Haruki and Nina had spent the past few days touring the Imperial Capital. Though the capital was dazzlingly prosperous, the two had managed to explore nearly every corner of it.
Under Haruki's guidance, Nina not only visited the grand and bustling districts but also ventured into the slums on the outskirts several times. There, she witnessed the darker sides of the capital. In just a few days, she matured a great deal. While Nina was still a little naïve and innocent, growing up in the Royal Palace had given her some understanding of the Empire's state—she just hadn't expected reality to be even darker than she imagined.
"Hey, brother... why is the Empire like this? Isn't it supposed to be the strongest nation on the continent, one that's endured for thousands of years? Why do people's lives look so miserable now?"
After witnessing so much of the capital's hidden darkness, Nina asked Haruki this question out of the blue.
Haruki wasn't surprised. He had been observing Nina closely these past few days. She was a kind-hearted girl, and after seeing so much suffering, it was only natural that her mood had grown heavy. But even then, she never asked him to do anything about it. Though she knew Haruki wasn't ordinary, it was clear she didn't think he could change the world. She didn't want to trouble him.
Nina felt deeply grateful to Haruki and had grown to depend on him. He not only protected her from palace scheming but was also the only one who had ever played with her since she was a child. He'd taken her out of the palace, shown her the world. After over two years together, the bond between them had become strong.
"Just like living things decay, empires do too. They've indulged in the pleasures of power for too long and have forgotten how hard their ancestors struggled to build this place. The Empire has long been on the decline."
Seeing that Nina was thinking of him even in this moment, Haruki was moved. After a pause, he added,
"But don't worry, Nina. No matter what happens, I'll always protect you. No one gets to bully you—except maybe me."
As he spoke, Haruki gently ruffled her hair.
Still a little sad after hearing about the Empire's state, Nina blushed at Haruki's teasing words. Somehow, being with Haruki always filled her with a strange sense of calm.
...
After finishing their tour of the capital, Haruki decided to take Nina on a journey around the Empire.
For one, the story's main events hadn't started yet, and Haruki had no intention of interfering with the plot. If he stayed in the capital, it might restrict the Prime Minister's actions. Even though Haruki had promised not to meddle, just his presence was enough to make the Prime Minister cautious.
Secondly, despite being the one who had nearly built the Empire from the ground up, Haruki had never truly explored it. Back then, he'd only seen battlefields—never had the time to enjoy sightseeing. Now seemed like the perfect opportunity.
And perhaps most importantly, Nina hadn't been in the best spirits lately. Haruki figured a change of scenery might lift her mood.
With that decided, Haruki simply gave notice to the Prime Minister and the young emperor, then prepared to leave.
When the Prime Minister heard that Haruki and Nina would be traveling—and might be gone for years—he made a show of trying to persuade them to stay. But after realizing Haruki's decision was final, he gave Haruki a personal token bearing his authority. Anyone who saw it would treat Haruki as if they were facing the Prime Minister himself. Since no one besides the Prime Minister knew Haruki's true identity, he couldn't afford to risk one of his subordinates offending him—it would be a disaster.
Throughout the entire exchange, the Prime Minister wore a cheerful smile, clearly very pleased.
...
The next day, Haruki and Nina set off on their journey across the Empire.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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