The Returned Sword King Decided to Become a Tyrant Episode 19
Hidden Truth and Revealed Facts (4)
“Ugh.”
With an exclamation, the shape of an ordinary face that could have been anywhere shimmered and disappeared.
What appeared next was a face half-covered by long hair.
“You were completely hidden by the artifact… … How did you even notice?”
A strong scent that cannot be hidden even by the attendant’s shabby outfit.
The well-wrapped formal speech and the glimpse of detail through the hair were enough to make one guess at his identity.
“I felt something.”
“Unfortunately, that doesn’t explain it.”
The maids who had been carrying the food had already stepped back and moved to a distance where they could no longer hear the conversation.
The 4th Prince, Raiden del Carrot, turned his head to confirm this and continued speaking.
“I asked because I was curious about the method by which you completely saw through my identity.”
In a cold atmosphere, unlike her soft speech, she met eyes with the 4th Prince.
There was only emptiness in it, without any feelings whatsoever.
“A leisurely and unassuming gait. A steady breathing. And yet, an attitude that maintained the status of a bystander throughout.”
“… … .”
“You wouldn’t say that the explanation is insufficient, would you?”
As the saying goes, a place makes a person, and people tend to behave according to the place they are placed in.
However, the Fourth Prince’s question was still unsolved.
“If you simply felt suspicious, then that would be understandable, but are you saying that you figured out my identity through something like that? And that too, since it was our first meeting, and I am the 4th prince who does not even engage in external activities?”
His face, illuminated by the dim light, was filled with surprise.
It was a natural thing, but I had no intention of answering his questions.
I sat down with a dull expression.
“I don’t think that’s very important in the current situation.”
“… … I see. Sorry about that.”
Is this an apology for hiding something? Or is it an apology for being rude in trying to get information?
Anyway, the prince approached with natural steps and sat down next to Count Esula.
Then the count coughed in vain as if trying to lighten the mood.
“I apologize, Your Highness. I never intended to hide my identity with ill intentions.”
“It doesn’t matter. Now that it’s been revealed, there’s no need to apologize.”
Because I knew it from the beginning at the meeting.
Rather, I was looking forward to when it would be revealed.
There must have been a reason why the one who would later become the Emperor of the Federal Empire came to Esteban while hiding his identity.
And the reason had to do with me.
“Count. Is it okay for me to talk here?”
“… … Yes. Do as you wish.”
The count greets the man dressed as his attendant with great courtesy.
As I was staring at that funny sight, the 4th Prince’s question came in right away.
“Then let me get straight to the point. Why did you specifically mention the Galder Plains when you could have gotten something better?”
I raised the corners of my mouth in laughter at those words.
“I think I’ve already told you this.”
To achieve political goals.
It was also the excuse we discussed in the previous meeting.
Of course, it was just an excuse that no one would accept.
“In my opinion, I can’t help but think there must be some other reason. For example… … I see. Something was discovered through the intelligence that has uncovered the full story of this civil war… … .”
“It seems like a far-fetched story.”
“Anyone can exaggerate to some extent.”
It was a funny situation.
The original purpose has disappeared, and the roles of those trying to see and those trying to hide have been reversed.
But the one thing that doesn’t change is that I hold all the clues.
I picked up the dishes leisurely.
“If that’s really true?”
“… … .”
“Maybe something has changed.”
I look at the half-face that is smiling with the same expression as before and smile back.
The face hidden behind the mask probably isn’t smiling.
In the end, the winner of this fight cannot be the 4th Prince who has no information.
“It is fate that we met like this, and I will give you some interesting information.”
“… … Is that interesting information?”
“Yes. Please consider this as a thank you for preparing a surprise gift.”
I lowered my head slightly and muttered in a low voice.
It was a light conversation that started in passing, but I made sure not to take its contents lightly.
“The barbarians are coveting the lands of the Empire.”
A small crack appeared for the first time on the Fourth Prince’s smiling face.
* * *
The 4th Prince, who had refused to attend the party on the pretext that he was a secret guest, was deep in thought as he looked out the window at the busy party preparations.
It was not the fault of the first prince who had personally made him travel to a foreign country far away, thereby destroying all of his plans.
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To be exact, the words he said at the end of breakfast could be said to be the starting point of all my worries.
-The barbarians are coveting the lands of the empire.
The 4th Prince’s eyes slowly closed as he recalled the memories from that time.
-… … Are you saying they are after the empire?
-The final battle will be this coming summer. They have already reached the very edge of the Empire.
Regardless of whether you believe it or not, it was an astonishing story.
10 years… no, even if you look back over a hundred years, the barbarians never invaded the empire.
Also, if it was targeting Esteban, I don’t know, but I didn’t feel like it was happening right away.
But the first prince did not forget to give advice, as if he thought his words were right.
-If you find it hard to believe, try tracing the movements of the barbarians. Of course, by then it will be too late.
-… … .
– It is the responsibility of His Highness the 4th Prince to hear this information.
“… … That’s nonsense.”
The fourth prince took out a cigarette with a leisurely gesture, bit into it, and drew the smoke deep into his lungs.
Then, as if to shake off the regret that remained in his heart, he let out a very long breath.
Phew.
It was unexpectedly surprising to find out the identity, but in the end, this too was in the realm of information.
If he had known in advance that he had disappeared from the palace, he could have easily found out by comparing the list of attendants.
Now, there was not even the slightest interest left in the First Prince.
… … I wanted to believe that.
‘If you do that, what on earth is that confidence?’
Questions that linger in my mind and won’t go away.
How on earth could he have foiled his own plans?
Why was this situation hushed up in exchange for a small piece of land?
