Chapter 100

When I mentioned that I had been raised under house arrest, General Wagris's expression gradually turned stern.

"…………Why did you agree to this deployment?"

"Because it was the most convenient option."

Even if it means playing into the enemy's hands, if there's a benefit, I might as well go along with it.

I don't have any other choice.

"Whose convenience is it?"

"Mine."

General Wagris's breathing became heavy.

He seems angry, but I don't care.

They say I'm causing trouble with the military operation, but I need them to separate their personal feelings from their duties.

After all, I am a soldier serving the country.

If you have complaints, you should have stopped the dukes who decided to use me, instead of coming to me here.

It's only natural to be caught up in the division of responsibilities.

That's what politics is, the clash of people's intentions.

This is my experience of being caught up in everything and being on the back foot.

"You……!"

"Wait, Ikt, there's someone outside."

Sefira warned me that someone was watching us.

No one usually comes near my tent, and most of the people around are porters.

Military officers and even the guards don't come unless they have a reason.

Since Sefira said it was someone Ikt would recognize, I decided to have him check it out.

"Excuse me, Prince Asha. There's someone I'd like you to hear from."

Ikt soon returned with a familiar young man.

"What, why is he here!?"

I couldn't help but ask.

Because this young man was someone I had seen in the palace, a gardener's apprentice.

The gardener's apprentice blushed at the sound of my voice.

"What about your gardening job? Did something happen?"

"No, nothing like that, um, I'm just surprised you remembered me……hehe."

After all, I had seen him so many times while gathering alchemy materials and spices for wine.

"The gardening is fine. I'm not fighting with my master or anything. I'll return after the deployment. Actually, when I heard that the First Prince was deploying, I thought I could do something. My master is old, and the others have families. So, I thought I could go as a single, young man."

It seems he joined the deployment for my sake.

I was surprised because we only exchanged words, and I didn't do anything special for him.

"Even so, I could only work as a porter. Um……"

The apprentice looked at General Wagris, seeming hesitant to speak.

I also looked in that direction and was glared at.

Is he scared?

Or is there something he finds hard to say to General Wagris?

"Ikt?"

"It's a tip about the rebellion of the guards we were just talking about."

"Wha, what? You're going to say it?"

The apprentice was flustered, looking back and forth between the cool Ikt and General Wagris.

"Ah, it's okay. We were just talking about it."

"Is that so? I'm sorry for interrupting."

"Don't apologize. I was also just learning about it and was short on information."

He seemed to regain his composure.

"In that case……"

The apprentice said that the porters were being invited to join the rebellion.

Apparently, I was causing trouble with the military operation.

Because of this, the plans weren't going as scheduled, and there was a risk of being sent to a dangerous place at any moment.

The deployment was to get me out of the capital and prevent my return, as I had a bad reputation.

Eliminating me wouldn't be a problem, and if the prince died, the deployment would lose its meaning, and they could return.

So, they considered this a righteous uprising for the country.

"Really! What a load of nonsense! If the First Prince is being selfish, what about the noble officials who are harassing him!"

"Calm down, calm down. Um, did they say something about me getting special treatment? I tried not to cause any trouble."

"That's fine! Actually, not giving the emperor's son a single flower in the emperor's garden is ridiculous, right?"

It seems he had a lot of pent-up frustration.

I should talk to the gardeners when I return, or maybe investigate who's behind it first.

"Right, the guards are the priority now. If it's reached the porters, it won't be contained by just putting the guards under house arrest."

"If they rebel, those without rank will be executed immediately."

General Wagris said this mercilessly.

The highest punishment in this country is the death penalty, but it's rarely used.

However, the military is different.

With the military in action, it means the battle is near, and they need to be in step.

To deter desertion and set an example, they are willing and allowed to execute on the spot.

It's a necessary measure and part of the difficulty of fighting.

I learned this from Helkoff.

"Our group isn't involved!"

The apprentice hurriedly defended.

"The First Prince gave medicine to some of us, and those who were attacked by bandits were deeply moved by the military's help."

"By the way, which rank of the guards came to invite you?"

Vearel asked a practical question, but the apprentice was at a loss.

"I'm not sure about the rank, but they were also commoners. They said the higher-ups were angry and willing to go along with it, and that even the general would think I'm in the way and wouldn't punish us."

"Don't be ridiculous. Just because I'm in the way doesn't mean I'll break military discipline. Rebellion is a major crime. If they do it, I'll send them back to the capital quickly!"

General Wagris, who admitted to being in the way, didn't seem to mind.

After all, it's mutual.

The guards are the elite among soldiers.

However, the military also needs those who handle miscellaneous tasks, so there are commoner soldiers called porters in the guard.

I thought the guards, who have a sense of privilege as direct servants of the emperor, were the ones behind this, but it seems they were using the porters.

"Will everyone really be executed?"

"No, they won't. The guards are under my jurisdiction, and I knew about the rebellion in advance. There's no reason to execute them if I can stop it."

Despite my reassurance, the apprentice still looked worried and hesitated before asking.

"……Is that okay for the First Prince? Do you still have to endure even after leaving the palace?"

"It's not about enduring, but about the role. You also follow someone in the garden who you have complaints about, right? It's part of the job, and you know you have a role to play, right?"

I explained to the apprentice, thinking out loud.

"The guards are borrowed from the emperor. If I punish them for a mistake, it will be seen as a flaw of the emperor. His power as an emperor will be questioned. As a prince, I can't be the one to start that."

The apprentice looked down, seemingly regretting his question.

If raising my voice and getting angry could solve the problem, I would do it.

But I know that worse problems would follow, so I can't act rashly.

"……So it's for your father?"

At General Wagris's words, I was taken aback.

I know the word "father," and I called someone that in my previous life, but this is the first time since my reincarnation, and the person is the emperor.

It made me feel strangely uneasy.

As I was surprised, General Wagris turned away and continued.

"They are serious and have gathered numbers. Even if the porters don't join, the armed rebels outnumber them. They've already moved beyond the stage of just recruiting. What do you intend to do?"

I thought it was just a few people planning, but they've already decided to act and are recruiting.

Moreover, the porters mentioned the higher-ups, and the secret talks in the toilet were with the higher-ranking officers.

Someone who can command the guards is arming themselves.

If I don't take clear action, it will damage my reputation as a prince.

And General Wagris, who is looking to me for a decision, seems to understand that I won't insist on my own way this time.

Regular update

Next: General and the Step in Line 5