Airships were gathering at the royal capital from all over.
Rushing into the palace was Greg, just as battered as Chris had been.
Greeting him was Brad, who was also wounded.
Greg checked the situation with Brad.
"I brought as many as I could from my family estate! How about you guys?"
Brad gave a thumbs-up, saying it had been a success.
"It worked out on our end too. Although, we don't know what the principality — the Fanoss ducal house — is doing. So we couldn't bring our full strength."
Greg groaned in frustration.
"Can't be helped, I guess. But look how many we managed to gather."
The sky visible from the palace was packed with airships.
It looked like they were trying to blot out the heavens.
Even now, more were converging one after another.
Jilk came running up to the two of them.
"Greg, you made it in time as well."
"Yeah! More importantly, how about you?"
Jilk, who had been asked, wasn't beaten up like the other two.
But his hands were stained with ink.
He seemed to be busy with paperwork.
"Things were quite something inside the palace. Even though His Majesty has stepped down from the throne, the procedures are progressing matter-of-factly. Anyway, enough of that — if you need supplies or anything immediately, please put together the paperwork. We'll distribute the supplies stockpiled in the royal capital."
Brad was surprised.
"That's generous. I was bracing myself for the possibility of not getting any supplies at all."
The sheer number of airships pouring into the capital was overwhelming.
Because of that, he hadn't expected to receive supplies from the kingdom.
Jilk smiled.
"There were some bureaucrats who, even at this late hour, were trying to be stingy. — I silenced them. While I was at it, I finished persuading the skeptics too. It was a lot of work, though."
Greg wanted to ask just what he had done, but Jilk had such a pleasant smile that he stopped himself.
"Honestly, you really are the scariest one of us."
A woman approached the three of them.
It was Clarice, a graduate of the academy.
She was a minister's daughter, and her family had strong ties to those in civil-official positions.
Like Jilk, she seemed busy with paperwork.
"What are the three of you doing standing around together? More importantly, Leon — no, 'Lord Leon' — has returned. Chris has gone off to greet him, but is it really alright for the three of you to be lazing around here?"
At that, Greg and the others scrambled off to go meet him.
Clarice, watching them go, looked a little pleased.
"Honestly — I never imagined he'd climb this high."
◇
When the Einhorn arrived at the royal capital, an unbelievable grand fleet was waiting for it.
Airships parted in midair to make way for the Einhorn.
I was stunned by the sheer numbers.
"Where on earth did they scrape together this many?"
Luxion answered.
"Over twelve hundred ships. Still increasing. There are more airships heading this way."
It was a magnificent sight.
"— Angelica has kept her promise."
"Yeah. I guess I — didn't really believe in Angie."
I hadn't thought she'd go this far — that she could go this far.
It seems Angie is more amazing than I'd given her credit for.
"Master, if the kingdom can unite as one, our chances of victory will rise significantly."
"By how much?"
"They will reach fifty percent."
"— That's amazing."
Even with all this gathered, it's fifty percent.
Is that a lot or a little — no, it's a lot, isn't it.
"You guys account for thirty percent, so the kingdom is filling in the remaining twenty?"
"If they can deal with the empire's troublesome forces for us, the win rate will rise significantly."
"That's amazing."
"— Many will perish, but the victory rate will rise."
"A lot will die on both sides."
I didn't want to make this kind of decision.
But Luxion denied my way of thinking.
"Master is still mistaken. You are not the one who dragged them into this. You were dragged into their fight."
Even so, the feeling of having dragged them in is stronger.
"For Master to achieve victory, they are absolutely necessary forces."
I let my true feelings spill out to Luxion.
"You know — I was sure the kingdom would never cooperate."
"Yes."
"The royals are awful, starting with Roland. Ah, but I guess Milene-san is different. Erika is a good kid too."
"— I see. Your high opinion of Milene concerns me, though."
"There are a lot of awful nobles too, so I figured they'd either sit on the fence or side with the empire."
"Such movements did actually occur."
"Then why is there this much fighting strength here —"
"It is the result of Julius and the others taking action. Have you forgotten? Their families are all distinguished great noble houses. And they persuaded their families."
Because the prestigious nobles fell in line, the other nobles followed suit too?
"Those guys — they're actually useful, huh."
"Surprising, isn't it."
When the Einhorn reached the airship dock at the royal palace, Angie was waiting there.
