Chapter 2

Chapter 2 - Returning to the Past (2)

 

An unprecedented incident where the First Prince beheaded a high-ranking noble, a Count, in the royal castle.

Furthermore, the opponent was Count Asus, a long-time friend of the King.

Thanks to this, the royal castle of the Kingdom of Esteban was turned upside down.

"The First Prince has entered."

At the attendant's voice echoing in the Great Hall, a smirk escaped me at the somewhat unfamiliar title.

I slowly moved my steps and approached the throne that rose at the end of the vast Great Hall.

A golden chair that could not even be seen without raising one's head. A seat that had been mine until recently.

And a space where a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood had stretched endlessly at the very end.

But now, my father, whom I had missed so much, sat there in a healthy state.

"Allen Esteban."

I smiled brightly at my father's voice, which I heard after a long time.

Just how long has it been since I laughed like this?

If there were someone who knew my appearance before I regressed, they would have been greatly surprised.

Since I had suddenly ascended to the position of king, I did not remember laughing sincerely for at least ten years.

Nevertheless, the corners of my mouth rising naturally did not feel awkward.

"Ahem."

I broke out of my reverie at the sound of a noble clearing his throat.

As I narrowed my eyes and looked around, the nobles lined up around the throne turned their heads with disgusted expressions.

Oh! These are all familiar faces.

Unknowingly, I spat out my inner thoughts.

"It has truly been a long time. Father."

"I told you to always watch your words and actions, Allen Esteban. Bear in mind that this is the time of a solemn noble council."

Oops.

I bowed my head, recalling the etiquette I had learned long ago.

"I greet the King, who is the guide for all knights and leads the Kingdom of Esteban."

"Tsk. That is enough, First Prince. Raise your head."

"Yes."

Reciting such ridiculous lines was also a long time coming.

This, too, was a somewhat fresh feeling.

In that way, the noble council began in a fairly solemn atmosphere.

"You probably know why we have held this noble council."

"That is correct. Is it not because that son of a...... ahem. Is it not because Count Asus died?"

"Quite accurate. Then does the First Prince admit to the fact that he killed Count Asus, his aide, in the office this morning?"

"Yes. I admit it."

My quick admission caused a stir in the surroundings.

Most were at the level of shaking their heads at the catastrophe that occurred in the royal castle, but among them were those who looked at me with displeased or hostile eyes.

Looking closely, they were the hyenas who had clung to Duke Asus and picked up the crumbs even before I regressed.

As the commotion continued, the scabbard held in the King's hand struck the floor forcefully.

THUD THUD THUD!

Then, the inside of the Great Hall became as quiet as a dead mouse.

Just as I was scanning the nobles who had fallen silent, the angry King's voice pierced my ears like a lightning bolt.

"Why did the First Prince murder the innocent Count Asus, and in the royal castle that ought to be noble?"

The innocent Count Asus.

In a way, it was a natural story.

From the perspective of the nobles, Count Asus was a loyal subject who was more upright than anyone else and gave his full loyalty to the royal family.

I thought so as well.

But I was confident.

Killing the bastard was a righteous thing, and it was only right that it be so.

The positions of those people who knew nothing were not my concern.

Of course, that did not mean I could just leave it like this.

No matter what the future held, was he not the upright Count Asus who had not revealed his teeth right now?

It was a matter of course that this incident would become a stumbling block for my future path for a long time.

I cannot waste the newly obtained time on a trivial matter like this.

Now that I have returned to the past.

The things I had to do were piled up like a mountain.

Therefore, I drew out the knowledge I had obtained from the future as a weapon.

"Before I answer that question. I dare to ask something of the King."

"Speak."

"What range of actions does communication with an enemy nation, handled by the kingdom's laws, apply to?"

Several nobles' expressions crumpled at my boldly thrown question.

I did not miss that moment and memorized the faces of the nobles whose expressions had changed.

The King, flustered by the unexpected question, spoke.

