Politics and Providence

“It is reported that the Dragon has revealed itself after 200 years.”

“Hmm.”

Cherbil, who handed over the report, spoke with a stoic expression.

Ludwig, after receiving the report, groaned and stroked his smooth chin.

“You’ve certainly caused quite a stir.”

Ludwig, who scanned the report with his red eyes, slightly raised the corner of his lips.

An air of interest flowed over his indifferent face.

“What will you do?”

“What do you mean, what will I do?”

“…….”

“My brothers and Father will have to take care of it themselves.”

Ludwig waved the report in front of Cherbil’s eyes.

The carefully written report, which he had prepared as soon as he heard the news, became a useless piece of paper, crumpled and shaken around. Seeing this, Cherbil let out a small sigh.

“Haa… It’s unlikely that those people will think rationally.”

“That’s why we should just watch and see.”

“Haa…….”

Cherbil looked at Ludwig with troubled eyes. Today, Ludwig was still turning his insides out with his ever-smiling face.

Ludwig Nahim Orta.

The fifth prince of the Orta Empire, he was, in Cherbil’s opinion, the closest thing to a normal person among the current imperial family.

However, his birth mother, Empress Severina, came from a lower noble family, so his support base was weak. Moreover, being the fifth prince rather than the second or third, he was even further out of favor with the Emperor and the Council.

But he was more intelligent and had a better grasp of the situation than the other princes.

He was the only member of the imperial family who could potentially change the hopeless Orta Empire, but unfortunately, he was the least likely to become Emperor among them.

“What if another war breaks out? The Orta Empire will fall.”

“Haha, those cowardly folks starting a war? That won’t happen.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“How much money does it take to wage war? I need to indulge in luxury tomorrow, and you think I’d spend money on war? No way.”

“Still, just in case…….”

Ludwig firmly shook his head at Cherbil, who persistently argued. His red eyes flashed.

“Let’s say they kill the dragon. What’s next?”

“Hmm… Then they might be able to take the enormous hoard of gold and treasures the dragon has accumulated.”

“Ah, that’s right. It’s the last dragon left on the continent, so it must have lived a long time.”

“Isn’t it possible that they might cause trouble because of that greed?”

“Certainly, if the retainers spread such rumors, they might foolishly fall for it… But the nobles probably just want to keep enjoying their honey pot as is, right?”

“Well, that’s…….”

Cherbil couldn’t answer Ludwig’s cynical words.

Certainly, as Ludwig analyzed, those nobles who were out of their minds with luxury and pleasure wouldn’t take the initiative to start a war.

Ludwig, who had cynically assessed his family and the nobles, grinned.

“So, no war will break out for the time being. I guarantee it.”

“For the time being……?”

“Yes, for the time being.”

“…….”

Cherbil was silent for a moment at Ludwig’s meaningful words.

He couldn’t possibly guess what this intelligent prince was thinking.

Ludwig put the report down on the table with a thud and stood up. He walked to the window and stretched his stiff body.

“Just wait a little longer. Something interesting will happen soon.”

“Something interesting… you say?”

“Yeah.”

Cherbil looked at Ludwig, who was smiling meaningfully, with uneasy eyes.

From his past experiences, nothing good ever happened when Ludwig smiled like that. Ludwig turned to Cherbil and grinned.

“Heroes appear in times of chaos.”

“Heroes……?”

Cherbil frowned at Ludwig’s meaningful words.

A hero. Even if the imperial family didn’t start a war with the dragon, did he mean that someone would rise up to fight against the dragon? Considering the current state of the empire, it wasn’t impossible.

Cherbil knew the situation of the current empire better than anyone. The imperial family and nobles were severely corrupt, and the leadership was incompetent.

To make matters worse, they had incurred the wrath of the gods, and the drought continued, causing the peasants to starve to death.

In the rural territories, they were openly waging war against each other and committing robbery.

But the imperial family didn’t care.

In this situation, what would happen if a hero appeared who could defeat the dragon?

A chilling sensation made Cherbil straighten his back without realizing it.

“Do you mean a Dragon Slayer will appear?”

“Well, would he only kill the dragon?”

“Your Highness……!”

“Haha.”

When Cherbil shouted in alarm, Ludwig burst out laughing. Cherbil was worried that someone might be eavesdropping, but none of Ludwig’s brothers were keeping him in check, as he was a mere fifth prince with little influence.

Ludwig shook his head and looked out the window.

“Hohoho!”

“Hahahaha.”

Thousands of people were dying outside the Imperial Palace every day, but today, the nobles were holding a lavish tea party in the garden, enjoying themselves.

