That's Not My Sister
That's not my sister. I had drawn a line with Aslan. If she returned to the capital, she might get captured by Clanice or snatched up by Berna. Actually, that might be better. If she turned into an enemy through Clanice's experiments or Berna's corruption, I could deal with her cleanly.
“Her Highness seems quite the war hawk herself—she looked like she wanted a round with Pector. But she stayed behind. She understands her position and responsibilities as a princess. Unlike certain people who rush ahead on a whim, she's not that type.”
The princess would do that, yeah. Just seeing that Natalya came alone was proof enough.
“That means the princess is the more competent one. I hope my trash-talking here helps her come to her senses, at least.”
“Honestly, you know you're lacking too, right? I told you my marrying a commoner would be good for winning over the people's hearts, but I never imagined Yuria would be just as brainless as you.”
“I'm sorry.”
Yuria bowed her head, apparently with nothing to say for herself. This wasn't the time to look so defeated. The woman who was supposed to keep that Aslan bastard in check from the sidelines had no business acting like this.
“Because of you people, more than ten Ashtar knights died or were crippled. When you get down to it, those men were far more valuable than any of you. Can you take responsibility for that?”
I still had my nuns, but Ashtar knights had died. Think about where those knights came from. Even one was too many to lose, and here we had over ten dead or maimed.
“That is...”
“No matter what, isn't it going too far to put His Highness the Prince and ordinary knights on the same scale?”
Was this Lailer bastard actually saying that with a straight face? After everything he'd done so far, there was no excusing him. Well, I had ended it with a slap last time, but seeing his face again suddenly made me furious. Someone here was going to get dragged into a war whether they liked it or not. I needed to give him one last beating before I left.
“The Ashtar knights who remain behind to protect our lands and the Empire itself from the worthless prince who plunged the nation into crisis and from the monsters he created. Who is more valuable?”
“Worthless! Those words are too harsh!”
Lailer. Right on cue—the loyal dog had arrived.
“When there are already people capable of ascending the throne in his place, do you truly believe the prince holds that much value?”
Yuria and Lailer were clearly taking the prince's side as his close aides. Still, some things needed to be said.
“From this moment on, I will be dealing with you in my capacity as the Imperial Tutor.”
“Ugh.”
“And don't forget that House Ashtar stands behind me.”
“So you'll rely on your family name too?” Aslan glared at me as if I were being cowardly.
A guy who runs wild needs to be crushed with raw power. This wasn't really my business, but House Ashtar was extremely sensitive about its relationship with the imperial family. There was no way they would keep protecting an incompetent prince forever.
“Once the Demon King subjugation begins and Lord Eldacrad's revenge succeeds, House Ashtar will go down in human history as the first and most powerful family to conquer the Demon King's territory.”
“So? What exactly are you trying to say?” Aslan continued glaring at me.
Good. At least he could make eyes like that. Show some anger toward the nobility. He needed to look at least somewhat believable. Only then would he be able to voice his own opinions during the imperial succession later.
“Keep in mind that more than half the council consists of members from House Ashtar. The will of the people? That too depends on House Ashtar's will.”
I stepped closer to Aslan and whispered.
“Simply put, if you want to become crown prince, bow your head on your own, you incompetent prince bastard.”
I patted his shoulder a few times as I spoke. It was both a command to bow properly and a polite way of saying I was washing my hands of him.
Aslan's group couldn't refute me. They knew their place.
After sending the prince's party away, I felt strangely lighter.
“Wasn't that a bit too harsh?” Seria asked cautiously.
It didn't feel harsh to me at all.
“He needed that level of shock. Besides, the bastard should understand by now just how delusional his actions have been.”
“Mm.”
Truth was truth. This much was necessary before that guy would come to his senses. That House Ashtar wouldn't endlessly indulge his tantrums.
“The Empire is far too big for someone like Aslan to control. He needs to wake up to reality.”
A petty bastard like him would be better off taking a noble title and ruling some tiny territory. Playing king in a small domain wouldn't be so bad. If he'd been deposed as a traitor from the start, he wouldn't even be treated as a son anymore. The Empire's unique circumstances were the only reason he'd survived this long.
“I hope it works out that way.”
If not, then it didn't. I'd done more than enough to maintain some loyalty toward Aslan. Come to think of it, this should be sufficient to completely sever ties. From now on, I'd treat him strictly as the Imperial Tutor. Since I'd already cut ties after the succubus incident and made my arrogance clear, noble society shouldn't have much to say about it.
“At least I can get away from that worm.”
“Oh. Cleaning up your personal relationships?”
Yeah. You could call it a thorough housecleaning.
“I figured it was better to organize Olivia's old connections first.”
Olivia's relationships had been limited to Aslan, her family, and a few others. As a noble, nearly all of them had been formed for political gain. After the broken engagement, her fellow noble ladies had revealed their true colors and severed ties. The only connection that remained was with House Ashtar. I planned to keep that one strictly transactional, but it seemed the Ashtars wanted to bind it as family once more.
“But Lady Olivia.”
“What?”
“Is there really any reason to remain as House Ashtar's daughter?”
Hmm. Not particularly. I could just run away as I was. After dealing with the Four Heavenly Kings, I was thinking of heading to the Land of Destruction. Or maybe touring one of the smaller nations that looked nice.
“No, it's not that. To be honest, I dislike both the Church and the capital, so staying here feels more like a vacation. Plus, my nuns have their limits.”
