Genard could not accept the sudden change in circumstances, and fell into panic.
Yuri Briol, who was known to have collapsed, had reappeared.
With Fiore gone, the friction between the Empire and Briol had effectively ended in the Empire's victory, and so Genard had been basking in the feeling of triumph for a while.
He believed he had aligned himself with the right side. Even if Briol encountered trouble, the wealth of the Jetherie family would continue.
But then, early in the morning, a messenger came running in haste, bringing news that was hard to believe.
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"The 3rd Prince has arrived. He's entering the territory right now."
"When did he wake up? This is…"
Up to that point, he didn't feel a great sense of crisis.
He had thought that someday, they might clash again.
"How many did he bring?"
"Well, in total, about thirty men…"
"He really has no sense of fear, does he."
Genard spoke without hesitation.
The boldness Yuri had shown on the battlefield was widely known. People called him brave, but Genard dismissed it as nothing more than a lack of fear.
He was not a man with the broad-mindedness to acknowledge someone who was at odds with him.
"Only thirty men. Did he think he could do something to me, Genard Jetherie, with that?"
"Well, the 3rd Prince's skill is said to be remarkable…"
"Enough."
He said,
"Gather the knights and have them stand by. And send some to keep harassing the 3rd Prince so he can't pull any tricks. Does he even know where he is…"
"Yes, sir!"
Genard thought that would be the end of it. Yuri Briol's skills might be impressive, but he commanded far more knights. He believed he could easily subdue thirty or so knights.
He recalled the humiliation he had suffered at the hands of the 3rd Prince before.
"This time…"
Genard grinned.
It seemed he still thought things were the same as when Fiore was alive, but he would personally show just how ruthless power could be.
His loyalty to Briol had been because of Fiore's military might.
But now, Fiore is gone.
The Empire had taken Bezos.
In such a situation, to believe that he would still show the same courtesy just because Yuri was a prince of Briol was far too naive.
Genard, savoring the memory of that past humiliation, said,
"That naked thunderhead will soon learn how ruthless the world can be."
Now there was no monstrous father to watch the boy's back. He would return that humiliation in full.
Genard hummed to himself as he waited.
Then, another piece of news came.
Yuri Briol had defeated all the knights who tried to block him, and was continuing to advance.
Genard grew irritated.
"What are those knights doing? Can't they handle that brat?"
"They say the 3rd Prince was stronger than expected."
"Even so, there are only thirty of them."
Genard said,
"He might even make it here."
"Shall we gather more troops, just in case?"
"Hmmm…"
Genard fell into thought.
If he mobilized all the forces scattered throughout Euzeth, he could even wage war against a small nation, but it would take time for them to gather.
Besides, it was unthinkable that the 3rd Prince could break through all the knights of Euzeth and reach him.
And yet, Genard felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
So he said,
"Fine, gather them."
"Yes, sir!"
"Let's just think of it as checking up on the men for once."
And he waited.
He sipped his tea leisurely, but his attention kept drifting toward the 3rd Prince without him realizing it. Genard periodically asked where the boy was.
Then, the 3rd Prince reached the castle where he resided.
Genard locked the castle gates and deployed his troops.
"What can thirty men do? Hahaha…"
He muttered to himself, forcing a positive interpretation of the situation. Even so, he couldn't rest easy, so he moved to a spot overlooking the castle gates to watch the scene.
There, his nemesis, Briol's 3rd Prince, Yuri Briol, was standing before the gates, saying something.
Though he couldn't make out the words from the distance, just catching sight of his form was enough to conjure up the 3rd Prince's characteristically arrogant expression.
Genard twisted his lips.
"Tsk, tsk…"
Up to that point, Genard still trusted his knights.
The number of knights within the castle alone exceeded two hundred.
Even at a rough count, they outnumbered Yuri's group by six to one, and if they scraped together every last one, perhaps even ten to one. Including regular soldiers, the difference was even greater.
It was not a gap that could be overcome.
"Hey."
"Yes, sir."
"Tell them not to go too far. He's still a prince, after all."
Genard grinned.
"So then…"
Before he could finish his sentence, something unexpected happened.
The 3rd Prince leapt up from where he stood, landing atop the castle wall. The sudden development left Genard momentarily dazed.
The wall was high.
And the 3rd Prince had been standing before the gates.
Castle walls were designed so that no human could scale them. Yet this 3rd Prince, as if to deny their very purpose, had so easily vaulted right to the top.
"What is this?"
Then he grabbed a nobleman and simply hurled him down from the wall. That cold decisiveness sent a chill of sweat down Genard's back.
"Wha… what is that… insane brat…"
"Duke."
"We have to stop him."
"I'll gather and deploy more knights."
"Are you saying the gates will be breached?"
"Just in case…"
His ominous premonition came true.
The 3rd Prince opened the gates and clashed with the knights. In the process, several of them fell dead in succession.
Genard, who had never trained in martial arts, could not comprehend what was happening. The knights he commanded were being knocked aside by the 3rd Prince with just a few moves.
It was like watching a fight between an adult and children.
"Why aren't they fighting properly? Are they scared just because he's a prince?"
At Genard's words, a knight beside him replied,
"Duke, the 3rd Prince's level seems to be far higher than we thought."
"What?"
"The difference is so great that it only looks like that."
"You're saying that brat is that strong?"
Of course, Genard had always known that he was strong for his age. But now, the ones he had sent forth were genuine knights who had trained with the sword their whole lives.
And yet these fully seasoned knights were being tossed aside like toys by that boy — it was something Genard could not understand.
"It seems he's far beyond what we expected. At this rate, perhaps…"
"Shut up! Quiet!"
