"You absolutely cannot enter the frontline your highness!"
"We must act now!"
"Who will command without you!"
Inside the huge palace wall the clamoring of different opinions and plead grew louder and louder. The problem was not being address. Help was needed. A warrior must step up they say yet I the one renounce as the greatest wielder of swords since the age of 13, recognized Archmage the following year, and a decisive commander cannot leave the mighty gate of my own home. All for the reason that...
"You are far too precious my lord."
I am cared at, looked up upon, highly acknowledge, and above all proven myself with the skill bestowed upon me. Not once that I thought of taking advantage of the gift the Gods had given me and yet this has become the very same reason that I, the Crown Prince of Haxsen cannot relieve the unrest of the people I am supposed to protect and lead.
"Am I so precious? Enough that you will let this Kingdom of ours be torn down to pieces by some rouge who appeared out of nowhere? Enough that you will let innocent people suffer? Is my blood so golden that you will be willing to turn a blind eye to the citizen whom have been nothing but loyal? Knights and mages, even the mercenary and ordinary people have step up! Who was I supposed to protect with what I am considered precious for if not my subjects?!"
Yuuan has long found this treatment a double edge sword that might bite him someday but never expected that it will attack him in that way and in a situation were they're Kingdom is in dire help of a Hero."
"Even so the battlefield is not a place for someone like you!"
This was his last straw. Every nerve of his was ticked. Yuuan was known for being the perfect Prince both in ability and conduct. Not once did the prince ever let his emotion run wild but in this meeting his patience was reached and could no longer hold back.
" Thousand of citizen are sacrificing their lives in hopes that the dawn will soon rise and yet your worries lies in making sure this prince of yours wake up in a cotton bed!" The room was instantly silenced. This was the first time the prince had ever blatantly criticized an act. Yuuan was not only making sharp comments of rage but his aura and mana were both leaking out being displayed to all the high ranking nobles and royals present in the room. The air became heavily overwhelming. The air was thinning and in that moment everyone had one thought.
'The prince must live no matter what.'
In this situation, Yuuan is finding it hard to understand why they are being stubborn to the point that they are more than willing for their breath to run out than for him take a step beyond the gates of the palace. He knew he was strong and more than capable of turning the tides of their current situation. For him he have waited and endured the cries of the people long enough to just remain in the comfort of his abode.
The predicament of Haxsen Kingdom has been going on for Six month. It started with the neighboring country declaring a part of their nation theirs. This was a clear wage of war. For a whole month Yuuan has tried his might to make it peaceful as possible with talks and negotiation. But Robellius, the neighboring country not only deliberately ignored the request, they went and provoked the kingdom even more by hitting their economy. They cutted off trades and connection which became a huge blow for Haxsen. It took another 2 months before Haxsen was able to remedy this pressure but that was not the end of the taunting. By the fourth month, people's opinion become wary with some even saying that the piece of land should just be given away. Not long after the military units of Robellius started to advance and completely sealed off the territories in question forcing Haxsen to respond with force and reclaim the land of which has been forcefully stolen.
The one in power knew that this was not a mere battle of lands nor honor, this was a tiny step of uniting the archipelago through tyranny. Afterall, not long before Robellius was a free country ran not by monarchy but democracy it was smaller than Haxsen in every aspect but a year ago Robellius became as big as the Haxsen Kingdom and that was all because of the new leader who proclaimed himself the new King and has been taking over neighboring territories in the archipelago.
When mapped, Haxsen Kingdom composed of 5 dukedoms territories separating the north, west, east, south, and center was in the very west of the Archipelago while Robellius was a small country the size on 2 dukedoms in Haxsen's East, however in a span of a year Robellius spreaded further to its north and east and now trying to control the west.
The citizen of Haxsen were actually had high hopes that they will be victorious for no other kingdom have managed to last 6 months against the rouge tyranny that is trying to take invade, even the Kingdom of Mages who is on par with power to Haxzen in the North of Robellius lasted only for no more than two months before conceding defeat.
Economic pressure, internal strife, and battle of forces, this is what the Kingdom was trying to endure for 6 months long. The Kingdom did not collapse and truth to be told it was only after the last months that people's peace began to deteriorate as every challenges they faced so far was addressed quickly with its citizen being the priority. However the council of high ranking nobles and royals have rose into an argument and wasn't able to come up with mesure with the current situation.
The battle has turned into a war of forces, military of Haxsen was sent out but they were being put into disadvantage. All units including mages and knights were talented and even volunteer were present to fight for their kingdom however against a kingdom who had control over powerful mages and strong knights who aim with their greed they were pushed back.
"I do not understand" Yuuan calmed himself down and tries to regain his composure. " When this all started out you have entrusted me of all decision and backed me up even when I seemed to be unreasonable" He exclaimed addressing everyone in the room including his parents the King and Queen who let the 17 year old prince lead the crisis and showcase its administrative capability and commanding ability.
