The genius prince : vol 7 ch 35

“However, if you wish to remain here and continue your dispute, I will seize your lands in the name of the Chancellor of the Empire, as you are not qualified to rule the territory. "

 A heavy silence fell over the room. After a few moments of silence, Manfred opened his mouth.

"... All right, I' ll go home"

"Manfred?"

This surprised Baldrosh more than anyone else."Are you serious? You know what it means to retreat here!"

"Then let's just stand here and stare at each other until the territory burns to the ground? I don't want to do that. If we do that, we won't be able to move even if we get the chance. "

"I'm sorry, bu ...!"

"I'm sorry, but now that I've decided on a policy, I don't want to waste time discussing it. " Manfred stood up. " But don't expect this to happen again."

After saying this to Wayne and Lowellmina so, Manfred left the room with his guards. Baldrosh after a long moment of silence and anguish, squeezed out

“…I’ll withdraw, too, "

------------------------

The two army forces stationed in the vicinity of Narsila were puzzled by the order to return issued by the princes, and some of them even rebelled against it.

 However, many of them changed their attitude when they learned of the rebellion in their territories. Even if the Lord became emperor, it would be meaningless if his domain was burned to the ground. The opposition soon dwindled, and soon both armies were in retreat.

"Excuse me, His Excellency Lorencio."

Baldrosh camp. When Glenn appeared in the open-air camp tent, he found Lorencio slumped over with no strength in his arms.

"Glenn? " Lorencio raises his face and recognizes Glenn, but immediately drops his gaze to the ground.

He was a energetic man until a few days ago, he suddenly became old.

"I’ve come to report that our forces will prepare to withdraw soon. The injured and poisoned have recovered, so we project they will be able to march "

[............]

Glenn tells him in an eloquent tone, but Lorencio does not reply. The defeat must have been such a shock to him. Not only Lorencio, but all of the faction's leading figures were like this.

(Of course, it is probably His Highness Baldrosh who is the most disappointed. ......)

Who could have predicted that the situation would turn out like this after defeating Demetrio's army? The fact that we were so close to seizing the throne made the disappointment all the more profound.

"Where did we make a mistake ... His Highness Baldrosh's road is closed ..."

Lorencio shakes his head as if shaking off a nightmare. But what he is facing is not a dream but reality, and it will not disappear no matter how much he shakes his head. But even if he knows this, there are times when there is nothing he can do.

"Glenn ...If only you had finished off the Third Prince over there ..."

[......]

If Lorencio was right and the blade had reached Prince Manfred, something would have been different.

Or, if he had told Baldrosh earlier that the baptismal ceremony had been engineered by Wayne, even if only by force, would the result have been different?

 (......... I don't know, but it can't be helped.)

As a member of the faction, Glenn was willing to accept the reprimand from his superiors.

But Lorencio was no slouch either. He must have realized that his words were nothing more than a slur. He swallowed his abuse at the last moment and said in a low voice

"... .. Forgive me, I spoke nonsense."

"Huh. No, don't worry."

 Everyone knows this, but even if you know it, there are times when there is nothing you can do about it.

"Make preparations for the return. For the sake of His Highness baldrosh, the first priority now is to return to the territory and stabilize it "

Thus, the Baldrosh army returned to their own territory dejectedly.

The situation was a clear indication that Baldrosh and his faction had lost much of their power in this incident.

"Are you sure you want to withdraw?"

On the other hand, Manfred's camp. While many personnel were preparing to move out, Strang asked Manfred, "Now the emperor will be Prince Demetrio, sir."

"Seems that way. I mean, obviously, I’m not okay with it. My blood is boiling" Manfred shrugs his shoulders.

"But there’s nothing I can do. I lost this time. They got me."

"I thought it was my plan to win the war. I did not expect that you would take advantage of my plot to revolt. I am sorry."

"It was me who adopted it, so it was my loss."

Manfred asked, "What's more important than that? Are you good? If I lose, the guarantee for your hometown will disappear. "

"The worst could have been avoided if it had not been Prince Baldrosh who had ascended to the throne Besides, since Princess lowellmina seems to have formed a friendship with Prince Dimetrio, I was thinking of having her come to my hometown to offer her hospitality. "

"You were thinking?"

