“Damn it, damn it! How did things co to this?”
The Emperor, who hadn’t slept a wink all night, paced restlessly in his temporary quarters.
He should’ve sensed sothing was wrong when a fire broke out near the banquet hall.
Werner Chartra, who was supposed to show up, didn’t, and the report that it wasn’t just a fire but arson was the final straw.
And yet, they had the audacity to spread lies that he was attacked by the Imperial Guard.
“Your Majesty, the reconnaissance of the Imperial Capital is complete.”
“Co in and report.”
A bearded Imperial Guard officer entered, bowing in salute.
The Emperor, with no patience left, snapped at him.
“Just tell what’s going on.”
“The palace and Bureaucrats’ Street have been seized by Chartra’s private soldiers. Most officials seem to have returned to work under Chancellor Hendrick’s orders.”
“Wait, my uncle’s back? Isn’t he supposed to be locked up in so northern corner?”
“We sent a ssenger to confirm, but given the circumstances, it seems true that Chancellor Hendrick has returned.”
“Should’ve just killed him.”
The Emperor muttered, gnawing at his nails.
The officer pretended not to hear and continued his report.
“After reading the paper about Werner Chartra’s attack, the people don’t seem to be showing much resistance.”
“Traitors. When I return to my palace, I’ll track them down one by one and make them pay.”
“It’s unclear if the Fourth Duke was actually attacked, but he’s currently in a hospital. There’s been no separate statent from the Fourth Duke since Chancellor Hendrick’s appearance.”
“Is that all?”
At the Emperor’s irritable question, the officer quietly nodded.
“Those traitors! Rebellious bastards! Ungrateful beasts! Is this how they repay my kindness?”
Watching the Emperor rage, the officer barely suppressed a disloyal urge to ask what kindness he’d shown.
After throwing things around the room for a while, the Emperor sat down, breathing heavily, looking forlorn with his hunched back.
“What’s the situation outside the capital?”
“For now, most of the Imperial Army units the Fourth Duke brought haven’t reacted. It seems information hasn’t been shared.”
“What about the other Dukes?”
“There’s been no notable movent since the Fourth Duke entered the capital.”
“They should be busy tearing each other apart—why are they so quiet?”
The officer’s silence answered that he didn’t know.
The Emperor, not really expecting a response, sank deep into thought.
“May I offer my opinion, Your Majesty?”
“…Do as you please.”
“I believe now, while the Imperial Army hasn’t decided, is the best ti to counterattack.”
“You an storm the palace?”
“Roughly speaking, yes. Most of the Imperial Guard’s forces are still with Your Majesty. We must strike before the enemy fully secures military control.”
The Emperor closed his mouth and rolled his eyes at the officer’s proposal.
Then, as if sothing struck him, he shot up.
“Yes, military control! If I just order them to obey the Emperor, it’s over, isn’t it? The Chancellor has no authority over the military!”
The Emperor shouted excitedly, but the officer didn’t respond.
His expression was different from earlier, when he stayed silent out of ignorance.
The Emperor grabbed the officer’s collar, eyes flashing.
“Don’t you dare hide a speck from . Unless you want to be torn apart for treason.”
“…Chancellor Hendrick has put forward a new Emperor.”
“What? Who else but could inherit the throne?”
The Emperor’s scowl turned to wide-eyed realization.
“My father’s illegitimate child is alive? I heard he died during the prison break.”
“We haven’t confird if it’s true, but it seems they’ve put forward an illegitimate child of the late Emperor.”
“So what? The military is still in my hands!”
“…It depends on who the military recognizes as Emperor.”
Except for the units that quickly sided with Chartra, the rest of the Imperial Army was watching the situation.
They were gauging which side to join.
Picking the wrong side ant becoming a traitor, so they’d ignore orders until a clear winner erged.
“Then we must retake the palace with the Imperial Guard now. Chartra’s forces haven’t fully secured the capital yet.”
The officer pleaded earnestly, but the Emperor was preoccupied with sothing else.
‘Valheit, you told he was dead, but you hid him away? When? Where?’
If even Valheit had betrayed him, he had no allies left in the Empire.
Rage subsided, replaced by fear.
“No, I’m going to the Vestol embassy.”
The officer, about to argue, realized persuasion was futile and nodded reluctantly.
‘Valheit, since when… no, why did you betray ?’
* * *
The palace greeted the morning as usual.
Butlers and servants bustled about, cleaning or preparing als.
Palace office officials trudged in, looking exhausted as always, heading to their desks.
