Extra in a Romance Fantasy

151 – War (8)

I was so bewildered that I wondered if such a thing had ever happened before.

In an atmosphere that felt like war was about to break out at any moment, ready to explode,

the two commanders finally gave the signal to commence.

And at the same time, the forces of the Empire began to attack their own soldiers, not the enemy.

It would be strange not to be confused in this situation.

It was a sight so unbelievable that even as I watched with my own eyes, I could hardly believe it.

If someone had told me it was a dream, I would have nodded in agreement, accepting it as such—a situation so incredible.

I even pinched my cheek, wondering if it was really a dream, but all I felt was a sharp pain; the scene before me did not shatter.

In other words,

this was reality.

Then, what on earth was this situation?

Why were the forces of the Empire attacking their own instead of the enemy?

I looked at those attacking our side, wondering if they had somehow been collectively enchanted by a spell, but I felt no traces of magic from them.

“Graaah!”

“W-what’s going on…! Why are they attacking us…!!”

I was not the only one in shock.

It goes without saying that those suddenly being attacked by their own were also screaming in pain, clearly displaying their confusion.

And,

the ones who stood out the most in this bizarre scene, the ones who felt the most out of place,

were the ones who had orchestrated this situation with their gestures.

Estelle and Kairn were watching the scene with calm expressions.

‘What on earth…?’

I couldn’t make sense of the situation, half-dazed as I stared at the spectacle before me.

“…Kuh.”

Suddenly, a small laugh broke the silence.

Turning my head in that direction, I saw—

Estelle, grimacing to hold back her laughter.

What on earth was happening? Why was she laughing again?

Curious, I stared at her intently.

Our eyes naturally met.

And then—

“…Hahaha!”

Estelle suddenly burst into loud laughter.

“……??”

Her unexpected laughter only deepened the confusion etched on my face.

I couldn’t even begin to guess why Estelle was acting like that all of a sudden.

I found myself unable to think of asking her the reason, left only to gaze blankly at her.

How much time passed in that state, I couldn’t tell.

“…Ah, I’m sorry.”

Finally, Estelle stopped laughing, her eyes glistening with tears as she apologized to me.

“Your expression was just too funny.”

She reached out to wipe away her tears.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you make that face.”

With a lingering smile, she said that.

“……What on earth…?”

In the end, I couldn’t help but ask.

What was this situation?

What was happening right now?

In response to my question, Estelle spoke with a radiant smile.

“It’s a simple story.”

“Simple… story…?”

“Right.”

Estelle’s violet eyes sparkled with the same light as the one in my memory.

“You said it yourself. If a war breaks out between Rainberg and Elbrent, what would happen.”

“…Yes.”

I replied, still in a daze.

In fact, I had said such things when trying to persuade Kairn and Estelle.

And the answer to that statement was…

“I already told you. I’m standing here knowing everything.”

“……”

“It’s exactly as I said.”

Estelle wore a playful smile.

“It means neither I nor the author is foolish enough to walk into a trap knowing everything.”

“……?”

Even after hearing that, my questions remained unresolved.

That short sentence was far from enough to clear the doubts that lingered.

No, I even felt as if my confusion had deepened.

Did she notice my state?

“In other words.”

Estelle continued immediately.

“The thought of starting a war was never there from the beginning.”

“……”

After hearing Estelle’s words, I slowly turned my gaze toward Kairn.

Kairn was not looking this way.

With an indifferent gaze, he was merely observing the scene of the battle unfolding.

However.

That was, in essence, no different from silent agreement.

If it weren’t, he wouldn’t be so still.

In other words.

Estel’s words become the truth.

“…….”

When I realized that fact,

“…then what exactly is this situation?”

I was asking reflexively.

If that’s true.

If, as she said, there was never any intention to wage war against Estel and Kairn from the beginning, then why did the two gather such a formidable force here?

And why did that assembled army suddenly start attacking their own?

“This is, so to speak, bait.

Bait, you say…?

“What exactly is this bait for?”

Such a large army has gathered here.

No matter how much power Estel and Kairn wield, it’s not something that can be easily accomplished.

Yet to think this is merely bait.

What on earth is this situation aiming to achieve with such bait?

In response to my questions,

“Isn’t that obvious?”

Estel said with a smile, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“It’s bait to catch those b*stards who framed you and instigated the war from behind.”

“……!!”

The moment I heard those words, I finally understood.

What this situation was prepared for.

That enormous army, and this situation.

It was bait to draw out the ‘Order.’

“Ha ha. The one who never changed his expression even with a knife to his throat is now full of varied emotions in this situation.”

Estel chuckled, finding my expression amusing.

Under normal circumstances, I might have reacted to her laughter, but I had no such luxury at this moment.

A great question still lingered.

My gaze naturally shifted away from Estel.

Towards Kairn, who was still calmly observing the battle.

I can understand why Estelle orchestrated such a situation.

Though she was unaware of the exact identity of the “Order,” she knew there was a group lurking in the shadows, intent on inciting war.

However, the fact that Kairn had collaborated with her was something I simply could not comprehend.

What process could have led Estelle and Kairn to work together?

The answer to my questioning gaze came from an unexpected source.

“Kairn La Elbrent was already aware of them.”

It was Estelle, not Kairn himself, who spoke.

“Is that… really true?”

I asked Kairn, my voice tinged with disbelief.

Kairn, keeping his gaze steady, slowly began to speak.

“…I wasn’t fully aware of their existence. It was more of a vague recognition.”

