Raw provider: Tsalispark
Translator: Rhyme
Editor: SilverAndGold
The older knights who had fought alongside King Alterion when they were younger, participated in many battlefields to expand the imperial territory. For them, the Emperor was always a person they highly respected.
For them, Alterion was a hero who made the periphery of the Kingdom, Callistonia, the master of the whole continent. He was a sun who shone its rays into their younger days. And for their fervent loyalty, the Emperor replied to them with Fiefdom and titles of Nobility.
The generation that was raised after the conquest war, as a course of nature, resisted the old forces. Even though these emergent generations were granted the title of nobility, much of the land was already in the possession of old forces.
Except for the land directly under the control of the Emperor, irregardless to the contributions these younger generations made, it was virtually impossible to possess more land than those older forces. So for those emerging generations that were filled with indignation, the matter of the Crown Prince might be just an excuse.
If not for the issue of qualification of Crown prince, the 1st prince, Caylen, had always steadily prepared to become the Emperor – so that when he became the Emperor, the state affairs could continue the same way when Alterion reigned. But if Euricardeon was to become the Emperor, then his mother Melania and his relative Marquis Tron would for sure come up to the frontline.
Marquis Tron was a typical Knight under the Emperor. The one to inherit his title was the brother of Queen Melania, Alfonso Tron, who was a jackal lying down prone to attack. A person who counted to see the fall of the kingdom in front of him…
Tron’s loyalty was something Tasel hated even to think about but his position, bloodline, and his mother, Elena, who was a hostage, were the chains that restrained him from action.
“… After the afternoon roll call, I will continue with the meeting. Zeke, until then, you have to present the findings of the Mist Forest investigation. Mikhail, report to me the situation of rearranged troops. Let’s end it here.”
After a hectic week of continuous meetings on Military reorganization and future war strategies, a worn out Tasel was ready to take a break. Mikhail went back to his own barrack as per his brother’s request. Tasel with the help of a man servant undressed the heavy armor.
If he could put down the load from his shoulders, just like his armor, how good would it be? If he was to return without victory, then his neck would be cut off by his own father. Tasel was very much aware of these truths.
He was not concerned about his life. But his mother who put up with years of disgrace, for what sin must she lose her life? Tasel released a long sigh after he immersed his body into the hot water prepared by the servant.
Because of a long tedious battle, after a long time, the prince had enough time to take a bath. His body was adorned with sturdy muscles but in between the cleaves, there were many blood trains that could be seen. Fortunately, it was not his own blood.
A servant beside him lightly swiped his bare body with a soft washcloth and soon the wash water was dyed red and the servant went to drain the dirty water. He directly immersed his full body and head into the water. As he shook his head, the water in the bathtub soon became murky.
The dust and bloodstains which had accumulated in his black hair were washed away into the water. As the water temperature decreased, the bloody scent in the barrack room thickened.
I am tired of this. Either way I die, it’s all the same. If I am to die right now it might be better as it might save more lives.
Tasel was the most outstanding Knight and an official of the Imperial army. He never allowed any blade to touch his body. Though the number of rebel armies died by his blade were many, he never forgot, even for a moment, that they were also the civilians of his empire.
The opponents were someone’s father, son, husband – they were fighting to make a new world, for their beliefs. Tasel knew all this and yet, his blade always marched forward. To see those righteous lives that crumbled down – was never a good thing.
In depth of nights, where no eyes could follow him, he wanted to cry and apologize for their deaths. But he never could. He was the 2nd prince assigned to suppress the rebel army. He couldn’t show any weakness or regret.
Whether it is the rebel army or the riot army, in the face of either side’s victory, a sweeping purge can’t be avoided. It would have been better to divide the empire, but the question is will both father or Caylen will be satisfied with this outcome.
Because of their ambition, countless civilians lost their lives. And the nobles with an ‘I don’t care’ attitude looked forward to the victory with dark eyes. Tasel who was tangled in all happenings felt distressed.
He broke free from those thoughts when he heard a soldier who reported outside his barrack.
“Highness! The Mist forest survivor regained conscience.”
Tasel quickly wiped off water from his body and swiftly wore his shirt and pants. He directly went to the nursing barrack along with the soldier. Zeke, who also got the same report, ran towards Tasel and went along with him.
“Has the identity been confirmed?”
“Eyrin Copher Valmeo and Junev El Rosheous. Also a commoner Knight recorded simply as Kasia. She must be one of these three. Though the number of female knights are very small, 2 corpses of female knights were found, but because of the heavy injuries, they are beyond recognition. From here nothing more can be narrowed down.”
“Within the soldiers, is there none who recognize them?”
“How can you say something like this after seeing her last time? With blood all over her face, who can one tell apart? And above all, all the three had the most commonly seen dark hair and they were also of similar body type.”
“Mm, you worked hard.”
They were led by a female nurse into a separately arranged barrack.
“She regained her consciousness and is able to talk. Please make the conversation short as her physical condition is still not in a stable state.”
