Chapter 285 - Chapter 284: The Restoration of Kelnir
This was an incident that occurred roughly two hours before Mika heard from the old knight of the regional army commander that Cranzard had been captured.
The capital city of Istora, the Royal Castle.
King Kelnir of the Kingdom of Ektrem had been in deteriorating condition for about a week.
Even while resting in bed, he muttered to himself and was terribly frightened.
He could not even eat properly; it was only to the extent that the old maid Nieslaza assisted him so that he could somehow drink soup.
"......Ugh... stop... stop..."
"Your Majesty. Please, keep your composure."
Nieslaza continued to encourage him desperately while wiping the sweat that had formed on Kelnir's forehead.
Kelnir had not been in such a worrying state just one week ago.
The diagnosis was that stress had accumulated and, due to his age, it had affected his body.
He was complaining about the ministers who did not visit him, and he was eating normally.
However, his condition suddenly changed over the past week.
He was groaning constantly, day and night, and he could not even hold a conversation.
Nieslaza felt her heart was about to be crushed by Kelnir's pitiful appearance.
She could not possibly tell him that the Crown Prince Cranzard had seized royal power and was handling state affairs as regent.
But perhaps someone had already told him.
Nieslaza was always by Kelnir's side caring for him, but she had not left his side for absolutely every single moment.
In those brief moments, perhaps someone had slipped and told him, Nieslaza thought.
Nieslaza even felt anger toward the shallow person who had burdened Kelnir, who had collapsed from stress, with such a thing.
"Nir, hold on tight. Nir."
Nieslaza held Kelnir's hand and deliberately spoke his nickname.
While doing so, she let her thoughts wander to the long years since she had been entrusted with Kelnir's care.
She still remembered vividly how she had been selected as Kelnir's caretaker when he was young and how she had been moved by what felt like a dream.
The fifth daughter of a Duke's family.
If she was the child of the third wife, she would not be expected much by her own family.
At best, she would be married off to some noble family of lower status to serve as a tool to connect the two families.
She had just turned ten, yet she had accepted her life with a somewhat cool-headed mindset.
Then one day, accompanied by her father, Nieslaza was granted an audience with His Majesty the King.
Eight years ago, His Majesty had a child.
It was the first child, and a boy at that, so it seemed the entire nation was in a festive uproar.
Surrounded by the expectations of the people, Kelnir was naturally assigned top-tier attendants and raised in a perfect system.
However, he said he felt a little lonely because everyone around him was an adult.
That was when Nieslaza was selected.
She was asked to serve Kelnir as both a caretaker and a companion to talk to.
Kelnir was a somewhat troublesome prince who loved to play pranks, but he grew very fond of Nieslaza.
There were struggles to be sure, but Kelnir grew up splendidly and showed extraordinary talent.
He lacked talent in martial arts, but excelled in literature.
Even after succeeding to the throne, he became a good king and governed the great nation of Ektrem well.
He quickly rebuilt the Kingdom of Ektrem, which had been unable to recover from the blow of the Fifty-Year War, and even made it develop further.
He was popular among the people, and supporting Kelnir from the side was very proud.
Of course, if one looked past his childhood nature of loving pranks...
"Haaaaaaah, ga... ka............!"
At Kelnir's sudden scream, Nieslaza was startled.
"Nir! Nir!"
"Uaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!?"
Nieslaza called out desperately, but Kelnir's eyes widened and his body convulsed violently.
At Kelnir's sudden change, a terrifying premonition flashed through Nieslaza's mind.
Nieslaza shouted loudly toward the room's door.
"Someone! Someone! His Majesty's condition! Someone!"
However, the Royal Guards who should have been outside the room did not try to enter no matter how much she called out.
It was the order of Regent Cranzard.
Cranzard had forbidden anyone other than Nieslaza from entering the room, no matter the reason.
Nieslaza bit her lip and ran to the door.
Bang bang bang!
Nieslaza knocked on the door with all her might and called out to the Royal Guard standing beside the door.
With tears in her eyes.
"You people! You are His Majesty's knights...! Are the words you swore to serve with your lives, no matter what, a lie!?"
Bang bang!
Nieslaza knocked desperately on the door.
It was pathetic.
The knights who should have been by the door.
Cranzard, who had cast aside the affection of parent and child.
Above all, she felt pathetic that she could do nothing for Kelnir who was suffering.
Anger, sorrow, and various feelings were mixed together as she slammed her helpless feelings against the door.
"Have some shame! Those who have abandoned loyalty to His Majesty... and forgotten His Majesty's grace!"
Bang!!!
A particularly loud sound of the door being struck echoed.
Nieslaza shed tears drop by drop and despaired at her own powerlessness.
"...I... am... so... sorry... Your Majesty..."
Overwhelmed, she collapsed onto the spot, sliding down.
"What is all this commotion? Nieslaza."
That casual, familiar voice.
Nieslaza, still looking down, opened her eyes wide.
Trembling, she slowly turned around.
"...Y-Your... Ma... jesty..."
She could not believe it.
Beside the bed.
There stood Kelnir, whose posture was full of confidence and completely unlike the suffering figure she had seen until just now.
