Chapter 727

The Queen of the Independent Kingdom. A story that felt unreal and distant, yet was extremely grounded in reality.

Think about it.

The martial prowess and achievements reminiscent of the superhumans from ancient legends.

The authority of a direct bloodline that inherited their blood.

A knight order filled with heroes and masters across the vast territory.

Even the justification of being favored by a goddess.

These traits seem fitting for the biography of a founding monarch who established a new dynasty.

…The problem is, that story became mine.

—

Only after hearing Leopold’s remark did I realize something anew.

My efforts to elevate my standing within the Empire and maintain peace had, at some point, gone too far—way too far.

Now, I stood in a position literally second to none within the Empire.

No, not even second to none.

At this point, the only one above me was Leopold, but he had become a being that could no longer be called human.

With his once-flowing golden hair now completely gone, he was no longer “Human Leopold” but “Radiant Leopold.” So, in essence, there was no one above me.

Sure, Duke Bien and Duke Pailoon were still around… but excluding their imperial titles, they had nothing over me, so they couldn’t be considered above me.

…In other words, I was the highest-ranking person in this country.

Good heavens, is this even possible?

Me, the highest-ranking person in the Empire? Is this reality? It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the Empire was already doomed.

—

“So, you’re saying the Church Order wants to make me Queen? A person who’s barely managing their position as a lord?”

The future was so absurd it made my vision go dark. I excused myself to Leopold, lit a cigarette, and let out a deep sigh.

What kind of cursed kingdom are we talking about? If they make me Queen, it wouldn’t even take a year for it to collapse.

“What’s so impossible about it? Being a King isn’t that grand of a position. Sure, the territory is vast and the military is strong, but fundamentally, it’s not much different from being a Great Lord. You’ve beheaded enough of them to know, right?”

Huh… is that so?

As always, Leopold’s words carried a strange persuasiveness. Even when he argued the opposite of what I thought, I found myself nodding along, wondering if he might be right.

“Well, when you put it that way, it does seem plausible…”

In fact, lately, his persuasiveness felt even stronger.

Was it the Power of Baldness? Maybe losing his hair granted him the blessing of eloquence.

After all, if you’re bald and mistaken for a monster, you’d better have a silver tongue to avoid being hunted.

“In that regard, you’re not a complete failure as a lord. A lord who spares their people, even if they’re inexperienced and indifferent to managing the territory, is better than one who ruthlessly exploits them.”

“But if someone like that becomes King, wouldn’t they just be labeled as a kind but incompetent ruler?”

You know, like those historical figures—Yu Seon or Yu Jang, or whatever their names were.

“If they’re only kind and utterly incompetent, then yes. But are you that incompetent? Sure, you’re a bit lacking in administrative skills, but militarily, no one can match you, and diplomatically, you’ve achieved great success. If anything, you’d be considered a capable founding monarch.”

“I don’t recall doing anything diplomatic.”

From what I remember, the only diplomatic activities I’ve engaged in over the past year were swindling the Empire and the Grasslands with a non-aggression pact and personally killing the kings of various nations. If that’s what diplomacy is, then this world is clearly messed up.

“You subjugated Panam and Dane under the Empire. That’s a significant achievement.”

…Well, this world is indeed messed up.

Leopold seemed to consider killing kings as a diplomatic achievement.

Wait, that’s not the point. More importantly—

“From what you’re saying, it sounds like you want me to establish a kingdom and ascend to the throne?”

This guy, ever since earlier, has been listing reasons why it’s okay for me to become Queen, not why I shouldn’t. A sense of unease brushed past my chest.

“Exactly.”

Is this guy insane?

“Excuse me, but are you perhaps drunk?”

I asked as politely as possible, trying to phrase the question of whether he’d lost his mind in a roundabout way.

Honestly, I wanted to ask if he’d lost his intelligence along with his hair, but out of respect for his dignity and authority as the Emperor, I held back.

“I’m perfectly sober. Rather than creating a precedent for priests to interfere with secular titles, it’s better to establish an independent nation with a mutual defense pact. Duke Bien would prefer that as well.”

“Duke Bien? What has that guy done now?”

That old man, last I saw him, he seemed to have gotten his act together, but is he still blinded by his lust for power?

“No, not in that sense. Far from causing trouble, he’s become an indispensable figure in the Empire. Just in a different way than you.”

Leopold sighed, downed the wine in his glass, and let out a bitter sigh as he explained.

—

Nidhogg left deep scars on the Imperial Capital. Not only were there countless casualties, but the city’s functionality was also lost.

