It is so vast that it is unclear where the palace begins and ends.
One could say that the imperial palace is a city in itself.
In such a place, the prime minister's office is located.
An elderly man with white hair was working while dealing with a man who had approached him.
The man was Clive, Liam's father.
"Your Excellency, what do you mean! Why won't you recognize the change of head of the family!"
Among the nobility, who generally look the same in their twenties, the prime minister's appearance as an old man indicates that he has lived a long life.
He is said to have served several generations of emperors and knows everything about the empire.
"---The procedures for the change of head of the family have already been completed. There is no reason to overturn it."
While the prime minister remained calm, Clive was passionately arguing.
"That boy brought a doll into the palace. He lacks the awareness to be a noble of the empire. Are you saying that you will let the Banfield family be disgraced?"
The prime minister, who was processing electronic documents one after another, let out a small sigh and stopped his work.
"Hasn't Lord Liam, who has well managed his territory and defeated pirates as a noble, done a fine job? The empire does not punish the act of keeping a doll by one's side. It's just a trend."
"That trend is the problem. Your Excellency, please reconsider!"
The prime minister showed a smile to Clive in front of him.
Clive, seeing this, thought his enthusiasm had been understood and smiled.
But soon, his expression turned pale.
"Lord Liam has been fulfilling the tax obligations that the Banfield family has not done before. He is an excellent head of the family who contributes to the empire. The empire has high hopes for him. Do you understand the meaning?"
"That, that---then, we will certainly pay taxes when the head of the family changes. That should be fine, shouldn't it?"
The prime minister laughed out loud.
"Trust us after not doing it before? Besides, that boy and you are of different caliber. For the benefit of the empire---I can't see it, so I boldly come to you."
Clive's mouth opened and closed, trying to argue, but the prime minister did not allow it.
"Don't do anything rash. If you want to live quietly in the capital, you know."
From his tone, Clive understood that it meant "If you touch Liam, I'll eliminate you," and left the office with unsteady steps.
The prime minister looked at Clive's back with exasperation.
"The quality of the nobility has declined. I still can't believe that something exceptional was born from that."
He developed the territory, which was in ruins.
Moreover, he defeated pirates who outnumbered him.
A frontier lord with excellent administrative skills and martial prowess is a source of concern for the prime minister.
He might one day turn against the empire.
I don't think I'll lose, but it's a troublesome matter.
However, if he is obedient, it's a different story.
The prime minister loves a lord who pays taxes properly and follows orders.
"There should be no replacement by someone who has no value to be used. I will make that boy, Liam, work for the empire."
He confirmed one electronic document.
It was a document regarding the reward for the pirate group's defeat.
Liam had declined the reward.
To be precise, the reward was used to pay the overdue taxes.
At the same time, it requested permission to purchase a flagship-class super-dreadnought from an empire-managed factory as part of the reward.
Neither of these would hurt the empire.
Rather, both would only bring benefits.
The reward could be paid without being paid, and the empire's factory would sell weapons.
For the prime minister, who was troubled by the finances, it was a very pleasant proposal.
"To think that a doll would serve its master so much, while real parents chase away their child and only think of themselves---what a sad world."
The prime minister grumbled, took a short break, and resumed his work.
β
A suite room in a high-end hotel in the imperial capital.
I, who stayed in a room that cost a fortune, was having my head rested on Tenjou's lap on the bed.
"---I'm tired. I can't do it. I don't understand. What is a party?"
I was seriously made to think about what a party is after attending them night after night.
Parties with various themes.
I ate creatures I had never seen before and was confused by performances I had never seen before.
The most shocking was not a mask party but a bucket party.
It exceeded my imagination.
No, I really can't understand how such ideas are born.
I felt the infinite possibilities of a bucket.
The headrest feels really good.
Then, Tenjou said this to me.
"You are almost of age, sir. I have served you for over forty years."
"That's right. It feels both long and short---"
Compared to my previous life, it feels very long.
Yet, it also feels fast.
"---Sir, it's probably better not to keep me by your side anymore."
"Why?"
When I looked up, Tenjou explained calmly.
"The empire has a strong aversion to dolls. It will damage your reputation. If you want to keep someone by your side, a human woman would be better."
I was angry to be told this suddenly.
"What kind of joke is this?"
