Chapter 116

In this world, there are people who believe their own desires align with the nation’s interests.

The type of people my mother from my previous life, who was a political consultant (a broker operating under the guise of a business card), often took advantage of belonged to this category. Openly corrupt individuals are usually too focused on self-preservation to cross the line, but these people are different.

“I need to succeed first so I can help those poor, desperate people.”

“I’ll close my eyes just this once for the greater good.”

“Taking down that guy eyeing my territory is actually beneficial for the country.”

People who talk themselves into this line of thinking often end up doing something extreme because they genuinely believe they’re right.

Princess Victoria, the First Princess, also had a tendency like this.

Of course, she genuinely loves the empire, and as royalty where lineage equals power, she can’t easily be compared to elected officials. However, in the sense that she believes everything she does is for the nation’s benefit, she’s quite similar.

A woman willing to do anything for the empire.

I decided to use Victoria’s penchant for such tendencies.

…

7 AM. I headed to Victoria’s palace.

I didn’t come here at this time without good reason.

“I must show that I’m eager too.”

I was only just retired from the Imperial Court’s Royal Guard Corps.

Victoria would likely already be aware of this fact. Even without her explicit orders, the servants would be diligently keeping tabs on my whereabouts and subtly informing her of what I’m up to. It would please her to be kept in the loop.

This guess was correct.

“Sir Alan. I heard the news. I was about to visit you myself.”

Victoria greeted me in the audience chamber.

She wasn’t in her usual military uniform but was wearing a dress. I should’ve guessed she would be a bit late.

Though not overly flashy, it was clear she had made an effort.

While not a body-con style, the well-fitted red dress clung to her figure, and her makeup looked meticulously applied.

It felt like she was putting in her best effort while pretending she wasn’t really trying.

She probably got ready quickly because she wanted to look good for me. Perhaps one of the clever lady-in-waitings subtly suggested it to her.

However, I didn’t praise Victoria’s beauty but instead kept the formalities dryly on purpose.

“Your Highness, I apologize for disturbing you this early.”

“…Sir Alan, I know about your recent hard decision. I heard you picked up a sword for the first time when you were seven. You were trained by well-respected swordmasters from Longkenny Prefecture… Ah, my apologies, I seem to be rambling.”

“I am fine.”

“Regardless, you must have trained with swords for many years. It must have been hard to give that up.”

Victoria looked at me with pity while speaking. Even though I was the one who resigned from the guards, why is Victoria getting so emotional over this?

Though it might seem strange at first glance, I had a pretty good idea what was going on in Victoria’s mind.

A Second Princess’s bodyguard can’t be the consort of the First Princess. Victoria seemed convinced that I left Siena’s influence in order to marry her. I had planned for her to think this way.

“Sir Alan, I have a delicate question… Is Siena alright? Knowing her, she wouldn’t let this pass quietly.”

“She’s not alright. And I didn’t resign because of Your Highness, it was purely my own decision.”

“…Ha ha. I expected as much from someone like you.”

Victoria continued to look at me with pity.

She sighed, placed her hand on her ample bosom, murmured something about worrying about Siena, tapped the table lightly, then looked at me again. It was clear that she was the one trying to convince herself before she tried to convince others.

“Though this doesn’t mean you should let your guard down.”

I sat across from Victoria.

“Your Highness.”

“Speak.”

“The truth is exactly as you suspect. I resigned from the Guards to propose engagement to Your Highness. A mere knight cannot marry a direct heir… I judged it best to retire at this point.”

“A difficult… decision for you, no doubt.”

I nodded mutely in agreement, instead of replying.

A moment of silence followed.

Victoria then spoke with a troubled expression.

“Sir Alan.”

She’s about to say sorry again, I could tell. There was no need to listen.

“Your Highness, now is not the time for apologies.”

“Sir Alan…?”

“Your Highness should not be worrying about my feelings right now. Revitalizing the confused empire will take all the time you have.”

“Even so…”

She kept trying to interject, so I raised my hand to silence her, then thought for a moment before speaking.

“Your Highness, if you don’t mind, please adjust your attire.”

“Clothes? Is there something wrong with my outfit?”

Victoria looked puzzled as she glanced at her attire. She even turned to check herself in a mirror in the corner of the audience chamber. She probably thought she looked fine and didn’t expect to be criticized for her appearance.

I pretended to think for a moment, then sighed.

“Your Highness is a beautiful person. Even I, with my own eyes, can see that.”

“Sir Alan, what are you saying?”

“You’re beautiful. Distracting, even.”

“…”

Victoria’s face turned slightly red, but it didn’t last long.

