Tensei Oujo wa Kyou mo Hata o Tatakioru

    It was midnight when we finally reached the royal capital .
    Once I had arrived, the once sleeping royal castle gradually became busy . I didn’t intend to wake everyone up, but we had no choice . Waiting for dawn was simply not an option .  

    I intend to ask Father for help . In the meantime, I excused myself to change into something lighter . The dirt and mud were cleanly washed away with hot water . When I finally settled down, the door violently opened with a bang . I couldn’t help but jump . Turning towards the source of the noise, I saw my elder brother standing there panting heavily .
    He wore a scarily grim expression, a contrast to the aloof smile that always floated on his face . Silence quickly fell in the room as I didn’t know what to say .  

    My brother paced up to me without saying a word, his eyes fixed on me, and then he hugged me tightly . Honestly, I had no idea what was going on .
    His embrace was so tight to the point that I had trouble breathing .  It hurts, I wanted to complain, but I noticed his arms quivering .  

“…-cht, Nacht…! I’m so glad-!” 

    ‘I’m so glad that you’re safe!’ He finally squeezed out the words he wanted to say .
    It was impossible for me to push him away when I saw him like this . I gently patted on my brother’s back in hopes of calming him down .  

“I’m back . I’m sorry if I had made you worry . ” 

“As long as you’re safe, then it doesn’t matter!” 

    My brother’s face and eyes were red and moist . I know it wasn’t like he hated me or anything, but I didn’t expect him to worry for me to this extent .
    No, that’s not it . Even back then, he was always like this—a caring person .
    When I was young, I remembered my brother’s crying face at my bedside when I had a high fever .  

“You still can’t leave your brother alone as always, Licht . ” 

    A powerful voice caught my attention as I reminisced about the past .

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    The man standing in the hallway smiled bitterly . Like my brother, he had a well-featured, handsome face .

“…Father . Not only had I woken up the palace, but you had also come to receive me, my deepest apologies…” 

“Oh, stop it . I came to see my son who finally came home . At least let me hold you first . ” 

    My apology was suddenly interrupted by a soft voice as he hugged me, his embrace overlapping my brother’s .  

“Thank the G.o.ds you’re okay . If anything had happened to you, I wouldn’t be able to face Amelie in heaven . ” 

    Despite everything, it was still embarra.s.sing to be hugged by your own father when you’re no longer a child, but I couldn’t push Father, who loved Mother so much, away .  

    After the little informality, I decided to switch gears and delivered my report on Grenze .
    I spoke about the epidemic and the sick that were isolated in a village deep in the forest, what the son of General Heinz von Geisster, Philipp, had done, and Johan’s decisive response .
    And of course, I did not forget the light of hope that his sister, Princess Rosemarie, had given us .  

    I tried to explain our situation as simply and quickly as I could .
    But before I noticed, I had become excited . The despair and hope that I had gone through in a short period of time were too vivid, it was impossible to stay calm . It was hard to understand what I was saying as I jumped through the story one point after the other, but my father and brother both listened with admirable attention .  

    My father deeply sank into the sofa made out of mahogany and dark brown leather . He laid his hands on his long legs and closed his eyes as if going into deep thought . But I had no doubt that he was still listening to me intently . On the other hand, my brother had impeccable posture with his back upright, but half of what I said was likely flowing out the other ear .  

    When I had finished, Father slowly opened his eyes .  

“…I see . ” 

    His muttered words were low and heavy .  

“It seems that my judgement was so poor that I ended up causing trouble for countless people . ” 

    I didn’t know what to say to my guilt-ridden father .  

    The Grenze epidemic and deforestation were most likely closely linked together .

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    If limits were placed on deforestation in time before the forest was destroyed, then perhaps the disease may not have spread in the first place .
    I did indeed feel indebted to the soldiers who lived at the border and acted as a buffer to the threat Scherz posed . I could not condemn my father for playing the waiting game when the peaceful and prosperous future we had attained after a long time was at stake .
    However, I know that one shouldn’t bring their personal feelings into politics .  

