Chapter 33: The Festival Begins

“Ugh.”

When Rohan opened his eyes, he saw a familiar ceiling.

“What, what’s going on?”

His head throbbed and his whole body ached.

“What do you mean, what? You almost died because of that crazy sword.”

“Huh?”

He turned his head and saw Retina sitting there, glaring daggers at him.

“What happened?”

“Ha, who would have thought the sword Uncle Alcon made would cause something like that...”

Retina gritted her teeth and shook her head.

“The sword Alcon gave me? Oh, Sunfire?”

“Yeah, that Sunfire or whatever.”

She let out a small sigh.

“There was a huge aura explosion nearby. What happened? It was because of that sword, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, it was. I was testing its limit.”

“I don’t think that sword is just any ordinary blade.”

Rohan nodded.

Of course, he already knew Sunfire wasn’t an ordinary sword.

And that unlocking its limit would double his aura.

Of course, he was the only one who knew that.

“But why did it explode? No one told me it could explode.”

As Rohan muttered to himself, Retina raised an eyebrow.

“So you knew what that sword really was?”

“Well, sort of.”

Rohan didn’t feel like hiding anything.

Retina was an outsider anyway, and she treated Rohan specially because of something about the World Tree.

And as expected, Retina accepted it without much fuss.

“Well. From what I see, I’m sure that if you unlock its limit, it can unleash even greater power...”

“But?”

“But the problem was the person using it.”

“...Martin was the problem?”

Martin was undoubtedly a skilled swordsman.

Among the knights, he was second to none in ability.

But to say Martin was the problem?

“He’s talented and skilled. But when it comes to handling aura, he’s still inexperienced.”

“Martin is an intermediate-level aura user. How can someone like that be inexperienced at handling aura?”

“Maybe humans judge aura by how much they have, but in Prana, that’s not how it works.”

Retina shook her head.

“Understanding the essence of aura. And having the ability to control it delicately. That’s what it takes to wield Sunfire, that sword.”

“Huh.”

He hadn’t known that.

He thought all he had to do was pour aura in up to the limit.

“How do you develop such an ability?”

“...Don’t tell me you plan to keep using that dangerous sword?”

“Of course. I paid a fortune for that sword.”

“Oh, come on.”

Retina laughed with an exasperated look.

“Well... If you manage to master it, there’s nothing to fear. At this rate, you could become the Empire’s strongest aura swordsman.”

“Yeah, that’s what I want. I have no talent in martial arts, but Martin does. And Martin just happens to be my personal knight.”

Since he couldn’t wield a sword to protect himself, he wanted to enhance Martin’s abilities so Martin could protect him.

“By the way, where’s Martin?”

He was the one who’d been at the center of the explosion.

He must have suffered quite a bit of injury...

“He fainted, but he woke up just a while ago. Honestly, it’s impressive. At the moment of the explosion, he wrapped his body in aura and managed to avoid serious injury.”

“Ho.”

Indeed, that’s impressive.

As expected, someone who trained in martial arts really is different.

Rohan clenched his own delicate hand tightly.

“Me too...”

After what happened, he realized he needed to train his body as well.

No matter how capable Martin was, he couldn’t always be at Rohan’s side.

If Retina hadn’t happened to show up then...

“You should train your body a bit too. How can a kid be this frail?”

“Ahem.”

Feeling as if she’d read his mind, Rohan could only clear his throat in embarrassment.

---

As evening fell, Jenan showed up as usual.

“Your Highness, Your Highness! Did you happen to visit the shopping district recently?”

“Huh? Yeah, I did. But how did you know?”

“Rumors are all over the place. They say Your Highness beat Lady Reditch like a dog...”

“...Beat her like a dog?”

“Uh, I mean. I heard you gave her a real scolding!”

At Jenan’s words, Rohan chuckled.

“Anyone listening would think I’m some kind of tyrant.”

“Huh? But what’s that wound on your face? Don’t tell me... You actually fought Lady Reditch, not just hit her one-sidedly?”

“...Do you actually believe that rumor?”

Faced with Rohan’s incredulous expression, Jenan scratched the back of his head and laughed.

“Haha. Still, Your Highness must have had good reason, right? From what I’ve heard, it seems Lady Reditch was at fault first.”

“That woman was beating her young maid just because the girl made a mistake. I only stopped her.”

“Oh! As expected! There’s no way Your Highness would hit a lady for no reason!”

“...I’m telling you, I didn’t hit her.”

Rumors really do get exaggerated for no reason.

“Anyway, because of that, even the young nobles are splitting into factions.”

“Factions? Tell me more.”

“Um... Is it all right if I speak frankly?”

Rohan nodded, and Jenan spoke carefully.

“First, there’s a group calling you a common-born prince with no noble manners, for how you treated the lady. And then—”

“And then?”

“There’s a group who think it was refreshing and admirable that you didn’t let her off the hook just because she’s a noble lady.”

“Ah.”

Rohan smiled softly.

The motives of these two groups were obvious.