It was the Kelnir she knew best.
"...Your... Majesty..."
Nieslaza covered her mouth and managed to move her trembling lips.
Seeing such Nieslaza, Kelnir smiled.
"How long do you intend to sit there? Come here and help me change clothes."
But Nieslaza could only stare blankly at Kelnir.
To such Nieslaza, Kelnir raised one eyebrow slightly, then grinned at the corner of his mouth.
It was an expression Kelnir often made when he thought of a prank.
"I have rested a little too much. I will tour the castle. Come with me, Nieslaza."
Tears overflowed and she could not stop them.
Nieslaza nodded again and again, wiping her tears.
Still, even after wiping, tears kept overflowing.
Seeing such Nieslaza, Kelnir made an exasperated expression.
"Are you planning to become a skeleton after being frail? Stop crying already, Nieslaza."
Such a grumble made Nieslaza so happy she could not help it.
Bam!
Kelnir easily opened the locked door of his quarters.
Despite being over sixty years old and having eaten little for a week, he possessed the strength to break it open.
"What's wrong!?"
"Huh...!? Y-Your Majesty!?"
The Royal Guards were surprised by the suddenly opened door and also by Kelnir appearing.
Kelnir glanced at the Royal Guards and began walking without saying a word.
Nieslaza silently followed behind Kelnir.
This was a scene she had seen countless times before.
Kelnir's back as he walked ahead was full of vitality.
There was Kelnir's back, which she had watched for decades.
Just looking at that back filled Nieslaza with such joy that her body felt like it would tremble.
"Your Majesty! P-Please wait!"
One of the Royal Guards stepped out to block the way.
Kelnir pushed the rude knight aside with just one hand.
Clatter crash!
A loud noise echoed down the corridor.
Kelnir shouted at the knight who had been thrown against the wall and fallen.
"You fool!!!"
At Kelnir's roar, all the Royal Guards present trembled.
That was the authority of a king.
The power emanating from Kelnir left the Royal Guards who had gathered wondering what was happening unable to move.
"Hmph. Let's go, Nieslaza."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Nieslaza silently followed Kelnir, who walked with a dignified stride.
The gathered Royal Guards, pressed by Kelnir's presence, involuntarily cleared the path.
The Royal Guards' responses were roughly divided into two.
The majority followed Kelnir, and only a small part hesitated due to orders from Cranzard.
Naturally, no knights pointed their swords at Kelnir.
Most of the Royal Guards on the scene had not been informed of Cranzard's plot.
Therefore, this response was a very natural result.
However, Kelnir ignored such Royal Guards and proceeded without hesitation.
Nieslaza had told him the detailed situation and circumstances.
If so, there was only one thing to do now.
To take back what was stolen.
With eyes filled with a vicious light, Kelnir whispered.
"...Not a bad entertainment, is it? Cranzard."
Accompanied by Nieslaza and many Royal Guards, Kelnir set out to suppress the rebellion.
■■■■■■
Leventein Marquisate, Kingdom Army Garrison.
"What is going on? Your Highness? Has His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Cranzard been captured?"
Ozendorwa asked the old knight.
Mika and Ozendorwa had been moved to an empty conference room by the old knight, the regional army commander.
It was likely a judgment that they could not speak in the strategy room due to the content being too unsettling.
Even when asked by Ozendorwa, the old knight did not open his mouth.
It seemed he was struggling to decide how to explain it.
"There is no time! Explain quickly! Everything!"
Ozendorwa raised his voice, which was unusual for him.
Ozendorwa would punch a wall if something happened, but he rarely raised his voice.
Mika silently looked up at this rare sight of Ozendorwa.
However, it was also a fact that they could not waste time.
Mika looked up at the old knight and urged him to explain.
"In every second you remain silent, things that could have been saved may become unsavable."
Sometimes a difference of just a moment becomes the dividing line between making it and not making it.
So, think about it as much as you like, and then worry as much as you want.
When Mika said that, the old knight made up his mind.
"Apostle-sama, do you know the circumstances under which the Crown Prince became regent?"
Asked by the old knight, Mika shook his head.
"Just that he became regent. Normally, a regent is appointed when something happens to His Majesty or to entrust state affairs, right?"
"The Knight Commander [we] also received such a secret notice. Due to his advanced age, His Majesty is taking a rest for a while, so he assumed the position of regent."
The old knight nodded.
"Officially, that is how it is."
"Officially..."
That definitely means there is a hidden side to it.
"What happened?"
When Ozendorwa asked in a strong tone, the old knight made a pained expression.
"This is just what I heard from His Excellency Tsudazen... the Minister of Military Affairs."
After such a preamble, the story told was a shocking fact.
Taking advantage of the King's illness, they confined him and stole royal power.
That was just like...
"It is the same as a rebellion, isn't it?"
"Ah, yes..."
Mika looked at Ozendorwa to confirm.
Ozendorwa instinctively covered his eyes and put his hand against the wall.
Had he gotten dizzy?
"...It is true that a method that could be said as such was adopted. However, Your Highness certainly did not do such a thing for his own sake..."
The old knight said regretfully to Mika and Ozendorwa, who declared it a rebellion.
