The intruder from Ganja ended up being just a minor incident.
Having once again confirmed how extensive the Empire’s intelligence network was, the Briol army remained on high alert as they advanced toward Bezos.
However, Laurent found himself somewhat unsettled by the Chai Bird the Ganja agent had carried.
It felt as if it was somehow connected to Cedric.
Yuri, who was riding a horse, suddenly spoke up.
“About that Ganja agent yesterday…”
“Yes?”
“That crazy guy at the end.”
The one who died last was clutching a taxidermied Chai Bird.
He was clearly out of his mind.
“There was a trace of dark magic energy on him.”
“Huh?”
Laurent looked at him.
Yuri smiled faintly.
“I sensed a faint black aura from the corpse. It confirmed that he was indeed an agent sent by the Empire.”
Laurent knew well how sensitive Yuri’s senses were.
“If that’s the case…”
Laurent’s thoughts immediately went back to Cedric.
But the idea that the Ganja agent, holding a taxidermied Chai Bird, was under the influence of dark magic was unsettling.
Without thinking, Laurent said,
“Your Highness…”
“Yes?”
“Could it be…?”
He hesitated to voice the blasphemous thought.
“Is it possible that someone within Briol is tainted by dark magic?”
“Maybe.”
“Close by.”
“From what I feel, it’s not that bad.”
Yuri covered his eyes.
“At least, I haven’t seen it yet. Why? Are you worried?”
Watching Yuri’s faint smile, Laurent felt an inexplicable unease.
He lowered his voice.
“Your Highness, could we talk for a moment?”
Yuri tilted his head, then quietly stepped aside with Laurent from the formation.
The two found a secluded spot and spoke in hushed tones.
“Your Highness, there’s something I’m concerned about.”
“Speak freely.”
Laurent hesitated briefly before continuing.
“The Crown Prince…”
“Your brother?”
“Yes.”
Yuri gave Laurent time to continue.
After a moment of staring ahead, Laurent said,
“You mentioned you have ties with Princess Katrina.”
“That’s right.”
“The princess we met was a good person, but the Empire has already been consumed by dark magic.”
“That’s true.”
“I worry that the Crown Prince might have been affected as well.”
“I see…”
Yuri nodded.
“Yeah, it’s natural to worry. But those two haven’t met in a long time. I smoothed things over between them. They’ve only exchanged letters occasionally. What could come of that?”
“That may be so…”
“And your brother isn’t foolish enough to be swayed by something like that.”
There was a clear trust in Cedric’s character.
Laurent eventually recounted what had happened at the training grounds with Cedric.
But explaining the strange sense of alienation he’d felt was difficult.
Laurent had felt the ominous vibe firsthand, but to others, it probably just sounded like a slightly cynical tone.
The same went for the White Bird.
The day after Cedric mentioned it, they saw a rare Chai Bird, and the Ganja agent had a taxidermied one—but linking that to Cedric felt strange.
In the end, it was just Laurent’s intuition.
“Hmm…”
Yuri rubbed his chin.
Laurent could tell he was struggling.
After all, they were on their way to war. It was hard to make any decisions based on such scant evidence.
“Laurent.”
“Yes?”
“Once this war is over and we return, I’ll look into it.”
Laurent hesitated before answering.
He wanted to go back immediately and check on Cedric.
But Yuri was right. They’d come this far. Turning back now was impossible.
“Understood. Sorry for troubling you.”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Their conversation ended with unresolved tension.
The Briol army steadily advanced toward Bezos.
Yuri soon arrived at Bezos.
Welcomed by the lord, the Briol army entered the castle.
“The Empire’s forces are steadily approaching.”
The Count of Bezos looked tense.
He wasn’t very old, and though stationed at the border, he had little real war experience. Nor was he a trained warrior.
“Your Highness, I’ve heard of your exploits with the allied forces.”
“That’s fortunate.”
“What are your plans moving forward…?”
“What plans?”
Yuri smiled wryly.
“We block them, fight them. What else is there?”
“Yes…”
“This will be a defensive battle to hold the castle. We must prepare well.”
The Empire wouldn’t pass Bezos by; they’d try to make it a stronghold.
Yuri recalled the sieges he’d endured in his past life. They were grueling—holding out against far greater numbers within the castle walls.
It was a time that literally dried the blood in his veins.
Compared to that, this war was almost easy.
“Here.”
Yuri handed over a sheet of paper. The lord’s eyes widened as he read it.
“Prepare everything listed here.”
It detailed supplies needed for the siege defense—boiling oil, fire arrows, and other countermeasures.
But ultimately, the success of the defense depended on the knights.
The knights would leap in using spring-loaded gear, descending like a swarm of locusts—hard to stop.
However, less skilled knights and soldiers couldn’t perform such maneuvers, so arrows and boiling oil could be used to hold them back.
“I will trust only you, Your Highness.”
“I trust you.”
“Huh?”
Yuri smiled.
“I trust all of you who have gathered here for Briol. So let’s do our best.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Now, let’s begin.”
Yuri gathered the leading nobles and knights who had arrived at Bezos.
He took the seat of honor at the large table, with the others surrounding him.
No one doubted the young prince.
