Volume 3 Chapter 34 Crown Prince Rouen, Visits The Prison
The northern fortress has two types of prisons.
One is for housing enemy captives, and the other is for confining soldiers who have committed crimes.
Currently, there are two individuals in the prison for soldiers.
They are Kei Koshou, who was in charge of the western front, and Haku Kan, the strategist.
Their crime was disobeying orders and moving their troops, which resulted in casualties among the soldiers.
Furthermore, immediately after Kei Koshou's unit left, the western front came under attack by the Jinkyo Tribe.
It was only because Crown Prince Rouen's unit arrived in time that the attack was repelled. Otherwise, the front would have been destroyed, and the Jinkyo Tribe might have invaded the Aika Country.
The two soldiers' crimes were not to be taken lightly.
"...No. This wasn't supposed to happen. I'm..."
Haku Kan's voice could be heard from the prison cell.
"I was going to take revenge for His Royal Highness...but...why has it come to this?"
No one answered Haku Kan's question.
Kei Koshou, in the cell next door, had his eyes closed and was sitting quietly.
He showed no reaction to Haku Kan's cries of "Give us a chance to explain!"
Kei Koshou had already made up his mind, it seemed.
"......Hmm."
After a while, Kei Koshou opened his eyes.
He had heard footsteps echoing down the corridor leading to the prison.
As Kei Koshou stood up, he saw a light.
A person approaches the prison with a lantern in hand.
"I have a message for Kei Koshou, the unit leader of the western front, and Haku Kan, the strategist."
It was the voice of Kairyou, the child of 'General Skybear' Kou Eishin.
"There is someone who wishes to speak with you two. With the permission of 'General Skybear,' I have brought them here. Be prepared to talk."
Kei Koshou instinctively bows and then quickly kneels on the floor.
He saw the figure behind Kairyou.
"...Your Royal Highness Rouen. Why are you in a place like this?"
"Your Royal Highness Rouen!?"
Kei Koshou places his forehead on the ground.
In the next cell, Haku Kan rushes to the bars that separate the cell from the hallway.
"It is Ai Rouen, the Crown Prince of Aika Country."
Soon, Crown Prince Rouen steps forward from behind Kairyou.
"You have committed crimes. It is 'General Skybear' who will decide your charges. But before that, I want to hear your side of the story. Will you indulge this Rouen's whim?"
Crown Prince Rouen said this in a solemn tone.
"Ah! Your Royal Highness Rouen!!"
Haku Kan's eyes sparkled.
He immediately rubbed his forehead against the floor.
"Your Royal Highness is here in a place like this... to listen to us... This Haku Kan is so moved!!"
"Haku Kan. You were a subordinate of Uncle Chou... no, Chou Sekimei, right?"
"Yes, that is correct."
Keeping his head down, Haku Kan replied.
"I feel so ashamed to appear before Your Royal Highness like this..."
"Lift your head. Haku Kan. Kei Koshou too."
"Yes, Your Royal Highness." "I understand, Your Royal Highness."
In the adjacent cell, Haku Kan and Kei Koshou raised their heads.
Kei Koshou remained silent, with his eyes downcast.
Haku Kan's eyes sparkled, looking as if he had been saved.
"First, I want to ask Haku Kan something."
Turning his gaze to Haku Kan, Rouen said,
"You incited the soldiers and violated the command of unit leader Kei Koshou. On top of that, you moved the unit without the permission of 'General Skybear.' As a result, the unit was ambushed by enemy soldiers."
Rouen began to speak in a calm tone.
"As a result, you caused the soldiers in your unit to die and put the western position you were supposed to protect in danger. Is there any mistake in this?"
"There is none. But..."
Haku Kan raised his voice.
"I'm here to move the troops to take revenge on Your Royal Highness Rouen's enemy! The enemy commander, Zeng Taiga, is an evil foe who attacked Your Royal Highness Rouen! We couldn't let the chance to defeat him slip away!!"
"I've heard that the Zeng Taiga you found was a fake."
"Even if it's a fake, we must defeat him! Otherwise, we will be called cowards for letting Your Royal Highness's enemy go free!!"
Haku Kan continues, slamming his forehead to the floor.
"The people of Aika Country must never forgive those who tried to harm our Royal Highness. We need to make sure everyone knows this! That is also the will of Your Royal Highness's uncle... Chou Sekimei-dono. Losing the troops is my fault. But this is also for the purpose of defeating Your Royal Highness's enemy──."
"To make it known that I will not allow my enemy to harm me."
"Yes, that's right!"
"But that is not your duty, Haku Kan."
Haku Kan's eyes widen at the calm voice.
Illuminated by the light held by Kou Kairyou, Rouen simply watched Haku Kan quietly.
