Chapter 10: Council of Elders Meeting

Yuri had disliked balls for a long time.

He didn’t like wearing uncomfortable clothes, keeping formalities while greeting, and being forced to dance again and again with people he didn’t want to.

And now that he had returned to the past, he had one more reason.

“I don’t like that outfit.”

“Why not? You used to like it.”

“Did I say that?”

“You sneered at it the moment you saw it, but since you didn’t say anything cruel or slash it with a sword, I knew you actually liked it deep down.”

“…”

Ena knew Yuri far too well. Or more precisely, she knew his past self very well.

“In any case, I don’t like it.”

“Should I call the tailor again?”

“Yes.”

“I think it’s pretty.”

After so many years as a mercenary, Yuri’s sense of aesthetics had changed a lot. That’s why the overly decorative ceremonial uniform, made purely for appearances, seemed detestable to him.

“And besides, Prince, you’re a good dancer.”

“Not really. It’s just that everyone else is worse.”

“There you go again with your cruel comments.”

“I know.”

Yuri accepted his fault without resistance.

Ever since returning to his childhood, old habits from the past kept dragging him down.

He couldn’t let that continue. He hadn’t come back to live as before, but to stop the Empire’s invasion.

“Thanks for pointing it out.”

“It’s nothing.”

“If I start saying hurtful things again, keep correcting me.”

“Can’t I slap you like before?”

“No, not that.”

Ena’s slaps hurt.

“Prince.”

“Mm?”

“Remember you have to attend the Council of Elders’ meeting today?”

“I know.”

“The weather’s nice today.”

Ena opened the curtains and smiled at Yuri.

“After the meeting, don’t just stay training. You could go out for a walk, for instance.”

Ena’s face, bathed in sunlight, shone brightly. Her gently curved eyes were pleasant to see.

Ena. A girl with a noble heart who, despite dealing with a difficult prince, never lost her smile.

But Yuri hadn’t been able to protect her.

“Ena.”

“Yes?”

“Do you want to dance?”

Ena’s eyes widened.

“Eh?”

He remembered hearing her talk with the other maids. Like any girl, Ena also dreamed of wearing a beautiful dress and dancing with an elegant partner at a royal ball.

He wanted to punch his past self for having sneered at that dream.

In this life, he would never treat her that way again.

“I want to practice dancing a little.”

Yuri said with a gentle smile. But her reaction wasn’t what he expected.

“D-Do we have to…?”

She looked genuinely uncomfortable.

“What’s with that face?”

“Uugh…”

Yuri felt a little hurt. He was offering goodwill, and she reacted like that?

He had made many mistakes.

Ena approached cautiously, still suspicious.

“You’re not going to step on my feet, are you…?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Or make me trip…?”

“Are you misunderstanding my intentions?”

“Actually, it’s the opposite…”

“Just follow me. Slowly.”

“Prince. Are you underestimating me? I’m a good dancer.”

“Really? Danced a lot?”

“Of course.”

“With who?”

“I lost count. I’ve been asked to dance so many times…”

“Not bad, huh?”

“Believe it or not, I’m popular. Though this is the first time I’ve danced with someone so short.”

“You’ll see.”

He was shorter than her now, but soon he would grow and look down from above.

Ena danced surprisingly well. Maybe not fit for banquets, but at least he could dance with her like this from time to time.

“You stepped on my foot.”

“Sorry. Bad step.”

“You did it again…”

“It was an accident.”

***

“No.”

The greasy voice that replied made Yuri frown.

“It is not right to learn a mana method that hasn’t been verified. Your Highness should learn the royal family’s method.”

“An unverified method? It was left by the Founder.”

“It’s not certain. It’s not even clear whether it really came from the Founder.”

“Are you doubting my word?”

“What I’m saying is that we should confirm it. Besides, even if it was left by the Founder, is there any guarantee it’s better than Briol’s method?”

“You’re being very disrespectful.”

Yuri sighed and looked toward the main seat. The throne of the King of Briol, Fiore, was empty. He had claimed, with a ridiculous excuse, that he was busy with state affairs.

“What was the purpose of this meeting?”

Duke Ujes, Genard Jetteri, who had opposed from the start, smiled mockingly.

“We’ve gathered because we fear Your Highness may be going down the wrong path. If we were only here to nod, what would be the point of this meeting? Wouldn’t you agree? Heh heh heh…”

Whenever there was an important matter, a meeting of the Council of Elders was convened.

Composed of influential nobles, it was supposedly intended to advise the king in governing the kingdom.

But in reality, its purpose was different. It was a way to keep royal power in check. They always voted against everything.

This time was no different. Yuri, Prince of Briol, had discovered a mana method from the Founder and wanted to learn it. Why did that need to be debated?

Genard, as if reading Yuri’s thoughts, continued:

“All for the sake of Your Highness.”

“Touching.”

Yuri slumped in his seat and shrugged. They had no authority to decide which mana method he should use, yet they were still a nuisance.

And he hated his father even more for dumping this on him, knowing it would end this way.

“Sir Saned, what do you think?”

Even the captain of the royal guard, who shouldn’t be there, had been dragged in as a witness.

He wore an uncomfortable expression.

“Well… I can’t judge lightly.”

“Why not?”

“Each mana method has its strengths and weaknesses, and every person has different characteristics…”

“See?”

Genard straightened his shoulders as if those words were an endorsement.

“Even the captain of the guard can’t make a judgment. Is there any knight here more qualified? If even he says the method is uncertain…”

“I agree.”

