Chapter 89: Tenorius (1)

"Father, that's..."

"Do you still think you're qualified after losing so many soldiers?"

The emperor looked down at the third prince with cold eyes. The third prince lowered his gaze.

"There was a difference of nearly 10,000 troops."

"You should have found another way. Just because you had fewer troops, you were wiped out... Does that mean Erendil won battles because he had more soldiers?"

The third prince closed his mouth. He had opened it reflexively but realized it would only make things worse.

The first and second princes quietly observed the situation. The emperor seemed to dislike the scene.

"Why are you silent? Does that mean you agree with me?"

"We will show you better results."

Only then did the first prince speak. The emperor let out a hollow laugh.

"After losing 50,000?"

"...10,000 remain."

The first prince replied, but his voice lacked confidence.

"What could you have done with the remaining 10,000?"

The first prince also fell silent. Silence filled the room. The emperor scanned the room with a displeased expression.

Well, though he spoke harshly, everyone knew he wasn't making a final decision.

This was essentially a meeting for reprimand. The emperor then turned to the second prince.

"Why are you silent? Do you agree?"

"No, I don't."

"Then you think you did well?"

"..."

"Useless."

The second prince's face showed a sense of injustice. He seemed to not understand why he was being reprimanded.

"Because they targeted the first prince, you didn't even engage in a proper battle, and you didn't show any significant achievements in the Hrit siege. Are you satisfied with that?"

The emperor clicked his tongue.

"True, you look better compared to even worse ones, but that's not something to be proud of. Instead of the first prince, you could have lost troops."

"No, I would have been different. I wouldn't have been defeated like that."

The second prince clenched his teeth. The first prince glared at him, his face flushed with embarrassment.

"You still have some confidence."

The emperor spoke sarcastically, but he seemed somewhat satisfied with the second prince's response.

Of course, it was a fleeting expression. The emperor sighed loudly.

"Is that why you want to continue this struggle, even though all you've shown is a miserable state?"

"..."

"If you want to continue, go ahead. I don't know if there will be another event as significant as this war."

The emperor's words, though scolding, were not wrong. This was the first war in 130 years to award the Founding Emperor's Medal.

It was impossible for anything bigger to happen for a while.

Unless demon followers suddenly appeared and attacked the empire, it would be hard to reverse the current evaluation.

In fact, the princess suffered because she was a woman.

The empire had never had a female emperor. She could not even participate in the competition.

If it weren't for her gender, the succession struggle would have effectively ended with this war.

She was receiving more attention than before, but it was not commensurate with her achievements.

Time was on the princes' side.

Heroic tales are forgotten. In a few years, people would gather around the princes again.

And it would end with the death of the defeated royal grandchildren. The current emperor had also killed his brother.

However, not immediately. Direct assassination attempts were impossible under the emperor's strict orders.

There was a high risk of rebellion if someone became emperor through assassination without solid support.

The emperor would only allow such a thing after one of his children had a solid support base.

His father had done the same. Of course, the signal to allow it was not a direct statement.

"Dismissed."

As everyone stood up with uncomfortable expressions, the emperor suddenly called out to the princess.

"Erendil."

"Yes, Father."

"Well done."

"Thank you, Father."

In front of the princes, the emperor continued.

"You brought back the unruly King Rohalak, so I should reward you as promised. Is there anything you want?"

"No."

"Really? Just like your bodyguard."

Erendil glanced at me. The emperor shrugged.

"Think about it. If you want something, let me know."

* * *

"Sir."

A few days later, as Emitt left Erendil's room, a knight temporarily assigned to guard duty bowed.

He was one of Duke Ryurik's knights, a decent man. Emitt patted his shoulder.

"Is everything okay?"

"Of course. It's an honor."

"Good."

Emitt nodded and turned to me.

"Let's talk for a moment."

We walked a few steps toward the window. It was the place where I reported to Phiri while looking at the stars in the early morning.

Emitt sighed lightly.

"Why are you like this?"

"His Majesty told me to continue."

It was about the guard duty.

Emitt, who had lost an arm, wanted to quit, but Erendil did not want him to.

"You should continue."

"I can't. How can a one-armed knight protect His Majesty?"

"Even with one arm, your skills are enough, Sir Emitt."

"No, they're far from enough. My sword doesn't feel like mine anymore."

I understood Emitt's feelings. Even if he had lost his left arm instead of his right, the sense of disconnection would have been significant.

The center of gravity of his body had changed, making it impossible to perform at his usual level.

Adaptation was essential.

No one could guess how long it would take. His age might make it even harder.

There were many things he could do without a sword, so he might need to re-establish the sword skills he had built over a long time.

He might look fine on the outside, but inside, he must be quite distressed.

"You can adapt."

"Are you talking about someone else's situation too easily?"

Emitt laughed and scolded me, but I wondered if he was being sincere. I shook my head.

"Isn't there the precedent of Swordmaster Haven Tang?"

