169 Imperial Emperor vs Ruined Crown Prince
‘The capital of Cania has fallen into the hands of the enemy.’
As the crown prince tightened his grip, the letter he was holding was crushed.
It was written that the bodies of the 2nd prince and younger brother were handed over to commoners with their heads cut off, stabbed and trampled on by their feet. The head is said to still hang on the gate.
The incident spread all over Chania in an instant, and after the imperial army left the capital, people revolted in various cities.
The belief that the royal family of Cania is a being under the care of God from birth is breaking in the hearts of the people.
The person who sent the letter was an information dealer who had previously been employed. He was saying that rumors do not spread naturally.
It was because of the fact that the news was spreading too quickly and that strange rumors were circulating together.
[The royal family of Cania is the trace of the lineage that deceived the gods. To punish it, the emperor of the empire came as a messenger of God.]
Who the hell came up with such absurd rumors?
However, the fact that the emperor of the empire was from the royal family of Corea and that he was carrying a demon creature of light made the rumor seem real.
The belief that creatures of light are messengers sent by God and spirits of the earth is exceptionally strong in Dicoquaria and Cania. Someone was encouraging it.
‘The emperor of the empire is scary. They’re devouring this country without fighting properly.’
The crown prince sighed and closed his eyes.
At the end of the letter it was written that this was the last news.
Information is cut off at the most critical times.
But I couldn’t blame the intelligence minister.
The Crown Prince has not been able to pay properly for two years already. Nevertheless, this intelligence minister kept the loyalty he had worked for a long time and continued to send information even with little money. I am just grateful.
“majesty.”
The Crown Princess, who had been sitting quietly to one side, called out to him as if worried.
“Is this bad news?”
“No, it’s not that bad. It’s just an informational letter to inform you of the situation outside.”
The Crown Prince smiled and hid his misery.
The Crown Princess took a deep breath as if relieved by his words.
His wife is the eldest daughter of a high-ranking countess. Because it is a family where a lot of magical powers are born, my father got married here.
The father Wang expected a lot, but the children born had only a small amount of magical power. It was an insignificant magic that seemed to exist or not exist.
Because she married into the royal family and was unable to give birth to magical powers, her wife suffered a lot. Always depressed and afraid. In the end, she was entrusted to her parents’ house, but even here the wife could not spread her spirit. This time it’s because of her ruined husband. She is such a pitiful woman
“Your Highness, Mama, I brought you something to eat.”
The chamberlain lowered the tray on a table slightly away from him. It includes wine and some meat dishes.
“Thank you, Chamberlain.”
“…”
The chamberlain quietly lowered his head and took a step back.
I didn’t eat properly because I was arguing with the count at lunchtime. If the chamberlain had not taken care of it, it would have been quite difficult until evening.
When in the palace, two people sit at a small table that was not even used for putting things.
The edge of the table was engraved with a pattern that a young girl would like.
A small room, a small table, and only one servant, the chamberlain.
I heard that this was the room my wife used before she married into the royal family.
The decorations and furniture are also of a much inferior quality compared to the palace, and there are many items that are somewhat embarrassing to the crown prince because they were used by women.
However, there was no replacement or replacement at all.
On the outside, he smiles and welcomes you, but you can fully understand how neglected you are.
I was thirsty for a bite of meat.
How did this happen?
It all started when my father started to become more and more strange.
He wasn’t a wise king or a good father, but he was a decent king. For the sake of the country, he was acting like a king to the extent of contemplating whether to choose the successor to the Duke of Watoringu, who possessed magical powers, or the rock salt region.
However, from one day, he suddenly didn’t come out of his room all day, or started saying the same things he said yesterday. The signs have been there before. It was just that no one could speak in front of the king.
The Crown Prince lowered his head to hide his tears and chewed the meat.
The Emperor of the Empire is coming towards this place step by step. It was as if I was watching the entire country of Cania submerged in seawater. It flows gently, but no one can stop it.
