A Tale of Strategies For the Throne

No sleep for one night.

Early the next morning, Kejos entered the palace again.

The morning sun illuminated Keyhors's dark blond hair, and the bruise under his eyes was so light that it was almost invisible, which did not damage the knight's handsome face with a mature charm.

On the way to Garlan's palace, this handsome knight attracted the eager eyes of many maids walking along the road with things in their hands.

The maids who hadn't seen Kehoes for a long time tried to talk to him, but the knight who used to tease them with a smile that made them blush and heartbeat seemed to be in no mood today. He just nodded politely and strode over.

Hearing the suddenly excited voices of the young maids outside the palace, the female officer standing in the courtyard turned her head to look in the direction of the gate of the palace.

Unsurprisingly, she saw Keyjos walk in from there.

If in the past, she had always been expressionless and cold-eyed towards the actions of the knights who always aroused the hearts of the young girls in the palace, and occasionally she would reprimand Kyhos unceremoniously, dissatisfied He made such a commotion in front of the palace gate that he disturbed the prince.

Of course, for Taputi's reprimand, Keyhos always humbly and politely admits his mistakes and apologizes, and then, next time, he will go his own way.

But this time, when she saw that familiar scene again, although she still couldn't see any expression on Taputi's face, her eyes no longer had the look of disgust from before.

She suddenly thought that although it seems that there have always been many young girls who admire Kaihos, in fact, as far as she has seen, the young maids who have been secretly looking at His Excellency Heymos with envious eyes are also Not a lot.

After all, from a woman's point of view, apart from his character...he is really not that good, he is excellent in both appearance and other aspects.

It was only because that lord gave people a very unapproachable feeling except by His Majesty's side, and those weak girls didn't dare to approach him at all, so it gave people the illusion that he was not welcome.

Moreover, that Your Excellency's eyes have always only fallen on His Majesty, so it is impossible to notice the eyes of others looking at him, and naturally he is unaware of the admiring eyes of others.

However, even if they find out... I'm afraid they will be completely ignored by that person.

The female officer was so absent-mindedly thinking that she sighed silently in her heart.

Obviously a few months ago, she was still very angry.

At that time, she was still thinking that after that person came back, she would never be polite.

She will definitely guard His Majesty and not give that person the slightest chance.

However, things are impermanent.

The news that came back suddenly a month ago was like a sap, knocking her into a daze.

That Your Excellency...is dead?

Even until now, Taputi still feels unreal.

She always felt that even the god of death would make a detour for that terrible man.

She always felt that if it was that person, even the gods would not be able to let him leave His Majesty's side.

……

No matter how she felt, one month had passed, Lord Heymos had died, this was an unchangeable fact.

Taputi turned his head slightly, and saw the statue of the spring water of Isdar, the goddess of fate in the middle of the courtyard. The clear spring was falling from the sky as usual, just like when that person was still here.

In the past, as long as that person was still in the palace, almost every day, that person stood under this fountain and waited.

When he was waiting, no matter how long he waited, he didn't show any impatience. On the contrary, he seemed to be enjoying the waiting process.

It felt like he was chewing slowly and savoring his favorite dessert bit by bit.

Every time, when she followed His Majesty out of the room, she would see that man's eyes looking up.

That person's eyes will only glow brightly when they fall on His Majesty.

Every time this happens, that person's eyes are always focused and gentle.

... She hadn't noticed such an obvious look in her eyes for so many years... Sure enough, she couldn't see clearly because she was in the middle of the game...

Thinking of this, Tapu couldn't help but smiled wryly.

But, what's the use of thinking about it now.

She raised her eyes and took another look at the empty fountain.

There will never be anyone waiting there again.

She let out a long sigh in her heart.

The deceased is gone.

If His Majesty is unwilling to show his vulnerable side in front of them, she will pretend not to know.

I only hope that as time goes by, the pain in His Majesty's heart can be relieved a little bit.

With the sound of footsteps, Taputi turned around, restrained his thoughts, and looked at the boy king who came out of the room.

She subconsciously raised a gentle smile, wanting to go up to talk to Garlan.

But she immediately saw Garlan's gaze.

The young man who came out of the door may be inadvertent, or it may be out of habit, and he glanced slightly to the right from the corner of his eyes.

The direction of the fountain.

That one glance made Taputi's heart sank endlessly and became cold.

……

True hurt never fades away with time.

It will always be there, dripping blood.

never go away.

