Chapter 9

"I protested that it was strange not to even greet me or hear my opinion."

"Then, Ikt, can I still have you as my guard?"

When I asked, Ikt made a grim face.

"It will be difficult. Indeed, I am here at the call of His Majesty, but the authority to appoint palace guards lies with the Chief."

"Who is the Chief?"

It was Wearrel who answered me.

"It's the Marquis Strategos."

"He is neutral, but leans towards the Duke Eulasion, I suppose."

Harti added, but the name was only vaguely familiar to me.

"Isn't the Duke Eulasion the dukedom founded by the late emperor's younger brother?"

"Yes. If the late emperor hadn't insisted on making his own child the emperor from his deathbed, the current Duke Eulasion, the late emperor's nephew, would have been on the throne."

Herkov revealed the inside story without holding back.

I didn't know such behind-the-scenes details, but now that I've been informed, I can see the connections.

"Is there any benefit for the Duke Eulasion if I interfere with the personnel decisions made by my father?"

The attendants exchanged glances, and Harti answered.

"There is no immediate benefit. However, it could serve as a momentum to increase his faction and grow as a counterforce by overturning the current emperor's decision."

"Would that benefit the Marquis Strategos?"

"Was he not amused by the interference of a marquis who was raised to look down on him?"

At Herkov's speculation, Ikt, who knew the real person, shook his head.

"He is from a martial marquis family. Sometimes cold, sometimes able to make decisions by detaching himself from his emotions. He is more likely to create his own small but solid faction rather than serve under the Duke Eulasion."

"From Ikt's perspective, he seems to be a cautious person."

As I was imagining the character of the marquis, Wearrel raised a finger.

"Then, could this be a test to gauge Asha-sama's response? Whether the prince will accept the change of guards passively or take action to prevent it?"

"If you put it that way, I should just comply... but..."

I laughed at my quick retraction.

"This can't be left alone. If someone uses their official privileges to target me, others will follow. I want to retaliate strongly enough to prevent it from happening again."

"Is that alright, Prince Asha? If you stand out, you might hear more rumors that could tarnish your reputation."

Ikt seemed to be concerned about me getting hurt.

Indeed, being abnormally guarded is not fun and is unpleasant. I also feel angry that meeting my brother is considered so bad.

"But this time, I think I need to act to ensure that such harmless voices are not raised in the future. For the future, not just the present."

"If you say so, do you have a plan?"

Herkov asked with a hint of amusement.

"I'm going to meet with His Majesty. Harti, help me change."

"What!? Now?"

Surprised by Harti's reaction, I thought of another issue.

"Ah, I need to find out where he is."

"If you do, the guards in the area where His Majesty is can tell you."

As a palace guard, Ikt knew where his colleagues were working.

"Then, Ikt, come with me. There might be interference if things get out of hand."

"If that's the case, I'll go."

Herkov started to speak, but Wearrel stepped forward.

"Compared to the obviously strong Herkov, I think I am better suited to catch them off guard with my unassuming appearance."

Wow, my attendants are really motivated.

But I only need one to come with me.

If something goes wrong, I can't protect them.

So Ikt will just be following me as part of his duty as my guard.

And the other three will just be waiting, unaware of anything.

"No."

My attendants, who had eagerly come with me, refused to announce my visit and denied me an audience at the door to my father's room.

I was stopped and obstructed on the way here, and almost turned back.

I didn't expect that I wouldn't even be announced at the door.

Since I don't usually accompany the prince on visits, this was my first time meeting the attendants, and they seemed to have no intention of accepting me from the start.

"Why can't you announce me to His Majesty?"

"We cannot allow you to interfere with official duties. Especially someone who caused problems recently is out of the question."

"......It's urgent."

"We cannot allow someone whose intentions are unknown, and we have not received permission from His Majesty."

The other side seemed to be making excuses and blaming me without even the courtesy of a greeting.

They clearly didn't see me as a prince, which is typical of someone from a ducal family.

Thinking about it, the attendants who usually accompany me on visits haven't glared at me recently.

Maybe it's because they heard directly from my father about the incident with Terry and know that the rumors about me making someone cry are just that—rumors.

"......So, you're saying that even if it's urgent, you won't let me through because you haven't been told to. What's your name?"

"I have no reason to tell you."

Wow, you're aware that you'll be in trouble later, aren't you?

This is making me angry.

If that's the case, I'll do something unconventional.

"Here we go."

"What?"

I took off my jacket by myself.

Harti had chosen a luxurious one with decorations for the meeting with the emperor, so it took a bit of effort.

Still, I managed to get down to my shirt and pants and gestured to Ikt to open the door.

Ikt, who understood, opened the door as soon as I took off my jacket.

The attendant, distracted by my unusual behavior, panicked, but I ignored him and followed Ikt into the room.

It seemed to be a waiting room with palace guards, and my father was in a room further inside.

"Stop! Stop him!"

"Do you understand what will happen if you lay a hand on the prince and hurt him?"

The palace guard, who had moved to stop me, was confused by my shirtless appearance and hesitated at Ikt's warning.

This is like underwear, something you don't show to others.

In other words, it's clearly an abnormal situation, and the palace guard didn't stop me as I opened the door to the inner room, where I finally saw my father.

"I have come without permission, but I hope you will forgive me."

"Asha? What on earth is going on!?"

Surprised by my appearance, my father stood up from his desk and came over.

It seemed he was in a meeting, but he prioritized me, which made me happy.

"The attendant at the door seems to view me as a threat, so I took off my jacket to show that I have nothing dangerous on me."

"What!?"

My father's voice, though quiet, was filled with anger, and the attendant at the door, who had chased after my jacket, flinched.

Well, that's not important. I want you to listen to me.

"Actually, I heard that Ikt is being reassigned. I came to ask if this was your decision, Your Majesty."

"I haven't heard of such a thing. What's going on, Marquis Strategos?"

The meeting attendee with purple hair turned out to be the Marquis Strategos.

Indeed, he had a lean build that suited a security role, and his short hair was neatly cut, not slicked back with oil.

And he didn't flinch at all when asked by my father.

"Palace guards are rarely in the same position for more than five years. They are reassigned every three years, sometimes as short as two. There's nothing special about the timing, but is there a problem?"

He was calm, but if that were the case, Ikt wouldn't have said it was sudden.

"Ikt is close to Asha, and I trust him. I want to keep Ikt. Is there a problem with that? If necessary, I can place Ikt under my direct command."

"No, if the current situation remains unchanged, there is no problem."

My father's statement considered the Marquis Strategos's position, but I was satisfied with the emperor's approval.

"Understood. However, there has been a long-standing issue of insufficient personnel for the size of the rooms. We planned to address this with additional assignments. What do you think about that?"

"Hmm."

My father, thinking of me, hesitated to agree.

This is bad.

It's a flag for unnecessary people to be sent in.

It seems the Marquis Strategos is not one to fall easily.

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Next: The Marquis's Hand 4