There was no anger, no raised voice.
"Your duty is to protect the western stronghold. For that reason, you were sent to the northern fortress, and you were ordered to do so by 'General Skybear,' right?"
"Th-that's..."
"The fact that you and Chou Sekimei thought about taking down Zeng Taiga is a personal matter. However, you were not entrusted with soldiers for that purpose. You were leading the troops to fulfill your duty of protecting the stronghold."
"...Your Royal Highness."
Haku Kan's body starts to tremble.
Rouen simply stares quietly at Haku Kan.
Without showing anger, Rouen's expression looks like someone witnessing something painful.
Haku Kan is a close aide of Chou Sekimei. He has seen Rouen many times.
But the Rouen now is different from the one who was by Chou Sekimei's side.
The old Rouen would raise his voice immediately. He would shout in anger. Compared to that, the current Rouen is too quiet.
Yet, there is an overwhelming sense of dignity.
"...So, Your Royal Highness's anger is understandable."
"I'm not angry."
Rouen shook his head.
"I'm just disappointed."
"Disappointed... about what?"
"We might lose a talented person. It's only natural to feel disappointed."
In a calm tone, Rouen continues.
"I've heard that you governed the town near Hokurin well. You have knowledge and seem suited for internal affairs. Losing such a person would be a loss for the country. I find that disappointing."
"Well, Your Royal Highness! I have something to say..."
"If you have something to say, then speak."
Rouen waved his hand, urging Haku Kan to stand up.
"Tell me what you were thinking. How do you feel about losing the soldiers? Speak to me, Rouen. No matter what words you use, it doesn't matter."
"Your Royal Highness... I..."
"However, this will not change your punishment. It is 'General Skybear' who decides your punishment. I, Rouen, will not interfere with his authority. But if the reason for your actions lies with me..."
Rouen closed his eyes and clenched his fist.
Then, as if he had made up his mind,
"You may... hate me."
"Your Royal Highness!?"
"Even if you were ordered by Uncle Chou to defeat Zeng Taiga... and you moved the soldiers according to that order... I might also be part of the reason. My distancing from Uncle Chou may have made him anxious and pushed him to take such actions."
"Y-Your Royal Highness!? That kind of thing..."
"Then why were you so fixated on defeating Zeng Taiga? You forgot yourself and jumped at the bait in front of you because of the Chou family's orders, right?"
"Y-You're right. But... the order came from Chou Sekimei-dono, not from Your Royal Highness..."
"This Rouen is the Crown Prince. And, the name Chou is my uncle, and the Chou Family is my relatives. I am... not unrelated."
Rouen stared straight at Haku Kan.
"I should have talked to Uncle Chou. I should have told him that I no longer care about the title 'Cursed Crown Prince' and persuaded him. Because I avoided that, this kind of ominous result has happened."
"...Your Royal Highness... Your Royal Highness Rouen!!"
"Of course, you still rushed and went out of control. Therefore, you must be punished. However, I will allow you to hate this Rouen."
".........Your Royal Highness."
"This Rouen is the 'Cursed Crown Prince.' Even if your hatred to me and my bad luck increase, it doesn't matter. But, do not hate others. I will not allow you to hate 'General Skybear,' Kairyou, Kei Koshou, or the soldiers. Therefore──."
"I am so sorry! Your Royal Highness!!"
*Bang.*
Haku Kan slammed his forehead to the ground.
"I was... wrong. But! The Chou Family, for the sake of Your Royal Highness..."
With a trembling voice, Haku Kan began to speak.
──Chou Sekimei, who lost Rouen's trust, was looking for a chance to achieve something.
──An order had been given to the soldiers from Chou Sekimei to "attack Zeng Taiga as soon as he is found."
──Following that order, Haku Kan moved the troops.
And then──
"The Chou Family is desperate to erase Your Royal Highness's title."
──Haku Kan said that.
"So, Your Royal Highness, please stop saying that title yourself. The Chou Family doesn't want you to feel that way──"
"I do not wish to erase the title of 'Cursed Crown Prince.' Rather, it is you and the Chou Family who are trapped by that title."
Rouen said in a calm tone.
"Your obsession with the 'Cursed Crown Prince' title has led to unfortunate results. Titles are just words. Being trapped by that title is what brings misfortune."
"...Your Royal Highness."
"Is there anything else you want to say, Haku Kan?"
Rouen asked.
There was no reply.
Haku Kan simply pressed his forehead to the floor and apologized.
"I will inform Kei Koshou."
Rouen moved to the front of the neighboring cell.
"I cannot speak about your punishment, this Rouen cannot."
"I understand."
"Still, if you have something to say, I will listen."
"I have nothing."
Kei Koshou lowered his head.
"It is true that I selfishly moved the troops. The responsibility is mine."