Genard shouted.
"You weaklings!"
He was furious to his core.
The gates had opened far too easily. Shouldn't they at least have resisted with their lives? If they opened the gates so readily, what was to become of him?
He immediately gave orders to the knight.
"Stop him, no matter what. Use whatever means necessary!"
"Yes, sir."
"He's on his way here."
"I'll mobilize every knight in the castle."
Genard suppressed his anger and forced a smile.
"Yes, that's right. I told you to gather all of Euzeth's forces. Once they arrive, even if he's the 3rd Prince, there's nothing he can do. What can thirty men possibly accomplish."
But bad news kept arriving.
"Duke, the knights…"
"What is it!"
"They were defeated."
The messenger who brought the news kept his head bowed.
"With just one swing of his sword, a whirlwind rose, and their bodies were torn to shreds."
The knight guarding Genard's side muttered words he hadn't finished earlier.
"He's already one of the Ten Strongest…"
"What did you say?"
"There's no other explanation. He has already reached the Ten Strongest."
"How is that possible, huh?"
"He is the son of Fiore Briol. With that bloodline, it's not strange at all."
"Suddenly becoming one of the Ten Strongest…"
Cold sweat ran down Genard's face. He too knew what sort of beings the Ten Strongest were.
The Ten Strongest were monsters who could face entire armies alone.
He recalled Yuri Briol's detestable face, that brat who had harassed and oppressed him.
And now, that brat had become a powerful killer, a member of the Ten Strongest, and was once again invading his territory.
Grinding his teeth, he muttered,
"Why won't he just leave me alone…!"
Genard closed his eyes.
"Duke, you must quickly come up with a plan. There is no point in trying to stop him by force now."
"To think that just one man…"
"That one man is overwhelmingly strong."
"You worthless bastards. After taking so much money from me, you can't even stop one brat?"
"Duke…"
"You're no different. You worthless insect."
He spat out abuse.
"You sons of bitches…"
While cursing and swallowing his rage, Genard soon came to his senses.
He was greedy, but not a complete fool.
"Prepare my armor."
"Pardon?"
"I said, prepare my armor!"
Genard slapped the cheek of the servant standing dazed.
"Move quickly!"
"Y-yes!"
Genard panted as he worked his mind.
"If you put on armor…"
"I need to look resolute."
"Pardon?"
"Do you think if I begged for my life dressed like this, he'd even bat an eye? Humans aren't like that. If I wear armor and seriously defend myself, there's still a chance."
It was armor made to fit his massive body. He had purchased it for ceremonial purposes long ago, but had never properly worn it.
With help from those around him, he barely managed to don the armor. His figure was strangely comical, but Genard was serious.
"Duke, soon…"
Genard, sitting on the edge of the bed, did not answer.
His eyes were fixed on the bedroom door.
At last, the door opened.
Yuri Briol stepped inside, glancing around with a slanted smile. Then he strolled in leisurely.
"What are you doing right now?"
To Yuri's question, tinged with amusement, Genard replied,
"Your Highness."
"Hm?"
"I apologize. My judgment was lacking. As a noble of Briol and the lord of Euzeth, I thought that if all the troops were concentrated in Bezos, Briol might be placed in danger."
He continued speaking in a voice full of appeal, drawn up from deep in his chest.
Everyone in the room turned their gaze to Genard. Even those belonging to Euzeth wore expressions of disbelief.
But the knight standing beside Genard kept his eyes not on the Duke, but on Yuri Briol.
Indeed, there was no opening to be seen.
His demeanor was also commanding.
Even though he had stormed into the heart of a duke's domain with only thirty men, he showed no haste and moved with leisure.
It was, quite literally, the bearing of a conqueror.
Then, their eyes met.
The 3rd Prince wore a smile.
The knight instinctively bowed his head. He could not dare to meet that gaze.
In that moment, Genard rose from his seat and knelt.
"Kuhuhk, Your Highness! Please take my head!"
The moment those words fell, the knight moved toward Genard.
His legs felt heavy, but he desperately forced himself forward through the crushing pressure.
Because, from his perspective, Genard was mistaken about something.
"Duke."
"Let me go! I am a criminal!"
"At this rate…"
Then, Yuri Briol's voice cut in.
"I will."
"Pardon?"
"I'll cut your head off."
This 3rd Prince was not a man who moved by political calculation.
He did not scheme.
Any act meant to provoke a certain reaction would not work on him.
If you asked him to take your head, he would simply take it.
"Kh…"
The knight stepped in front of him.
"Your Highness."
But Yuri Briol strode forward without hesitation.
The knight realized.
If he stayed here, he would die.
That prince's sword would cut him down, and then split the neck of Genard Jetherie, Duke of Euzeth. That future drew itself vividly in his mind.
If he wanted to live, he would have to step aside.
But the knight clenched his eyes shut.
Genard Jetherie was no admirable noble.
Still, he himself was a knight.
The situation was urgent, and his instincts moved first.
The knight spread his arms wide, shielding Genard Jetherie's body. To abandon his lord and save his own life was not an option for him.
He braced himself for death.
But then,
"Ggeueok…"
A choking sound came from behind him.
Turning around, he saw Genard Jetherie collapsed, blood pouring from his neck.
In shock, he looked forward again.
Yuri Briol was smiling, his bloodstained sword resting on his shoulder.
How had he managed to cut past him?
"Amazing, right?"
Briol's 3rd Prince, Yuri Briol, grinned as he spoke.
"Now, from this moment on, the fact that Genard is dead is a secret. So, gather up every single noble bastard who followed this guy, right here."
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