“——And that is the entirety of how this came about.”
“Mm. I appreciate the report, Floné Milfonti.”
Further within Lichberg Magic Academy stood the Royal Castle.
The national symbol that has lived through several centuries of the Rondism Kingdom’s prosperity holds, even now, a beauty and dignity that doesn’t fade.
A single room of the lavish edifice where the ruler of the nation and his family lived.
So that no one would notice, no lamps had been lit. The only illumination — moonlight slipping in through the closed window — fell on a man whose age, like the castle itself, only added to his commanding presence.
Ambald Rondism.
Without exaggeration, the man who stands at the very apex of this nation.
“Well, well…… so. Gordon’s boy was so overjoyed that he fainted, was he?”
“Yes. At this moment he must be enjoying private time with her as he’s being looked after.”
This entire commotion regarding Karen Lebetsenka had, conveniently, served Ouga Veret, myself, and King Ambald alike — a single incident through which each of us could advance our respective designs.
For Ouga Veret — saving his childhood friend Karen Lebetsenka from that idiot Crown Prince.
For me — engaging the two so that, in the future, their excellent genes would be passed on.
And for Ambald — restoring this rotted country.
“But — are you all right with this? Yes, the outcome was foregone, but your son’s position now falls dramatically, you realize?”
“It would be a lie to say I have no regrets…… but he needed exactly this kind of experience. I’d hoped he might change once he had a fiancée, but he’s been a child with strong elitist convictions since infancy.”
“And the womanizing too?”
“That was likely taught to him by the nobles fawning around him. The fault is mine — I left him to his own devices because I was preoccupied with the kingdom, and this is the result. The responsibility lies with me. Whatever becomes of him, I intend to look after him to the very end.”
”……You’ve got it rough.”
“That goes for both of us. You’ve been working hard.”
At his words, I returned a small smile.
Since stepping back from the field, I’ve poured my energy into raising the next generation, day in and day out.
He surely takes it as action driven by my concern for the nation’s future. We’ve shared battlefields together, after all. That’s why he so readily invites me into the royal chambers like this.
…… It seems he hasn’t yet noticed my true objective.
Watching his expression, there’s not the slightest sign of suspicion toward me.
I have never, not once, thought I was living for the country. Every bit of it is for me.
My time is, all of it, spent for my own sake.
So too with cultivating excellent young buds…… every move is to combine their bloodlines, to bring forth superior life——
“In any case, I’d not have expected to hear the name Ouga Veret from you of all people, Floné.”
My sinking thoughts were tugged back up.
That’s right. There was something I needed to ask.
“Did you know? Of his existence?”
“Yes. Gordon used to boast over and over, ‘My son is a genius! He’s going to take up a post that bears the country on his shoulders one day.’ Hearing soppy parental pride come out of that villainous face had me in stitches more times than I can count.”
“Oh……? Hailed as a genius despite having no magical aptitude. I wonder why?”
“I didn’t ask the particulars. I was half-skeptical at the time, but hearing of his recent activities, I can no longer dismiss it as a lie.”
I clicked my tongue inside my chest.
As befits a man who fights with words against other nations in diplomacy — you knew the importance of information after all, didn’t you, Gordon.
The reason he’s branded a corrupt lord is that he deliberately keeps company with thoroughly rotten noble groups.
In actuality, he’s Ambald’s secret blade. He gathers information and feeds it up to the King.
“He continues conduct unbecoming of a noble. But that is the noble dignity I want to see. Which is no doubt why she placed herself in his service as well.”
“By she, you mean…… so that attendant is——”
“Floné, you’ve likely already realized — she’s the one who was Captain of our nation’s knights. She, too, was outstanding personnel…… though her sense of justice ran rather too strong.”
Recalling, perhaps, the deft, sharp-edged former Captain of the Holy Knight Order — Chris Lagnica — he gave a wry smile and sipped the wine in his hand.
“Knowing no fear, she tried to cut into the dark side of the nobility. But as a commoner-born, she had no backing. However strong, there are limits when one stands alone.”
“Which is why, before she could be cornered to the point of destruction, you exiled her?”
“In truth, I wanted to help her. But I couldn’t have my plan exposed yet. At the time, exile was the only way I had to protect her.”
He is deliberately playing the foolish king.
To bring down the nobles who fatten themselves on the prosperity, and to root out the rotted noble spirit.
He has loved this country since he was a small child.
To the point that he has resolved to throw away his own life if it will set the kingdom right.
”…… And yet, she’s come back to us like this.”
“Karma comes around, it seems. And under a master who shares her ideals, too. She must be more fulfilled now than ever before.”
“Yes. Very much alive. She looks happier serving him than she did serving the country.”
“How embarrassing for me, indeed.”
For someone saying that, he looked rather pleased…… no, I think he genuinely is glad.
Because he can feel, in his skin, that the future is moving in a good direction for him.
“But, Floné — you managed to get Lebetsenka to swallow the engagement-break condition. What method did you use?”
“Simple. I told him that if Ouga Veret lost, I’d give him Reina.”
At that, Ambald looked momentarily blank-faced, and then burst into laughter as though he couldn’t hold it in.
“Hahaha! Quite a bold gamble!”
“It was no gamble at all. Anyone could see Ouga Veret was going to win.”
In truth, I’d also wanted to see his [Magic Cancel].
I hadn’t imagined that Ambald’s son would be so weak as to fail to even draw it out.
…… Or rather — Ouga Veret was simply too strong.
Either way, anyone who knew his real capability had no need to agonize over which side to bet on.
“Lebetsenka has long wanted an excellent male heir. He’s been repeating marriages and divorces over and over. Offering up your apprentice in the middle of all that…… that’s a stunt only you could pull off.”
Even knowing the outcome, he continued.
“That single incident severed the bond between House Lebetsenka and the throne. We owe Gordon’s son our thanks.”
With this, House Lebetsenka will find it much harder to move freely.
The fact that his daughter was the King’s fiancée was the very reason he could do as he pleased.
For Ambald, too, the matter has settled in a favorable direction.
“Karen Lebetsenka possesses the same goodness he does. In the near future, the situation is going to shift dramatically.”
“Yes. Those two will set this country back to its proper, clean form. And if I succeed in spitting out every last bit of the rot——”
“——I am open to ceding the throne itself to Ouga Veret.”
It wasn’t an offhand remark.
Voice freighted with hope, it carried through the hushed silence of the room.
”…… No one else can hear it but me — and even so, that’s a remarkably bold thing to say.”
“It’s only one possibility, of course. Even I shake my head at the absurdity of it and try to forget the thought. But I’m dreaming — that perhaps he could reach it.”
“That he could become the bearer of the saintly heart that will save this country — the [Saint].”
◇ With this, Chapter 1 ends! And along with the ending, an announcement.
The publication of this work as a book has been decided——!!
That means you’ll get to see — in illustrations — Ouga’s cool figure (delusion), Alice killing villains while smiling, Mashiro killing virgins (Ouga) with her boobs, and Karen showing her in-heat face in front of the Council President!! (eyes rolling back)
The content will of course be upgraded for delivery, so please support the book version too! I’ll report the details again as the release date approaches.
I hope to see you again in Chapter 2. ◇