The only noticeable difference was that the Imperial Army, not the Imperial Guard, was standing watch.
“Good morning, everyone.”
I greeted cheerfully, and a guarding soldier flinched.
After a mont’s hesitation, he awkwardly bowed.
“Does anything happen overnight?”
“Uh… no, sir. But who are you…?”
“Count Valheit. His Majesty is waiting in the reception room.”
“Yes, yes. I’ll go right away.”
Leaving the dazed, saluting soldier behind, I headed to the reception room.
The staff didn’t look much different from my last visit. There seed to be no major resistance.
I’d received reports that Bureaucrats’ Street was similarly uneventful.
Even with the Emperor ousted, I’d expected so pushback, but it was surprisingly calm.
‘The capital’s secure, at least.’
With the extra edition about Werner’s attack, the people weren’t sympathizing with the Emperor either.
The first critical step of the coup had succeeded quite well.
‘The problem now is outside the capital.’
The Dukes and noble society were an issue, but the most urgent problem was the Imperial Army Werner brought.
With Werner, who held absolute influence over the military, bedridden, their reaction was uncertain.
So units had sided with Chartra, but most were still observing.
It wasn’t cowardice.
Choosing a side was a life-or-death matter. But letting this state linger wasn’t good.
As the reception room door opened, Blaiher, dressed in the Emperor’s garb, ca into view.
He looked a bit uncomfortable, but it suited him.
“Valheit, I greet His Majesty the Emperor.”
“…Uh, welco?”
Blaiher, receiving the awkward greeting, shook his head and reverted to his usual tone.
“Let’s just talk normally. That’s why I cleared the room.”
“If you say so. Is the throne comfortable?”
“No. It’s insanely uncomfortable.”
Blaiher grumbled lightly.
It was natural to feel burdened, suddenly thrust into leading a vast nation.
But if he showed even half the ability described in the original story, he’d be called a great ruler.
“Good that you’re not too excited. There’s still much to resolve.”
“You said I need to go through the Council of Dukes to officially beco Emperor.”
“For now, the Dukes won’t be an issue. Most of them despise the current Emperor. The imdiate problem is the military.”
“The best person to control the military, we sent to a hospital bed ourselves.”
A sharp point. Indeed, Werner could’ve resolved it easily.
The problem was that Werner was laid up.
“Joseph-san and Chancellor Hendrick are reaching out, but most units still haven’t chosen a side.”
“I understand. But this can’t go on.”
“But Lord Werner…”
“There’s a simpler solution. If two Emperors are the problem, reduce it to one.”
Blaiher’s face stiffened as he grasped my aning, then returned to his usual earnest expression.
“Don’t touch the Imperial Guard. They were just doing their job.”
A surprisingly calm response.
Since two Emperors couldn’t coexist, eliminating one was a given, it seed.
His concern for the Imperial Guard showed he was protecting his people. He’d beco a politician faster than expected.
“That’s not why I ca, is it?”
“No. I know you’re not used to the role yet, but I have a request.”
“Calling in a debt this soon?”
He said it jokingly, but it was true.
Checking the Status Window yesterday, we were already past chapter 26.
I didn’t know what Noah’s group was doing, but my death was approaching faster than I thought.
My death probability had dropped, but it was still a not-insignificant 62%.
Since it decreased this much with Blaiher as Emperor, I needed to act faster.
“I need you to diate a diplomatic dispute.”
“The Empire’s internal situation isn’t even settled, and you want to deal with external issues?”
“It involves Vestol.”
“Then there’s even less reason to rush. You’ve seen how much Vestol is hated.”
“That’s why I’m asking. Vestol’s in a position to bow its head.”
“That changes things. Tell more…”
Ding~
A soft bell interrupted Blaiher.
It was the signal for soone entering the reception room, wasn’t it?
“What’s the matter?”
“The Imperial Guard has an urgent ssage.”
After a brief glance, Blaiher raised his voice.
“Let them in.”
The door opened, and a man in an Imperial Guard uniform entered.
Wait. Sothing about his aura felt familiar.
“Helmut Chartra, third-rank Imperial Guard officer.”
No wonder he seed familiar.
As I watched with interest, Helmut grimaced.
He didn’t seem pleased with my presence.
“I’m here to discuss an urgent matter regarding His Majesty.”
“I’m listening.”
After a mont’s hesitation, Helmut sighed heavily and spoke as if resigned.
“His Majesty has been detained at the Vestol embassy.”
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