A Holiday in the Dream

The simple removal of the adjective “sickly” from “Sickly Prince Kaian” changed countless things. The people surrounding me were different, and even the state of Caprejena was worlds apart from my own timeline.

A predecessor emperor who merely occupied the throne and a Crown Prince without a support base had sparked new ambitions in the hearts of the nobles. The Northwestern nobles were plotting an alliance with the Republic of Aphelion, while the Southern Coast nobles were busy lobbying high-ranking officials to designate the South as an autonomous territory.

Kallios was handling things well, but the situation wasn’t ideal. The long peace and the predecessor’s incompetence had created cracks in the five-hundred-year-old Empire.

If this were someone else’s story, I would have thought, Five hundred years is a good run; it’s about time for a new nation to rise. Unfortunately, I am the Grand Duke, and my brother is the Emperor. I couldn’t just let history books record Kallios as the “Last Emperor.”

In that sense, the actions of “Emperor Kaian,” who had successfully filled those cracks, were worth studying as a reference.

The common denominator between the Northwestern and Southern Coast nobles was money. The Northwest built wealth through trade with the Republic of Aphelion, and the South through maritime trade. They were fat and satisfied, and with full bellies, they began to entertain treacherous thoughts. This much was the same as my world, but the solution was entirely different.

Attached to the document I flipped over was a map of the border between Caprejena and Aphelion. This guy is a real genius. Mumbling to myself, I checked the map. Next to a jagged line, a straight red line had been drawn.

This was the first project Kaian undertook upon ascending the throne.

Kaian paved a new road connecting the Northeast to Aphelion, the “Sierra Highway” (naming it after her? He really is me). The Northwestern nobles naturally opposed it fiercely, but they were no match for an Emperor wielding the “Dragon God’s Blessing” as a weapon. Eventually, they begged for the Sierra Highway to pass through the Northwest as well. To them, Emperor Kaian replied, “We lack the budget to extend it that far, so you pay for the construction,” and the Northwestern nobles practically wept as they offered up their gold.

He made a fortune on the initial construction costs and continued to collect small amounts annually for maintenance and other fees. Moreover, since they now had to share their previously monopolized trade with the Northeast, the day would never come when those Northwesterners’ pockets would be full enough to dream of rebellion again.

Taming the Southern Coast nobles was even easier. His Majesty Kaian ceased the navy’s “protection of national vessels.” The Southern nobles, who had been using the navy for a pittance in taxes (compared to what they earned), knelt before Kaian within two months. It was a total victory.

The amount written on the “Special Ship Protection Tax” document created after that brief power struggle was exquisite. It was brilliant. Dazzling. When I go back home, I must tell Kallios to use this method. I wonder what our Kallios would do with this money. I hope he does something good with it. That way, he can be born as something better in his next life—not a terminally ill prince. Well, my life isn’t bad, but still.

I slammed the approval stamp onto the document and handed it to the Chief Secretary, Count Marion.

“Well done, Your Majesty.”

“Is that the last of it?”

“Yes.”

Hearing that it was the end, my neck suddenly felt stiff. I massaged the back of my neck with my hand and stretched my head down.

Count Marion, watching me, made a suggestion.

“Why not stop by the training grounds?”

“Urgh… Hmm?”

I straightened my posture while twisting my waist.

“The training grounds?”

“Yes. The knights are said to be waiting for Your Majesty’s visit. Sir Ipsent especially.”

“Ipsent? Isaac Ipsent?”

“Yes.”

I sprang up from my seat. Count Marion smiled broadly. Wait… if you put a snowy white Merlin beard on that face, he’d look just like Ilios. The memories of “Emperor Kaian” provided the answer instantly. Count Marion was the maternal nephew of Marquis Ilios Inferno. Man, the maternal genes in that family are incredible. Praising him inwardly, I left the office.

Thirty-year-old Isaac Ipsent is the Vice-Commander of the Imperial Guard. While the youngest Sword Master is the Duke of Rotenmeyer, Isaac received all the attention a young Sword Master could get because of the bad circumstances and rumors surrounding Kallios. He is essentially the second beneficiary of this “What-If World.” The first, of course, is me. I’m healthy and I even have a whole large country. Though I really don’t need the throne.

Anyway, in this “What-If World,” the relationship between His Majesty Kaian and Isaac is that of best friends. They met at thirteen and grew their friendship while causing all sorts of trouble. I feel like I raised Isaac rather than just having a friendship, though Isaac might think he raised me.

Isaac was watching the training knights with his arms crossed. It was a familiar sight for Emperor Kaian, but to me, who knew the “Bug-Eyed Goldfish Count,” it was quite strange. It didn’t look bad, though. He looked like a real knight. When he was by my side, he seemed more like a nanny than a guard. Is this what happens when he just swings a sword instead of waiting on me? I stared at his face, which looked firmer and more robust than the twenty-three-year-old Isaac.

It feels like… I’m not looking at Isaac, but at Isaac’s older brother.

Isaac, having finished checking the postures of the knights striking in unison, approached me.

“You’ve come, Your Majesty.”

He bowed lightly, so I just waved my hand dismissively. Lifting his head, Isaac smiled at me. A mischievous smile shown to a friend, not a master.

“I thought you were sitting still for quite a long time today.”

“I couldn’t help it; I was getting restless.”

Haha, Isaac laughed aloud and rested his sword on his shoulder.

“Then shall we move a bit?”

“Somewhere without people would be better.”

“For the sake of Your Majesty’s dignity?”

I laughed along with Isaac’s joke.

“For the sake of the Vice-Commander.”

