Prince Leopold Baltasar Kurt, who had returned from the city of Mage Tower Ronadium, reported in detail to His Majesty the Emperor about the headquarters of the first discovered Arcanum.
After finishing his report, Prince Leopold bowed deeply before the Emperor and said as follows:
“Your Majesty, it seems right for the Empire to search for and reward descendants of heroes along with the Mage Tower, and even more so to actively support those with talent to help them flourish.”
“Your words are correct. Duke of the Royal Court Barcal, proceed accordingly.”
The white-haired Duke of the Royal Court bowed his head and pledged to follow the Emperor’s orders.
After completing his report, Leopold returned to his palace to meet his wife and son. He particularly adored his young son, Callan, saying that he must resemble someone important.
“The mage Yuric. He is a newly minted Dragon Knight. I wish you would grow up emulating him.”
“Yes! I want to be a Dragon Knight too!”
The naive boy found the idea of becoming a Dragon Knight, something he had only seen in fairy tales, very appealing.
After reuniting with his family, Leopold dismissed the nobles seeking an audience and entered his room alone, lost in deep thought about what happened in Ronadium and Yuric.
What is the path for his family?
What is the path for the royal court?
What is the path for the Empire?
‘I must become a father that Callan can be proud of…’
Leopold pondered all night until he fell asleep.
The prince woke up in a dim and narrow passage. It was a familiar place.
‘This is the passage of the Arcanum headquarters.’
He had walked through this place countless times during his stay in Ronadium. There was no way he could not know it.
He moved forward along the passage, and the surroundings gradually brightened.
Finally reaching the end of the passage, he arrived at the headquarters of Arcanum and witnessed a surprising sight.
The interior was bright and clean, like its heyday, with many people sitting around a round table.
“Come here, Prince Leopold.”
The prince walked toward the round table as if enchanted. Instinctively, he knew who the people sitting around the table were.
They were Dragon Knights.
Great heroes who sacrificed themselves for humanity and the continent by throwing their bodies into the fires of war.
Leopold sat down in an empty seat. The various heroes smiled faintly.
Oddly enough, tears welled up in Leopold’s eyes. He couldn’t stop crying as he looked at them.
They must have had loved ones they cherished.
They must have had things they wanted to achieve.
But they put everything aside and willingly threw themselves into their era.
For something greater, for something more noble.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you, everyone.”
“Now we can depart peacefully with our comrades.”
“But where are you going? No, please keep watching over us.”
“Now we believe the future generations will do well.”
They each became beautiful lights.
The ceiling was open.
The heroes who became lights flew away and turned into stars in the sky.
Leopold gazed at them endlessly.
Then Leopold woke up from his dream, still shedding tears.
Suddenly, a memory from long ago came back to him. When he was as young as his son Callan, when he was still the crown prince, he held his son Leopold and smiled, saying,
“Leopold, be a great person. Of course, not all high-ranking people are necessarily great. Take good care of your younger brother. …I love you all.”
Leopold recalled his younger brother Parhaeng and the story of his older brother, the most respected person in the world who ran the stable. Thanks to his brother, he left home to learn magic, a beautiful story of brothers.
Leopold went to his brother Parhaeng’s palace early in the morning to meet him. As always, Parhaeng greeted his brother warmly with a kind face.
“Brother! I heard you came yesterday… Brother? Brother! Why are you crying?”
“Parhaeng, I’m sorry. I am truly sorry.”
Leopold hugged Parhaeng and cried. Then Parhaeng’s eyes also reddened.
“Why are you sorry, Brother? It’s okay. I really don’t mind, Brother.”
The two brothers held each other tightly for a long time.
*
Since the crown prince position could not remain vacant forever, the Emperor decided after much deliberation to inform which of his two sons would be the crown prince. This would be followed by the enthronement ceremony.
Thus, numerous ministers gathered in the grand hall, including not only the Second Prince and Third Prince but also their relatives.
There was considerable rivalry between the factions of the Second and Third Princes. With the throne at stake, the tension was inevitable.
The Emperor, with a troubled heart, glanced at the Empress seated beside him.
All the ministers stood in their places, waiting for the Emperor’s words.
After a long wait, the Emperor spoke.
“The crown prince will be… Prince Leopold Baltasar Kurt.”
Instantly, joy and sorrow crossed paths. The ministers in the Second Prince’s faction could not hide their happy expressions.
But at that moment, the Second Prince stepped forward and said he had something to report to the Emperor. The Emperor allowed him to speak.
“Your Majesty, there is a more suitable person for the crown prince than me. It is Prince Parhaeng. Please, appoint Prince Parhaeng as the crown prince.”
The Second Prince was sincere. He bowed deeply.
None of the people present could have imagined that the Second Prince would say such a thing.
The Third Prince tried to speak, but the Emperor stopped him.
“Do you truly think so?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. For the future of humanity and the Empire, it is right for Prince Parhaeng to succeed.”
“Weren’t you vying for the crown prince position?”
Prince Leopold answered honestly.
“In fact… I wanted it very much. But since returning from Ronadium, my thoughts have changed. I saw the epic tales of heroes. I saw their descendants. And the war is not yet over. Therefore, for a better Empire, shouldn’t we yield to a better future?”
Prince Leopold grabbed Prince Parhaeng’s arm firmly.
“It is right for Prince Parhaeng to succeed to the crown prince position. Even when I was foolish, Parhaeng remained unchanged. What a fine talent, Your Majesty!”
Prince Parhaeng said it was not so.
“I did want to be the crown prince. I feel ashamed. Ashamed before everyone. But Prince Leopold is much more suited for the crown prince position. Your Majesty, please make a wise choice!”
Both princes knelt and lowered their heads.
The nobles were bewildered. Who could have imagined that two princes would give up the crown prince position to each other!
The brothers held hands tightly and exchanged warm glances.
Seeing this, the Emperor slowly rose from his seat.
Everyone kneeled.
The Emperor descended from his throne and approached the two brothers.
“Rise, Leopold, Parhaeng.”
The two brothers stood up. The Emperor embraced them tightly.
“Beyond all positions… as a father, I cannot be happier.”
The Empress also came down and held the hands of her two sons tightly.
“It is not just because of yielding. I see the sincere heart for the Empire’s future and the genuine affection between brothers.”
The Emperor raised the hands of the two brothers and showed them to everyone.
“See! This is the future of the Empire! The throne is meant to be a place that protects the future and sets an example for all!”
The nobles who sincerely cared for the Empire bowed their heads and shed tears.
“I am grateful to the two princes who set an example. As one who carries the burden of the Empire, I pay my respects to these two.”
“Your Majesty…”
The Emperor held his two sons’ arms firmly.
“Thank you. Now I can choose with peace of mind.”
The Emperor returned to his throne but did not sit down, looking over the grand hall and shouting.
“Hear me all!”
This solemn imperial decree meant no further objections.
“The crown prince will be Prince Leopold! He has learned virtue and is ready to devote himself entirely to the Empire and humanity’s future. Who else could be more fitting for the crown prince position!”
The two princes and the nobles bowed deeply in respect.
Thus, the crown prince position was inherited by Prince Leopold, and the story of the two princes giving up the crown prince position for each other spread widely across the continent.
…And this story reached the ears of Yuric, living far in the east in Acrocadena.
He smiled, thinking of Prince Leopold.
“May you become a great emperor, Your Highness.”
