"If you understand the situation, then you should help me stop the coup," he urged. It was a compelling argument.

As much as I'd like to stay on the sidelines and away from the spotlights as much as possible, this development...It's not something that I could just turn a blind eye on, because if I did nothing and let the situation escalate, then I'm screwed in the end.

"How did you even manage to do it? I just gave you that yesterday."

"I came across Duke Starheim after he had a meeting with my father, then it was just a matter of simply taking advantage of the circumstances and crucial timing."

Fuck! If he was gonna drag me into this, why not consult me first before doing that?!

I shot him a glare and argued back, "That's a bit impetuous, don't you think—"

Shaking his head, he leaned back, "The sooner I thwart him, the better. I don't want to take any chances."

He then laid out a parchment on the round table with details pertaining to Duke Starheim.

What the? Isn’t this like a criminal profile? He even included his facial features and shit.

I skimmed through it and only took note of what is important.

My eyes froze when I saw who Duke Starheim was affiliated with. "Duke Starheim is a spy for the Darlberg Empire?"

"Yes. I've also verified my suspicions regarding his determination to become head of cross-continental affairs."

Now that I remembered it, I heard from Father and the nosy Duke that Duke Starheim was rather chummy and comfortable with the delegates of the Darlberg Empire during Leopold's debut as the heir.

"What does this mean for us—for the entire Kingdom?"

“War."

The gravity of the situation sank in. 

 

---

 

We spent the next few hours huddled around the round table, dissecting the information on the parchment, and devising a plan to counter Duke Starheim's coup. The implications of war was a heavy burden, but it was one I couldn’t afford to happen.

We’ve only been properly acquainted ourselves today, there’s no real incentive for me since I still don’t fully trust him and I doubt he trusts me that much either. 

However, we were both people from earth before we ended up here and we were both aware of the history of that world—The countless conflicts that spanned around the globe.

Our opinions on that matter were quite similar.

That’s why I don't find it hard to follow through.

“Duke Starheim and Marquiss Stroheim are in on this coup, together with their vassals, they make up the ‘spy faction’.” He circles around their names, the lines connected to the other nobles involved were the vassals.

Seeing the list, I let out a sigh.

This…was a bit too much for us to handle and top of that, we were only children.

I mean, what could two children possibly do in the face of a duchy and its faction?

“With our undeveloped bodies, it’d be hard for us to directly confront them. You do know that right?” I voice that thought out.

“Don’t worry, I took that in consideration so there’s no need for us to risk ourselves, it’d be suicide for us to even attempt it, that’s why we have them.” He pointed at the top of the parchment.

In it, there was an encircled name that was unfamiliar to me.

“What’s this ‘Templar’s order’?” Are they like a subsidiary army or something?

“They are the sectoral order of the church of the Sun God.” 

“Is it a military order?” He shook his head.

“On the outside they are known as the guardsmen of the church akin to the Royal guards, however there’s a secret that only a few people know about.” He taps on the parchment and continues.

“They are an intelligence agency that can deploy special forces to deal with threats concerning the kingdom’s peace and security.”  

Sounds kinda like the CIA and KGB.

“That’s good and all that we have our own special agents but how the hell did they not anticipate that one of the dukes here in this kingdom is actually a spy? Do they not keep watch in the internal affairs of the kingdom?”

“They don’t anymore.”

“What?”

“The Templar’s Order has relegated that responsibility to the department of which Duke Starheim leads.” Ah, so that’s how it is, huh.

“Will they even follow your orders?” He took out something from his pocket.

A pendant? There was a symbol that resembled a sun but what does that even mean?

“This right here allows me to control them.” 

He squeezed the pendant hard, closing into a fist which dug deeper in his palms.

I stared at him, not knowing what to make of it but then steam arose from his closed fists.

“...I didn’t want to use this yet, but we have no other choice.”

Before I could even react, a flash of light covered my eyes.

Illuminating the whole room.

I felt disoriented, dazed, and mostly out of focus.

As my perception slowly stabilizes, the blurry figure of the crown prince was all that I could take in. 

Then the world lost all of its colors.

Everything became black and white.

In spite of that, the freedom of movement came back yet I couldn’t seem to sense the flow of mana.

No, it’s there yet suspended in its place. 

“Hey.”

From the opposite end of the table, there was the crown prince, still sitting there on his seat.

“Do you remember what I said back then, about the reason why we were brought into this world?” 

I do, you said it was because of some entity or shit.

And we were isekai’d without our consent by that entity.

However, I didn’t voice my thoughts out, I simply nodded.

“Well, that entity granted me the authority to control his followers which is the—

“Templar's Order.” I finished what he was going to say.

“Yes, and this power…It’s too much for me to handle alone which is why you—” Then he points at me. —Will also share this authority.”

Huh?! 

I couldn’t help but let out a dumbfounded noise.

“Uhm, I decline? Why not choose someone else like your fiancé.”

“That’s…impossible per say. The authority can only be inherited by the select few chosen by the entity.” 

Ha…I guess there’s no escaping it. 

If I don’t accept then we won’t be able to use the Templar's Order and given the fact that we were facing a duke with pretty solid influence, it’s kind of fucking hard.

No matter how much I think about it, this is the best option we have.

It’s not like we can even do shit in our current age and status, we’re not even ten years old yet.

His was simply the realistic and sensible approach to this problem.

“Fine, what do I have to do?”

He held out his hand.

“The entity’s instruction was for us to shake on it and swear an oath.”

I look at his hand for a moment, before placing beside and gripping his hand, I feel heat escaping from his palm. 

But it wasn’t hot to the touch, just a bit warm.

We both shook our hands in unison.

“I’ll be swearing the oath now so be ready.” When he said that I tensed myself.

I saw him raising his free hand, he looked at me as if to say to mimic it. 

Reluctantly, I raise mine.

Shit, this reminded me of when I graduated from that Institute.

“I, Leopold Leotopia together with my Benefactor, August Rodin, solemnly swear upon the Light of the Sun, to accept the authority and uphold the responsibility it brings in accordance with the sacred laws of Leotopia.”

The warm temperature rose several degrees higher to the point that it started to burn my skin.

I could only grit my teeth in pain.

The seering sensation subsided in just a moment.

When I looked at the back of my hand, a sigil with that symbol from the pendant was embedded on my skin.

The world started to regain its colors, and the faint circulation of mana within the room began to move.

Both of us let go and stared at each other.

He nodded at me, and I returned the gesture.

Neat, we got lackeys to do our bidding.

I guess it’s time, huh.

 

---

 

The two of them managed to sneak out of the palace without a hitch.

Going out undetected by the Royal Guards was quite easy thanks to the secret passage that the crown prince discovered.

They garbed themselves in robed cloaks and concealed their faces with masquerade masks, all the while continuously applying concealment spells for safekeeping. 

Heading towards the hidden quarters.

They arrived in front of the supposed entrance of the Templar's Order at mid-night.

It was unusually chilly that even the crickets were silent, the ambience of the night light was absent but thanks to insulation of the cloaks.

The two were fine and comfortable.

In front of them was a wall, covered in grime and moss.

It was so tall that it reached the sky and wide enough that it spanned across the border.

The crown prince touched the wall, he then dragged it across.

August acted as look out while the crown prince did his thing.

“Found it.” Once he found it, he informed the young Rodin.

He pushed the loose brick forward, then the sound of stones sliding against each other.

A secret passage opened up to them, and as the two took a step forward, the pathway lit-up and the wall slid back, closing the entrance.

The two of them stride towards the end of the pathway.

While they maintained a normal pace, August’s mind was still lingering on the topic prior to coming here.

Who was the entity? And why did he choose him and that guy?

Despite the confusion, August was sure of one thing.

There was no indication that the entity had nefarious intentions towards them.