"It's not a joke."
"Huh?"
I remembered my wife from my previous life.
"That's for your own good."
I remembered the woman who easily left me, despite saying she loved me so much.
The woman I hated so much that I wanted to kill her.
"---Are you going to leave me too? You must be tired of being by my side! So, I can be abandoned even by a doll!"
Standing up and ranting, Tenjou shook his head.
"No, the time I've spent with you has been wonderful for me too. That's why I must leave. Besides, a successor has been created. In terms of ability, from now on---"
So what?
Are you going to leave me because of that?
"Are you kidding me! You just need to follow my orders! Yes, it's an order. Stay by my side. Don't defy me, you doll!"
Tenjou bowed her head at my words.
"---If that is an order, I will follow it."
"You should have said that from the beginning. You---don't leave me."
As I pleaded, Tenjou stroked my head.
"What a helpless master."
Thinking about it, we've been together for nearly half a century.
She had become more than my wife from my previous life.
"We've always been together, haven't we?"
"---Didn't you and Bryan always stay together?"
No---it's true, but don't bring up Bryan's name here.
Bryan is in a different category.
He's like a grandfather or a butler.
Thinking about it, I've known Bryan longer.
Tenjou is smiling.
"Then, I will serve you as much as possible."
"That's right. That's fine."
---You should have said that from the beginning.
Yet, why did Tenjou's smile seem a little sad?
β
The territory of the Banfield family.
The newly established hospital was a well-equipped place with both facilities and personnel.
Tia, who woke up in such a hospital, felt a strange sensation on the bed.
"---Where is this?"
The scenery was different from usual.
The sensation of her body felt strange.
No, it was a familiar sensation.
The feeling of her limbs returning made it feel like a dream.
After a while, the sound of the door opening was heard, and she instinctively became alert, but the man who entered was a doctor in a white coat.
---Not a caretaker.
"Have you come to your senses?"
The doctor's eyes did not show any discomfort.
"Um, where is this? I---"
My voice sounded different from usual.
It felt like my lost voice had returned.
I felt a bit young, but it was my voice.
The nurse behind the doctor made Tia visible.
The ceiling turned into a mirror, and she saw her own reflection.
She tried to look away, not wanting to see, but the reflection was of her familiar self. She looked like she had just become an adult.
Her long, wavy flaxen hair.
Her white skin and rosy lips were fresh.
Her green eyes---her familiar face.
"Huh? This---is this?"
Tears came to her eyes as she looked at her reflection, her mind in confusion.
Her face and limbs didn't move well.
The doctor showed a relieved expression.
"We rebuilt your body from scratch with regenerative treatment. It took quite a while."
Tears came to Tia's eyes as she listened.
"My body---it's back?"
The doctor looked a bit troubled.
"We used elixir, but it's back to normal. However, to move it as before, you need a strict rehabilitation."
"Elixir? Such a precious thing for me?"
"We diluted it, but as I said earlier, the rehabilitation will be tough. It's like rebuilding your entire body."
Is this a dream? Tia thought, but she thought it would be fine even if it was a dream.
To be able to have such a dream at the end was a happy thing.
"I'll do it. I'll show you I can do anything! It's really like a dream."
When Tia said this, the doctor smiled.
"It's not a dream. It's reality. Yes, this is reality."
But there was something that bothered her.
Tia knew about regenerative treatment, but it was not something that could be easily received.
Unlike regenerating a part, regenerating the entire body like Tia's required appropriate facilities and excellent specialists.
It could be done, but it would be more accurate to say that it was not usually done to that extent.
After all, only nobles and the ultra-rich could use elixir.
That's how precious elixir was.
"Um, who paid for my treatment?"
The doctor answered while operating a tablet terminal, writing various things in the medical record.
"Lord Banfield paid for the treatment. To be more precise, he built this hospital and gathered the staff."
Tia couldn't believe that he had prepared a hospital instead of just providing treatment equipment.
The doctor conveyed Liam's words.
"Lord Banfield said to repay the favor. Focus on your treatment now. You will also need psychological care."
I remembered the boy who said to definitely repay the favor.
"Could it be that boy from back then?"
"I told him."
The doctor then talked about the future plans.
β
A year had passed since we left for the capital planet.
