A Maid is a Lieutenant Colonel? A Battalion Commander?

"Ten days ago, the day the kingdom fell... Grand Duke, why did you accept my father's offer of a hostage and keep me alive?"

I was genuinely curious.

And perhaps it was because he noticed my feelings at once, or maybe he had already anticipated that this day would come.

Grand Duke Xenos Kroichen gave me the answer I wanted without a moment's hesitation.

"I had no grand intention. I simply wanted to give Her Majesty some stability, and as it happened, I met the Prince and decided to place a sort of bet."

"Stability for Belletria-nim...? Could you explain that in a bit more detail?"

"Hmm..."

At my request, the Grand Duke looked up at the ceiling for a moment, stroked his chin, and opened his mouth.

"The Kroichen Duchy is a founding family of the Archesium Empire, a family of loyal subjects who have never betrayed the Imperial Family since the nation's founding."

"... I am already aware of that. It's the content on the first page of the Archesium chapter in the continent's history. But what does that have to do with Belletria-nim's stability?"

"I have served the Imperial Family as the head of the Kroichen family since the previous Emperor was the Crown Prince. After His Majesty fell ill from the shock of losing the Empress and eventually passed away, I have been looking after Belletria Lien Archesium-nim, who was left to lead this vast Empire alone."

"......"

I still couldn't understand what he was trying to say, but I remained silent, sensing that the answer I wanted would come soon.

Grand Duke Xenos locked eyes with mine again and continued.

"Her Highness came to hate the world after losing even her father six years ago. Despite possessing the most brilliant and unique talent, because she lost her ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠family, she began to suffer from the curse of endless distrust—the belief that there was no one around her she could trust—and the curse of doubt. That curse eventually made her harbor the heart of a tyrant who clears away everything that bothers the Empire, and a deadly poison called emptiness."

"I... see."

Grand Duke Xenos's voice remained calm to the end.

However, deep pity for his liege was buried within it.

Only after hearing his words could I piece together the questions that had been scattered like fragments.

"So that's why you spared me back then? With the hope that if Her Majesty could form a family in a new way... if someone she could fully lean on appeared by her side, she might find a little stability."

"......"

He nodded silently, signifying agreement.

"Back then, the moment I saw the Prince, who had been dragged out from a corner of the Rihentra detached palace and bowed his head before me, I felt a strange sense of conviction."

"Conviction...?"

"Yes, conviction. It was a gut feeling that perhaps that man could change my liege, who was standing precariously on the edge of a cliff. And it seems that gut feeling was exactly right."

He smiled slightly, turned around, and opened the door to the Chief of Staff's office.

At the same time, the slightly chilly air of the hallway pushed into the office.

The Grand Duke stopped walking with half his body already outside.

Then, he turned his head slightly and glanced at me.

"Ah. Though, I do have one personal wish."

"...?"

"While it is very welcome that Her Majesty finds stability through the Prince's efforts, I hope you do not make her lose her goal of unifying the continent. That is also the long-cherished wish of our Kroichen family, the founding contributors."

"Ah..."

His eyes held absolute loyalty and ambition for the Empire.

That was why I nodded obediently.

Besides, even if not for the continent's unification, I had wanted to trample and destroy Rihentra with my own hands anyway.

"I will take your words to heart."

At my answer, the Grand Duke gave a short bow as if satisfied, then closed the door without lingering and disappeared down the hallway.

Click.

The door closed completely, and perfect silence descended upon the office.

I stared blankly at the closed door for a long time, then looked up at the ceiling and rubbed my face with my hands.

A dry laugh leaked out through the gaps in my fingers.

"Ha..."

The laughter gradually deepened and soon turned into a scoff, as if the situation were absurd.

"Hahaha."

To think that the reason the man known as the continent's greatest loyal subject kept me alive was a gamble for his liege's mental care.

Even the entire Imperial military was stirred by that single gut feeling, and I had suddenly become the Commander-in-Chief of 120,000 troops, preparing to invade another country.

'Just how big is this getting because I handed over ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the wrong document...?'

If I had put the proper surrender document in my bag instead of that nameless marriage proposal I intended to give to Ersil while packing... what would have happened?

Perhaps I would have been offered to the Emperor as Grand Duke Zenos wished.

But I would have ended my life as just another common Prince of a defeated nation, my neck brutally severed by a bloodthirsty tyrant, rolling on the parade ground floor.

Just thinking about it gave me goosebumps all over.

However, that thought lasted only a moment; I shook my head and cast the thought aside.

In any case, there was only one conclusion.

Since I miraculously survived thanks to the overlap of the Grand Duke's light gamble and my fatal mistake.

