Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Valerian's Villainess #2
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A letter arrived.
It said they had accepted the proposal.
Honestly, I had my doubts, but I never expected such ready agreement.
Is this the power of childhood friendship?
Sure enough, the world runs on blood ties, school ties, and connections.
"This should make things much better."
Lily, who had been attending me, spoke up.
She was right.
Just removing the Prime Minister and those other big shots had created a massive vacuum.
Elisabeth could more than fill their shoes.
And with her help, I could accelerate the purges I'd been putting off.
The list was already prepared.
Even by the standards of this rotten empire, these were extreme cases.
Not even minor bribe-takers made the cut.
"To think there are so many scum poisoning the empire."
Lily muttered indignantly.
Even though I'm one of those scum myself.
She wouldn't stab me in the back while fixing my hair, would she?
Of course not.
I'd once asked her jokingly as a test.
She immediately lost the light in her eyes and said,
"The moment Your Majesty suspects me, I have no reason to live anymore."
Then she tried to slit her own throat.
Lucky I stopped her with my hand.
"...? Is there something on my face?"
"No. Nothing."
"Understood. Then please stay still. I can't see your ears properly."
"Alright."
Ever since that time Lily gave me a lap pillow.
She must have liked it too.
She's done it a few more times since, and today she said she'd clean my ears for some reason.
So I obediently rested my head on her lap.
Scritch, scratch.
I let the ticklish sensation in my ear drain the tension from my body.
"Is it feeling good?"
It felt great.
Great enough that I wanted to ditch being emperor and live like this forever.
Part of me wanted to hand the throne to Theodor right now.
However.
"Lily."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"What do you think of Theodor?"
"...In what sense?"
"As an emperor."
"To me, the only emperor is Your Majesty."
"Just tell me."
"...Very well. I believe he is still quite immature in many ways. He has the talent, but lacks experience, and his perspective is somewhat narrow, so he needs to work on that."
Just as Lily said.
Too early to hand over the throne.
Theodor is a growth-type protagonist in the original story, developing through events.
So I'm planning to pass it when he graduates.
It's not like I'm overflowing with a sense of responsibility here.
Still, it feels right to hand it over once he's ready to handle it.
And ideally, clean up as much of my karma as possible before then.
The problem is, my karma is filthy abundant.
"Sigh."
"Oh dear. It's been a while since Your Majesty looked so down. It's alright. Your Lily is here. May I pet you?"
"Go ahead..."
Being emperor.
I want to quit.
Even after recharging with lap pillows and head pats from my silver-haired assassin maid beauty, a week later.
Elisabeth arrived at the imperial palace.
"Heh heh."
Not a trace of the venomous face she'd shown me.
Just a refined, elegant young lady exuding subtle allure and mysterious charm.
I know what's behind the mask, so I'm not fooled, but it was an astonishing performance.
As the gazes of everyone gathered in the audience chamber poured onto her.
Elisabeth maintained her fresh smile.
I opened my mouth from the throne.
"Without the Prime Minister and others to manage palace affairs, things have been chaotic for days."
(Though I was the one who killed them.)
Who would dare point that out to me?
"Elisabeth von Valerian, step forward."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Elisabeth stepped forward gracefully.
The hem of her ornate dress brushed the floor.
Even before the emperor, her poise proclaimed her the star of the show.
She elegantly gathered her skirt and curtsied perfectly.
Impeccable, drawing gasps even from officials who glared at her.
Elisabeth straightened, head held high, staring straight at me.
"Elisabeth von Valerian."
"Command me."
I drew out the imperial seal.
"From this day, I appoint you as my plenipotentiary representative. All laws and administration of Aquitaine, even imperial ceremonies. Your judgment is my decree."
"I shall serve."
Thud.
My seal stamped the pre-prepared documents.
Astoundment.
No other word fit such a shocking appointment.
"Your Majesty...!"
"Please reconsider!"
Opposition erupted immediately.
Palace Chamberlain, Prime Minister, Minister of Justice.
An unprecedented position in history.
Literally, a role above all but the emperor.
Handing the empire's full authority to a girl barely past twenty.