“It’s just the ones with a sense of superiority versus the ones who actually have some sense.”

“Well, yeah. The majority go with the former opinion, though.”

“But how do you even know about this?”

Jenan was the type who spent all his time holed up in the imperial records, wasn’t he?

At Rohan’s question, Jenan chuckled.

“I plan to start attending the noble youths’ gatherings more often from now on.”

“Why?”

“Why else! Now that Your Highness is taking an active role, I have to keep track of public opinion!”

Jenan said, clenching his fist.

Honestly, Rohan had never expected this kind of loyalty from him.

But as if he knew what Rohan was thinking, Jenan took it upon himself to help.

“Is there something you want from me, Jenan?”

At Rohan’s sudden question, Jenan’s eyes blinked rapidly.

“Want... something?”

“I appreciate how you’re busy helping me of your own accord. But—”

Rohan stroked his chin.

“No one helps someone without any desires of their own.”

“...!”

Jenan’s eyes trembled.

“You said we’d restore the Empire’s glory together. You said you’d stand with me.”

Rohan rose from his seat.

“But are you really helping me out of pure loyalty to the Empire?”

“Y-Your Highness.”

“Tell me what you really want. If I know, I can find a better way forward.”

“...”

Jenan’s heart trembled.

‘Really... Can a fourteen-year-old boy really say such things?’

He’d known for a while that Rohan was no ordinary kid.

The way he spoke, the way he thought ahead, his bold actions.

But still.

He’d always thought, deep down, that Rohan was just fourteen.

‘No. This is definitely...’

What he felt from Rohan now was the presence of someone who had seen and endured countless hardships.

“Your Highness.”

Jenan finally managed to speak.

Then he burst out laughing.

“What could I possibly want? I just want to do my best for the one who recognized me, Your Highness!”

“Really?”

Rohan smiled softly.

Recognition.

Is that all?

“All right. I’ll take your word for it.”

As Rohan shrugged, Jenan’s tense shoulders visibly relaxed.

‘Failed.’

He’d wanted to see what was in Jenan’s heart.

Wasn’t this the one who kept speaking harsh truths to him until the very end?

But before that, Jenan was also someone who strove tirelessly for the top.

If not for the tyranny of Marquis Fabian, just how far could he have gone?

What was it he was aiming for, to become the youngest director of the Intelligence Department in record time?

‘No one could do that without an earnest goal.’

What was Jenan’s goal?

That, he’d find out in time.

This time, he didn’t want to miss anything.

“By the way, about the outfit for His Majesty’s upcoming birthday... Would it be all right if I asked Lady Finch to make mine too...?”

As Jenan changed the subject, Rohan snorted.

“Why ask me? Just go and order it yourself.”

“Well, it’s just... Your Highness is close to Lady Finch...”

“She’ll be at the palace soon, so just ask her then.”

“Really? P-please, you must mention it for me!”

Yes!

Jenan pumped both fists excitedly.

“...”

On the surface, he really was nothing but a goofball.

---

“Your Highness, it’s Martin.”

“Come in.”

At Rohan’s reply, Martin opened the door and stepped inside.

“Wow, Martin. You look great.”

Martin was wearing a dazzling ceremonial suit of armor.

“You look even better, Your Highness.”

“Well, obviously.”

Rohan grinned and looked at the mirror.

The stiff white formal suit was embroidered with ornate gold patterns, and the eagle crest of the House of Schubert was pinned to his left chest.

“Lucretia’s craftsmanship is really something else compared to ordinary tailors.”

Rohan didn’t know much about tailoring, but it was clear that Lucretia had a knack for highlighting one’s strengths and concealing flaws.

“Today is probably the busiest day of the year in the Empire, don’t you think?”

“Indeed.”

Martin smiled and nodded.

At last, it was the Emperor’s birthday.

From today, the festival would run nonstop for an entire week.

Both nobles and commoners would be busy enjoying themselves all week long.

Rohan fiddled with his formal necktie.

“Where’s Mother?”

“She’s finished getting ready.”

“Really?”

Rohan checked his outfit one last time and turned around.

“Shall we head out, then?”

“Understood.”

The two of them walked to the entrance of Boronia Palace.

A carriage was waiting at the entrance.

The Empire’s grandest event, where all the nobles gathered.

Rohan was on his way to conduct the birthday ceremony.

“Your Highness.”

Just as Rohan got into the carriage, someone emerged from the palace.

It was the head lady-in-waiting of Boronia Palace.

She bowed her head, and Rohan spoke from the carriage window.

“As I said yesterday, just bring Mother at the right time.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Please do your best to make sure she’s comfortable.”

“Of course. Please don’t worry and go on ahead.”

“All right.”

Rohan nodded.

Head Lady Arens.

She was the woman who had been with Amanda and Rohan ever since they first entered Boronia Palace.

Always quiet, almost as if she wasn’t there, but she had always looked after his mother with care.

“Well, see you later.”

Rohan’s carriage departed for the main palace, and Head Lady Arens bowed quietly.

And so, the first day of the Emperor’s birthday began.