At least not yet, but then again, August was always a vigilant person.

However, in the circumstance he finds himself, where the Kingdom was on the verge of civil war that not even the King is aware of.

This was a risk he had to absolutely take.

It was all for the sake of his future....

The crown prince halted to a stop, he looked at August and nodded at him.

Setting his mask to the side of his face and pulling back his hood, the crown prince’ face was in full view for the. 

August followed suit as well, albeit, opting to take his mask off.

Hurried footsteps approached them.

Clad in black and yellow robes, they carefully knelt before the two.

Two women in their adolescence with beautiful white hair and a middle-aged man with a shaved head, 

“We greet thee, the future King of Leotopia.” The man greeted the crown prince.

The crown prince raised his hand to acknowledge them, the ones that approached them continued to kneel with one leg.

“Stand.” The words that came out from the crown prince’ mouth eerily resembled the current King.

They were compelled to immediately stand.

"...If we may inquire, what prompts His Highness to grace our humble temple with a visit?" The man asked.

The crown prince showed them the sigil on the back of his hand and said, “We have come to inform your leader. I, together with my friend, August Rodin, have been chosen to be the emissaries of the Sun.”

“By the Light of the Sun!”

“So, it is true! The Light of the Sun has graced us with a miracle!”

“We must inform the Templar head immediately! Your highness, may we request to accompany you both to his office.” 

The crown prince nodded.

All the while August silently took in the events unfolding before his eyes in close detail.

 

---

“I greet thee, Future King of Leotopia.” The leader of the Templar’s Order bowed his and knelt to the crown prince. 

“Although we met on such short notice, I do apologize for this disheveled appearance. The paperwork given to us by the department of Internal Affairs had taken a toll on both our body and spirit.” Stacks and stacks of documents were scattered on his desk.

The dark bags under his eyes certainly tell that much. 

It’s like I’m staring at a corporate slave…Wasn’t I like that too? Fuck, it’s depressing to even think about it.

 “Don’t worry about that, you won’t be working on that anymore.” The leader with his messy gray hair looked at him confused; he scratched the back of his head.

“What do you mean by that, your Highness?” 

The crown prince or should I say, my business partner, showed the sigil and proclaimed in front of the leader of the Order.

“Starting from today, all work related to the Internal Affairs will be indefinitely postponed.”

With wide eyes, the corporate slave-looking leader of the Order, opened his mouth in shock.

“That’s—!

“With my right to exercise my power as the Crown Prince, and the authority bestowed upon me by the Light of the Sun! Together with my Benefactor, August Rodin, I will temporarily assume command of the Templar’s Order.” 

The Templar head, with his mouth agape, immediately closed it.

He regained composure and knelt to the crown prince, with his arms across his knee, he looked up and said, “Your Highness! May I request a blessing.” He pauses then continues, “I know this is a selfish and rude request of mine but please grant me this request even if I have to be punished!”

His voice almost sounded like pleading.

Wait, was he actually begging on his knees? 

Even though it was weird, I kind of got used to this kind of scene considering I used to live at an orphanage run by a nun.

“Very well.” The Templar head took the crown prince’ hand with both of his and nudged it against his forehead.

The sigil began to glow, emitting a warm light.

After it died down, the Templar Head let go of it and muttered.

“The Light of the Sun has not abandoned us…”

Then he slumped down on the floor and passed out.

Looking at the sudden twist of the situation, I couldn’t help but curse out loud.

“Oh fuck.” 

The crown prince didn’t seem to expect this either.

“Don’t just gawk there, help me!” His words were informal, and his voice sounded jittery.

He immediately put his ear against the chest and I on the other hand checked for his pulse.

Thankfully he was fine.

—Creak!

Ah, fuck.

“Your Highness are you okay—Wah! What happened to the Templar Head?!” 

Before the crown prince could even retort, the body of the Templar Head immediately jolted upwards.

His face looked lively, meaning he was fine.

