“It would seem I let myself get swept away by unfounded rumors, hoping you were someone who surpassed even the Hero.”
“Ha ha.” Neither confirming nor denying his statement, I simply forced a stiff smile and laughed it off. What if I had been someone who surpassed the Hero? I could only imagine it wouldn’t be anything favorable for me.
“Will you also be heading to suppress the revolt, Seika?”
“Yes, I’ll be going with Amyu.”
“I see. In that case, do be careful,” Hiltzel said with a suggestive smile. “That uprising is unusual—”
Just as the prince began speaking, the sound of glass shattering echoed through the hall. A shout rang out, and we all turned toward the source.
“It’s your fault things turned out like this!”
“Nonsense! You were the one who—”
Two young men appeared to be arguing about something. The taller of the two, a man with short hair and a large build, was grabbing the shorter one by the collar. Both of them seemed quite enraged.
“The tall one is the second prince Dilryne, and the one with long hair is the third prince Jaylud,” Fiona whispered into my ear.
I knit my brow. The second and third princes were big deals. What were they doing having such an unsightly spat at a social gathering? Everyone around just watched fearfully, as though unable to stop them. The second prince was particularly muscular, so it was possible that anyone who intervened might get hurt. I was content to wait for the guards, but...
“Knock it off.” A firm voice rang out. Hiltzel, leaning on his cane as he walked over to them, spoke sternly. “What do you think you’re doing in public? Look around. Everyone is in shock.”
Second Prince Dilryne released his younger brother’s collar and faced Hiltzel. Due to how much taller he was, it seemed like he was looking down on him.
“Brother, what are you thinking? Do you have any idea what you’re doing?!” Dilryne stepped up to Hiltzel. Watching the scene unfold, I felt a faint sense of dissonance. The second prince seemed far more robust physically compared to his sickly brother, yet alongside the anger in his eyes, there was something like fear.
“As the elder brother, I’m stopping a quarrel between my younger brothers. What else would it be?” Hiltzel declared firmly, looking up at his much larger younger brother. “Whatever the circumstances, both of you need to cool your heads,” he said with an exasperated expression.
“I’ll remember this!” Scowling, Dilryne turned on his heel and stomped away.
Meanwhile, Hiltzel walked over to the third prince. “Are you hurt, Jaylud?”
“Get away from me, freak!” Jaylud hurled insults at Hiltzel, then ran a hand through his disheveled hair and hastily walked off.
Hiltzel lowered the left hand he had extended and stood there at a loss.
“Are you all right, Your Highness?” I couldn’t help but ask out of pity. When Hiltzel turned around, his gentle smile was already back on his face.
“Yes, though I’m a little tired after that. I apologize, but would you mind taking me somewhere I can sit down?”
“Of course. Come with me.” I nodded, leading Hiltzel to a corner of the hall.
Pulling out one of the chairs lined up nearby, the prince set down his cane and took a seat. “I’m afraid we’ve shown our guests something unsightly,” he said with a bitter smile.
“It’s fine.”
“I can’t say we siblings are on great terms, but I’ve never seen it get that bad before. That took me by surprise.”
Unsure how to respond, I remained silent for a moment.
“Do you know how imperial succession is determined?”
“The emperor chooses one of his children, then the assembly and the people approve it, right?”
“Precisely,” Hiltzel said with a nod. “The emperor’s choice isn’t bound by the same strict rules as the nobility. Choosing a second son or eldest daughter is acceptable, and even finding a talented individual outside the imperial family and adopting them poses no issue. It’s happened many times throughout the empire’s history. However, it’s customary for the eldest son to be given priority unless there’s a clear difference in ability. As things stand, His Majesty shows no sign of adopting anyone. If it goes on like this, I will eventually inherit the throne. But as you can see, that poses a bit of a problem.”
Hiltzel shifted his dark glasses slightly, only to promptly put them back as though the light pained him. “My body has been frail ever since I was born. I can’t see well in bright places, so I have to constantly wear these glasses. As you can see, my legs are weak as well. My health deteriorates on a whim. Despite that, I’ve never neglected the studies required of an emperor. I believe I would be ready to stand at the head of the empire and govern at this very moment, but many deem me unfit for the task.”
“I can’t imagine it myself, but I’ve heard being the emperor is an unforgiving position.”
“Yes, though His Majesty certainly makes it look easy. In truth, it’s not a position an ordinary person is fit for, let alone someone sickly and frail—at least, that’s what they believe. Because of those who think that way, the imperial court has been thrown into chaos.”
“Are you talking about the factions that want to make the second and third princes the next emperor instead of you?”
“Yes.” Hiltzel nodded.
It was a story I’d heard countless times in my past life as well. Advancing second or third candidates and positioning oneself as their subordinate to share in the potential rewards was a common tactic used by those who currently found themselves with little influence.
“Seeing that my condition never improved despite growing older, some have begun switching allegiances to other factions,” Hiltzel continued, his voice tinged with sorrow. “My younger brothers started taking it seriously, and the bond between us only worsened. What began as sibling quarrels has turned into political strife. This revolt may be the same.”
“Does the revolt have some connection to the current political situation?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.