"When they first show interest in our land, Uncle you wanted to send out the knight of your house and engage in battle right away yet I stopped it and ask for us to try and negotiate." Yuuan looked at his uncle the Leading commander of the Imperial knights and the Head of the Eastern Dukedom. He might have composed himself and managed to control the leaking mana and aura from his body but his veins was showing how frustated he was in the situation. " It was unreasonable and unprecedented as you said yet you allowed me to give it a try and didn't reprimand though it fell through. None of you thought that I made a wrong choice. "
Indeed the idea of negotiating was raised by him, Yuaan pleaded to the council to let him handle the task but it eventually fell through and led to an economic battle. But in the first place everybody knew that there was nothing to negotiate as they were not yielding any piece of land to the other and yet everybody in that council did not stop the prince. Envoy and several minister was sent talked with them but neither party was satisfied with the condition of each. However, this was not a total failure for Yuuan had different plan from the very beginning.
When the news broke out that the East is being invaded, it was not by Robellius but by the alliance of two other Kingdom along with Robellius. He thought it was odd. Why would the the Kingdom of Mages from the North of the Archipelago cooperate with the Kingdom of Knight located at the very East of the Archipelago given their history of war between each other and try to take over Haxsen a Kingdom where both exist and had serve as the refugee for many of its people since before. Most of all they were all following a tiny nation known as a free country.
Yuuan sent people not to negotiate but to investigate in the premise of peace talk and only then that they found out that a third of the archipelago has been taken over and only them and the Kingdom of Fairies in the further South of the Archipelago are not within their grasp. Digging deeper they found out that new ruler of Robellius was behind, an old time mercenary who under the pretense of uniting the once whole Archipelago. The Kingdom of Knight followed while the Kingdom of Mages was dealt with by creating an internal conflict that caused civil war along with the Kingdom of Knights invading. The route to the Kingdom of Fairies however was located only in Haxsen thus not only does the close off nature prevent them but without permission from Haxsen they cannot enter the South of the Archipelago which has led to today crisis.
But Yuuan wasn't satisfied he still feel that something was missing thus continue the 'peace talk' however before reaching another conclusion Robellius have heard that their cover was already blown thus they resulted in cutting of export which affected their metal production and magic item related. However Yuuan had expected this outcome knowing that there was no one left in the Archipelago except the closed off Kingdom of the Fairy. When the disguised peace talk happened the real peace talk occured somewhere. Yuuan had contacted the Elven Kingdom and Dwarven Kingdom from the Empire located across the sea in their West. They had agreed to them with no hesistation to replace the cutted resources as sign of honor to their long connection and as form of support.
This decision was never heard of in the history of royals in Haxsen. They were not at war with the Empire but they were also not as close as the distance between different species has widen. But Yuuan pushed it through and was confident that they will agree to the proposition because of one reason. The Kingdom of Fairy located at the South. The Empire was composed of kingdoms of different species not only Dwarfs and Elves but even ogres a like and magical beast and the fairies but they were separated when the Great war between Gods occurred and the Archipelago who used to be in the western part of the Empire where Human species where located separated but the fairies to their surprised also transferred for a reason nobody knows. They were quiet since long before but they were treated with respect thus nobody dared to go against this decision. With the Haxsen in trouble, the fairies were sure to follow in the invasion thus Yuuan took advantage of the fact that the Empire would protect the Fairies silently.
"Your strategy were indeed amazing and that is more reason for you not to throw your life away for this Kingdom" This time it was the Duke of the North that spoke, his maternal Grandfather. He was in disbelief hearing this as he knows that since the ancient period it was the North that did its best to protect the now Haxsen.
"I will go to the frontlines and I --" But before he even finished the King had stood up and finally gave its word.
"You will not leave." The king said firmly and without stuttering and before Yuuan argued the door of the meeting room opened and a familiar voice joined the conversation.
"Then allow me to head there and protect the Kingdom in my brothers stead" The second Prince of Haxsen entered wearing the knights uniform and in his waist lies the blessed sword of Haxsen given by the Gods in the ancient period. He stood there and faced Yuuan. "You must understand brother that you have the role were your life is the most important. It is not only that they are trying to protect your life but because the council wishes for you to live not for this Kingdom only."
Yuuan was even more baffled and thought 'if not for the Kingdom then what use of him is there as the Crown Prince'
"Send me instead." Yulo the second Prince firmly said and looked at his father. He then walk towards his brother and face the other member of the council and looked at them with eyes filled with conviction. " Give me the chance to become a Prince and a brother worthy to stand beside the Crown Prince."
Yuuan tried to stop his brother but instead he said to him "Your highness, your majesty, and all you that are here today, I know I am not as powerful as my brother when it comes to magic and even with the decision to what direction our Kingdom must take but as a knight my swordsmanship is second to none but you your highness " Yulo then looked at Yuuan with such warmth and smiled bitterly. "So here is my proposal, send me to the frontlines but allow my brother to give command and have control to the direction we will be taking. And to you my brother I will respect your choices even if you tell me to charge on my own without my swords, I will follow your command along with my knights and people in the frontlines but you must promise and swear that no matter, it is your life that takes priority over this Kingdom."
"That is ab--" Once again even before he finished he saw the looked at everyones eyes including his father and mother who is now about to send their second son in the field staying silent and looking down on the floor. The Royals and High Ranking nobles avoiding eye contact. And his brother whos hand is now in his shoulder and smiling at him as if saying
'you must live'