Now, I have no choice but to act out this massive fraud perfectly to the end.

I forcibly emptied my complicated mind and started walking toward my room, where a mountain of documents would be piled up.

One afternoon when the sunlight felt warmer than usual.

Having finished tea time with Belletria as usual—to the point where it was hard to believe we were one week away from the war with Dharon—I was now in the middle of a second tea time with Ruamel.

Well, naturally, we weren't meeting for a date or anything romantic.

I just met her because I wanted to learn as much as I could about Belletria and the etiquette of the Archesium Empire in a crash course while I had the time, but...

"Wait a moment. So, you're saying there are anti-Imperial factions and rebels in the Archesium Empire too?"

I had heard it clearly with ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my own ears, but I couldn't believe it, so I asked again.

However, Ruamel just tilted her teacup and nodded slightly.

"That is correct. Did you not know?"

"I had no idea. How is that even ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠possible?"

Anti-Imperial faction, rebels.

As the name suggests, it refers to a group that rebels against the current system and power, trying to overturn the nation by force.

Of course, it was perfectly natural that there were people dissatisfied with their motherland in almost every country on the continent, and it was nothing strange.

But shouldn't this Archesium Empire be an exception?

Currently, the Empire is experiencing its greatest golden age in history since its founding 600 years ago.

At the same time, it was also the period when the Emperor's power was most ruthless and strong.

Even the high-nosed noble faction, which had been building power for a long time to keep the Emperor in check, had immediately prostrated themselves and coughed up their private armies and massive military funds as soon as the Emperor said she would unify the continent.

Under such iron-blooded rule, rebels out in the open?

I looked ahead with a look that said I still couldn't believe it.

Reading my expression, Ruamel carefully set her teacup down on the table and continued her explanation calmly, as if she understood everything.

"The question the Prince holds is entirely valid. However, the rebels currently existing in the Empire... you can see them as a kind of detention center."

"A detention center...?"

"Yes, a detention center. As the name suggests, it means that we have created a place for them to gather to some extent on the surface, so that the Imperial citizens who are dissatisfied with the Empire's system don't hide in the shadows and become a real headache."

Ruamel flicked her fingers lightly with an expressionless face.

"In other words, we've laid out a mat for those dissatisfied with the Empire to gather among themselves and voice their complaints to their hearts' content. Of course, the Imperial Family barely pretends to listen to their demands, but... sometimes, quite useful information for state affairs pops out, you know?"

"Ah..."

Only after hearing her explanation to the end did I nod as if I understood everything.

'So they even use the rebels as a tool to maintain the system and control dissatisfied forces.'

To interpret it a bit excessively, it meant there wasn't a single inch in this Empire where the Emperor's control didn't reach.

"I felt it was amazing enough that you collapsed Rihentra in just 3 months, but the Empire is truly amazing."

I admired it sincerely and started to prepare to get up from my seat.

It was because it was time to go to my magic lecture.

You might ask why magic all of a sudden.

While my swordsmanship was growing day by day thanks to Belletria teaching me whenever she had a spare moment,

actually, what I had wanted to learn more from before wasn't swordsmanship, but magic.

And fortunately, thanks to Belletria's consideration, I was able to learn basic magic directly from the Imperial Chief Mage starting this afternoon.

'I heard they are one of the only three 7th Circle Archmages, so I'm looking forward to it.'

Just as I was about to stand up, pushing my chair back.

Suddenly, the content of a military unit organization report that had been on my desk last night flashed through my mind.

I opened my mouth carefully, leaning on the back of the chair.

"More than that, Ruamel."

"......?"

"Looking at the organization chart for this war with Dharon, it says that Ruamel is also participating as my adjutant and escort knight. What on earth does that mean? Wasn't Ruamel Empress Belletria-nim's exclusive maid?"

"Ah."

As soon as my question fell.

Ruamel jumped up from her seat as if she had been waiting for that question to come out.

Then, she straightened her back and raised her right hand in a motion that was sharper than most veteran soldiers of the Empire.

It was a perfect salute.

"Imperial 16th Special Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Ruamel."

From her mouth, which was always soft and quiet, came a booming and disciplined rank and name.

"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief!"

"...?"

I had a momentary brain freeze at the sudden rank and name report.

The woman standing in front of me in a neat maid's uniform and the terrifying rank of Special Battalion Lieutenant Colonel just wouldn't match, causing my thought process to stop.

However, as if she wouldn't move until I accepted the salute.

Ruamel stood without the slightest movement, her arm held high.

"Uh... um."

I glanced around, not knowing how to handle this situation, and awkwardly raised my right hand to return her salute.