Chapter 108: Pledge of the Dull Prince

The Narbe Ritter has around a thousand men. They are something like an independent battalion.

Now, those men have gathered before me with Larss command.

His Highness the Prince has something to say to you all.

Lars said that and went down from the stand to yield the spot to me.

I climbed up and looked at the face of the thousand members of the Narbe Ritter.

Every one of them is looking at me with a sharp expression.

Without saying anything unnecessary, I cut straight to the point.

There is a sign of conflict in the South. If a civil war happens, it will be a large one. Me and my brother, Leonard, came up with a plan to attack them by surprise to stop that from happening. To that end, we require an elite unit. I am here in front of you today to talk about that.

After briefly explaining the situation, I paused.

Most of their expressions indicated that they have already expected that kind of development. It means the South is that active.

Weapons and food, if you follow their trail, you will notice when and where they have begun to flow unnaturally. To a soldier, the Southern Nobles intention should be clear as day.

The plan is for Leo to infiltrate the enemys base as an envoy and defeat the enemys leader, Duke Kruger. If I am to give you an order then your mission would be to protect Leo. However, this mission is a dangerous and difficult one. I dont want to leave my younger brothers life in the hands of someone who just following orders. I want you to volunteer.

After I said that, silence took over for a while.

There are those who are honestly surprised by the ridiculous proposal and those who are clearly showing their disdain.

There are various kinds of expressions but none of them are positive ones.

Well, thats only natural I guess. I am the one who said it but I cant help but find it just as ridiculous.

A lot of people will suffer if the civil war happens in the South. The Empire will also be weakened. Thats why Leo decided to head to the South despite knowing full well of the danger. Even if I am not his brother, I think that his resolve to do that is splendid. His ideal is also wonderful.

However, I am different from Leo. no matter how beautiful you put it, my heart will not change. I dont want my younger brother to die. Thats why I want you to keep him alive. Terrible as it is, this is my personal request.

Nobles are selfish but whats even more selfish than them are royalties.

Most things will be forgiven as long as you are one and the value of your life is incomparable to others.

It has been protecting me since I was born and continues to do so even to this moment.

It wont stop protecting you even if you live like me or Trau-niisan. You wont starve even if you dont work and at worst, people would just ridicule or complain to your face.

Such words from a royalty like me would be unthinkable for the members of the Narbe Ritter.

Your Highness. May I ask you something?

I allow it.

A young soldier raised his hand and asked me a question.

His gaze was very direct. He probably corrected his lord with the same gaze as well.

While I was thinking about such a thing, the soldier stated his question.

Will Your Highness be taking part in this operation as well?

I will not.

I see. So you asked us to throw away our lives without nothing to lose huh.

Contempt appeared on many of the unit members faces.

Whatever I say from an ivory tower, it will not reach these people.

Taking no risk nor responsibility, nobody would choose to follow such a person.

You need a resolve in order to move people.

No, I will properly place something on the line as well.

What is it? Money? Your position?

I dont think the Narbe Ritters would move for such insignificant things. What I will bet is my life.

For a moment, everyones expressions turned blank.

Then a roar of laughter followed.

The heck is that prince saying? It was that kind of laughter.

A nonsense from a young prince who doesnt know the weight of life or the meaning of resolve.

They probably think that I just said that I will bet my life for the sake of it. I can get that kind of feeling just by looking at them.

In front of them, I hold up a dagger.

Everyone calls me the Dull Prince. Theres nothing wrong with that. I may have many things taken away from me by Leo inside my mothers womb but that doesnt mean I dont have anything left.

Saying so, I aim the dagger in my right hand at my left.

There is a ritual called [Blood Oath] in the imperial family. It is a ritual where a member of the imperial family who is normally in a position where they will never shed their blood, injures themself and makes an oath with the spilled blood and pain.

It is already an obsolete ritual. Just from studying the record, there hasnt been anyone who has done it in a hundred years. The reason is that theres no meaning to it.

It is not a ritual that has any magical compulsion, simply an action that provides self-satisfaction. It is a pledge that will only hold if the other party believes in the pledgers determination.

Once upon a time, an emperor had succeeded in making a peace declaration through this ritual but it was only succeeded because the king of the other country was also a wise king. It would be meaningless if the other party just looked down on you and laughed.

The only thing that will remain would be the pain and a scar.

Still, to a member of the imperial family, it doesnt change the fact that this ritual is absolute.

No matter how much people tell me to live properly, I only laugh at them. Ive lived as I like. However, this time I have a responsibility to fulfill. That is my responsibility to my younger brother. I was born before him so I became his older brother. At that moment, I took responsibility as his older brother. Being incompetent as I am, that is an important responsibility I was left with.

I stare at Elna.

Elna shakes her head as her face is turning blue but I tell her what I want without averting my eyes.

Elna von Amsberg. You will be the witness to my pledge.

Al.

Can you?

Hearing my question, Elna silently kneels down.

Then.

.I accept the duty.

Good. Listen well. This is the pledge of the dull prince. A pledge from someone who is the laughing stock of the whole empire. Witness it well.

Then I pierced my left hand with the dagger.

The dagger penetrated my skin and deeply pierced my palm.

! ! ? ?

Intense pain and heat run through my body. I want to roll around screaming how painful it was right now.

However, I cant do that. I have to make my pledge without losing to the pain.