………………

Kaihos came to pick up Garlan today because Garlan was going to inspect the barracks today.

To put it simply, as a king, he should show up in person to praise and encourage the triumphant soldiers.

When King Garlan appeared in the barracks, the morale of the soldiers was very high.

Yesterday, King Garlan personally went out of the city to welcome them back, which had already moved them very much. Today, when Garlan came to the barracks again to praise them, and personally said that he would give them double rewards according to their military achievements, the people in the barracks The atmosphere is at its peak.

There was joy on the ground, and all the soldiers were cheering the name of King Garlan.

Cheers and laughter resounded under the sky.

Kehos stood beside Garlan, looking up at Garlan who raised his hands to the countless soldiers under the high platform.

The boy king's smile was like the morning sun falling on him.

His smile always spreads bright light to those around him.

As long as he is by his side, it is like being in the sunshine.

He always brings warmth and strength to those around him.

Kyhos clenched the hand hanging by his side tightly.

He thought of yesterday, in the room full of sunlight, the appearance of the child crouching on the ground hugging him.

And now, who can be the strength to support this child?

In a trance, Keyhos recalled the conversation he had with Taputi yesterday.

…………

"Tapti, what can I do?"

Even if he can only share a little bit, he is willing to do anything.

"Don't say anything, don't do anything, pretend you don't know anything, that's what you can do for him."

"...I am the prince's guardian knight, can't I replace him?!"

A few seconds of silence.

Then the magistrate answered.

Yes, you can't.

At that time, Taputi told him so.

Such a categorical denial did not make him angry at all.

Perhaps it was because he saw the almost substantive sadness in Taputi's eyes at the moment.

Keyhors, neither you nor I.

Tapti shook his head.

Even if you and I don't want to admit it at first.

However, the only person in this world who can truly stand by his side and support each other is that person.

The throne reigns supreme.

There is no one to stand by.

Therefore, the king has always been alone.

The king was like this.

The same is true of King Kamos.

I was fortunate that although he sat on the throne, the prince was not alone.

Although it was an accident, but because of the existence of that person, if the prince does not need to support the country alone, I am very glad that the prince is accompanied by that person.

But I never thought that that person would leave like this.

……

Keyhors, you know what?

The female officer's deep voice was like a sigh.

lose.

Crueler than not being there in the first place.

…………

........................

When the army from the expedition returned, the royal court began to operate crazily.Countless political affairs, a myriad of threads, are waiting to be dealt with.

For a time, all ministers and officials were busy.

Counting the achievements of the soldiers, post-war injuries, and the medical expenses and pensions of the dead soldiers. In particular, when Garland reformed military affairs, he added a provision for the elderly and seriously injured soldiers who had to be discharged. From this It will be implemented after a battle.

At the same time, Kanal became a part of Aaron Landis, and the western border naturally ceased to exist from then on. Therefore, it is necessary to mobilize the Sixth Army on the border as soon as possible to march into Kanal, and join hands with the army that Kaihors stayed in the royal city , Stabilizing Kanal's overall situation.

Also, the royal court must discuss the dispatch of officials to Kanal as soon as possible, and take control of those cities as soon as possible.

All of the above made Garlan, the king, very busy. The government office was full of people coming and going from morning to night, and he hardly had any respite except for eating and sleeping.

If it was in the past, Taputi and the others would definitely feel distressed and dissuade Garlan seeing how busy he was, but now, they are relieved.

It's good to be busy.

They thought so.

In this way, the entire royal court continued to run rapidly for a long time, and countless ministers and officials were wailing in private. Even Prime Minister Zuo, who was so devoted to his work and almost made the government affairs office his home, felt that it was too much.

After working overtime like this, he finally managed to deal with the mountain of government affairs.

When they came back to their senses, everyone realized that a month had passed before they knew it.

More than half of spring has passed, and even at night there is a warm breeze, which does not make people feel cold.

It was already late at night. In this month, there was rarely such a peaceful time. Garlan was sitting in the gazebo in the courtyard.

In the dark night, there was a low whine of Nega.

Reflecting the moonlight, its golden-brown mane shone in the night, and the big lion was leaning on Garlan's body and humming continuously, as if it was begging for something.

It arched Garlan with its head, then raised its front paws to rest on the stone table beside it, howled at the crystal bottle containing the bright red liquid on the table, turned its head, and howled at Garlan again.

The brown pupils stared at Garlan brightly, those sparkling little eyes were really overwhelming.

