You Learn by Doing
To put it briefly, three months ago, instead of my foolish and stupid younger brother who had abandoned his duties and promises and fled, I had to become the husband of the Ironblood Empress—the one who displays himself to govern the hearts of the people.
Upon hearing that I had run away, I immediately resolved to find him, tear him apart, and drag him back, but unfortunately, I couldn't carry it out.
The reason was that the Empire's diplomatic envoys had already arrived.
In other words, when I returned to the Royal Palace of Lulu Rala, our kingdom was already in a crisis of survival.
“It’s a bit embarrassing to say, but I’m glad you came. Honestly, finding another candidate would be troublesome.”
Even if it was for show, I was the husband of the Ironblood Empress. It was a position attractive enough to make the saliva of countless arrogant people in the world drool.
I basically hated complicated things. Especially politics, which was the most complicated.
Still, I was a member of the royal family.
Thinking about how many people across the continent had targeted the role I was to play, and how many schemed for this position, my stomach churned.
“In that sense, the Mayer Kingdom was just right.”
The Mayer Kingdom, busy with wars against other races every day, was also busy with internal affairs, so they had no interest in foreign affairs.
Their way of thinking was: “If you have time to worry about the continent's situation, swing your sword once more.”
……Thinking about it carefully, isn't that quite a sad thing?
“I will convey to His Majesty the Mayer Kingdom my gratitude for keeping the promise. We will continue to supply the promised supplies without fail.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Honestly. The Mayer Kingdom was always lacking in everything. Even if there was no such thing, even if we delivered the items they had stockpiled thinking the Empire would abandon them, they would have to accept them saying “where is this?”
“And regarding daily life…”
“I know. Eat, sleep, and play as usual.”
Except for participating in parades to show off to the Empire's citizens, there would be nothing for me to do.
Those who were obstacles had all been purged during the rebellion, so there was no need to show my face at social parties, and above all, I must not interfere with national affairs.
It was a correct answer because I understood my own situation well, but it seemed like the wrong answer.
My wife shook her head with cold eyes.
“I'm sorry, but I can't do that anymore. I cannot forgive my husband who plays and eats while sucking the blood of the people.”
“……Huh?”
What's this? It's different from what I thought.
“It has been three months since I gave you time to get used to the capital. It seems you've already become too familiar with it, so it's time to start assigning you duties.”
Even if I had a position, it would be troublesome for my wife. But why was she trying to assign me work?
No matter how far politics was from me, I wasn't naive enough to believe “sucking the blood of the people” as is.
But reading my wife's thoughts, who had been polished on the continent's highest political stage, was difficult.
“Then what exactly should I do?”
“Do you know about the Hounds?”
“I don't know.”
At the edge of the continent, someone who had survived in the war, I was ignorant about politics, trends, powers, and famous individuals.
Because I had no interest from the beginning.
Anticipating my answer, my wife handed me a pile of documents she had prepared.
“In simple terms, it's an unofficial organization that handles the dirty work of the Empire's government. Even though it's 'handling,' they are sent to places where force is needed or assassinate. Anyway, you are now the head of that place. Exactly, you already are.”
While looking at the materials as I listened to the explanation, I felt the tension I had been holding for a long time quickly loosen.
It seemed that coming to the Empire was a blessing from the heavens.
The records of what the Hounds had done were as my wife said. Going to those who were not cooperative with the Empire's government, causing trouble, or assassinating those judged to be dangerous individuals.
This level was something that even if it was an unofficial organization, everyone would know. The head of such an organization would receive all the resentment towards the Empire's government.
Especially if it was the Empress's husband? It would be the perfect target for those who hated her and were hostile to the Empire and its forces.
In other words, it was a position just right for dying.
“Ah, so I came here not as a hostage or a marriage alliance to prove loyalty, but as a sacrifice?”
My wife's eyes widened slightly. She didn't seem to expect me to say it so openly.
Her eyes widening made her look even cuter.
“That's right. Displeased?”
“To answer that, there's one thing I need to ask.”
“What?”
“Even if I die, you won't stop helping the Mayer Kingdom, right?”
For the first time, my wife's face stiffened slightly. She seemed a bit angry.
“……You underestimate me. Whether you die or live, the promise will continue to be fulfilled.”
“Then there's no displeasure.”
Honestly, I said it because there was truly no displeasure, but my wife's eyes held disbelief.
“Even though you knew I was called to be killed, you have no displeasure or anger?”
“None.”
Assassination or murder threats were daily life on the battlefield. Rather, it was much safer now than then.
But my weak younger brother would have been different. So, there was no displeasure in me coming here.
“You could be poisoned or cursed to death?”
“Then I die, of course.”
If I could be killed.
It's not that death is not scary. Personally, I think the one who isn't afraid of death is either insane or just an idiot.
I am also afraid of death. That's why I'm just preparing to accept it whenever.
“Hmm. Positive, so no harm.”
My wife stood up from her seat. Was the tea party already over?
“Besides Hound duties, you can do as you like. You are already doing that, but you don't need to come to ask for permission one by one, so live comfortably.”
