Volume 2 Chapter 16 The Chou Family's Parent And Child, Talking
──The day after the banquet──
"Isn't His Royal Highness Rouen too attached to the Kou family?"
The morning after the banquet at the royal palace, Chou Sekimei muttered these words in his room.
"It was our Chou family that worked hard to erase the name of the 'Cursed Crown Prince.' So why does His Royal Highness..."
"I think you are right, Father."
A young voice responded.
It was Chou Shoukatsu, the heir of the Chou family.
"Just because they are close in age, His Royal Highness Rouen calls Kou Kairyou 'my friend' and treats him well. It should be me, Shoukatsu, who is called 'my friend' instead..."
"Are you dissatisfied, Shoukatsu?"
"Forgive me for saying so."
"I understand your feelings. If my sister──His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's mother──had not passed away, things would not have turned out this way."
Chou Sekimei's sister was the official wife of the King of Aika Country.
She was favored by the king and gave birth to Rouen the year after entering the palace.
Then, just the following year, she lost her life to illness.
She died on Crown Prince Rouen's first birthday.
Her death is also one of the reasons why Rouen is called the 'Cursed Crown Prince.'
On the day he was born, a cursed star fell from the sky.
A scholar saw it and said, "His Royal Highness Rouen was born under an unlucky star."
The following year, on his birthday, he lost his mother, the queen.
Everything pointed to Crown Prince Rouen being an unlucky person.
"That's why His Royal Highness the Crown Prince must achieve great things to clear the name of 'Cursed Crown Prince.'"
Chou Sekimei sighed.
"I have been saying this since His Royal Highness was young. The Chou family will spare no effort to raise His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's name. So why doesn't His Royal Highness the Crown Prince rely on the Chou family...?"
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince respects martial skills."
Shoukatsu bit his lip and said,
"Perhaps that's why he values the Kou family, who have experience fighting the Jinkyo Tribe."
"Achievements, huh. But that only matters if there are enemies. We in the royal capital can't do anything about that."
"Why doesn't His Majesty the King entrust the northern defense to my father?"
"Yeah, if I were in charge of the northern defense, I would surely defeat the Jinkyo Tribe."
Chou Sekimei, the General of the Devoted Cavalry, has the duty to protect the royal capital and its surroundings.
So, he and his subordinates are responsible for the forts around the capital.
The Chou family is related to Crown Prince Rouen by marriage.
That's why the king trusts the Chou family and has given them the task of defending the capital.
Chou Sekimei understands this.
However, he also feels a sense of urgency.
It's difficult for the generals stationed around the capital to achieve glorious military victories.
He can't help but feel inferior compared to Kou Eishin, who is fighting against foreign tribes in the north.
That makes him frustrated.
"General Skybear, Kou Eishin, has achieved the feat of repelling the Jinkyo Tribe. His son, Kou Kairyou, is also protecting the people from the Jinkyo Tribe. On top of that, even Kou Tenhou received praise from His Royal Highness Rouen in public..."
"What we need is an opportunity, Father."
Shoukatsu steps forward in front of his father and says.
"If we have the opportunity, we can regain the interest of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in our Chou family."
"That's why I'm lamenting, because there is no opportunity."
"Then, I will speak."
Shoukatsu bowed before his father.
"This Shoukatsu is always gathering information from various places. Among that, I found a concerning rumor."
"Speak."
"It's a rumor from the north. The Jinkyo Tribe fears that the general protecting the north will be replaced by Chou Sekimei."
Shoukatsu announced this in a clear voice.
"I heard this from a friend in the north. He also said, 'While Kou Eishin is taking a passive approach, the Jinkyo Tribe will gain strength. In the long run, this will benefit the Jinkyo Tribe.' The Jinkyo Tribe is glad that Kou Eishin is the protector of the north. If it were General Chou Sekimei, they would invade their territory and destroy them.'"
"That's just a rumor."
Chou Sekimei waved his hand dismissively.
"What good does it do to be swayed by such things? You shouldn't be troubled by this, Shoukatsu."
"I don't intend to be swayed."
Shoukatsu said proudly,
"However, others may be swayed by the rumor."
"...What do you mean?"
"Trying to stop a rumor is like trying to block a river. Eventually, it will overflow and affect the country. It will happen soon."
"Shoukatsu."
Chou Sekimei glared sharply at his legitimate son.
"What exactly are you planning to do?"
"To achieve accomplishments for the Chou family. By doing so, we can clear the name of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the 'Cursed Crown Prince.' I always think of that as my top priority."
"...But..."
"I can no longer dispose of the letter from Kou Kairyou, Father."
"...I understand. But that doesn't mean..."
"The Chou family must do everything possible to achieve results. Eventually, that will benefit His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Shoukatsu bowed down again.
While pressing his forehead to the floor, Shoukatsu said,
"I will take full responsibility. Please let Father believe that you knew nothing. Everything I do is necessary to protect the country and erase the name of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the 'Cursed Crown Prince.' We will achieve great results to help His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
With a voice full of determination, Shoukatsu declared this.
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