Chapter 35 : Reversing Situations (3)
“This was not something I planned, my lord.”
Kyle, having entered Rak Territory, looked at Aron, who was voicing his grievance with his hands clasped together.
If it was not something Aron had planned, then the question of why the Empire’s 1st Legion had arrived at the border strongly arose.
From the beginning, no matter how dire the situation had been, Kyle had never intended to receive help from the Tylers Empire.
“Are you saying this is something Adrian pushed through without saying a word?”
“After my lord left for the Royal Capital, a letter arrived.”
“From Adrian?”
“Yes…….”
“I should check that letter.”
At Kyle’s gesture of holding out his hand, Aron handed over the neatly folded letter from his chest.
[Are you doing well?
Soon, one legion will arrive at the border of the Daon Kingdom.
Legions are expected to move around the border regions of kingdoms hostile to the Empire.
By the time this letter reaches you, the 1st Legion may already have arrived at the border.
Some kingdoms are showing signs of joining hands to invade the Empire.
The Daon Kingdom is included among them.
So, as a warning, I intend to send the 1st Legion.
And I am sorry to say this, but could you please spare that fellow?
Ever since he heard the news of your death, he stopped eating and drinking and shut himself inside his mansion like a wreck.
I only sent them because I thought it would not be beyond what you could handle, so please do not hate me too much.
This is my request, so next time I will help the Empire without asking for anything in return.
Your friend, Adrian.]
After checking the letter, Kyle ground his teeth in a manner uncharacteristic of him.
He had never imagined that Adrian would send not just any legion commander, but Duke Luna, the commander of the 1st Legion.
“Hoo…… If that guy Adrian made such a decision, it must mean Luna’s condition was serious.”
“It might actually be for the best. In the current situation, where we must expand Ragnar’s influence, it is by no means a bad development.”
“It may be a good opportunity for Ragnar, but not for me.”
“……My lord.”
“Will Luna Seren trouble the Daon Kingdom, or will she trouble me.”
“……I believe it will be both. Who would be able to stop her?”
At Aron’s frank remark, Kyle gave a bitter smile.
They were ties he had wanted to cut.
He had never hidden from Adrian the fact that he was alive, thinking it would be enough for him to simply know that much, but he had not expected it to come back like this.
‘Well, they were never ties that could be severed so easily.’
They had built a relationship for more than ten years, so he had not thought it would disappear overnight.
It had simply come back far too quickly.
In any case, the appearance of the 1st Legion would give wings to Ragnar’s side, so it was certain to be beneficial to the family.
All that remained was for Kyle himself to endure a little.
As if shaking off stray thoughts, Kyle sharply shook his head and brought up another matter with Aron.
“Have all the Northern Lords gathered?”
“No. Some of the lords stationed at the borders of the Monster Mountain Range did not attend.”
“Aron, there is something you need to know first.”
“Yes, my lord. Please speak.”
“The pact documents that Ragnar and Daon concluded are not just one.”
If Duke Zaira knew this, it meant that the fact that there was more than one pact document had already spread widely.
Aron also knew, having seen the historical records kept by the Ragnar Family.
“I am aware.”
“Do you also know what meaning the pact document held by Ragnar carries?”
“I know it is a pact document related to a change of royal authority.”
“Then you must have already anticipated what you need to do.”
“I will devise a plan to make the Head of the Family the king of the newly emerging nation.”
Aron nodded with a grave expression.
After confirming that, Kyle turned his gaze toward the direction of the Tylers Empire.
“We have never left alive those we considered enemies.”
Kyle never spared his enemies.
With only one exception.
Even then, he had only spared that person because of a request from the Previous Emperor.
“How could I not know that.”
“But at some point, this thought crossed my mind. Do I really have the right to force that upon Pramo?”
“……My lord.”
“It is something we will have to watch. Just as I did in the Empire, I wish to remain Ragnar’s Guardian Sword.”
Power and honor.
Things everyone else desired, but to Kyle, they were nothing more than unnecessary elements.
There was only one reason Kyle was stepping forward now.
It was to make Pramo king in order to restore what the family should have originally possessed.