It was a tone that knew what I usually did. Of course, I couldn't know otherwise.
“You know you have to return home once a year, right?”
“I remember well, so don't worry for nothing.”
Well, even if I just disappeared, it wouldn't be known, but confirmation is important.
“Then one more last thing.”
“What?”
“Will we continue to sleep in separate rooms? Married life?”
“……Don't even dream of it.”
My wife answered with cold eyes and then left with a swish. I could ask who was there, but probably one of the families that had participated in the rebellion had made a promise.
“Ugh. I won't have children in my life.”
I stuffed the remaining sweets on the table into my mouth and gulped them down with tea, then stood up and went out of the room.
There was no word to start work immediately, so perhaps I could play today. As I was about to go out, I turned my head and said to the corridor.
“No need for escort.”
She didn't come out.
“It's fine that you're not coming out now, but later if I mistake you for an assassin and kill you, don't resent it.”
Only then did Haria appear. It's a repeating thing, but she couldn't hide her angry expression every time she was caught.
This is kind of cute in its own way.
“As I always say, I am not an escort. I am a direct attendant for serving.”
“I know, I know. I'm busy monitoring you and reporting to my wife.”
“……Which way are you going?”
“To the window to get water.”
“……………….”
Normally, the husband of the Empress wouldn't be allowed to wander into places like the window, but today, with the intention of doing what I want, I said it boldly.
“No.”
Haria answered with a disdainful look like looking at a bug, not allowing even a little compromise.
“It's sad.”
“From today, Isaac-nim will assume the position of Head of the Hounds and take on the duties.”
Damn. From today?
“Then there's no choice. While going, explain about the Hounds to me.”
“I think you have seen the materials.”
“Hearing it directly from the field operatives is refreshing.”
Hounds. Recently, the Empress's hunting dogs. The reason the name includes 'recent' is because the organization created by the Empress is not it.
It was an organization that the Empire, precisely the power class including the Imperial family, had been making for a while to handle dirty work.
Things that needed handling were naturally mostly dirty work.
For example, handling matters like the son of a duke raping a commoner and getting her pregnant, or the daughter of the finance minister touching drugs, so that rumors wouldn't spread.
It was an organization that was not different from street gangsters, except that the client's social status was very high.
Because the work was so crappy, members were not normal either. Most couldn't work in bright places due to circumstances, so they were forced to work, or they worked under the Empire's someone's coercion.
“There can't be loyalty or something.”
“I have heard that there are occasionally those who want to work at the Hounds themselves. But it's a very rare case.”
I came out of the palace and was following her to the Hounds headquarters. Even if it's headquarters, it's a shabby disguise as a pub, and someone calls it a dog house.
“But isn't that true?”
“…….”
Walking faster instead of answering is a bit childish, Haria.
“Is there an urgent matter in the organization?”
“Currently, there is none.”
“Then shouldn't we walk slowly?”
“I refuse. I hope the pain of walking with you ends quickly.”
“Damn. It has no choice but to understand!”
“…….”
Ignoring. Without reacting to my convincing joke, Haria continued the explanation in a business-like tone.
“Originally, the Hounds have a forced obedience contract magic on all members from the head to the bottom. You are an exception since you are His Majesty's consort.”
“Like a dog collar.”
Haria didn't answer this time either. Maybe they called it that self-mockingly.
“Then do I have to do this job until I die? If it's for keeping secrets, there could be a way to apply the contract magic too?”
Even though I wasn't knowledgeable about magic, I knew that much. However, with Haria's continued words, I realized that I was ignorant about the paranoia of the secrets held by those in power.
“They hate even one case extremely. Therefore, there are almost no cases where they are released from the Hounds in the form of retirement. You can only leave by dying.”
The puppies were a sadder organization than I thought.
“'Almost none' means not none, right?”
“……Although it is extremely rare, I have heard that there was a precedent of allowing retirement while alive if they had achieved great merits. It would be a story that doesn't apply to you, though.”
Other than that, since there weren't that many jobs, the only advantage was that I could live relatively freely usually, or the number of members was irregular because they died or were replenished, so it wasn't fixed, etc.
“Currently, how many members are there in the organization?”
“In the past, on average about 20 people were maintained. But during the rebellion, the Hounds were also used in the internal strife, so now it's less than half. Including you and me, there are currently 10 people. We have arrived.”
Following Haria who stopped walking, what came into view was just one old building barely hanging on.
Unless it was the barely hanging pub sign, it would be strange to call it anything but a ruined house.
“Before entering, there is one last question.”
“What is it?”
“As long as it's not the window, right?”
“…………….”
I wish you wouldn't look at it that way. As I said before, it might become a habit.
“Going to a place that is blatantly a window and not damaging His Majesty's prestige is fine. As you have been doing so far, whether you seduce the Empire's women or not doesn't matter. Personally, I recommend getting a log and pushing it in bed.”
“That doesn't feel good at all.”
Indeed. You learn by doing.
“……….”
“Ah, wait, if I apply the Wood Golem, could it be possible…?”
It was a revolutionary thought I hadn't thought of in the past with little experience, but Haria ignored me and entered first.