"Why would one need to take the risk to grab the royal power that would roll in if they just waited! Your Highness had no choice! To protect the kingdom, the soldiers, and the people!"
Indeed, that was true.
He was already the Crown Prince.
Without any tricks, if they just waited, the throne was practically promised.
Still, the rush to seize actual power was because he wanted to protect the kingdom.
In the end, he did not use it, but he prepared to use [Divine Wrath] at any time.
He adopted tactics that allowed Mika free discretion and solidified the defense.
Thanks to that, the damage on the kingdom side had been surprisingly small.
If Kelnir had still been at the top, what would have happened?
Well, even while complaining, Mika would have gone to the battlefield.
But would he have thought to reinforce the protective walls?
With the Empire's method of 'pile corpse upon corpse', the protective walls might have truly been breached.
Probably, the situation would have been more tragic than it is now.
Mika sighed and looked up at the old knight.
"We understand that Your Highness used extreme measures. So, what is the current situation?"
When Mika said that, the old knight made a pained expression.
"His Majesty... has been restored. It seems he led the Royal Guards himself and captured His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Cranzard and His Excellency Prime Minister Dedoderic."
"His Majesty... himself?"
That old man king?
Was he turned around by an old man who would die if Cranzard punched him?
(Well, with the Royal Guards around, Cranzard couldn't do anything.)
Cranzard could use a sword reasonably well, but against an elite group like the Royal Guards, he would surely be at a disadvantage.
The old knight looked at Mika with a serious expression.
"His Excellency Tsudazen learned of the anomaly with the cooperation of some Royal Guards and escaped the Royal Castle."
The Royal Guards protecting the Royal Castle were an army independent from the Kingdom Army.
It was an organization directly under the royal palace and not under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Military Affairs.
However, the knights belonging to the Royal Guards were not originally members of the Royal Guards.
Those who volunteered for the Kingdom Army's knight units and showed their talents there were selected and recommended to the Royal Guards.
In other words, there were old acquaintances of Tsudazen among them.
Those people apparently informed Tsudazen of the anomaly early and guided his escape from the Royal Castle.
"Currently, he is being hidden in District 3 by a certain organization."
"A certain organization?"
"I was not told that far. But he said that Apostle-sama would know. He wants you to contact the Information Broker Guild when you return to the capital."
Could it be the Soiree?
Is he being hidden by some organization belonging to the Soiree?
After hearing the story to that point, Mika fell into thought.
Then, he looked at Ozendorwa.
"............What will you do?"
"U... hmm."
As expected, this is a somewhat difficult choice.
If royal power was seized by illegal means, failure would mean beheading.
That is a very natural thing.
Cranzard must have been prepared for that, of course.
As a member of the Kingdom Army's knight units, Ozendorwa had sworn loyalty to the King.
If royal power was unjustly stolen and orders were issued, it would be proper for Ozendorwa to feel anger toward the Crown Prince.
Even if it was said to be for the kingdom, it was not a story that could be swallowed with "Yes, understood."
Furthermore, the old knight before his eyes had taken the side of the Crown Prince knowing the circumstances.
From Ozendorwa's perspective, it was natural to cut down the old knight right there.
If Ozendorwa were a brainless knight who thought of nothing, he would surely have done so.
However, after hearing the story, Ozendorwa was also hesitant.
This was not a matter of choosing between the King or the Crown Prince.
Without thinking, it was natural for a knight to side with the King.
What Ozendorwa was hesitating about now was that siding with the King here meant he had to kill the old knight.
The commander of the front lines.
If he did that, the front lines would not hold.
That would be the trigger for the collapse of the kingdom.
Mika patted Ozendorwa's back.
"Thinking here will not solve anything. Let's return to the capital for now."
"...But, then the front lines [here] will..."
Ozendorwa showed reluctance at Mika's words to return to the capital.
Mika shook his head.
"Indeed, the front lines are difficult, but this is a situation where one wrong move means immediate checkmate, surely. We absolutely cannot make a mistake."
Saying that, Mika looked at the old knight.
"I do not know how to deal with this either. But we cannot let the kingdom collapse. Everyone must feel the same way."
The old knight nodded at Mika's words.
"What is important now is not whether it is the King or the Crown Prince. It is protecting the kingdom. What is the best course of action?"
"That is correct."
The old knight saluted Mika.
"Please, Apostle-sama, protect the kingdom. We will follow Apostle-sama's choice."
Mika was a little surprised by the old knight's attitude.
He did not know what his status was, but even so, the result of Mika's actions so far was the trust of the old knight.
Running around everywhere, flying around, and supporting desperately, he felt that it had been rewarded a little.
"Ozendorwa-san, let's go."
When Mika looked with eyes full of strong will, Ozendorwa also nodded.
"...Yes. For the kingdom."
"For the kingdom."
Mika and Ozendorwa also saluted the old knight in return.
"The front lines are left to you."
"Leave it to us."
Seeing the old knight nod strongly, Mika and Ozendorwa left the conference room.
And hurriedly went out of the building.
"Blast!"
As soon as Mika went outside, he embraced Ozendorwa and flew toward the capital city.