The harem located there was like a city in itself.
Everything was provided in the place where the imperial family resided, so that everything could be completed there.
Millions of people served to support the imperial family.
In one of the high-rise buildings in this harem, a prince with the third position in the line of succession lived.
His name was [Cleo Noa Alvarite].
He had short red hair, but the right side was longer and fell over his shoulder.
He had a gender-neutral appearance and looked very beautiful—like a man.
Cleo, bare-chested and wearing only pants, was looking out the window.
He had just come of age and looked to be around thirteen.
Watching him from behind was his sister, [Ristea Noa Alvarite], who had slightly wavy hair tied in a ponytail.
She was tall for a woman and had a well-built body.
She dressed more like a knight than a member of the royal family.
In fact, Ristea was serving as Cleo's knight.
"Cleo, why don't you cover up?"
Cleo turned around at his sister's nagging, revealing his slender but well-built upper body.
He was gender-neutral, but the lack of breasts made it clear he was a man.
"I'm not embarrassed to be seen. I am a man, after all."
Ristea understood but still asked him to put on clothes.
"I don't think it's good to be bare-chested all the time. Besides, a reply has come from the Banfield Duke. He says he will meet with you."
Cleo, upon hearing this, looked out the window again.
"Is that so?"
Despite being the one who had initiated the contact, he showed little interest.
Ristea, seeing this, tried to correct his attitude.
"I understand how you feel, but there are few people who will meet with you. Don't show it so much."
Cleo laughed bitterly.
"Maybe they just want to laugh at someone in my position. In fact, there were many such people."
The high-rise building where Cleo lived was sparsely populated compared to its size.
The places where the princes with higher positions in the line of succession lived were always crowded with people seeking an audience, forming lines every day.
Yet, despite being third in line, the place where Cleo lived had few visitors.
This was due to Cleo's special position.
"Really—Mother is a problem. She can't accept reality and pushes the ugly results of her struggles onto her children."
Ristea had no response.
Considering their current situation, she wanted to complain to the emperor, not just their mother.
But if she did, their heads would roll.
And even if they did nothing, their lives were in danger.
"Cleo, we need to ally with a powerful noble at all costs."
Ristea tried to persuade her brother.
"I know."
"Then be more serious! Besides, I've heard that Duke Banfield is not only young but also a man of high moral character. If he knows the situation, he will help you."
Cleo laughed and hugged himself.
"Does he think a noble will help a clown like me? Even my mother's family has abandoned me. It's a waste of time to hope."
The third position in the line of succession—this title was, in essence, the emperor's plaything.
Knowing this, no noble wanted to join Cleo's faction.
Instead, they mocked him.
It was the intensification of the succession struggle that led Cleo and Ristea to approach Liam.
The Berkeley family had fallen, and its effects were being felt everywhere.
The ripples reached the harem, and factions were being reorganized.
As a result, some people were trying to take advantage of this opportunity to improve their position in the line of succession.
Cleo's nominal position in the line of succession would mean something different if held by someone else.
Cleo and Ristea, with a desperate hope, sought an audience with Liam.
However, they were half-resigned to the fact that he would not help them.
"Also, Sister—Brother and the others are making preparations to bring the Banfield family into their fold."
Ristea's eyes widened at this.
"The ones with the first and second positions in the line of succession? They have the power, but I don't think they would go out of their way to contact them."
The Crown Prince, [Calvin Noa Alvarite], held the first position in the line of succession.
Many nobles were in his faction, and he was considered the man closest to the emperor.
However, looking at the history of the royal family, such evaluations were unreliable.
The second in line, [Linus Noa Alvarite], was a man who openly sought the throne.
He had kicked out any potential obstacles many times.
Even so, it was difficult for Linus to kick out Calvin.
The size of their factions and various other factors had kept the line of succession from the first to the third position stable.
However, with the fall of the Berkeley family, the court was in turmoil.
Linus would not let this opportunity pass, and Calvin would desperately try to defend his position.
As a result, both sought the support of a powerful noble.
That noble was Liam.
Cleo resented his own weakness.
"We've been left behind."
◇
"Master Liam has successfully enrolled in the Imperial University, and this Bryan is so moved that I can't stop crying!"
The image floating in the air showed Bryan, the butler, crying.
I was communicating with him from the capital planet, where I lived.
I was sitting on a sofa in casual clothes, watching Bryan cry.
"You've been noisy since morning. How many times have you told this story? The enrollment ceremony is over, and you're already attending the university. Stop crying already."