She was waving both her hands at me energetically.
"Master, Angelica is waiting. — And Angelica has kept her promise."
I understood right away what Luxion was trying to say.
He was telling me to acknowledge her.
"I know."
Once the Einhorn touched down at the dock and the gangway was prepared, I immediately headed over to Angie.
Angie came running up and threw herself at me.
Hugged tightly by her, I lightly placed my hand on Angie's waist.
Angie's voice was tearful.
"Don't make me worry like that. At least send word."
Maybe she'd felt lonely because no word came from me?
Having someone care this much for me — it's kind of a nice feeling.
Angie drew back a little and looked at my face.
"Forces are gathering at the royal capital from all over."
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry, but the Fraser house and the other nobles guarding the borders can't be moved. Even so, we managed to gather this much strength."
Where had all this military power been kept in reserve?
I wanted to tell the kingdom to put in this much effort from the very start.
"Erya's family must be having a rough time."
Erya, Erika's fiancé, was the heir of the Fraser margrave house, which guarded the border.
His family was on watch against the Rashel Holy Kingdom, so apparently they couldn't be moved.
"It's our side that's having the rough time. But Erya persuaded his family. He declared full support for you."
Erya is working hard too, it seems.
If I do defeat the empire, Erya is surely the next candidate for the throne.
"That's much appreciated."
With this, I can rest easy about what comes after.
He was disinherited, but there's still Julius — and his brother Jake who ran off with a man, too.
Which means the kingdom will continue.
Angie linked her arm with mine and started walking.
"Leon, there's a duke who wants to speak with you."
"A duke?"
Huh? Who could that be?
◇
A room in the royal palace.
When I hurriedly rushed in, the one waiting was my master, who had finished preparing tea.
My master was smiling.
"Mister Leon, you mustn't open doors so roughly."
Just like always, Master — no, the Duke — gestured for me to take a seat.
"Why didn't you tell me, Master?! That you're royalty — and a duke at that!"
"I'm a duke in name only. I have no authority whatsoever."
I'd vaguely sensed he was someone of high status, but I'd never imagined he was a duke.
There can't be many other people who know.
At the academy, everyone treats Master as no more than a manners instructor.
From the attitude of the other teachers, I'd vaguely figured his status was high.
But that was the extent of it.
I never dreamed he was a duke.
Master sat across the table from me and told me various things.
"Long before Mister Leon was born, there was quite a bit of upheaval over the right of succession to the throne. Around that time, along with my surname and middle name, I cast aside many other things as well."
The previous king's younger brother — the royal brother who had been my master — apparently abandoned his name and position and yielded the throne to Roland.
"If only Master had become king."
My true feelings slipped out unintentionally.
If Master had been king, surely there would have been no problems at all.
"I fled from the throne. If I had inherited the throne, things would surely have become even worse than they are now. I do not regret the choice I made at that time. However — I do regret things a little now."
Master's regret.
That was the many incidents that had occurred up till now — and me.
"I regret having relied on Mister Leon too much."
"Relied on me too much?"
"The Principality of Fanoss, then the republic, then the civil war — by rights, the kingdom should have had to weather all those by its own strength."
Now that he mentioned it, the only time Master pushed me forward was during the war with the principality.
Even then, he didn't force me.
"I know I am in no position to say this, having fled. Mister Leon, please — lend us your strength."
Master bowed his head to me.
"Please raise your head, Master."
Master slowly lifted his head.
I sipped the tea Master had prepared for me.
— It was delicious.
"You know, Master. I've already decided to fight. Even if you didn't ask — even if you didn't want me to, I'd fight."
The eyes with which Master looked at me seemed somehow sad.
"Doesn't Mister Leon ever feel like running away?"
I had considered taking the important people in my life and running away, but somehow it seems I just can't do that.
"Apparently I have a stronger sense of responsibility than I thought."
When I said it in my usual tone, Master rested his forehead on his folded hands.
"— Once again, I am about to place a heavy burden on a young person. I knew it, but it pains me. Sometimes I think it would be better if I bore it myself."
He must be talking about me and Roland.
Setting me aside, I think there's no need to worry about Roland.
That guy ought to suffer.
If anything, I'd like to drag him down with me.
Master raised his face.
"I, too, shall support Mister Leon with what little power I have."
If Master is going to lend a hand, that's worth a hundred men.
I rose from my seat.