And why did you tell me this only at the end?
‘… … Are you really saying that there is information that the Empire has not been able to detect?’
As Raiden del Carrott reminisced about the morning’s events, his attention was ultimately fixed on the First Prince.
It was an obsession to the point where I didn’t even know English.
That was when.
Ssuk-
A shadow appeared behind the 4th prince, and a man wearing a black mask appeared.
The 4th Prince also seemed to not care at all, as if he had been there from the beginning.
“Your Majesty, Leiden. I have the information you provided me through your contact with the home country.”
“Yes, I will listen.”
The masked man came closer and put his mouth on my ear.
“As of now, there are no signs of war breaking out.”
“… … .”
“Nothing is known about their movements, but I have dispatched a spy just in case, and the information Your Majesty desires will soon be in your hands.”
“……okay.”
That’s what I thought.
The prince was simply trying to shake me up by bluffing.
Perhaps, in order to leisurely escape the situation that he had been questioning… … .
The moment I thought that, a report came from the masked man.
“Aside from that, there have been some strange reports coming from the northern border area recently.”
“Is this strange news?”
“Yes. However, there are many suspicious aspects to it, so it is difficult to dismiss it as a simple phenomenon… … .”
“Please speak.”
“Yes. That is… … .”
In this way, the sudden revelation of the first prince began to flap its wings in an unfamiliar direction that no one could have predicted.
It was exactly as he wanted.
* * *
thud!
The dust that had accumulated on top of the books fluttered and filled the office.
This is dust that has been accumulating for at least ten years.
George frowned, but quickly opened the window to try to ventilate the room.
“… … What on earth is this?”
“These are the things you need to keep in your head from now on.”
What I just took out were books on strategy and tactics that had been lying dormant in the royal library.
A look of exultation appeared on George’s face as he wiped the dust off and checked the title of the book.
“Do aides these days learn strategy and tactics?”
“I don’t know about that. Probably not.”
“So, in fact, I came here as a staff member?”
“No way.”
He shook his head, as if he thought to himself that it was absurd.
I understand to some extent.
“I have never studied anything like this in my life.”
“Then I guess we can start from now.”
“… … .”
Your expression doesn’t soften?
I stared at him with an emotionless expression, and only then did he start to fumble around and collect the dust accumulated on his books.
I sat down on the chair and lifted my teacup without any disturbance.
“These are essential for your future plans. Memorize them all, sentence by sentence, within a month at the latest.”
“Then what about the party in the evening?”
“I’ll send it to you. If you memorize it all within a few hours.”
George’s expression became as sad as if he were about to die.
I wasn’t expecting any outstanding strategic or tactical use from him right away.
However, there is a huge difference between waiting for an impending war while being ignorant of strategy and tactics and observing the situation with sufficient knowledge.
“I’m not going to ask you to take on the role of chief of staff right away. But I’m going to have to raise you to a level where you can at least give simple advice.”
The future of the aide has already been decided.
George sighed deeply and resigned himself to his fate.
That didn’t mean the guy’s expression turned sour.
“No matter what, it’s impossible to memorize this much in a month… … .”
“You figure that part out yourself.”
“Yes, yes.”
The guy opened the bookshelf with a look of ignorance on his face.
I let out a final groan as I looked at the words densely engraved on the first page.
I looked at the sight and chuckled, then glanced at the party invitation.
At that moment, George’s strange voice was heard.
“Your Highness, I have a question.”
“hmm.”
“Is it really necessary to prepare for war at a time like now?”
The boy was turning the pages of the book with a look of incomprehension.
Finally, George noticed my gaze, tilted his head, and continued speaking.
“If it is as Your Majesty says, the Federal Empire will be too busy fighting the barbarians anyway.”
“I guess so.”
“Then, Your Majesty, are you preparing for a situation where they do not go to war?”
The certainty that war will inevitably break out.
What the guy meant was, if there was such a thing, was there any need to prepare for war now?
And he did it so hastily, even giving them only a month to do it.
It was a natural question for George, but it was safe to say that the future was already set.
“We are not preparing to confront the Federal Empire bastards.”
Information provided to the 4th Prince.
He’s probably just wandering around trying to confirm the facts.
And by now, you must be realizing the dark clouds hanging over the empire.
‘That’s exactly what made me think that.’
I left George behind, whose questions were still unanswered, and went to the continental mission.
In the first place, did the barbarians have enough power to overtake the empire? … … That was not the case.
Wasn’t that why, just before, they had pushed aside the many countries bordering the land of the barbarians and crawled into Esteban?
In such circumstances, the reason I confidently said that they were targeting the empire.
There was a terrible famine in the land of the barbarians.
The land of the barbarians, which was unusually cold that year.
The blustering winds froze the creatures living there to death, and cannibalism occurred frequently due to severe famine.
The barbarians gradually moved south in search of food to live on, which inevitably led to conflicts with neighboring countries.
And the place that took this direct hit was the Federation Empire, the largest grain producing region on the continent and known for having an abundance of food.
In severe cases, localized fighting even broke out.
The only difference from the past is that I told them this fact.
I leisurely returned to my seat and tapped my fingers on the desk.
‘So how will it turn out now?’
To cleverly hide a handful of lies among the coming truth.
It would already be known that food resources are rapidly draining into the lands of the barbarians.
And you will also have realized that these days, clashes with the barbarians moving south have become more frequent.
In the meantime, the information I gave them would definitely convince them that war would break out.
“… … What on earth are you up to now?”
I raised the corners of my lips in response to George’s question, who was scratching his head.
“nothing.”
Just keep moving like you’ve been doing so far.
Planning has already begun.
