Chapter 117: Resolve
“Why is Felix here…? Corbens, did you bring him out!?”
“Prince Meredith, your actions are far too reckless. At this rate, the country will fall. Forgive me for speaking so bluntly, but this is a good opportunity to negotiate with the envoy. I ask that you remain quiet.”
“Enough of that—let me out of here! Felix, if you refuse to obey my command, you will never see the light of day again—”
“Meredith, I thought that if you quietly inherited the throne it would all work out, but you and your entourage have gone and done something truly foolish.”
“You dare speak to me, the crown prince, in such a manner? I will not forgive this!”
“I heard that this barrier can withstand a full-force attack from the magic corps… Looks different, but seems to work the same way.”
On Meredith’s side of the barrier, the men with giant hammers and battle axes were drenched in sweat, breathing heavily.
“You lot—kill those two fools! Cut them both down!”
“What are you waiting for!? This is the crown prince’s order! Cut them down immediately!”
“Stop dawdling!”
They were trapped in a cramped space, but all Meredith did was shout orders—orders that had already gotten many of their comrades killed.
If they harmed the thoughtful Prince Felix, he would give another reckless command, and they might be next.
The soldiers hesitated, and at Felix’s calm words—“Think carefully about why things have become like this”—not one of them moved.
Chancellor Corbens ordered one of the frozen men to bring a bell, and the soldier ran off at once.
Not much time had passed since I’d shut the idiot away, yet I heard the bell ring.
Curious, I looked outside through the peephole. The man who called himself chancellor and someone who resembled the idiot were standing there.
So this must be the brother named Felix. He said he was practically under house arrest, yet Corbens brought him here… So the chancellor must have steeled his resolve.
Fine. Let’s talk, then.
As soon as I opened an entrance in front of them, I used Wind Blast to scatter the people nearby.
People tumbled away screaming “Uwaah!” and “W-w-wait!” but I held back, so no one should die.
The two men looked shocked, but when I beckoned, they approached with determined expressions.
“You’re here a bit earlier than expected. It seems you have other business.”
“Yes. We have something important to discuss.”
“All right. Come inside.”
Even inside the dome, sound leaked out, so I had them step into the hut and sit across from me.
“Let’s hear it.”
“On behalf of the unruly Prince Meredith, we wish for Prince Felix here to handle matters from now on.”
“I heard he was powerless and kept in confinement.”
“It’s true—I had no interest in the throne, found it troublesome even… but this is too much. The war with your country, and the way you, the envoy here for peace talks, were treated—such things are not the actions of someone entrusted with a nation. I’ll advise His Majesty, and if he refuses to listen… I will take responsibility and request his abdication.”
“And you think the nobles will follow you?”
“Many have already grown disillusioned with Prince Meredith’s disastrous governance. Even half his entourage is fed up. Most will choose to follow Prince Felix.”
“And the ones outside?”
“They are the children of nobles who support Prince Meredith.”
“Then let’s see your resolve.”
“What do you mean by ‘resolve’?”
“Deal with those men we captured outside. If Meredith kills them himself, it becomes fratricide and will cause trouble later. I’ll handle him. Can you do the rest?”
“…Understood.”
If they were quietly eliminated, rumors would spread, harming Felix.
So, after storing the hut, I dissolved the dome and created a new transparent one. The soldiers were ordered to step back.
Meredith and his entourage screamed inside the trap, unable to move, but they seemed unable to understand that the soldiers were now obeying the chancellor and Felix.
Ignoring Meredith’s furious glare, I had a soldier bring a sword. Corbens took it through an opening in the barrier.
Seeing this, the idiots finally quieted down and realized their fate.
I wrapped their dome inside a second one, and the public executions began—each brought out one by one.
Those who knelt and begged were run through immediately. Those who chose to fight were given swords, but not one could match Felix—they fell instantly.
“You dare raise your sword against me, the crown prince!?”
“Your opponent is me. You attacked without warning again and again, even sent a teleport mage to kill me in my sleep. Cowards deserve a coward’s end.”