Nobles in all sorts of rare flowers and sights, luxurious dresses and suits, were bursting into laughter at the clown’s ridiculous antics.

“And when the time comes, we have to make good use of that hero.”

“The hero?”

“Yeah.”

The current Crown Prince, who was to inherit the throne, was a person who resembled the incompetent Emperor from head to toe.

A foolish older brother who became the Crown Prince simply because he was the eldest son and the son of the Empress.

If he became Emperor, the future of the empire was obvious.

Ludwig had no intention of being satisfied with the position of a prince.

If the Crown Prince became Emperor as he was, he would kill him first as an example, even though he hadn’t even looked at him before.

Because he was not intelligent but had a lot of vanity. Of course, Ludwig had no intention of dying obediently to him.

“Now we just have to wait for a hero to appear.”

“…….”

At Ludwig’s confident words, Cherbil eventually nodded. Either way, he was already in the same boat as Ludwig.

Being with him was the same as having his life held hostage.

“As you wish, Your Highness.”

“By the way, what about the task I entrusted to you before?”

“That is…….”

At Ludwig’s question, Cherbil calmly opened his mouth. Ludwig’s face was constantly bright as he listened to his report.

***

“Ugh…….”

“Theo?”

“Ugh……?”

Theodore barely opened his eyes. It felt like someone was pressing down on his whole body.

Something was visible in front of him, and he opened his mouth reflexively, causing his head to ache like crazy.

Theodore frowned without realizing it and muttered.

“It, it hurts…….”

“Theo, are you awake?”

“Master……?”

When he barely turned his head to the side, he could faintly see someone.

It was Sian. Sian was looking down at Theodore with worried eyes.

Unlike Leon, Theodore hadn’t received healing magic from Sian.

This was because Theodore was of the Light attribute, while Sian was of the Darkness attribute.

When they first met, Theodore was severely injured, but there was nothing Sian could do. It was the same this time.

The problem was Theodore’s injury. Before, it was just a physical injury, but this time it was different.

He had been using magic when the casting was forcibly interrupted, causing severe internal injuries due to mana backlash.

It was the first time Theodore had suffered internal injuries, unlike physical wounds, and he hadn’t woken up for a while after losing consciousness. Sian’s insides felt like they were rotting during that time.

“Does it hurt a lot? I’ll call Cali…….”

“Don’t…… go.”

“……!”

Theodore’s outstretched hand lightly grabbed Sian’s sleeve.

Sian was about to get up, but looked at Theodore in an awkward posture.

Theodore took a labored breath, but still squeezed the hand holding Sian’s sleeve.

“Don’t go……. Okay?”

“……Okay, I understand.”

Sian reluctantly sat back down. And he reached out and replaced the wet towel on Theodore’s head.

It might have been his imagination, but Theodore’s complexion seemed a little better.

“Are you thirsty?”

“A little…… dry.”

“Master will feed you.”

“Yes…….”

Theodore, who nodded, opened his mouth slightly. Sian poured a little water into his mouth.

Theodore swallowed the cool water gulping it down. He had been so thirsty that it hurt, but he felt a little better.

“Haa…….”

Theodore, who sighed, turned his head and stared at Sian with a clearer vision than before.

For some reason, Sian seemed to be in more pain than he was. Theodore thought about that and smiled.

“I’m okay now.”

“Theo…….”

To say such a thing with such a haggard face. It looked even more pitiful in Sian’s eyes.

Sian reached out and carefully stroked Theodore’s head.

“I’m sorry, Theo. Master should have gone sooner.”

“I’m really okay.”

“Theo…….”

Sian was wiping Theodore’s forehead, which was still sweating, when he suddenly remembered something.

He reached into his subspace pocket and took out an accessory.

It was the ancient artifact he had recovered from the magician who had invaded this time.

Paaaat.

“Ugh……?”

As soon as he took out the artifact, a dazzling light burst out. Sian tightly closed his eyes.

He knew that the artifact would react to Theodore.

Sian had several ancient artifacts, but they weren’t good enough to be of any help to Theodore.

But the ancient artifact he had obtained this time had a fairly strong divine power inherent in it.

It was a pity that it ended up in the hands of such a bad guy and was misused, but it was originally a good item that should have been used for good deeds. So, it was right for Theodore to have it.

“Keep this.”

“What’s that……?”

“It’s an artifact I obtained this time.”

“Ugh……!”

Theodore, who received the artifact in a daze, frowned.

As soon as his hand touched it, an even stronger light emanated from the artifact than before.

The room was instantly filled with the light emitted by the artifact.