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Chapter 156: Urgent Necessity
“Hmm?”
“Oh?”
Alice and I noticed it almost simultaneously.
Outside the tent, the sound of hurried footsteps was echoing loudly.
It was a sound mixed with the clanking of armor—a sound that anyone could tell was in a hurry.
“Is something happening?”
“Hmm.”
The footsteps were approaching us.
As we were observing, the footsteps stopped right in front of the tent entrance.
“It is Henry, Your Majesty.”
“Hmm.”
“I apologize for disturbing you at this hour, but I have a matter to report.”
There was a sound and a shadow through the tent, and just as I saw someone kneeling outside the tent, I heard Henry’s voice.
Alice glanced at me with a puzzled expression.
His voice clearly showed that he was not just in a rush, but in a state of agitation.
I nodded to Alice and said, “Come in.”
Alice stood up and quietly exited, exchanging places with Henry, who was entering.
In the night, in the Emperor’s bedroom.
In my mind, I thought there shouldn’t be any personal time for the Emperor, though I understood others might not think that way.
A man like Henry rushing in during such a late hour in a private space.
It was almost certainly a political or military matter, and realizing this, Alice said nothing and gracefully left.
After confirming that Alice had exited, Henry approached me with a stern expression, presenting an envelope.
The envelope was plain, yet sturdy, showing signs of having been securely sealed.
Secret report.
That word flashed in my mind.
“This is an urgent report.”
“Hmm.”
I took the envelope, and extracted the paper that Henry have opened.
I unfolded it and began to read the contents.
“…His Majesty?”
I could feel my brows furrowed tightly together.
This secret report was delivered from the Imperial Capital, stating that my father, the Retired Emperor, had collapsed.
I raised my gaze and looked at Henry.
He was frowning just as much, if not more, than I was.
I understood the gravity of the situation.
So this was why he rushed here the moment it arrived.
I grasped exactly why Henry had come so hastily.
Some time ago, my father had also collapsed.
I was still quite young back then, serving as the Minister of Justice.
At that time, my father had collapsed, and it caused quite a commotion.
A significant amount of time has passed since then, which was, naturally, indicative of my father’s aging.
My father’s advanced age-no, I could say he was already in his old age-rendered this incident more urgently than the last.
It was clear why Henry was so flustered.
I thought for a moment before asking Henry,
“When was this received?”
“It was just a short while ago. Given the gravity of the matter, it was not something I could hold on to, so I hurried to report it.”
“I see. I understand. Even if he has collapsed, we don’t know the details from this. If this is the extent of the memo, then it seems it is not in the ‘worst-case scenario’.”
“Yes, I believe that is correct.”
“Then, for the time being, prepare what is necessary for me to return as soon as possible.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Henry bowed deeply.
If this were the Imperial Capital, or even somewhat nearer, he would have rushed to send a horse for a fast return. He would have established instant communication if possible.
However, unfortunately, neither was the case.
Immediate return was not possible, nor could we communicate.
We had no choice but to wait for further information to be able to act.
Henry seemed to understand this as well, and after providing me with the report and receiving my appropriate directive, he appeared a little relieved, and his brow relaxed.
With a serious expression, I said to Henry,
“I have one small complaint.”
“Eh?”
Henry raised his face, looking puzzled by my complain.
“Henry, you said you came here immediately after receiving this.”
“Yes, I thought it was important to inform you as soon as possible.”
Henry remained in a state of shock. I briefly shifted my gaze toward the entrance, just enough for Henry to notice, indicating the entrance from which Alice had exited.
“Even Alice noticed. There were likely quite a few who saw how flustered you were along the way,” I said.
“Yes… Ah.”
Henry’s expression changed suddenly.
Now, he looked like he realized he had messed up.
The way his complexion turned pale was a fresh reaction that was rarely seen from him.
I raised the hand holding the envelope and continued.
“Indeed, this is an urgent report delivered in a confidential manner. If it were just an urgent report, there would be no issue, but if a confidential report causes you to act so hastily, then at the very end, the essence of ‘confidential’ becomes diluted.”
“I-I deeply apologize!”
Henry’s complexion turned so pale that it was almost like paper as he knelt and lowered his head to me.
“I was so taken aback by the news that I—”
“It’s fine.”
I placed my hand in front of him, stopping his apology and justification.
“It’s about His Majesty the Emperor— father’s condition. As a son and as a minister of the Empire, you can’t remain calm.”
“Yes…”
“I am not truly blaming you. It’s just a bit of a scolding. Keep it in the back of your mind.”
“Understood…”
After bowing his head once more, Henry slowly stood up.
Then, changing his expression again, he looked at me.
“What is it?”
“You truly are impressive, Your Majesty. You remain unshaken by such news and fulfill your role as Emperor completely.”
“…Henry.”
“Yes?”
“I thank you.”
“…Huh?”
Henry appeared confused.
Now, he looked as if he didn’t understand what I meant.
I stared back at him seriously and continued.
“There is no ‘I’ for the Emperor; there is only the ‘public.’ Thanks to you panicking in my stead, I was able to remain calm. Therefore—”
I paused for a moment before continuing.
“I appreciate it.”
“Such! …That is too kind of you to say.”
☆
After Henry left the tent, I glanced at the status in the corner of my vision.
———————
Name: Noah Ararat
Emperor of the Empire
Gender: Male
Level: 17 + 1 + 1 / ∞
| HP | C+A | MP | D+B |
| Strength | C+SS | Stamina | D+B |
| Intelligence | D+S | Spirit | E+A |
| Speed | E+A | Dexterity | E+A |
| Luck | D+B | ||
| Fire | E+S+S | Water | C+SSS |
| Wind | E+C | Earth | E+C |
| Light | E+S | Darkness | E+B |
———————
There were absolutely no changes in my status.
I had this feeling, or perhaps this awareness?
Because the last time my father had collapsed, my status had changed significantly.
Back then, everything after the plus sign had reached maximum.
Even though it was temporary, I interpreted it as my father entrusting the Empire’s full authority to me, utilizing even the fact that he had collapsed.
This time, there was none of that.
The full authority of the Empire was not entrusted to me.
In other words, my father was still alive.
I still didn’t know the detailed situation, but at least I judged that it was definitely not a crisis.
“…”
However, I thought. I realized why Henry was so flustered.
My father was already quite elderly.
At that age, even if he was fine now, it wouldn’t be surprising if he suddenly changed for the worse the next moment.
I was the former Thirteenth Prince—the thirteenth child.
When I was born, my father was already nearing his old age.
Now, after more than a decade has passed, he has aged even more.
As I thought that――.
“Your Majesty?”
“Hmm? Ah, Alice.”
Alice, who had somehow returned to the tent, was looking at me with a worried expression.
“Your complexion doesn’t seem good…”
“I can’t say much about Henry.”
I laughed self-deprecatingly.
Having said such things to Henry, I was showing expressions that Alice could notice.
I thought I needed to reflect on that deeply.
“Is there anything I can do for you?”
“I need to return to the capital urgently now, but I don’t want anyone to know. Please cover for me for a few days.”
“Understood.”
“I’ll leave the method to you… but for two days, make sure that no one besides you knows about this situation.”
“Uh…”
“Hmm?”
Looking at Alice, she seemed a bit surprised and then hesitated.
“If there’s anything you’re concerned about, feel free to ask.”
“Yes, um, what about Lord Henry?”
“Keep it to yourself.”
“…”
Alice’s expression changed from surprise to confusion.
“Is it really okay not to say anything?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded slightly.
Even though I said to keep it quiet, once Alice attempted to ‘cover for’ me, Henry would notice no matter how well she managed it.
In fact, the better she did it, the more likely Henry would realize something was off.
That was unavoidable, and I thought it would place an unnecessary burden on Alice, so I kept silent.
“So you’ll keep it a secret from Lord Henry as well.”
“…To deceive the enemy, you must first deceive your allies.”
Alice was also among those allies, but of course, she wouldn’t say that now.
“I’m counting on you.”
“Understood.”
“I’ll leave the way to cover for me to you, anything is fine.”
“Anything is fine, you say?”
“If you like, you could say I had an accident and that I’m urinating blood or something similar.”
I said, wearing a playful smile.
I made that remark to try to ease Alice’s slight tension.
“W-well, not that…”
“It’s a joke, but not entirely just a joke.”
“Huh?”
“Anyway, anything is fine as long as I can stay holed up in this tent for two days.”
“Yes… understood.”
“I’m going to leave two letters. One with instructions in case everything gets revealed within two days, and the other if it is maintained for the two days.”
“Yes.”
“I’m counting on you.”
“Yes! —Huh?”
Alice seemed to realize something and quickly turned around.
In that brief moment, I slipped out of the tent.
“…Ah.”
I could hear Alice’s voice through the tent.
It sounded a mix of surprise and understanding.
She reacted to the fact that I had turned my gaze away.
I continued walking through the encampment, stealthily moving so as not to be seen.
I made my way to a place where the military horses were tethered.
I mounted one of the horses that was saddled and prepared for riding.
I left the camp on that horse.
I let it walk slowly for a while, but once I was a distance away where the sound of hooves wouldn’t reach, I urged the horse to run.
“Apophis.”
[――]
In my mind, Apophis replied with an unspoken answer.
“Can you help me mask the fatigue? Even if it’s temporary it is fine.”
[――]
Apopis responded affirmatively.
Apophis could handle medicines and poisons.
Among those medicines and poisons, there were those that could temporarily mask fatigue and pain, which I requested from Apophis.
Immediately afterward, the ring glowed, and a droplet slowly fell before me.
It was a large droplet that fell straight down, almost like cotton or dust.
I picked it up and tossed it into my mouth.
In that instant, I could clearly feel my senses sharpening.
I became more alert than I had ever been after drinking the strongest tea.
With Apophis helping me mask my and the horse’s fatigue, I urged the horse to gallop straight toward the Imperial Capital at full speed.
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