Is my butler, who cries so easily, really okay?
However, Bryan seemed to be doing his job well.
He was managing my mansion properly.
"What are you saying! If you have successfully graduated from the military academy, the only thing left is to study at the Imperial University and work as a civil servant! After that, you must return to your territory and contribute to its development!"
I had some time before my lecture, so I was spending the morning leisurely, drinking tea prepared by Tenshi while talking to Bryan.
"That's right. More importantly, is the territory developing smoothly?"
Bryan nodded repeatedly and looked pleased.
"Of course! The territory has been developing even while Master Liam was in training. Please check the detailed figures in the documents."
I smiled.
"I'm looking forward to it."
"The people of the territory are eagerly awaiting Master Liam's return!"
The people seemed to be in high spirits, unaware of the truth.
They were waiting for my return, oblivious to the fact that their lord was a corrupt ruler.
I, [Liam Sera Banfield], am a reincarnated person.
I am a villain who aims to be a corrupt ruler in this fantasy world.
In my previous life, I learned how futile good deeds were, so I now live to enjoy myself.
For that reason—while I was away from my territory, I focused on its development.
So that when I return, I can exploit the well-fed people.
I can hardly wait.
While I was drinking tea with a meaningful smile, Bryan brought up a topic.
"By the way, Master Liam, when will you officially welcome Yurisha as a concubine?"
"Wha—What are you talking about!?"
Yurisha—she was like a sales representative at the former Third Weapons Factory, and she joined a special unit in the military.
The reason was that she wanted to break up with me after confessing her love.
She was a very disappointing girl, but she seemed to have changed her mind and was now staying with me, thinking it was better to be a mistress.
So, I had no intention of officially bringing her into my household.
Not that I did, but the situation had become complicated because I had invited her.
"Is that not the case?"
Turning to Tenshi, I saw her starting to clean up the tea I had spilled.
"Ah, Tenshi!? Explain to him. It's a misunderstanding."
Tenshi looked at my face and then smiled.
That smile was terrifying.
It was like a wife saying, "It's a misunderstanding with that woman!"
"Isn't it fine? After all, Master Liam said he would prepare a harem, but in reality, he hasn't taken anyone yet."
"You're here, aren't you!?"
"Doesn't count."
"Are you kidding me!?"
"No, it's the truth. Master Liam is still a virgin."
"—I'm still a virgin in this life?"
Tenshi's smiling response made me realize a shocking truth.
In other words, am I—still a virgin in this life?
Bryan urged me while I was frozen.
"I understand that you are engaged to Rosetta, but the Banfield family is in a situation without an heir. As a noble, it is your duty to at least prepare an heir, even if it means being a bit indecent."
"Shut up! I can't have a child for such a reason!"
"What do you mean by such a reason! If something happens to Master Liam, the Banfield family will be destroyed! How can you say such a thing! I am genuinely worried! Why won't you touch a real woman!"
Faced with Bryan's genuine anger, I couldn't respond.
I want to live as I please.
I don't want to follow anyone's orders.
However, I couldn't ignore Bryan's genuine concern.
"I'll think about it, but let's put this on hold."
"That's how you always run away! Master Liam, this Bryan can't sleep at night because of worry. Besides, at the Imperial University, there are those who will try to make a comeback—"
I cut off the communication, annoyed by Bryan's nagging.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
"My harem should be carefully selected. I can't let Yurisha join just because of a reason like this."
That's right. My harem is supposed to be made up of carefully selected elites.
I won't let a disappointing girl like Yurisha join just because she's a little cute.
Tenshi was preparing new tea.
"Shouldn't you have said that while the communication was still connected?"
Unable to withstand Tenshi's gaze, I finished the tea in one gulp and stood up.
"I'm going to the university now."
Tenshi bowed her head.
"Understood. I will prepare the car."
Why do I have to be nagged by my butler about my harem in the morning?
And not to stop it, but to hurry it up.
It's hard to understand.
A serious butler would tell his master to be careful with his womanizing and to be virtuous.
"Should I hook up with a few beauties at the university?"
Thinking of womanizing to shut up Tenshi and Bryan—I realized something.
Why am I thinking of womanizing just to make an excuse?
In my second life, I decided not to hold back.
I should be more open about it.
I hate how timid I am.
"Tenshi, call Wallace."
"Wallace? But I think he's still sleeping."
He apparently came home in the morning and was still asleep.
To play around without telling me is really annoying.