Tensei Oujo wa Kyou mo Hata o Tatakioru Chapter 131The Return of the Eccentric Prince

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.

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 gods you’re okay. If anything had happened to you, I wouldn’t be able to face Amelie in heaven.”

Despite everything, it was still embarrassing 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.

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.’

TN: Nacht can’t win against his family after all.

To those of you who said thanks because I continued this story, oh boy do I have news for you—.

EN1: Leonhardt is discostang, pass it on. Ugh, I was just starting to forget about him. Also Nacht best boy! I love him so much aaaa he’s grown on me! He’s adorable. Yo but honestly Rose wouldn’t lose anything if she did end up marrying him in the end because he would treat her right.

EN2: Nev works ridiculously hard, they deserve a Licht hug.