“There’s no need for you to go to great lengths to look good for me. Letting the maids fuss with your hair, and spending half an hour on makeup… That’s not like Your Highness. …And I apologize for presumptuously making assumptions about Your Highness’s character.”

Victoria opened her mouth to say something but closed it again.

A faint hint of bitterness appeared on her face.

Probably because she hadn’t been treated as a woman by me. But soon enough, Victoria regained her composure and spoke again.

“You’re right. This… This isn’t appropriate attire for official duties.”

Victoria excused herself to change her clothes, leaving me behind. Though it was unfortunate to let her down, it was necessary.

Victoria needed to be handled differently from Siena.

—

Moments later.

Victoria returned to the audience chamber in the formal uniform of the Imperial Army.

She made an obvious effort to appear composed.

Her intention of making me her spouse wasn’t due to personal feelings but rather her goal: to have me, who had demonstrated miracles multiple times, marry her and work together to lead the empire’s resurgence. At least, that’s what she believed.

Subsequently, Victoria nodded gravely.

“Understood, Sir Alan.”

“Understanding?”

“It means I am committed to the restoration of the empire alongside you. …Though it’s an awkward topic to broach, His Majesty’s alcohol consumption has been rapidly increasing. The palace attendants are constantly hiding bottles in the sleeping quarters every morning, so they’re on edge.”

“That is concerning.”

“Moreover, we now also have to worry about Siena’s erratic behavior. How to calm her down… And during such a volatile period, I shouldn’t act so frivolously.”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine. The empire is currently amidst clear crisis, and I fully understand that your recent decision is because of this.”

I nodded only with a gesture of affirmation.

To align myself as Alan Medoff, the devoted minister who was ready to give everything for Victoria, and because Victoria, it seemed, wanted to adjust her posture to align with me, she appeared more solemn, taking her seat carefully.

The platinum blonde colonel of the army looked more composed, and any trace of girlish scent had already faded.

I felt the need to remind her of the weight of her responsibilities.

“An embassy delegation from Chinguk will arrive within three weeks. I heard the envoy leading them is the Left Chancellor of the Ritual Ministry, a first-class official who is even the son-in-law of His Majesty the Emperor’s younger brother, the Prince of Yi. There will be numerous high-ranking officials from Chinguk as well. You should not think they are merely here petitioning for the pardon of the Third Princess.”

First topic: Diplomacy.

“Recently, ten opium farm owners have approached Medoff Pharmaceuticals offering to sell at rock-bottom prices. They tried clumsily converting their crops to morphine and heroin precursors, but due to financial issues, they are now on the verge of bankruptcy.”

Second topic: Domestic affairs.

“Her Majesty the Empress… we must not leave her unchecked. Whatever her intentions might be, she creates unrest everywhere she intervenes. Our marriage negotiations aside, we must find a way to curb the Empress’s influence.”

Third topic: Court politics.

Victoria nodded continuously, answering diligently, seemingly understanding the importance. Gradually, however, her expression grew increasingly serious as if she was realizing the gravity of the burden she took upon herself. Of course, it was not solely for that reason.

“…Sir Alan.”

“What is it?”

“To be honest, when news of your coming reached me, I anticipated… a proposal. Not just anticipated but hoped for it. I thought we’d start discussing the engagement schedule, that you’d summon your family to the court, and that I’d soon receive a ring from you.”

“…”

“I didn’t expect political discussions. My thinking was shortsighted.”

Even though she hadn’t done anything wrong, Victoria seemed apologetic. This was the moment to console her, but I instead hardened my expression.

“Your Highness, it’s the path you’ve chosen. And I turned my back on the lord I served to assist you.”

“I know.”

The atmosphere grew even more solemn.

Finally, I sighed briefly and gently tapped her hand as a way to bring her out of the abyss before she was completely engulfed.

“I apologize for pushing too hard. …I just want to resolve everything before the marriage. It’d be bleak starting our marriage with chaos, wouldn’t it? From then on, we should set aside politics and concentrate solely on producing imperial heirs.”

This remark made Victoria stare at me blankly. Only after I slightly tugged the corner of my lips upward did she recall her bashful smile. She even went on to say, “That’s also our royal duty,” agreeing with me.

“I will always be by your side to assist, Your Highness.”

“I want an equal partnership, not just assistance. Sir Alan… No, Alan.”

Victoria’s expression relaxed with this statement.

I didn’t inject unnecessary responsibility into Victoria without reason.

She was already willing to give up her position for Siena’s sake to maintain peace in the royal court and the empire and was even actively planning to push for marriage between me and her sister, the royal princess.

Precisely the way I intended to shape the situation.

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