Chapter 3 - Reception (1/2)

“Okay, I guess this much is fine.”

One day has already passed since father assigned me the task. Using a flying boat, we headed northeast from Diestburg — to the Afillis kingdom.

Father had sent a missive notice of the dispatch of reinforcements, but despite the early morning, soldiers gathered in this remote area near the border to greet us.

As soon as the flying boat landed most soldiers approached. The moment they knew that the leader of the group was this “Trash Prince”, disappointment took over their expressions.

—If only Prince Grerial had come.

—Did they send the Trash Prince because they expect this to be a losing battle?

And much more. Despite me being there, the grumbling could be heard pretty clearly. As I came bringing reinforcements, according to the pact, I was to do battle at least once for the Afillis kingdom. That is what appearances require.

In other words, after one battle, the “Trash Prince” was not going to stay. So grumbling a thing or two wouldn’t be a problem, I suppose. How sad! But I had no plans on staying long either, so I could only laugh.

“….Your Highness.”

“What? It’s unlike you to pity me. You know well that I’m used to people talking behind my back. At this point I don’t care anymore. I’m reaping what I sowed: there is nothing for me to say.”

I spoke to Feli, who stood next to me. Of course, I mean everything I said. I didn’t mean to say that I’ve been used to people speaking ill of me since *long ago*. But if everything ended without particular problems, then I had no complaints.

“You know too, don’t you? I’m just baggage. The knights and soldiers will be the ones actually working. Rather than a ‘Trash Prince’ ready to flee, they will try to court our knights, to make them stay as long as possible. Self-interest at its finest. If they show it clearly, I can’t even dislike them.”

“However, such disrespect to Your Highness cannot be allowed…”

They know well that they are dealing with the “Trash Prince”. I am nothing but a placeholder, so there was no need to treat me properly, and even if they did it would not mean anything either: they were well aware of everything.

In that case, just leave me alone. It appeared that everyone was thinking the same way, so I was simply left on my own.

“No need for concern. I don’t mind. Or rather, I don’t care about this country.”

“???”

“It’s just a one-time relationship, and if worse comes to worst, I plan to escape. They already know that I’m a “Trash Prince” that will split as soon as anything happens, to save his precious hide. We both understand each other. So there’s no need to pay attention to me.”

“…..why?”

Feli looked down, as if she couldn’t understand my thinking at all, then whispered a question in a sad tone. Her expression was twisted in a grimace.

“Why do you not try to fight, Your Highness…? If you can be so composed in your self-interest, without losing yourself, you could surely be a great warrior. In this day and age, even royals take up arms. His Highness Grerial is a swordsman himself. Has it never crossed your mind to hone your skills and make them eat their words….!?”

“Never.”

I answer immediately.

“First of all, I see no pride or honor in wielding a sword. What I wish for is never-ending days of peacefulness. To be revered, praised, achieve great deeds, become a hero, save the kingdom…I don’t have the slightest interest in accomplishing any such acts. If I can just accept being called “Trash Prince”, then I can live my days in peace. I’m going to do just that then.”

An answer that only my mentor and I would understand. The final destination you reach after wielding the sword is the sea of corpses you cut down, a desert of infinite solitude. I have reached it and know it better than anyone, thus I will not wield a sword anymore.

At the very least, in a place like this, where there is nothing I truly wish to protect. There is no way I would take a sword in my hands. I was not a swordsman anymore.

“That kind of thinking is too naive, Your Highness…!!!”

“Naivete suits me just fine. But if you pick up a sword, it’s all over. Man can only be devoured by the sword.”

“…what do you mean by that?”

“Simply what I said. The moment a man takes a sword in their hands, they are trapped in an illusion. An illusion that they have become strong. That is the first step towards death. If they start swinging their murderous weapon as if it were normal, there is no turning back. The only way is forward, on a path of nothing but death. As long as wielding a sword is thought as honorable, this world will never realize peace.”

Feli looked down.

It’s not like I wanted to win the argument against the person who worried about me though.

“In terms of living in this world, your opinion is right. But in order to bring an end to war, my opinion is right. You are very loyal to the kingdom, so even if the person you serve is completely hopeless, you get irritated if they are insulted, right? I hope I will be able to reward you for your loyalty one day.”

I honestly think so.

She is one of the Diestburg house’s most loyal vassals, having served them for dozens of years. Any member of the Diestburg royal family would wish to reward her loyalty, in any shape or form.

“In that case, Your Highness…please take a sword in your hands. I swear I will lead you to become a swordsman worthy of the Diestburg name…!”

“I’m sorry, but that I cannot do.”

“Hngh…”

Correction. I think I want to reward her, as much as I possibly can…

“Look, we’re here chatting and she finally makes her appearance.”

I speak while looking at a young woman heading our way, clad in “war maiden”-like light armor, a gorgeous costume that looks entirely inconvenient to move in.

“Your Highness, princess Mephia Zwai Afillis…”

Feli’s tone was somewhat somber, probably out of concern for the exhaustion the princess’ expression couldn’t hide.

“It’s been quite a while, eight years, I think? Prince Fay.”

“Though, I would have preferred to just relax in my room. I came only because my brother Grerial couldn’t. I won’t mind even if you complain about Grerial not coming, so please feel free.”

“If I complained, would His Excellency Prince Grerial come?”

“Would he?”

“….sigh. Don’t make us waste time. The situation is really severe. I’m sorry, but I need you all to join the battle right now.”

Mephia looks away from me, as if there was no more time to waste in conversation. She looks towards the troops I brought as reinforcements, 3000 in total. Then she calls them.

“The enemy forces are approaching from the west of the castle as we speak. You will depart now in that direction! I will thus have you temporarily under my direct command. No objections, yes?”

An intimidating glare is shot in my direction. So that I would not refuse even if my safety wouldn’t be assured anymore. I suppose this is what she was thinking, but unfortunately for her, I am quite used to being on the receiving end of killing intent. The arrow cleanly misses the mark.

I have no reason to refuse, however, so I simply nod in agreement.

“Feli is my personal escort though. I will keep her at my side. I trust that is fine with you?”

“It is.”

“Thank you very much then.”

I want to protect myself and Feli, no one else, pretty much. Even in the worst-case scenario, we should be able to get out of here even without having to pick up arms.

Feli is one of my few weaknesses, but I don’t dislike her. She’s an important vassal, someone that didn’t abandon me despite how much of a “Trash Prince” I was. If I didn’t want to lose her, I had to keep her at my side. So I was taught by my mentor.

In my previous life, not only was there no one I wanted to protect, but I could count my acquaintances on my fingers, so I could never put such words into practice.

“It doesn’t have to be just her, we can assign you at least five guards, though?”

“No, the head maid….Feli is all I need.”

“My, is that so?”

I would never choose to have people by my side that had their fill ridiculing me as “Trash Prince” as we rode there, and I rarely requested to have escorts or attendants with me anyway. Mephia probably thought that I wanted to keep Feli with me to ensure my own safety, but I chose not to correct her assumption.

“Fear” is something I threw away a long time ago. But even if I said so, the only person who would ever believe me is probably my mentor.

While the knights were being informed of the strategy, I spoke to Mephia.

“What’s the actual state of the battle? No ambiguities. It’s proper to explain that much to the person who brought you reinforcements, I’m sure.”

“The current situation is not that bad yet. But…”

Mephia stopped talking for a moment. Even I could tell what she meant to say, though.