Volume 3 Chapter 33 Crown Prince Rouen And Kou Eishin Discuss The Treatment Of Subordinates
──A Few Hours Later, at the Northern Fortress──
"──Thank you for your hard work, Kairyou."
This is the Northern Fortress, located at the border.
General Skybear, Kou Eishin, nodded at Kou Kairyou after receiving a report about the battle in the forest.
"We're fine here. We repelled the unit from the Jinkyo Tribe that attacked our position. There was no damage to the eastern position. It seems Gaku Kiryuu-dono did a good job."
"What about the western position?"
"His Royal Highness Rouen came to provide reinforcements."
Kou Eishin looked at Rouen, who was sitting at the back of the room.
Rouen had arrived at the Northern Fortress a few days ago.
As soon as he got there, he went to the grave of the 'Wolf Cavalry.'
Previously, when Zeng Taiga attacked, the members of the 'Wolf Cavalry' lost their lives protecting Rouen.
Their grave is located next to the Northern Fortress.
Rouen was the first to visit their grave.
Since then, he has been learning to command soldiers under Kou Eishin.
"His Royal Highness Rouen organized Kei Koshou's subordinates and defended the western position. Thanks to him, we were able to repel the enemy soldiers."
"Ah. You don't need to look so worried, my friend."
Rouen shrugged at Kairyou's expression.
"This Rouen was just encouraging the troops from the back. I didn't charge in or take up a spear myself. The reason we could defend our position was because the soldiers were well-trained."
"No, it was thanks to His Royal Highness boosting our morale that we could quickly fend off the enemy's attack. Both the soldiers and I are grateful to His Royal Highness."
"I don't need flattery. More importantly──."
Still sitting in his chair, Rouen spoke in a serious tone.
"I'll ask Kou Eishin and Kairyou. Is it true that because of Haku Kan's reckless decision, Kei Koshou and the soldiers almost died?"
"Yes. There's no doubt about it."
"Soldiers from the Chou Family have testified to that."
"...I see."
Rouen slumped his shoulders and let out a long sigh.
Haku Kan is Rouen's uncle Chou Sekimei's trusted aide.
Rouen has heard about his abilities.
"He was said to be an excellent person... Uncle Chou said so."
Haku Kan had been on a mission near Hokurin until recently.
He was assisting the commander in charge of protecting the town and was said to be handling the troops without any issues.
It was his own strong wish to be assigned to the western position, but──
"Even if he could manage a peaceful town... he wasn't suited for the battlefield. He rushed for achievements and left the position he was supposed to protect unattended..."
"...Your Royal Highness."
"Father... no, His Majesty the King sent additional troops to the north to strengthen the border's defense. The Chou Family's soldiers were chosen because Chou Sekimei requested it."
Since Rouen was attacked in the north, the court of Aika Country has been discussing how to strengthen the northern defenses.
As a result, it was decided to increase the troops at the northern fortress.
It was Chou Sekimei who raised his hand for this.
Although Chou Sekimei was dismissed from his position as 'General of the Devoted Cavalry,' he is still a relative of the king.
So, he directly asked the king.
'I want to send my soldiers to the north.'
──he said.
Rouen's father accepted Chou Sekimei's request.
Thus, under the command of Kei Koshou and Haku Kan, soldier from the Chou Family were sent to the north.
"Uncle Chou── no, Chou Sekimei was probably looking for a chance for the Chou Family to achieve merit. As a result, it led to Haku Kan's reckless actions. If the soldiers were ordered to follow Haku Kan, Kei Koshou wouldn't be able to stop them..."
"What shall we do, Your Royal Highness?"
Kou Eishin clasped his hands and asked.
"Is there any opinion on this matter?"
"You don't need to ask me, 'General Skybear.'."
Rouen stared back at Kou Eishin with a strong gaze.
"A leader can even refuse a royal command on the battlefield. There's no need for my opinion when it comes to punishing those who break military discipline."
"But... Haku Kan is a close aide to Chou Sekimei-dono. Chou-dono is Your Royal Highness's uncle..."
"It doesn't matter. Just punish them according to military discipline."
Keeping his gaze fixed on Kou Eishin, Rouen declared.
"I, Ai Rouen, will support whatever punishment Kou Eishin decides for Haku Kan. You should record this statement. It's for when Chou Sekimei raises a complaint."
"...Your Royal Highness."
When he noticed, Kairyou was looking at Rouen.
His expression was like he was watching something painful.
"Don't worry. My friend."
Rouen replied with a calm expression.