“Ah…I feel revitalized…”

Both me and the crown prince sighed in unison, then we looked at each other.

Fuck, this was mentally draining.

He wryly smiled at me, and all I could do was nod lazily.

—Crisis averted.

 

---

After the Templar leader explained the situation on behalf of the crown prince, all the members within the Templar’s Order were summoned to the hall for an emergency meeting.

“We greet thee, Future King of Leotopia!” When they arrived, peasantries were exchanged towards the crown prince.

He acknowledged them with a smile. 

“First and foremost, before we begin. I would like to express gratitude to His Highness.” 

Then he glanced at the crown prince, then he looked back at the crowd that was listening attentively.

“As of today, I, Aurelius Solaris, will be stepping down.” It was just a simple sentence, but the effect was like an earthquake.

Shock was evident on their face, but the Templar Head didn’t give them time to prepare for what comes next.

“So it is with utmost joy that I proudly announce—!

“The Emissaries of the Light of the Sun!”

Both the two chosen Emissaries of the Light of the Sun walked towards the podium, taking place on the center was the crown prince and beside him was August.

The crown prince clears his throat and looks at the countless members of the Templar’s Order. 

His eyes were like that of a cub—No, a young lion. 

And they were under that gaze.

“What do you think of the current status of the high nobles and their influence on the Kingdom?”

A question was raised.

They looked at each other and discussed among themselves.

While some agreed that the high nobles were important for the Kingdom’s prosperity, others argued that the statuses of the high nobles had granted them immunity from prosecution due to their untouchable nature.

The discussion devolved into a debacle.

“Ahem.” They stopped once the crown prince got their attention.

“I observed that opinions on this matter are quite divided, however, there is merit to each one of them. Still, the fact doesn’t change that many of them have desecrated the sacred laws of the Kingdom.”

It was an open secret, the members knew of the inner dealings of the high nobles, most of it were illegal by the Kingdom’s standard but yet they remain unscathed and without consequence.

“If you work for a man in the name of the Sun, work for him. If he pays wages that supply you with your bread and butter, work for him, speak well of him, think well of him, therefore you should stand by him.”

All of the members listened tentatively.

“Remember, an ounce of loyalty is worth more than a pound of cleverness.”

There was a momentary pause, as they digested his words, they couldn’t help but feel their hearts thump.

“Do you know what this means?”  No one answered him.

By no means were they illiterate, they were professional spies and assassins, information was their key intelligence. 

Yet they didn’t have it in them to even attempt giving out an answer.

They felt unworthy.

After all, they had lost the embers that kindled their ambitions.

“From the moment you’ve become members of the Templar’s Order, all of you have sworn an oath.”

An oath? They’ve long forgotten about it. 

Having been drowned in the seas of menial tasks, their hearts have withered, and their minds numbed. 

“Your dispirited and weary souls.” He pauses as he looks among them, their condition refined yet all but wasted to do paperwork. 

Wasted talents and potentials was all there is to the current Templar’s Order.

“I will change that today.”

Then he began addressing his agenda.

“From here on out, your current duties will be postponed, and I will be temporarily assigning everyone with their new roles and duties.” Then he looked at August and gestured at him, “Sir August, if you will…”

August, with his experience as an assistant, did what he had to do.

Even though he was just a child, he moved like a professional and carried himself confidently.

The young Rodin took out the parchment and expanded it, utilizing his mana, he increased the size of it, making it as big as a theater screen.

On it was the information regarding the agenda. 

The crown prince went on to explain the roles and duties.

Members of the Templar’s Order were unsure about it. 

The hierarchy was changing—No, it was being restructured and the one to do it was the crown prince who as of this moment, is currently just a child.

It was admirable, the crown prince at his age was able to disseminate such complex and vast information, a feat that many of them are not that capable in doing so.

As they witnessed all of this.

All of them couldn’t help but think.

The Kingdom’s future looks to be brighter than the Sun.