Chapter . 36
At my resolute words, the three of them looked at me all at once as if I were a crazy person. While the gazes of the other two became murderous, Alexander spoke as if admonishing me.
“We must find the dragon egg. You know this too, Prince.”
“What does it matter to me? I have no hope of winning the imperial succession battle anyway. Are you not also excluding me?”
When I retorted sharply, he raised both hands as if to soothe me. He was annoying in both words and actions.
“Instead of jumping into a dangerous competition without any backing, did I not say I would protect you?”
“Why would you protect my brother?”
“Since his biological brother mistreats him harshly rather than taking care of him, what else can I do?”
“Does the person saying that take care of his own biological brother?”
A dogfight broke out between brothers, and I had to just watch without being able to join in. It was fortunate that it was fun.
“I don’t want to hear it!”
I shouted. Even though I regressed, I felt my acting skills were worse than Rhiannon’s, but I did my best.
“Don’t fight like that and plot things as if I absolutely must receive a revelation about the dragon egg!”
Like that, I subtly conveyed my will on how they should join forces in the future.
-The monarch’s will is clear, but when conveying it to subordinates, there are times when it must be blurred. That way, you can sort out the subordinates who properly establish the monarch’s will like grains from chaff.
As the Empress Dowager said.
In fact, that was Rhiannon’s method of issuing cruel imperial orders but shifting the responsibility to the executors. As a monarch who only employed those who interpreted unclear words in the cruelest way.
Now that those who dream of becoming monarchs are in that position, how will they actually deal with it?
“When the revelation will be given, and what it will be about, only God decides.”
Everyone furrowed their brows. They seemed to think that there must be some method just as I found the holy relic, but I was acting like that because I didn't want to follow their proposal.
Actually, among the courtiers, those with deep faith sincerely believed that I had received the blessing of prophecy, but none of my brothers saw me wrong. Brothers were brothers.
“How could the God Traneha, who watches over Armatia, not give a revelation about the Guardian Dragon’s egg?”
At Alexander’s words, Desmond chimed in.
“If Brother Leontes does not receive that revelation, it might mean that the God Traneha no longer bestows grace upon Brother.”
The synergy between those biological brothers over there isn't very good either.
“I am merely humble before God’s grace. Rather, God would withdraw His grace altogether rather than have me threatened by a guy like you.”
When I spoke nonchalantly, both the bastard and the First Prince glared at Desmond. To the extent that even the guy who didn't care about consequences flinched.
“If you want to make my brother open his mouth about where the dragon egg is, make your brother shut his mouth first.”
“I do not know who you are talking about. Since I have so many younger brothers. If there is one among them who is not my brother, I should report it to the Father Emperor.”
The two older brothers fought again. Just listen to me.
“For you to mention the Father Emperor yourself, I am dumbfounded. Since the Father Emperor personally said there is no dragon egg, what would happen if I said I knew its location? Do you intend to drive me as a traitor?”
Saying that, I looked at the other two as well as Alexander. Instead of glaring back murderously like them, I looked at them like three dogs, and my eyes felt comfortable.
“…We just need to find a way.”
Alexander spoke, now dropping the sly smile. The other two also scrambled to speak.
“If I protect you, there is no worry of being driven as a traitor. Also, the reward will not be disappointing.”
“If you are worried about the Father Emperor’s wrath, why do you not join hands with me? Whatever you desire, my mother and I―”
“I do not need your schemes.”
No matter how sweet their words were, I cut them all off.
“I say clearly, do not try to involve me again in insidious schemes where I have been the scapegoat until now. The problem is simple. If the God watching over Armatia gives a revelation about the dragon egg, and if His Majesty the Emperor of Armatia issues an order to find the dragon egg, not only I but all of us must fulfill the duty of the imperial bloodline. But before that, do not even mention it in front of me.”
In other words, go get an Imperial Order to find the dragon egg from the current owner of the Throne Magic Circle.
Because if I step forward, whatever trouble arises later, I will be the one garnering the biggest suspicion.
“Leontes―”
Maximilian opened his mouth immediately.
But I raised my hand.
“It is a rare gathering of four brothers, yet you only demand many things from me who has nothing. For me, the longer I stay here, the more disadvantageous it becomes.”
As I stood up saying that, Maximilian asked angrily.
“So what do you intend to do? You mean to leave abruptly?”
He was evidently angry that I, who always cowered at his words, was talking back.
“Ah, as expected, our First Prince is severely lacking in tact. Not even knowing how to soothe a bird that doesn’t cry.”
“What did you say? This arrogant―”
“Brother Leontes, I alone understand.”
Regardless of whatever nonsense each of them spouted, I stood up abruptly as per the First Prince’s suggestion.
And then I pointed to the bedroom door.
“Everyone get out.”
How pleasant the silence that occurred at these words was.
“How dare you say what to me!”
“This is my bedroom!”
“Well said. Let’s send those two out first―”
“This place is now my quarters, and if I said get out, everyone shuts up and gets out. Before I kick you out in front of people. Do I need to receive a revelation even about the fact that being kicked out by the legitimate owner of this place would be a great disgrace? I prophesy that if you are such a person, even if you know where the dragon egg is, you will never get your hands on it.”
Whether they glared or shouted, I didn’t budge and sent all three out.
After having Sir Rolf bring Nanette, I gave each of the two a small room. Since most people who get a room in the imperial quarters are nobles, both of them didn’t know what to do.
“Uh, how can I receive such an honor… It, it is a great honor.”
“Is, is this okay? Of course I’m happy… I’m really grateful though…….”
