Chapter 70 - 8
Meanwhile, a strange sense of unease drifted over the farewell party that remained behind. The one exuding this anxiety most was Shasta. He was likely worried about sending the Crown Prince to a place where he would surely face combat.
Edward, too, stood unmoving, his eyes fixed on the direction the unit had disappeared. The five of them stood there in the cold, without exchanging a single word.
Franz, for his part, felt a pang of loneliness. Over the past few months since setting out on their journey, he had grown used to experiencing all sorts of things with Ritz. Now, with Ritz heading into battle while he was left to wait, it felt somewhat strange.
Of course, he knew he was still inexperienced in fighting and would only be a hindrance, but he couldn't help feeling concerned.
Besides, there was another reason he thought it was good he was staying behind this time. It was about Anna. Ever since the day Greig had visited, Anna had seemed a little down, as if lost in thought.
Franz knew that Anna thought about many things without voicing them. There had even been times when he was saved by her unspoken, deep considerations.
But she never became emotional or pessimistic, always maintaining a cheerful smile. Though he would never say it out loud, Franz had a bit of respect for her for that.
And yet, this time was different. Even he, who had had little contact with people before, noticed the change in Anna, so Annie and Joe's worry was considerable. Franz had been asked many times what was wrong, but he couldn't give an answer.
Anna never consulted Franz about anything. He realized that for the first time.
On their journey, he was always being helped by Anna. When he was attacked by a poisonous snake, Anna protected him and nearly died. Before going to Laria's mansion, Franz was saved by Anna. Pathetically, Franz was always being saved by Anna.
Ritz would casually tell him to help her if he had the chance, but Franz still hadn't been able to do anything. That was why he was worrying about whether there was anything he could do for Anna in her current state.
An opportunity suddenly presented itself to Franz. He resolved to use the precious thirty minutes of walking back home alone with her to ask what was weighing on her mind.
But Franz's plan crumbled unexpectedly just as he was about to suggest they leave. Among the silent farewell party, Greig—the one who was least anxious and more filled with his own discontent—invited Anna, oblivious to the atmosphere.
"Anna, would you like to come to the palace? It's been a while."
"Huh?"
Lost in thought, Anna turned to Greig with a surprised look.
Franz swallowed the words "Let's go home" that had been at the tip of his tongue. Paying no mind to Franz's reaction, Greig continued his invitation.
"I had some special sweets brought in just for you, Anna. They're from the best shop in Sears."
"His Highness did that for me?"
"That's right. I had them brought just for Anna."
"? Thank you."
Anna was surprised, but Franz was even more surprised, though he didn't show it in his face or voice. This was almost as if Greig had feelings for Anna. No, it wasn't just feelings. Greig was clearly inviting Anna out of romantic interest.
As usual, Anna seemed completely oblivious to it.
"Can Franz come too? Hey, Franz, you like sweets, right?"
Franz was bewildered at being drawn into the conversation. He saw Greig's eyes glaring coldly at him. It was clear that Greig thought of him as a nuisance and didn't want him to come.
It wasn't that he wanted to interfere with Greig's love life, and he thought it was a matter between Greig and Anna, so he had nothing to do with it, but Greig clearly viewed him as a rival.
But Anna had no idea what Greig was feeling.
"Your Highness, is that not okay?"
"Ugh…"
Asked so purely, Greig probably couldn't refuse. He wasn't an adult like Ritz or Edward who could lightly deflect the situation.
"Huh? Was it not okay?"
"It's not that it's not okay…"
"But they're delicious sweets, right? They'd surely taste better if we all ate them together."
"Uh… yeah, that's true, but…"
Greig was being cornered. For some reason, he found the scene amusing. Perhaps because it was a sight he didn't usually see.
It was Edward who broke the strange stalemate. After patting the silent Shasta on the shoulder, he turned to the three of them and spoke.
"All three of you, it's cold, so come inside. Franz and Anna, you should have breakfast at the palace as well."