The absolute trust shown by the allied forces during the journey, and Yuri’s decisive action in tracking and interrogating the Ganja agent, earned their respect.
Above all,
Yuri no longer hid his aura.
For someone so young to radiate such sharp energy was truly abnormal.
This young man pressed the powerful figures of Briol—the so-called land of knights—with a blade-like intensity.
Even the veteran knights who had served alongside the elder Fiore Briol stared in astonishment.
It was a show of strength meant to reduce unnecessary conflict.
Everyone quietly fixed their gaze on Yuri.
He spoke.
“Is Briol weaker than the Empire?”
Most looked puzzled, not understanding his intent.
Yuri smiled and continued.
“Why hesitate? Of course, the Empire is stronger.”
Some showed displeasure at the blunt truth.
Though true, it was a bitter pill for the proud knights of Briol.
Yuri went on.
“But Briol’s knights are stronger than the Empire’s. Isn’t that right?”
Someone quickly answered,
“Yes!”
Yuri nodded at him.
“Exactly. That’s why we cannot lose this war. We won’t lose to those weaker than us.”
“Of course.”
“Good.”
Yuri smiled and scanned the room. Every eye was sharp, no one relaxed under his intense aura.
“Abamama will arrive soon. We cannot show weakness then. No matter what provocations the Empire throws, we will crush them. We won’t wait passively like a tail wagging the master. Understood?”
“Yes!”
“Now, let’s talk strategy.”
Yuri stood and hung a map of Bezos Castle and its surroundings on the wall.
He explained troop placements using the castle’s layout and the terrain to counter the Empire’s attacks.
Yuri spoke smoothly, answering every question without hesitation. His skill was astonishing for his age.
All the worries about the young third prince leading the front lines vanished.
He was not just a worthy successor to Fiore Briol—he was even more.
“We’ll be ready to fight at any moment. We won’t wait long.”
Yuri recalled that the Empire never dragged out wars.
They’d likely strike as soon as they arrived.
“What about the Black Knight before His Majesty arrives?”
Yuri thought of the Black Knight—the kind-hearted man he’d met at the temple. But on the battlefield, he was an enemy.
“I don’t expect major clashes before my father arrives, but if he moves first…”
Yuri looked around.
There were many excellent knights.
But he was stronger.
“I’ll stop him.”
“That’s too dangerous.”
“Of course, I’ll need your help. But I don’t think there’s anyone stronger here than me. So, I’ll take the lead in stopping him.”
Several knights glanced at Yuri.
Though his aura made them hesitant to step forward, they still seemed reluctant to fully acknowledge his strength.
Pride wasn’t a bad thing—it pushed knights to improve.
But with war imminent, there was no time to waste.
“I won’t argue further. This is my decision. If you’re worried, just do your best where you are.”
With that, Yuri ended the meeting.
Outside, he called for Jared, who had been waiting.
“Jared.”
“Yes?”
“Shall we get some fresh air?”
“Ah, yes.”
They walked together to the castle walls. The sun was setting, and near the horizon, the Empire’s banners appeared faintly.
The reality of war settled in.
This was exactly why he had returned to the past.
“Jared.”
“Yes?”
“How have you been?”
Yuri placed a hand on Jared’s shoulder.
It was an unexpected question.
But Jared somehow sensed there was meaning behind it.
“Well, I’ve been working hard since meeting Your Highness.”
Before meeting Yuri, he had been nothing more than a lazy guard.
He had the natural talent to enter the royal palace, but beyond that, he never put in much effort.
Then Yuri took him under his wing.
From that moment on, it was nothing but hardship.
Every day, he was summoned to train with the sword, constantly pushed to confront limits he had never tested before. And through it all, he grew stronger—by leaps and bounds.
Had he stayed the same, he would have ended up just a mediocre knight at best.
“But you know,” Jared suddenly said, looking at Yuri.
“Prince.”
“Hm?”
“Before we first met at the royal guard training grounds…”
“Yeah?”
“Did you know me then?”
Jared blurted out the question.
It was a strange feeling.
Sometimes, it seemed as if the Third Prince had known him for a very long time.
And sometimes, he felt as if he had known the Third Prince even before that.
Especially as the prince grew taller and his facial features began to take shape, an inexplicable sense of déjà vu would wash over him.
Yes, it was just like that time.
A fleeting vision he’d seen inside the dungeon left behind by Briol’s founder.
Within it, a man who looked tired but smiled faintly—he resembled the Third Prince.
“Oh.”
“How so?”
“I saw you… in the future.”
The Third Prince gave a sly smile.
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah. That’s why I went back to the past to train you properly.”
“I see.”
“Back then, I regretted it so much.”
“Regretted what?”
“Living life half-heartedly.”
“I understand.”
“Grateful, aren’t you?”
“I’m regretting this life too, so maybe go back to the past one more time and teach me properly.”
“Teach you what?”
“To stay away from the prince and avoid him.”
“You want to die?”
“Yeah, I’m serious! I’m really going to stay far away!”
“Suit yourself.”
As they bantered, something was approaching from a distance.
The two stopped their teasing and fixed their gaze on it.
It was an imperial envoy.