"Is it about the engagement of the First Princess, Your Highness?"
"Yes, it's a troublesome matter."
When I returned to my room, Fine greeted me with tea and sweets.
While nibbling on them, I let out a deep sigh.
"I haven't met her, but I've heard many stories about her. A princess general who has fought in battles across the land, achieving great military feats. Her valor has resounded even in other countries, and she is said to be the strongest in the empire."
"It's not an exaggeration. In fact, since she took charge of the eastern border five years ago, the Socal Empire has been unable to make a move. She fundamentally reformed the border defense, making it even stronger."
"She must be quite a remarkable person. What kind of person is she, personally?"
While pouring tea into the empty cup, Fine asked.
I thanked her, took a sip of tea, and thought about what kind of person my sister is.
Hmm...
"If I had to describe her in one word, 'military officer'?"
"Mi, military officer...?"
"Yes, a military officer. Not a knight, but a military officer. My sister embodies that."
"I can't quite imagine it..."
"You'll understand when you meet her. She's not like Elna, a knight. She's a military officer. The battlefield is her lover. She doesn't care about one-on-one chivalry; she just wants to win. Her mindset is thorough. When my brother, the crown prince, died, she quickly declared that she wouldn't join the imperial succession struggle. She said she would serve whoever became emperor as a marshal."
Because of this, many military officials supported Gordon.
For military officers who wanted to achieve military glory, it was better to have a royal family member who was involved in the military become emperor. The top candidate was my sister, followed by Gordon.
If my sister had joined the imperial succession struggle, Gordon would have been under her command by now.
"Military officers don't get involved in politics. They only think about protecting the country. That's what she believes and practices."
"It seems different from what I've heard... The stories I've heard were more glamorous..."
"They are glamorous. She's a tall, blonde beauty. She has a charm that draws everyone's attention just by being there. Her aura is completely different, but maybe she's a bit like you."
"Wha... Ah, thank you."
Fine blushed and looked down.
I was puzzled when Sebastian suddenly appeared.
"Fine is blushing because you called the First Princess a beauty and then said she's like Fine. It's as if you called Fine a beauty."
"But she's used to being called beautiful, right? Is it embarrassing for her?"
"Y-Yes! Of course... depending on the person..."
"Is that so? I don't understand that feeling."
While Fine was still blushing, Sebastian handed me some documents.
I had asked Sebastian to investigate the engagement candidate beforehand. My father wouldn't choose a strange candidate, but if my sister disliked the type, I might get scolded too.
However, from a quick look, there was nothing strange.
Of course not. She's the engagement candidate for my sister.
"To propose to my sister, the candidate must be someone with a strong resolve. This engagement candidate is no exception."
"That's true. She is an undefeated princess general and is said to be a living image of the Second Empress. The Emperor also favors her."
"The Second Empress, you mean Princess Krista's..."
"Half-sister. The Second Empress was a beautiful blonde. She was also gentle and kind to everyone."
"My father probably likes Fine because of that connection. Since my sister grew up with a completely different personality, Fine represents the kind of person he wanted her to be. If you were to ask which one is the daughter of the Second Empress, you'd definitely choose Fine if you didn't know anything."
"Is that so? It's a great honor."
She really seems to feel honored.
Fine smiled broadly.
Such honesty is probably a high point for my father.
"Anyway, because my sister is like that, my father is worried about finding her a suitable husband. As the eldest daughter, if Zandra were to propose to her, my sister would have no choice but to accept."
"Besides, the Emperor doesn't favor the Fifth Empress. He probably has no interest in Zandra's marriage."
"He doesn't favor her? I thought the Emperor loved all his consorts equally?"
"Sebastian's words made Fine tilt her head.
Hmm, is it right to tell Fine such things?
As I was pondering, I met Sebastian's eyes. He nodded quietly.
I see. He meant to tell her such things properly.
If Sebastian thinks so, I have no objections.
"On the surface, he acts that way. He doesn't distinguish between his children. However, a rumor haunts the Fifth Empress."
"A rumor?"
"It's said that the Fifth Empress assassinated the Second Empress."
"The Empress assassinated another Empress...?"
