WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Arsène
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Romance Fantasy’s Pushover Crown Prince Is No More ◈
Chapter 76: Imperial Garrison (2)
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Four days had already passed since Ailoren began wasting time staring blankly at the World Tree.
Ailoren had regained his senses just before Bellon went underground to resolve Pavan’s Covenant.
From the time the Covenant was resolved until now, with the Blue Flame Knights being dispatched to the Great Forest, Ailoren had spent every moment staring endlessly at the World Tree.
“...Hah.”
“To think I cherished a human I had never even met and planned to send the World Tree to her.”
“That’s right. I knew something was strange, but I never dreamed it was the wicked sorcery of humans.”
Only the wording differed. Everything Ailoren said was much the same.
Similar questions and similar answers.
This had already happened hundreds of times, yet Ailoren kept asking the same questions and seeking the same answers.
“I can’t believe it. I... I tried to offer the World Tree to a human.”
Ailoren did not hate humans. He simply considered them inferior.
Just as dogs were naturally inferior to humans, Ailoren viewed humans through similar logic.
And yet he had been toyed with by such humans.
“And as if that weren’t enough, I was even saved by one.”
“...Ailoren, you are the finest among the High Elves, yet you went berserk. In a way, it was only natural. Besides, we are not a race accustomed to battle.”
“We have strayed too far from battle. As I recall, our distant ancestors were sufficiently strong.”
What defined strength?
In a sense, the Elves of today were probably much stronger than their distant ancestors.
Yet if those ancestors fought the Elves of today, the modern Elves would be slaughtered miserably every time.
During the age when the world was in chaos, the Elves’ cruelty and capacity for slaughter had far exceeded imagination.
“...Have we grown too complacent? Have we trusted the past and lived in the arrogance that no one could touch us?”
Ailoren lowered his head deeply.
Even if he had been controlled, he had nearly ruined the entire Elf race with his own hands.
He could not forgive himself.
Part of him wanted to atone to everyone through death, but he could not do that.
He had to repay the debt of being saved.
“Have you been well, Ailoren?”
As Ailoren was lost in those thoughts, the voice of his benefactor sounded from behind him.
“...I greet the Empire’s Little Sun.”
Ailoren turned around and greeted the Imperial Crown Prince according to Imperial etiquette.
“You don’t need to be so formal. From what I hear, someone of your standing among the High Elves holds a position equal to mine.”
“Even if our positions are equal, how could I treat my benefactor casually?”
“Don’t you consider humans an inferior race?”
“The fact that I was saved remains unchanged. My values until now cannot alter that truth.”
“Good.”
After learning that he had been brainwashed by a human, Ailoren felt immense disgust toward humans.
Even so, he could not show that to the Imperial Crown Prince.
High Elves were a noble race.
Nobility did not mean holding one’s head high no matter the place or situation.
It meant being careful, dignified, and worthy in one’s words and actions.
Humans might disgust him, but Ailoren resolved to show the Imperial Crown Prince every courtesy.
“With that attitude, you must have already read the letter I sent.”
“Imperial forces will be dispatched to the Great Forest, and I am to remain there. If Mirne appears, I am to report it immediately. Is that correct?”
“You read it properly.”
The knight order’s deployment to deter war was merely a surface-level reason.
The Blue Flame Knights had settled in the Great Forest to watch Mirne.
From now on, the Imperial Knights would preemptively secure areas where Mirne was likely to make a move.
They would turn those places into Imperial territory and wait for her there.
For that reason, the first places to receive the Imperial Garrison would be near kingdoms believed to have Nonhuman Races.
“Can you do it?”
“...To begin with, I wanted to meet her as well. I’m curious what kind of woman she is, to have made me this way.”
“Even if you’re brainwashed again the moment you meet her?”
“If that happens, could you save me again? I ask that of you.”
Ailoren answered Bellon, then gave a faint laugh, as though even he found himself ridiculous.
“Since you say that, I suppose being brainwashed again is a foregone conclusion.”
“It can’t be helped. You’re meant to feel affection for her.”
“Is that so?”
“You won’t ask why?”
“I’ll meet Mirne first while I’m in my right mind... then learn more afterward. Wouldn’t it trouble Your Highness if I heard it now and began to hesitate?”
Bellon nodded, apparently deeply satisfied with Ailoren’s answer.
“That’s right, exactly right... You really are the best fit for Gardener No. 1.”
“A gardener, you say?”
“Yes, you know, the World Tree...”
“...”
Ailoren had remained calm even while hearing about Mirne.
Yet he seemed unwilling to hear the cold truth that would follow and lowered his head.
