"But, if there's premarital sex, it could become troublesome."
"It's not unusual these days. Besides, I've heard that many people find their future partners here. If it's a serious relationship, I won't interfere."
Rosetta is a bit worried about the students from the countryside who are getting excited in the city.
However, if she restricts them too much, they might become dissatisfied. It's also an opportunity to see their character.
She won't interfere.
If they do something, they will have to take responsibility for it themselves.
As Rosetta and her group head to the student cafeteria, Liam is there.
"Oh, darling."
Rosetta, blushing, tries to approach Liam, but he seems to be having a serious conversation with Wallace, so she doesn't interrupt.
â—‡
"Liam, I wasn't out playing and came home late yesterday."
Wallace, with a bump on his head, tries to explain to me.
"I heard you go drinking with your bad friends every day. And apparently, you're treating them with the money I gave you. Treat me too."
"Isn't that the opposite? I think it's normal for you to treat me. Anyway, I wasn't out playing yesterday."
"Did something happen?"
It's unusual for the usually irresponsible Wallace to come home in the morning without playing.
Moreover, he seems unusually down this morning.
He looks like he's deep in thought.
"Actually—my older brothers contacted me."
"Older brothers? Cedric?"
Cedric is another prince, treated like the rest of the princes.
He is currently a major general in the military.
"No, the first and second in line for the throne. Do you understand the implications?"
Wallace is testing me.
I can't allow that.
"Don't test me. Just tell me the conclusion."
"Alright. My older brothers are trying to recruit you. They asked me to mediate. It's really annoying. I tried to escape the court politics, but I got dragged into it."
Wallace has always avoided court politics.
The reason is that one wrong decision could cost him his life.
The number of potential heirs in the imperial harem could be in the thousands.
These heirs fight and eliminate each other.
"Mediation for me? The third prince just approached me."
I think it was Prince Cleo.
"That's a direct request for a meeting from Cleo. In this case, you would have to approach my older brothers through me and request to join their faction."
"Huh?"
I didn't understand.
"So, Liam, you would have to bow and request to join their faction. You would also need to bring a gift and a large donation."
I started to get angry.
They called me, but now they want me to bow and beg.
I can send bribes and flatter the higher-ups, but this is not acceptable.
The third prince, who formally requested a meeting, is more approachable.
"Pretty arrogant, aren't they?"
"Of course. The two older brothers are the leading candidates for the next emperor."
It's understandable for them to act superior.
"Hold on—does that mean they already have considerable power?"
A concern crossed my mind.
The "true enemy" the guide mentioned before.
I thought the emperor was suspicious.
As the most powerful person in the country, he could easily manipulate the Barclay family.
But now, there are more candidates.
"Many nobles are working for my older brothers. In that sense, they have strong power. Other brothers have power too, but the top two are in a different league."
"I see."
In that case, they are not suitable for me to align with.
One of them might be manipulating the Barclay family from behind the scenes.
If I had approached them, I would have been used.
Or, they might be the enemy the guide warned me about!
It was a close call.
"Wallace, then tell them—no."
"Wh-What are you saying, Liam!? They are the first and second in line for the throne! If you reject their invitation, they will definitely become your enemies."
"So what? They are already my enemies."
They are likely the ones manipulating the Barclay family from behind.
The emperor or the princes fighting over succession—either way, one of them might be my true enemy.
But now, one person has caught my interest.
"Wallace, if what you say is true, the third prince has no proper backing, right?"
I've heard about the third prince from Wallace.
He has a nominal succession right but no real backing.
In other words, he has no power.
But, for that reason—
"Cleo has no proper backing. That's for sure. His mother's family has even abandoned him."
"What is he like as a person?"
"As a person? Well, he's a cute little brother. No, he's pitiful. Even I feel sorry for him, but he seems to be strong-willed."
"You don't think he's bad."
"Among the top three, Cleo is undoubtedly the best person. He's just out of the world, being so young. I think he's serious and kind. It's hard to say what he will be like in the future."