I, Seventh PrinceArnold Lakes Adler hereby swears. If the operation in the South failsI swear that I will take the responsibility with my lifeI swear upon this blood and pain that this pledge is absolute. Elna von Amsberg.as the witness, if the content of this pledge is not fulfilled.you must kill me.

..I accept.

Elna nods with a crying face.

Seeing that, I pull out the dagger from my left hand.

A large amount of blood flows out and a reddish-black wound enters my sight. Rather than the pain, the heat I felt was overwhelming.

My consciousness grew faint but I endured it and showed that wound to all the Narbe Ritters.

Look at this wound! This is the proof that I bet everything for my brothers life! Even if you will not respond to my resolve, this will never change! This wound is something that I should be proud of! This must be the same for you guys! The moment you scarred the crest of your lords, you did not receive any reward! You didnt do it because you wanted to become an imperial knight! You didnt do it because you want to be bestowed a peerage! You did it because you thought that you cant leave things as they are and decided to do it out of your own free will!

I didnt say that they did it while not hoping for something in return.

I simply said that even though they didnt receive anything in return, what they decided to do never changed.

Your resolve never changesyou stood up for our country and its people. If you believe that what you did was correct then dont waver just from how the others see you! Just because you didnt receive any reward doesnt mean that what you did has no meaning! The scarred crest you bear should be the symbol of your pride! Even if people say that it was a symbol of betrayal if your will is still unshaken then push out your chest! The scars you carved are no different than mine. Stop looking down on yourself because you chose to make that scar for the sake of someone else!

Righteousness is not something indestructible. It is something fickle that can be changed depending on your position and each person has their own view on it.

Still, when they did it, they believed that they were doing the right thing. And the unchanging fact is that their lords were punished.

Afterward, they may not be accepted, they may not be welcomed.

However, that is not important.

Even if you are scarred, you have kept your pride. You have kept your belief. Thats whats important. You dont have to care about what others are saying. As long as you believe in it, those voices are insignificant. You are the one who decides the meaning of your scar! Let me ask you! Knights of Scar! Our enemy is Duke Kruger, leader of the Southern Nobles! It is a dangerous mission where we have to infiltrate the enemys territory! Is there anyone who wants to accompany my brother on such a mission!? You might die in this mission. So thats why I only want those who can keep moving forward according to their own pride and belief!

Pain and heat increase over time.

Despite that, I do not stop raising my left hand.

Blood kept dripping down to my arm.

If it is going to flow then just flow. If this blood can buy Leo allies then this is but a cheap price.

Silence enveloped the scene.

In that silence, the young soldier who first asked me the question opened his pendant with a clicking noise.

Inside is an old family crest. It was a crest that he himself damaged.

Then, the young soldier raised his face and performed a salute with his right hand.

I, Second Lieutenant Bernd Lerner volunteers for the mission.

The step he took surely required a lot of courage.

Still, his expression was bright.

I will leave my brother in your hand. Second Lieutenant Lerner.

Yes sir! I will do my best to not bring shame to your scar, Your Highness Arnold!

With that as the start, many people started to salute and volunteer.

In a blink of an eye, everyone stood upright and saluted.

Then, Lars, who was standing beside me, took a step forward and saluted.

The Narbe Ritters hereby volunteer for your mission, Your Highness Arnold.

You have my thanks. Colonel.

We are the ones who should express our gratitude. You have understood the value of our scars. With that, we have understood the value of yours. We shall swear upon your scar. We will protect His Highness Leonard without fail and we will not let you die.

I appreciate that. Then I will have to ask you to immediately make preparations. My brother is waiting after all.

Roger that. All men, prepare for sorties! We are heading to the Imperial Capital!

Upon receiving Larss command, everyone swiftly moves out.

While looking at them, my vision turned blurry but I did not fall.

I have a knight who continues to support me at my side after all.

You really are stupid.

SorryI thought that they wouldnt take it seriously without a witness..

Elna sits me down on the spot and treats my wound with a bandage.

I stabbed it pretty deep so it might leave a scar.

If you have a skilled healer at the capital look at it the wound should close up immediately. If you wish for it that is.

Im alright. Having a scar isnt a bad thing. Its like a medal to me.

Idiot..let me tell you this first, Im a woman who can throw away her pride and honor to break a promise you know? I will never kill Al.

What are you saying immediately after I made the pledge?

However, I cant say anything to her. It was I who rashly acted first after all.

Now theres even more reason that we cant afford to lose huh.

Its alright. They should put even more effort into the mission than usual this time. The Dull Prince who they have ridiculed showed such a resolve after all. Im sure they will give it their all.

Then it should be okay huh. HaaI already said Im sorry right. Dont make that kind of face anymore.

Perhaps she doesnt like that I was smiling as she put even more power into tying the bandage.

Ow!?

Theres no next time okay! I will cut everything down the next time you try to do something reckless and make me worry alright! Spare me from worrying about you more than this.

Saying so, Elna turned around and hid her face from me.

Thats an Elna-like advice.

Elna might really destroy the Empire for real if I make her worry about me again huh.

I have to be careful not to let that happen.

But I guess I dont have to worry much about that huh.

Our preparations are completed. The rest is to infiltrate them without rousing their caution.

With that, Zandra will drop out of the rest and Gordons ambition will be destroyed.

From now on its time to strike back.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep