryphon—.
‘The result…… led to the entire expeditionary force being buried at sea.’
Jereuth looked at the seat where the king had been sitting a mont ago.
He found himself smiling a complicated smile without realizing it.
‘When I first t the king, I never thought he would beco such a great king.’
When Jereuth first properly t Leonardo.
Until then, Leonardo was a weak and shabby boy. He was so thin and frail that it wouldn’t have been strange if he had died the next day.
‘But even so, his spirit was alive. With that spirit alone, he purged the nobles and set the kingdom right.’
The great king said that it was the rit of himself and the other knights and vassals.
But among the knights, and among the vassals, no one thought so.
They all thought that they had only worked according to the king’s orders.
Creak—.
Jereuth stood up from his chair. Following him, the other knights also tried to stand up out of courtesy.
Even though Jereuth had stepped down as the commander of the knight order, he was respected by all the knights.
“You don’t have to stand up. Unless you’re all going back to your respective places.”
—…….
“Anyway, His Majesty’s orders were to announce the victory to each city and the army, and to rest from training today and celebrate the victory. Proceed as planned.”
—Yes, we understand!
After hearing the knights’ reply, Jereuth left the eting room and headed for the king’s room.
‘His Majesty seed a little tired…… but at tis like this, one needs a conversation partner.’
So today.
‘As Philip’s friend, as a man who has lived a little longer than His Majesty, shall I have an endless chat.’
At the thought that suddenly occurred to him, Jereuth turned his steps from the king’s room to his own.
He intended to gather so things from there and then et the king.
***
Outside the terrace.
Whoosh—.
As I leaned against the railing and looked at the sky, the wind brushed past my nose.
‘I was planning to spend today leisurely and rest…… but now that I’m trying to rest, my heart feels sowhat heavy.’
Is this workaholism, or sothing like that.
Looking at the training ground in the distance, I saw soldiers rushing out and cheering.
It seems they just heard the news of the victory.
—……Waaaaaaah!
—All hail the great king……!
—Admiral Ronak, who did not betray His Majesty’s expectations……!
—Hooray! Hooray……!
—King Leonardo, may you forever be in this kingdom……!
Because of the distance, I couldn’t clearly hear what the soldiers were saying.
But it seed they were all happy, so my mood lifted a little.
‘……Yes, that’s enough.’
Many people from another kingdom died.
But my kingdom’s people cannot die or suffer in their place.
I am a king, so let’s just think about that.
—Just as I was thinking that.
Knock knock—.
Elly knocked on the closed glass door of the terrace.
—Your Majesty, Sir Jereuth has co to see you.
Jereuth?
‘Did sothing happen to the Jerpan Archipelago occupation force? There was nothing like that in the diary.’
Nod—.
As I nodded, Elly went to the door and opened it. Jereuth entered.
I also ca out from the terrace to greet Jereuth…… but Jereuth was carrying sothing unusual.
“Commander—no, Sir Jereuth. What is that……?”
“Haha, Your Majesty. It’s wine and snacks.”
I know.
That what Jereuth is holding is wine and snacks.
What I wanted to ask was—.
“Ah, you were asking why I brought this.”
“Yes.”
“You gave the troops a holiday today, so I thought you and I are also on holiday, so I brought it. Does Your Majesty dislike wine?”
“No, well…… I don’t dislike it, but it’s a bit sudden.”
I offered Jereuth the guest sofa. Jereuth bowed his head slightly to in thanks, then placed the wine and snacks on the table in front of the sofa.
“Head Maid, could you leave us? I’d like to talk comfortably with His Majesty alone.”
“Uh……”
Elly glanced at . A glance that asked whether she should leave or stay.
“Uh, Elly, you can go ho early today too. I’ll call you later if I need you.”
“I understand, Your Majesty. Then……”
As she left the room, Elly looked back and forth between Jereuth and . It seems Elly was also surprised by Jereuth’s sudden visit with wine.
As Elly left.
Pop—.
Jereuth opened the wine bottle and said as he poured it into the cups he had brought.
“This wine is called ‘Red Dragon’s Fla.’ The na is fierce, but the alcohol content is not very high, so it should be easy to drink. It’s also a fruit wine made mainly from strawberries.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
Jereuth poured wine into his own cup and then offered the cup to . It seed he wanted to make a toast.
Clink—.
I drank the wine without much thought…….
“Cough, cough!”
“Hahahaha! Are you alright?”
“Oof……! You call this not strong?”
Did he say the na of the wine was ‘Red Dragon’s Fla’?
It was really hot. It feels like fire is coming out of my nose.
I can clearly feel my body getting hot.
Gulp—!
But surprisingly, Jereuth drank this strong wine without any problem. Then he said sothing aningful.
“It is a strong wine, but I said it was mild because it seed less harsh than what Your Majesty has endured.”
“……”
“And I also brought it today thinking, why not get drunk like an ordinary young man in so tavern in the royal capital, without any worries.”
Now I know why Jereuth ca to see .
It seems Jereuth wanted to comfort .
The ‘sorrow of a great victory.’
Jereuth poured wine into his cup again and said.
