Chapter .15
Usually, women enter the court with a debutante ball upon coming of age, and men with a knighthood ceremony. However, that is a process only for ordinary nobles; children of powerful families frequent the Imperial Palace from a young age. For the Imperial Family to form factions early, and for the nobles to enter those factions early.
'Even so, the fact that I, a Prince, could not meet a single friend...'
Even if I became Emperor, the nobles did not know me, and I did not know them. I could not overcome the wall of the Empress and my half-brothers standing between us. The reason why, despite being a scarecrow Emperor, I did not even receive basic respect.
'It is the first opportunity.'
Beyond simply proving my innocence, an opportunity to reveal myself as a Prince before the public.
I have arranged such an authoritative seat.
'Now I must prepare to dramatically cast off the false charge.'
To compose myself, I pulled the rope to order tea.
I did not have a dedicated attendant, so servants and maids planted by the four factions came in rotation. While the four factions treated me poorly so I could not build power, they also thoroughly monitored each other, fearing that I might entrust myself to one of their factions if I could not endure it.
After all, no matter what, if I am of Imperial blood, I have utility value, just as the Empress's faction used me before the regression.
However, the maid who came this time spoke subtly while pouring tea.
"Your Imperial Highness, there are rumors that suspicious people are lingering around Your Highness's residence at night."
For a mere maid, not even a lady-in-waiting, to speak before a royal even addressed her. The discipline of the Imperial Palace was a mess.
"Who are they?"
"They are surely insolent things trying to seduce Your Imperial Highness."
Assassins sent by the Empress's faction every night... or rather, beauties. To investigate the truth of whether my scandal was real or the Duke's conspiracy while also using a honey trap.
When I did not let them into my residence, I was glad they sent a man the next day. Because I could finally teach him a lesson.
I made the floor in front of the residence slippery with magic, and the guy fell and broke his nose. Since I did that to a guy who makes a living with his face, it would be quiet for a while.
"Please take care of yourself."
"You may leave now."
"Your Imperial Highness, I am loyal to Your Highness. I am different from other attendants who offer Your Highness only the cheapest tea. This top-grade tea is also something I personally prepared and offered. Please recognize my sincerity."
Top-grade tea, indeed; the aroma was a bit nice, but the taste was the same.
This maid was loyal not to me, but to the Bastard Prince's faction.
Her purpose was to inform me of the Empress's faction's conspiracy so that I would not fall for them, while simultaneously gaining my trust.
"A loyal subject indeed. Then, find out where Marquis Steiner's secret safe is."
"Pardon? ...How, how could I possibly do such a thing?"
"Strive as befits my loyal subject. Of course, you may find out the safes of Duke Grimiati, Duke Lauderdale, or Chancellor Cuaron instead of the Marquis."
"Yes, yes, Your Imperial Highness."
The maid bowed hurriedly and disappeared. Whether it is my bastard brother or whoever, if they want to plant a double agent on me, they should invest that much. Can anyone become a loyal subject? Try harder.
"Y-Your Imperial Highness!"
However, the maid who had closed the door and left immediately opened it again and ran back in. As if chased by a pack of dogs.
"The First Prince has c-come!"
Dogs indeed. My insight to foresee the future is amazing.
The First Prince moves along as the Empress moves.
Since their timing matches so well, I wish the two would have an affair. Isn't there an opera depicting the love between a stepmother and a stepson as a tragedy?
Maximilian, revealing himself behind the terrified maid, strode in like it was his own room. I wish this shabby room were his room too.
"You are still alive."
The first words he spat out since choking his own younger brother and leaving back then.
A face where no trace of self-reproach could be found. Rather, eyes measuring how I would react.
-Do not even call me brother. You are a guy embarrassing to even call a younger brother.
I also hated calling him brother, but after knowing that Maximilian also hated being called that, I stopped caring. If just calling him that can ruin his mood, why not do it?
"Did you come to finish what you failed back then, Brother?"
I asked back.
Then, a spark appeared in Maximilian's eyes. He put his hand on the scabbard at his waist and tapped the sword handle with his fingers. While glaring at me.
'Would that satisfy you?'