“...Your Highness, please, please protect the pride of our race. Do you truly think that makes any sense? No matter how... No, even if it does make sense... I don’t wish to know the details.”
“...”
Bellon was overcome with complicated feelings as he looked at Ailoren, whose head was lowered.
‘You shouldn’t have lowered your head.’
If Ailoren had turned his back instead, he would not have seen the details.
“Ah.”
What came into view when Ailoren lowered his head was...
A root from the World Tree wrapped around Bellon’s ankle.
It was not simply wrapped around him. It clung to him so obviously that anyone could see it.
That alone would have been shocking enough, but then Bellon carelessly kicked away the root wrapped around him.
Shudder.
The World Tree’s roots convulsed before Ailoren’s eyes.
The cruel truth he had wanted to look away from was finally carved into Ailoren’s mind.
“Your Highness, the World Tree is the symbol of our race, an existence that cannot be exchanged for anything else, and is known as the most noble...”
“I understand. I understand, so you don’t need to continue.”
“...You must respect the Elves. We Elves specialize in Spirits and magic, can live for long years, and possess knowledge of nature...”
“...”
Unlike Ailoren, who was panicking, the World Tree shook its roots wildly in satisfaction.
Plop.
The World Tree spat a single seed from the tip of one of its roots.
A seed meant to replace the World Tree that had vanished from the Great Forest.
Ailoren carefully picked it up, his expression still complicated.
“I will... I will definitely complete my mission successfully.”
He placed the seed in his palm and gazed at it with great care.
+++++
“Phew... I finally have a little breathing room.”
My days had been incredibly busy.
I sent peace proposals to places likely to receive the Imperial Garrison.
Then I sought permission from the kingdoms so they could stay comfortably.
I checked Pavan’s condition, the Academy’s construction, and the Mana Stone Train’s progress.
After making my way through all that work, I finally felt like I could breathe.
Of course, there were still two Covenants that needed to be resolved.
And rather than actual rest, this felt more like waiting for Mirne to appear in the Great Forest.
Still, moments like this were rare, which made them precious.
‘In Rumta’s case, things will probably progress after Pavan wakes up. Gilbat is busy right now... and I’ve never even spoken to the remaining Executioner.’
The Covenants were progressing one at a time, so there was no reason to rush.
It wasn’t as if I was putting everything off just because five years remained.
If I resolved each one at this pace, it felt like things would work out.
Crack.
I stretched with relief.
“Arveda used to be the only one in my room. Now it feels natural to have you here too.”
I looked at Rowena, the Saintess, who was sitting stiffly while drinking tea in my bedroom.
The Dragon Princess was rolling around on my bed, while the Saintess had practically settled in for tea.
I didn’t know when the Imperial Crown Prince’s room had become such a free-spirited place.
“If it makes you uncomfortable... I’ll leave.”
“No. Resting like this isn’t bad, so it’s fine.”
That didn’t mean I found it uncomfortable.
If anything, it was nice having people around.
The Imperial Crown Prince’s room was enormous to begin with.
Having two or three people here made it feel somewhat full.
“Your Highness, I... ahem. I can pray for Your Highness as well.”
“Suddenly?”
“Yes...!”
Arveda spoke while looking at me, but then glanced at Rowena, who was awkwardly drinking tea.
I had no idea why Arveda was paying so much attention to her.
“Your Highness, the Saintess’s prayers are still the best. If Your Highness permits it, I would like to visit your chambers every morning... and grant Your Highness a blessing every day.”
“...Wouldn’t that tire you out?”
“It’s all right.”
Her awkwardness was gone.
Rowena looked at me directly, making it clear that she truly wished to do so.
The moment Arveda saw that, she suddenly raised her voice.
“Your Highness, I will remain by your side! I will bring my bed! I will stay right beside Your Highness! Twenty-four-hour close protection!!!”
“Wait, wait. I, Staff No. 1, can’t be left out of such a conversation! I have quietly watched until now, but if this is a competition of loyalty... it makes no sense for Theo to be excluded!”
Theo, who had silently watched the situation, joined the chaotic conversation as well.
Perhaps this was what peace was like inside an Empire that still had around a twenty percent chance of being destroyed in five years.
Just as I continued that thought and considered taking a nap, the report I had been waiting for arrived through the artifact Theo had made.
“Your Highness! This is the Commander of the Blue Flame Knights. I have a report! A delegation from the Macelin Kingdom has arrived in the Verdantia Kingdom!”
‘You’re late, Mirne.’
I had already claimed the World Tree.
And waiting for you would not be the World Tree, but furious Elves.
Footnotes:
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