The Crown of Rutile Quartz: Volume 1 [Parts 1 to 9] by Surume Enoki

Author:Surume Enoki
Language: eng
Format: epub

Back inside the royal palace, Victor was soon accosted by a jovial voice.

“You voluntarily offered advice to the crown prince? What in the world?”

Victor turned to look—it was Sieghardt, Count of Vogel and general of the royal army. “Is there something odd about a vassal assisting his liege?” Victor asked.

“Not if it is within the scope of the duties you have been assigned,” said Sieghardt. “But the advice you offered to the prince is certainly not the responsibility of the commander of the royal guard. What happened to you?”

Victor’s blank expression broke into a slight smile. “Have mercy, Lord Vogel,” he said. “I am not accustomed to being teased.”

As Victor set off, Sieghardt fell in to walk alongside him. “Forgive me, Lord Commander,” Sieghardt said, laughing boisterously. Then, he muttered, “Jokes aside, I see even you have acknowledged His Royal Highness.”

“The prince had made significant strides already. He made a promising proposal not long ago,” said Victor. “His resolve is clearly not all talk—I am not so obstinate that I would refuse him recognition for his efforts.”

Sieghardt laughed as if Victor had said something terribly amusing, clapping the commander on the shoulder. “Ha ha ha! Well said.”

Victor threw Sieghardt a sidelong glance, a bit put off by his exuberance.

“It seems the only one who remains is Lord Nordenfelt,” said Sieghardt. “I wonder how long it’ll take His Excellency to come round on the prince.”

“Not overnight, certainly,” Victor replied. “I expect he will take an even firmer hand with the prince from here on out. But I’d be more concerned if he didn’t—the prince has yet to fully mature. He needs someone to keep a close watch as he comes into his own.”

“Heh. So you sidestepped that unfortunate role to let Lord Nordenfelt take on the burden of playing the villain, eh?”

“I suppose you could put it that way,” Victor admitted. He glanced around furtively the moment the words had left his mouth, as if he were worried Lord Nordenfelt might be hiding around the corner, poised to scold them for such impertinent talk.

At that, Sieghardt laughed even harder.

◆

June had arrived. The air was heavy with the encroaching heat of summer, and the wheat harvest had commenced. On the training grounds of the royal army beside the royal palace, Slaine was running himself ragged.

“Listen up, you sorry bastards!” bellowed Sieghardt, general of the royal army. “Now, don’t you think about going easy on the prince just because he’s the prince—overtake him if you can! Show your respect by putting the full strength of the royal army on display!”

The soldiers responded in unison, “Yes sir!”

Of the three battalions of the royal army, one was stationed at the royal capital at all times. Two of this battalion’s companies—about sixty men in total—were assigned to maintain the security of the capital. The remaining third was assigned to regular training. And one after the other, each of these thirty soldiers pulled ahead of Slaine on the track, leaving him completely in the dust.

They were all

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