Yuri had never liked balls.
Dressing up in uncomfortable clothes, exchanging formal greetings, and dancing repeatedly with partners he didn’t even want—it never suited his temperament.
Now, having traveled back in time, he had one more reason to dislike them.
“I hate that dress.”
“Why? You used to like it.”
“Did I?”
“You did. I remember you scoffing the moment you saw it, but you never said anything cruel or tried to slash it. That told me you secretly liked it.”
“…”
Ena knew Yuri all too well. More precisely, she knew the past version of him.
“Anyway, I don’t like it.”
“Shall I call the tailor again?”
“Yeah.”
“I think it’s pretty.”
After years spent as a mercenary, Yuri’s sense of aesthetics had changed a lot. That ostentatious formal wear, designed purely for show, rubbed him the wrong way.
“And you’re a good dancer, too, Your Highness.”
“Not really. It’s probably everyone else who’s terrible.”
“Another rude comment.”
“Alright, alright.”
Yuri admitted his slip-up without protest.
Returning to his childhood, old habits kept pushing him forward.
He couldn’t let that happen.
He hadn’t come back to live as he once did, but to stop the empire’s invasion.
“Thanks for pointing that out.”
“You’re welcome.”
“If I say something rude again, keep calling me out.”
“Can I slap you like before?”
“No, that’s not allowed.”
Ena’s slaps had hurt.
“Your Highness.”
“Hmm?”
“Remember, you have the Senate meeting later, right?”
“I know.”
“The weather’s nice today.”
Ena threw open the curtains and smiled at Yuri.
“After the meeting, don’t just train—why not go on a picnic or something?”
Bathed in sunlight, Ena’s face glowed pale and bright.
Her delicately curved eyes were lovely.
Ena.
A kind-hearted girl who never lost her smile despite the trouble she had caring for a mischievous prince.
But Yuri hadn’t been able to protect her.
“Ena.”
“Yes?”
“Shall we dance?”
Ena’s eyes went wide.
“Wha—?”
He’d overheard her chatting with the other maids before.
Like any girl, she had a simple wish—to wear a pretty dress and dance with a fine partner at a ball.
He wanted to punch his past self for scoffing at that.
This time, he would never neglect her like before.
“I want to practice dancing.”
Yuri smiled gently.
But her reaction wasn’t what he expected.
“Do we really have to…?”
Her face was genuinely hesitant.
“What’s with that look?”
“Ugh…”
Yuri felt a little hurt.
He was trying to be kind—why this reaction? He must have done something wrong.
Ena approached cautiously.
“You’re not going to step on my feet, are you…?”
“What nonsense.”
“Or trip me…?”
“Are you misunderstanding my intentions?”
“Quite the opposite…”
“Follow my lead. Slowly.”
“Your Highness, are you mocking me? I’m a good dancer.”
“Oh? You’ve danced a lot?”
“Of course.”
“With whom?”
“Too many to count. I get a lot of dance requests.”
“Impressive.”
“I’m quite popular, but I’ve never danced with someone this short before.”
“Just you wait.”
He was shorter than Ena now, but soon he’d grow tall enough to look down on her.
Ena was a good dancer.
He couldn’t take her to the grand balls, but he could dance with her like this from time to time.
“You just stepped on my foot.”
“Sorry, I misstepped.”
“You did it again…”
“An accident.”
“No.”
That oily voice made Yuri frown.
“It’s not right to learn an unverified method. Your Highness should master the royal method.”
“Unverified? It was left by our ancestor.”
“That’s not certain. We can’t even be sure it’s truly his.”
“Are you doubting the prince?”
“I’m just saying we need certainty. And even if it’s the ancestor’s mana method, is there any guarantee it’s better than the Briol method?”
“Such harsh words.”
Yuri sighed and looked toward the seat of honor.
The throne of King Briol of Fiore was empty.
He had given a ridiculous excuse about being busy with official duties and was absent.
“What’s the point of today’s meeting?”
Duke Yuzes, who had been voicing opposition, smirked at Yuri.
“We’re all here because we fear the prince might take the wrong path. If everyone just agreed because it was good, why bother meeting? Isn’t that right? Heh heh heh…”
Whenever there was a major agenda, the palace held a Senate meeting.
The Senate, made up of powerful nobles, was established to advise the king on state affairs.
Of course, its real role was quite different.
“I’m grateful you’ve convened the Senate just to discuss my mana method, Duke Genard.”
“Not at all.”
It was basically a place to check the king’s power. Whenever something happened, they were quick to cast dissenting votes.
This time was no different.
The prince of Briol had discovered and wanted to master the ancestor’s mana method—why was that even controversial?
Genard spoke as if reading Yuri’s thoughts.
“It’s all for your own good, Your Highness.”
“How touching.”
Yuri sank into his chair and shrugged.
Of course, they had no right to decide his mana method. They were just making things difficult. But that was enough to wear him down.
He resented his father for dumping this meeting on him, knowing how troublesome it would be.
“Well then, Sir Saned, what’s your opinion?”
Even Captain Saned of the Royal Guard, who normally wouldn’t be here, was dragged in as a sort of witness.
He looked uncomfortable.
“Well, I can’t make a hasty judgment.”
“Why not?”
“Each mana method has its pros and cons, and people’s traits differ…”
“See?”
Genard puffed up as if Saned’s words supported him.
“Even the captain can’t decide. Is there a better knight here? If even Captain Saned says the mana method is uncertain…”
“I agree.”
“No, don’t twist Sir Saned’s words.”
“Twist?”
“Sir Saned didn’t say it was uncertain, but that every mana method has its own value…”
“That’s the same thing!”