It must have smelled of wine...

Garlan was helpless.

Tal had been having fun back then, and when he wasn't paying attention, he fed Nega a glass of wine, and Nega fell asleep drunk for most of the day, making him fearful that something might go wrong.

Unexpectedly, this drink actually made the big lion like this taste.

From then on, every time it smelled wine, it would ask itself for a drink in all kinds of cute and coquettish ways.

The big fluffy head leaned over again and rubbed against his face.

Garlan could only get up, took the plate where the raw meat was originally placed, poured a little red wine into it, then knelt down and waved at Nega.

Nega immediately leaned over excitedly, took his hand, and licked it in the plate.

It licked happily, and flicked its long tail behind it.

Garlan put down the plate, looked at Nega happily licking the wine, and patted its head.

He looked at it with gentle eyes.

Then, Garlan stood up and walked to the entrance of the gazebo.

Below is a pool of clear water, and the moonlight falls on the water, sparkling.

When the wind passed by, the large lavender hyacinths on the edge of the pool swayed slightly with the wind, undulating like lavender waves.

Looking at the swaying hyacinth, Garlan suddenly remembered that night long ago.

Late at night that night, when Heymos climbed over the wall and grabbed himself to speak, a maid on guard suddenly passed by. He was so frightened that he hurriedly pressed Heymos into the flowers and hid him for fear of being seen by the maid.

Although at that time he didn't know why he felt guilty.

…………

Hyacinth, doomed to a fruitless love affair, a hopeless love.

Later, he learned the hyacinth's flower language from the maid who passed by here that night.

He froze for a moment.

At that time, he thought, maybe this is a kind of prophecy.

Because it was impossible for him to accept Heymos, Heymos' feelings for him were destined to be fruitless.

...perhaps that was indeed a prophecy...

Garlan poured a glass of wine, and in the clear crystal glass under the moonlight, bright red liquid rippled slightly.

He didn't drink, but walked down the stone steps of the gazebo with the glass in his hand, and walked to the hyacinth bushes.

The boy raised his head, the moonlight was like water, pouring down on his long golden hair scattered on his shoulders.

two months.

Sixty days.

During this period of time, he had secretly held a faint hope in his heart.

Perhaps, that person is not dead, but injured.

Maybe it will appear in front of him again soon.

If that person was still alive, Garlan believed that even if that person crawled, he would crawl back to his side.

However, it has been more than 60 days.

He waited a long time.

Can't wait for anything.

He has to face reality after all.

Heymos had died, two months ago, in the royal city of Kanal.

"Sorry, this is a memorial ceremony that is two months late."

Standing among the hyacinth flowers by the pool, the boy tossed it casually.

The luminous cup drew a shining arc in the dark night, and fell into the pool with a splash.

It sank.

The bright red wine spread out on the surface of the water, and soon disappeared without a trace.

Garlan watched the bright red melt in the water.

for a long time.

Nega's snoring came from the nearby gazebo.

The big lion who was drunk had already fallen asleep.

The young man leaned over, and slowly sat down beside the pool, among the large hyacinth flowers.

His arms rested on his upturned knees.

The faint fragrance of flowers surrounds him.

The pool of water in front of him reflected the hyacinth clusters by the water, and there were double flower bushes everywhere, making it almost impossible to tell the truth from the reflection.

He just sat there quietly, his golden pupils reflecting the sparkling water.

"During this time, I have been thinking, is it because of me."

"Because of me, you will die."

In previous lives, I died, so you lived on.

And in this life, I am alive, so the person who died became you.

"You probably don't know, when I was a child, once, I wanted to kill you while you had a fever."

"At that time, it was absolutely impossible for me to think that when you really died, I would be like this..."

so...

The boy closed his mouth and swallowed the last two words back into his throat.

He bowed his head and buried his face in his arms.

The fingers on his arm were strangled so hard that the knuckles were almost white.

You will do what you promised me.

You said you never told me a lie.

【I am here. 】

【I will always be at your side. 】

【Even the gods of Aaron Landis cannot let me leave you. 】

You still lied to me after all.

After all, you still leave me.

…………

pat.

It was an inaudible sound.

It is concealed by night.

It was lost in the grunt of a sleeping lion on one side.

Under the feet of the young man who was sitting by the pool with his head down, there was a circle of shallow water marks rippling.

It was silent in the middle of the night.

Only the clusters of lavender hyacinths swayed gently in the wind.