A Tale of Strategies For the Throne

The author has something to say: I was shocked when the power suddenly went off in the middle of typing.

Fortunately, it didn't take long for the call to come.

The Catastrophe of Karnal.

Years later, everyone called this incident this way.

After Aaron Landis captured the royal city of Kanal, the Gastad people saw their defeat imminent, and they ruthlessly chose to die together with Aaron Landis and the Kanal people.

They dug up the mountain halfway up the mountain, causing the originally stable mountain walls to collapse, creating a horrific natural disaster artificially.

When this happened, the whole world was shocked.

The entire continent was shocked, and the world was disgusted and disgusted with the Gastad people's unscrupulous and crazy behavior.

Other countries instinctively increased their vigilance and preparedness against the Gastad people.

Even the two countries Is and Geshur, who had once allied with the Gastad people, became wary of them. Although they were regarded as barbaric and warlike people, they would never be so ruthless as to cost them tens of thousands of lives. The extent of soldiers going to die.

In their opinion, if the Gastard people are so cruel to their own people, how can they be so cruel to themselves who are just allies?

Therefore, years later, when the Gastadians tried to ally with them again, they were rebuffed.

The final tragic consequence of this man-made natural disaster was that the commander of Gastad himself and countless Gastad soldiers were buried under the ruins of the palace. Thousands of Aaron Landis soldiers who were unable to escape in time, as well as The commander of the army, Heimos, all died in this turmoil, plus thousands of Aaron Landis prisoners of war who failed to leave in time, a total of nearly 10,000 people.

The white palace of Karnal, which had been passed down for countless years and was regarded as a treasure and a symbol of civilization by the Karnar people, was destroyed, which made many people in the world feel regretful and sad.

At the same time, one-third of the royal city of Karnar was buried under rocks and became a place of ruins. Because it was early in the morning and most people were staying in their homes, nearly hundreds of thousands of Karnar people were buried alive under the rocks.

Countless relatives and friends were separated by life and death overnight.

That day, the whole city was enveloped in cries of grief.

It takes a long time to build a prosperous and beautiful city, but it only takes a moment to destroy it.

War has never been so cruel.

…………

……………………

One month after the ‘Karnal Disaster’ occurred.

Spring has arrived, and the land is full of birdsong, flowers, and lush vegetation. At a glance, there are green trees and flowers everywhere, and clear gurgling streams can be seen flowing across the land from time to time.

Along the way, the scenery that had been ordinary in Sid's eyes in the past few decades had become a breathtaking scenery for him at this moment.

But there were also some places that made him feel unfamiliar, such as the neat and spacious road under his feet.

It is said that this is a highway built by King Garlan himself. The construction of this highway will start from the royal city and gradually expand to the whole country.

If it can really be done, and if there are such flat and spacious roads all over the country in the future, it will be much more convenient for armies to go out on expeditions in the future, and their marching speed will be much faster.

Sid thought this almost reflexively.

But even if it's a little strange, this is still Aaron Landis' land.

The familiar sounds of wind, water, and air all made him feel warm from the bottom of his heart.

He never dreamed that he could return to this land again.

Yes, it's like a dream.

However, seeing that he was getting closer to the royal city day by day, for some reason, he suddenly felt uneasy.

A kind of uneasiness, like the fear of being suddenly woken up from a sweet dream, spread from the bottom of my heart.

The closer to the royal city, the more serious this uneasiness becomes.

He was not the only one who felt this way, the other companions all became silent in the two days before they arrived at the royal city.

…………

A few days later, the army of Aaron Landis, who had gone on an expedition, finally returned to the royal city after half a year.

They brought back from Canal more than twenty thousand Aaron Landis generals who had been captured by the Gastards.

It was already noon, and the majestic royal city was already in sight.

When everyone looked up, they could see the golden palace in the royal city standing on the high cliffs of the coast, bathed in bright sunlight, as if surrounded by white clouds.

Sid was in a daze for a moment.

The young king who declared ‘I will never give up my people’ and sent a large army to rescue them from the Gastad people was among them.

However, this war was time-consuming, labor-intensive, and consumed countless property. In the final disaster of Karnar, thousands of soldiers were sacrificed overnight.