Why don't you draw your sword like Grimiati, stab about two knights, and claim they were men in an adulterous affair trying to seduce me? Since the Duke killed two, maybe kill three for the Prince's face.
As I looked back in anticipation, Maximilian grinned.
"When the time comes, Leontes. Why rush when you are barely hanging onto that meager life? Wait quietly for my decision."
Saying that, the First Prince sat on one of the only two chairs in this room, fluttering his gold-embroidered red cape.
Luxurious clothes wrapping a body already dignified like a knight though not yet of age, unhesitating yet elegant movements, and spirited young knights surrounding him. Mostly collateral cousins.
'Who are also my cousins.'
My brother seemed like the greatest result produced by the proper upbringing of a Prince. The Emperor's dependable heir, a symbol representing the stability of the regime.
Before the regression, I felt inferior. However, it was a waste of emotion for a guy who, far from treating his young brother well, cast him aside. One well-raised dragon is worth more than ten knights.
"I heard you joined hands with the Lauderdale woman."
The First Prince called the Empress by her maiden name. Even though I, the former Emperor, call her by name.
"It is according to Maternal Uncle's will. Or perhaps Brother's will."
When I implied that they were the ones who pushed me to the Empress's faction, his deep blue eyes flashed.
My brother looked better when angry than when smiling. As the future Emperor, I command you to live like that from now on.
"Is it not because your conduct is poor? Do you not even know shame after doing that?"
"Why should I be ashamed of the affairs of people completely unrelated to me? Whatever Duke Grimiati mistakenly thinks is his problem."
I said it expecting Maximilian to side with the Duke and get angry, but instead, he stared piercingly at me.
"Is it really not true?"
"Is it not more plausible that Brother had a secret tryst with them rather than me?"
"Hahahaha!"
The First Prince burst into laughter. He despises when spoken to nicely, laughs out loud when told to be angry; though he is my brother, he is an incomprehensible guy.
"Kuhahaha!"
"Kuhahaha!"
As he laughed, the knights also laughed along. They were like human echoes.
"It is not wrong."
"Of course. Did Maternal Uncle try to kick Brother out of the Imperial Palace just because you had secret trysts until now?"
Cut the double standards.
"You speak quite well, do you not? More entertaining than a clown, haha!"
Maximilian, who had been insulting me, barely stopped laughing and said.
"If your conduct is truly upright and you do not wish to go to Maternal Uncle's estate, I will speak to Maternal Uncle for you."
...Wasn't Grimiati framing me and trying to drag me to his estate a conspiracy pre-arranged with my brother? Do their thoughts differ on this point?
Surely not. Before the regression, even when I was banished, he ran wild chasing me to lock me up, so I had to flee.
"But before that, you must show your loyalty to me. I cannot watch my own brother go to Mother's enemy. Cut ties with the Lauderdale woman."
The First Prince was unrivaled in acting as if he were already Emperor. A traitor whose head should be cut off immediately.
"I join hands with no one and am loyal only to the Father Emperor. Brother, as the First Prince of this country, should also cut ties with the ambassador of an enemy nation and show loyalty only to the Father Emperor."
My brother's face distorted.
"You dare act irreverently towards Mother who is from Roncer?"
"It is Duke Grimiati, not I, who acts irreverently towards Mother. To dare try to kick me, her son, out of the Imperial Palace."
"It is because you are a being who becomes a burden to Mother. What can you, so insignificant, do without me?"
"If I can do nothing as Brother says, isn't there absolutely nothing to worry about?"
Maximilian twisted only one side of his mouth in a strange smile but did not open his mouth. Instead, it was his knights who laughed. As if they knew by instinct when to laugh and when to be silent according to the First Prince's mood.
"What nonsense are you talking about, kuhaha!"
"You are truly wittier than a clown, Your Imperial Highness, haha!"
A despicable method where many bury the opponent with ridicule when refuted.
I also smiled and said.
"Seeing brave knights like you flocking in, I wondered if you were going to wield swords, but seeing you laugh heartily makes me feel good."
