Hyakuren no Haou to Seiyaku no Valkyria - Volume 23 - Chapter Ep

EPILOGUE

Nozomu could honestly say that he was on cloud nine right now. After an entire month of persuasion, Ephelia had agreed to marry him at last. Since she was still concerned about the difference in age and social status between them, it was merely as a concubine. Still, he’d managed to achieve something he’d dreamed about since childhood—the woman he cared about the most was now his. “With this, I can die happy,” he thought.

“You finally made Ephy your wife, huh? Way to go, Nozomu.” His father Yuuto clapped him on the back.

“I’m surprised. I knew you weren’t opposed, but I didn’t think you’d go as far as to congratulate me.”

“Why would I not? I’ve known Ephy since she was a little kid. She’s a good girl.”

“Hmph.”

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“It pisses me off that you’ve known her longer than I have.”

By the time Nozomu had gotten to know her, Ephelia was already an adult. He didn’t know what she’d been like as a child, yet there was a man right in front of him who did. He simply couldn’t let that stand—even if that man was his own father.

“Ha ha ha! C’mon now, there’s no need to be jealous!” his father guffawed, whacking him on the back repeatedly. “There are plenty of things about Ephy only you know about, right? Relax!”

“I don’t like the fact that another man is calling my wife ‘Ephy’ either.”

“Oh, give me a break. You’ve heard me call her that all this time, but now that you’ve claimed her, it’s a no-go? You’re pettier than I thought.”

“Well, excuse me,” Nozomu replied with a scowl. “Sorry I can’t be as generous as you,” he added silently.

Conversing with his father like this often reminded him of how inferior he was in comparison. He couldn’t understand how his father managed to carry himself with such dignity, be so open-minded, and remain so composed regardless of what may lay before him. Though he knew in his heart his father was someone he should emulate, he didn’t think for a second that he could. They may have been close with each other at a glance, but in reality, they were worlds apart—somewhere Nozomu could never reach.

“...Hey, dad. How can I be more like you?” Nozomu asked.

“What, you just got married and you’re already wanting advice on how to build a harem?” Yuuto replied.

“Hell no! There’s no one for me but Ephy! I’m not a womanizer like you!” The fact that his father didn’t understand only stoked his anger further. Really though, this was most likely just another example of his father’s open-mindedness, but that didn’t matter right now. “As much as I hate to admit it, I still have a hard time keeping my cool. The slightest things rattle me, and I’m aware that I’m quick to jump the gun. I know that if I don’t change, it’ll be bad for me down the line.”

“I see.” His father’s jovial, carefree expression instantly became serious. After taking a bit to think it over, he spoke again. “I suppose you are getting to that point in life where you start questioning yourself. I did too when I was your age.”

“Really? I can’t imagine that.”

“Well, a lot’s happened, let’s just say.” His father gave a bitter smile and shrugged.

“Then tell me all of it. I need to know, as the future þjóðann.”

“Nozomu, I’ve told you before, you don’t have to succeed me if you don’t want to.” His father’s face clouded over, becoming apologetic. It was the same face he’d always adopted whenever this topic came up—the face of one not wanting to saddle their child with their own burdens. Indeed, Nozomu found it irritating that he was fated to inherit the pressure of being the þjóðann, but despite his complaints, he’d already resigned himself to it.

“It’s not like I want to, but I’m the only one who can, right? If I don’t, there’s probably gonna be a war.”

“...I suppose.” After a pause, his father reluctantly agreed.

Back when his thoughts were only occupied with marrying Ephelia, he’d talked about having one of his siblings take the position instead, but the truth was he’d always known that it could be no one but him. None of the others possessed the blood of the þjóðann, after all.

“But are you really okay with that?” his father asked.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m okay with it or not. I’m your eldest son, and I don’t want to see my younger brothers and sisters getting into a bloodbath with each other.”

At the moment, all his siblings got along. However, power could distort people. He wasn’t naïve enough to think that when it was time for him to succeed his father as þjóðann, their relations would remain just as they always had. And even if none of his siblings had any interest, their peers could still manipulate them into making their claims to the throne. That was the one thing he wanted to avoid above all else.

“I see. I’m always saddling burden after burden upon you. For that, I’m truly sorry.”

“Saying stuff like that is why you’re weird, dad. Anyone else would say I should be happy to become þjóðann.”

“If it was as easy as just throwing your weight around, perhaps I would.” With a dry laugh, his father smiled wearily. The public regarded him as and feared him as a tyrant, and he was known as a peerless war god on the battlefield, but right now, Nozomu couldn’t see a trace of that in his father.

Just then, an out-of-breath soldier burst into the room. The situation was clearly abnormal. Kneeling on the spot, the soldier shouted, “Y-Your Majesty, we’ve got trouble! Frontier commander Babel has gone rogue! He’s amassed an army and means to overthrow Your Majesty!”

“Huh?!”

In direct contrast with Nozomu’s shocked yelp, his father’s eyes only narrowed slightly. As he thought, there was no way he’d ever be able to emulate that level of composure.

“Wh-What’s more, Adviser Jörgen has turned coat!” the soldier further explained. “He has chosen to fight alongside Babel’s men!”

“Wh-Whaaaat?!” The shock of this new development made Nozomu shout out without any regard for appearances. There was no way that could be true—wasn’t Jörgen supposed to be one of his father’s most trusted and loyal retainers since the days of the Wolf Clan?! The very same person who’d often regaled Nozomu himself with tales of his father’s exploits?!

“Jörgen did, huh? That happened sooner than I’d expected,” Yuuto said coolly.

Even in the face of such grim news, his father didn’t even so much as flinch, instead giving a small sigh. His face expressionless, he spoke in a cold voice.

“Gather the troops. We’ll crush Babel and Jörgen’s rebellion into dust.”

To be continued...