Oblivious to the subtle atmosphere between the three, Edward, with a slightly somber face from before, urged the three and Shasta along.
"Thank you. We will."
Since Anna readily accepted with a smile, Franz was inevitably invited to the breakfast table as well.
His original plan completely ruined, Franz, who had been swept up into having breakfast at the palace, found himself taking a long, leisurely, and bothersome meal where he was asked about everything from how he wanted his bread toasted to the type of milk for his tea.
Recently, he had been living a life of quickly eating the breakfast Annie made and heading to the Royal Library, so this, after a long time, was quite delicious in its own way.
Though, he thought, it would have been more delicious without Greig's glare.
As for Anna, she was engrossed in conversation with Queen Patricia and hadn't noticed Greig glaring at Franz at all. As for Edward and Shasta, they seemed to be deep in thought, and Franz couldn't fathom their troubles.
Franz rested his cheek on his hand and let out a small sigh. Greig was clearly hostile towards him, with Anna in between them, of course. He wanted to state clearly that it was a misunderstanding, but in this setting, he couldn't.
To begin with, he had no idea when, what, or how Greig had developed feelings for Anna. This was only the second time that both Anna and Franz had met and spoken with Greig directly.
In that case, something must have happened when he came to their house the other day, but Franz had no way of knowing. At times like this, Franz wished he could be like Ritz.
He would casually, and jokingly, tell Greig directly that he had no feelings for Anna, and then tell him that it would be quicker to make Anna understand than to see him as a rival. No matter how he tried, that was impossible for Franz.
He felt that his silence was only making Greig more hostile, but if so, he had no idea what to say.
The meal, shrouded in a heavy atmosphere from everyone except the Queen and Anna, finally ended. Exhausted, Franz thought to thank Edward for the meal and leave.
He had no more time to deal with Greig. He decided to let him do as he pleased.
But that thought was naive. Before Franz could open his mouth to speak to Edward, Greig had already spoken to him.
"Grandfather, may I use the underground training ground?"
He had a bad feeling. A feeling that something incredibly troublesome and unpleasant was about to happen. He wanted to avoid being dragged into it if possible and didn't want to get involved.
Franz wanted to cover his ears, but in front of the King, he couldn't do that either.
And that bad feeling was spot on.
"I would like Franz to show me his Fire Spirits. I believe that underground room was made of stone and fired brick, so it should be perfect."
Greig's eyes were fixed squarely on Franz. Franz felt like he had seen those eyes before. Yes, they were the same eyes he had shown when he challenged Ritz at the New Festival Month martial arts tournament.
"Oh, to Franz, is it…"
Slowly, Edward's eyes turned to Franz. The words "I'd rather not" came to the tip of Franz's tongue, but in the end, they remained unspoken in the face of Edward's smile.
"That's wonderful, Greig. A fight with a Fire Spirit user will be a good learning experience."
The King then shrugged his shoulders in a way only Franz would understand.
He must know. He absolutely must know about Greig's crush on Anna and Franz's inescapable situation, and he's enjoying it. No doubt about it.
As expected of Ritz's best friend. Their ways of handling situations were very similar. So similar it was infuriating. In a situation like this, he could have at least helped him out.
"Anna, are you going too?"
"Yes, Ed-san. I was thinking of practicing with my Water Spirits for a bit too."
"I see."
Edward's previously dark, worried face transformed into a gentle smile as he nodded. He's an adult, Franz thought, but he truly, desperately wished that if he was an adult, he would stop a child's reckless behavior. The child, of course, being Greig.
"I'm planning for us to have lunch together as well, so be back here by then."
Sent off with a smile like that, he had no choice but to go. He trudged reluctantly behind Greig, who was cheerfully trying to impress Anna, and Anna, who was listening with happy interjections.
He really had no idea how things had turned out this way. It was completely against his will.
When they arrived at the underground training ground, Greig finally turned to Franz.
"Franz, draw your sword!"
