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Volume 2 Chapter 1
Brother,
Have you been well? I worry about your health.
We’ve arrived at the port. By the time you receive this letter, I’ll probably already be out at sea.
The ocean I saw for the first time was far wider and more beautiful than I ever imagined. Under the sunlight, it gleams a vivid blue, and at sunset, it sinks into a deep black—an endless stretch of water. Salty winds blow in from all directions. I wish you could have seen it with me.
Training will begin soon. They were pleased to hear that we already know how to use swords. I thought we’d start with rowing, but thanks to that, I’ve been assigned directly as a combat soldier.
I’m doing well, so don’t worry about me. I’ll write again.
With love,
C.
Brother,
It’s already been over two years since I left home. I’m sorry I couldn’t write for so long. After a long voyage, I’ve finally returned to port.
During an inland sea patrol, we encountered pirates. They weren’t a large group, but their captain gave us some trouble. Fortunately, A and I managed to attack together and capture him.
Because of that, we were promoted, and now K is stuck serving under me and A—he’s been complaining nonstop. He says he’ll make a name for himself no matter what.
We’re heading back out to the inland sea tomorrow, so I may not be able to write for a while.
Don’t overwork yourself either. Take care of your health.
Don’t get sick.
C.
Brother,
I assume you’ve heard about the large-scale naval battle with the Eastern Continent. Our fleet took part and achieved notable results.
K finally got the promotion he’d been hoping for, but A brought back the enemy captain’s head and was promoted even higher, ending up above K again.
As for me, I successfully carried out an operation during the battle and was appointed as an officer. Starting next voyage, I’ll be entrusted with command of one of the fleet’s ships. Apparently, it’s unprecedented for someone to command a fleet vessel at the age of sixteen. I wish you could have seen the appointment ceremony.
Brother, the Eastern Continent’s movements are troubling. Their defeat in this battle has shaken the empire there—it could lead to civil war. Since the inland sea borders the Eastern Continent, you should avoid coming this way. It’s a dangerous time.
Always be careful.
C.
Etienne,
I recently turned eighteen. Now that I’ve come of age, I’m eligible to command a fleet and will soon be appointed admiral. I’ll likely be participating in battles in the inland sea bordering the Eastern Continent.
There’s something I haven’t told you until now.
Ever since I left home, I started having dreams again. In those dreams, trade with the Eastern Continent declines, and your situation worsens. The unrest there is becoming more severe, so I think it would be best if you avoided any business related to that region.
I know you’ve been more focused on Northern Sea trade than the inland sea. You’ve been developing Blast Port along the northern coast, so I don’t think things will unfold exactly like the dreams. Every other event has followed the dreams, but anything related to you has always turned out differently. I believe this time will be the same—but I’m still uneasy.
Always be careful, and take care of your health. Stay somewhere safe.
Sending my love,
C.
…
Seven years had passed since Callisto left the count’s household. I was now twenty-five, and Callisto had just turned twenty. In all that time, I had not seen him even once. I only knew he was alive through the brief letters he sent once or twice a year.
Even those stopped entirely two years ago. After the letter announcing his appointment as admiral, I heard nothing more. For the past two years, I had lived in constant anxiety, waiting for news of him.
The story seemed to be returning to its original course, so nothing should have gone wrong—but I couldn’t shake the fear that something might have happened to him.
Callisto himself had said he started dreaming of the future again. Perhaps it was because the future, which had once deviated greatly from the original storyline, was returning to its proper track.
“Then he should have returned to the Empire by now…”
I gazed out the window, lost in thought.
In The Sword of the Crown Prince, Callisto becomes a naval admiral, distinguishes himself in battle against the Eastern Continent, and then returns to the Empire. He first lands in a provincial territory, gathers the soldiers who fought alongside him at sea to form a rebel army, and expands his forces as he advances toward the capital.
It is the beginning of his full-scale revenge against the imperial family.
But even after nearly two years, there had been no news of Callisto raising a rebellion.
“Has the storyline changed again?”
There was a likely reason.
In the original story, as the rebel army expands rapidly, Callisto’s name becomes widely known. But because he was raised in the Winyates count’s household, the stronger his rebellion grows, the more difficult things become for the Count and Etienne.
