The Prince Wants to Retire

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The Crown Prince Wishes to Retire

19. Continental Conference (3)

The retirement ceremony of the Crown Prince.

It was quite rare for a Crown Prince to step down voluntarily, making the very fact of his retirement ceremony a focal point of intrigue.

Even more so because the protagonist of this retirement was none other than Kariel, who held the most support among the Empire citizens.

As a result, the citizens’ attention was entirely fixated on the retirement ceremony.

Interest in the Crown Prince’s retirement extended beyond the Empire, with foreign nations also predicting how the political landscape would shift afterward.

Consequently, the Pope’s schedule, who wanted to depart early from the Holy Nation, got entangled.

“……Your Majesty, please delay your departure.”

The Cardinal’s words met a shake of the Pope’s head.

“Proceed.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Now is the time to demonstrate sincerity. That way, we can present our justification once we arrive in the capital.”

With the powerful card of the Crown Prince’s retirement now in play, the Pope’s strategy had been shattered.

But it still had to be done.

This was an inherently unfavorable battle for the Holy Nation, and therefore, it needed to be viewed with a long-term perspective.

“The final victor will be our Holy Nation.”

With that proclamation, the Pope ascended into a white wagon.

Upon seeing this, all the Cardinals bowed to the Pope.

“May Your Majesty’s will be done.”

In a situation where all issues were concentrated on the Crown Prince, the Pope’s procession finally set off.

A brief article was published about the Pope heading towards Ignit, but it quickly faded from memory.

Thus, with the entire West Continent’s attention directed towards Ignit, it appeared everything was unfolding as Kariel had intended.

However, some unexpected minor issues arose.

「Block the Crown Prince’s retirement!」

The Empire citizens gathered in the square were shouting towards the Imperial Palace.

The Crown Prince, who had not only expelled the corrupt nobles but also captured the Dark Mages and elevated the Empire’s status?

For the citizens of the Empire, his retirement was simply unthinkable.

“As His Highness has himself declared his abdication….”

One bureaucrat attempted to explain on behalf, but the Empire citizens had no appetite for such explanations.

They knew Kariel wished to retire, but most thought about how much the bureaucrats hadn’t worked and had tormented the Crown Prince to make him feel that way.

The very people who should have been grabbing his pants to change his mind were casually planning a retirement ceremony, leaving no room for fury.

Yet, there were some Empire citizens who said the Crown Prince should be allowed to leave.

After all the hardships he had suffered, it seemed better to let him retire and return if he wished.

There was also an expectation toward the other two princes.

Though not as effective as the Crown Prince, the two princes had also shown commendable efforts in capturing the Dark Mages.

「His Highness the Crown Prince directly declared the talents of the two princes!」

「The future of the Empire is bright!」

They hurriedly praised the talents of the two princes through public newspapers, but it was no use.

In the midst of the unexpected chaos, the schedule for the Continental Conference was announced to redirect attention, and foreign envoys began to move in tandem.

Gradually, the enraged Empire citizens began to calm their tempers one by one.

The reason was that the delegates arriving for the Continental Conference were quite impressive.

With the participation of key figures from various nations, it was an expected result; however, what the Empire citizens anticipated was something else entirely.

「Following the South, both the Principality and the West Alliance send their Masters!」

「Will the qualifications of the invited nations hinge on their Masters?」

Such articles began to emerge, heightening the Empire citizens’ expectations.

The sight of two Masters dominating the South and the Pope – a Master from the Holy Nation – personally coming was startling enough, but the other two countries sending their Masters as well only added to the excitement.

“All the Masters of the West Continent are converging here.”

“It’ll be fun to see them clash.”

“I hope we get a ranking of the Masters this time.”

Could it be because all the Masters of the West Continent were arriving?

Many people were brimming with excitement about what would happen at this Continental Conference.

In line with their growing excitement, the Empire declared a festival while the Continental Conference was held at the Imperial Palace.

Thus, a huge number of merchants rushed to the capital of Ignit, trailing the delegates from various nations.

As the countless processions converged into the plaza, the clock tower struck noon, and the knights of the capital began to take control.