“Father…” 

“But this isn’t the place or time for regrets or remorse . Let’s respond immediately . ” 

    Father declared and stood up .  

“First, let’s arrange food and supplies . Oh, and bring along our doctors and pharmacists, including anyone who has medical knowledge . Then, in order to keep other towns in the west, including Grenze, from needlessly worrying, let’s have someone manage that area in place of the Geissters for a while . The investigation regarding Philipp von Geisster will be put on hold for the time being…” 

“Father . I would like to leave for Grenze immediately . ” 

“Nacht?” 

    It was my brother, not Father, who was looking my way with his brows furrowed .
    It was not my desire to make my brother more anxious than he already was, but it was impossible . After all, I must keep my promise .  

“I have to return to my friend and benefactor . ” 

“…But Nacht-!” 

“Licht, enough . ” 

    Father put his hands on Brother to calm him down .  

“But Father! If he contracts the disease…” 

“The prince and princess of our neighbouring country are in that forest, aren’t they?” 

“…T-That’s-” 

“They are not trying to save their own countrymen… They are trying to save the lives of the people of Wind . Do you realise how essential they are?” 

    A strong light lit up in my father’s eyes, which were usually as calm as a brilliant lake .  

“We cannot betray the people who risked their lives to help us . Isn’t that right, Licht? With how honest and just you are, I am sure you understand . ” 

“…Yes . ” 

    My brother lowered his face down for a moment, but slowly blinked and raised it back up . He answered Father while looking at him straight in the eyes, and Father nodded with satisfaction .  

    Father promptly arranged for a maidservant to call for the Prime Minister and the Commander of the Knight Guard before coming back into the room once again .
    I intended to leave the room now in order to prepare my departure for Grenze as quickly as possible .

    With that decision in mind, I said my goodbyes to Elder Brother and Father .
    But before I could leave, my father approached me . For some reason, as if it was a secret, Father cupped his hand over my ear .  

“Hey, Nacht . I’m a little worried, can I ask you something?” 

“…? What would you like to know?” 

“I want you to listen carefully and keep a cool head, alright?” 

    I nodded while tilting my head, clearly confused as to why he would tell me this .  

“Are you in love with Nebel’s Princess?” 

“…Huh!?” 

    For an instant, the words didn’t register in my head .
    Who is in love with who?!
    I wanted to shout, but I endured it . For starters, I couldn’t yell at the monarch of the country . Put up with it, me .  

“Your eyes were shining so brightly whenever you talked about the princess . And even now, your face is bright red, you know?” 

“That’s because of the outrageous thing you just said, that’s all… It’s really not like that . ” 

    I rubbed my red cheeks away with the back of my hands and sighed .  

    She certainly was a beauty .
    But more striking than her looks was the powerful glint in her eyes .

    However—No, it’s because of that, isn’t it .
    I don’t think I am someone suited to be in love . The light of salvation at that time was just so dazzling, I couldn’t even reach for it, I felt it was that sacred .  

“Is that so? Well, I think if you and the princess could get together, that’ll be best for both countries . ” 

“A mere boy like me with that person… how presumptuous . Moreover…” 

“Moreover?” 

    Father urged me to continue .
    But I shook my head without saying anything more .  

“No, it’s nothing . ” 

    The man who escorted me back to the royal city came to my mind .
    When he finally delivered me to the royal palace, he immediately turned back towards the forest and disappeared into it .
    I was sure he was worried, leaving Johan in the woods, but I had a feeling that the prince wasn’t his only concern .  

    Before, he had said ‘my ray of hope,’ and I wasn’t interested in figuring out who he was referring to .
    However, once I remembered the princess’ blushing face as soon as her eyes landed on him, I couldn’t dismiss their relationship as mere ‘mutual trust . ’

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