He who follows in his footsteps.

“Lord Fahlcrantz………can I ask you to please take me with you to the Svalier territory as well?”

On the carriage back, I made a request to the Marquis.

I have a feeling that during this expedition to the Svalier territory, Wilhelm will be sunk into the depths of hell once and for all.

Then, the one to deliver that fate unto that man………Wilhelm Von Svalier, the hero of the worst story ever written, [War Records of Wilhelm], has to be me, the one and only Tyrant, Rudolf Fürst Baldyk, and no one else.

“Please! I beg of you………”

“………..raise your head, Prince Rudolf.”

Seeing me bow my head deeply, the Marquis raised me back up with his both hands.

“I planned to take you with me from the very beginning. After all, you are my successor ,the one who will follow the footsteps of the one and only Douglas Fahlcrantz, after all.”

“ah…….”

Marquis Fahlcrantz showed his penchant awkward smile.

I felt so happy. So much, that my heart began to tremble.

After all…….the man I respected and admired the most, the man I had made my goal, had acknowledged me as his true successor.

“Y-yes Sir! I will be sure to leave my mark on this expedition as well! As your successor!”

“kuku……….I look forward to it.”

Ahaha………now, this fight was not just to settle matters with Wilhelm, it was now the battle to decide my…….no, it was a battle to decide the next Lord Fahlcrantz’s and Liz’s future as well.

I was both excited and delighted, as I gripped both fists tightly.

And finally, we returned back to the Fahlcrantz mansion.

“eeh!?”

At the entrance, stood Liz, dressed in full armour, with Maya standing by her side.

“Welcome back, Lord Rudy.”

“n-no, wait, what’s with that getup!?”

“Why of course, it is to get ready for the battles to come.”

Liz puffed her chest with pride.

I turned to look at Maya but………why was she nodding her head in satisfaction as well? I don’t get it.

“Master. I went to the academy with Maya but, Wilhelm Von Svalier had already disappeared. I presume, he had noticed our movements and has already escaped the capital.”

“I see. I had feeling that’d happen.”

I see. I finally get it now.

Meaning, that Liz probably intended to come with me, knowing full well that I’d be going off on the expedition to chase after Wilhelm who had escaped to his territory.

In that case.

“Forgive me Liz, but I don’t plan on taking you with me.”

“!?! What, but why!?”

“Isn’t it obvious. I have no plans on letting you face such danger.”

Seeing Liz close in on me, I explained clearly.

This expedition will result in a all out battle between the Svalier household and the Baldyk Empire…….no, I should say, the Fahlcrantz family.

And of course, it will result in bloodshed.

In a battlefield where life becomes cheap, even if it was Liz, if she got swarmed by a large group of enemies, she would die instantly.

I had no confidence in keeping her safe in such a situation.

And besides, I didn’t want Liz to kill people.

I didn’t wish to let her beautiful hands be stained in blood.

“That’s why, please, grant me this request………..I simply, cannot bear to lose you no matter what. I can’t even bear to see you get hurt.”

“………..I refuse. Even if this is a request from you Lord Rudy, I will not back down this time.”

I always knew she was a stubborn one but, her aquamarine eyes clearly showed that her resolve this time was unbreakable.

Normally, I’d be the one who’d back down instead in these  situations but, this time around, I couldn’t afford to do that either.

It was then.

“Lord Rudy, you……”

“Liz………?”

“Lord Rudy, are you saying that you won’t accept my feelings…..my resolve!?“

“!?!”

Tears fell from her eyes, as Liz raised her voice in a tone that seemed like it was about to burst.

A far cry from the girl known as “Lady of Ice”, her emotions were laid bare for all to see.

“I too! On that day made an oath! As I saw you get beaten up by the adults, kicked, and in pain, and yet still smile just for my sake as I simply hid, that one day finally, I will protect you even if it is with my own life as a price!!!!“

“Liz……….”

“For that reason………just for that purpose, I became this strong! I chased strength all this time! That’s why, please, accept my feelings as well……!!!”

She grabbed on to me, and pressed her forehead down on my chest.

But, I……

“Prince Rudolf……..as someone that has served beside her all this time, I can claim to know Lady Lizbeth better than anyone. And that includes both her feelings as well as her resolve.”

“Maya……..”

“I, Maya Brant, give you my word, that I will protect Lady Lizbeth at all costs, even my very own life. That’s why………please, do not deny Lady Lizbeth her one true wish…….!!”

Kneeling, Maya too made a desperate appeal.

However……..I couldn’t help but feel frustration upon hearing their words.

“……..Liz. if you were to see me surrounded by enemies and in a desperate situation, what will you do?”

“!? o-of course, like I said, I intend to protect you with my life, till the very end!!”

“And you, Maya?”

“Likewise. It is my duty to keep you both safe with my very life on the line.”

As I thought.

Neither Liz nor Maya seem to understand.

“Your feelings are nothing but selfish and egotistic, I cannot go along with it. You, have you ever thought of what I would feel if lost you, and was left alone? Maya, you too, do you really think your sacrifice will make me happy?”

“”!?!””

Indeed. Why do both of them say something as selfish as that they wish to protect me with using their own lives as a prerequisite?

My future, has to have Liz and Maya alive. Not just them, but also Marquis Fahlcrantz, Lady Teresa, Queen Alicia, Fredrik, and Sheila and the rest as well.

I don’t want to lose any of them.

“If your feelings revolve around your obsession to sacrifice your own life just to save mine, then I’m sorry but I’ll have to refuse. You two need to rethink it all properly.”

“Prince Rudolf, it is time to begin the war council to prepare for the expedition. Please, come inside.”

“Of course.”

At the perfect timing, the Marquis called for me, and so I used that as a chance to pass by both Liz and Maya and entered the mansion with him.

“………..That was quite harsh of you. However, I do agree that you were correct Prince Rudolf.”

Seemingly having heard it all, Marquis Fahlcrantz seemed to nod with a somewhat satisfied expression.

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