Now that Callisto had regained his prophetic dreams, there was no way he wouldn’t know that. He must have chosen not to pursue revenge by raising a rebellion and seizing the throne.
“Then where on earth is he now?”
I let out a deep sigh. There was no way to ease my anxiety.
“Young master, the young duke of Armagnac has arrived.”
At that moment, Cliff approached and informed me that Lawrence had come. I quickly nodded.
“Let him in at once.”
“Yes, young master.”
A moment later, Lawrence entered with a bright expression.
“Etienne, it’s been a while. Have you been well?”
At twenty-two, Lawrence had grown into a tall, handsome young man, about half a head taller than me, with warm brown eyes and soft brown curls.
However, there was still no sign of his manifestation. In the original story, he was ultimately classified as a beta, and since he had long since come of age, it seemed unlikely it would ever happen—but he still hadn’t given up hope.
“Yes, welcome. How was your tour of the territory?”
“The same as always. Nothing special.”
“It took longer than usual, though. You normally return within a month or two—this time it took almost half a year, didn’t it?”
I asked cautiously, watching his expression. This was the very reason I had been waiting for his visit.
In the original story, while touring the Armagnac duchy’s lands, Lawrence encounters the rebel army and reunites with Callisto. Caught in a battle between the rebels and imperial forces, he is seriously injured, and Callisto saves him. Under the pretense of holding him prisoner for several months, the two eventually fall in love.
But Lawrence, now returned, said nothing about Callisto.
“On my way back, we were attacked by a mob. I was injured a bit, so I stayed behind to recover.”
“What? Were you badly hurt? …What happened to the attackers?”
I felt a little guilty for being more interested in the attackers than his injuries, but I couldn’t help it. Fortunately, Lawrence didn’t seem to mind and simply shrugged.
“They weren’t really a mob—just starving peasants who attacked the carriage with sickles. There was even a mother carrying a baby on her back. They were subdued on the spot.”
“…I see. The situation in the provinces must be worse than I thought.”
It wasn’t the news about Callisto I had hoped for, but it was still serious. I murmured quietly, troubled. Lawrence nodded and continued.
“There’s been a string of bad harvests. Along the inland sea coast, pirates have been pushing inland as well.”
“Yes… things really aren’t good.”
Now involved in politics, Lawrence spoke at length about various concerns. As I listened, I fell into thought again.
In the original story, Lawrence being injured during his tour was the same—but the cause was different. Originally, starving peasants supported Callisto’s rebel army from behind. But this time, they had become a mob themselves.
Which meant Callisto’s rebel army had not been formed.
He likely had not even come inland.
“Where on earth is he? Nothing’s happened to him… right?”
I quietly sipped my tea, trying to hide my anxiety. Lawrence still looked troubled.
“My father wanted to punish them harshly… but what crime is it to try to survive when you’re starving? We gave them settlement funds and let them stay on unused land in our territory.”
“I see. That was a good thing you did, Lawrence.”
“But that doesn’t solve the root problem. Still, there is one piece of good news…”
Lawrence added, his expression brightening slightly.
“The situation in the Northern Sea is improving. The pirates should be completely eradicated soon. It seems their roots have nearly been wiped out.”
“Completely?”
I was heavily invested in Northern Sea trade myself, especially in developing Blast Port, yet this was the first I’d heard of pirates being eliminated. It seemed Lawrence, now active in politics, had faster access to information.
Seeing my reaction, he raised an eyebrow.
“It’s still confidential. We can’t let it leak to Roengrien or the Empress.”
“I understand. I’ll be careful.”
The conflict between the Emperor and Empress had intensified greatly in recent years. As their rivalry deepened, both sides took extreme care to conceal their political movements.
The Armagnac ducal house, to which Lawrence belonged, supported the Emperor—and so did the Winyates count’s house, which held deep grudges against Roengrien and the Empress.
“I’ve heard that…”
Lawrence lowered his voice slightly.
“A naval fleet acting under His Majesty’s secret orders has been making major moves over the past two years.”
“A fleet under the Emperor’s secret orders?”
I looked up, meeting Lawrence’s eyes. He spoke carefully.
“Yes. It seems an extraordinary figure has appeared. A young admiral volunteered for Northern Sea operations and has been wiping out pirate groups.”
“…A young admiral?”
Startled, I nearly dropped my teacup.
