"Then this shall be all. Let us all resume our duties."

The tension in the throne room did not leave even as my father made his exit.

But that was to be expected, draconian forces were coming then and that was not going to change.

Still, it was not like fear had paralyzed those at the top of the country, not all. They all had their roles and they stuck to them as everyone started to prepare.

We also had our role but…it was also one that needed us at our best.

And so, I dismissed my subordinates so that they could rest after the long journey we had just returned from.

But they did not do so before relieving some of the tension that was in my heart.

"Where do you think you are going, Kristoff? Leave sneaking around to those who are not walking muscles."

"Please Kristoff, don't make us have to carry you to the forge."

"Wha—?! When did you—?! Oi! Let me go!"

First it was Kristoff and his failed attempt at sneakily running off without paying his dues. One that was frustrated by both Gabriel and Bertiam, as they grabbed him from the back of his neck and dragged him to Roxxagueraffe's forge.

"I'm off, Prince. Do not worry, I shall find Luca."

The second was Allegro leaving to search for Luca.

Yes…sometimes some routine is what the heart needs.

The rest went either to our headquarters or their own homes there in the capital.

Meanwhile, Eric and I went deeper into the palace.

"Let us go, Eric. I want to speak with my Father in private."

"Yes, Prince."

Hm? I seem nostalgic? Is that so, My Lord?

Then I suppose that I cannot help but feel like that even by the remembrance of walking through those halls filled with memories. Just as I felt every time that I returned to the palace.

Many people who worked there would greet me and I would do so in kind as I walked in the company of Eric.

There were many that had been there since I was a child, but there were also others who were recent additions to the palace’s workforce.

"The gardens are blooming nicely, My Prince."

"Indeed, they are, we are lucky to have arrived at this time to see them. The people in charge of them should be proud."

That time we even stopped for a moment to admire the sight that were the gardens, for the walls on our right gave way to arcs that let us bask in it.

Colors such as vibrant reds, soothing blues, warm yellows and stimulating purples could be seen in it, along with the expected greens.

And at its center lied a fountain encircled by moonlight roses, my mother's favorite flowers.

They bloom on nights when the full moon adorns the sky and baths the ground with its silvery light, hence the name.

"I can almost see her tending to them..."

"My Prince?"

"Nothing, let us move on."

Those always gave me pause and that time they also turned my inner thoughts into an involuntary murmur.

Nostalgia can do that to a person.

In any case, there was not much distance from my father's personal office despite what someone might think.

Formally, it was at the top of the palace’s main tower, but he had another office near the garden’s area.

Just like me, the view of the gardens helped bring tranquility to his mind.

So, it didn’t take too long for us to be greeting the guard outside of said office’s door.

"Good morning, Sir Serg. I have come to speak with the King in private."

"Ah, dear Prince, you are sight for sore eyes. I am glad that you have returned safely."

Sir Serg was always the one to guard my father's office when he was inside, and I hope that is still the case.

Not only because he was a respected elder among everyone in the palace, one who had served there the longest of times, but also because his smile was always warm and caring.

Some of the workforce even considered him a grandfather and would go to him whenever they needed advice.

Even I did that sometimes while I was growing up.

"As for the King, I am sorry to say but he is occupied right this moment, Miss Hilde is speaking with him. Still, knowing the King's senses he is surely already aware of your presence. So, could I ask you to wait?"

"Of course, in the meantime I shall take in the view of the gardens some more."

As me and Eric did so, a familiar presence approached us.

"Dear elder brother, you are back."

It was my younger brother and first advisor to the King, Licht vi Kyrie.

He would always quickly forget etiquette and hug me tightly, and that time was not the exception.

He had always been quite attached to me and I did not mind, he was my little brother after all.

"Mmhm, I am really happy that you are here, dear elder brother."

In my case, I would always pat his head for a moment before separating ourselves.

And while I may have thought of spoiling him more, he was already a year older than Eric by that time, so I had to be stricter with him.

"What are you doing here, dear elder brother?"

"I am waiting for Father to finish talking with Miss Hilde."

He seemed confused as he asked his question, but then he raised an eyebrow in surprise when I answered it. Something that was quite rare for him to show.

"Hmm, that is strange. Father is supposed to be free right now."

"What do you mean Licht?"

"Ah, nothing, dear elder brother. It seems I mixed up Father's appointments. Do not worry about it."

"That is unusual for someone such as you, Licht. Your memory has always been perfect as far as I can recall."

While it might sound like a compliment, one that always made my brother smile fully, it was also something that I took as fact.

"It makes me happy that you think that way of my capabilities, dear elder brother. It really does. But it is just that there are so many things in my head right now. There's a new project for the city regarding the shifts of the gatekeepers. We’re also prototyping a new type of carriage that could help in public transportation. There’s the surge in prices of avian meat in the markets too. And lastly, the selection and training for a new knight's order. Ah...oops."

"Why was I not told about that?"

There were four Knights’ Orders in the Kingdom five years ago. The Swords of Dawn, the Gale Arrows, the Twilight Shield and the Royal Knights.

Before the Swords of Dawn could be founded, all the people in charge of the orders were notified and had to give their approval. It was not a simple process where an order could be founded at a whim.

So, being made aware of such breach in protocol affected me in a certain manner, so much so that I startled both Eric and Licht to the point that they jumped back.

"...! M-My Prince!"

"...! De-Dear Elder Brother! P-Please calm down! I-I was not supposed to tell you about that so please do not ask or tell father...trust me! W-When the time comes you will know! So please, stop glaring like that! It's scary...!"

I truly did not mean to scare them, but I must put emphasis on the fact that I did find it vexing to find out about a new knights’ order like that.

But Licht asked me to trust him, so I did. That was the least I could do as his brother, even more as I noticed the bags under his eyes.

