The Traitorous Prince

Improver.ent

"Congratu lations, Lord!"

"Congratulations!"

"As expected of the Lord!"

Silver-haired boys and girls shouted with excitement.

“…”

Canis did not answer, but scratched his chin.

Inside Canis' barracks, the guards were equipping him with his armor,

Clack! Clack!

The black wolf armor was making a metallic sound.

“…”

Canis was still lost in thought, clenching the gauntlets in his hands.

"In the end, it was us, the Third Corps, that took the capital of Eindel out of the seven corps of Brunhilt! It's the Wolf Corps!"

"I'm sure the Emperor will be very happy!"

"The war is over now! It's Brunhilt's victory!"

While the guards were chatting with excitement, Canis was lost in thought, staring straig ht ahead with coldlyfaded eyes. It was then.

One of the guards shouted with a big smile:

"I can't believe you succeeded in taking the royal capital! Maybe it's a better achievement than the 'Crown Prince'!"

"Hey!"

Canis roared.

"Ack!"

Surprised, the guards all closed their mouths and lined up in an attentive position.

"Be careful what you say. Don't you dare compare me to the Crown Prince."

"I-I'm sorry..."

The guard bowed his head. The other guards were sweating profusely.

“…”

Canis clenched his mouth as he attached his short cloak to his shoulder armor.

'The Crown Prince, my lord. Eindel surrendered, the war is over.'

Canis murmured inwardly, recalling the beautiful and noble crown prince's back.

'What are we going to do now? When this war is over, we... What will happen?'

“…”

The crown prince was far away.

It will not be too late to ask this question after everything had been sorted out, Canis, who put his sword on his back and finally wore his helmet with a wolf's head carved on it, left the barracks.

The guards followed and lined up in front of the barracks.

"Oh~ Canis!"

Huey was waiting on a horse first. His smirk and laughter were deeply disturbing to see.

"Don't you look better with the decorations, Dragon Knight?"

To Huey's flattery, Canis responded with a smirk.

"You look great too, Huey. Especially with the chains wrapped around your body."

"Oh, really? Do you like it? Shall we make it the new fashion trend?"

Huey twitched his upper body from side to side. The chain rattled in accordance for the movement.

He was a peculiarly insane guy, anyway. Canis chuckled involuntarily and jumped on his horse. It was a horse in wolf armor like his own.

After stroking the horse's neck, Canis looked back and shouted.

"Only the supply units remain here to protect the camp, and the entire army follows!"

"Yes!"

The guards all mounted on their horses at once. Canis and Huey took the lead, followed by them.

The 2,000 men of the 3rd Corps of the Brunhilt Empire, who had been waiting early, slowly began to march.

A small number of people guarding the camp lined up behind and watched the advance. The general unit also had heard the news of Eindel's surrender, and the atmosphere was quite relaxed. The soldiers could not hide the smile on their faces. The war was over, and they had won.

Was there any more exciting news for soldiers on an expedition?

“…”

Canis had thought about raising the awareness of the soldiers, but he did not feel the need to do so.

He touched his frown with his hand, His eyelids were heavy.

Tm tired...'

His blood had cooled down and had not warmed up yet.

He had to sleep two more days to recover from fatigue, but he felt heavy because he woke up less than a day. He was not in his best condition yet. What if they were attacked by an enemy in this situation?

Canis glanced at Huey next to him.

"Hmmm~!"

Huey was humming, apparently satisfied with his condition of a surrendered prince.

“…”

Huey 'Star Seeker' Eindel.

After years of confrontation with Huey on the northern front, Canis knew Huey well,

He would sell his soul to the devil for victory.

Maybe this surrender was a trap, too. Some vicious plot may have been hidden behind that carefree face. But.

"Hmm!"

When he touched the handle of the sword strapped to his back, Ca nis' confidence soared. A trap? A trick? A scheme?

There was no need to worry.

Canis had confidence, Above all, he had trust.

The power of one god,

No matter what kind of trap this damn traitorous prince had set, he was confident of getting everything sorted out. That much power was in his hands. And the power was not weak enough to fade because of his poor condition or because the soldiers were a little careless.