"However, the soldiers of the Chou Family testified. They said they acted on their own and asked not to punish Unit Leader Kei. Both 'General Skybear' and I have heard this. I will make sure to pass that along."
"...Yes. Your Royal Highness."
"...From here on, this is just Rouen's thoughts."
Rouen approached Kei Koshou's cell, lowered his voice, and said,
"...Even in a crisis, you did not abandon your soldiers and survived yourself. If there were... a 'cursed person,' they would want someone like you by their side."
At those words, Kei Koshou instinctively looked up.
He opened his eyes wide and stared at Rouen.
Seeing Rouen's serious expression, he lowered his head again.
"To protect the people near a cursed person is dangerous. You cannot escape from danger or curses. However, someone like you might be able to face the curse together."
"...So, Your Royal Highness?"
"It's just my thoughts. No need for an answer. Just remember this."
Rouen turned his back to Kei Koshou.
"The conversation is over. Kei Koshou and Haku Kan, wait for 'General Skybear's' judgment."
With that, Rouen left the cell.
Kei Koshou stared blankly at his back.
Haku Kan sat there, simply shedding tears.
Thus, the meeting between Rouen and the two came to an end.
* * *
"You were magnificent. Your Royal Highness."
"...Was it really magnificent?"
Kairyou's words made Rouen mutter without thinking.
"This Rouen has not grown at all. I... I thought I wanted to cut down Haku Kan. If I had been alone there, I might have stabbed that person's heart with my sword."
"...Your Royal Highness."
"Seeing those who are swayed by the nickname 'Cursed Crown Prince' is... painful. I don't mind being called 'Cursed Crown Prince.' But... I hate that nickname moves people and brings about bad results. I know it's something I can't help, but..."
Haku Kan seems to have gone wild because of the influence of the 'Cursed Crown Prince' nickname.
Even if he kills him, that fact won't disappear.
In fact, it's the opposite. If he kills Haku Kan, the nickname 'Cursed Crown Prince' will spread even more. Like sticky mud that won't wash off.
"When things settle down, I will return to Hokurin."
After taking a deep breath, Rouen said.
"I will talk things over with the Chou Family there. Ideally, I would want Kairyou to come with me, but..."
"I'm sorry."
"I understand. I won't ask for the impossible."
Kairyou and Gaku Kiryuu are excellent commanders.
With Kei Koshou and Haku Kan in prison now, he can't move Kairyou and the others.
"There's no need to apologize. To protect this land, I need Kairyou's strength."
"Yes. But..."
"What is it?"
"My brother might be able to help in my place."
Kairyou clasped his hands and said,
"I can't return to Hokurin until next spring, but Tenhou can. My brother will go back to Hokurin once the skirmishes in the border area are over."
"Are you saying to keep Kairyou's brother close?"
"Only if Tenhou agrees."
"Isn't he your brother? Shouldn't you just order him?"
"I don't feel comfortable giving orders to Tenhou. Rather, I think orders won't bring out Tenhou's true abilities."
Kairyou smiled wryly and said,
"My brother is an exceptional person. Plus, he has talented people around him."
"That's true. Kairyou's brother once helped this Rouen, and now he is saving Kei Koshou. No one else could have done that."
"If I were to give an order, Tenhou would protect Your Royal Highness as instructed."
"...I see."
"However, if I ask Tenhou to protect Your Royal Highness, then Tenhou and everyone around him might truly support Your Royal Highness."
"Is that really how it is? Kairyou's brother?"
Rouen rested his chin on his hand, looking deep in thought.
"Kairyou, you said, 'Tenhou has grown beyond my imagination. Lately, I feel like I'm learning from my brother.' So, are you saying that I should learn from your brother too?"
"No, Your Royal Highness. I didn't mean it like that..."
"I understand. It's just nonsense."
Rouen smiled and nodded.
"I got it. When we talk to the Chou Family, let's keep Kou Tenhou by my side."
"I'll also make sure to tell Tenhou."
"That's right. But we need your strength too, my friend."
"I'll serve you well, so I won't bring shame to those words."
"...This Rouen may not have been blessed with luck, but I am fortunate to have friends and subordinates."
Rouen looked up at the sky and said that.
"The heavens have given this Rouen, who was born with misfortune, subordinates and friends to overcome it... and someone I can call sister. Now, I must overcome it on my own. Then, I'll do my best. After all, it's me, Rouen. I might complain and whine... but I'll let Kairyou or Yuuri-dono listen to that."
"Understood, Your Royal Highness."
"Then let's enjoy some drinks right away. I have plenty of complaints to share."
Saying that, Rouen patted Kairyou's shoulder.
Then Rouen returned with Kairyou to Kou Eishin.
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