Chapter 32 - You?
Chapter 32 - You?
After the Emperor's unconventional declaration ended, the atmosphere in the banquet hall became so heated it was almost bizarre.
Albert, who had effectively had the family headship snatched away from him by me, had vanished like a ghost.
Where did he go? It's not like this old man is the type to go off and cry somewhere, right?
Before I could even finish that thought, I was trapped in a surging crowd of nobles.
Those who had previously seen me as just the eldest son of the Noel family were now wagging their tails as they approached me, the new Lord of Livia.
"Sir Edric! No, I suppose you are the Lord of Livia now. My sincere congratulations."
"Thank you, Marquis Rerick."
A pot-bellied Marquis, whom I only knew by name, grabbed my hand and shook it vigorously.
Once I sent that Marquis off, an older noble from another Viscount family came up and said,
"My, the future of the Noel family is bright. I'll be sending some wine, a specialty of our territory, soon. Might I ask for some advice on governing the Livia territory?"
"You are too kind, Viscount Pessler. I still have much to learn."
I replied with a fake smile.
The reason I refused Viscount Pessler's request wasn't just because his ulterior motives were obvious, but also because the wine from his territory was absolute trash.
Just then, Countess Loud cut in, fluttering her fan.
"Sir Edric, my niece just had her debutante, and she is dying to meet someone as dashing as you, Lord. How about a tea time sometime soon?"
Just as I was agonizing over how to refuse Countess Loud's awkward question, I felt a soft yet firm touch on my arm. It was Nataliya. She elegantly smiled and cut off the Countess.
"My apologies, Countess Loud. Sir Edric is planning to go on a trip with me, his fiancée, for the time being, so I'm afraid he won't have the time. Excuse us."
At Nataliya's cold voice, the Countess flinched and backed away.
Nataliya began to handle the nobles by my side, exuding the dignity befitting a Grand Duke's daughter.
"Lady Lyudmila! You must have had a hard time coming all the way from the North. You and Sir Edric make a wonderful couple."
"Thank you, Viscount. Edric has a nature that doesn't spare himself for the sake of the Empire, so as his fiancée, I am trying my best to support him by his side. I look forward to your continued support."
Nataliya was unstoppable.
She effortlessly parried the nobles' fake pleasantries, while simultaneously broadcasting a silent pressure across the entire banquet hall: 'Edric is my man, so don't try anything when I'm not around.'
Thanks to her, I could finally breathe.
As expected of my fiancée; women from the North aren't just good at fighting, they're thugs in high society too.
After that storm of introductions passed, Azelia, wearing a white dress, approached.
"Edric-nim, my sincere congratulations."
"Thank you, Azelia."
"Congratulations, Edric-nim."
"Thank you, Cale-nim."
As always, Sister Cale was with Azelia.
I hadn't realized it because she was usually hidden in plain nun's habits, but today, Sister Cale was dressed in a dress just like Azelia's.
She was wearing a form-fitting black dress, and she was a beauty with a very calm and intellectual vibe, with a figure more curvaceous than I could have imagined and wavy brown hair flowing over her shoulders.
Wow, Sister Cale was a beauty too.
Just as I was surprised by this unexpected sight, Princess Camilla approached, elegantly folding her fan.
"Congratulations on acquiring a territory, Edric. You have truly become a pillar of the Empire in both name and reality."
"It is all thanks to Your Highness, the Princess."
I bowed as low as possible and replied humbly.
Although it wasn't certain yet, it seemed likely that the Princess's influence had played a part in me receiving the territory.
It was a bit awkward to be completely at odds with my father, but since he was just my biological father, I didn't have much affection for him anyway, and the most important thing was that I got a territory!
I had become a noble with a territory, which is the equivalent of being a landlord in this other world!
I expressed my gratitude to the Princess with all my heart.
Camilla gently took my hand and gave a mysterious smile.
Squeeze-!
"Please continue to support my brother well. He really needs you."
"I... I will devote my life to serving him."
Camilla had become kind to me since that day's incident.
The problem was... she had become too kind!
She held my hand tightly with both of hers and even subtly kneaded it.
I was flustered by her actions, not knowing what to do, and the look in Nataliya's eyes standing next to me was becoming increasingly sharp.
I broke out in a cold sweat behind my back and tried hard to avoid her gaze.
What should I do? Camilla was holding my hand so tightly that it would be awkward to pull away, but if I stayed like this, I felt like I was going to be hit by Nataliya's firestorm—no, ice storm.
Just then...
"Was everyone here?"
"Your Highness, the Prince."
"Brother."
Fortunately, Prince Leopold appeared, shifting the atmosphere.
Wow, this was the first time since possessing this body that I was this happy to see the Prince.
"I... I greet Your Highness, the Prince."
