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Edrick moved swiftly through the stream of soldiers hurrying back and forth.
Less than an hour had passed since the battle ended, yet the camp that had resembled complete chaos was already being restored with astonishing speed.
While soldiers recovered weapons from the wyvern corpses and cleared away the ruined tents, laborers loaded crates and baggage onto wagons. Maids gathered the dead in one place and began wrapping the bodies in fine cloth.
As he strode through the camp, Edrick estimated the number of corpses at a glance.
Seventeen.
Including those who had been swallowed by the wyverns, the total death toll was likely somewhere between twenty-five and thirty.
Considering the wounded as well, the losses were far from insignificant.
He clenched his fist.
'A wyvern flock appearing during the Season of Fire...'
Normally, wyverns awoke from hibernation near the end of the Season of Rest and only began gathering in flocks during the Season of Water. Once the breeding season ended, they dispersed into pairs.
For more than a dozen wyverns to appear together during the Season of Fire was exceedingly rare.
Moreover, this region was not even suitable habitat for large magical beasts such as wyverns.
'Calling it mere bad luck doesn't quite explain it.'
Edrick narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the wyvern carcasses scattered across the hills.
Then he pushed the ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ question from his mind.
This was not the time for idle speculation.
Lengthening his stride, he headed toward the gathering of knights.
“Commander!”
Varkas, who had been issuing instructions to the knights, turned his head.
Without meaning to, Edrick halted.
His superior's face, illuminated by flickering torchlight, was stained with dark blood.
Edrick himself likely looked little better, but there was something unnerving about the sight of that marble-like face splattered with blood while cold eyes shone beneath it.
“Have you found her?”
Lord Siorcan asked in his usual flat voice.
Snapping back to attention, Edrick hurriedly reported.
“We found traces of a wyvern crash site to the north. It appears it fell into the ravine below.”
Varkas turned toward the north.
The torches carried by the knights cast faint light across the shadows of the forest.
There was no telling what other violent monsters might be lurking in the darkness.
Edrick spoke anxiously.
“We need to organize a search party immediately. There's no time to waste—”
“A search party? What search party!”
The savage voice cut him off.
Edrick whipped his head around.
The Crown Prince was approaching with his attendants in tow, his dark hair disheveled like a lion's mane.
Edrick immediately bowed.
The Crown Prince paid him no attention whatsoever and strode directly toward Varkas.
“She’s obviously dead already! Stop wasting time on pointless nonsense and start preparing to leave! What happens if another pack of monsters attacks while we're standing around?” freёwebnoѵel.com
The heartless words made Edrick's face harden.
The Crown Prince looked paler than usual, clearly shaken by the sudden disaster.
Someone who had never even faced an ogre in his life, let alone a wyvern, could hardly be blamed for feeling frightened after such an ordeal.
Yet Edrick felt not the slightest sympathy.
The prince looked so on edge he was almost pitiable, but Edrick could only feel resentment.
He glanced toward Varkas.
Strangely, his commander remained silent.
Surely he wasn't considering following the Crown Prince's wishes?
Regardless of whether she had been born a bastard, Talia Roem Gwirta was still the Emperor's daughter.
More importantly, she was the eldest daughter of the current Empress.
They could not simply abandon an Imperial Princess to become monster food because of the Crown Prince's personal hatred.
It was a matter of knightly honor.
Edrick spoke urgently.
“If you authorize a search party, I will personally look for the Second Imperial Princess. Therefore—”
“You insolent little bastard! Who gave you permission to speak over me?”
The Crown Prince exploded.
He grabbed Edrick by the collar.
Edrick met his gaze calmly.
He was long accustomed to the prince's violent temper.
Maintaining the utmost respect, he replied,
“My apologies. However, we cannot simply abandon Her Highness—”
“Her Highness?”
A dry laugh escaped the Crown Prince.
Staring directly into Edrick's face, he emphasized every word.
“Listen carefully, boy. There is only one Imperial Princess in this Empire, and that's Aila Roem Gwirta. That bitch Talia should never have been born in the first place. Becoming monster food is exactly the kind of ending that suits a bastard like—”
“Enough.”
The low voice cut through the air.
Edrick flinched and looked toward his commander.
No matter how arrogant Gareth behaved, Varkas had always addressed him with proper formality.
Yet not only had he interrupted the Crown Prince, he had addressed him without honorifics.
For a moment, Edrick could only stare.
Apparently he was not the only one shocked.
The Crown Prince also turned toward Varkas with wide eyes.
But Varkas himself looked perfectly calm.
“Your Highness should return to your quarters and rest.”
His tone remained even.
Varkas nodded toward the knights standing behind the prince.
“Bring me a mage immediately. Select ten men with quick feet. I will organize a search party.”
The knights scattered at once to carry out the order.
The Crown Prince stared after them in disbelief.
Then he released Edrick's collar as though throwing him aside and stepped directly in front of Varkas.
“Are you seriously going to defy me over that woman?”
“I was ordered by His Majesty to protect all three of his children.”
Varkas's voice remained utterly devoid of emotion.
“Surely Your Highness does not believe your orders supersede those of His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Don't give me excuses!”
The Crown Prince blocked his path.
“Do you think I haven't noticed the way you've always gone easy on that bitch Talia? Tell me honestly. You and that woman—!”
“Gareth!”
A sharp, clear voice sliced through the tension.
Edrick, who had been anxiously watching the confrontation, turned his head.
The First Imperial Princess was approaching between the knights with two attendants following behind her.
Since the battle ended, she had personally directed the maids in caring for the wounded.
Though obvious exhaustion still clung to her and traces of blood remained unshed from the day's horrors, she carried herself with flawless grace.
She stopped before her brother and fixed him with a firm look.
“Lord Siorcan is right. We cannot leave Talia behind. Whatever else she may be, she is still our blood.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
The Crown Prince glared at his sister in disbelief.
“After what that woman did to our mother, you're actually saying that?”
“Please be reasonable.”
The Princess interrupted him with dignified authority.
Though only minutes separated their births, she seemed vastly more mature than her brother.
Meeting his gaze directly, she continued calmly,
“If we return to the Imperial Palace while leaving Talia behind, both Lord Siorcan and you will become subjects of unnecessary rumors and criticism. Why should we take such a risk?”
The cold practicality of the words stunned Edrick into silence.
The First Imperial Princess was famous throughout the Empire for her kindness and compassion.
Yet the words coming from her mouth were chillingly detached.
As she soothed her fuming brother, her voice softened.
“At the very least, let us recover the child's body and provide her with a proper funeral.”