"On a small scale, it includes financial support such as military provisions or gold coins, and on a large scale, it is defined as any act that benefits an enemy nation."

"Then, what punishment is a person who received support from another country and plotted a rebellion set to receive?"

"That is......"

Only then did the King also feel something was strange and narrowed his eyes. However, the words that would come out of his mouth were already decided.

"The person concerned and their three generations are to be executed immediately, and their noble title is to be permanently stripped."

The corners of my mouth went up once again.

I spread both arms and shouted as if giving a speech.

"I would not have killed Count Asus if he were an innocent man! However, he was secretly raising troops with the support of the Carrot Federal Empire!"

"......What?"

"Of course, I dare say that all of it was for the purpose of plotting a rebellion."

Then, the voices of the nobles rose instantly, and a commotion unlike anything before broke out inside the Great Hall.

"That is a lie! How could Count Asus, who has been fully loyal to the royal family, do such a thing!"

"That is a story that makes no sense!"

MURMUR MURMUR.

To dare call it a lie to the prince of a nation.

Under normal circumstances, it was an action that could never be tolerated, but the shock received by the nobles lined up in the Great Hall was that immense.

However, contrary to that, a look of rage was reflected on the King's face.

"Listening quietly, it seems there is nothing you cannot say, Allen Esteban!"

"It is the truth, without a single lie."

"How dare you! You are standing in this place right now for the crime of killing a pillar of the kingdom who has devoted his loyalty to the royal family over hundreds of years!"

"Yes. I am aware."

"But, in such a place, do you dare to try to mock me!"

It was a series of unbelievable sounds. It was natural for the King's voice to rise.

"I merely acted for the sake of the kingdom."

But was his appearance not far too confident, unlike usual, as if he had only spoken the truth and truly did what had to be done?

"If you intended to humiliate me for the sake of an excuse, I will not let it pass lightly. You will have to take responsibility for your own words."

"Of course."

"Evidence. There must be evidence. Where is the evidence that Count Asus communicated with the empire?"

"Coincidentally, I have it right now."

"Bring it here at once."

I pulled out two sheets of paper I had prepared in advance from my chest and handed them to the official waiting below the throne.

It was something I had hurriedly taken out before being called to the noble council.

Of course, just as the bastard had said, all the evidence was sleeping beneath the office.

To think it would be used like this.......

The password to open the hidden safe was exactly as the one the bastard mainly used.

Based on the bastard's personality, it was a part where my guess that the place to hide things or the password would not have changed hit the mark.

Soon, the papers passed through the official's hands to the King.

The King's expression as he read them through began to collapse gradually.

What I handed to the King was one of the clear proofs that Asus intended to send to the Carrot Federal Empire, which the past me had searched for over a long period.

There was no information regarding the sender, but perhaps the King, who was Asus's long-time friend, would have deciphered Asus's characteristic handwriting and seal.

But.

"This is......"

It was merely two letters, but the contents within were nothing short of shocking.

Not only did it directly mention the usurpation of the throne, but one of the letters was at a level where the movements of the kingdom's troops were written in detail.

The King's rage reached its peak, especially at the following passage.

"To prevent any evidence of assassination from remaining by having me consume lightly diluted poison for over ten years? Are you telling me to believe this content right now!"

The letters held in the King's hand were ruthlessly crumpled.

As expected, it turns out like this.

Since it was a fact that even I, who had regressed, could not believe, I did not think that others would believe this fact all at once.

Of course.......

I would not have presented it if I could not prove this as well.

I slowly approached the throne and spoke.

"By any chance, do you think those letters were forged?"

"It is a possible thing if it is for an immediate immunity!"

"Even if that is the case, if you call the royal mages and order an investigation, it will be found out within a single hour. Of course, you, the King, who are Count Asus's friend, would know better that those letters are authentic."

You already know, do you not?

The inside of the Great Hall was filled with suffocating tension in an instant.

And my mouth, as if enjoying the sight, slowly opened.

