#03 – Crown Prince
“You are Yukito, I presume?”
Said the platinum blonde young man who had suddenly entered the room.
He appeared to be in his twenties, and had sharp features. But his eyes made the biggest impression, as they were the color of jade.
A few others were standing behind him, and one of them was carrying a sword. He had a beard and appeared to be the strongest.
“…Your Royal Highness!”
Ms. Iria immediately got up to her feet and bowed her head frantically.
(Highness?)
In other words, he was the empress’s heir.
Indeed, on closer inspection, there was an obvious resemblance.
“There is no need to bow, Lady Orlando. I am the one who came here to see him.”
He said as he took a step forward and offered his hand.
“I am Valdric von Magnus. As you heard, I am the crown prince. And I am delighted to be able to meet the apprentice of Jin.”
“…Hello.”
Yukito shook his head and bowed.
He had no idea how to act around a prince. Or even nobles for that matter.
And then the prince laughed as if amused.
Yukito became frantic, as if he had done something wrong, but then the prince shook his head.
“I’m sorry. It’s just that you are not what I expected.”
“What do you mean…?”
“You seem more approachable than Jin.”
So were they well acquainted then?
“I knew him a little. A long time ago. I wanted to be his apprentice, but he refused me.”
…To turn down the crown prince. The old man really was not scared of anything.
Well, that was like him.
After they shook hands, they sat down on the sofa, and some servants brought out a tea set.
Everything looked so expensive. Like one teacup might be the price of a house.
Would he have to pay if he broke one? As Yuito hesitated, the prince took a seat and then opened his mouth.
“I came here after hearing about the tournament.”
“Ah.”
“I am sorry. Apparently, itt was the work of a noble who wanted to disturb Count Orlando. By now, talk of your arrest has spread quite far between them.”
Yukito shook his head in exasperation.
“But the reason has not been made public. And so they have become suspicious.”
“Suspicious?”
“It’s really nothing. A ridiculous story.”
He shrugged his shoulders and straightened his posture.
And then he bowed his head.
“I’m sorry.”
“Your Highness…!?”
“Don’t stop me. The crimes of the subjects are the crimes of the imperial family. Yukito…as a form of apology, there is something that I want to give you.”
He then waved his hand, and the bearded swordsman placed a suitcase on the table.
“It contained 50 million. That should be enough to settle the matter.”
“Fif…”
Yukito was stunned.
Surely that was too much for something like…but then he saw the prince’s eyes, and realized it.
This wasn’t just about the tournament. But the other incident as well.
It was a way of keeping his mouth shut about what had happened.
“I don’t need it.”
“Oh?”
He could feel the anger from the men who were standing behind.
Though, the swordsman did not look interested at all.
“It wasn’t the police department or the government that pulled me in. From the very beginning, I was already involved.”
“…I see.”
He grinned and raised his hand towards the men behind him.
“Sorry. Could you leave us alone?”
“Bu-but…”
“Sir Lemrios can protect me. Though, I don’t see why I should need protection at this moment.”
The bearded swordsman bowed.
The men hesitated, but they eventually yielded and exited the room. Though, they did not forget to glare at Yukito first.
“You are very calm. And you catch on quickly. I am so glad.”
“…Thank you.”
“I suppose that is why. In spite of your strength, you get used so easily.”
He said with a smile.
“It’s true that they got you involved. But what about after that? Did you really have no choice?”
“What do you mean?”
“If you wanted to, you could have turned the whole thing over. That is what I am saying.”
The prince raised his cup and smiled.
“There was no need to accept being held by the police. There was no need to prove your innocence, or the innocence of the Sword Saint. You could have just cut down everything in your path. It’s simple.”
“That’s ridiculous…”
“Is it? Really? Sometimes might is right. If you are the last man standing, then you are on the side of justice.”
He had the eyes of someone who is testing someone.
“…No, Your Highness.”
“Oh? Why?”
“Because I am human.”
What would remain after cutting down everything?
Would he even feel human after leaving so many corpses behind him?
But no matter how many he might cut down in the future, Yukito intended on staying human.
“Exactly.”
The prince tipped his and looked into it.
“People have created and lived in societies since recorded history. We are always inside of it, and rely on it.”
“Rely…”
“This cup, the tea, the sofa. Everything we see and touch is made by someone. Your sword and clothes as well. We cannot live without the help of others… And that is what binds us.”
That is society.
“But if someone’s will or expectations are trying to bind you, you have freedom in how to react.”
He laughed and put the cup back on the saucer.
“Crush it, go forward, or abandon everything. You should not forget your options. Freedom is one of the special rights you have as someone with strength.”
What was strength? The prince certainly talked as if he knew the answer.
Emotion could be a crutch. Perhaps that was why the old man had ended up living on that mountain.
But then…why did he leave?
“And that alone…”
He muttered quietly. But the rest was not audible.
“…Of course, my wish is for your blade to be directed at the enemies of the empire, instead of good citizens. Because I do not want you to be an enemy.”
He shook his head and shrugged with a sigh.
“You will be the first to know when it comes to progress on the case, and Jin’s whereabouts. Though, I am sure that Gileus Marion will tell you anyway. It seems that he sees you as a friend.”
“Gileus?”
“He was a subordinate I could trust, and so I am sorry for that loss.”
The prince chuckled as he stood up. And then he looked at Yukito as is remembering something.
“Please take that money. It is bribe. In hopes that you will not be persuaded to become an enemy of the empire in the future.”
Yukito was not able to refuse it immediately.
Still, if the time ever came that he would have to cut him, that would be the time when he separated from the empire completely.