Reborn as the Foolish Prince

In the bright, sunlit sky, a stealthy bird soared high above the clouds. It was unclear where it was heading or even what it was, as it seamlessly blended with the blue sky and white clouds. Clutched in its talons was a Magical Storage, small enough to hold a single piece of paper.

It let out a cry as it suddenly descended, diving towards the ground where carriages, soldiers, and horses, all speaking of status and wealth, could be seen.

The bird landed, shaking the leading carriage slightly.

Darius, who had been asleep—having traveled since morning, it now being afternoon—couldn't help but rest. Though he was the Royal Guard Captain and should have been actively guarding, his instincts were sharp enough that even in sleep, not an ant could bypass him.

Sensing something approaching from afar, his eyes snapped open, sharpened by intuition.

Lucien, too, was resting, unaware of their current circumstances. Suddenly, he was awakened by the slight turbulence of the carriage.

"Huh?" Curious, he turned his head towards Darius, only to see that he was already awake and leaving the carriage to investigate the commotion.

Darius stepped out, looked towards the carriage roof, and there he saw a dark-colored, bird-like creature. His eyes furrowed as he observed it, then he uttered in a puzzled tone, "A Winged Messenger?"

The bird approached Darius. Darius offered his hand for the bird to perch on, and as it settled, he reached for the Magical Storage on its foot. After retrieving it, he placed the bird back on the carriage roof and took out the note from inside the storage.

The soldiers following them, confused by the sudden halt, began to dismount one by one, checking for the source of the problem.

Meanwhile, Darius focused on the letter. He carefully opened it, then processed everything written within.

As he read, he gasped in surprise, startling Lucien.

"What is it, Captain Darius?"

Darius raised his head, gazing at Lucien blankly. "The main route in the Barony of Blackmere has been cleared, as stated by General Draven."

Lucien was utterly surprised. He had heard how all routes into the Barony of Blackmere were guarded by individual Brutefangs, blocking all passage. Of course, he had planned everything meticulously, but with the main route now open, their journey would be much easier.

Both of them were utterly surprised because they knew taking down a Brutefang with their remaining numbers was a monumental feat. To defeat a single Brutefang and its troops, one would typically need at least 20-30 decent soldiers.

But their current force was less than 40, and they couldn't risk deploying every soldier they had. This meant that a Brutefang had been defeated by only a small group.

"But, how could that be?"

Darius smiled. "I guess we will have to hurry to find out."

A soldier who had been standing motionlessly at a distance, watching Darius and Lucien converse, grew increasingly curious about the letter's contents. They seemed so shocked, he couldn't help but feel worried, so he decided to approach.

"Excuse me, Captain. Is there something wrong?"

Darius turned to him, reassuring him with a smile. "No, no. Actually, it's good news. Very good! The main route into the Barony of Blackmere is currently open; the monsters guarding it have been eliminated. Our journey will be much easier and faster now."

He spoke those words aloud, not only reassuring the man who had asked the question but also everyone else who had been staring at them from a distance, appearing both confused and curious.

Darius instructed the driver to follow the main route, and they continued their journey.

...

"Has the letter been sent?" Draven asked, his lean, athletic build poised. His strong, well-defined face held a watchful, distant look, framed by medium-length chestnut hair and piercing amber eyes.

"Yes, the letter was sent this morning," Finn responded solemnly.

"That's great. They should be arriving by now," Draven said, observing his soldiers as they conducted their daily training. The area was wide, with some of his soldiers training despite their sustained injuries. As the current General of Blackmere, he felt it was his duty to guide and support his soldiers. Finn stood beside him, observing as well.

As they stood absentmindedly, someone suddenly called out to Draven, startling him. "General Draven, I am truly grateful for your presence. You really have inherited both your father's will and leadership."

Sterling Blackmere, a man in his early fifties, stood with a sturdy, imposing presence. His dark hair, threaded with silver, framed a face etched with command, his deep, piercing gray eyes holding a sharp, calculating glint as he spoke.

Draven turned to the source of the voice. "Lord Blackmere, what brings you here?" Draven bowed before speaking, maintaining a careful demeanor as he addressed the ruler of this land. Sterling was silent for a while, then stood beside Draven and gave him a light pat on the back.

"Nothing, really. It's just that I wanted to express my gratitude. You and your father have done so much for this land; simply saying thank you isn't enough." He smiled, then asked, "Is there anything you wish for once everything is over?"

Draven smiled, then faced the clouds. "Well, nothing special. I just want my mother, sister, and me to live quietly and peacefully, just like what my father wanted. The reason I am protecting this land isn't because I want to receive a special reward, but simply because it is my home, this is where I belong, where my family belongs. Isn't it my responsibility to protect my home?"

Hearing those words, Sterling's eyes widened, then he smiled softly. "You truly remind me of your father, General Draven."

Draven lowered his head, reminiscing about his father's last words. However, before he could dwell on it, a bell suddenly rang, catching his attention. Then, a loud voice announced the backups' arrival.

"It's the royal carriages! They are here!"

Everyone turned their heads towards the man standing in the guard tower. However, before they could celebrate, a sudden explosion erupted from the main route, where the royal carriages were supposedly traveling.