The Weight of a Choice

A report arrived a few weeks later.

"Should I consider that a relief?"

A bitter smile tugged at my lips at my own self-deprecating words. When did I start thinking so arrogantly? Was it the moment I became the Grand Duke? I knew, intellectually, the consequences that a single choice of mine could bring. I knew that every single action I took would affect countless lives. If I made the Empire wealthy and powerful, its people would prosper. But if I made the wrong choice or ruled tyrannically, they would gradually wither away. I knew this all too well.

It left a bitter taste in my mouth. Even now, my belief that this was the best choice remained unchanged. The longer the war dragged on, the harder it would be for everyone. Yet, despite that logical conviction, I couldn't shake the heavy weight in my chest. I was only human, after all. The crushing responsibility of knowing that my decisions would cause someone else harm weighed heavily on my soul.

"Sigh..."

Sighing, I set aside the report from Karl and picked up the next document.

"They certainly sold a lot."

I murmured, reading the transaction report from the Pieta Guild.

"The Grand Duchy's bonds are trading at a higher price than expected."

Perhaps it was because we had sold so many options, but an absurd, almost unbelievable amount of capital had accumulated. Knowing that I wouldn't have to pay back any of this money gave me a small burst of energy. Even after investing in the chemical fertilizer project, there was still a massive surplus. Once the war ended and all the profits were transferred to the national treasury, we would secure enough gold to not have to worry about finances for a long time.

But it was too early to celebrate. I wasn't entirely pleased that the Grand Duchy's bonds were trading higher than expected, but once news of the fallen fortresses spread, the prices would surely plummet. When that happened, I would dump all our accumulated funds into buying Grand Duchy call options.

With that plan in mind, I began writing a letter to Karl.

Scratch, scratch...

Knock, knock!

"Your Grace."

Hearing Lucius's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠voice from outside, I replied, "Come in."

Lucius walked in, his face completely hidden behind a towering stack of documents cradled in his arms—a sight I had grown thoroughly accustomed to.

"Here are the reports you requested, along with the proposals requiring your approval by next week, Your Grace."

And then...

Thud!

Lucius set them down on my desk with a heavy, echoing thud, clearly exhausted by their weight.

"Good work. You can head home early today."

At my words, his eyes widened in disbelief, as if doubting his own ears. "Pardon? Today, Your Grace?"

I nodded.

"Ah! Thank you so much!"

Fearing I might change my mind, he bolted out of the office without even a proper bow. Watching his retreating figure, a wave of envy washed over me. I envied him. I truly did.

Responsibility and duty. One could say these are the very reasons for the existence of nobles and royalty. The responsibility to lead others, and the duty to protect them. Only by faithfully fulfilling these obligations can one be called a true noble. With great power comes equal responsibility. Even a baron, the lowest rank among the nobility, is responsible for the lives of hundreds of households. How much more so, then, to govern an entire empire? It was a position responsible for every single imperial citizen.

Right now, the weight of the Empire rested squarely on my shoulders. And a chaotic Empire at that. On the surface, it appeared glorious and stable, but in reality, the high nobility were biding their time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Meanwhile, the cultists seeking to resurrect the Demon King were lurking in the shadows of this very Empire, plotting their insidious schemes. Thus, I could not afford to rest. No, even finding peace of mind was a luxury I could not afford. So...

"I really envy him," I murmured to the empty room.

"Aaargh! How am I supposed to memorize all of this?!"

Joy wailed, ruffling her lovely hair into a messy nest.

I replied firmly, "If you are to be the Empress or the Crown Princess, this is absolute basic knowledge."

At my words, Joy covered her eyes with her hands, pretending to sob as she groaned. "B-but I don't even want to be the Empress! Sister, I'm sorry, I was wrong..."

Flick!

I flicked Joy's forehead as she put on her theatrical display.

"Stop whining. I had to go through all of this myself."

Defeated, Joy slumped onto the desk. "Waaah... Sister, you're so mean. You weren't like this before. You've changed..."

A gentle smile played on my lips at her dramatic complaint.

"Fufu... You can't stay a child forever, Joy. You are the sister of the Empress. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠If anything were to happen to me, you might have to inherit the throne next, you know?"

Watching Joy flinch as she lay face-down on the desk, I leaned over and kissed my adorable little sister on the crown of her head.

Smooch!

"Joy, my sweet sister. You have no idea how much I struggled when I ascended the throne without any preparation. If anything ever happens to me... you must lead our family and shoulder this sacred duty."

At my words, she slowly lifted her head, her eyes meeting mine. Gazing into those clear, pure, and lovely red eyes—so different from my own weary ones—I spoke softly.

