Chapter 24

"I'm sorry, but I must decline that."

"What...?"

Grenade's eyebrows twitched at the coldly delivered words of refusal. He had not expected his words to be rejected. A look of bewilderment clouded his eyes.

"I cannot fight against the Empire, Brother."

"…Do you understand what you are saying? This is a royal command!"

No matter that Raidor was the king's younger brother, it was not permissible to refuse the king's command. Royalty, after all, were ultimately subjects, no matter their blood ties to the king.

Grenade's eyes grew increasingly stern, and his fingers trembled with anger.

Unable to bear the sight of the king about to shout, Lockwood spoke up.

"Prince Raidor! That is disrespectful to His Majesty the King!"

"Even so, Prime Minister, as the lord of the frontier city of Raid, I have the duty to prevent the invasion of monsters from the jungle. To abandon this duty and travel to the opposite border of the territory I govern, without even being given time to prepare, is rather unreasonable, is it not? Even if it is a royal command, there must be reason, mustn't there?"

"There is no room for reason when the country is on the brink of destruction! Don't you understand the order of priorities!?"

Abandoning his usual calm, Lockwood shouted, to which Raidor responded with a cold sneer.

"The importance of guarding the border does not change, whether the enemy is the Empire or monsters. Or are there other lords from the south to the north of the kingdom who have rushed to aid? From what I recall, I have only heard that the army, the knights, and the northern territories' forces are facing the Empire."

"That…."

Lockwood was momentarily at a loss for words. Seizing this opportunity, Raidor cut in with more sharp words.

"There seem to be many noble landholders here. How many troops are you all contributing? Surely, it's not the case that you are sending me, who has no military force other than adventurers, to the front lines while you do not send any troops?"

"…!"

Raidor's words caused a murmur among the nobles.

Many of the nobles gathered to serve Grenade often did not send troops under the pretext of 'maintaining order.'

It was indeed unreasonable to expect Raidor, a royal, to comply when other nobles were refusing to join the military.

The audience chamber was filled with a wave of confusion and unease.

Some of the nobles present nodded in agreement with Raidor's words, while others were shouting about his disrespect to the king.

Fundamentally, the royal command to suddenly recall a prince who had been exiled to the frontier and order him to mobilize was unreasonable.

Raidor's argument, except for ignoring the national crisis of 'enemy invasion,' was undoubtedly correct.

Seeing the divided opinions of the other nobles, Lockwood's expression turned grim, but he tried to persuade Raidor again.

However, before the prime minister could speak, Grenade cut in.

"So? How do you plan to fight the Empire?"

Grenade's voice, trembling with anger, silenced the murmuring nobles.

Breaking the silence, Grenade continued.

"If you don't want to go to war, you could have stayed away from the capital. There must be some condition… money? Status? If you want something, say it."

Grenade's face, devoid of the forced smile from earlier, was now dominated by a look of contempt for his younger brother, whom he considered insignificant.

Staring at him with a face that no one should direct at a family member, Raidor raised the corners of his lips in a sarcastic smile.

"Indeed, Your Majesty. You are quick to the point, which is a relief. Is it that a king must be skilled at reading people's hearts?"

"…State your demands. I said that, didn't I? I have no intention of listening to your flattery."

"Understood. Then, let me state my wishes."

Raidor reached into his pocket and pulled out a rolled-up parchment from the inner pocket of his jacket.

"If you, Brother, agree to the conditions written in this oath, I will gladly fight the Empire. If you, as the king, are willing to hear the plea of a pitiful younger brother who was exiled from his homeland…."

"……"

When Raidor spoke in a jesting manner, Grenade silently glared at him, urging him to read it quickly.

Shrugging under his brother's gaze, Raidor unrolled the parchment.

Thank you for your support!

If you like it, please rate it with the stars below!