“When Those Who Worship Darkness raise their heads, we will need a force that can help me block them.”
The war had ended, but the clashes with Those Who Worship Darkness were not yet over.
To prepare for the war that would inevitably begin again someday, a force was necessary.
“It will turn out as my lord wishes.”
Aron bowed his head with his hands clasped together.
There was no way he did not know that protecting Ragnar was the foremost objective.
However, in order to protect the family, they had to achieve victory in the war against Those Who Worship Darkness.
“Should we move? Or should we wait?”
At the sight of Kyle, arms crossed as he sank into thought, Aron broke into a grin.
There was no need to go anywhere just yet.
“If you wait, the Royal Family will eventually be the ones to beg first.”
“Yes, it is not the time yet. I will return to Ragnar.”
“My lord, I think it would not be a bad idea to show your face to the Northern Lords.”
“There is no need for me to step in personally. Still, leave Seros behind.”
Soon, rumors would sweep across the north.
Since Viscount Rak had witnessed what happened at the Royal Palace, it might spread across the entire north faster than mere word of mouth.
In the meantime, Aron once again bowed his head to Kyle.
“Understood.”
“By the way, who decided to send Viscount Rak to the Royal Palace?”
“Before I could step in, the Head of the Family moved first.”
“I see. I should at least hear what intention lay behind sending Viscount Rak to the Royal Palace. Tell Pramo to stop by for a moment.”
“I will deliver the message immediately.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Aron left the room assigned to Kyle.
After that, Kyle waited for Pramo while gazing at the snow-laden scenery outside the window.
Before long, a knock sounded.
“Brother, it’s Pramo.”
“Come in.”
When Kyle’s permission was given, Pramo carefully opened the door and entered.
“For what reason did you call for me?”
“Handle meeting the Northern Lords on your own. I am thinking of returning to Ragnar.”
“Brother, even so, wouldn’t it be good to at least see the faces of the Northern Lords once?”
“If there is fate, we will meet.”
At the calm tone, Pramo no longer pressed the matter.
With so many issues piled up that had to be dealt with within the Territory, neither Kyle nor Pramo could afford to be away for long.
Considering the safety of the Territory, it was right for Kyle to return immediately at the very least.
As Pramo nodded in agreement, Kyle’s low voice came flying over.
“Pramo.”
“Yes, brother.”
“Why did you send Viscount Rak to the Royal Palace?”
“……Before that, may I speak honestly?”
Pramo had not told Kyle everything up to now.
He had not explained why he had rallied the Northern Lords, nor what he was aiming for.
Since Kyle himself had also not laid bare all of his inner thoughts, he simply nodded without saying anything.
“I will listen.”
“When Father was still alive, Ragnar was stronger than any other Territory.”
“…….”
“But as I watched the family gradually fall into decline, one thought suddenly occurred to me. I realized that if a family lacks strength, then in the end it is the people of the Territory who inevitably suffer.”
Pramo’s eyes were filled with sorrow.
No, it was not merely sorrow, but anger.
When monsters had encircled Ragnar, not a single person had reached out a hand.
Even knowing that if Ragnar fell, they would be next, the lords hesitated to move.
After Ragnar began to steadily tilt toward ruin, only then did they struggle to find ways to protect their own lands.
With those memories vividly etched into him, Pramo clenched his fist tightly and trembled.
“Father gave courage to those living in Ragnar through his own death. Even knowing it was the place where he would die, he did not stop.”
“Do you blame yourself?”
“I resent myself for having been born with a cursed body that could not even grip a sword. If only I had possessed strength, I could have prevented Father’s death, but I could not. I find myself contemptible.”
“……You know that the one who should blame himself is not you, but me.”
“The reason Ragnar has become like this now lies entirely with me. If only I had not been born, brother would never have had to leave the family. Then Father would not have met such a futile end.”
“Pramo!”
At Pramo’s continuing self-reproach, Kyle finally shouted.
Yet Pramo did not stop saying what he wished to say.
“To be honest, I think it is fortunate that brother returned. Even if something happens to me, the Ragnar bloodline will not be cut off.”
