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Chapter 05
Ulysian Kleinheits.
The lord of the southern metropolis, Kleins, and a Grand Duke of the Melvern Empire.
He was born as the fourth prince of the vast Melvern Empire, but at fifteen he was granted the title of Grand Duke and sent to the south.
Since becoming Grand Duke, he had rarely set foot in the capital.
That was why it had been such a long time since he last faced his father.
Unfortunately, that reunion was taking place in a courtroom—with him in handcuffs.
“Ulysian, is it true that you attacked the military forces of Prince Kildian?”
In the border regions of Melvern, small and large skirmishes were common.
Kildian often deployed troops to gain merit. When insufficient, he even sent mercenaries he personally hired.
But Ulysian had attacked allied forces stationed in the conflict zone—more precisely, mercenaries hired by Kildian.
If found guilty, Ulysian would be executed by beheading.
The courtroom buzzed.
Although he had been sent to the south, he was still one of the most powerful candidates for Crown Prince.
If he were executed, the political balance in the capital would shift.
As everyone fixed their attention on Ulysian, he lifted his head.
“It is true.”
There was no fear in his admitting expression.
His green eyes were speckled with flecks of gold like scattered starlight.
He recalled the borderlands where Melvern met Sproksen.
The screams of children, burning houses, rough hands grabbing fleeing villagers by the hair.
After a small-scale battle, the mercenaries hired by Kildian had committed brutal acts against Melvern’s citizens.
“They kidnapped civilians, set fire to homes, and seized food supplies.”
Kildian immediately frowned and objected.
“Your Majesty, such things are common in war. To attack allied forces over something like this and damage morale—it is unacceptable.”
Among the nobles watching the trial, Kildian’s supporters raised their voices in agreement.
“That area wasn’t even the Grand Duke’s territory!”
Ulysian let out a mocking smile.
“Regardless of whose territory it is, those who belong to Melvern are all His Majesty’s people. Is it a crime, as a royal who inherited a noble duty, to protect the people?”
The noble who had spoken fell silent under his pressure.
Ulysian looked back at the Emperor.
“I am the son and vassal of His Imperial Majesty. As one who has sworn loyalty to Melvern, was I supposed to stand by and watch our people be invaded?”
“Hmm…”
“I did indeed draw my sword against allied forces. If Your Majesty chooses to relieve me of my position, I will accept it without complaint. But I have no regrets.”
Broad shoulders, straight back, chin raised, golden hair shimmering as though tangled with sunlight and forming a halo.
Even while kneeling in handcuffs, there was nothing of humiliation about him.
The nobles attending the trial could not help but be drawn to him.
The Emperor remained silent for a moment.
After studying his son for a brief time, he finally delivered his judgment in an authoritative tone.
“Since the crimes of the mercenaries are clear, Ulysian Kleinheits is not guilty.”
At the unexpected verdict, Kildian immediately erupted in protest.
“Your Majesty! To excuse him for attacking allied forces is absurd!”
“If they plunder our citizens, imperial knights are executed on the spot. How much more so mercenaries!”
The Emperor’s tone remained firm.
Kildian clenched his lips.
“They are also men who have brought Your Majesty many victories.”
“Indeed. That is why I will acknowledge their merit and spare them execution. However, all rewards previously granted to them will be revoked.”
Kildian’s supporters objected loudly, saying it was unacceptable.
But the Emperor remained unyielding.
He raised his hand to silence the room and left.
Once the Emperor departed, the courtroom erupted into chaos again.
Kildian gripped the armrest tightly. His knuckles turned white as blood drained from them.
For a long while, he stared at Ulysian with murderous eyes.
Then he stood abruptly.
His steps toward his younger brother were filled with rage. Standing before Ulysian, Kildian looked down at him with eyes glinting with hatred and arrogance.
“You keep interfering in my affairs, Ulysian.”
“If Your Highness continues these pointless wars, I will continue to interfere.”
“What?”
“You must not sacrifice innocent civilians and soldiers for your ambitions.”