Even...the black knight Heimos, who was Aaron Landis' most famous general, also died in this battle.

He alone was Aaron Landis's worst loss.

Countless countries - especially Geshu, which had been suppressed by Heimos for many years and whose heart palpitated when hearing the name of the Black Knight for many years - secretly rejoiced in the misfortune.

People say that the power of the Black Knight Heimos to intimidate other countries is that one person is almost as powerful as an army of 100,000.

Although these words are exaggerated by the world to praise the name of the Black Knight.

But for the king of any country, it is not cost-effective to exchange such a famous and loyal general for twenty or thirty thousand prisoners of war who will not be able to fight in the future.

The King of Aaron Landis did a great stupid thing.

The kings of many countries thought so happily.

Moreover, as a person from Aaron Landis, he also knew that Heimos and King Garlan had grown up together since childhood, and each had saved the other several times. The relationship between them was even closer than the real one. Brother.

But this time, because of this war, he lost this person who was like a relative.

King Garlan...could he also feel annoyed by this?

Perhaps, he now regrets sending people to rescue them...

Looking at the familiar city in front of him after almost two years of absence, Sid thought uneasily in his heart.

He looked at his companions around him. Everyone's face was full of excitement, but there was also a bit of hesitation.

In the past, there were very few people who returned home as prisoners of war, and they were the first batch.

No one knows how they will be treated.

They were defeated, captives, and former slaves of the Gastadians.

Moreover, because of them, Lord Huymos, who was regarded as a hero by the Aaron Landis, died in Canal.

…

They committed so many sins.

It is very likely that they will be looked down upon and treated with contempt, or perhaps, they will receive pity and sympathy from others.

They will be labeled losers for life and be nailed to the pillar of shame until death.

Sid walked in silence.

The closer he got to the royal city, the more confused he became, which was about his future.

At this moment, he was even suddenly a little afraid of entering this city that he had always dreamed of.

Just when Sid and the others were thinking uneasily, they had already reached the moat.

Sid subconsciously looked up and saw the wide moat bridge in front of him.

The moat bridge is part of the royal city gate. When it is erected, it becomes the city gate. When it is lowered, it becomes a bridge over the moat.

After passing the long moat bridge, there is a huge and majestic city gate in front of you.

This huge city gate is divided into two levels. One layer is big, one layer is small, one layer is inside another layer.

Usually only the smaller door is raised to allow pedestrians and carriages to enter and exit.

But now, the entire city gate is slowly rising upwards.

Sid understood that this was to welcome the victorious soldiers.

After the army enters, there will be countless people cheering along the city avenue.

He has been one of them in the past.

...and now, he doesn't know what will be waiting for those who were once prisoners.

Sid was thinking with a heavy heart. The companions around him were as silent as him, and the excited expressions not long ago had disappeared from their faces.

At this moment, the army that was supposed to pass through the moat bridge suddenly stopped advancing.

Seeing that the army was motionless, Sid raised his head and looked forward strangely.

The next second, his pupils shrank violently.

The simple and thick stone iron city gate slowly rose upwards, and a large group of people slowly walked out of the city gate.

The leader is a young man riding a white horse.

Under the bright sunshine, the young king's beautiful appearance almost makes people dare not look up.

He rode forward slowly, his light-colored cloak flying behind him in the wind.

His long hair, like flowing gold, fell from behind his shoulders.

A crown of lapis lazuli and gold sat on that head of bright blond hair.

When he appeared, everyone was silent.

Caijos, the coach at the front, took the lead, and the soldiers on horseback got off their horses one after another.

Garlan's horse stopped in the middle of the moat bridge, and the royal knights in red armor stood solemnly behind him, like red flames spreading behind him.

Needless to say, at the moment when the Young King raised his eyes and glanced over, the army standing in front of the moat bridge all bent down and knelt down.

One after another, piece after piece.

In less than a moment, all of Aaron Landis's army, which was so dark that they couldn't see the end, bent over and knelt down.

They bowed their heads deeply.

Toward the direction of their king.

"I come to greet my victorious soldiers."

King Garlan's clear young voice sounded in the quiet air.

"besides……"

Garlan's eyes swept over his soldiers, and then landed on a place on the left front of the army.