"There are other things that Count Asus has committed besides that. Representatively, there would be the matter of communicating with the northern barbarians and selling the military information of our allies."

"......What?"

If communicating with the Carrot Empire was close to a shocking accusation, this statement was truly a series of absurdities.

This was the same for the King, who was maintaining a relatively calm appearance.

The King spoke, trying his best to calm his stuttering voice.

"Selling information to the barbarians? That is truly an absurd story."

"As proof of that, a messenger announcing the invasion of the barbarians will arrive soon."

"Ha! How could mere barbarians invade the kingdom?"

"As expected, you do not believe me. Fine. Then how about we do it like this?"

I twisted and pulled off the ring that was worn on my left hand, then carefully set it down.

It was a treasure that was the crest of the royal family and evidence of my status as the First Prince.

"If my words are wrong, I will accept all punishments willingly. However, I have come to realize the importance of information through this incident."

"That is......"

"So, if my words are indeed correct...... please permit me to establish a direct intelligence department for the future of Esteban."

"Ha, you request a right at a hearing regarding your crime instead?"

The inside of the Great Hall was still filled with the murmurs of the nobles.

However, the King, who should have suppressed the commotion at least for now, felt the same way.

"You will also have to take responsibility for these words."

Because the barbarian invasion was such a nonsensical story.

At that moment.

BANG!

All that commotion was ended by a knight who ran in with a face pale with fright.

Whether he had run without time to tidy himself, dust flew from the knight's body and scattered on the floor of the Great Hall.

At that sight, the King's brow furrowed.

"Just what is this rudeness!"

The King's furious voice echoed in the Great Hall.

The knight, who ran before the King without even having time to draw breath, bowed his head and spoke hurriedly.

"I-It is breaking news! Please forgive my sudden rudeness!"

"Breaking news? Just what has happened that you interfere with a solemn noble council?"

"A large-scale invasion by the barbarians has been detected at the northern border!"

"......What?"

The gazes of the nobles were concentrated on me in an instant.

An expression of utter disbelief was clearly revealed on their faces.

The inside of the Great Hall fell into chaos.

I took off my coat and spoke to the knight who was gasping for breath in the middle of the Great Hall.

"Withdraw troops from the nobles near the border immediately, and tell the soldiers on the front line to focus only on pulling back the defensive line and holding out. The royal elite units will arrive within four days."

"Yes? Yes! I will follow your command!"

A very natural command.

It was a clear abuse of authority, yet no one here noticed it.

I brushed back my bangs as I watched the departing knight.

"King. Is my word proven by this?"

"Just what on earth is......"

"Where would there be more certain evidence than this that Count Asus communicated with an enemy nation?"

It was a lie.

The invasion of the barbarians simply happened to occur today. It was a matter that had nothing to do with Count Asus.

However, thanks to the series of situations, only the fact that it was something Count Asus had done would have dominated the thoughts of the people in this place right now.

A situation that was being fitted together like a puzzle.

Intentionally dragging out time and not presenting evidence immediately was for that reason.

With a design close to perfect, I was able to imprint the fact that he was a spy for the Carrot Federal Empire into the King's mind, despite it not being complete evidence of communication.

And the result was.......

"The First Prince...... how did you know this fact?"

"I noticed suspicious signs from Count Asus and conducted a separate investigation."

"Is that so...... truly, Count Asus did......"

"I cannot say that the act of taking a life in the royal castle is light, but my convictions could not forgive this."

The King let out a groan close to a lament and leaned his body against the throne.

I did not miss this moment and began to push strongly.

"That is not all. Besides communication, the Count has committed heinous acts such as hiring assassins to kill nobles who interfered with his business."

"Whew."

Similarly, this also is not easy to accept just by word of mouth.

Evidence that I had failed to bring due to insufficient time.

What I pulled out now was the wedge that would conclude this case.

"Proving this is not difficult, but would it be meaningful for me to speak the location where the evidence is situated in this place?"

"What does that mean?"