Just as I thought. However, Franz couldn't wield a sword.
"What's wrong, are you afraid of me?"
With that one line from Greig, Franz felt as if he heard something snap somewhere in his head. To misunderstand on his own, challenge me on his own, and then provoke me… How infuriating.
"Afraid…?"
He had intended to fight back with only his Fire Spirits, but he changed his mind. From inside his winter clothes, Franz took out a short spear. It was the extendable mithril spear, engraved with the royal seal, that he had received in Faldina.
He threw off his winter clothes and swung the spear wide in front of him. With a light clang of metal, the spear extended, changing its form. The jewel, which glowed in response to his Fire Spirits, regained its long-lost brilliance.
"A strange weapon, but there's no way I'll lose. Let us fight for her love!"
"Huh? For what?"
Still oblivious, Anna looked around with a blank expression.
"Whose love? What's this about? Tell meee…"
He felt a little sorry for Greig. But perhaps nothing was getting through to him now, as his only interest was in defeating Franz. It seemed the only way was to defeat his opponent and clear up the misunderstanding. That he had no intention of fighting Greig over Anna.
Franz, in desperation, turned to Greig.
"Here I come! Prepare yourself!"
"…By all means."
And so, a battle completely different in seriousness from that of the Military Police and Inspectorate joint unit began in a thoroughly exasperating situation.
◇ ◇ ◇
Meanwhile, in a certain place, the final arrow of the incident was about to be loosed with the resolve of the people there.
The man was staring out the window. The sun was beginning to rise. Its beauty was like a farewell gift to them for what was to come.
"…The time has finally come, hasn't it?"
"Yes, the time is now."
Just as on the other day, in the calm drawing room with the flickering fireplace, the exact same group of people, minus the one who had died, were seated. There was no sense of holding their breath, no tension in the air. Only a calm, yet languidly resigned, quiet atmosphere filled the room.
"This early morning, the Crown Prince's platoon departed as scheduled. It appears the Minister accompanied them as well."
As the reporter said this, the oldest man among them slowly nodded.
"Indeed. It seems that man was the biggest obstacle during Crown Prince Stewart's time. In that case…"
"Yes. The King's security consists of the Prime Minister, the Royal Guard, and a few token members of the Royal Household Guard… The King never kept many guards around him to begin with."
The elderly man quietly closed his eyes. He, too, seemed to be lost in thoughts of a distant time.
After a long silence, the man acting as the reporter spoke in a concerned tone.
"Marquis Walter?"
"Ah, forgive me."
With a small shiver, the man… Marquis Walter… opened his eyes.
He had been having a long, long dream… No, was it that he had only now begun to see an impossible dream…?
"What were you thinking of?"
"…That a long time has passed…"
Is this an impossible dream…?
Or the end of a dream…?
"How are things at his mansion?"
"Preparations are complete."
"I see. Then let us also begin our preparations."
The men stood up without a sound. The man who was a soldier, a reporter… and an informant planted within the military, handed each of them a small vial.
Here was a portion of the raw narcotic liquid that the Military Police were desperately searching for.
"This is the undiluted ‘Grace of Fire’."
When everyone had received one, Marquis Walter slowly rose to his feet and declared in a voice as calm as a ripple-less lake:
"The time has come."
Everyone stood and gazed at Marquis Walter with equally calm eyes.
"Once you drink this, there is no turning back."
Standing before the people who nodded wordlessly, Marquis Walter once again looked out the window.
His whole body ached. Sickness had taken root throughout him, and there was no hope of recovery. The doctor had told Marquis Walter that it would be difficult for him to live until spring. If that was the case, there was something he had to do before he died.
To Stewart's and Richard's children and grandchildren, who were now living no better than provincial lords… To them, who would still be at the center of the country if not for the civil war, he wanted to give them a chance, somehow.
He knew himself that it was likely something none of the citizens would wish for, but he could not die without repaying the kindness he had received.
"Well then, everyone, good luck…"
The room was utterly silent.