And thus, Kairn’s story began.

He claimed that for several years, he had sensed the presence of some force within the imperial family and within Elbrent itself.

To dare cast a shadow over the lofty imperial family.

They were traitors deserving of immediate execution, their roots needing to be uprooted without delay, yet Kairn had not acted on that intent.

“By that time, their roots had already sunk too deep.”

The shadow of that mysterious force had embedded itself too deeply within Elbrent and the imperial family, making it impossible to discern where the corruption began and ended.

Even Kairn, who had already solidified his position as the crown prince at that point, found himself at a loss.

There were ways to address the situation, though.

If he were to dig deep enough to overturn everything, he could identify their roots.

However, Kairn did not make that choice.

To do so would not only shake the imperial family but could potentially destabilize the entire empire, risking its very collapse.

And even if he were to go that far, there was no guarantee of success.

Perhaps it would be Kairn, not the traitors, who would find his head on the chopping block.

Having calculated all of this, Kairn chose to withdraw from them.

And he pretended not to notice their true identity.

Waiting for an opportunity that would someday arise.

And then.

One day, that clue appeared before his eyes.

“Estelle von Reinberg secretly came to see me.”

Without anyone knowing, and without drawing anyone’s attention, Estelle came to find Kairn and suddenly asked him.

─“Kairn La Elbrent, do you desire war?”

…she said.

Considering her status, and Kairn’s as well, it was a heavy question that made one doubt her sanity.

However, Kairn did not immediately cast a spell of silence upon her.

He knew.

That Estelle was not the mad and brutal tyrant the rumors suggested.

If she were truly the vicious and violent dictator as claimed, there was no way Rainberg could be functioning normally.

Thus, Kairn sought to read the meaning behind her words.

And then.

“I have no such intention… that is what I answered.”

Upon hearing that succinct reply, Estelle informed Kairn.

That a group was scheming for war.

And during that conversation, Kairn realized.

That the group Estelle spoke of was the same as the one that had infiltrated the Elbrent royal family.

“From that moment, I joined hands with Estelle von Rainberg to devise a plan. To deal with them, to completely erase them from the royal family, and from Elbrent.”

“……”

Only then could I understand.

How Estelle and Kairn came to collaborate.

How they could devise and execute such an extravagant plan.

“Estelle von Rainberg and I gathered forces under the pretext of war. And… taking advantage of the chaos caused by preparations for war, we thoroughly identified who the internal enemies were, and who was under their command.”

“Then the soldiers of both nations suddenly began attacking their own…”

“It was the operation to deal with the pests we had identified.”

Calmly and coldly, Kairn continued his explanation.

“And at this very moment, an assault is simultaneously underway against those remaining in the Empire who are not here.”

“……”

It was indeed a concise yet precise explanation.

Thanks to that, my lingering questions were resolved.

Leaving only one behind.

…No, should I even call this a question?

After a long hesitation, I finally asked him.

“…Do you not hate me?”

In the end, I couldn’t help but ask.

I am the one who killed his brother.

Even if it was the plan of the church from the beginning, it is an undeniable fact that I inflicted a fatal wound on Hayden.

If the Empire has pursued me with all its might, it’s highly likely that Hayden is truly dead.

In that case, I am someone Kairyn should rightfully despise.

Yet, I felt no resentment from Kairyn towards me at that moment.

As if the cold fury he had shown me before revealing the details of this plan was all a lie.

And so.

Even knowing it wasn’t the most important thing, I had no choice but to ask.

And to that question, Kairyn, still keeping his gaze outside, replied…

“Do you know what made me realize their existence?”

He turned the question back to me.

“…No. I don’t know.”

I had no way of knowing.

Kairyn slowly looked into my eyes as he spoke.

Eventually.

His gaze moved slowly.

And then, it fixed on me.

“It was Hayden.”

“……!!”

At those words, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes in shock.

“A few years ago, one day, I felt a sense of alienation from Hayden.”

It was a very subtle alienation that one could easily overlook.

His tone was the same as usual, his expression the same, his actions the same.

However, Kairyn felt a clear sense of alienation from his brother.

Because of that alienation, Kairyn had been observing his brother closely for a while and came to a conclusion.

His brother was no longer his brother.

Hayden had been replaced by someone else.

—

“I checked the corpse just in case. It wasn’t Hayden after all. So, I have no reason to hate you.”

“…….”

At Kai’s calm words, I was left speechless.

I had genuinely come to admire this person named Kai.

According to him, Kai had treated his brother as usual for years, even knowing that he was a fake.

Without revealing even a hint of strangeness.

He had played the role of a perfect older brother to the extent that even the church hadn’t noticed.

That was an act that a criminal would never dare to attempt, and it was a feat that could even be described as an achievement.

As I gazed at Kai with an indescribable look, he spoke again.

“It seems the cleanup is almost done.”

Kai shifted his gaze away from me.

Following his words, I turned my gaze to see that, indeed, the battle was nearing its end.

No, in fact, it could be said that the battle was completely over.

“With this, the internal cleanup is finished.”

Suddenly, Estelle interjected.

At her words, I couldn’t help but furrow my brow.

It sounded as if there was still more to come.

“By ‘internal cleanup’… do you mean…?”

At my question, a smile returned to Estelle’s face.

“Do you really think I brought this many people here just to clean up the inside?”

“Then…?”

“When catching bugs, you have to be thorough.”

Saying this, she turned her gaze.

What her mysterious violet eyes were directed at was none other than Ferdion.