One could easily forget that he was still young due to how capable he was and most likely still is.

I thought then that if his unusual behavior was the result of a lack of rest, then he must have been overworking himself. As such, I had even more reason to leave the subject alone, at least momentarily.

Going with that also helped to soften my gaze as both Eric and Licht showed some relief on their faces.

"Haaa…very well. I shall trust you Licht, but only if you promise me that you will take some time to rest. It is clear that you have been overworking yourself to the point that it is affecting your memory. And you should not have those bags under your eyes at that age either. Leave looking scary to me, after all it seems that I am a natural at that."

Even if it pained me to say so, I tried to a make a joke at my expense to make away with any tension left but it backfired.

"D-Dear Elder Brother...!"

Licht got emotional at such attempt. So much so that he quickly hugged me tightly again with tears in his eyes.

"I will make sure to sleep properly from now on! No more staying up until dawn checking the budget for the tenth time or trying to predict market trends! So please, dear elder brother, do not bully yourself for my sake! Uwaaa...!"

"Haaa…what am I going to do with you?"

I couldn’t do anything else but pat his head until he calmed down.

He really was a troublesome little brother.

Meanwhile, Eric just watched us with a wry smile on his face.

____________________________________________________

Father's talk with Hilde took half an hour to end, time that I spent with my brother and Eric, so it was not a waste.

After all, rest is important too if one aims to do their utmost at anything.

Still, that ended as Hilde made her exit from my Father’s office and she was approached by my brother.

All while I entered said office after announcing myself.

____________________________________________________

As Eric remained outside of the King’s office waiting for Erevain, he ended up overhearing a certain conversation, even if he did not want to.

"I wanted to discuss with you something about two things in our projects, Miss Hilde."

"Oh, of course. Please, My Prince and fellow advisor, tell me what troubles you about our current projects."

"First, the shifts of the gatekeepers and their planned transportation for the rotation of their placement. I think it would be best to use a normal carriage, that way they can use the time to rest while going from one gate to another instead of using our prototypes there. After all, well rested gatekeepers can work more efficiently."

"Even if that were to hinder our response time and leave the gates unguarded at the change of the shift?"

Hilde seemed confused and couldn't comprehend why the prince would think of something like that, but the prince shook his head at Hilde's question.

"That will not happen. The guards already patrol the areas near the gates more frequently since its common protocol to do so and, if we place barracks down the main streets that face the gates, we can give them the prototypes to ensure an even quicker response to any threat that may come to happen in that time."

"Since it would be going in a straight line instead of circling on top of the capital's walls..."

Hilde's expression slowly changed as she came to understand the prince's point.

"Exactly. We could also add something like a siren's cry to warn the citizens that the prototype is coming through and that there is danger where the prototype is going."

Hilde's eyes widened as she wagged her finger in an approving manner.

"Prince, that is a great idea!"

"I am glad that you think so."

"Then what is the second thing you wanted to discuss...ah! Pardon me! It would be better if we discussed things in my lab or your office, yes?"

Hilde, embarrassed, turned beet red and Licht laughed a bit but shook his head before he answered her question.

"No, it is alright. As my father says, looking at the gardens calms the mind, so I do not mind talking here. But do forgive my play on words though."

Hilde giggled at such play of words.

For Eric that was witnessing such exchange, it was as if the crying kid that was overly attached to his big brother had never existed and he could only see the Genius Prince talking to the Prodigy as equals.

"The second thing I mentioned is about the new locking mechanism that we have installed in the gates of this city. I have noticed that said mechanism would unlock itself if one were to use water magic to apply a certain amount of pressure to it and that concerns me.”

"Ah, yes, that is indeed so. But that can be also be considered a safety measure to quicken evacuation in case of emergency and no one being there to open the gates. Even so, it needs at least three people's worth of ability to hit it from the inside with the right pressure, so there is no need to worry. Besides, the whole point of it is keeping threats out, unless you think there are threats inside the capital too. Perhaps someone that can do what I mentioned by themselves? Do you, My Prince?"

At that moment, Eric felt Licht's gaze fall on him but only for an instant before such sensation vanished.

"No, I do not. And it seems that my elder brother is right, I may need to take some time to rest since I might be overthinking things."

"Hmmm...granted. It is just as you say, My Prince. To be more efficient one needs to rest."

"Indeed. Although I barely see you resting, Miss Hilde, and you always seem well-rested. How does someone do that?"

"I am sorry, but I cannot disclose that information, My Prince. It is as they say, a maiden's secret."

Hilde said that with a playful tone as she put her right index finger on top of her lips and winked at Licht.

They both laughed after that.

And while Eric acted in the way that would be expected of a royal attendant, he still prayed to the Goddess for them to go to another place to discuss such important manners.

___________________________________________________

"Father."

"Son."

"There is something about that expeditionary force you did not mention in the throne room, am I correct?"

The moment I asked him such question he looked at me in the eye with his sharp gaze, not surprised but thoughtful.

Of course, I did not feel intimidated at all; it may very well have been that I was used to it because I used to see the same thing in the mirror.

"Would you be willing to wait until you have a good night's sleep before telling you?"

"I am afraid that I cannot accept that, Father."

"Hmph...very well, my son. But do not blame me if you cannot sleep after hearing about this, because Goddess knows that I did not."

"What is it that it even robs you of your sleep?"

"What else, my son? A Dragon Lord, of course. That expeditionary force is not a simple one, a Dragon Lord is commanding it."

"...!"

"The capital is in serious danger of being utterly destroyed, my son."

 

To be continued...(cue to scene with said expeditionary force approaching and the super ultra-mysterious silhouette of the dragon lord, you will never guess who it is! The surprise will leave you ice cold!!)