Chapter 45

The Imperial Palace’s secret meeting room.

The gathering of individuals directly or indirectly involved in the current situation was nothing short of dazzling.

Asel Arvin, my close friend and the current Emperor of the Empire.

Penelope Arvin, my close friend and the current Empress of the Empire.

Camilla Argos, my closest friend and the strongest noblewoman, known as the Duke’s daughter.

Charles Argos, Camilla’s older brother and the acting Minister of War.

Rizel Berze, my admirable younger sister and the current head of the Berze family.

And among them, the most insignificant one—me.

“…Truly, there’s nothing fresh about this lineup.”

His Majesty naturally expressed his disdain since he disliked Rizel and Camilla’s brother.

Of course, Rizel couldn’t help but shrink back due to her past actions. Even if my treatment was one thing, she had spread too many slanders about Her Majesty the Empress.

Thus, His Majesty openly glared at Rizel, turning her seat into a bed of thorns.

“…I apologize, but please do not forget the purpose of our gathering today, Your Majesty.”

“Today seems like a day of misfortune. I never thought two people I dislike would gather here.”

“Your Majesty’s likes and dislikes have no relevance to today’s topic.”

“Really, I should just grab them by the throat…”

“If you wish to follow the bad habits of the previous Emperor, I won’t stop you.”

While Camilla was restraining His Majesty, I decided to enjoy some refreshments with Her Majesty the Empress.

Both of us knew that getting involved would be a waste of strength and time, so we chose not to interfere.

“Raul, would you like more sugar cubes?”

“…I’ve been trying to reduce sugar intake lately for health reasons. Too much sugar isn’t good for you.”

“That’s unexpected. Well, I’m also thinking of quitting drinking from now on.”

“You should, especially if you’re thinking about the future.”

“Before that, I might get burned to death by His Majesty.”

“We can just run away before that happens.”

We swallowed the bitter espresso, waiting for His Majesty’s anger to subside.

—

After Her Majesty whispered something in His Majesty’s ear, the Emperor finally calmed down and asked with a slightly composed expression.

“Sigh… So, does everyone have a plan? That brat Rosie will surely cleverly help that so-called victim and file a lawsuit. Given her personality, it won’t be easy to deal with her.”

Indeed, my former fiancée was an extremely tricky person. She had the skill to weave schemes upon schemes like a tangled thread and the resources to execute them.

“…If I were to guess where she might strike.”

Though I was a dull person, I could roughly predict where she might attack.

In terms of targeting the opponent’s weak points to efficiently eliminate them, politics and warfare weren’t so different.

It’s just that my ability to spot the opponent’s vital points was almost blind. But I could at least guess where my own weak points were.

“The first would be my father’s will. Only my mother knows its contents. Even I don’t know what’s in it. She’ll likely target that.”

My father’s will was kept strictly confidential according to his wishes.

Only the executor knew fragments of the information, and the entirety of the contents was known only to my mother.

She always carried it with her, so even peeking at it was impossible.

“Though my mother sits in the study every night reading that will, I’ve never seen its contents…”

Of course, my mother didn’t show the will to Rizel either.

“Sigh… Damn it, then she’ll probably insist that the will contains something about the government and the throne. That cunning brat.”

“Attacking a confidential will is a natural move, Your Majesty. I would have done the same.”

“Y-Your Majesty… Minister of War… My father won’t be found guilty because of the will, right? He’s a good person… If, just if, that happens…”

With Rizel on the verge of tears and Camilla’s brother speaking bluntly enough to grate on anyone’s nerves, His Majesty’s forehead began to twitch.

From personal experience, I’d say his anger was about 40% full.

—

“The second would probably be the illegitimate child she claims my father had. Given how confidently she’s asserting it, there must be something to it.”

My physical abilities and facial features mostly resemble my mother’s, but there are a few exceptions.

I have dull black hair, while my mother’s hair was like a starry night sky, shimmering with stars.

My eyes are just empty black, while my mother’s were silver.

My father originally had platinum hair like Rizel, but I heard he dyed it black for my sake.

“Brother… Father wouldn’t really do that, right? I feel like I can’t trust anything anymore…”

“If it’s Rosie, she’d even go as far as altering a child’s face to bring them here. She’d definitely use it to her advantage in the trial. It won’t be easy to break through.”