"It's a pipe dream. Reaching a realm I couldn't even dare to with both arms..."

Swordmaster Haven Tang, a one-armed swordmaster, was a role model for everyone, but Emitt was pessimistic.

However, I, like Erendil, wanted Emitt to stay.

"I'm not saying you must become a Swordmaster. Even if you recover 80% of your original skills, it would be hard to find a better knight than you."

Emitt chuckled at the unexpected flattery. It wasn't entirely wrong.

"I want you to stay by His Majesty's side. As you know, it's an important time. The only knight I trust is you."

"Don't hate the other knights too much; they are also trying their best."

"I don't hate them. It's a matter of trust."

While the existing bodyguards, who had treated me coldly during my training, now treated me warmly, I only knew Emitt.

He had stayed by Erendil's side until the end. I needed someone like him.

"I'll help you."

"With what?"

"Let's practice swords on rest days. If I, whom Sir Ludern praised for talent, can help you in some way, won't that be beneficial?"

Since I trained on rest days anyway, meeting Emitt wouldn't be a problem.

Emitt let out a hollow laugh.

"Ha, really."

Turning to look out the window, Emitt's side profile looked lonely but also showed a faint sense of emotion.

Hmm. Perhaps he had mixed feelings.

He might want to stay by Erendil's side but was worried about being a burden.

Emitt must have known how Erendil would react and might have wanted to hear such words from me.

"Who else can protect His Majesty if not Emitt, who has guarded the princess for over a decade?"

"That's enough."

I felt Emitt's side profile relax a bit. Now, all that was left was time.

Emitt stared out the window for a long time. When a bird chirped from somewhere, the middle-aged knight finally spoke.

"Tomorrow. What time?"

I responded with a bright smile.

"When is convenient for you?"

* * *

After the war, there were no major changes in the guard duties, but the rest day schedule changed significantly.

While I used to just rest and train at home, now I had many people to meet.

Many people called for me. My performance, combined with Erendil's outstanding achievements, made me popular.

Since it was difficult for ordinary nobles to meet the princess directly, they called for me.

I wasn't the only one busy. Most of the people on the princess's side were similar to me. Of course, I was the most popular.

My performance in the war. People saw it as an opportunity to build connections with both Erendil and me.

It was better than before, but not entirely good.

As I initially thought, most people were just trying to establish a connection, not full support.

'They're just testing the waters.'

Erendil had shown great performance, but the future was unpredictable.

If the succession struggle dragged on, who knew what variables might arise.

I didn't show any urgency. It would only lower my value.

It's a rule that the other side feels anxious when you act calmly.

Of course, this didn't apply to people I had already targeted.

It was the same now.

Merchant Alend.

The owner of one of the top ten merchant guilds in the empire and a future top merchant.

"Would you consider supporting the princess?"

"Hehe."

Alend laughed to buy time at my direct question.

"Sir, aren't you being too hasty? Besides, I'm just a merchant."

"I don't think so. You're not just a merchant."

I sipped my tea and smiled.

"I believe you will become the top merchant in the empire."

In the game, Alend could have bought a title with money but chose not to.

A man who remained true to his merchant's duty?

However, his principles didn't lead to anything negative. He spent a fortune in the war against demon followers.

He even rejected the demon followers' offers. A character players would like.

I had asked him about it before.

- Why did you reject the demon followers' offers?

- Because it would lead to ruin for those who bring me money and those who recognize my profits.

- I heard they promised you a fortune.

- What can you do with a fortune if you have no one? Merchants need both buyers and sellers. I must protect that.

A person I could definitely trust and who was essential for the future.

However, Alend also seemed to be more interested in building connections than in full support.

I knew his personality, so I was direct.

Alend, looking at me with surprise, shrugged.

"Why do you think so? I'm curious."

"Merchants value integrity the most. You keep your promises even at a loss, so you don't make promises lightly."

Alend stared at me.

"Is that enough?"

"Starting from scratch and becoming one of the top ten in 20 years, you have what it takes to be the best in the empire."

I smiled lightly.

"I won't talk about loyalty to the empire or anything like that. Invest in the princess now."

"Invest?"

"Yes. The northeastern campaign, the western war. No one expected the princess to perform as she did."

"To be honest, I agree. I was also wrong."

"So, the princess is at her lowest value now."

Alend chuckled. It felt like a positive signal.

"I didn't know you had the qualities of a merchant, Sir Kal Shurtafen."

"I'll take it as a compliment."

"It is. If not for your persuasion, I wouldn't have considered it."

Right. Alend hadn't sided with any prince. Yet, he was the top merchant.

"However, will the princess show more in the future?"

"Who knows? Can you predict how the world will change?"

"True."

After a long thought, Alend put down his teacup.

"What can I offer the princess? I only have money..."

Of course. He was as easy to talk to as in the game.

"Money is enough."

There are many things money can't solve, but with a fortune, it's different.