The expected backlash.
"This is a temporary post, so mind your own business. Dismissed for today. Go do your jobs."
Of course, I ignored them.
Why should I listen?
"But...!"
Some refused to budge even after dismissal.
"Your Majesty, this is too much. Even for a Valerian lady...!"
"Hey."
"This has no precedent in imperial history... Eh? Y-Yes?"
"Are you married?"
"Th-That is..."
"Lily."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Third-Grade Clerk Leon Philmont is recorded as married."
"...!"
"He has a young son."
"I see."
Color drained from Clerk Leon's face.
I'd phrased it ominously on purpose, so his mind must be racing with worst-case scenarios.
Explain why I'm giving Elisabeth full authority?
Why would I?
Why be a tyrant if not?
"You."
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
"Go home early today. Tend to your family."
"......"
"Kidding, kidding. Can't I even joke?"
I bantered.
"I like spirited young men like you. You keep things from getting boring. So don't worry and get back to work."
Even chased off the last holdout, Leon.
By the way.
"That guy's got potential."
Looks young, but already married with a kid?
Third-Grade Clerk is elite status.
And that stubborn opposition to me.
This one could be worth grooming.
"Elisabeth."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Command me."
"We're alone now. How long do you plan to keep up the act?"
"Heh heh. What do you mean?"
Vicious woman.
She won't drop the mask outside her home.
"As you saw, no officials welcome you."
"Yes. As expected."
"So you need to make your own people. That clerk earlier seemed steadfast; recruiting him as a subordinate would be useful."
"Heh heh."
Chilling.
She's smiling, but her eyes aren't.
"Can't do it?"
"My answer is always the same. It depends on how much Your Majesty trusts me. You don't just want me to build a faction, do you?"
She's grasped it, more or less.
I'd accepted some read on my intentions when pulling her in.
No need to hide now that she's onto me.
I handed her the stamped documents.
"Everything."
Do as much as you want.
Only then did Elisabeth smile.
"I'll do it."
One month.
The time it took for the confident Elisabeth to completely reorganize the imperial palace.
Of course, I could have done it too.
But differently.
I crush with force, severing heads when things go awry.
Overwhelming with fear.
Elisabeth didn't.
The very next day after receiving full authority.
She appeared in the audience chamber in uniform and remonstrated before everyone.
"Your Majesty. You must cut back on luxuries."
"Gasp."
At that moment.
Time in the audience chamber seemed to freeze.
The officials' shocked faces, eyes bulging, were impressive.
"So be it."
When I nodded obediently, the atmosphere was like a ghost had appeared.
"You must also reduce your indulgence in women."
"I will."
And so on.
Elisabeth would boldly remonstrate, and I'd accept.
Then.
"Your Majesty, please don't skip ceremonies just because they're bothersome."
"Bothersome. Do I have to?"
Once, I feigned annoyance.
Elisabeth immediately said sternly, as if waiting.
"You must not."
Everyone paled, watching my reaction.
'Are you insane?!'
No words, but their glares screamed fury at her.
"I'll consider it."
When I said that.
Jaws dropped across the board.
After a few more exchanges, views of Elisabeth had completely changed.
'No idea how, but she made His Majesty listen!'
Something like that.
Of course, it was all pre-arranged with Elisabeth.
When alone.
She said triumphantly.
"Nothing else works to win hearts here and prove competence. I could demonstrate it quickly on my own, but why not use the easiest method?"
"Which is?"
"Being the one who can handle the most fearsome being. Prove that value, and no one ignores you. That's enough."
It played out exactly as she said.
Frightening.
Elisabeth, smug, set down her teacup.
She glanced around as if sharing a grave secret, then whispered.
"Your Majesty? I've proven my value sufficiently."
"Indeed."
"So, can't you tell me now? What is your goal, exactly?"
My goal.
"That is─."
"Your Majesty, urgent news."
As I slowly began.
Lily popped out from the shadows.
"Sorry. We'll talk later. Lily, what is it?"
"Tch. Can't be helped."
As Elisabeth pouted regretfully.
Lily said,
"Clashes at the border... It's war."
What?
What.
Why?