"So, let us both endure and work just a little harder."

"Mmm... Sister..."

Joy's expression softened, and she looked up with a bright, beaming smile. "Geez! For a second, I actually thought you were just annoyed that I was slacking off in the Imperial Palace, so you were trying to dump me in the Grand Duke's Office out of spite! Sister... I totally misunderstood you."

Flinch.

As I visibly flinched at her words, Joy's eyes narrowed, flashing with sudden sharpness.

"Aha! Look at that! You are making me study just to exploit me! Sister, you are absolutely terrible!"

Watching Joy bury her face back into the desk and resume her fake crying, I let out a long sigh.

"Haaah..."

As I sighed, Joy looked up, her curiosity piqued. "By the way, Sister, is something bothering Brother-in-law lately?"

I hesitated before answering, "I'm not entirely sure..."

Deviang had been in a low mood recently. These days, he would occasionally daze off even while working.

"Hmm... Maybe it's because the war isn't going well?"

I shook my head. "That shouldn't be it. That battle was originally supposed to..."

I abruptly cut myself off, realizing I had almost leaked highly classified information to my loose-lipped sister.

"Originally what? Tell me, I'm dying to know!"

Looking at Joy, whose eyes were practically sparkling with curiosity, I let out another weary sigh.

"Sigh, never mind that. Just focus on memorizing this. If you don't score at least an eighty on the test later, I'm telling Mother."

Joy shivered in genuine terror. "S-Sister? Anything but that! Mother literally just made a new 'rod of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠love' the other day!"

The rod of love. A switch filled with memories. I recalled how, whenever I got caught playing mischievous pranks in the Imperial Palace as a child, Mother would whip my calves. She stopped as we grew older, but she would still reach for the switch whenever we made a truly grave mistake.

Thinking back, I really had been quite the troublemaker in my youth. Once, wanting to be beautiful like Mother, I had slathered her cosmetics all over my face, earning myself a harsh scolding. I later found out those cosmetics were worth more than their weight in gold, and Mother only used them on the most special occasions.

A soft chuckle escaped my lips. "The rod of love... What a nostalgic phrase."

Joy shook her head vigorously. "Sure, it's nostalgic for you since you're the Empress! But for me, just hearing those words gives me goosebumps! Do you have any idea how much Mother has been gunning for me lately?"

Seeing Joy shake her head as if trying to banish the very thought, a warm smile spread across my face.

"Alright, alright. I get it. Just score above an eighty, and I'll tell Mother you did wonderfully."

At my reassurance, Joy slumped back down and sullenly began scanning the papers on the desk.

Come to think of it... it was almost time for Deviang's incognito inspection. He always slipped out of the Imperial Palace whenever the night market opened.

Should I ask him to go together this time?

It was late afternoon, and the day's work was mostly wrapped up.

Knock, knock.

"Come in."

The door swung open gently, and Theodora stepped inside. "You are going on your incognito inspection today, correct?"

I nodded. "Yes. Ah... now that I think about it, we did agree to go together, didn't we?"

I actually wanted to be alone today...

I kept the thought to myself, keeping my expression neutral. Theodora smiled and nodded. "Yes. I will go ahead and inform the imperial guards."

As she turned to leave the room, I called out to her. "Theodora, wait."

She paused, turning back to look at me with a questioning gaze. "Is something wrong?"

"If we bring the guards, it won't be much of an incognito trip, will it?"

Theodora looked thoroughly confused. "But they will be dressed in plain clothes?"

I shook my head. "I have never brought guards with me on my inspections."

In truth, even if they wore civilian clothes, having such a large group of trained soldiers hovering nearby would inevitably draw suspicion and feel unnatural.

Theodora looked visibly shocked. "B-but what about your safety?"

In response to her concern, I pulled a ring out of my desk drawer. "Wear this, and we'll be fine."

Very few commoners had ever seen me up close, so I wasn't too worried about myself. But Theodora had been a famous figure in Roman since her childhood; someone was bound ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to recognize her. That was why I had prepared this ring.

"This ring will change your hair color. No one will be able to recognize you."

I handed her the ring. Intrigued, she slipped it onto her finger.

With a soft, brilliant flash of light, her beautiful grey hair transformed into a deep, glossy black. Her appearance shifted from that of a cold, breathtakingly regal beauty to a serene, slightly sharp, and elegant lady.

"It suits you well."

At my compliment, she touched her hair, a soft smile gracing her lips. "Really?"

Perhaps it was the unfamiliar black hair, but her calm, refined aura made my heart skip a beat for a brief moment.

"Ahem... Well, we should get ready to head out. Let's go to our room."