There, there was a group of Aaronlandis who did not wear the armor of Aaronlandis soldiers and looked out of place in the army.

His golden pupils were fixedly fixed on that spot.

At this moment, Sid, who was kneeling on the ground, felt as if his heart was being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand.

He lowered his head uneasily, and unconsciously tightened his fingers on the ground.

Looking at the people of Aaron Landis who looked obviously anxious, Garlan smiled.

He said, "Welcome home."

The Young King's voice spread across the silent land.

There is no redundant, complicated language.

Just a simple sentence, four words, but the oppressive atmosphere that enveloped that group of people was instantly swept away.

All the uneasiness, the uneasiness of being close to home, and the complicated and confusing thoughts disappeared before this sentence.

【Welcome home. 】

Sid lowered his head deeply, clenched his fingers, and suppressed the soreness at the tip of his nose.

Yes.

Through hardships.

They finally... went home.

…………

……………………

Under the cheers and welcome of the people on both sides, the outgoing army walked through the Royal City Avenue amidst the scattered flower petals and returned to the military camp on the other side of the Royal City.

Kehos returned to the palace with Garlan.

Soon, he was already standing in the palace room.

There were only two people in the room, Garlan and him, and the female official was guarding the courtyard outside.

Kayhos came here alone, not to report the battle situation to Garlan. After all, he would send a battle report back every few days, so Garlan knew the whole process of the war.

Standing in front of the silent Garlan, for the first time, the blond knight felt the urge to run away from the young man.

For the first time, he felt that it was so difficult to talk to the child he had watched grow up.

"...I'm sorry, Your Highness."

After pondering for a long time, Kayhos finally spoke with difficulty.

His voice was extremely dry.

"I cannot bring Lord Huymos' body back to Aaron Landis."

He clenched his right hand and pressed it on his chest, maintaining a bowing posture.

For some reason, he didn't dare to look at the face of the young man in front of him, so he lowered his eyes and said.

"Almost half of the mountain collapsed, and the palace area has completely sunk in. It was completely buried by the sliding mountain and cannot be excavated."

"If we force the excavation, I'm worried that there may be a risk of further collapse."

Huymos is very important to His Majesty.

Cayjos knows.

A month has passed, and Heimos's death is already certain. If his body can be brought back, it may bring some comfort to His Majesty.

But he knew better.

Even if Garlan had been in the royal city of Karnar at the time, he would never have made the decision to let the soldiers risk their lives to exhume the remains.

The blond knight lowered his head, looking like a child who had done something wrong.

"I'm truly sorry, Prince."

In the confusion, he subconsciously called out that familiar name.

He clenched the hand on his chest tightly.

"I shouldn't have allowed Lord Heymos to sneak into the Royal City of Kanal. It's all my fault..."

"Kayhos."

A hand reached out and held his hand that was clenched so tightly that the knuckles turned slightly white.

Garlan looked up at him.

"If there's a reason why, it's me."

He said,

"It was I who asked Heimos to rescue the captured Aaron Landis, so he would put himself in danger. Otherwise, you know, he would not have done that kind of thing at all - so, In the final analysis, I was the one who harmed him, and I was the one who was wrong."

"It's not your fault, Prince!"

Kayhos raised his eyes suddenly, took Garlan's hand in his and retorted without hesitation.

"No one expected that something like that would happen. On the battlefield, things are changing rapidly, and no one knows what will happen next."

"Prince, I know you feel sad, but you can't blame yourself, do you understand?"

Garlan did not answer immediately.

He glanced at his hand held tightly by Caihos, and then smiled.

He said, "This is what you look like, Caihos. The timid look you just looked like doesn't show the demeanor of a Knight of the Burning Sun at all."

"…………"

Kayhos couldn't react for a moment and looked at Garlan blankly.

Garlan shook his head.

"As you said, things on the battlefield change rapidly and no one can predict it. Therefore, it is not my fault, let alone your fault. I can only say..."

He paused for a moment before continuing.

"This is how it is meant to be."

"His Majesty……"

Garlan raised his left hand and covered it with Caihos's hand.

He held his knight's hand with both hands, raised his head, his golden pupils slightly curved in a soft arc, and smiled at his knight.

"Kayhos, I'm glad you're back with me safely."