Since they did it to scare me, there was nothing stopping me from saying I was scared. Especially speaking for the maid who was trembling against the wall, unable to leave because of the knights filling the narrow room.
The knights who had stormed into a room with only a boy and a woman looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Ah, what are you so afraid of? Would I do anything to you, my brother? You have all sorts of thoughts."
This time Maximilian laughed. How arrogantly he laughed.
'Ugly.'
In the past, even if it was half-brothers, it was very sorrowful that my own brother didn't like me. But if he liked me with that personality, that would have had its own sorrows.
"Indeed, Brother is generous. I am also glad that my cousins have come after a long time. Now, everyone sit."
I also spoke generously to the First Prince's knights, but everyone hesitated. Even if the Prince gave permission, there were only two chairs where my brother and I sat.
"Oh my, there are not enough chairs. I will at least serve tea. Look here, bring tea."
The maid, who was wringing her hands, answered explicitly in surprise.
"There is nothing, though?"
Indeed, she had guts befitting a spy of the Bastard Prince's faction.
Even without calling the many chefs in the Imperial Palace, alcohol and refreshments were always prepared in a royal's room.
However, the spies in my residence claimed there was a risk of poisoning, bringing only a little refreshment when ordered and never stocking it. Once they served tea, they didn't bring it a second time, saying there was no more. My nanny was very sad about that.
"Then serve water at least."
"No need. Do you think I came to be served by you?"
The First Prince was dumbfounded.
"But since Brother came after a long time, as a younger brother, I want to offer at least a humble treat. Please do not refuse. Are these knights not all my cousins? I want to be formally introduced on this opportunity."
The knights were flustered but did not deny my words. Nobles can be illiterate, but if they don't know genealogy, they are commoners.
"You must have greased your tongue. It is even pitiful to see you acting out without considering the situation. What on earth are you plotting?"
However, Maximilian cut off my intention and pulled his knights out of the awkward situation.
"Is there anything other than the desire to become close with Brother?"
"You are trying hard to curry favor with me. But it is useless to do so while holding hands with the Lauderdale woman."
If arranging an audience is joining hands, then forming an alliance to find a dragon egg must be on the level of kissing hands. When I smiled thinking of the First Prince kissing the Empress's hand for a moment, he also smiled along.
"You know how to curry favor with me. But do not think you can gloss over it with a laugh."
"Y-Your Imperial Highness, preparations are complete."
At that moment, the maid called me urgently. Holding a tray full of water glasses as if she wanted to leave quickly even if it meant interrupting a royal conversation.
With an air of 'surely he won't really make us do it, he'll just pretend and let us go'.
"Why do you not hurry and serve my brother and his knights?"
When I spoke nonchalantly, the maid was at a loss and distributed the water glasses. She offered the First Prince and me the cups of milk left over from when we drank tea earlier.
The knights stared blankly at the plain water they couldn't refuse and accepted.
Given that nobles hold private banquets, the Prince's situation must be shocking. If we cannot share empathy, let us share the shock.
"I apologize for the humble treat, Brother."
As if understanding my words to eat and get lost, my brother looked ready to pour the cup of milk on me. The knights reacted immediately to my brother's anger.
"Having received it from such a pitiful person, how could even plain water go down our throats?"
"How can we call you a Prince of Armatia? Would it not be right for you to withdraw on your own now?"
In terms of flattery, knights were stronger than bureaucrats. Because they take following the strong for granted.
However, now it was more than that.
Before the regression, my brother's knights were not that hostile to me until my brother called me a traitor. They were busy being hostile to Desmond's knights, and openly pitied me.
'But I am no longer the person they knew.'
The Prince, who was always depressed and cowered unable to speak, now talks back to their master without skipping a beat. He approaches them without hesitation, and they have no idea how to treat him.
They are flustered, and so they are angry. Since they cannot draw their swords like they do to commoners, they ridicule. To maintain a sense of superiority. That is their best effort.
In doing so, they miss their master's inner thoughts.
'Feeling like a wedge in the master-servant relationship is rewarding.'
Looking at the contrast between them laughing to the point of tears instead of the First Prince who looked angry alone, I also laughed along.
While quietly activating magic.