"Such things aren't rare in the harem. But it usually happens during significant turning points like the start of the imperial succession struggle or the birth of a child. At that time, the Crown Prince already existed, and Krista had been born. The Second Empress, who only had a princess, was favored but not in a crucial position. She wasn't someone who needed to be eliminated by assassination."
"Then why such a rumor?"
That's the key.
An Empress who shouldn't have been assassinated suddenly died.
An investigation was conducted, but the cause of death was unknown.
The Fifth Empress was the most suspicious.
"The Second Empress and the Fifth Empress were close in age and were often compared as daughters of duchess families. However, while the Second Empress was favored by my father and became an Empress, the Fifth Empress was a political marriage. Both had their first daughters, but the Second Empress gave birth first. Her daughter also had a better reputation. Zandra was also excellent from a young age, but she had personality issues. This one-sided rivalry caused tension between them."
"Is that the source of the rumor? That she assassinated out of jealousy?"
"It's unclear. The Fifth Empress has a solid alibi. When the Second Empress died, the Fifth Empress was with the Empress. Direct murder was impossible, and no evidence of foul play was found. However, the Fifth Empress is still suspected because she was Zandra's mentor."
"Zandra's mentor?"
"The magic I use is ancient magic, which is lost and no longer passed down. On the other hand, modern magic is widely known. Among these, Zandra excels in forbidden magic, which was banned by the ancestors who spread modern magic."
Forbidden magic varies in severity.
Some are banned for no apparent reason, while others are indeed dangerous.
Zandra studies such forbidden magic and lifts the ban on magic that benefits the empire.
For mages, Zandra, who lifts such bans, is a valuable presence. It increases the number of learnable magics, and even forbidden magics are usually powerful.
The Fifth Empress, Zandra's mother, was the first to engage in such activities.
"Zandra is arguing that certain banned magics should be unbanned because they are useful. In the process, she is also learning dangerous forbidden magics. Naturally, her mother, the Fifth Empress, is also involved. The rumor is that one of these forbidden magics could be used to curse and kill someone."
"Does such magic exist?"
"I don't know. I can only use ancient magic. But it might exist if you search hard enough. A curse magic that even the Emperor couldn't find. It wouldn't be surprising if it were a forbidden magic. The only ones who could find such high-level forbidden magic are the Fifth Empress and Zandra, who have collected forbidden magic books from all over the continent."
"But if such magic existed..."
"Yes, anyone could be assassinated. That's why it remains a suspicion. However, the Crown Prince also died three years ago. An investigation was conducted, but no evidence of assassination was found, just like when the Second Empress died. Since then, my father has been suspicious of the Fifth Empress. Officially, there's no evidence, so he hasn't banned Zandra's research on forbidden magic."
One reason he hasn't banned it is that Zandra's activities have been successful. Some of the unbanned magics have been adopted by the military and contributed to the development of new magical weapons.
As long as the Socal Empire, a major magic nation, is a neighbor, banning such activities could lead to talented mages defecting to the empire.
My father is in a dilemma. Personally, he probably wants to stop it immediately. But he's a great emperor because he doesn't show such emotions.
"A person who held a grudge against the Second Empress and could assassinate without leaving evidence. That's why she's suspected."
"That's right. But it's all speculation. There's no evidence. When the Crown Prince died, the Fifth Empress and Zandra were in the capital, while the Crown Prince was on the front lines. It's too far-fetched. Long-distance curse magic probably doesn't even exist in ancient magic. But it provided enough material for people to suspect."
Zandra's mother's family is in the south.
That's where Leo is heading.
The role of an inspector, who exposes corruption, suits Leo. He's serious and doesn't overlook even minor alterations.
However, the south is a region where the family that produced such a woman holds power.
I hope nothing happens.
This time, we can't openly help.
Giving us separate missions at the same time is also a way to measure our individual abilities.
"I'll have to support him from the shadows."
"That should be fine. Isn't it what you usually do?"
"True."
While talking, I smiled and enjoyed Fine's delicious sweets.
Well, various suspicious stories have come up.
By the way, when I made Mitsuba say "gohogoho," I felt sluggish the next day. Maybe it was divine punishment (laughs).