WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: Abood

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◈ Friedrich's Battlefield

Chapter 48: King

Just as the meeting seemed to be over—Claudia spoke again.

"By the way, Lord Hosenfeld."

"Yes?"

"My father says he wishes to see you. Both you and your adopted son, Friedrich."

As Claudia spoke, her gaze shifted from Matthias to Friedrich. When Friedrich comprehended her words, his brows lifted slightly.

Claudia's father, the Crown Princess's father. In other words, the King. Sigismund Edelstein.

He wished to meet not only his adoptive father Matthias, but Friedrich as well.

"......?"

Though he understood the words, Friedrich couldn't quite grasp the reality of it and tilted his head slightly. Seeing his reaction, Claudia gave a wry smile.

"His health has improved somewhat lately. He says he'd like to meet while he still can. I know it's sudden, but can you oblige?"

"But of course, Your Highness."

Matthias answered Claudia’s question without a hint of hesitation.

And so without regard for Friedrich's nervousness, an audience with the king was decided. Following behind Claudia and Matthias as they stood, Friedrich exited the room and walked deeper into the royal castle.

"Having my father walk to meet you would be a burden on him. My apologies, but please come to his private chambers."

"Understood."

"......"

The king's private chambers… Just how many people in this kingdom were permitted to enter there? As this thought crossed his mind, Friedrich's gaze wavered. Watching Matthias nod calmly to Claudia, he was once again reminded of just how close his adoptive father stood to the king.

As they walked, the atmosphere of the corridors, the furnishings adorning them, even the very air around them began to change. It was clear they were transitioning from the administrative spaces of the government into the living quarters of the royal family.

"There's no need to be so tense, Friedrich."

Claudia, walking ahead, turned back to address him. Startled, Friedrich quickly composed his expression and faced her.

"My father isn't some fearsome figure. Just act as you did when we first met, and you'll be fine."

"...Yes, Your Highness."

Friedrich responded with a stiff smile that barely lifted the corners of his mouth.

Soon, Claudia came to a stop before an ornately decorated door. This appeared to be the king's private chambers.

Claudia handed her sword to the royal guards stationed on either side of the door. Even as a member of the royal family, it seemed she was not permitted to be armed in the king's presence.

"Father. I have brought Lord Hosenfeld and his son."

"You may enter."

A low, composed voice replied from beyond the door. The door opened from within, and Friedrich followed Claudia and Matthias inside.

His expression tense, Friedrich kept his gaze lowered, catching only glimpses of the room from the edges of his vision.

True to its name as a private chamber, this appeared to be a space where the king spent his personal time. There was no bed, the sleeping quarters must have been elsewhere. It seemed the ailing king was not yet bedridden.

Inside, Friedrich's peripheral vision registered what appeared to be an attendant, a single royal guard, and further in, the feet of a figure seated in an armchair, along with someone standing close beside them.

"Your Majesty the King. Your Highness the Queen."

Following Matthias' lead, Friedrich also dropped to one knee. He had already guessed the figure seated in the chair was the king, but now realized the person standing beside him must be the queen.

"Enough with the formal greetings. Rise. Both you and your adopted son."

Matthias stood at these words, and Friedrich followed suit while keeping his gaze lowered.

"It's been too long, Matthias. You look well, unlike me."

"Indeed, Your Majesty. Yet you appear in better health than when I last had the honor of seeing you a year ago."

"Ah, yes. Back then I thought my time had finally come, but I've rallied. We humans are surprisingly hard to kill."

The tone of their exchange was remarkably casual for a conversation between monarch and subject.

Friedrich could sense the unique rapport between Sigismund who had once commanded as the bold new king during the war with the Loire Kingdom, and Matthias, who had distinguished himself as a brilliant commander under him.

"When I heard you'd taken in an adopted son, I was thoroughly astonished. I never thought I'd live to hear such news. I'd wondered what purpose there was in dragging out this existence, but it seems not everything is misfortune."

"To have this opportunity to personally inform Your Majesty brings me the deepest joy." 

At that moment, Friedrich sensed an overwhelming presence, as if some enormous being had turned its attention toward him.

"So this is your adopted son."

"Yes, Your Majesty. This is my adopted son, Friedrich."

From their conversation mentioning him, Friedrich realized the presence he felt was Sigismund's, the king had turned his gaze upon him.

"Friedrich, let me see your face."

At these words, Friedrich lifted his head and beheld the king sitting comfortably in his armchair.

King Sigismund was thin. The kind of thinness that immediately betrayed ill health.

Yet he was not withered by age. His eyes, his expression, his entire being radiated formidable willpower.

He possessed the same type of overwhelming presence Friedrich had felt when first meeting Claudia, but even more intense.

This was Sigismund Edelstein. The twelfth king. The great monarch who had reformed the military system and led them to victory in the great war against the Kingdom of Loire.

"It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Your Majesty, and Your Highness the Queen. I am Friedrich, heir to House Hosenfeld."

Friedrich bowed deeply, and Sigismund studied him with evident interest.

"You match exactly the impression Claudia described. Not particularly warlike in appearance, but intelligent-looking."

"...You honor me."

Though Sigismund's voice was calm as he spoke, Friedrich felt an undeniable pressure. Not the aggressive kind meant to intimidate, but a peculiar force that naturally commanded reverence.

Standing beside Sigismund was Queen Alexia. She remained silent. Friedrich had heard she was known as a quiet, reserved queen who had withdrawn from public life since the king fell ill, choosing instead to remain constantly at her husband's side.

"Soon enough, you'll inherit the Hosenfeld earldom and support my daughter's reign. Not that I'll live to see it."

"......"

When Friedrich hesitated to respond, Matthias answered in his place:

"I intend to train this boy with all my body and soul, to make him a general worthy of succeeding me and ensuring House Hosenfeld can continue serving the royal family during Princess Claudia's reign. Your Majesty need not worry."

"Hahaha, So you're saying I can rest easy and die anytime now?... Friedrich. I'm glad I got to meet you. You've done well to come today. You may withdraw."

"As you command."

Friedrich executed the most impeccable salute he could muster, then exited through the door held open by a servant.

The audience had been remarkably brief. Had Sigismund truly wanted only to lay eyes on Matthias' adopted son? Or perhaps he lacked the stamina to maintain formalities any longer.

"Friedrich, come with me."

Claudia, who had also left the king's chambers, guided him down the hall.

"My father will likely speak with Lord Hosenfeld for some time yet. You may wait in the adjoining chamber... Though this must have been an intensely nerve-wracking experience for you, I believe it has eased one of my father's final concerns before his journey's end. For that, I thank you."

"...Not at all. If I could be of service, I'm truly fortunate."

Friedrich responded with a quiet smile to Claudia's gentle expression, that of a daughter, not a crown princess.

・・・・・・

Meanwhile, in the king's private chambers, Sigismund let out a heavy sigh as his posture slackened.

"Truly, this body refuses to obey. Even maintaining the dignity of a king has become difficult."

As Sigismund murmured these words, Queen Alexia wiped the sweat from his brow and brought a cup of water to his lips. After taking a sip, the king turned a weary gaze toward Matthias.

"My apologies for not speaking more with your adopted son."

"Not at all. The mere opportunity for him to be granted an audience is honor enough... What did you think of Friedrich?"

"I found him quite promising. While his temperament differs greatly from yours, I sensed the same essence particularly in those eyes. They strongly resemble yours in youth."

Matthias raised an eyebrow in mild surprise at these words. Though he had occasionally noted similarities between Friedrich and his late biological son Rudolf, he had never considered any resemblance to himself.

"Hahaha! That look tells me you'd never considered it before… Though Claudia and I may favor him, it seems Friedrich's reputation among the commonfolk won't improve overnight. Lately I've been passing time listening to reports of public sentiment, the rumors about him are quite something, aren't they?"

"I've no intention of concerning myself with common gossip, Your Majesty. But if you command it, I shall act to dispel these rumors."

Matthias was well aware of how the people freely speculated about Friedrich and his adoption.

"No need for such troublesome measures. Commoners will always gossip about their betters. Why, because I've been absent from public life so long, some even whisper I'm already in my grave! Truly, my subjects are an irreverent lot."

Sigismund said this with joking tone, drawing a wry smile from Matthias.

The king's illness had been deliberately kept unannounced, a necessity when his collapse had coincided with Arelia's invasion of Myurei Kingdom.

The small kingdom of Myurei would likely not hold out much longer. Once conquered, the eastern kingdoms including Edelstein would surely be next. It was this calculation that had led Sigismund to conceal his illness.

A King's death and the subsequent succession inevitably created vulnerabilities, however well-prepared the transition. Allowing the Arelian Kingdom to exploit this moment for a full-scale invasion was unthinkable.

Hence the current strategy, even permitting irreverent rumors of the king's supposed death served to sow confusion among their enemies.

"...Yet soon enough, those rumors will become truth. I will die, and Claudia will succeed me. My era finally draws to a close."

"A most regrettable prospect, Your Majesty."

"Regrettable? If anything, I'm relieved to avoid a protracted decline. Many kings tarnish their legacies in old age through senile misrule, at least I'm spared that worry."

Matthias recognized this as no empty bravado. He knew Sigismund's character too well.

The "Wise King Sigismund" and the "Hero Matthias"—so they were called. As king and loyal retainer, they had shaped their age together.

The great war against the Loire Kingdom had cemented their legacies. Back then, many had doubted the revolutionary brigade system. But the young, brilliant, and adaptable Matthias had grasped its potential better than anyone. He wielded its strengths masterfully to claim victory after victory on the battlefield.

That was why Sigismund had exalted him. The king had proclaimed Matthias' talents and courage far and wide in the royal name, celebrating every triumph until the commander became a living legend, a hero who kept winning long after the war.

Yet that was nearly twenty years past. The youthful general had reached his prime, while illness left Sigismund barely able to wear his crown in public.

Kings too are mortal. The sun that illuminated Sigismund's era now neared its setting, soon to make way for a new dawn.

"Passing from the stage isn't so bad. Don't you agree, Matthias?"

Matthias gave a quiet nod to Sigismund's question. Now he understood, no, shared his king's perspective. For Matthias too had found someone to carry his legacy forward.

Footnotes: 

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