At that moment, with a sudden clearing at the gates of the capital, the long-awaited processions began to enter one by one.

They all had previously agreed to arrive at this hour, entering the capital in order as set by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

First to move was the Holy Nation.

Originally, they should have been placed last, but in a show of humility due to the recent Dark Mage incident, they had decided to lower their status voluntarily.

However, order is order, as the Pope opened the window of the wagon, waving to the citizens of the Empire.

Beside him rode the next Master, the Sun Blade, donning a solemn expression on a white horse.

“Is that the next Master?”

“His presence is indeed formidable.”

The knights observed the Sun Blade puffing up his aura and nodded heavily.

Among the knights in the Empire, it seemed almost no one apart from the Masters could handle the sword of the Sun Blade.

As the Empire’s knights heightened their vigilance towards the Sun Blade, the procession continued.

Following the Holy Nation, the next to enter were Talion and Rotheon.

The wagons carrying the kings of both nations entered simultaneously, accompanied by their pride, Duke Cletta and Duke Pires.

Though they would normally be positioned late, recent events in the Southeast motivated them to wish for earlier entry this time.

Even though they were close to enemy territory, it was an honor for both knights and ordinary citizens of the Empire to see a Master in the flesh.

Cheering erupted from the Empire citizens as they witnessed the two Masters competing for dominance in the South.

Meanwhile, the Iron Alliance moved in.

“It’s Salvatore!”

“The handsome knight Salvatore!”

With the appearance of Salvatore, the Master of the Iron Alliance, women began to cheer wildly.

The number one desirable groom sought after by ladies of the West Continent.

Not only was he good-looking, but he was also a Master of the highest caliber.

He was approaching his forties but still maintained his captivating charm, stirring excitement among the women of the Empire.

Single women could be understood, but even married women were cheering, causing the husbands beside them to give side-glances.

Yet they could only admit to Salvatore’s good looks.

However, now the women were glaring at their husbands.

For the Supreme Commander of the Luminous Principality, known as the Shield of the West, was making her entrance.

“Marquis Chardonnay!”

“The most beautiful woman in the continent!”

A genius who reached mastery in her late twenties, now just entering her thirties.

What’s more, the fact that she was still unmarried was of great significance.

Her beauty was striking enough to earn cheers from men.

“Please wave your hand at least.”

“……No, thank you.”

The empire’s foremost merchant and princess, Aila, pouted her lips.

Though she was by no means unattractive and was considered a renowned beauty within her Principality, she simply couldn’t compete with Chardonnay.

The overwhelming popularity of Chardonnay lingered even after her passage, with cheers ringing out for a while longer.

But those cheers were bound to dwindle.

The timing for the arrival of the true protagonist was imminent.

“Here they come!”

In the distance, an army appeared.

Rather than riding in a wagon, a hero rode at the front on horseback.

The Crown Prince, with his characteristic languor, was returning to the capital alongside the Empire’s heroes.

Unlike when he first set out, this time Masters accompanied the Crown Prince, and behind him were the Counts of the Border.

Kariel entered with a majestic air, amidst the cheers of the Empire citizens and the flower petals raining down, reminiscent of a victory parade from the battlefield.

“Take it slow.”

Karelio smiled wryly at Kariel, who was trying to hurry his horse in embarrassment.

Always wearing a frown or a look of fatigue, seeing Kariel sporting a rare smile made everyone gaze in amazement.

“Cough! Let’s hurry along.”

Realizing the attention, Kariel blushed lightly as he urged the horse forward, while Talion behind covered his mouth, trying to suppress laughs.

Was it because the Empire citizens were cheering just for the Crown Prince, even in the presence of the Empire’s pillars?

Kariel, his face slightly reddened, hastily guided his horse forward.

Though he complained, a faint smile lingered at the corner of his mouth, noticed by the Masters and Counts, who exchanged amused glances and followed silently behind him.

As the Imperial Army entered, fireworks exploded, officially commencing the Empire’s festival.

Simultaneously, the Continental Conference of the West Continent was set to begin.

The Empire’s endeavor to relieve their past grievances clashed with the nations trying to thwart them, and the battle was about to unfold in earnest.