"no, this quick turnaround. This is why people are connected by profit."

After lamenting sullenly, Manfred suddenly noticed something strange. Then Strang said. "We have known each other for several years, but I am aware that Your Highness is not of the disposition to give up so easily. "

"......... I see. You are quite discerning, aren't you?"

Manfred nodded as impressed,

"I'm not absolutely sure about that, but I'm curious about something."

"What do you mean?"

"It's Lowellmina, I thought she was wanted to become the Empress But now she helping Dimetrio to become an emperor. "

"... Either you mistaken in her aim, or she''s given up on becoming Empress."

"Or she has something to turn the tables on us." Manfred burst into laughter. "In that case, things could still get rough. In that case, we'd better keep our strength, wouldn't we?" 

"I agree."

When Manfred had finished his explanation, he looked at Narsila in the distance.

The other three are Dimetrio, Lowellmina, and Wayne. What are their intentions?

"...Whatever it is, I just hope it turns out in my favor."

---------------------------

One is the mausoleum where the emperors of the past rest. However, it is not located inside the city of Narsila, but on the outskirts because it is a huge facility that would interfere with city functions if it were located inside the city. The other is the ritual hall where baptismal ceremonies are held. Located in the center of the city, it is believed that the spirits of the emperors of the past watch over the empire from here.

 The heir to the imperial throne receives approval as the next emperor from the ancestral spirits through a priest, and then proclaims his/her accession to the throne in front of the people of the imperial capital.

"So this is it.."

The ritual hall is not decorated in a showy manner. The place was illuminated by a few lights, but there was a solemn atmosphere that made you want to straighten yourself up.

"How are the preparations for the baptismal ceremony going?"

Dimetrio asks his subordinates.

"Huh. I was preparing under Prince Baldrosh, so it will be completed in a few days."

". Hmmm, I see."  Dimetrio shook his shoulder. "I will be the emperor ... !"

From the depths of his despondent body, he felt a surge of joy and excitement.

He had been scorned for his incompetence for years. In fact, I am less talented than my younger brothers. The only thing others recognize about me is that I am the first child of the emperor. But now, at last, he was standing on the summit.

"I am happy for you, Prince Demetrio."

"I am very happy for you, my brother."

The two who called out to him were Wayne and lowellina, who were standing by his side. lowellina, who mobilized the factions and helped maintain security during the rebellion. No one would argue that these two people should be near Dimetrio.

But Dimetrio could not see them now. In his eyes, he saw the back of his mother, who was now gone. -You will be a great emperor.

When was the last time he doubted his mother's love for him? Was it when he saw the wreath he had given her thrown away? Or when I noticed that my mother's smiling eyes were as cold as ice?

 The slightest hint of doubt built up and became a dark suspicion that swirled around in my chest. I wanted to clear my doubts. I wanted to be sure that my beloved mother loved me. But before I could do so, my mother died.

(This is how I came to be ......) So I decided to follow my mother's words and become a great emperor. If I made the empire prosperous, it would mean that my mother loved the empire as an imperial person. I believed that by doing so, I would be able to prove that my mother loved her children as well.

(Finally, I can take the first step: ......!) Dimetrio walked into the ritual hall. It was a step he took with the conviction that he himself would become emperor. With the sense of accomplishment of having made it this far and the sense of mission to become a great emperor, Dimetrio was at the peak of his happiness. And now...

“-I cannot permit the baptismal ceremony to take place. "

After all that climbing, there was a fall waiting for him.

A feeling of confusion spread among those present. All eyes turned to the doorway of the ritual hall behind them.

Standing there was Chancellor Keskinal, who had several escorts, led by Cyrus.

"... What do you mean, Keskinal?"

Dimetrio opened his mouth cautiously.

"I'm in a good mood, and I'm willing to overlook the fact that it was a delusion caused by my own imagination.  "

"No, that won't be necessary."

Keskinal repeats as he walks towards Dimetrio.

"As Chancellor of the Empire, I cannot authorize your baptism here, Prince Demetrio."

"What are you implying?" Dimetrio raised his voice.

"The rebellion in the lands is over! You have no reason to stop me! "