The Protagonists of the Novel Escaped

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Alexis Imperator Valtaria, the only prince and the crown prince of the Valtarian Empire, went to study abroad in the Holy Kingdom because he wanted to.

Not only was he the empire’s prince, but he was also a devout believer of the Earth Mother. He even mentioned in private that if he hadn’t been born the crown prince, he would have wanted to be a priest in the Holy Kingdom.

At the same time, Alexis was very interested in the Saintess Party.

Heroes like the Hero, Saintess, Sword Saint, Sage, and Mercenary King. He adored the tales of heroes who defeated the Demon King like a child. Every time he read their heroic tales, his eyes sparkled with longing.

So-called ‘fanatic.’

His obsessive curiosity made even his father and sisters sigh in exasperation.

There were even rumors that the reason he suddenly went to study in the Holy Kingdom while attending the prestigious Imperial Academy, known for producing the Saintess Party, was that he wanted to imitate their actions. This was because Beatrice, who had awakened the divinity of the Earth Mother, received a call from the Holy Kingdom, took a leave from the academy, and became the second Saintess of the Holy Kingdom.

“Your Highness, it’s time to board.”

“Got it.”

The Knight Commander bowed his head to inform him.

At that, Alexis stood up.

“My sisters must have all arrived at the Imperial City, right?”

“Yes, they likely did.”

“It’s been half a year since I’ve returned! Ah! I need to prepare souvenirs for my sisters!”

“I have everything ready. Don’t worry.”

I wonder if my sisters are doing well, Alexis thought as he lifted his trunk high.

“Where could the Missing Saintess Party have gone? Perhaps they are fighting the Demon King’s forces…”

“……”

The king who has dominated the demons… So, does that mean the Demon King is a puppet of someone else?

What nonsense.

It was the kind of delusion that a boy who loves to imagine crises would think of.

But it was enough to alleviate his boredom.

It would take six more days to reach the Imperial City of the Valtarian Empire. The Knight Commander signaled to a waiting staff behind him to bring some drinks.

“Sir Malbert, apparently there’s an individual among the Saintess Party whose identity hasn’t been revealed to the public!”

“Are you referring to the Warmonger?”

“Oh, you knew?!”

“I was part of the racial war.”

The Knight Commander Malbert, who commanded the escort of the crown prince, was one of the key figures who led the empire’s troops to support the Saintess Party.

Thus, he knew several secrets that were not publicly acknowledged.

The Warmonger.

The sixth member of the Saintess Party.

How could anyone forget the man who wreaked havoc on the battlefield, spewing out fierce bombardments? Even three years later, he still remembered the booming gunfire like thunder.

At Malbert’s answer, Alexis jolted.

It was a usual habit of the crown prince to react this way when his relentless curiosity was triggered.

“I first met the Warmonger… it was probably during the Siege of Raigyr.”

“The Siege of Raigyr! That was when the Saintess Party took down the impregnable fortress defended by the main forces of the Demon King’s army! It became the turning point for the Holy Kingdom, which had been on the defensive!”

What an encyclopedia of knowledge you are.

Malbert was sweating at Alexis’s fluent oratory.

“The Warmonger was the one who crushed the impregnable fortress that hadn’t fallen despite multiple siege attempts. He obliterated the fortress along with its walls.”

“Ooh!”

The Siege of Raigyr was the battle where the Holy Kingdom, which had been continually losing to the Demon King’s forces, finally gained the upper hand. Yet strangely, there were not many detailed records of such a critical battle.

It was just briefly noted that the fortress was brought down thanks to the Saintess Party’s efforts, with only a simple victory message existing.

Why was that?

As if there was a need to hastily cover up the truth.

It was a historic battle where the noble believers of the Earth Mother defeated evil forces. Naturally, it should have been properly recorded and passed down to future generations.

Feeling puzzlement, Alexis pouted his lips.

‘Did I bring it up needlessly… I’m sure I’ll be bombarded with questions for six days until we reach the Imperial City.’

Malbert’s anxious prediction was spot on.

For six whole days, he endured an interrogation-level question assault from the crown prince.

“Sir Malbert! Sir Malbert!”

“……”

The Knight Commander realized the outcome of stimulating the interests of a fanatic.

He let out a heavy sigh.

The charming-looking crown prince was beginning to feel like a noisy parrot.

“Uh, Your Highness…! I think we need to stop at the next platform.”

When the train departing from the Holy Kingdom had passed the border of the Valtarian Empire and swept over the Marquisate of Hohenberg, the engineer spoke with a look of astonishment.

“What’s going on, engineer?”