“Both of you are cute.”
“……”
“……”
That night, I slept well with a content heart. Living with good people in a good place was happiness in itself. I wish Michelon could live with us soon too.
***
“So what happened?”
When I explained the situation, Michelon asked.
“Alexander persuaded the two. Saying that whether my revelation is true or not, we can use the attention of people caused by my revelation to gather everyone’s consensus on finding the dragon egg at this opportunity. Since until then, it was a hush-hush issue while watching the Father Emperor’s mood, who said there is no dragon egg.”
“In short, they want to publicize the search for the dragon egg by borrowing the fame of your revelation?”
“Exactly. Just as I wished.”
I didn’t start something like a revelation, something like a legend for nothing. A story that is the most common and predictable among legends, so anyone can chatter about it.
“By the way, you said you kicked them out. How do you know Alexander acted like that?”
“Maximilian told me. As a warning that he intends to use me. Desmond did so in his own way too. Alexander himself boasted that the other two tried to ignore my conditions but he persuaded them.”
“…So what are you going to do?”
“What else, I have to wait until my future loyal subjects bring the Imperial Order.”
“…Please don’t talk like a crazy person. You should use nice words.”
“I called traitors loyal subjects; what nicer words are there than that?”
“If that’s nice, then a flower stuck in a crazy person’s hair is also nice!”
Although the sensitive Michelon suffered from anxiety, my brothers worked very well. If I knew they would do this well, I would have used them sooner.
“I heard a dragon egg was discovered?”
“Is the rumor that someone saw a dragon egg really true?”
“Do you know where the dragon egg is?”
Such rumors circulated. That someone witnessed a dragon egg in a certain province. The person’s name and the province’s name kept changing. As if misheard and distorted, with similar names.
“It turns out one of them was actually a certain Viscount’s alias.”
“Oh my, that Viscount’s nephew is a distant relative by marriage to a certain Baron.”
“Oh my goodness, what a surprising thing!”
Then people with similar names and those related to them enjoyed brief fame. Sometimes incurring suspicion of stealing the dragon egg.
“Let’s think rationally without being swayed by rumors. Look at the map. The places where rumors of a dragon egg appearing have been so far are here, here, here, here, here, and here. If we connect these regions, a star with six points is born. Now I will interpret the esoteric meaning contained in the meanings of those names and the number of spellings.”
People who seriously combined conspiracy and theory appeared.
The dragon egg became a huge topic not only in the court but in all of Armatia. Everyone talked about it. Because the place they live might be where the dragon egg is, and the person they know might be its discoverer.
‘I feel the Empress’s touch.’
Desmond wasn’t just wrapped in his mother’s skirt.
“If there is even a slight chance that a dragon egg exists, we must naturally concentrate Armatia’s national power!”
Speaking actively whenever there was a chance, he embodied well the image of a passionate Prince full of patriotism. Especially while comforting those suspected due to rumors about the dragon egg.
“How painful it must be. However, your suffering will ultimately be of great help in retrieving the Guardian Dragon’s egg. Armatia and I will not forget your sacrifice.”
While Desmond was running here and there, others did not stay still either.
“Roncer has invaded!”
Of course, such a thing did not happen. However, it was true that a disturbance occurred between soldiers of both sides in a small village bordering Roncer. Since the Sword Master moved via magic circle to resolve a common dispute.
“As expected, it’s reassuring because he is there!”
“But there is a separate reason why he went all the way there. Would you believe it, Roncer spies infiltrated to steal the dragon egg and were discovered, so he stepped in personally!”
“No. From what I heard, the spies had already stolen the egg and were smuggling it out.”
“That’s right. The Sword Master killed them all, but the egg had already been moved to the heart of Roncer. Ah, how lamentable!”
“If the dragon egg has fallen into the hands of those Roncer bastards, how can we stay still!”
An excellent strategy that highlighted Marquess Steiner while simultaneously raising the whole country’s concern about the dragon egg and hostility toward Roncer and people from there. There was no need to mention who devised it.
“Did you hear? This time, the First Prince stepped forward personally!”
“As expected, he is the hope of Armatia. Whatever conspiracy Roncer is plotting, we don’t have to worry if he is there!”
“Truly, those who try to link the person who is undeniably the First Prince of Armatia with Roncer for no reason are the most suspicious.”
Maximilian organized the Dragon Egg Knights.
“Knights who set out to find the dragon egg for Armatia are my brothers!”
“Maximilian! Maximilian!”
I quickly conveyed this news to the imprisoned Michelon as I thought it would be a diversion.
“Michelon, a knight order for you has been created!”
Michelon didn’t like it at all.
“Not even Dragon Knights, but Dragon Egg Knights; the name itself is greedy. Bastards who would lay eggs with their butts.”
Although it didn’t appeal to Michelon, whose taste was noble and delicate, the Dragon Egg Knights received cheers from many young people.
“They say if you join the knight order, you receive a pearl as big as a dragon egg!”
“What a truly magnificent knight order.”
Unless Michelon is only the size of a fly, a pearl as big as a dragon egg does not exist.
However, the knights who embedded pearls processed into a somewhat distorted shape like a dragon egg and draped red enamel badges, combining the newly coined word Ordo Draconis Ovum and the brother’s initials, from their necks to their shoulders with golden chains, became arrogant. To think they lined up just to wear that badge once; the vanity of Armatia’s youth was lamentable.
And as those running around everywhere looking for the dragon egg failed one after another, public opinion formed rapidly.
“Isn’t it about time we need the revelation of the God Traneha?”