A Tale of Strategies For the Throne

There is always a feeling of being led by Heymos...

After coming back to his senses, Garlan thought a little depressed.

She obviously wanted to reject Heimos outright and ask him to give up his thoughts about her, but in the end, she was confused by Heimos' words.

Perhaps it was because of the atmosphere at that time and the fact that Heimos's voice was so alluring that his face burned inexplicably.

But there was nothing he could do about it. How many lifetimes had he lived? This was the first time that someone had expressed his love for him like this.

...Although the identity of the person expressing his love is really strange to him.

Thinking of this, Garlan suddenly had a headache.

He knew Heimos' character very well. Although he usually didn't care much about most things, he was actually a very paranoid person. Once a decision is made, it will never be easily shaken.

Just like a ferocious wolf, it will bite its prey to death and will not let go until it has swallowed the prey.

……etc.

Why did he have the illusion that he was being targeted by a wolf?

I feel like I'm starting to panic...

He didn't want to be killed by Heimos.

It now appears that he has succeeded in doing so.

but……

He doesn’t want to be eaten by Heimos either!

No, no, no, this won't work, absolutely not.

He had to find a way to escape quickly.

In the past, I always thought that Heimos could leave after he got married and had children, but now, he is more dangerous, and he can't care about anything else at this time.

After returning to the palace this time, I had to try to escape quickly.

Anyway, Huey Moss is already so strong, it will definitely be no problem with him in Aaron Landis.

Under the pressure of a certain sense of crisis, the young man quickly made up his mind.

So be it.

After this matter was resolved, he decisively looked for an opportunity to leave the palace as soon as he returned.

…………

The news of Garlan's injury spread quickly after the reinforcements arrived.

Only then did everyone realize that during those two days and one night, the prince endured his injuries and stood on the battlefield with them.

For a time, Prince Garlan's reputation became louder and louder.

Everyone was filled with emotion.

Everyone knew that before the reinforcements arrived, if the prince had not stood firm on the city wall and fought with everyone, the city of Tozes would have been broken.

In the past two days, every temple in Tozes City has been crowded with people.

Countless citizens poured into the temple like water, and many even ran to the Shamash Temple, which was partially destroyed by pirates, and knelt down to pray.

They were praying for the prince.

Pray to the sun god Shamash and the gods of Aaron Landis to bless and protect their prince, so that the prince's injury will heal quickly.

Some wealthy businessmen continued to send some valuable medicinal materials and precious ingredients for nourishing the body to the executive government, begging the knights guarding the door to accept them.

It can be said that Garlan has been supported by everyone in Tozes City now.

The people of Tozes loved the prince who protected them from the bottom of their hearts.

Many people even respect him as much as King Camos.

Even General Elson, who was serving as a reinforcement, couldn't help but sigh a few words to her subordinates in private after hearing the news and seeing the citizens automatically pouring into the temple to pray for the prince devoutly.

When I saw the prince for the first time, just from the appearance, the prince was indeed a beautiful boy, but from the perspective of the female warrior Elson, he seemed too weak.

But I didn't expect that the prince who looked as weak as a velvet bunny could still stick to the battlefield with heavy rain for two days and one night even though he was seriously injured and had a high fever - it's easy to say. , but she didn't even dare to say that she could do this.

At this time, Viniel couldn't help but think of what the queen said to her before she left for Tozes City.

The Queen said that although the fat boy said a lot, the words that finally moved her were said by the prince Aaron Landis.

[The prosperity and stability of the people are the symbol of the country's strength, and it is also the responsibility of the king. 】

At that time, the fat man said that this was what the prince told him.

The queen said that because of these words, she was willing to bet on the young prince.

In fact, she had known for a long time that Elson's isolation would not work, but as a small country, and a small country not recognized by surrounding countries, it could be said that it was surrounded by dangers, so she did not dare to make a decision easily.

But now is an opportunity.

If it was just a sentence, the queen just felt that the prince probably just said it casually and couldn't believe it.

However, the prince did what he said with practical actions.

In a critical moment, he ignored his own safety and stayed in the city attacked by pirates, shouldering the responsibility of protecting his people.

At that time, Queen Elson said that she could say it and do it. Such a person was worth trusting and worth letting her put down her bet.

Perhaps the opportunity for Elson's future change lies with this young prince.

…………

"The situation after the war has almost been calculated."

Seth, standing in the room, said he came to report to Gallan, holding a thick stack of documents in his hand.

There were two serious dark circles on his face, and his eyes were all blue. He hadn't rested for an unknown amount of time, but he seemed to be in good spirits, full of energy, and his eyes were full of brilliance.

"Most of the pirate warships have been destroyed, and the wreckage is piled up in the bay. It is still being cleaned up."

"A very small number of warships escaped, probably only two or three, and they were all damaged and no longer a threat."

