Volume 4 Chapter 16 Crown Prince Rouen Receives A Letter
──In the town of Hokurin──
The morning after Tenhou fought the suspicious person──
Crown Prince Rouen received a visit from Chou Shoukatsu, the heir of the Chou Family.
Rouen refused to meet him.
"...I already told the Chou Family that I wouldn't meet with them."
As soon as Rouen returned to Hokurin, he sent a letter to the Chou Family.
He also had his father, the king, and Ryougen-kun write a note.
The contents were as follows:
'Don't take advantage of our relationship as uncle and nephew.'
'I won't tolerate misunderstandings.'
'This Rouen has already accepted the title of "Cursed Crown Prince." Your knowledge of my title is not your concern. Know your place as a vassal.'
──That was it.
The trigger was when a person named Haku Kan went out of control in the northern region, putting the unit in danger. He moved the unit while chasing a fake Zeng Taiga and fell into the enemy's trap. Captain Kei Koshou desperately protected the soldiers, so there were no casualties.
However, that was like a miracle.
If Kou Tenhou and the others hadn't rushed to help, everyone might have been killed.
Haku Kan was sent to Hokurin and faced punishment.
Kei Koshou, who was the unit leader, was demoted and became one of Rouen's subordinates.
This is because Kei Koshou was in a weak position and couldn't stop Haku Kan.
The responsibility for Haku Kan's rampage lies with the Chou Family.
So, Rouen sent a letter to Chou Sekimei, declaring that punishment would be given.
After that, the Chou Family lost their official rank.
They got permission from the king. The high officials were also convinced.
However, it probably won't be permanent.
The Chou Family is a prestigious family. They have connections to the royal family.
Many soldiers were raised by the Chou Family. They can't be made unhappy.
Rouen's father plans to restore the Chou Family's rank after a cooling-off period.
Rouen understands this.
Whether he can change his father's mind will depend on future efforts.
But──
"A few days after sending the letter saying 'we won't meet,' Chou Shoukatsu comes to visit..."
"Shoukatsu-dono was asked to leave."
The soldier in charge of the gate bowed to Crown Prince Rouen.
"It took some time, but it seems he was convinced. Instead, he has a letter for Your Royal Highness."
The soldier handed a letter to Rouen.
As he received it, Rouen said,
"I'm sorry, Kei Koshou. It must have been difficult to refuse your old lord's offer."
"My lord is Your Royal Highness Rouen."
Kei Koshou clasped his hands and replied.
"Of course, it's natural to follow the lord's orders. I believe Shoukatsu-dono understands this as well."
"...I hope so."
Rouen shrugged.
"Still, the rumors were true. 'Kei Koshou's defenses are strong.' Keep up this pace as my guard. I want to entrust you with the unit again someday."
"Yes!"
After bowing, Kei Koshou returned to his post.
Watching his back, Rouen opened the letter.
The first thing he saw was the greeting.
Then, it talked about the connection between the Chou Family and Rouen.
Specifically, it mentioned that the head of the Chou Family, Chou Sekimei, is Rouen's uncle, and that the Chou Family has been working hard to support Rouen.
After the roundabout introduction, the main topic followed.
Once Rouen finished reading it──
"'I would like the Chou Family to be given a role,' huh?"
──he muttered quietly.
Chou Sekimei, the head of the Chou Family, was ordered to be under house arrest, and the members of the Chou Family lost their official positions.
Chou Shoukatsu, the captain of the defense in Eastern Town, was also relieved of his duties.
'It's unavoidable to be punished. However, it pains me that I cannot be of help to the country.'
That was Chou Shoukatsu's claim.
He wrote that he wanted to serve as a soldier and engage in the defense of Toukaku.
It seems he really wants to return to the town of Toukaku.
"Was it a mistake to add a note to the letter for Uncle Chou?"
In the letter sent to Chou Sekimei, Rouen had added a single line.
'Understand the feelings of a soldier in danger, dragged along by Haku Kan's decisions. That is what the Chou Family needs.'
──That was the message.
It was a suggestion to start over from the beginning.
However, it seemed that the members of the Chou Family did not take it that way.
That's probably why Chou Shoukatsu said, "I want to serve in Toukaku as a soldier."
Toukaku was the town where Chou Shoukatsu was the captain of the defense.
The soldiers there were all connected to the Chou Family.
The current captain of the defense, Ri Kai, was once a subordinate of the Chou Family.
There was no way Chou Shoukatsu would be treated as just a soldier there.
The soldiers would treat Chou Shoukatsu as their superior and act accordingly.
Knowing this, did Chou Shoukatsu still want to be sent to Toukaku?
"...Indeed, Chou Shoukatsu has safely protected Toukaku."
Rouen also knew that Toukaku was a safe place.
It was said that travelers and merchant groups leaving Toukaku rarely faced attacks from bandits.
So many merchants gather in Toukaku, and commerce is thriving.
This is said to be thanks to Chou Shoukatsu.
He trains the soldiers and carefully patrols the roads.
Rouen remembers the documents he saw at Ryougen-kun's mansion.
A few days ago, he heard that Ryougen-kun expanded the soldiers' camp in Toukaku and provided them with equipment.
That piqued his interest.
He was also curious about the condition of the town where Chou Shoukatsu was the captain of the defense.
(There were no problems. In fact, they were doing a great job protecting the town.)
That's why he felt something was off.
Chou Sekimei, the head of the Chou Family, let the prisoner Kai Shuujaku die.
Also, Haku Kan, a subordinate of the Chou Family, went rogue and acted on his own in the northern lands.
How could someone from the Chou Family, who governed the town well, let a prisoner die?
Why did he force his subordinate Haku Kan to achieve results?
Rouen felt uneasy about this.
"...Being diligent is good, but... why now? Ryougen-kun... no, Uncle, I don't understand why Chou Shoukatsu wishes to return to Toukaku just as you start supporting it..."
Ryougen-kun is currently sending workers to Toukaku.
They are there to renovate the camp led by Kou Tenhou's unit.
It seems that this was something Kou Tenhou wanted as a reward for his achievements in the North. Kou Kairyou's younger brother sometimes does unexpected things, and this time is no different.
He never thought he would use the reward he earned for the town's defense.
Kairyou's brother is hard to read.
Still, he can trust him because of his good character.
"With Kou Tenhou and uncle who supports him. And as soon as uncle turned his attention to Toukaku, Shoukatsu offered to return to Toukaku... It might be a coincidence, but... hmm."
While drinking the tea offered by the attendant, Rouen thinks deeply.
After a while, he shakes his head.
(Oh, right... Yuuri-neesan told me, 'Don't try to handle everything by yourself.')
Remembering his cousin's face, Rouen smiles gently.
He should consult Ryougen-kun and Yuuri.
Deciding this, Rouen begins to prepare for his departure.
Before, he thought he had to solve everything on his own.
He was trying to shake off the nickname 'Cursed Crown Prince' by showing his abilities.
But now, it's different.
He has come to accept that he lacks certain things.
He has found trustworthy people and learned to rely on them.
Realizing this, he feels as if a weight has been lifted off his shoulders, and Rouen takes a deep breath.
Then, he calls for Kei Koshou again.
To serve as a prelude before visiting Ryougen-kun's mansion.
With that, Rouen starts to get ready.
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