Chapter 663: The Charade Begins
"Prince Erik Lakes Adler, the second imperial prince. By the joint decree of the Chancellor and the Empress, an imperial command has been issued. Due to the current situation, we would like to welco you to the imperial capital as the temporary Crown Prince."
"A temporary Crown Prince..."
Erik was in a city in the eastern part of the empire, staying ready to move to the imperial lands at any mont. If the empire beca chaotic, it was likely that the Sokal Empire would be the first to act. And they were the only ones who could truly stand against the empire at the mont. That's why Erik was prepared in the east. It was what he could do by himself at the mont.
"Please co to the Imperial capital as soon as possible."
"It's a generous offer, but... I'm not fit for that role."
"What are you saying? There is no one more suitable than you right now."
The envoy was taken aback. Currently, Erik was the eldest of the emperor's children and a leading contender in the struggle for the throne. Even if Leo were there, Erik was a candidate who could split the empire. There was unanimous agreent that no one else was more suitable than Erik.
"If it were a stable ti, perhaps I would take up the mantle, but I currently am not strong enough to lead the empire in its current instability."
"Prince Erik, only you can do it. Moreover, the demons have vanished along with the allied forces. Though the losses were great, it could be said that humanity has miraculously triumphed. A ti of stability lies ahead."
"No, there are other suitable candidates. I have been calling for that person but... it seems they have not been reached us yet."
Erik said with a light smile, causing the envoy to tilt his head. Calling soone? At present, all mbers of the imperial family in the empire were accounted for. There was no one left to call.
"Your Highness, I'm lost here..."
"You'll understand very soon."
Just as Erik said this, another envoy burst into the room.
"Urgent news! A tsunami has occurred near Kiel!"
"Is the Adventurers' Guild taking action?"
"The guild seems to be in disarray as well... The tsunami occurred only in the eastern regions, but there are also reports of monster damage in other areas!"
"We can't keep up..."
"Prince Erik! Hurry to the imperial capital! If directives don't co from there, the local lords will have to act on their own! We won't be able to contain the situation!"
Erik shook his head in response to the imperial envoy's words.
"The damage will spread while I am returning to the capital. Right now, we need to respond on-site."
"But..."
"We must do what we can."
With that, Erik started to walk away.
When Erik arrived in the city of Kiel, the city was already in a defensive stance.
"Thank you for coming, Your Highness."
"Will you be able to hold out for long?"
"The reports say it's not as large as the previous tsunami, but... whether we can stop it or not..."
The lord spoke and Erik nodded quietly, then climbed up to the city walls with his guards.
"Have orders already been sent to the Eastern Border Defense Army?"
"They have already been sent. And To the nearby lords as well. However, the other lords need to protect their own lands. Until Duke Reinfeld moves, there will likely be no action." ṛΆ𐌽ốβЁ𝙎
"Duke Reinfeld's territory is far from here. It could be too late if we wait for him. Send a ssage again, but this ti in my na."
"Understood."
"Listen! Knights! Help will surely co! I will fight alongside you! So we must endure!!"
Taking a sword from an aide, Erik raised it.
Hearing Erik's command, the knights on the city walls also raised their swords in response.
"Hold on!!"
On the city walls, Erik was swinging his sword. He had to, in order to maintain morale. The prince was fighting and so the knights fought alongside him valiantly. However, they were not turning the tide. One by one, knights fell to the monsters that were erging continuously.
"Your Highness! Please escape!"
"There is nowhere to run! We have to hold them here!"
"But! We cannot afford to lose you now!"
"If we hold them, it's no problem! Reinforcents should be arriving soon!"
"The lords are not able to move to our aid! Please retreat!"
In the absence of the emperor and with the capital in chaos, each lord had to make their own decisions to protect their territories. It's easy to leave one's territory to help another. However, when one's own land is under threat, there would be no protectors left. That's why the lords could not move. And without a strong leader...
"Knights!!"
A short distance away, on a hill near Kiel, a man appeared. A blond-haired, blue-eyed handso man, a textbook definition of a prince, raised a long sword with the imperial crest on his cloak and struck it down.
"Imperial First Prince Wilhelm Lakes Adler commands! Protect the city of Kiel! Continue!!"
A prince who shouldn't be there. With his command, many knights charged down the hill into the swarm of monsters. Their numbers exceeded five thousand. With that command, all the surrounding knights followed.
"Impossible..."
"He's finally here..."
"Prince Erik, what does this an!? Wasn't Prince Wilhelm supposed to be dead!?"
"He was supposed to be dead... To be precise, he was in a state of suspended animation. I realized this after his death was announced. So I secretly sheltered him, believing in the day he would awaken."
"Such a thing..."
"He woke up recently. One of the dicines I prepared for my wife neutralized Wilhelm's poison. He's just started moving..."
Most of what Erik said was true. There was indeed a detoxifying drug among the dicines prepared for his wife and Wilhelm had only recently begun moving actively. There were just many things left unsaid. While leading the knights, Wilhelm quickly dispersed the monsters and entered the city of Kiel amidst great cheers.
"Are you safe, Erik?"
"I am, but Kiel has suffered great damage."
"Sorry for being late. However, the lords wouldn't believe when I said I was a ghost."
"Did they believe you when you led the knights?"
"No, I gave up on persuading them and used magic to call the knights. If you have the heart of a knight, follow ."
"You're going to have trouble with the lords later…"
"If the results are good, there won't be any complaints. Monsters are rampaging in the south as well so I'll continue leading the knights to the south."
"Aren't you going to the capital?"
"If I return, I won't make it in ti. Now, we need to act on the ground. There are currently lives to be saved. I'll apologize to the chancellor and Mother later. And about everything else..."
With that, Wilhelm smiled, a smile that Erik had seen before in the crown prince. With that smile, the people of Kiel and all the knights rejoiced. The crown prince who had once illuminated the empire has returned.
TL's Notes:
Still a bit rusty in translating, do bear with if there are any grammatical errors... Heck, roast even if there are any! We are getting into the at of things right now in this chapter huh. (im hungry)
Update 1: Sorry for the late update my readers... I was totally not busy finishing Black Myth Wukong and Sparking Zero....
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