“The war with the Four Heavenly Kings?”
Yes. War with the Four Heavenly Kings.
“Among the nobility, House Ashtar is the strongest. And you're an Ashtar. It's better than trying to infiltrate and build power in some other family.”
“Besides, if you wanted to start over in another house as the Ashtar Duchess...”
“I'd have to marry into it, which is the problem.”
This body was the Ashtar Duchess. If I wanted to gain power from another faction while keeping my noble status, marriage was the only answer. Sorry, but I had zero intention of doing that, and House Ashtar alone was more than enough.
“It's true that Duke Ashtar can mobilize tens of thousands of troops from his territory alone.”
“Even the Kingdom would struggle to field forces on that scale right now.”
That was why Ashtar was useful. Even now, the Duke was demonstrating power that mostly satisfied me. The only issue was his slightly emotional approach to problems.
At that moment, House Ashtar's butler appeared before me.
“Lady Olivia. The Duke requests your presence.”
The father who summoned me was in the middle of a meeting about the upcoming expedition. The head of the family was unnecessarily setting a heavy atmosphere.
“Olivia. You know Aslan has left for the capital, yes?”
The mood felt suspicious.
“Yes.”
“The reason I didn't send you is because of the expedition.”
So they were going through with it after all. It would be better if there were no war, but striking at the Third Legion was a wise choice. Attacking Krad would have been too ambiguous.
“I understand.”
If it was just a war, I'd stand at the front and crush the Third Legion myself. It was best to handle annoying tasks quickly.
“It feels like I'm burdening you with something excessive.”
Not at all. This worked out well. It was annoying, but better that I took the lead. Seria would join me, and we could take down the Third Legion with minimal losses.
“Not at all. I will stand at the vanguard and destroy the enemy forces.”
If I stood in front, I could wipe them all out with magic. If the Ashtar troops followed behind me, the Third Legion would be completely annihilated. At best, they were just slightly enhanced humans.
“No. I don't expect you to go that far.”
“Pardon?”
“Just stand at the front and raise the troops' morale. That will be enough.”
What the hell was he talking about?
“Excuse me?”
“There was the mausoleum incident, and you must be exhausted. I won't assign you any difficult tasks.”
In short, he just wanted me to show my face in front of the soldiers and cheer them on? Then what was the point of me going at all?
“Simply raise the soldiers' morale. That's all.”
“Are you telling me to go out there as a figurehead?”
Looking at it now, this reeked of Noel. That bitch must have planned to toy with me.
“You were the one who suggested striking the Third Legion, after all.”
What did that have to do with me playing mascot in front?
“We'll protect you, so why not go?”
Eugene, that crazy bastard of a hero who had zero presence, flashed a refreshing smile and spouted complete nonsense. I hadn't even realized the asshole was here. What the hell did he want? I couldn't figure out what he was hoping for.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“Is he actually insane?”
Wouldn't it be better to bury this guy right here? Just toss him into the Demon King's territory. That would be the smart move. Wars killed plenty of people anyway. Many already knew the hero lacked real skill, so we could make use of that. How dare he flash that kind of smile at me?
Even Ella and Cyria looked utterly devastated.
“Well, anyway. If you truly hate the idea, there's nothing we can do. But Noel said you absolutely must come.”
The Duke brought up Noel. Looking closely, I spotted her in a corner trying to minimize her presence. That crazy bitch?
“Noel?”
“Oh my, Lady Olivia. Don't you remember? You said you'd go to the Demon King's territory this time 'for Ashtar and the Empire.'”
Noel smiled sweetly as she spoke.
“Ah.”
She'd mentioned both Ashtar and the 'Empire.' She'd set a trap I couldn't refuse.
“But His Grace was quite considerate! He said you only need to stand at the front and boost the Ashtar army's morale!”
Either way, it meant I was supposed to be the figurehead. It was genuinely disgusting. Following from the rear and actually participating in battle would be far better.
This crazy bitch Noel didn't want to go to war alone, so she was dragging me into it. I'd expected the war itself, but if she had to send me, at least make me a combatant. Why this? I wasn't even a bard—why cheer from the back?
“Besides, you're also a saintess.”
Noel's additional remark made my teeth grind. She was clearly mocking me. This bitch had orchestrated everything. That rootless fucking bitch!
“Yes. That damn bitch planned the whole thing.”
“Pardon?”
Right now, even Seria standing beside me didn't register. The only thing that mattered was how that bitch Noel's mouth was moving.
“With your exceptional appearance, if you were to lead the Ashtar army as a saintess, wouldn't that be wonderful?”
That damn bitch was still mocking me.
“If the Ashtar Duchess does so, it would be more reassuring than ten thousand troops combined.”
Where the hell did she learn that phrase?
“You've even subdued Pector, and you're of Ashtar blood. You'll be different from that whore Bernoa.”
A genuine desire to betray was slowly rising within me. First, I wanted to slap that Noel's face! Yes. Her issue wasn't just trying to marry the hero. She was a wicked bitch who insisted on dragging me along.
“You're the Empire's first saintess, after all. Haha.”
She was determined to drag me around like a doll. Her words sounded nice, but if I ended up in actual combat, there was no way to stop me. In the end, you will be the bitch who dies at the hands of the Empire's first saintess.
Just in case, I'd summoned the nuns. I'd need them later when it came time to bury Noel.