Though they had passed the Marquisate of Hohenberg, they still had five more days to reach the Imperial City.

But to stop?

What happened that they would halt a train racing at full speed?

Malbert looked at the engineer with a puzzled gaze.

The engineer explained the command that had just arrived at the train.

“It seems an unidentified group has severed the monorail. Prince Ludmilla, who was traveling by train, was also held up because of it.”

“A rebellion against the imperial family…!”

Nothing had been confirmed yet.

But it was certainly an act of rebellion against the Valtarian Imperial Family. They had cut the monorail of the train carrying the crown prince and princess. That could only be seen as an attempt to assassinate the royal family.

“Prince Ludmilla will be waiting at the next platform.”

“Is it my sister?”

At the engineer’s words, Alexis stiffened but then brightened.

Despite the situation where an unidentified group had attacked, the crown prince genuinely seemed excited about reuniting with his sister.

His sister is waiting.

He fidgeted with anticipation as he waited for the train to arrive at the platform.

*

It’s likely an internal act.

After some deliberation, Ludmilla spoke.

“It could be an internal rebellion force hostile to the Valtarian Imperial Family.”

“…A rebellion force?”

The Valtarian Empire, having ruled as the continent’s dominant power, stood at an unrivaled peak. Thanks to continuous conquest and internal reforms, it had developed.

But to achieve transformation, sacrifices were always necessary.

The current emperor, Barbarossa, was known as a wise and bold ruler, but in his youth, he was infamous for carrying out numerous purges, eliminating dissenters in the name of reform.

“Since they don’t have the guts to rebel, they resorted to sabotage. Judging by their clumsy scheme, it’s nothing but an amateurish effort.”

Reluctantly admitting it, the cultist forces were unmatched pros when it came to sabotage.

You can only tell by the rookie mishaps they showed in cutting the monorail.

As it turned out, a soldier patrolling the vicinity found a bomb planted on the monorail. And upon being discovered beforehand, the thugs who planned the sabotage must have set fire to the fuses.

Everything was a complete mess, showcasing their inexperience.

“Princess Ludmilla, the crown prince has arrived.”

“Is that true?”

While searching the monorail alongside Ludmilla, a knight ran down from the platform.

The crown prince has arrived.

They were surely referring to Alexis.

It seemed he had returned from the Holy Kingdom, and they said he was majoring in theology at the academy.

“Sister!”

“I’m glad to see you healthy, Alex.”

The handsome boy with tousled curly hair appeared with a bright smile. There was nothing in his gentle demeanor that hinted he resembled the emperor.

What a miracle of genetics.

To think such a gentle son was born from the boisterous, mustachioed emperor.

Hmm…

So, only the fierce temperament was inherited by Ludmilla and Elizaveta?

“I received word. An unidentified group severed the monorail, right?”

“Yes, we were investigating with Edanant.”

As Alexis basked in the joy of their reunion, his gaze turned towards me.

I greeted him with an introduction.

“I am Edanant von Hohenberc, the second son of the Hohenberc family.”

“A user of the Holy Sword…! M-Must be right?! And I heard you are the younger brother of the hero Maximilian!”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Waaaah!!”

The blonde boy jumped up with twinkling eyes of admiration.

What’s with this reaction?

As if he were welcoming an idol.

Even though he had become quite the celebrity, this exaggerated response was uncomfortable.

I silently hoped that Ludmilla would rein him in, but she merely chuckled at her excited brother, leaving him be.

“You must have seen the Saintess Party in person!”

“Yes, I’ve visited the Hohenberc family several times.”

“Wow! How lucky! To meet the heroes who defeated the Demon King in person…!”

……

Among all the many people who had admired the Saintess Party, Crown Prince Alexis displayed an intensity that bordered on madness.

Is there even anything to be jealous of?

What’s so significant about treating the freeloaders who invaded their home?

“The Holy Sword…! Could the soldier currently armed be the Holy Sword?!”

“It’s the Holy Sword Aldebaran.”

“Aldebaran! The sword of demon-slaying representing the Holy Kingdom…! This is the first time seeing it in person!”

“Is that so.”

Alexis gulped hard.

His blue eyes were brimming with intense interest and yearning.

Must be an ardent fan of the Saintess Party.

It was almost pitiful how lowbrow his tastes were.

“Here it is.”

As I released the belt and handed him Aldebaran, Alexis began to tremble all over, unsure of what to do.

“Y-You must have held Aldebaran in your hands when the hero did, right?”

“Of course, he must have.”

Before I could finish my sentence, Alexis’s reaction became even more intense.

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