Tasel nodded his head towards the nurse to show that he understood. As he entered, he was met with a patient whose whole body was wrapped in bandages but still blinked her eyes as she steadily looked back at him. Just like Zekes words, her whole face was scarred and it looked like a tree bark.
“Are you awake?”
With Tasel’s question, she slightly nodded her head. But as if that slight movement made her reel in pain she made a low groan and her temples tightened.
“Don’t strain yourself. I am sorry to disturb you in such a time where your wounds have not yet healed. But there are some questions that need to be asked. First off, what are you called?”
This was the moment Kasia feared the most. She didn’t have any memory of the body she occupied.
She felt thankful since she was able to use the language of the world. But there was no memory about her name. Pondering over her name, she answered him with a ‘There was nothing that can be done’ manner.
“I am terribly sorry, I don’t remember… anything about before I opened my eyes. I also don’t remember my name…. But Kasia… this name feels very familiar to me. Whether it’s my name or others…. I don’t know.”
Tasel and Zeke felt disappointed when they heard she had no recollection about the events that happened before she opened her eyes.
“I think your name should be Kasia. In the list of unidentified people, there is a commoner knight named Kasia. But we can only confirm it after the wounds on your face are healed.”
With a blank expression that didn’t betray his disappointment to her, Zeke patiently gave her an explanation.
Is this my name? Is this a coincidence, or God’s plan?
Since she didn’t have any memories, neither Tasel nor Zeke could ask her any further questions. After they reminded her to take care of herself, they bid their goodbye to Kasia and came out of the barrack.
“What are your thoughts?”
“Tough.” Tasel replied with no inclination that he would elaborate. Zeke had followed him for a long time and replied with silence.
“For the moment we need to keep a close watch on her. To not remember anything is a very good excuse…. Since the probability of her being Kasia is high, I will inquire of any of the Knights who know about her.”
“Hmmmm, the look in her eyes was strange. She doesn’t look like someone who lost her memories at all.”
“Saying like that, it really seems so. If she was someone who lost her memories, then shouldn’t she be asking many questions….”
“Let’s keep watch on her.”
From the door where Tasel and Zeke came out a nurse entered and Kasia drank some water from the nurse who looked after her and once again closed her eyes.
The soldier who took care of her was a female who seemed to be about 17 years old. And her name was said as Lunaen. Just like her looks, her heart was also very soft. Kasia whose whole body was in a complete mess was not a concern for her, as she looked after her with utmost sincerity.
How much can I ask this miss…..?
Kasia who organized her thoughts stealthily opened her eyes and looked at her.
“Is there anything you need? Do you want to urinate?” The nurse said as she pointed towards the urine can at the corner.
“Ah. No. It’s not that…. It’s that as I said I don’t have any memories, so…. He-Here, where am I?”
Sure enough, as if she implied that she thought Kasia is pitiful, her eyebrows hung down and she walked towards Kasia.
“This is the Callistonian empire. If you are asking about the current location then it’s Count Alonya’s Kirel province.”
“Is war… going on? If so, with whom?”
“Ah…. Yes, it’s war time. The war is between His Majesty, Emperor Alterion and the rebel army led by the 1st prince of the Empire. I am not sure since I am a commoner, but from what I heard, it seems that the war is happening because of the consecration of the Crown Prince.”
However she tried to search the history she knew, there was no Callistonian Kingdom in her memory and nothing about youths being knighted or their fights.
It seems like this is a situation where I can’t think of anything with my common sense or my experience…
This could be considered as a good thing. If she did wake up in the Medieval ages, then even if she occupied a young body, there wouldn’t be many things she would be able to do.
This could only be confirmed after she got well, left this place, and understood the situation. But in the current moment, she felt relieved as she accepted the identity of a female knight.
“Phew… right. Before that person, who is he?”
“The Commander-in-Chief of the imperial army, 2nd Prince Tasel Kan Amaris. Aahhh, and the red haired Knight beside him is his closest adviser, Zeke Talion Meredith …Or is it Sir Mikhail? Officer Zeke and Officer Mikhael are twins, so it’s difficult to tell them apart. They really do look alike.”
She who spoke the full name of the Prince in a dignified manner only resembled someone of her age when she became confused between Zeke and Mikhail.
“Just one more….. How did I become like this?”
“You really are someone with no memories. I heard that you got caught in the Mana explosion of Wizard Ernon. In order to catch Ernon, the knights blessed with divine power were told to surround him. And Ernon did a huge mana explosion and disappeared without a sight. By the way…. you don’t remember anything at all?”
“Yes, nothing at all…..”
“Poor thing…. In truth from what I heard from the head nurse, those who are attacked by Ernon’s magic, almost all of them lost their sanity. Though I can’t say which is better, becoming mad or losing all of your memories. Even without memories, by being sane you can live a good life in the future. Since miss is a young knight, have faith! Your wounds will also get better soon.”