The Emperor Who Was Chapter 37 : Chapter 37

Chapter . 37

“You are right. We must wait for Prince Leontes to bring good news.”

“Of course. Since he even found a holy relic, there is no way he cannot find the dragon egg, which the country needs even more.”

“That is… I heard that since His Majesty the Emperor said there is no dragon egg, the Prince feels burdened to speak of a revelation regarding it…….”

“He is truly a filial person. However, wouldn’t His Majesty the Emperor also be pleased if he learned even now that the dragon egg was actually safe?”

“Of course. He would surely grant a great reward.”

With three factions joining forces to spread such rumors, and as they grew rampant not only in the court but also among the common people, the Emperor’s faction had no other choice.

The Royal Chamberlain, who had staged the scene of the direct imperial family mbers gathering without

during my audience, approached as if nothing had happened.

I welcod him gladly and enjoyed a pleasant chat.

Until the Chamberlain saw an opportunity and brought up the subject.

“So the dragon egg―”

“How can you, who serve the Father Emperor closest, ntion what the Father Emperor said does not exist? As a loyal subject of the Father Emperor who is mourning the death of Ilaves, shouldn’t you be prudent?”

Whenever he brought up that topic, I admonished him as a Prince should.

Eventually, Chancellor Cuaron stepped forward.

This Chancellor usually did not show himself unless it was an official event, claiming he was old and unwell. So when he happened to appear, people gathered like clouds, wanting to show off their acquaintance with him.

‘The politician who first established and succeeded with a mysticism strategy in the court.’

He hadn’t even co to my audience. Saying he was too busy to care about every common scandal of the Imperial Family.

I told the people he sent the sa thing.

“Chancellor Cuaron is spending busy days as a talented person of the country. Would such a person step forward for such a common matter? I am concerned that you might be misunderstanding his will.”

In a court where gossip and conversational skills were the standard of intellect, people duelled with rhetoric as well as swords. If the opponent said sothing about

and I didn’t retort, it would beco like I was a living witness to the opponent’s words.

Since I kept repeating the sa words, he had no choice but to step forward personally.

With white hair and a long white beard, and a round belly giving him a benevolent impression, the Chancellor smiled at

like a grandfather.

“Hoho, Prince Leontes, your reputation is very high these days, hoho.”

“You flatter , Chancellor Cuaron.”

I also laughed, hoho.

“How proud Her Majesty the late Empress would be. You have suffered much during that ti. Tears even well up in this old man’s eyes.”

He is a man who stood by and watched Rhiannon abuse

when I was young. Whether that accomplice ntioned my dead mother or living father, I just laughed, hoho.

Until the Chancellor’s laughter stopped.

“…So, for His Majesty the Emperor to ntion that matter again now… it doesn’t look good. If the Prince speaks first at a ti like this, who would not acknowledge your high filial piety toward His Majesty the Emperor?”

“Since my filial piety is already extre, I cannot utter a single word that contradicts the Father Emperor’s words. My late Mother Empress is my witness.”

“…However, as I ntioned earlier, if you show the Prince’s ability while doing such a thing, His Majesty the Emperor’s affection for such a reliable son…….”

The Chancellor said various things after that as well. I drank the tea the Chancellor poured, ate the refreshnts served with it, and just nodded my head like a doll. When I was Emperor, I felt great sha whenever I acted as an ornantal doll, but if used well, there was no way of life more comfortable than that.

“…Then I will consider the matter discussed, Prince.”

“Since it is the Chancellor’s story, if the Chancellor says it is discussed, then it must be so. The Chancellor’s stories are much more interesting than the stories of bards. I would like to hear them again next ti.”

Whether the Chancellor lost his smile, smiled again, or his face stiffened again, or he smiled again, I found myself smiling easily alone.

“…Recently, I heard the Second Prince feels burdened and cannot speak well for the sake of the country, so I arranged this eting to specially ask if you are alright… but seeing you in person, you do not seem to feel that burdened.”

“Wouldn’t this all be thanks to the Chancellor’s virtue? Even the burden in my heart disappeared completely upon eting the Chancellor, and I have co to believe without a doubt that everything will flow according to the Father Emperor’s will. Since I only need to follow the Father Emperor’s orders in the future, how could there be any burden?”

Only then did Chancellor Cuaron throw off the mask of acting like my grandfather without knowing his place.

“His Majesty the Emperor of Armatia does not go back on his words.”

Finally getting to the conclusion.

“Go back on his words, you say; who dared to say such a thing?”

I was surprised, and then angry.

“Wouldn’t the person who dares to utter such words be the traitor?”

“…That…….”

“Chancellor, His Majesty the Emperor of this country must not be pushed by the coercion of a fierce group to go back on his words.”

“That is exactly what I have been trying to tell you until now, but…….”

“Is that so? I was dull and failed to notice.”

As I said that and looked at the Chancellor, the Chancellor also looked back and laughed hoho again.

“Hoho, I have committed a great rudeness by not recognizing the Prince… What do you desire?”

Saying that, he brought up the topic first.

“I heard you even went to Duke Grimiati’s mansion recently but couldn’t find a single mage to your liking. Indeed, it is ti for the Second Prince to also lead at least one mage.”

As expected, he knew everything. However, unlike the Duke’s mage, one cannot choose or refuse the Emperor’s mage. Even if they are a double agent.