Grinding his teeth, Kildian curled his thin lips upward.
“If you truly want that, then give up your claim to the Crown Prince position.”
“I never intended to take it in the first place.”
Despite Ulysian’s sincerity, Kildian scoffed.
He had always been like this.
He constantly regarded Ulysian—praised as virtuous and noble—as a threat.
That suspicion soon turned into attacks, and Kildian repeatedly attempted to assassinate him.
In contrast, Ulysian had no real desire for power.
Whether Crown Prince or Emperor, he had no wish to see brother spill brother’s blood over meaningless ambition. That was why he had voluntarily gone to the south.
But Kildian still insisted that even that was part of some scheme, and never let go of his hostility.
“You’re still as disgustingly hypocritical as ever. It makes me sick.”
“When you run out of arguments, you resort to insults. It’s reassuring to see you haven’t changed, brother.”
Having his words thrown back at him, Kildian’s face twisted.
“I’ll see how long that smug face of yours lasts.”
“How unfortunate. Then you will need to live quite a long time.”
Ulysian smiled faintly.
Kildian felt as if he wanted to spit on that smile. If not for the audience, he would have likely strangled him on the spot.
“Fine. Enjoy your arrogance while you can. I’ve prepared something very interesting.”
Leaving those ominous words, Kildian departed.
Only then did the guards approach and respectfully remove Ulysian’s handcuffs.
Ulysian rotated his stiff wrists and looked at the remaining nobles.
They were whispering among themselves while keeping their eyes fixed on him.
Clearly, they were discussing him, but he paid no mind and turned away.
His aide, Papilion, who had been waiting in the spectator section, quickly followed him.
“You haven’t even lived that long, yet you’ve experienced quite a lot. Even seeing Your Highness in handcuffs…”
Though grumbling, Papilion draped a cloak over Ulysian’s shoulders.
“So I told you, didn’t I? Don’t act personally—mind your dignity.”
“If dignity means ignoring such things, then it isn’t worth keeping.”
“It is. Do you know what the nobles are saying? Everyone is calling you reckless and dangerous.”
“I’m not ashamed of myself, so it doesn’t matter. Why should I care about reputation?”
“You should!”
Papilion beat his chest in frustration.
Seeing his stern subordinate, Ulysian smiled.
Papilion, still serious, pulled a resignation letter from his pocket and held it up.
“If you don’t want my resignation, then stop smiling and behave properly.”
“Truly frightening.”
His tone was not frightened at all.
When they went outside and mounted their horses, Papilion followed suit.
“It looks like the rain is going to get heavier. We should hurry.”
It seemed they were heading back south, but Ulysian instead rode toward a forest on the outskirts of the capital. In fact, they were heading toward the city center.
Papilion frowned and moved closer.
“Your Highness, you’re going the wrong way.”
“No. I’m going exactly where I need to.”
“Kleins is the opposite direction.”
“Correct. This is the route to the Grand Temple.”
“The Grand Temple?”
“Yes. My brother has been steadily moving war supplies to the border regions. And rumors of the mercenaries’ atrocities are being attributed to enemy nations.”
“You mean he’s trying to stir hatred between the two countries to start a war?”
“Most likely.”
A war to gain merit, to resolve the resulting hatred, and to win the people’s favor.
How many would die for his ambition was obvious without even thinking.
“I intend to request mediation from the Pope regarding the battles and atrocities occurring in the conflict zones.”
Papilion’s jaw slowly dropped.
Kildian had always kept close watch on Ulysian’s movements.
If Ulysian went to the capital on his own, Kildian would likely have already contacted the Papal See and set countermeasures in motion.
But Ulysian had been brought to the capital under arrest.
“…Did you come here on purpose?”
“Among other reasons.”
“Don’t ‘among other reasons’ this. What if you got sentenced to death? Did you at least expect to be found not guilty?”
“I was prepared to spend a few days in a dungeon. This outcome was unexpected.”
“Are you perhaps… insane?”
As Ulysian laughed it off, Papilion clutched the back of his neck, his blood pressure rising.