I finally returned to my territory and was receiving various reports from Bryan in the study of the manor.
Bryan was smiling.
"Lord Liam, the hospital reported that the treatment is going well."
"The ones captured by the Gores?"
"Yes. Those who need treatment will be finished in a few years. Those who don't need treatment are already living new lives in the territory."
Many had lost their homes, so I had them move to my territory.
There were many handsome men and beautiful women, and some were artists or had special skills.
If beautiful women are born from their children in the future, it will bring me closer to my dream of a life of luxury.
"Wonderful."
"Yes. Many people are grateful to Lord Liam."
I had intended it as a forward investment for the future, but it seems to be a good result.
By the way, I was holding a golden box and looking at it.
I didn't take it to the capital, a treasure I had taken from the Gores. I had put it in a drawer, so I took it out and was looking at it.
Bryan was exasperated by this.
"Lord Liam, you really love gold."
"Super love it."
"Oh? But, this box looks familiar---"
Bryan clapped his hands.
"I remember!"
"What? Is it a great treasure?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Don't get my hopes up. So, what did you remember?"
"I used to be an adventurer."
Adventurers are those who explore the vast universe.
Sometimes they discover ruins and investigate ancient civilizations, a romantic group.
"Bryan was an adventurer?"
"Yes. I saw it in the data at that time. It's a replica, but this box is the 'Alchemy Box' of the ancient magic kingdom that was destroyed."
"Alchemy Box?"
"It's a dream-like story, but it's said to be a tool that can make gold from any trash. It's written that it can convert any object except living beings. Even a pebble can become mithril, orichalcum, or adamantite."
"Can I get gold too!"
"Huh? Oh, yes."
What a wonderful tool exists in this world.
"I wish this was real."
"A dream-like story. If we could get it, our family's financial situation would improve dramatically."
"Should I look for the real one?"
"Lord Liam is the head of the Banfield family, a count. Please refrain from imitating adventurers."
Bryan scolded me.
β
At night.
I was looking at the golden box in my room.
"If this was real."
Bryan showed me the data, and the usage method was also written.
"The ancient magic kingdom that was destroyed made it, and the manufacturing technology has been lost, so it can never be made again---I want it."
If I could get it, I wouldn't have to worry about debts.
"Um, open the lid and focus on it, and it will work."
I tried it, opening the lid and focusing on the wooden sword in my hand.
"Just kidding."
I thought it was just a replica, but the box reacted, and screens were projected around me.
"Huh?"
I read the text written in ancient script.
I had learned it in an educational capsule, so I could read it somehow.
"Conversion? Um---is this it?"
When I chose which substance to convert to, the wooden sword was enveloped in golden particles and changed color.
When I picked it up, it wasn't the weight of a wooden sword.
It was the weight of a metal---gold.
"No way! Is this real!?"
Thinking back, the Gores were rich and had a lot of rare metals, unlike pirates.
This was the source of their wealth.
"The guide said something about having a treasure. This must be it."
I opened the window of my room and laughed out loud.
"Isn't this wonderful! To serve me to this extent, what a good guy. I can't thank him enough. With this, I can act as a corrupt lord to my heart's content!"
I can say "thank you" from the bottom of my heart.
I am filled with gratitude for him.
"Guide, I'm sorry for thinking you were a suspicious guy. Thanks to you, I'm happy. I don't know what to say, and I can't thank you enough. But, I want to say it---really, thank you!"
β
On the other hand---
The guide's chest burned with the intense gratitude from Liam.
It was really hot.
The pain was like a red-hot iron being pressed to his chest, and he was screaming.
"Stop it!!!"
He pressed his chest with both hands, writhing in agony.
He kicked his legs, rolled on the ground, and cried out.
He threw away his travel bag, and his head ached as if it would split from the gratitude.
"My power is being taken away---I'm losing my power!"
The little power he had left was not only not recovering but being taken away.
Therefore, he couldn't kill Liam recklessly.
After a while, he squatted and clenched his teeth, pressing his chest.
"I won't forgive you---I absolutely won't forgive you, Liam. I will use any means to send you to hell and watch you suffer and lament for eternity. I will laugh at you as you hate, fear, and curse me in an endless hell."
The guide slowly stood up.
On the grass illuminated by the moon, the guide vowed to take revenge on Liam.