“Damn those two… If it weren’t for the Imperial situation, I’d have them both impaled…”

Seeing His Majesty’s face turn red, his anger seemed to have reached about 80%.

—

“Lastly, she’ll use my reputation. Claiming that I used my power and influence to pressure my father’s government would make for a juicy issue.”

My reputation is the worst, so Rosie, who knows me better than anyone, would definitely use it.

She’s the type to use anything she can. She’d cleverly exploit the perception that I’d do the same.

Honestly, this is the most annoying part.

“Brother…”

Rizel grabbed my sleeve, tearful, but I calmly replied.

“Rizel. Let me make one thing clear. I will help you, but I won’t act on my own. Neither will anyone else here.”

“What…? Don’t joke around. How am I supposed to handle such a big case alone…?!”

“Because you have to.”

I am a person who will soon disappear.

That’s why I wanted to make Rizel a proper family head. So she could live proudly even after I’m gone.

I wanted to make her someone who could calmly handle such situations without panicking.

“If you need evidence, I’ll get it for you. If you need a witness, I’ll find them for you. If you need help with your statements for the trial, I’ll review them.”

Even iron must be forged to become a sword.

“But I won’t advise you on what you need. You must figure out the countermeasures yourself.”

“Why me…? Brother… No, everyone here is smarter and more capable than me…”

Camilla is an exception, but that’s not the point.

“You’re the family head now. Countess Rizel Berze.”

“Brother, don’t call me that… I really don’t have confidence.”

“What do you plan to do? How will you deal with Rosie Nevermore, who seeks to harm your family? Crushing her with force isn’t an option. What’s the most certain way to respond without leaving any repercussions…?”

When I asked, Rizel hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Uh… Perfect assassination and arson…?”

At that, I sipped my coffee with trembling hands.

If I didn’t calm myself like this, I wouldn’t be able to suppress my emotions.

“Rizel…”

—

But there were those who liked that answer.

“Hoh. I thought you were just a rotten brat, but you can come up with decent strategies. Alright, I’ll cooperate as much as I can.”

“I thought you were just a clueless kid who became the family head, but you can say things that please me. Alright, I’ll handle the arson and cleanup.”

Seeing this, Her Majesty the Empress sighed and pinched her forehead, while Camilla’s brother lit a cigarette he hadn’t smoked in three years.

“I don’t have any hobbies fitting for a gathering of lunatics, so I’ll take my leave now.”

Camilla’s brother left, and Camilla and His Majesty hurriedly moved to another room with Rizel to plan the assassination.

Left alone, Her Majesty the Empress and I decided to enjoy our bitter espresso and chat.

Though, of course, our chat was just a discussion about the current situation.

“…What do you plan to do?”

“I don’t understand the point of your question.”

“Don’t play dumb. Acting oblivious is pretentious. I’m talking about Rosie. We can’t let her run wild anymore.”

“…I’ve sent the annulment papers.”

“Oh. Then from now on…”

Suddenly, Her Majesty’s eyes changed.

They turned as cold and unfeeling as ice, like Her Majesty’s magic.

“From now on, no matter what actions we take, you have no grounds to protect her, do you?”

“Practically speaking, that’s correct.”

“…Rest assured. I have no intention of laying a hand on her yet.”

I understood the meaning of “yet” and chose to remain silent.

I wasn’t in a position to deny it, so I didn’t oppose.

But I didn’t want to affirm it either, so I didn’t agree.

I simply expressed my stance and feelings through silence.

“And that woman Rosie brought, claiming to be your father’s mistress… I saw her briefly.”

“……”

“She gave off a suspicious vibe.”

“I don’t know much about women’s vibes, so I can’t say anything.”

“No, it’s not about women’s intuition or anything trivial like that.”

Her Majesty’s eyes began to waver.

“That disgusting, unsettling feeling I get every time I see those things on the battlefield… You know it too.”

At that, I also put down my coffee cup.

“She’s not the type to collude with those things.”

“People can surprise you, Raul. And…”

“Her Majesty.”

“What does a woman who doesn’t even listen to the truth of that day know about anything?”