As Emperor Kaian always did, I kicked off the ground with my left foot and drew my sword. It was an attack aimed precisely at the neck, but Isaac dodged it simply by tilting his head back. I lightly flicked the sword that was burning with manifested fire energy.

“A Sword Master rolling on the ground isn’t very stylish, is it?”

At my provocation, Isaac drew his sword with an “I have no choice” expression. The knights in the training ground glanced our way even while continuing their own practice. Even though this happened almost every week, they seemed to find it fascinating every time. Well, I understand. I find it fascinating too. Aura made of fire energy.

Isaac’s skill is much higher, but this sparring match will end in a draw. It isn’t a contest to see who is superior.

The flaming sword and the brilliant blue sword clashed and separated relentlessly, as if they had choreographed the moves beforehand. I laughed, enjoying the feeling of using my body to its fullest for the first time in a long while. Isaac countered or deflected my strikes appropriately so that I could play to my heart’s content.

As my breath grew heavy, Isaac pushed me back with his angled sword. Watching him widen the gap in an instant, I motioned for him to come at me.

“Here I come.”

Isaac spoke kindly and then lunged toward my waist. This time it was my turn to defend. I parried the sword, which held just enough force for me to withstand. The sword, curved in a graceful arc, now aimed for my neck. When I blocked it with the guard above the hilt, a screeching sound of grinding metal erupted.

The sparring ended. To use an exaggeration, I had used up every ounce of strength I had, and just as I was about to “unstylishly” roll on the ground, Isaac carried me out. Hanging over Isaac’s shoulder, I waved to the knights in the training ground; some laughed while others bowed politely. You guys are dead meat to Isaac later. He’ll drill you until you vomit for not focusing on training.

“You’ve become even more of a monster.”

Isaac laughed at my grumbling. I ruffled his hair. I’m soaked in sweat, but this b*stard is perfectly dry. Dammit. Even though it’s natural, I felt somewhat indignant, so during the short walk to the Vice-Commander’s office, I turned Isaac’s hair into a perfect bird’s nest. Isaac just chuckled regardless and greeted other knights passing by, then set me down on the sofa in his office.

“I’m exhausted…”

I sprawled out on the sofa, covering my forehead and eyes with the back of my hand. Moving my body as I pleased and not feeling pain when I should was so fascinating that I overdid it. Suddenly, something landed on my face. I grabbed it to check. It was a soft towel.

“Are you very tired?”

“Yes.”

Really tired. But I feel great. I rubbed my face vigorously with the towel. It was incredibly fun to be able to swing that heavy hunk of iron at will. I see why Emperor Kaian called for Isaac to dance with blades whenever he was stressed. I want to be born with a strong body in my next life too. I want to be a swordsman.

“That…”

Since my hair was soaked with sweat, I sat up and was about to shake it dry with the towel when I stopped. I was going to go back and wash, but I couldn’t wait. I got up and headed toward the bathroom attached to the office.

“Your Majesty.”

“Hmm?”

I turned back at the call as I was turning the doorknob. Isaac was looking at me with a serious expression. I wondered why he was suddenly acting like this, but I first lowered the corners of my mouth that had been lifted.

“I am on Your Majesty’s side.”

Suddenly, out of the blue?

Vice-Commander Isaac had sworn an oath of loyalty to Emperor Kaian twice. Once at thirteen when they first met, he pledged his life, and again at fifteen when they shared all sorts of secrets, he pledged “his everything.” “Everything” sounds very much like a boy of that age… but it’s a different story if he keeps it for a lifetime. And Isaac has kept it very well. Without a doubt.

“I know.”

I looked at Isaac and shrugged. My Isaac’s thirty might not look like this, but his heart toward me will be as firm as the Vice-Commander’s. No, maybe we are firmer than this side built on friendship. That’s assuming I can live until thirty, of course.

Anyway, Vice-Commander Isaac frowned and then relaxed as if he were about to say something difficult. What is it? You’ll give your life but you can’t give your everything? Has he found a woman he loves? If so, I was willing to let him go. In the first place, “Emperor Kaian” never wanted your everything. He accepted the oath while caught up in the mood, but he later thought it might have been a bit much while thinking about it in bed.

“I heard from Her Highness Sierra.”

“…”

I took off the towel I had over my head and balled it up. Isaac stared out the window and spoke in a grave voice.

“I am Your Majesty’s friend and your sharpest sword. On the path you walk…”

Dammit. I threw the towel at his face.

Just how far has that cursed rumor spread?

The answer was: the entire Imperial Capital.

I walked out, overturning the weekly meeting. I didn’t want to stay for a single second in that cursed place that was less of a meeting and more of an “Emperor Kaian Marriage Promotion Committee.” Those who were moderately asking to “prepare for the future” last week were now determinedly shoving portraits in my face. Every one of them was a blonde beauty who looked like she had a tragic backstory.

The Dragon Blood is quiet, so people are trying to make my blood boil!

Lamenting, I tossed the crown I was wearing onto the office sofa. I’m going on strike. I can’t work in this mood. It’s not my job or my country anyway.

I thought about going to Isaac but changed my mind. He’s the same. There is no one on my side in this world.

Ah, I miss Kallios. Though he seems to be misunderstood as well…

I dove into the sofa and flailed about, then stopped abruptly like I’d been hit by a stun debuff.

No. There was one person on my side in this world.

It was me. Me. Unlike the me who plays and eats in the spire, the capable and brilliant Emperor Kaian.

I sprang up and opened the bottom drawer of the desk.

Inside was a slate-gray robe and a pouch of money. After looking around the empty room, I carefully took them out.

This is a Dragon’s Dream anyway. Is there any reason for me to quietly play along with the role-play? No.

I decided to go see Kallios.