"I greet Your Highness, the Prince."
"Since the representatives of God have graced this place with their presence, the radiance of this place seems even more dazzling today. Thank you for coming."
Azelia and Cale also greeted the Prince with proper etiquette.
But... is the Prince okay?
Surely he isn't going to go crazy the moment he sees the Saintess, right?
Contrary to my worries, Leopold tapped my shoulder and laughed.
"Edric, congratulations on receiving the medal. How is your body?"
"Thanks to the Saintess's blessing, I have almost fully recovered, Your Highness."
"Is that so?"
At my words, the Prince looked at Saintess Azelia.
Azelia seemed slightly startled by the Prince's gaze and stepped back.
I watched with extreme tension, worried that the Prince might show interest in Azelia, and the Prince approached Azelia and... spoke politely.
"Saintess, thank you so much for healing our Edric. Edric is not just an aide to me, but a precious friend. Thank you very much."
"Ah! Not at all, Your Highness. I only did what I was supposed to do."
Azelia replied with a benevolent smile befitting a Saintess.
The Prince smiled as if satisfied and said.
"Then everyone, enjoy the banquet. Ah, Edric. You, come see me for a moment. I have something to ask you."
He has something to ask me!?
I went back into a state of extreme tension.
What is it!? Is the original route being unlocked again like this?
I nervously followed the Prince to a corner.
But the words the Prince quietly uttered were beyond imagination.
"Edric...... who is that beautiful person over there?"
"Do you mean the Saintess?"
"No, not the Saintess. The person in the black dress next to her."
"...Pardon?"
I was shocked to see the Prince's fingertip pointing at Sister Cale.
No, her!?
Was the Prince's type a nun?
"She is the first person I've seen with such responsible and beautiful eyes since my late mother. What is her name?"
"Uh... that is Sister Cale, a long-time acquaintance of the Saintess."
"Cale... a good name. Thank you, Edric."
The Prince went back, looking satisfied as he repeated the name.
I stood there blankly, not knowing whether to be relieved that it was a good thing, or to panic because it was the prelude to a new slaughterhouse.
At that time, Court Count Albert was summoned to Emperor Theodore's private study.
Albert carefully knocked on the door and entered the study.
"Did you call for me, Your Majesty?"
"Yes, you've come, Albert."
The Emperor was sitting in a chair in the study.
He looked up at the ceiling with a glass of wine, as if recalling old memories.
"Albert, do you remember? The terrible civil war I fought with my half-brother because my father passed away without properly settling the succession. If you hadn't led the army and come then, I wouldn't be in this position now."
The great war that began 30 years ago with the sudden death of the former Emperor was a time that felt like a nightmare in the Emperor's memory.
The Empire was divided, and he had waged a bloody civil war with his half-brother to survive.
And it was Albert who had led the army in the final battle and played a decisive role.
Recalling those memories, Albert replied with a faint smile.
"Your Majesty, I merely did what I had to do as a subject."
"Still, I am grateful. Because of you back then, I am here now."
"You are too kind, Your Majesty."
Albert felt relieved at the Emperor's words.
Yes, there must have been some misunderstanding in the case of the territory incident.
His Majesty hasn't abandoned me.
The moment he thought that, his expression stiffened at the Emperor's next words.
"We are both quite old now. It seems the time has come to step down."
"... Pardon?"
"I intend to officially appoint Leopold as Crown Prince and prepare to transfer government affairs. You also have such a grown and excellent son, so why don't you pass on the family headship and rest comfortably now?"
The Emperor's suggestion was gentle, but the meaning behind it was clear.
'Pass the family headship to your son and step down.'
It was a request in name only; this was an order that could not be refused.
Albert bit his lip and replied.
"I will... follow Your Majesty's will."
Having no choice but to answer the Emperor's words, Albert tried to leave the study.
As Albert was leaving the study, the Emperor added one last word.
"There is a document on the table. It's an eyesore, so please throw it away for me."
"... Understood, Your Majesty."
Albert picked up the document and froze.
It was a document detailing his corruption.
The Emperor, considering their past ties, had opened an escape route—retirement from politics and succession of the family headship—instead of holding him accountable for his crimes.
Anger and awe crossed Albert's eyes as he walked down the hallway.
It must have been his own child, Edric, who had set up this entire board.
'To get engaged to the Grand Duke's daughter without my permission, make allies in the North, and be recognized as the family head by the Imperial family through acting to save the Princess... That snake-like bastard, he's quite something.'
While acknowledging his son's political acumen, Albert had no intention of stepping down quietly.
"Old people tend to have strong patience. Edric, watch how I survive on this stage you've created."
Albert clutched the document, vowing a true war with his son.
There was a saying that power is not even shared with one's children.
The true power struggle surrounding the Noel family was just about to begin.