Ever since ascending to the position of Head of the Family, Pramo had constantly been plagued by worry that the Ragnar Family’s lineage might end.
Only when Kyle, who had gone missing, returned to Ragnar had he finally been able to feel at ease.
Even so, Kyle still had a deep frown on his face at Pramo’s words.
“Do not say such foolish things.”
“……That may be so.”
Letting out a deep sigh, Kyle steadied his agitated emotions and continued the conversation.
“In any case, the pact document that Ragnar possesses will have been activated. It was designed so that the moment the Daon Family’s pact document was nullified, Ragnar’s pact document would be activated.”
“I have confirmed it.”
“Now Ragnar has met the conditions to carry out succession to the throne.”
There was an important clause in the pact document preserved by Ragnar.
A change in royal succession.
Since the Daon Family’s pact document had been nullified, this gave the Ragnar Family justification to become the Royal Family.
Sensing what Kyle was about to say, Pramo lowered his eyebrows.
“Brother.”
“Now, even if Ragnar were to seize the Daon Family’s throne, it would no longer be treason. Ragnar has obtained the justification it needed most.”
“Do you wish for me to become king?”
“Of course. It is not as though I can become king, is it?”
“If you were to say you would inherit the throne, brother, I could give it up without hesitation. Please do not do that, and…….”
“No.”
He utterly detested troublesome things.
He knew how great the responsibilities of a king were.
He had seen up close that nearly seventy percent of Adrian’s daily work consisted of handling documents.
More than anything, if he were to ascend the throne himself, it would be no different from seizing the results Pramo had achieved by exercising his abilities thus far, and he did not wish to do that.
Faced with Kyle’s resolute demeanor, Pramo could no longer persuade him.
“……Understood.”
“Good, let us end that discussion here. It seems the conversation strayed for a moment, so I would like you to answer my question.”
“The reason I sent Viscount Rak to the Royal Palace was because I thought there needed to be someone to guide you.”
“That is not the only reason, is it?”
At Kyle’s question, Pramo scratched his head.
In truth, the reason he had sent Viscount Rak was simple.
“I needed someone who could testify to the Northern Lords that brother has reached the level of Master.”
“I understand. Handle the rest as you see fit.”
“……Are you not going to reprimand me?”
“There is no reason for me to be angry just because you used me.”
It was something Kyle had anticipated.
Above all, he knew well that Pramo had not tried to use him with malicious intent.
“Thank you for understanding, brother.”
“Little brother, you may vent all the anger you have built up until now. You may even erase the Daon Family from history. However, if you intend to destroy them, you must make sure they can never rise again.”
“I will keep it in mind.”
“I believe you have already brought the Northern Lords firmly under control. But you must not be careless.”
It was a family that had maintained its position as the Royal Family for over two hundred years.
Though its national power had greatly declined, it was by no means an opponent to be taken lightly.
Even if Ragnar held the advantage in military strength, when it came to control over the state, the Daon Family still held the upper hand.
Pramo nodded with a resolute expression.
“I will never be careless.”
“Aron will accompany you at your side. Listen carefully to what he says, and if there is anything to learn, then learn it.”
Kyle rose from his seat.
There was no need to remain any longer in Rak Territory.
“I will take the Ragnar Knight Order with me. They still require more training. Instead, I will leave Seros and Acacia at your side.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“That is enough. No need for thanks.”
Kyle, having stood up, opened the door.
Seros, Aron, and Acacia were standing in front of it.
“You will remain here and assist the Head of the Family. I will take the Ragnar Knight Order with me.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Seros, help the Head of the Family firmly bring the lords under control.”
At Kyle’s words, Seros bowed his head with a grin.
“Oh, and if there is any information you can extract from that fellow called Sinoah, make him spit it out. If there is nothing to gain, then just kill him.”
The reason he had gone as far as the Royal Capital and brought Sinoah back alive this time was to glean, even if only a little, how much Those Who Worship Darkness had recovered.
If there was nothing to learn, it was better to kill him.
That was Kyle’s judgment.
“Understood, my lord.”