"Because many pirates surrendered in the later period, nearly 10,000 pirates were captured."

"The wounded have all received treatment, and the remains...the remains of soldiers and citizens have been claimed and collected by their families. The unclaimed remains of soldiers will be temporarily stored in underground icehouses by the ruling government until their families can be found. .”

At this point, Seth hesitated and then asked a question.

"But, Your Highness, what should we do with the remains of those slaves?"

Garlan was listening to Seth's report while sitting on the bed drinking the soup the doctor had given him.

Hearing this, his hand holding the bowl paused.

The slave boy who had a broken arm and a big hole in his abdomen but could still smile happily came to mind.

At that time, the slave boy told him that he was very happy to be treated as a human being during these few days.

After pondering for a while, Garlan replied: "All slaves who died in battle will have their slave names removed."

All slaves had to be registered.

A copy shall be kept in the hands of the slave's master and in the government.

"Then, the ruling government will collect the remains, choose a valley outside the city, and bury them as free citizens."

He thought for a moment and continued.

"Erect a stone tablet outside the valley to record their achievements on the stone tablet. Anyone who damages the stone tablet will be punished."

Seth nodded.

"Yes, Your Highness, I will do as you ask."

"Have the combat achievements of the slaves who are still alive been counted?"

"It will take some time, Prince, and we will arrange it properly. However, there are some special slaves that are really difficult to deal with..."

"What?"

"Those slaves were all slave gladiators and were very capable, so they made too many achievements in this war, even more than ordinary soldiers. This is okay, just get more property. But the slave who took the lead, He killed hundreds of pirates by himself, and had many feats of blocking gaps in the city wall at critical moments, and the key is, he said he didn’t want property, he wanted to join the army.”

Seth was a little worried.

"You see, Prince, it is unprecedented for slaves to join the army."

At Aaron Landis, being a soldier is extremely honorable.

Only Aaron Landis citizens who have a clean family background and have never violated national laws are eligible to apply for enlistment.

Moreover, not everyone is allowed and must be carefully selected.

People who were born slaves were absolutely not qualified to join the army.

Garlan put down the finished bowl of soup and medicine and raised his eyes to look at him.

"According to what I promised them before, if they achieve military exploits, they will no longer be slaves, so what do you have to worry about?"

"...Yes, I understand."

"Hasn't the pirate leader been caught yet? And the former Tozes naval commander who was said to have been captured by the pirates hasn't been found either?"

"Yes, I'm sorry. According to the captured pirates, the leader Basha escaped with his henchmen, probably in the few warships that broke out. Airson and our navy are pursuing them. It should be necessary It won’t take long to capture them.”

After Seth answered, he seemed to want to say something else.

Then, someone clapped their hands, and he subconsciously turned around to look.

He saw the blond knight coming from behind and smiled at him.

"alright."

Caijos said, "As of today, the prince's health is not good yet. Don't disturb him too much. I will handle the remaining small things."

Seth glanced at Garlan's still pale face, nodded, bowed to Garlan, and then retreated with Caihos.

The doctor also left with the finished bowl of soup and medicine.

He was the only one left in the room. Garlan lay there for a while, feeling something was wrong all over.

I had been lying on the bed for so long that I felt like I was paralyzed.

He felt dizzy even while lying down, feeling dizzy and uncomfortable. So, after hesitating for a moment, he slowly got up, climbed out of bed, and then started walking around the house.

He didn't dare to go out. As soon as he went out, a bunch of doctors and maids and attendants would rush over shouting, kneeling and begging him to go back and lie still.

After walking for a while, I still feel dizzy. I don’t know what’s going on, but my dizziness is getting worse and worse.

And he had just taken a few steps, and had just moved his body a little, when suddenly a hand stretched out from behind.

Caught off guard, Garlan was picked up by the person behind him, and before he could react, he was carried back to the bed.

"When did you come...um!"

Before he could finish his question, Heimos turned him over and forced him to lie on the bed.

Garlan subconsciously wanted to struggle, but the golden-red eyes glanced at him, a little cold. His throat choked, and he lay obediently on the bed, not daring to say a word.

Heimos ran his fingers across his back, along the edge of the bandage, apparently checking to see if the arrow wound had split open.

After confirming that it was not the case, he let go of his hand and carefully helped Garlan turn around and lie down.

"Arrow wounds are different from ordinary wounds."

Heimos stared at Garlan, his tone a bit harsh.

"Arrow wounds are too deep and can easily become inflamed. Don't take them seriously. There are many people on the battlefield who seem to be cured after being injured by arrows, but then suddenly become ill again within a few days. Convulsions, too late to rescue..."

Thinking of the soldiers he saw suddenly convulsing and dying suddenly, Heimos's face became darker and darker.

