Just like that, Crown Prince Eugent revealed the names of his two newborns to those who remained inside his orbal car. Cedric Reise Arnor and Alfin Reise Arnor. Both of them will come to play pivotal roles during the Cold Steel games. And with Naoto taking the role of becoming Testa-Rossa's Awakener in the far future, it is very possible that Cedric may be able to live how he wants this time around, without carrying such a burden, or be played a fool by the nobles. Only time will tell for that.
Giliath turned serious after hearing Crown Prince Eugent declare that.
"As much as this calls for a joyous occasion, I fear there is a time and place for everything, Your Highness. Besides, we still have some preparation to do if you truly are set to ascend the throne this week. We still have to rally the Great Houses, don't we, Speaker Carl?", Giliath asked, looking toward the black-haired man beside him. He pushed his glasses upward toward the ridge of his forehead.
"That's right. We have the Imperial Family present. I have already accounted for some members of the Imperial Diet, and now we have the Imperial Army in check. The Four Great Houses are set to arrive any day now. It won't be just them either. This is considered a formal proceeding. You should know what I am referring to, Your Highness.", Governor Carl responded with a hint of worry in his eyes. Crown Prince Eugent nodded his head.
"It is the recognition of the Septian Church. Only by receiving their recognition will the rite be complete. Do not worry about this, I have already taken this matter into consideration.", Crown Prince Eugent responded.
"Indeed. Through the annals of our history, regardless of it being the nation of our own, our friends, or our enemies, our actions are recorded. Whether it leads a society to ruin, or it advances one into an era of prosperity, the Septian Church has stood by us since the beginning. Without us receiving that approval, I fear your attempt to ascend the throne will be for naught, Your Highness.", Giliath explained.
"I know I said I've taken this into consideration, but you've done something to address this, haven't you, General?", Crown Prince Eugent questioned after a little bit of hesitation.
"You've read the reports, right? Aren't you curious about the place I departed for two years ago?", Giliath questioned back, revealing a playful grin.
"I have. So this ties into that, then. The report mentioned you left the country. I personally refrained from going into it fully, out of respect for you and your family.", Crown Prince Eugent responded. Governor Carl's eyes grew wide in shock hearing that.
"You actually dared to leave the country two years ago, General?", Governor Carl questioned, sucking in a cold breath of air.
"Hahaha! That I did, Speaker Carl. And it was to Liberl no less.", Giliath responded, keeping the grin on his lips.
"Liberl...", Governor Carl uttered while shock swept around him. "How could you step into Liberl now of all times? Tensions are at an all time peak. War could break out at any minute.", Governor Carl continued to speak, still shocked. Giliath calmly shook his head, easing his worry.
"You can be rest assured, Governor. I did not venture into Liberl by bearing Erebonia's crest nor of the Imperial Army. It was related to a family matter.", Giliath answered, reassuring him.
"Even so...", Governor Carl tried to say, only for another thought to flash across his mind while he recalled what Giliath had just said. "What do you mean you had to enter Liberl for a family matter? I thought you had no ties there."
"Unfortunately, even as a General myself, I am unauthorized to disclose this information to you, let alone the other commanders. It is a national-level secret. Only His Imperial Highness is at liberty to discuss it, should he proceed to do so.", Giliath explained while shaking his head.
Governor Carl shifted his head toward Crown Prince Eugent, expecting an answer. Crown Prince Eugent sighed, and nodded his head.
"It is as the General says, Governor. This piece of information is set at such a level. Even I shouldn't speak of it out in the open like this, and that's with my status of Crown Prince we're speaking of here. It is that important.", Crown Prince Eugent responded, his eyes remained serious.
"I see...", Governor Carl said, accepting that truth. For now, anyway. "Then I won't speak of this matter any longer if it is that tight-lipped. Even if we can't go into that detail, you can at least explain why this matters to the recognition of the Septian Church, yes?"
However, Governor Carl's question couldn't even be answered in time before a loud hum of an orbal engine began to resound around the entirety of Dreichels Plaza, causing his eyes to turn wide.
"What did you do, General!?", Governor Carl exclaimed, asking him out of shock. Giliath simply smiled back at him.
"Why don't we go take a look ourselves? After you, Governor.", Giliath said, drawing some steps backward to allow Governor Carl to step out of the orbal car. Crown Prince Eugent, Olivert, and Mueller followed suit, which made Giliath the last one out of the orbal car.
The humming engine grew louder, and started to tear through the skies above Heimdallr. It wasn't just those around the orbal car to shift their heads upward, even all of the onlookers beyond the barricade became wide-eyed, their attention also shifted up. Even I was included in this new debacle. I did not expect to hear the sound of an engine strike against my ears.
I soon saw a large shadow swoop downward, approaching at a fast pace. It was clear that it was an orbal aircraft, and it was pure white. It had the shape of an arrowhead with two propulsion engines parallel to each other. You could even see an observation deck up above. Its design overall was very sleek.