"Even if I speak the place where the evidence exists, it would be of no use if someone in this place destroys that evidence."

My gaze once again brushed past the faces of the nobles.

From the nobles with bewildered expressions to the bastards who had turned pale. I spoke while sufficiently enjoying those expressions.

"Therefore, I hope that you will immediately block the doors of the Great Hall and dispatch an investigator."

The appearance of the First Prince, full of conviction, was a completely different feeling from the behavior he had shown until now.

A manner of speaking and behavior as if he had become a different person.

To the King, who had been with him for the past 20 years, it appeared that way.

However, the judgment was quick.

"Where is the evidence?"

"It is nearby."

"Hmm...... Listen, Arnold, the Royal Guard Captain."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"As soon as the First Prince speaks the location, go and bring the evidence."

"I will receive your comman......"

"No."

I cut off Arnold's words.

Then, the King's eyebrows twitched.

"What is it now?"

"He was someone whom Count Asus usually sponsored. Would he not perhaps destroy the evidence for the sake of Count Asus's honor?"

Before the regression. The Royal Guard helped with the rebellion despite being the King's direct knight order.

And Arnold was a state where he was serving as the captain of the Royal Guard even in the future.

Therefore, if I were to exclude the bastard, I would exclude him, but I could not trust him.

Arnold shook his head back and forth with a wronged expression.

"That is absolutely not the case!"

"They say you can know ten fathoms under the water, but you cannot know one fathom of a person's heart. Even that Asus was like that. We must exercise caution upon caution for a potential situation."

Then, I replied while smiling toward Arnold.

"Would that not be the case?"

"Whew."

The King spoke while sighing.

"Then who does the First Prince want to send as an investigator?"

"In my opinion......"

I carefully examined the faces of the nobles lined up.

Someone who had no contact with Duke Asus before the regression, yet whose expression did not change during the revelation.

I found a suitable person and nodded.

"Baron Vidor would be good."

"Yes? Are you talking about me?"

Baron Vidor, who was called by me, spoke with a flustered look.

He was a man reputed to be gentle and without great greed even in the future. A fair noble who cared for the people of his territory more than anyone.

He was sufficient to trust with the work.

"Fine, Baron Vidor. Hear the location from the First Prince and go immediately."

"I, Vidor, will receive your command."

It is done.

It is the situation exactly as I intended.

I approached the desk where the scribe was sitting and took the paper and pen.

Then, I drew a simple map along with the location where the evidence was situated and handed it to Baron Vidor.

Baron Vidor, who checked the location, was greatly surprised.

"I-Is it really in such a place?"

"Yes."

I gestured Baron Vidor to hurry along. Then, although he had a half-believing face, he left the Great Hall.

The King, who confirmed his departure, opened his mouth.

"Then we will postpone the decision on the treatment of the First Prince, which was the agenda of this noble council, for a little while. Do you have more to say, First Prince?"

"Yes. I do."

"......Try saying it."

"Since Count Asus is dead, I will decide on my aide again."

"......I understand."

The King spoke while brushing back his bangs with a tired face.

"If the aide the First Prince wants is in this place, call their name."

At those words, the faces of the nobles stiffened.

Do not worry. I will not pick you.

"They are not in this place, so I will speak of it again later."

"Yes. I understand."

"Also, please grant permission to establish a knight order to conduct separate information gathering under the aforementioned intelligence department."

"Whew...... fine, do as you wish."

The King soon closed his eyes and leaned back as if he did not want to think about anything.

In that way, only silence was full in the Great Hall.

The only one who was excited in this situation was me.

Let's see.......

My cold gaze fell upon several nobles.

Just before dying by the hand of Duke Asus. The faces that laughed behind him.

And the spies who, receiving orders from surrounding countries, only placed hindrances at every turn.

Although they were younger now, I did not fail to recognize those disgusting faces.

Thanks to that, a smile came out naturally.

I will kill you all soon, too.

This incident was merely a minor warning.

My revenge was just beginning.