The Flame Of Revolution

“How do you feel about Prince Arthur…?”

Albert was dining with an important guest at the lordly manor of the Isle Domain. Even though the guest lived in the capital, he regularly came out to this region to listen to complaints and grievances.

Because the guest was someone like that, Albert did not lie.

“Well… my impression was that he was an arrogant child with power. That was true until last year…”

“Oh? Has that changed? I recall you were grumbling about his tyranny…”

“Yes, but this year he blended in with the commoners and enjoyed swimming at the beach. Thanks to that, the nobles could no longer demand special treatment for themselves. After all, the royal family refused it.”

Albert nodded at the visitor’s words and opened the window. From the shore came cheerful music, and he could tell everyone was enjoying themselves.

“It was Arthur-sama who connected this music and the beach — two things that seemed unrelated — and showed us a new tourist possibility. He taught us a new way to attract visitors.”

“I see…”

“And that’s not all. After he was seen walking amiably with Lady Morgan, who was rumored to be on bad terms with him, this place began to be spoken of as a lovers’ spot, and our customer numbers increased.”

More visitors meant greater profits for merchants and higher tax revenue. Because most visitors were couples, the quality of guests improved and public safety did not worsen; Albert was even grateful.

Men everywhere tried to look impressive in front of women they liked.

“I understand… but might that be a coincidence? I don’t think Prince Arthur planned all that…”

“No, he told me this himself. ‘If there is anything I can do to make amends, let me help,’ he said… Thanks to him, we recovered the tax revenue we lost last year. Rumor even says his wisdom saved the Saintess and the wheat. Perhaps he had been hiding his claws.”

“I see… then that’s good.”

The visitor nodded and listened to Albert, who spoke with the fervor of someone talking about a god he worshipped.

And so, having no complaints at all about the country, he did not join the revolution.

“This place is no good either…”

After leaving Albert’s mansion, the visitor — Lord Agravain — felt the flame of revolution rapidly dying out.

Last year Albert’s eyes had been full of hatred for the unreasonable great nobles and their leader, Arthur. But that hatred had completely vanished from him now.

“Could that man really have been watching even this region…?”

Arthur had given a strong impression of being useful only for healing and being exploited by Lord Glutton, so Agravain had been repeatedly thrown off by Arthur’s unexpected moves lately.

This was dangerous… with Arthur around, the revolution would be difficult. If so…

“We must remove him physically. Send Arthur to a land of war.”

“Yes!! But Prince Arthur’s healing power is genuine. If he survives and becomes a hero, wouldn’t that be troublesome?”

Agravain let out a faint laugh at his subordinate’s words.

“Release the sword demon Lancelot. He’s hopeless with women and has terrible taste, but he’s a first-rate knight. He treats anyone who won’t acknowledge him as trash. He won’t get along with someone like Arthur.”

From his previous reflections, Agravain had formed a hypothesis: Arthur’s legend was manufactured…

Most likely, he thought, Arthur’s true nature was a naive fool who only cared about self-preservation. People did not change that easily, he knew. And whoever was supporting Arthur’s popularity was surely Morgan…

Then take him where that support couldn’t reach.

Thus, a new flag for Arthur was set.