After completing all my tasks, I decided to return to the private room assigned to me.
"Welcome home, Charles-sama."
Ashley greeted me with a deep bow.
To have someone who will be waiting for me and say "welcome home".
This hasn't happened in years.
"Are you done with your errands?"
"Yes."
"Then let me prepare dinner."
"Please do, meanwhile I'm going to train."
Unlike normal humans, a hero's body doesn't become dull. However, the same can't be said about their senses. In order to always maintain my best condition, I changed into clothes that were easy to move in and headed to practice with a wooden sword in hand. I found a deserted spot on the premises and silently swung my sword. I worked hard on practicing, mainly the form of Brave Arts, the hero's secret technique.
After about an hour of practice, I decided to go back to my room.
Along the way, I came across a familiar face.
"Are you on your way home from practice? You're as energetic as ever, Charles."
The person who said that and called out to me was one of the few ministers who supported my brother Claude without paying attention to the higher-ups who were competing for the position of power. His existence can be said to be a heresy even among ministers. Although he is a fearless and well-built fighter, which is rare among ministers, his demeanor gives the impression of being extremely calm and intelligent. On the other hand, he never compromises on what he thinks is right, and he also has a stubborn side, so he is one of the few people I personally feel I can trust.
"It's been a while. I can't calm down unless I hold a sword at least once a day." "I understand how you feel. I also don't feel well unless I move my body at least once a day." When you think of a minister, you probably think of a chubby, middle-aged man, but he is about half a head taller than me and has a good physique. He has the appearance of being an active knight.
If it's just based on his appearance, he seems to be more reliable than me as a fighting force.
"You've become a great man. You used to be small, but you've grown so much taller that you look strong now.''
As he said, I was on the small side until I reached adulthood, but since then I've grown quite a bit and am now slightly taller than average.
After we had finished our small talk, he broached a subject that he really wanted to talk about with me.
"I am very sorry about Mr. Claude," he said. "I don't think there are many people as intelligent as he was."
"Yes, I agree."
My older brother was the one who most strongly inherited the blood of the current king, Lelouch, who was known as the wise king. There's no doubt about that.
"The most ideal future I envisioned for this country was for Prince Claude to become king and for you to support him, but that is no longer possible."
"I wanted to ask you this once before."
"Hmm?"
"May I ask you why you were pushing for my brother Claude to become King?"
"Sure, I'll tell you."
It was surprisingly easy to get approval. It doesn't seem like it's something he needs to hide.
"Of course, a big reason was because he was an intelligent person."
"Yes."
"The most important reason was that he was physically weak, so he also understood the feelings of the weak.''
I quickly understand what he meant. My brother put aside his training as a hero and worked hard to help orphans and other socially disadvantaged people.
"The people who were competing to inherit the throne were certainly good in their own ways, but they were undeniably strong. Therefore, it seemed likely that a country would be built around only the strong. I was concerned about that." The third Prince, Sanvolt, was not as arrogant as the other two, but he could not be said to be suitable for domestic affairs.
Even if he had become king, there would have been no problem in terms of making the country stronger, but I don't think he would have been able to raise the standard of living for the socially disadvantaged.
I don't mean to be disparaging.
It's just that I don't think about it that much.
In a sense, he had a very heroic personality, so I think he would have helped people in need.
However, it is not hard to imagine that he would have only done a temporary measure, such as providing financial support at that time, and would not have looked for a fundamental solution.
"Now that I've become a hero, I'd like to ask you a question." I decided to ask him about another thing that I've been curious about for a long time. "Was I a gifted swordsman in your eyes?"
"No, to be honest, I didn't think you were that talented. In terms of qualifications, it would have been faster to count from the bottom among the princes to find you.''
He answers honestly without any kind of flattery or anything like that. That's only because he likes me.
He would never respond like this to someone with whom he can't have a heart-to-heart talk.
Anyway, I thought this part of him was trustworthy.
"However, I knew you would become something of a success. Your dedication to training was incomparable to the other princes." Perhaps he thought he didn't say enough, so he added those words at the end. "That's my first time hearing that." "I believe that being able to work hard is part of talent. In that sense, I thought you were the most talented."
I understand what he's saying.
"I have no talent."
Only people who have truly worked to their limits can say those words.
What is missing can be filled up with effort.
In a sense, you could say that I embody that.
"Charles-sama, you will be the future father of the heroes who will develop this country, right?"
"Yes."
"If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know. I will do my best to assist." At the moment, there are almost no people who think that I can benefit them. Because I haven't been named as the king's successor. It would have been a much wiser choice to join the powerful princes of the generation below me. However, the reason why he speaks such warm words to me is because he personally likes me.
"Thank you very much. If I have the chance, I won't hesitate to ask for your help."
I respond with words from the heart, not as a social gesture.
It seems that there are quite a few ministers who don't like my presence, but it's reassuring to have someone I can trust, even if it's just one person.
After rekindling our old friendship, I parted ways with him even though I felt a bit of regret. By now, Ashley must have prepared a hot meal for dinner and is waiting for me. I should head home before the food gets cold. Although it wasn't a long distance, I hurried home.
Chapter length 2809 characters.
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