“You think a lowborn like you could defeat me? Felix’s skill is nothing—I—”
“Idiot.”
I whipped up a whirlwind around Meredith and moved him toward the soldiers.
“St-stop! Hey—stop! Th-this is unfair!”
The soldiers ran, screaming, as the spinning Meredith rolled toward them.
Once no one was near him, I used Tornado, launching him high into the air, then dissolved it.
He fell with a dull thud and stopped moving. The soldiers murmured but didn’t dare approach.
“Tomorrow, you’ll let me meet the king, right?”
“Y-yes… of course.”
They imposed strict orders of silence and prohibited anyone from leaving.
I covered the bodies inside a dome of dust so no one would see.
“Chancellor Corbens! Why is Prince Felix here!?”
“I heard Prince Meredith was captured by bandits?”
“Silence. The envoy from Sutherland will have an audience tomorrow at noon to discuss the ceasefire.”
“What!? The man who destroyed the castle will meet His Majesty!?”
“You can’t let such a man—!”
“Have you lost your mind, Chancellor!?”
“You misunderstand. You could do nothing against him—he destroyed the castle with ease while you all hid underground claiming to ‘protect’ His Majesty. If we don’t deliver the reply to Sutherland, the castle will be destroyed and our kingdom invaded.”
“Our kingdom—invaded!? Corbens, are you still a chancellor!?”
“Your Majesty, everything Prince Meredith did ended in failure. The castle is severely damaged; the people speak of the royal family’s downfall. Foreign ambassadors are in a frenzy sending urgent reports home. All of this began when the envoy delivering the ceasefire document was attacked without warning. The only way to settle this is for Your Majesty to speak with the envoy.”
“You believed Meredith and his entourage, and this is the result. At least make the decision needed to protect the country.”
“You want the king to kneel to Sutherland!?”
“And you call yourself His Majesty’s son!?”
“You lack Meredith’s resolve, that’s why you were confined!”
“Your Majesty, we must fight!”
“If you truly want to fight, then why are you hiding down here? Chancellor Corbens negotiated alone with the man who destroyed the castle and secured a meeting. If you refuse, then go outside and fight him yourselves.”
At Felix’s words, the loudmouthed entourage fell silent.
“Your Majesty, please hold the meeting in the audience chamber tomorrow.”
“Wh-what about me…?”
“Father, I will protect you. I will negotiate with the envoy. Is that acceptable?”
“Felix… Thank you. Protect me.”
“And you all should remember—this man withstood the magic corps’ full assault. If you provoke him, our kingdom will be wiped out. Do not forget this.”
At the bell signal, I dissolved the dome. Corbens stood alone; the distant bell rang noon.
“Envoy, Sir Leon—His Majesty has entrusted everything to Prince Felix. In the audience chamber, we will deliver the kingdom’s reply to Sutherland’s ceasefire proposal.”
Corbens was wearing formal attire for the state occasion. My best clothes looked shabby next to his.
I bowed and followed him. The damage to the first floor was lighter but still obvious; cleanup lagged behind.
Knights in ornate armor lined the hall. Beside the grand doors stood attendants even more luxuriously dressed than I was.
“Chancellor Jeslin Corbens, and the envoy from Sutherland, Sir Leon!”
We entered the audience chamber. Nobles lined the carpet, knights stood along the walls—their eyes sharp.
Scary. My town clothes had no magic defenses; one attack and I’d be done.
I asked the spirits to protect me, but who knows how much they understand.
The weary-looking king sat on the throne, with Felix standing beside him.
“Hortland Kingdom fully accepts Sutherland’s ceasefire terms. We recognize the Linjueil River between Emilia and Narsie as a provisional border. Detailed procedures will be delivered in writing.”
Corbens presented the written reply. I checked it, stored it in my magic pouch, and answered:
“Understood. I promise to deliver this to Sutherland in a few days.”
The nobles stirred—but now, the real performance begins.