"Come on~ Let's go!"

Huey took the lead, shouting cheerfully.

"To celebrate the victory of the Brunhilt Empire!"

“…”

And most of a II, itwasjust as Huey had said.

The odds were stacked against the Kingdom of Eindel.

The war was over - with the victory of the Brunhilt Empire.

* * *

The capital of the Kingdom of Eindel, Eindelgrass, was a beautiful city. In the endless field, where one could see the blue sea from afar, there was a white farmland.

Passing through this vast and fertile plain, one would find a beautiful ivory castle. Going inside after passing through the high wall, one would find Eindelgrass. This outer fortress area, where the common people lived, was the commercial center of the area, and was free, bustling, and colorful.

Going further inside across the outer fortress, there was an absurdly high proportion of pure white.

This inner area, where the priests, aristocrats, and royalty resided, was where 500 years of the Eindel culture were compiled.

The temple of the splendid Anghelan religion, the Grand Library, which increased the number of books every year, and the simple but dignified court were well-balanced, And in the heart was the palace.

"This palace is so funny, it's been going up since its foundation!"

Passing through the outer fortress area and heading to the inner entrance, Huey, who was leading the way, talked and explained.

"Hey, can you see it's still under construction? They've been raising that tower for hundreds of years. So, each floor has a slightly different style, Even with a few floors difference, the times have changed!"

It was magnificent - indeed, a magnificent palace.

It was a palace mixed with various styles and colors because it had been built over many years. However, it was not distracted at all and harmonized into one.

The royal palace, which is subtly red in the evening, was still quite far away, but I could feel the power just by looking at it from afar.

"Wow..."

Canis' guards exclaimed,

Even Canis was deeply impressed by the beautiful palace, which was the essence of the architectural technology of the Kingdom of Eindel.

Huey, who was explaining as if he were a tour guide, smiled satisfactorily at their reaction.

"Hey, Canis, how's Brunhilt's palace?"

"Hmm?"

When Huey asked, poking him in the ribs, pretending to be close to him, Canis briefly recalled his home town.

"Our Empire's architectural techniques are practical. Everything was developed to be extremely functional. It's a cold and desolate country."

"The spiky, elongated style?"

"Haha! Right. But our capital is also a very beautiful place."

Canis grinned and slapped Huey on the back.

"Come visit me some day, Huey! Well, if you come, you'll be more like a hostage."

Huey, who almost fell off his horse, managed to regain his position and giggled,

"Hehe! Would a guy like me be worth to be a hostage?"

"Of course."

Canis stared at Huey with serious eyes,

"In the Empire, there are people who want to see you, Huey."

"Oh my, do I even have a fan club in Brunhilt? Such popularity~!"

Huey laughed, but a cold sweat ran down his spine. Obviously, not everyone wanted to see him with good feelings, Huey, Canis, the guards, and 2,000 soldiers passed the main road toward the inner entrance.

The outer area was empty. Even in the midst of a war, there were likely to be a few citizens, but not a single ant could be seen.

No, looking back, there was not a single human shadow on the farmland outside the outer walls,

Canis tilted his head,

"Where did all the citizens go?"

"Well, we're at war, Everyone must have evacuated."

Huey beckoned for the collapsed building and the smashed road.

"How could they not run away when you made such a mess?"

"Haha, I'm sorry about that."

Canis reached out and grabbed a fallen tree with his hand, and pulled it up at once.

"If you had surrendered earlier, we wouldn't have destroyed such a beautiful city."

"Now that we've surrendered, you won't break anything more, will you?"

"Of course. All of this has valuable cultural value."

Canis had a refreshing smile.

"The culture of a vassal country belongs to the Empire, so the Empire naturally respects it."

He had the face of a conqueror that would never stop.

“…”

A vassal country.

At the unfamiliar words, Huey briefly repeated them in his head.

A vassal country, a vassal country...

* * *

The group entered the inner fortress.

The beautiful buildings that they had seen in the distance were now spread out in front of them. Canis' young guards were now completely silent.