"I, Rouen, am composed. No... I must be composed. I swore in front of the 'Wolf Cavalry' grave. I will not act rashly. I will not run away from my own 'omen.'."
"I see Your Royal Highness as being too tense."
"Not at all. This Rouen is still too soft."
With a bitter expression, Rouen shook his head.
"I had forgotten one important thing."
"What do you mean by that?"
"This Rouen should have talked to the Chou Family."
As if holding back pain, Rouen pressed his forehead.
"When Uncle Chou let the Jinkyo Tribe's prisoner die... I decided not to forgive him. That must have made him anxious. I should have talked to the Chou Family back then. If I had, maybe this wouldn't have happened."
"That's... something no one could have predicted!!"
Kairyou raised his voice.
"Even if Your Royal Highness is involved, you can't see into the hearts of all your subjects! You don't need to feel responsible to that extent..."
"Chou Sekimei is my uncle. It's natural to feel responsible for a family member's mistake."
Rouen looked down and spoke quietly.
"This time is the same. Before punishing Haku Kan, I have things I need to do. If I just leave everything to Kou Eishin and punish Haku Kan, it would mean I ran away from the 'bad omen.' So──."
Rouen stood up from his chair.
Then he looked at Kou Eishin.
"I have a request for 'General Skybear.' Please let me meet Haku Kan."
"What!?"
Kou Eishin's eyes widened.
"Your Royal Highness wants to see Haku Kan? Are you planning to punish him yourself?"
"Well, it's the general's job to deal with subordinates. I have no intention of overstepping your authority or interfering with your judgment. As I said earlier."
"Then... why Haku Kan?"
"I swore to myself. I will stop running away from the 'cursed' things that involve me."
Rouen took a deep breath and continued.
"My uncle, Chou, was obsessed with getting rid of my nickname, 'Cursed Crown Prince.' If that uncle was behind Haku Kan... then what he did is related to me, Rouen. I need to understand how much influence my nickname had... and what kind of results it produced."
──Even if it's something terrible, I can't run away.
──I must face what being the 'Cursed Crown Prince' brings.
That's what Crown Prince Rouen said.
And then──
"...If I don't figure this out soon... I feel like this Rouen will eventually be caught by the 'cursed'."
"Your Royal Highness..."
"What is it, Kou Eishin?"
"To be honest, as a clumsy person, I can't understand Your Royal Highness's feelings."
"You're really honest, aren't you?"
"However, I can see that Your Royal Highness's thoughts are noble."
Kou Eishin bowed respectfully.
"Kou Eishin supports Your Royal Highness's thoughts. For Your Royal Highness, I will do everything I can."
"Thank you. 'General Skybear'."
"I would like to say to Your Royal Highness Rouen, if you are going to meet Haku Kan-dono, this Kairyou would like to accompany you──."
"Please do."
Before Kairyou finished speaking, Rouen answered.
"When I make a mistake, I want you to speak up. Please, my friend."
"Understood. I might not be able to do it like that person..."
"You mean Yuuri-dono."
Rouen smiled wryly.
Kairyou had been informed of the recent events through letters.
The letters mentioned that Rouen was studying under Ryougen-kun and receiving advice from Yuuri.
Kairyou must have remembered that.
"Don't worry about it. I can't compete with Yuuri-dono either. But, there are things that only you can do, Kairyou. When I make a serious mistake... well, you should write to Yuuri-dono about it."
"I can't do something like that."
"...Is that so?"
"Yes. It's important that Your Royal Highness Rouen convey this directly. I believe Your Royal Highness the King's younger brother and his daughter also wish for this."
"...I see. Kairyou is right. That's why your younger brother has grown up like that."
"Are you talking about Tenhou?"
"Yes. That person saved the Bokou Tribe's village and is now saving the Kei Koshou unit. He grew up like that because Kairyou guided him as an older brother, right?"
"...That's not true."
Kairyou shook his head.
"Tenhou has grown beyond my imagination. Rather, I feel like I am learning from my younger brother lately."
"I see. Then Kairyou and I are like fitting friends."
"...Huh?"
"This Rouen learns from Yuuri-dono, and Kairyou learns from his younger brother. We both learn and grow from those close to us. Isn't that also a fun thing?"
Saying this, Rouen patted Kairyou on the shoulder.
With a smile like that of an equal friend, Rouen said,
"This Rouen needs someone like Kairyou. Of course, Yuuri-dono too. When I forget the value of having Kairyou and Yuuri-dono by my side... this Rouen might face destruction."
With that, Rouen and Kairyou walked side by side toward the fortress's prison.
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