"It's a real help. And — the tea was delicious."
In the end, I couldn't become someone like Master.
Master conveyed something to me.
"The preparations for the audience chamber should be just about finished. Everyone is waiting for you, Mister Leon."
He's egging me on in front of a crowd, every time.
"I'm not really good at speaking in front of people, though."
When I said that, Master looked a little surprised — and then immediately broke into a smile.
"Mister Leon is quite good at jokes as well."
— No, I really mean it.
◇
The audience chamber.
Standing before the throne, I had nobles lined up in front of me.
"You really did gather this many, huh."
Beside me — in a spot like the wings of a stage — Angie stood by.
Julius was also there.
Among the assembled nobles, I could see my father and my older brother.
I caught glimpses of senior students who had graduated from the academy, and Erya, looking nervous, was watching me too.
I took a deep breath and then began to speak.
"You've been gathered for an inaugural ceremony or whatever, but I have no intention of giving some rousing speech to fire everyone up. I didn't think you'd all actually show up in the first place, so I haven't prepared one."
The audience chamber stirred.
I didn't mind and continued.
"But this much military strength has gathered. The kingdom isn't a lost cause after all."
When I grinned glibly, I heard voices muttering insults about me under their breath.
These guys aren't cooperating with me because they want to either.
But Greg and the others glared those mutterers into silence.
I don't know how they did it, but apparently they had been reinstated as the legitimate heirs of their family estates.
And it looks like they're going to participate in the war against the empire.
Not long ago these guys had been duped by a woman and were spouting nothing but nonsense — they've grown up, huh.
I straightened my posture.
"— Honestly, I didn't have any expectations. I figured I'd be solving this alone again. So — let me say this."
This is the last time anyway.
"There are probably people who heard the circumstances and are suspicious, but the fact is that the empire really is invading. You know they're moving without holding anything back, right?"
Not many guys would buy it if you told them this was a struggle for survival.
Angie and the others who heard the circumstances from Luxion are one thing, but Julius and the others who heard from Marie and accepted it are practically the exception.
"The empire is strong. They've even brought out their trump card. So this time around, I can't handle it on my own. — Please, lend me your strength."
I bowed my head.
The audience chamber fell silent for a moment, then a different kind of stir from before spread through it.
By rights, those who stand above others shouldn't bow their heads so easily.
I knew that, but I had no other way to show my sincerity.
The nobles, who had been bracing themselves for me to taunt them like usual, were stunned by my attitude.
"Will snow fall out of season tomorrow?"
"Won't spears come falling from the sky instead?"
"If you said Duke Bartfort bowed his head, nobody would believe you."
Nobles were laughing.
I lifted my head in surprise at this reaction.
Then I saw Jilk, who was in the line, shrugging his shoulders.
"I made sure to explain everything thoroughly beforehand. You always leave loose ends, after all."
I didn't think I needed to hear that from him, but it's true I always leave loose ends.
That's why I keep having to go through all this trouble.
Among the assembled nobles was Count Mottley — a noble from Vince-san's faction.
"Lord Leon — no, Leon-sama, please don't underestimate us. We have our pride too. For the sake of our future children, do you think we'd be afraid to stake our lives?"
Was he telling me not to make fun of them? If so — that's pretty reassuring.
As I was thinking this, Count Mottley dropped to one knee.
"And this life of mine — I shall entrust to Leon-sama."
"Huh?"
While I was startled, everyone got down on one knee.
"You are mistaken. It is not we who are being relied upon — it is you who are being relied upon."
Even the nobles and knights in the audience chamber knelt before me.
Count Mottley spoke.
"Allow me to make this request anew from our side. Once again, please lend us your power for the sake of the kingdom. That is our wish."
I'd expected curses to be hurled at me, but instead the nobles were the ones asking me to lend my strength.
What kind of persuasion did Jilk pull off?
"— Everyone, rise."
The nobles obeyed my command and stood up.
Some looked dissatisfied, but others had eyes that gleamed.
I knew not everyone was on board.
Even so, it seems they're going to lend me their strength.
I let my gaze sweep across the audience chamber and voiced my gratitude.
"Thank you. With this, our prospects of winning —"
Just then, a soldier came bursting into the audience chamber.
"The Fanoss ducal house's fleet is approaching! Reports are coming in that the republic's fleet is heading this way as well!"
Tension shot through the audience chamber.