“Don’t twist Sir Saned’s words.”

“Twist?”

“He didn’t say the method was uncertain, but that they all have value…”

“It’s the same!”

Yuri decided to remain silent. At least it was a chance to see who was loyal to the royal family and who bowed to Genard.

“Your Highness, would you like some tea?”

“I’ll decide that.”

In his past life, Yuri had believed that Genard, with his sickly sweet smile, was a loyal servant. What a fool he had been. He had only kept sycophantic nobles close who acted like tongues in his mouth.

There was a bitter taste in his mouth.

After the fall of Briol, Genard had survived and bowed before the emperor to keep his duke title. Many times, Yuri had considered giving it all up and slitting his throat with a sword.

But he believed he didn’t yet have the right to punish him.

“What Duke Ujes says makes sense.”

A voice interrupted his thoughts.

“It’s not advisable to learn a mana method lightly. It’s better to go with one that’s verified. Your Highness, have you informed His Majesty of this?”

Yuri shook his head.

“It’s not a method that can be easily shared.”

“Oh, no?”

“Maybe once I reach a certain level, I’ll be able to explain a bit.”

Yuri had learned the method by sparring against dummies that clearly showed mana flow. So he didn’t know how to pass it on to others.

That noble hesitated a moment, then advised:

“I think it would be better to learn Briol’s method. Using an unconfirmed one is risky.”

“I agree.”

“All for the sake of Your Highness.”

“Indeed.”

One by one, the nobles aligned with Genard’s opinion.

Yuri crossed his arms and calmly closed his eyes. Regardless, he intended to learn Erich Briol’s “Soul and Heart Cut” method.

An intense gut feeling pushed him toward it.

“You want me to restructure my mana method?”

“If necessary…”

“Do you know how difficult that is?”

“For someone young it’s possible. Especially if they haven’t been learning long.”

Yuri let out a soft chuckle. Maybe for an ordinary person, but he was different. Thanks to his memories of the past, he had adapted to mana at an abnormally fast rate.

He had already internalized the method to a level difficult to reverse.

But he couldn’t explain all that.

While he was deep in thought, a man sitting quietly in a corner raised his hand.

“Ahem, may I say something?”

It was a face he didn’t recognize. Genard frowned.

“And who are you? What’s your title?”

A rather rude question.

Another noble beside Genard answered for him.

“He’s a free baron.”

In other words, he had no lands.

“A baron? And a free one at that? What’s someone like that doing in this meeting?”

Several nobles laughed in unison at that comment. It was hard to distinguish them, but thanks to those laughs, Yuri identified four or five seated on either side of Genard as being part of his faction.

While Yuri analyzed the faces, the free baron continued.

“Yes, well, that’s true. So…”

“Say your name first.”

Genard interrupted, but the man kept smiling.

“Of course. I’m Calcio Erancha. As you’ve just laughed, I’m a free baron. I suppose you don’t like that a nobody like me is in this room. To be honest, I didn’t want to come either. But what could I do? Count Saidor delegated me to represent him.”

The room went silent.

Count Saidor, Heime Theodore. A border marquis tasked with defending the frontier.

A formidable knight and ruthless hunter. A true soldier who spent his whole life on the battlefield.

A noble with dry lips muttered:

“What could’ve made Count Saidor send someone to the Council…?”

Everyone wondered the same. The Count never participated in these events. It was the first time he sent a representative.

“I don’t know. He’s not one to explain himself.”

“And what did you want to say?”

“Now can I speak?”

Calcio chuckled briefly and continued.

“You folks who play at being nobles in the capital might enjoy these pointless debates…”

“What…?”

What he said next was even more provocative. But no one could interrupt him. The weight of Count Saidor was behind him.

Calcio raised his hands.

“To me, all this is nonsense. Unless someone learns terribly, all mana methods end up being the same. Especially on the battlefield. Briol’s method, the Empire’s—what matters in the end is who uses it.”

Genard drummed his fingers. One of his allies responded.

“In battle, those small differences can mean life or death. Do you take us for fools with no experience?”

“Oh, so you’ve been to war then?”

“Of course. I’m Baron Defer. You might’ve heard of me. I recently defended my fief…”

“Ah, another baron. Did you get permission from your lord before speaking?”

Baron Defer’s face turned red.

And several nobles not in Genard’s camp stifled laughter.

Calcio went on.

“Well then, brave friend. What’s the most important thing when wielding a sword?”

“What?”

“When you stab the enemy, do you use your brain?”

“Well, you act on trained reflexes…”

“Nice phrasing, huh?”

“Excuse me?”

“He’s right.”

Calcio looked at Yuri.

“Instinct. It’s a realm separate from reason. That’s why, if His Highness says he’ll follow the Founder’s method based on instinct, it’s ridiculous that so many are sticking their noses in. Anyway, it’s always these bureaucrats who’ve never seen battle that talk the most.”

Yuri ended up laughing too.

Genard scowled.

“Free baron, you speak too freely.”

“Forgive me. I’m just a humble baron with no land or education. I lack proper manners. I spend my days fighting orcs on the frontier, and that’s how I’ve become.”

The nobles groaned at that word.

“Orcs…”

Orcs were savage marauders, flesh-eaters capable of slaughtering several soldiers alone. That was one reason Count Saidor was so respected.

For years, he defended the frontier from orcs. They feared him and called him “the scar-covered wolf.”

Calcio smiled.

“Tell me, how many of you here have faced an orc head-on?”