If it were my teacher, I wouldn’t care if she were a double agent, but the problem was that even if my teacher really existed, there was a fear she would be sent as a double agent because of . My teacher was an existence difficult to find, differently from Michelon.

“The mage was proposed by the Duke first, not , but I refused because I could not trust him. Actually, what I desire is sothing else.”

When I explained what I desired, Chancellor Cuaron was surprised to hear my words.

“It is truly a very unexpected request. It is sudden, but there is no imdiate practical benefit for the Prince, is there? Unlike a mage.”

With eyes flashing with suspicion.

“It must be unexpected for the Chancellor.”

I nodded.

“How could soone who hasn’t experienced it know the heart of a child who was born but never received his father’s recognition once?”

“…….”

The Chancellor poured more tea silently. I wish he had poured alcohol like that.

“…It also took

a long ti to receive His Majesty the Emperor’s recognition. Of course, my father is not His Majesty the Emperor, but hoho…….”

“That matter must be conducted properly. Before the throne in the audience chamber, in front of everyone, with the treasured sword Juratio, with a traditional ceremony lacking nothing.”

“Would there be any question about it?”

My past was a useful motive. For everything that could incur suspicion.

“In that case, the Second Prince must also establish rit to receive such a ceremony.”

“Naturally.”

Only then did I reveal my thoughts.

“You an for the other three to petition His Majesty the Emperor together?”

“His Majesty the Emperor does not need to say whether there is a dragon egg or not. If those three stubbornly insist on finding the dragon egg, he just needs to say he allows it seeing their passion.”

“Indeed! However, if the Second Prince receives a revelation accordingly, couldn’t a result opposite to His Majesty the Emperor’s words eventually co out?”

“At that ti, I just need to show my loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor.”

Using my brothers to get an Imperial Order to release Michelon, but to convey absolutely no information about Michelon to them, I just need to use the Emperor. Pressuring the Emperor with my brothers, and pressuring my brothers with the Emperor; the balance fits perfectly.

When I explained such a plan, a smile blood on the Chancellor’s face.

“As expected… The Second Prince is indeed the son who most resembles His Majesty the Emperor!”

Here, if I avoid the flattery that isn’t even true because it’s disgusting, I lose. A politician survives only by having a strong stomach.

“I wish more people thought like the Chancellor.”

“It will gradually beco so, hohoho!”

The Chancellor was also good at understanding the instruction to spread rumors instead of just thinking so alone.

***

“Since the people who started this matter show this much sincerity, His Majesty the Emperor will also give his word.”

Chancellor Cuaron also worked well.

Thus, Maximilian, Alexander, and Desmond, these three ca to petition the Father Emperor.

“It is Prince Maximilian and the Dragon Egg Knights!”

Maximilian appeared wearing golden armor and fluttering a red cape. With knights following behind showing off the badges most popular in the court recently.

Since noble ladies and nobles wore pearls following that popular badge and dressed in clothes of the sa color, it looked as if the First Prince’s faction had suddenly increased.

“It is Marquess Alexander Steiner and his knights.”

In contrast, Alexander’s knights appeared wearing only armor without surcoats embroidered with crests, as if they didn’t need such toys, and in contrast to the Dragon Egg Knights, they looked even more nacing. Finally, Desmond’s Lauderdale knights tried to follow both sides and felt neither here nor there, but anyway, they clearly showed off the Lauderdale wealth.

“On the other hand, Prince Leontes has brought only one knight yet. But that makes him look even more aloof.”

“That is correct. An unapproachable atmosphere is felt.”

Although flattery continued that I couldn’t understand at all regarding why the story went that way, my knight beca discouraged.

“Prince, I apologize for coming wearing old armor.”

“It is fine.”

Originally, while preparing my new outfit, I tried to buy new clothes for Nanette and bestow new armor on Sir Rolf.

-I wondered if I had to live wearing only apprentice mage clothes and mage robes for the rest of my life. I love it so much, thank you, Prince!

Nanette accepted it happily, but Sir Rolf refused adamantly, saying he couldn’t receive such a large reward when he hadn’t served

for long yet.

-Armor is originally expensive, and this armor is also good. I also have attachnt to it since I prepared it by saving money earned from jousting tournant prizes.

However, seeing armor flashing like mirrors here, he felt intimidated. Because he wasn’t standing at the very back among Desmond’s knights like before, but standing alone next to .

“You are a knight who cherishes armor prepared personally, and I am a Prince who cherishes such a knight.”

At those words, tears welled up in Sir Rolf’s eyes, so I hurriedly added.

“Smile confidently at my brothers’ knights.”

Then Sir Rolf nodded greatly and began to glare at the other knights with fire in his eyes. Is he listening to

or not…….

In any case, as the three factions gathered and showed off their military power, mories of when they fought each other before my regression ca to mind. A magnificent view I would have no regrets dying for.

“Prince Leontes.”

Alexander, who discovered us first as we arrived late, approached. He dressed his knights like robber knights hiding in bushes, but he wrapped his broad shoulders with velvet and lace like a noble lady. Spouting nonsense about having weak skin because he grew up delicately, but in fact, it was a show-off that among us, he alone didn’t need to wear armor.

“Today, I trust only the Prince. Our four brothers must unite just this once, at least this once.”

Knowing that the Chancellor had invited , he was concerned that I might join hands with the Emperor’s faction.

“You should believe in God; why do you believe in people? It is disrespectful.”