“When I see Your Majesty, two people co to mind. One is your father and my friend, Philip. Just like when he was young, you are also very wise. As if you have the ability to see the future.”
“……”
“In the end, various unfortunate events overlapped, and the end of his life was a bit bitter…… no, is that not it either. Perhaps Philip believed in his son and, on the contrary, prepared to rebuild this kingdom from the ground up.”
Gulp—.
Jereuth downed the strong wine in one go again.
For so reason, I wanted to drink along. Maybe I want to get drunk like a fool for the first ti in a long ti, without any worries.
‘Well…… I’ve never gotten drunk without any worries in my life. It was tough to live even in Korea.’
I also drank the wine vigorously.
“Hoo……. This wine is really strong.”
“But still, you are His Majesty. There are many people who can’t even touch it.”
“As you said, it seems less bitter than life.”
“Haha……”
Jereuth laughed and poured wine into my cup again.
I’ll drink what he gives , but the pace seems too fast.
“To continue what I was saying earlier, the other person who cos to mind when I see Your Majesty is the Emperor of the Angla Empire.”
“The Emperor of the Angla Empire…… are you referring to the one called the ‘Emperor of Iron and Blood’?”
“That’s right. I fought alongside him for several years in the war against the demonic race, and he was a truly great man. He was a man who had everything a monarch should have: insight, boldness, ruthlessness, and ambition.”
Jereuth rarely praised soone like that.
Since the topic of the Emperor of the Angla Empire ca up, I decided to subtly ask about the content from the from before.
“Were you close with that emperor, Sir Jereuth?”
“We were not close. I thought the emperor was great, but I did not respect him.”
“Why?”
“Because he did not cherish his knights and soldiers. He only saw them as tools for victory.”
“……”
“But you are different, Your Majesty. You cherish your soldiers as you would your own body, and for that, you are respected and loved by the knights and soldiers. On the other hand, that emperor was feared by the army.”
“To rule the army with fear…… so that’s it.”
“Yes. Ruling the army with fear is not entirely wrong. But to truly rule the army, one must know how to use both love and fear. Like you, Your Majesty.”
Gulp—.
Jereuth emptied his cup again.
I emptied mine as well. To hell with it.
“Kuh……. I’m just trying to make the best choice at every mont. Then Commander—no, Sir Jereuth. If that emperor were to invite you to his birthday, would you go?”
“……The emperor inviting to his birthday?”
“Yes. Let’s just talk about it for fun. We’re drinking anyway.”
“Usually, when people talk for fun while drinking, they talk about won…… haha, you are indeed different, Your Majesty.”
Jereuth looked at his cup and thought for a mont, then nodded.
“If the emperor were to invite , I would probably want to refuse. For the emperor to suddenly invite …… it’s obvious he would have a rather burdenso request.”
“A burdenso request?”
“Yes. If the emperor were to invite to his palace, the reason would probably be because he wants my son.”
“……Sir Jereuth’s son?”
“Yes. It might be different now, but until the war with the demonic race, that emperor only had daughters. Even though he had fathered children with over thirty wives.”
To have only daughters after having children with over thirty wives…… does that an he has over thirty daughters?
“So that emperor was really greedy for a son. But he was more than ten years older than , so he said it was getting a bit difficult for him to have children.”
“You talked about very personal things.”
“Yes. Because that emperor liked .”
Gulp—.
Jereuth continued to speak as he drank.
“What that emperor used to say as a habit was, 「“Jereuth, I would give you any of my daughters. Just give a son. If it’s a son born from the seed of a great knight, I will raise that son as the emperor.”」”
“Wow……. You must have been incredibly popular in your pri.”
“Just 20 years ago, kings and nobles lined up to give their daughters. Even in the midst of that war.”
“So the reason you stayed in the Plank Kingdom was because of your loyalty to the kingdom? Or was it sothing else?”
“It was more out of loyalty to Philip and love for Your Majesty’s mother than loyalty to the kingdom.”
That seed plausible.
“Anyway. If the emperor were to call , it would be for that reason, so I would want to refuse. I have Silvia now.”
“Do you not want to have multiple wives?”
“If Your Majesty has multiple wives, I will think about it then. But you have no such intention, do you, Your Majesty?”
“? I like won a lot.”
“Would soone like that not even glance at the maids who await his touch every day? Haha.”
Well…… is that so.
I’ve been so busy that I haven’t really paid attention to that part.
“But perhaps if the emperor sees Your Majesty, his thoughts about might change.”
“How so?”
“He will say it to you, not . 「“I will give you any of my daughters, so just make a son.”」 —he will say.”
“……Why is that?”
“Because you are a stronger man than I am, Your Majesty.”
“……”
“Whether in swordsmanship or strategy. Whether in strength or wisdom. You overwhelm , Your Majesty. So that emperor will surely want your son. He might even explicitly order his daughters to seduce you.”
It wasn’t just sothing he was saying off the cuff while drunk.
Jereuth’s voice was sincere.
For so reason…… I had a feeling that if I accepted the invitation from the Emperor of the Angla Empire, which would be coming soon, I would be put in a very awkward situation in many ways.
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