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Crevasse took Joshua to the Imperial Palace in just half a day. Cain and Icarus set out immediately when they received the Emperor’s summons and in that time had only just made their way out of the basin. They were currently in the largest city nearby, Anorad. Anorad happened to have the second-highest tax income in the Empire, after Shardi, the home of the Pontier family.
“The people here are much livelier than I thought. From their point of view, I suppose their lord paid the price for taxing them so heavily,” Icarus muttered as she looked around. On the other side of the road, a woman strolled down the street with a basket. Children weaved in and out of alleys; there were even people sitting on the streets hawking their goods. All of their faces were bright—she’d never have thought that the territory had just been conquered.
“Count Rebrecca’s territory wasn’t like this.”
“Hmm?”
“Their Lord fought tooth and nail and still lost. If you went into the streets right now, you’d see armed soldiers that weren’t there yesterday. Imperial law or not, the powerless still feel unsafe.” Cain’s face was stoic. “And Marquis Crombell turned their worries upside down. When he came, he lowered their taxes and promised to never harm them. They don’t care what their lord is like on the inside so long as he acts kind. If he tells them he’ll give up an arm and leg, he doesn’t have to change in the slightest. Horrible stuff.” His eyes gleamed. “That’s politics.”
“Sir Cain
”
“Typical politicians. This place is new; you might even say it’s safe to live in. The taxes are low as well, so there’s no shortage of willing residents. After a little while, people get used to it—and then comes the bad guy. They swoop in, make up all their losses in one go, and then leave the place like the old Rebrecca territory.”
Icarus could only stare blankly at Cain’s face. Since when did he think like this? He used to be the sort to use his fists before his brain.
Viscount Harry
 Icarus considered Cain’s family. Ten years ago, Bron de Harry, Cain’s father, rose to the aristocracy as an administrator, not a knight. In fact, he was later promoted to count, making him the only man to attain that rank through sheer administrative talent.
However, the Harry family was not a count’s house. Dozens of nobles rose and fell every year, and the Harry house was not fortunate enough to retain its position in the capital. Their estate was far from Arcadia—it was a barren land to the northwest. One had to wonder if it was a home or a punishment.
But when Icarus examined Cain now, she suspected that there was more than one reason why he was pushed away.
“Did I ruin the mood? Why does the pretty lady look so pensive?” Cain asked, wearing his usual smile again.
“Nothing, really. Well, it doesn’t matter.”
“Anyway, if you get what I’m saying, then could you postpone the announcement? The well-off people will be confused to suddenly learn that the Pontiers won.”
Icarus ducked her head. “Like I said, I didn’t think it would turn out this way. I just thought that there might be another traitor. Unlike the Rebrecca family, the vassals didn’t band together; this place hasn’t been gutted.”
“You’re right.” Cain nodded firmly. “Well, wouldn’t it be fine if master marries Princess Charles?”
Icarus scowled.
“If the new Pontier family had our master as patriarch, they’d eclipse their former prestige immediat—”
“No!” Icarus cut him off.
“I mean, we know what kind of person our master is, so we can’t be sure.”
“It can’t happen because it can’t happen.”
“But honestly, Princess Charles is a really good match for our master. Her family and
 that body. God, that body.1”
He got a disgusted look from Icarus.
“If I’m being honest, Princess Charles is not good enough for the master.”
“What now?” Cain looked dumbfounded.
“He said he wanted to be the Emperor, didn’t he?”
“So he should marry a real princess?”
“If he thinks getting married is a business. I don’t think he does, though.” Icarus ignored Cain’s confused look and quickly changed the subject. “I didn’t realize it was so late,” she noted.
“Now that I think about it
”
“Also, why did that person say they’re going to follow us?”
“Um
 Maybe
” Cain paused and smiled bitterly. “Are you sure about that woman? Maybe they miss our perfect master?”
“You’re still on about that?” Icarus clenched her fist.
“Come on, can’t you take a joke?” Cain backed away. “But they’re not even talking, so how are we supposed to tell? Besides, they have a lot of power in addition to our master’s backing, so they’re hardly normal people. There must be something else we don’t know. Ask them yourself—Look.” Cain pointed to the other side of the road.
There stood a person hidden head to toe beneath a robe. They were already walking toward Icarus and Cain.
“Shall we?”
The pair hastened away.
In the aftermath of Marquis Crombell’s arrest, the throne room was gripped by a terrible silence. Emperor Marcus sat broodingly upon his throne, and the nobles sitting at his flanks didn’t dare let out so much as a cough. The silence really was perfect.
It went on for so long that they had to stifle yawns before a servant’s voice interrupted the silence.
“Baron Sanders will now enter
”
The nobles watched intently as Joshua entered. Ash tiptoed after him, but no one was paying attention to him.
“I have returned from the long journey, Your Majesty.” Joshua saluted to the Emperor.
“Every time I see you, you surprise me. I’m more wary than interested in your confidence now.”
Wary? This proud emperor? The nobles were shocked.
“Joshua Sanders. I heard Reinhardt was doing well. Have you brought the Wilhelm Knights along?”
“They—”
“Looks like you didn’t,” Emperor Marcus interrupted. “That’s your prerogative, of course, so I won’t judge you for that.”
Joshua remained silent. In fact, he had no idea that the Emperor had issued a decree.
“I’m not going to be angry about the Wilhelm Knights entering my lands.”
“My sincere thanks.”
“At the same time, I will grant you the rank of marquis for your contributions to the Empire’s glory.”
The nobles visibly stirred with surprise. Even Duke Agnus was blown away.
“This peerage will place you right below your father, Aden. No one has ever leaped from baron all the way to marquis—until now, anyway.”
The audience was choking.
“Become my sword.”
“I am already Your Majesty’s sword,” Joshua quietly answered.
“You know that’s not what I meant. If you want, I could give you my daughter, Sersiarin.”
The nobles were beyond surprised. There was only one thing this could mean.
Great. Ash’s eyes twinkled. He’d been following the situation closely and he knew more than enough about human society to know that a marquis was a very important person. Even the Emperor wanted Joshua—he was offering him his daughter! He should agree immediately, right? Ash’s hand itched to prod Joshua, but he managed to hold the urge down and rocked back on his heels instead. He was still running on adrenaline from kicking the doors open.
Unknowingly, Ash was already shaping up to be Joshua’s most faithful servant.
“Y-Your Majesty!” Duke Zegar, renowned as the smartest person in Avalon, couldn’t contain himself anymore. “I apologize, but the Princess
 The Princess’s health is
”
“Then the deal is that much better.”
“I’m sorry?”
“You don’t need to be bound to a dying Princess. Once she signs the marriage contract, you are part of the Imperial family
 even when she’s dead. You may be a marquis, but you can compete for the throne as well. Even without my blood, you can try yourself against my sons.”
The throne room reeled as if it had been struck by a storm, leaving them fumbling to gather their senses.
“How does that sound? It’s a straight trip past Duke Agnus and the other dukes. You’re smart enough to know what this means. Become the sword of Marcus von Britten. Say yes, and all of this, and more, can be yours.” The Emperor folded his arms confidently. As far as he was concerned, Joshua could not refuse.
Joshua remained silent for what seemed like hours.
ED/N: Bonk. No horny. ↩