The colorful culture of the rich South was stimulating for boys and girls from the North.

Stepping on the neat five-colored tiles, the party advanced toward the palace.

"...?"

Canis, who was intoxicated by the victor's mood, suddenly felt a sense of incongruity. There was no one else.

There were no people in the inner area either. Not a single footstep could be heard from the beautiful stone buildings, let alone people.

They looked empty.

Were all the citizens of the defeated capital hiding while holding their breath?

“…”

Canis squinted his eyes.

"Hey, Canis!"

Then Huey poked Canis in the side again.

"So now the Kingdom of Eindel will serve the Brunhilt Empire?"

"Huh? Yes, that's right."

"Then Brunhilt will interfere in Eindel's internal affairs, right?"

"I think so?"

"Well, then, who will Brunhilt decide to be Eindel's next king?"

Canis burst into laughter when he noticed what Huey was trying to say. Huey grinned and clung to Canis.

"Can you let me be the next king? We know each other, huh? Yes?"

"Hahahaha! Hey, Huey. It's not something I can do, you know?"

Canis, who pulled Huey off, beckoned east.

"It's not me, but our Crown Prince who will decide."

"Hmm? The Crown Prince?"

"Oh, you don't know. Three years ago, when you disappeared from the front line, he was made Crown Prince."

Canis shrugged as he recalled his proud lord,

"Breaking Eindel's northern defenses and destroying Eindel haIf a year after the outbreak of the war are all thanks to the command of the Crown Prince."

Huey's complexion changed slightly.

Indeed, was this extraordinary advance of Brunhilt influenced by the change of commander?

"He's the next Emperor, so show him respect. Who knows? If you flatter him a little, I wonder if he'll give you the throne."

"Whoa, really..."

Huey grinned, His red eyes flashed insidiously.

"I'll risk my life to look good."

The group arrived at the royal palace.

Canis left his soldiers and half of the guards at the entrance to the palace, and only the other haIf of the guards entered with him. Huey led the way.

"Come on, come on in~ Don't be shy~! Please do as if it were your own house!"

“…”

"You are the winners~! This palace is yours, too! Walk comfortably and come in!!"

Walking on the golden carpet, Canis looked around with his keen eyes. No one.

There was no one there either,

There were no guards and no servants in the royal palace. This was weird.

"Hey, Huey."

"What?"

"Why is there no one in the palace?"

Huey giggled. His face looked calm.

"Oh, that's normal! It's because everyone is preparing to entertain the victorious brave Canis and his troops. There are two thousands of you! Isn't it normal to prepare for a welcome?"

“…”

"Come on, don't frown like that, The war is over, and it's a happy day, isn't it?"

After a long walk through the long corridor and into the palace, the group arrived in front of the throne room.

Huey opened the door with a grin.

"Let's meet the King of Eindel first and enjoy the party afterwards!"

They entered the throne room, Huey exclaimed,

"Hey, Father! I've brought Lord Canis here! Are you ready for the reception?"

Inside the brightly lit room, there was a colorful jade throne wrapped in a golden veil,

Canis bowed his head to show respect to the king, walked toward the center of the room, and slowly raised his head.

Then he opened his eyes wide,

With the veil hung over the throne, he could not see from afar, but now that he could look closely, the throne was empty.

There was no one inside the throne room either, Canis got goosebumps on his back.

"Hey, Huey! What is this..."

Before Canis could say anything, Huey ran in the room and reach the throne! And he sat down.

He buried his back in the throne, crossed his legs, and savored the touch of the throne with his whole body.

"Ta-da! Everyone, nice to meet you! I am the 23rd king of the Kingdom of Eindel!"

Huey spoke cheerfully.

"It's going to be... Huey 'Star Seeker' Eindel here~!"

But Father is still alive... Whispering, Huey rolled up the corners of his mouth.

"My friends?"

He had a black, devilish smile.

"Welcome to your graves."

Bang!

The next moment, the door to the throne room was closed behind Canis and the guards. The lights went out all at once.

Darkness engulfed the throne room.