"That's enough."
—He is not a threat to me.
With no real power, it's unlikely he is the one manipulating the Barclay family.
He's a safe bet.
The emperor, the two princes—if one of them is my true enemy, joining any faction would be dangerous.
Besides, being used as a newcomer is not a good feeling.
"Very well. I will meet Prince Cleo immediately. Tell them to prepare a meeting place."
While drinking coffee in the cafeteria, I said this, and Wallace was trembling.
"What? Are you serious?"
"Of course. I'm serious. I'm serious about—supporting Prince Cleo."
I have the power to do so, and my subordinates will handle the front lines.
Moreover, the two princes who might be my enemies—will not become emperor.
I will be Cleo's backing and create an emperor who will do my bidding. It's an interesting idea.
It's a villainous action.
"I'm getting excited."
When I said this, Wallace weakly shook his head.
"You're the only one enjoying this."
I will participate in the court politics.
I won't lose, of course.
I am strong, freed from economic issues.
Two princes of the empire are nothing to me!
Besides, I have a powerful guardian.
With the guide, I am invincible!
â—‡
On a planet far from the imperial capital.
It was another interstellar nation.
There, on the rooftop of a building, the guide was overlooking the city.
"I was wrong all along."
The guide, reflecting on the past, had been gathering negative emotions on other planets, like drinking muddy water.
As a result, he reached a conclusion.
"Getting involved with Liam was a mistake. And the current Liam is not someone who can be handled with simple tricks."
After calmly analyzing Liam's strength, he concluded that dealing with him within the empire was difficult.
Should he give up?
No. Absolutely not.
The guide spread his arms wide.
"I will destroy the empire! The swordsman who will kill Liam is being trained by Anshi. I will create a situation where the empire will collapse."
It was a plan to involve other interstellar nations and stage a grand assassination of Liam.
What was needed for this?
"First, I will nurture the seeds of discord in this country—stir up the neighboring countries and let them attack the empire!"
The guide was accelerating the problems that would eventually become large issues.
Not just one country.
"All the countries bordering the empire! The empire will surely fall into chaos!"
To kill Liam, the guide decided to involve other interstellar nations in a grand scheme.
And for Liam himself—
"Liam—now I won't do anything to you. If I act now, it will benefit you. But don't forget—I am working to make you unhappy!"
The guide shouted.
"Liam, I will kill you from this place where your gratitude cannot reach!"
From a distant—very distant place, the guide directed his killing intent towards Liam.
â—‡
"Cleo! Have you heard the response from the Banfield Duke?"
Rishteia burst into the bath where Cleo was, holding a letter in her hand.
She was so flustered that she barged into the bath where Cleo was soaking.
The few servants were shocked, but as a royal, Rishteia couldn't be stopped.
In the large bath, Cleo looked at the flustered Rishteia with a sigh.
"Sister, I'm in the bath."
"This is no time to relax! Wallace brought a letter from the Banfield Duke!"
Cleo stood up, and the servants quickly covered him.
They brought a towel to dry him and a robe.
As Cleo approached Rishteia, he told the servants, "It's not necessary," and took the wet letter.
(Probably a rejection letter.)
While watching the excited Rishteia, Cleo opened the letter with a somewhat cold expression.
The content was formal.
Although he had never met the person, the letter didn't reveal much about the person's character.
However, it was brief and quickly got to the point.
It mentioned sending a large donation immediately.
The amount was unprecedented for Cleo.
"—It's quite a high amount for a severance payment."
Cleo, troubled, said this, and Rishteia's face turned red.
"Read to the end! I already heard the general content from Wallace. The Banfield Duke is going to support you with all his might."
"Huh?"
Cleo was understandably surprised.
After all, even the second in line for the throne had approached Liam.
Two powerful princes had approached a duke with no connections.
It was an unprecedented offer.
In contrast, he was just a figurehead with no power.