The count, the wife’s father, says to focus on defense.
The castle here is famous for being strong. Since the castle was built on the mountainside, large armies could not come all at once. Except for the road used as the main road, the rest are mountain roads. It was difficult for horses to come and go, so of course the cavalry could not come, and the infantry could not form a rank and attack.
In addition, the empire is a group of humans who have to eat and live. It is difficult to procure food in the mountains surrounded by trees and stones, so they cannot stay for long. If you focus on defense and hold on, one day the Imperial Army will have no choice but to retreat.
The Count argued so.
He may be right in part.
If it wasn’t the imperial army that was invading, if they didn’t have magic weapons, the crown prince would have agreed.
However, the news from the information minister was saying that it shouldn’t be like that.
If the information is correct, this previously impregnable castle will be destroyed in an instant.
Rather than that, it is better to fight by taking advantage of the mountains and narrow roads. The emperor of an empire always fights on the forefront, at the forefront. If you’re lucky, there’s even the possibility of decapitating the emperor.
The Crown Prince insisted, but no one agreed with him. The Crown Prince’s subordinates and the Count’s subordinates were the same.
Only then did the Crown Prince realize that they were all frightened. I didn’t choose to defend, I couldn’t do anything but defend.
If so, wouldn’t it be better to surrender? There is an offering called the Crown Prince here. If you captivate yourself and negotiate, your life may be forgiven.
I thought so, but I found out from the letter I just received from the intelligence minister. The earl had already sent a letter to the emperor of the empire asking for the family to continue as he would hand over himself. I just couldn’t execute it because it was rejected with a single knife.
“Whoops.”
Suddenly, a laugh came out.
The Crown Princess tilted her head and looked at him.
“Your Highness, what’s funny? Is there something funny?”
“No, I think it’s been a while since I’ve been sitting like this with you.”
The Crown Princess smiled quietly.
“It was often like this when we were engaged.”
“It’s been that long. I thought it was a few years ago.”
“…”
The Crown Prince held his wife’s hand on the table.
“I’m sorry.”
“…”
His wife looked at him with a look that made her cry.
Since then, a lot of time has passed, and the imperial army, which has been capturing cities along the way, has finally arrived at the border of the county.
‘It’s finally here.’
The crown prince saw the distant sky through the window of the tall castle.
A few crows are circling the sky near the castle wall.
I don’t know if that’s the West Witch’s crow or a bird that came to the castle looking for something to eat. The Imperial Army is still far away, so it could be the former or the latter.
But in any case, it won’t matter. After all, this castle will fall.
All the women in this castle, including their wives, will be ravaged, and the young children of King Chania’s lineage will die.
‘sorry.’
Because he is a powerless husband, he is a foolish father, and his family is violated. Tears quietly flowed from my heart.
It was a day when all the leaves had fallen and the night was freezing cold, and winter was about to begin.
***
“It’s cold on this mountain. Even when I was in Watoringu, I was squeamish, but why are you building a castle on a mountain? Oh, really, everything will freeze.”
Levin grumbles.
Unlike when he was in the castle, when he was with the soldiers, Levin’s words became dirty and his actions became somewhat violent.
Wouldn’t everyone faint if I showed this figure to the ladies at the imperial palace? Women say they wear masks, but they probably won’t be as thick as Levin’s iron masks.
Rudy smiled bitterly and looked ahead.
The castle where the Crown Prince is staying is located on a considerably higher elevation than the castle on the cliff of Watoringu. It is also the season of winter, so it is quite cold. It seems even colder here because of its location.
The road up to the castle is narrow in places, and in some places it is only wide enough for one carriage to pass. The only way out was to go through a wooded forest.
Rudy swayed leisurely on his horse and narrowed his eyes.
“Unlike in other places, I thought there would be raids here.
I heard that the Crown Prince is a brave man. Did you participate in the Dicoquaria War? He’s said he’s won several wrestling matches, so he must be really strong. So I was expecting a bit.