He smiled and said,

"Don't worry about me, I'm fine."

…………

After talking to Garlan for a while, Kehos left the room.

After all, half a year after the expedition, after a fierce battle, he led the army back to the royal city in a dusty journey. Even he was a little tired.

Caijos had seen it with his own eyes. After witnessing Camos's death in battle two years ago, the young boy huddled himself in the darkness, hugged himself and buried his head in his knees. He remained silent for two days. Not eating or drinking, he looked like a wood sculpture without a soul.

He also knows.

Over the past two years, Heimos has gradually occupied an extremely important position in Garlan's heart.

Therefore, he had been very worried until he saw Garlan with his own eyes.

After seeing Garlan's current state, he could finally relax a little.

The young king showed the same grace before the army as before, and his power was even greater.

When the two were alone just now, Garlan stood in front of him. Although his body looked a little thinner, his expression was very calm when talking about the death of that person.

Even his smile seemed to be the same as before, not much changed.

Kejos thought.

Yes, after experiencing so many things, that little child finally grew up little by little.

I have become stronger and more mature than before.

With such emotion in his heart, Kayhos, who had just left the door, suddenly remembered that he seemed to have left his cloak on the table in the room.

Fortunately, he hadn't gone far yet, so he quickly turned around and walked back to the room.

He did not close the door tightly when he left, and now he did not close the door tightly when he returned. His Majesty seemed to be still in the room and had not left.

Caijos walked to the door, put his hand on the ajar door, and was about to push it open.

Before he made a move, when he looked up, through the crack in the door, he saw the profile of Garlan standing there.

Garlan stood in front of the open floor-to-ceiling window with a calm expression, as if he was looking out at the courtyard filled with birdsong and flowers.

The warm spring breeze blew in from outside, lifting a few strands of long golden hair hanging on her shoulders.

The room was filled with sunlight, bright and warm.

At this moment, there was only Garlan.

He stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, raised his hand and held it on the edge of the floor-to-ceiling window.

The young man looked at the courtyard, seemingly fascinated.

The thick golden forehead hair fell down, and the shadow enveloped his eyes.

Caijos's hand was already on the door and he was about to push it open.

Suddenly, a breeze blew from the courtyard, lifting the young man's blond hair.

Kehos saw Garlan's eyes.

His mind buzzed suddenly.

He saw the boy's eyes.

It was a look that was hard to describe in words.

But there is no need to say it, let alone describe it.

Anyone who sees it can feel the traces of pain that penetrate into their bones.

Kejos's mind went blank.

He stood there blankly and saw Garlan's hand holding the window slowly retracting.

As if being chilled by the wind, Garlan hugged himself tightly.

The young man standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window slowly squatted on the ground.

He held himself tight.

He lowered his head, and his long blond hair fell from his shoulders, seeming to wrap his whole body in it.

The young man held himself like this, buried his head deeply, squatted, curled up, and curled himself up into a small ball like a child.

Looking extremely helpless.

The boy's fingers were clasped on his arm, clasping tightly, so deep that it caused bruises.

The white fingertips may be due to the extreme exertion, and you can almost see traces of slight trembling...

…………

Unable to watch it any longer, Caijos stretched out his hand to push the door open and break in.

But a hand suddenly stretched out from the side and stopped him.

Kayhos, who was in extreme confusion, was about to take action when he looked up and saw the familiar face of the female official.

He stayed for a moment, and then was forcefully dragged away by Tapti and taken outside the room.

"Why don't you let me in?"

Caihos showed an unprecedented anxious look, and even growled at Tapti uncontrollably.

Just thinking about what he just saw made him feel heartbroken.

"His Majesty would not want you to go in."

Tapti looked at him with a frosty expression.

"Why?"

Caihos clenched his hands tightly, his fingers crackling with frustration.

"Kayhos, he is no longer a prince, he is a king."

said the female official, looking solemn.

But there was deep sadness in her eyes.

"He is the king who protects all of Aaron Landis."

Therefore, he will not depend on you.

Nor will I depend on anyone.

Therefore, he could smile calmly and stand in front of everyone as if nothing had happened.

That is his dignity as a king.

…………

And the only person in the world that he, as a king, could rely on was no longer there.