Because he was taboo about that word, he didn't say the last half of the sentence.

Sudden death due to convulsion after an arrow wound. Is that... tetanus?

Garlan thought dazedly.

Arrow wounds are usually deep and rusty, making it easy for people to get tetanus.

According to the medical standards of this era, death from tetanus was almost certain.

"Heimos..."

Garlan opened his eyes and looked at Heimos, calling him softly, his golden eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of mist.

Probably because of his illness, the boy's voice was lighter and lower than usual, giving people a soft and waxy feeling.

Like honey, it wraps people's hearts layer by layer, sweet and silky.

That soft shout immediately softened the expression of Heimos, who was not looking very well.

He hummed softly.

Garlan reached out and grabbed his hand.

But Heymos' hand was pressed against the bed with its fingers spread out, and Garlan couldn't grasp it at all, only a few fingers.

The white hands just held a few brown fingers.

Garlan called him softly again.

"Heimos."

While shouting softly, she looked at him eagerly.

The little eyes looking at him, the little movements of holding his fingers, and the soft voice were just like coquettishness.

Even the heart of stone melted into a puddle of water.

Heimos unconsciously softened his voice, and his eyes were like the softest waves in the world, carefully wrapping the most important treasure in front of him in the gentle waves.

"Um?"

"I don't want to lie down and think about getting up."

"No, your injury is not healed yet."

"I remember..."

"no."

Heimos put a hand on his side, leaned over to look at him, and coaxed him in a low voice.

"When you're healed, I'll do anything for you, okay?"

The misty golden eyes looked at him, and there was a look of grievance in the young man's eyes.

He grabbed Heimos's finger like a bullied little animal, looking extremely aggrieved.

He whispered: "...But I'm dizzy."

It was very uncomfortable to lie down with my head spinning.

He was so dizzy that his consciousness was somewhat unclear.

Heimos was startled by Garlan's words, and then he raised his hand to touch Garlan's forehead.

The hot temperature under his hands made his expression suddenly change.

It's burning again!

Without saying anything, he got up and went out to call someone.

Seeing Heimos suddenly getting up and leaving, Garlan was stunned for a while, then raised his hand to touch his forehead in a daze.

Uh, it seems...a little hot.

Is the temperature rising again? ...I didn’t notice it, no wonder my head was always dizzy.

……Well……

Forget it, Heimos will bring the doctor over soon anyway...

He thought so vaguely that his consciousness fell into darkness.

The hurried footsteps outside gradually faded away.

The room became quiet, and now the only sound that could be heard was the slightly rapid breathing of the sleeping boy on the bed.

Suddenly, there was a slight click, which seemed to be the sound of the door opening.

But the door was closed tightly and there was no movement.

Another very soft sound sounded, and a small secret door opened on the inside of the fireplace on one side of the room.

Several people climbed out of the secret door one after another.

Among them, the man who looked like a leader raised his head. The rough-skinned face, the narrow and vicious eyes, and the looming golden front teeth exposed in his mouth were actually the pirate leader Basha who was thought to have fled to the sea.

He walked quietly to the bed.

Garlan had just fallen into a drowsy state, his face was red with heat, and he was breathing rapidly with slightly parted lips.

His eyebrows were knitted tightly, and he was obviously very uncomfortable with the fever.

Basha leaned over, held a strand of blond hair scattered beside the bed, and squinted at the boy who was obviously ill.

"Hello."

He lowered his voice and asked the man beside him who was tightly tied with ropes.

"Is this kid the prince?"

The man who was the former commander of Tozes Navy but had long been a prisoner of the pirates trembled all over and nodded quickly.

"Yes, yes, that's him, Prince Garlan."

"If you dare to lie to me..."

Basha snorted and glanced at Taka with ferocious eyes.

Taka immediately shook his head in panic.

"I don't dare, I definitely don't dare to lie to you, this is really a prince!"

Basha looked at Taka's bearish look with disgust.

He reached out and covered the sleeping Garlan's mouth and nose with a handkerchief soaked in drug, knocking him out completely.

Then, he turned his head and signaled that a confidant behind him immediately stepped forward and put the unconscious young man into a large sack.

Then, the man carried the sack and quickly got back into the secret door.

Taka was also dragged into the secret door by several other pirates.

Basha, who was the last to stay, heard that there was no movement outside and quickly arranged the room.

He pushed open the window and deliberately hooked a piece of cloth on the window.

Finally, he sneered at the closed door, then lowered his head and got into the secret door.

The secret door slowly closed, and the fireplace area returned to its previous appearance, with no flaws visible.

The room returned to the silence it had not long ago.

However, on the bed that was still warm, the figure of the blond boy sleeping quietly was gone.

The author has something to say: It seems that there are still a few blades left...

Well, coat it in sugar and fry it...