Yuri decided to stay silent.
He took it as an opportunity to see who was loyal to the royal family and who bowed more to Genard.
“Your Highness, would you like some refreshments?”
“I’ll manage.”
In his past life, he’d thought that smarmy Genard was a loyal subject.
Back then, he was too naive, surrounded only by worthless nobles who twisted like tongues in mouths.
It left a bitter taste.
After Briol’s fall, Genard had grovelled before the emperor and kept his ducal title.
He’d often thought about just ending it all by plunging a knife into that man’s throat.
But Yuri felt he had no right to punish him.
“Duke Yuzes makes a fair point.”
A sudden voice broke his thoughts.
“Learning a mana method recklessly might not be wise. It’s better to use a method that’s been somewhat verified. Your Highness, have you informed His Majesty about this mana method?”
Yuri shook his head.
“It’s not the kind of mana method you can share with others.”
“Is that so?”
“When I reach a certain level, maybe then I can explain it a little.”
Yuri had learned the mana method by sparring against a dummy that revealed the flow of mana clearly. So he didn’t know how to explain it to others.
The noble hesitated, then offered advice.
“Still, it would be better to master the Briol method. Unverified mana methods carry risks.”
“I agree.”
“For your own good, Your Highness.”
One by one, the nobles echoed Genard’s opinion.
Yuri crossed his arms and closed his eyes.
No matter what anyone said, he intended to master Erich Briol’s Soul Piercing technique. A strong intuition gripped him, telling him that was the way.
“Are you saying I should overhaul my mana method?”
“If necessary…”
“Do you know how nearly impossible that is?”
“It’s quite possible at a young age. Especially since you haven’t practiced it long, Your Highness.”
Yuri chuckled.
That might be true for an ordinary person, but he was different. His past memories had helped him adapt quickly to mana.
He’d already mastered the method to a point of no return.
But he couldn’t explain all that.
Lost in thought, a man sitting quietly in the corner raised his hand.
“Hmm, may I say something?”
Yuri didn’t recognize him.
Genard tilted his head.
“And who might you be? Your title?”
A rude question.
A noble sitting beside Genard explained.
“He’s a free baron.”
Meaning he had no fief.
“A baron? A free baron attending the Senate meeting?”
Genard’s words drew laughter from the nobles around.
It was hard to keep track of them all, but that laughter made it easier to tell factions apart. Four or five men sitting next to Genard were all on his side.
As Yuri studied their faces, the free baron spoke again.
“Yes, well, that’s right. So…”
“State your name first.”
Genard cut him off, but the man didn’t lose his smile.
“Of course. I’m Calcio Erancia. As you all laughed, I’m a free baron. I’m sure you don’t like a lowly free baron attending the Senate. Honestly, I didn’t want to come either. But what can I do? Lord Saidor entrusted me with this.”
His words silenced the chamber.
Count Saidor, Jaime Theodore.
The border lord guarding the frontier.
A formidable knight and ruthless hunter. A true soldier who had spent his entire life on the battlefield.
One nobleman parted his dry lips.
“What on earth possessed Count Saidor to send you to the Senate…?”
It was a question on everyone’s mind.
Count Saidor never attended noble gatherings. He had no interest in the Senate whatsoever. This was the first time he had even sent a proxy.
“I can’t say. He’s not the type to explain himself,” came the reply.
“So what exactly is he trying to say?”
“Ah, now you’re giving me the floor.”
Calcio smiled briefly before continuing.
“You esteemed lords, who while away your days in the castle indulging in noble pastimes, may find this kind of armchair theorizing entertaining…”
“What are you implying…?”
His tone was defiant.
But with Count Saidor standing behind him, no one in the Senate dared to silence him.
Calcio raised both hands.
“To me, it’s all nonsense. Unless you’re seriously misinformed, mana methods are all the same at the core. Especially on the battlefield. Whether it’s the Briole method or the Empire’s Lionheart technique, in the end, it’s the wielder that matters.”
Genard tapped the table with his fingertips. A nearby nobleman shot back.
“On the battlefield, even the smallest difference can mean life or death. Do you take us for greenhorns who’ve never seen a fight?”
“Oh? So you’ve been to war?”
“Of course. I am Baron Defer. You may have heard—I recently fought a territorial war…”
“Another petty baron here, huh? Did you get permission from your lord standing beside you?”
Defer’s face flushed red, and nobles outside Genard’s faction stifled their laughter.
Calcio spoke again.
“Alright, brave Baron friend. What’s the most important thing when wielding a sword?”
“What?”
“When you stab an enemy with a blade, do you think with your head?”
“Well, trained instinct…”
“Sounds impressive when you say it.”
“What was that?”
“I said it’s true.”
Calcio glanced at Yuri.
“It’s instinct. It’s a realm beyond reason. So when the prince’s intuition says to follow the founder’s mana method, it’s laughable for outsiders to fuss and argue about it. Honestly, those who’ve never swung a sword tend to yap like this…”
Even Yuri couldn’t help but smile.
Genard’s expression hardened.
“Baron Free, you speak recklessly.”
“My apologies. I may hold the title of baron, but I have no lands and little education. Please forgive my lack of manners. Fighting orcs on the border every day has made me this way.”
The nobles groaned.
“Orcs…”
Orcs were a barbaric race known for pillaging, cannibalism, and the strength to kill multiple soldiers single-handedly.
It was also why Count Saidor was so revered.
For many years, he had defended the border against orcs, who feared him and called him the “Scarred Wolf.”
Calcio grinned.
“How many here have faced orcs firsthand?”