Chapter 184

Chapter 184

***

Night closed the field of vision and opened the ears. The call of a scops owl heard from afar seemed to be sorrowfully calling out to someone. To someone who had parted and could never be met forever, that was.

Rickart cooled his intoxication in the cold air alone. For some reason the sword at his waist felt heavy.

So he took off the belt and leaned on the sword like a walking stick on the ground. Strangely his head was dizzy exactly like he was going to collapse.

That wasn't because Rickart was weak to alcohol or ate something wrong, but because of the knot situated in a corner of his heart.

He met his father and eldest brother after a long time and shared various stories like establishing the headquarters of the Master's Federation, but something important was missing in all those conversations.

That was precisely Vilter.

It wasn't that he told a lie, or was trying hard to hide it either, but was there a need to purposefully say words that weren't even asked? Whether it was a matter of conscience or guilt, Rickart was disturbed.

Letting out irregular sighs a few times, Rickart roughly wrapped the belt around his waist again and headed somewhere. Uncharacteristically, his uneven footsteps seemed to represent his heavy and disturbed heart.

Staggering the place he headed to was Abellich's tent. Around it a bonfire was burning, and there were knights standing night duty, but they didn't exactly start talking to him.

Because they were all from the Flame Knights they all knew. That the Commander who once led them wasn't Rickart, but Vilter.

He was a man truly like a flame. One who hid his tender heart and burned his whole body to take responsibility. Even if his method was wrong, the people who followed him couldn't bear to hate him.

So the knights roughly guessed what Rickart was trying to did, and what kind of heart he had.

Rickart loitered outside his father's tent hesitating for a long time. He tried to force himself to make up his mind, then gave up, and tried hard to rationalize himself, and also resigned himself.

During that his father's voice was heard from inside the tent.

"Why are you hesitating so much? If you need my neck properly speak up. Hesitation is not clothing suiting a King."

At those words Rickart's heart felt a pang. Because he couldn't muster the courage until the end, since it had become like this he just flipped the entrance returning into the tent.

A single light from a lantern placed on the table, Abellich having taken off his armament and in light attire, was sitting near the bed.

Whether because of the alcohol or his dizzy heart Rickart was somewhat in a disheveled state, and dragging rattle a chair from nearby he sat in front of his father.

And then bowing his upper body he stayed still. Father didn't hasten him.

Rickart's heart surged up gulping somehow, coming up to his throat then going down again repeating several times. Then swallowing his saliva once gulp he left his surging heart to flow over completely trickling.

"Father, you know...... I killed Billy. Another son of Father's."

A more uncomfortable silence than any other time took place. However a moment later, Abellich's answer was unexpected.

"I knew."

Thereupon Rickart who had his head bowed turned his head and looked at his father. Exactly like a puppy caught in the rain his gaze was pitiful.

"You were leading the Flame Knights and galloping the Empire, but for some reason news of Billy who joined the Knight Order wasn't heard. Then isn't it obvious."

"Indeed......"

"Being prepared to die at any time if you go out to the battlefield is the true duty of a knight. You Ricky and Billy must have definitely fulfilled your true duties. I don't resent you."

"......"

"I too uselessly ran away cowardly in my first battle and made my older brother, and further my father die. That is knotted as a lifelong regret. However ultimately, swallowing tears alone and enduring is the work a man must do. How can a person who doesn't know pain and sadness be called a hero? In everything calling a hero exactly an immense shadow follows just as much as an immense achievement. If you killed Billy, it must be because of something you could absolutely never step back from. If so, continue to walk that path. That is the word I can say to you as a father."

Rickart didn't uncontrollably burst into crying or anything like that. Just as he once prayed to God in the Holy Land, a person weeping quietly, tears merely flowed quietly. Tears mixed with longing only towards Vilter, neither remorse nor sadness.

No perfectly flawless human exists in the world. That was the same for the ultimate hero too. If one was perfectly thorough in everything and didn't have personal feelings, that would no longer be a human.

However, when I reveal my weakest part, the one who doesn't use it or catch it as a weakness, and can purely solely comfort me was again exactly only family it seemed.

"I'm sorry, Father......"

Rickart bowed his upper body with both elbows on his knees and sought forgiveness with a crawling voice.

But the Caldebern's family tradition wasn't originally on the affectionate side anyway. There was only a thick affection oozing out within bluntness.

"The night is late. Go sleep."

"But you know, I can't serve you right? In Adelorn."

In his own greed Rickart wanted to take his father to the royal castle of Adelorn and serve him and live together. However there was no way his father would want that. Because he was Stormhearts itself.

"Why do you ask when you know."

"I just asked once."

Rickart wiped his tears and flashed a smile. Because Abellich merely smiled faintly in return, it couldn't be seen well in the dark tent.

"I will go sleep. Please sleep well."

Rickart got up from his seat and went to sleep. Desolation laid down in Abellich's tent again.

Lying back down on the field bed, Abellich suddenly felt the emotion of being lonely. Because his wife had died a long time ago, Vilter had gone first, and Graut had now decided to stay with Eileen in Caldebern Castle. As for Rickart he established a royal family in Adelorn.

His children all lived their respective destinies. Was there a destiny left for me too now? Even if there was it was faint.

He could have remarried, but he didn't. Everything was for the family, merely for the children. And it was because of love.

"It is my fault, Hildi......"

Abellich called his wife who died a long time ago. He wasn't crying, but just as he himself said to Rickart he merely swallowed the loneliness and sadness alone. Like a man. Like a father.

And saying he didn't resent Rickart was sincere. Rather regarding Vilter's death Abellich blamed himself.

If he hadn't told him to cultivate patience, if he hadn't permitted him to join the Knight Order, such regrets pierced deeply and his heart tore.

However he didn't tell all those emotions to anyone, absolutely never revealed them, and silently endured alone. Unalike Rickart Abellich had no one to lean on.

The only thing to use as comfort was the call of the scops owl heard from afar. It sounded like earnestly calling someone. Unable to meet forever.

From the crack of dawn the 2nd Prince's encampment was noisy. To the point Lotharius who was sleeping out of his mind burying his face in a young prostitute's chest woke up from sleep.

It wasn't a loudly chattering sound, but a murmuring sound was enough to pull up the consciousness that had sunk sufficiently above the surface of the water.

Lotharius opened his eyes frowning unpleasantly. But around that time someone roughly flipped open fluttering the tent entrance. Who dares?

Raising his upper body and turning his head he saw a pitch-black silhouette with its back against the light. So this time he frowned because of the light, then gradually adapted.

Thereupon the person with his back to the light could barely be seen, and Lotharius's sleep ended up completely flying away whoosh.

Because the person standing at the entrance wasn't Baldur or an adjutant, nor an attendant but Rickart.

"Heok!"

Lotharius subconsciously jumped up his body abruptly hiding behind the naked prostitute.

Saying this and that only when Rickart wasn't in sight, actually appearing before his eyes the terror of the past days when he had suffered severely came to life again.

More than anything the fear that he could be assassinated right now was the biggest.

"I, It's not me! It's not me doing that!"

Lotharius shouted desperately. On the contrary the prostitute with an bewildered face merely looked back and forth at Rickart and Lotharius while covering her body with a blanket.

"I merely came for a return visit, Prince Lotharius. Because I won't harm you please put on your clothes."

Completely differently from the greatly surprised Lotharius, Rickart spoke calmly.

Rickart went out of the tent again so he could prepare. Thereupon the real powers of the 2nd Prince's army surrounding him came into view. Whether knights or soldiers, everyone being surprised like the 2nd Prince was exactly the same.

Because none other than, rather than sending an envoy the King came himself. And accompanied by only one young attendant at that. Even being bold there's an extent, seeing it with their eyes they couldn't believe it.

Weighing the position of titles the one next to an Emperor was a King. Because even a Prince was exactly what they call a step behind, a King himself visiting was a matter that wouldn't happen unless it was a very special case.

Nevertheless Rickart stood majestically, and rather overwhelmed the people. This self-confidence was his own martial prowess too, but it might also be because he resolved the knot in his heart last night.

Exactly like shedding a layer of skin, a calm yet majestic aura flowed out like an aura.

There was no such King in history. A King stepping forward personally, taking a risk, that was. However tracing it actually the one who took the lead in all battles until now was Rickart too.

He was no longer a snot-nosed student of Beringen Academy, nor merely a swordsman commanding one region, but a single majestic and shining King.

Seeing the appearance of a proper young monarch the people of the 2nd Prince's army were almost at the point of being speechless. Since that subtle hostility between Rickart and the 2nd Prince's army wasn't completely solved.

Waiting for a moment presently the prostitute came out of the tent in a disheveled attire unable to even fix her clothes.

"D, It's done. Please come in, King. If Duke Brumbaer and Baldur are outside too please come in."

When the Prince's voice was heard from inside the tent Rickart immediately entered the tent, and Baldur and Duke Brumbaer who were keeping a sharp eye on the situation all along also followed and entered.

Duke Brumbaer didn't have a muscular body, but having a very large build it was a typical physique of a strongman. On the other hand his eyes drooped slightly looking as if he was sleepy.

When the three people entered the barracks the 2nd Prince was in the middle of fixing his attire hurriedly.

"P, Please sit. If you had at least sent a message in advance I would have shown sufficient courtesy."

"No, purposefully going through various procedures only delays the days. If both sides have already made the decision shouldn't the rest of the matters be handled swiftly."

"R, Right. Please sit."

At Lotharius's words Rickart, Baldur, and Duke Brumbaer sat in front of the heavy solid wood table. The 2nd Prince brought some parchment document, then sitting in his seat himself he said.

"The document was prepared in advance."

Rickart received the document and read it thoroughly. The contents were the 2nd Prince and Duke Brumbaer certifying that Eileen's succession to the Count of Caldebern title had no problems and was lawful.

Instead, the 2nd Prince and Rickart promised not to be hostile toward each other in the future unless there were special circumstances.

Rickart didn't even deliberate and signed it refreshingly. The 2nd Prince too was still feeling bewildered, but he signed himself too. But Duke Brumbaer didn't pick up the pen.

"Is there some problem? Wasn't it all discussed in advance."

The 2nd Prince asked. Thereupon the Duke who hadn't said anything exactly as if he pasted glue on his mouth said.

"A woman is a bit......"

"What about a woman?"

As Rickart glared quickly whoosh and said, Duke Brumbaer unbefitting his large build obediently picked up the pen. Once he signed the document was finally completed, and peace between the two forces was also made.

"I hope you keep your promise, Prince Lotharius."

Duke Brumbaer said. He wasn't following the 2nd Prince because of money, but was following purely believing the promise to abolish the Duke of Frederia title.

In other words, the peace between the 2nd Prince and Rickart was tracing it actually a matter unrelated to him. Because he had to sign the document entirely unable to did anything about that unrelated matter, his insides seemed to ache a bit. Anyway the Caldebern Count territory was a territory under him though.

"If we weigh all the various complex problems we only consume army provisions and gain nothing. By this a restriction on the army's movement has disappeared, so His Excellency the Duke's wish has also grown closer by a step."

Wise Baldur said exactly as if soothing the Duke. Summarizing it meant for the great cause you make a bit of a concession.

Anyway because the King Rickart came personally without a single formal procedure, the matter was finished exactly like this. Because the work worked out too well the 2nd Prince thought for a moment was this okay.

"S, Shouldn't we prepare a banquet?"

To the 2nd Prince's words, Rickart packed the copy of the document into his arms and said.

"No. It's fine. But before I go there's one thing to make sure of. After assassinating Count Caldebern who was trying to occupy his territory? Duke Brumbaer, or the 2nd Prince? I'm a bit curious about that."

"......I, I said it's not me. Wouldn't such crazy bastards also come out simply because the world is chaotic."

"That Lord Lotharius worked the One-Eyed Clan like dogs is a story everyone in the world knows. I hope you don't insult my intelligence."

"......Speaking honestly I said 'it's okay to dunk', I never said 'it's okay to kill'."

It was an excuse that didn't even sound like words. But it was true too. That he didn't directly say to kill. So Rickart ended up smiling snicker.

"Whose head did that plan come out from?"

Rickart said looking at Baldur exactly as if he knew everything. Thereupon Baldur answered brazenly.

"How would I know what the Prince doesn't know."

To the an unforthcoming and unrefreshing answer Rickart thought for a moment then said.

"Saying it's peace it's probably closer to an armistice. Yeah, I think this is exactly suitable for the relationship between you guys and me. I will be going."

Rickart rose from his seat. Digging into the truth was something there was absolutely no need to purposefully did.

Rickart exactly finishing only his business, went out of the barracks got on his horse again then taking Roy leisurely went out of the encampment.

Driving the horse slowly, even the soldiers who flocked over hearing the news belatedly swarmed swarming. They all came to see Rickart. With a gaze mixed with fear and respect.

Anyway the 2nd Prince's tent where the three people remained had a heavy atmosphere.

"Yeah, isn't it about time you listen to my request now?"

Duke Brumbaer said looking at Baldur. It was a sound telling the 2nd Prince to listen.

But the moment Baldur was trying to open his mouth and answer, the 2nd Prince cut in.

"Just a moment."

Duke Brumbaer and Baldur looked back at him at the same time.

"Ah...... Not anything else, I have to do it once in the morning but someone visited suddenly so I couldn't do it. Not because of anything else but if I don't do that my head doesn't spin properly. I'd like to solve that first. Could you call Rudy again?"

"......"

There was no perfect person in the world. The 2nd Prince Lotharius was like that too. It wasn't that he only had pathetic corners, but every time he was like this honestly affection completely fell apart.

"Please do so."

Duke Brumbaer exactly as if his feelings were hurt just got up from his seat.

To the 2nd Prince's ugly behavior Baldur unable to watch it anymore said a word.

"Try to suppress such things alone a bit! He's Duke Brumbaer! It's a Duke, a Duke! He's a person who occupies a considerable portion of our combat power! You shouldn't treat him in this manner!"

"......I'm saying it's because my head doesn't spin. To say important words shouldn't my head be clear."

"Ah......"

Baldur finally let out a groaning sound and ended up placing his hand on his own forehead.

While there were people in the world who endured pain and sadness firmly alone, there were bound to be people who couldn't endure it even a little too.

Still, thinking positively the 2nd Prince had something called human touch. If there was a biggest difference with the snake-like 2nd Prince it might be precisely that.

Baldur got up from his seat went out of the tent, then called the prostitute named Rudy.

However it became, by this Rickart and the 2nd Prince Lotharius made peace. And, the headquarters of the Master's Federation was established in Stormhearts and the first joined Lord was Caldebern's Countess, Eileen.