“Your Majesty, there’s no way we can do something like an attack.”
Levin looked at Rudy in amazement.
“There are thousands of witch’s crows circling in the sky, and His Majesty’s demonic creatures are roaming in all directions to check if the enemy is coming. In addition, there are skirmishers coming and going from time to time. “
well, don’t do that However, he was just thinking that if the crown prince was cornered anyway, he might come at him one last time.
‘If so, I could use that as an excuse to save the Crown Princess and the child.’
Bravery is praised in this world. If the last Crown Prince died fighting the empire bravely, you can buy that spirit high and give him some warmth.
I was thinking about that as I slowly rode my horse, when a skirmisher came running.
“There is a rider on horseback in front of the enemy’s gates.”
“General? Are there no soldiers?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. The gates are closed, and only one person is out.”
Maybe that person is the crown prince.
A smile crept across Rudy’s lips.
A nearby captain asked the skirmisher.
“Have you looked around to see if it’s a trap?”
“Sure, but there was nothing nearby.”
The captain seems very suspicious.
“Even though there are no traps, I don’t know if it’s a trick or something.”
After saying that, the captain led his soldiers and ran to the gate himself.
When Rudi arrived in front of the gate, besides the captain who ran ahead, several soldiers surrounded the gate in a circle.
In front of the city gate stood a man riding a horse. Wearing full body armor. The helmet was open, but it was difficult to tell what it looked like.
The aide said in a low voice after checking the man’s armor and shield.
“I am the crown prince of Chania.”
Rudy broke through the soldiers and drove the dark horse forward.
The man who confirmed Rudy’s appearance calms down his squirming words. And he shouted his name out loud.
Like Rudy’s previous name, the names of nobles and royalty are all long and difficult. I don’t know why they make names so long that they don’t seem to be able to memorize them properly, let alone write them on a daily basis.
After the crown prince revealed his name, he took a deep breath.
“As a warrior, I challenge the Emperor of the Empire to a duel! If you are a true man and a warrior, you will have to prove it by taking this duel!”
Rudy laughed lightly.
“The Crown Prince of Chania wore his hair.”
He seemed to think that if he asked for a duel in such a public place, he would accept it for the sake of face.
If it was a one-on-one duel, no matter how many soldiers I brought, it would be useless.
If he wins, it’s a fluke, and if the crown prince loses the duel, he’ll die anyway, just a little bit earlier.
If Rudy ignores the duel challenge, there is no penalty for the crown prince. Only the Emperor of the Empire gets covered with a bit of filth.
“I liked that man.”
As Rudy muttered, Levin tilted his head.
“Do you respond to such nonsense? If His Majesty were just a noble, I think it’s bullsh*t that the emperor should ignore.”
“Well, that’s right. But I’ve been so bored so far.”
Levin’s shoulders twitched at Rudy’s words.
“I know what Your Majesty is thinking. You don’t have to say that. At least, the child was pitiful.”
Levin smiled and took a step back.
Rudy smiled bitterly and drove the horse forward.
“I am Rudy Constantine Lirie Saruva, the Emperor of the Empire and the Duke of Moreno. Let’s accept your request.”
Levin got off his horse and approached, holding Rudy’s knife with both hands. Like a servant, he politely holds out. Ah, not like a servant, but a servant.
As Rudy took the sword, the crown prince on the other side closed the helmet.
Levin belatedly asked with a smirk.
“Your Majesty, should I properly equip my helmet and armor now?”
“done.”
I don’t know if it’s a formal magic spear match. There was some flimsy conversation going back and forth, but this is real life.
Unlike Crown Prince Kania, who was raised and educated as a member of the royal family, Rudy trained by beating among ordinary soldiers. I had never fought properly wearing such thick and crude armor.
On the other side, an aide held out his shield.
Rudy raised his shield and looked straight ahead.
The Crown Prince was shouting and riding his horse.