“The underground waterways were destroyed and buried, cutting off the water supply. The grain warehouses were completely burned and melted, leaving no food to feed the surviving residents.”

As if recalling the horrors of that time, Leopold let out a shallow sigh with a somber expression.

“The cost of recovery was staggering, and considering the time it would take, it wouldn’t have been surprising if more than half of the capital’s residents ended up homeless and starving. Duke Bien was the one who solved this.”

A catastrophe on the scale of the entire capital collapsing. In a situation where no one knew where to even begin, Duke Bien stepped forward and supported the capital’s recovery.

By spending almost the entire fortune of his ducal house.

“Duke Bien? That’s unexpected.”

“He had his reasons. Wealth can be regained, but how often does one get the chance to earn the reputation and goodwill of being the savior of the capital? He must have been more than willing to pour his family’s wealth into it.”

Ah, so that’s what it was.

A charitable act for the sake of reputation. More hypocrisy than genuine kindness, but for those who benefited, Duke Bien’s intentions wouldn’t matter. They’d just be grateful.

“What he desires is singular: for the House of Bien to become the foremost family in the Empire. That’s the only reason he moves.”

“He’s a consistent guy, I’ll give him that.”

“Indeed. Supporting me to ascend the throne, marrying his daughter to me, and spending his fortune to restore the capital—all for that purpose. That’s why you must become Queen.”

Huh…?

Something feels heavily abbreviated and leapfrogged here.

“What do you mean…?”

“Don’t you see? As long as someone holding both the Saintess position of the Astraea Church Order and a ducal title of the Empire stands tall, it’s obvious that the House of Bien will never become the foremost family.”

“Wasn’t I a Marquis?”

“It only took you a year to rise from a mere exile to a Marquis. How long do you think it’ll take to become a Duke?”

Leopold looked at me as if to say, “What are you even talking about?”

Well, he’s not wrong, but still…

“From what I know… a ducal title isn’t something you can earn just by merit. It’s only bestowed upon those with royal bloodlines.”

“Have you forgotten? You have imperial blood. Sir Rotholandus of the Twelve Knights was the nephew of Emperor Carolus the Great, so you’re a distant relative of the imperial family.”

…Now that you mention it, that’s true. That guy Rotholandus was the son of Carolus’s sister.

Unfortunately, I am indeed a distant relative of the imperial family. A very, very distant one.

“So, if you remain independent, you’ll naturally become the head of the foremost family in the Empire, Duke Median. Maybe even a Grand Duke. Saintess Duke, Saintess Grand Duke… doesn’t quite roll off the tongue.”

“Duke Bien would have a big problem with that, wouldn’t he?”

“Indeed. He might not openly show his dissatisfaction, but if he becomes certain that no amount of wealth will allow his family to surpass yours, he’ll start taking a different approach.”

That makes sense. If he’s sure that no amount of investment will let him surpass me, he’ll stop pouring his wealth into the Empire.

Or maybe he’ll try something more drastic.

“Losing his support is inevitable… and you’re not going to live for a thousand years like the fairies, so he’ll target your family after your death. If he cuts down your successor before they can grow as strong as you, the House of Median will fall.”

“……”

“That’s why, given how things have turned out, your independence from the Empire is the best course of action for everyone.”

Leopold declared firmly. For the Empire, for himself, and for my family, I should become an independent Queen.

…Honestly, it feels like there’s a bit of a curse of baldness mixed into his reasoning.

“Even if you suddenly tell me to establish a country… I don’t have the confidence to rule as a Queen. I’ve never been taught how.”

I flicked off the ash from my nearly burnt-out cigarette and frowned.

“My administrators might be competent at managing territories, but… they’re just low-ranking nobles or commoner bureaucrats. I can’t entrust national governance to them.”

“Don’t worry about that. I have the right person in mind.”

Leopold replied with an ambiguous smile.

The right person? For national governance? With Ludwig dead, who could that possibly be…?

“That person would know exactly what a Queen should do. Having grown up in the imperial palace and, albeit unwillingly, spent a long time as the queen of a nation.”

Ah. Don’t tell me, is he talking about that woman?

“Perfect timing. I’ve been feeling guilty about forcing her into what’s essentially house arrest, so now I can rest easy.”

Leopold’s smile deepened.

…It seems like the woman I’m thinking of is indeed the one.

“Take good care of Eleonora.”

…Yep, it’s her.

Facing Leopold, who bowed his head slightly as if addressing a brother-in-law who had come to ask for his sister’s hand in marriage, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d fallen into an inescapable trap.

Really, I have to play Queen now? Me?

I’m so screwed.