"No way...", I uttered, seeing this aircraft quickly approaching our direction. Roselia chuckled hearing me say that.
"Did your head go daft, boy? Or did you forget that the little prince is speeding up his plans?", Roselia asked me while chuckling.
"I know, I know. But isn't it not supposed to take place for another day or two? If the Church is coming already, I fear it may happen even sooner than I had anticipated...", I said, shrugging my shoulders.
"You ought to know yourself, Naoto. The presence of the Septian Church is required for any monumental occasion within a country. 'Tis does not matter where you are located. The Church must record it.", Roselia explained.
"There was that, wasn't there? But how did they arrive here so quickly?", I uttered back, wondering to myself. Roselia didn't answer that, and remained quiet. I could only watch on as the aircraft approached us. Seeing this new event start playing out before us, I signaled Roselia to rejoin Crown Prince Eugent's side. It wouldn't do us any well remaining on the other side of the car like this. Thankfully, everyone was stunned to notice two new arrivals arriving at his side. I knew my place here, so I remained beside Father. He acknowledged my arrival with a quiet nod. I even saw Crown Prince Eugent looking upward at the incoming aircraft.
"It looks like there is nothing else to do at this point.", Crown Prince Eugent spoke, sighing. "If you already set plans in motion General, then let us see them through to the end."
It took the reporters to recover from their stupor, but they started flashing their cameras, seeing Crown Prince Eugent now surrounded by several commanders of the Imperial Army. They didn't even bother seeing me beside them, let alone Rose. Even Nial was amongst them now. He could only lament as his fingers rapidly pressed the button of his orbal camera, and yet, his attention remained elsewhere. It was on me.
I simply smiled back again, waving my hand.
"Seriously, just who is this brat beside these commanders? I definitely picked a bad time to come to Erebonia, but it does look like there are certain things in motion. I'll get a nice paystub out of this as long as I write a decent article.", Nial murmured to himself as his attention shifted from me back to the others.
It was then the reporters' attention shifted to the golden-blonde haired boy standing next to the Crown Prince.
"Isn't that the son of His Imperial Highness?", One of the reporters questioned, his fingers flashing across the button of his camera.
"Hmph, of course it is. You don't even know that? He returned alongside His Imperial Highness!", Another reporter said. This earned more clamor from the civilians nearby, also remarking on the boy next to the Crown Prince.
"And that airship in the sky...That looks like it belongs to the Septian Church. Don't tell me...", Another onlooker said, wondering about the possibility of the people that are continuing to gather here in Dreichels Plaza. Seeing all of this play out before him, Olivert chuckled. Even I did too. He wasn't standing too far away from me.
"It looks like you're receiving plenty of attention yourself, "Your Highness"", I said, half-jokingly.
"It is only a matter of time at this point my dear boy. But alas, I fear General Osborne already took the necessary steps we were lacking to hasten our proceedings. It may not even take place at our originally appointed time in the next two days.", Olivert responded, looking back at me.
"That does seem to be the case here. It is nice we have a welcoming party.", I replied, nodding my head.
"Indeed. This is my first time returning to Heimdallr since I was born. I could see some reporters taking shots at you too, you may appear in the papers just like us, haha!", Olivert said, laughing. "And it looks like the Septian Church is already on the way.", Olivert continued.
Olivert then pointed his finger at the incoming aircraft, earning another wave of flashes from the reporters. Some even noticed me this time, but I paid them no attention. I only followed Olivert's finger, and continued observing beside him. This aircraft was definitely a Merkabah, one of the assigned aircrafts to the Dominions. The question is, which one is coming? Its speed wasn't stopping either. I could only blink my eyes seeing it quickly approached us. It was as if it was heading right in my direction.
"Why does it feel like it's heading straight toward me...?", I uttered in disbelief.
"Haha, that does seem to be the case here. Perhaps someone you know is aboard this aircraft?", Olivert retorted, teasing me. I stayed quiet, and didn't immediately reply.
I simply watched on as the Merkabah proceeded to arrive at Dreichels. Sure enough, it didn't stop at the eastern side. It stopped midair after arriving on the left side, directly toward my left. Thanks to the wonders of orbal tech, it began its descent. It required zero runways like in my previous life. Most orbal aircrafts could ascend or descend while remaining in the same position.
It was then everyone turned quiet. Even the flashes of orbal cameras stopped. They all held their breaths as the hum steadily made its noise. It kept making noise until the moment it touched down on an empty lot nearby.
Before long, the observation deck opened up with a loud clunk. A hissing sound of a door followed. Several figures began to emerge from inside. I was surprised yet again. There were a couple who I was already familiar with, but there were smaller figures amongst them, appearing to be young children.
One such figure was a spiky white-green haired boy dressed in Squire's training outfit, appearing to be a few years older than me, making him around eight years old...
This boy is...!