Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Oh Dear, Father!
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“Your Highness! We have a huge problem!”
“What? Did you make Lily cry? Yeah... you're done for, Sebastian.”
This was inside my palace office. My head was already pounding from work, and now Sebastian had gone and upset Lily, it seemed.
“It's not that!”
“Then what...?”
“The Holy Kingdom has selected a Hero!”
“The Demon King has appeared!?”
“Not quite, but...”
“...? Then why is that a huge problem? We'll just hand over some generous funding and be done with it. And this is something His Majesty handles anyway, so why the fuss...”
The Holy Kingdom periodically selects Heroes and Saintesses. Becoming a Saint requires achieving a miracle that proves the gods' existence, but Heroes and Saintesses are like a mixed idol project rolled out whenever cooldowns end, a Demon King is born, or the Holy Kingdom's prestige dips.
They grow rapidly by sucking up the priests' holy power through sacred formations, then go around doing good deeds to win the people's hearts, saving folks and getting their faces out there.
Well... they're just handsome, pretty kids doing good deeds everywhere.
Promoting the faith, saving people—isn't the intent good?
But why the panic when no Demon King has appeared? As I stared at him blankly, Sebastian shouted.
“The Holy Kingdom is demanding the transfer of Baron Veronica Elias!”
“What? Those bastards!”
This was bad. The old holy power blankets had started eyeing Veronica.
Demanding her right when a Hero is selected? It's like saying, “We're gonna block your country's festival with our idols, good luck.”
With most imperial citizens following the Church of Light, if no Hero comes to the Empire? I could already hear the murmurs of unrest.
And with the academy reopening soon! They'd promote there and grind through vacations.
Rage made my hands and feet tremble, tears welling up.
How dare they covet Veronica?
If I'd heard this in the Holy Kingdom, I'd have stormed the Papal Palace to demand answers.
As I plotted Hero assassinations in my head, Sebastian added.
“The reason is to join the Hero's party enrolling in the academy...”
-Thud!
“The academy, you say?”
“Yes...”
“Round up the kids.”
A moment later, Jenia and Veronica rushed into the office.
“Liam! What's going on?!”
“Apostle? What's wrong?”
I strode up to Veronica and pulled her into a tight hug.
“Eek?”
“Veronica, you're mine. Don't even think about going to the Holy Kingdom, got it?”
“Hee-hee... I'm the Apostle's...”
Jenia watched with a complicated expression.
Suddenly calling them in just to hug and confess to Veronica only?
“Liam... are things tough lately?”
Jenia was already worrying about me.
I could almost hear her thinking, 'Is his head hurting from all the work...?' but I ignored it and explained the situation.
“The Holy Kingdom selected a Hero.”
“...? A Hero? That's new... Should we pre-sign a collab contract with the temple?”
“Ehehehe... Sniff!”
“They want the Empire to hand over Veronica.”
“What?!”
Veronica, nestled in my arms, jerked her head up.
“No way!!!!!”
“I don't want that either, Veronica. They want you as the Hero's sidekick.”
“Apostle! You won't abandon me, right? Right?!?!”
What kind of talk was that... abandon her?
“Are you crazy? Who would I abandon!”
I hugged Veronica's head tightly.
Dare covet her, and I'd tear them apart.
As I glared fiercely, Jenia pondered, then gasped.
“Liam! Don't tell me... the academy?”
“Bingo.”
“Oh my god...”
Jenia pinched her brow and bit her lip hard.
“There was no Hero... the Saintess changed... the original story... the original...”
I pulled in Jenia, who was clutching her head over mounting variables.
“Don't worry too much. We'll head to the academy first.”
I calmed them both and sat down.
“Time for a full plan overhaul...”
““What?””
“We'll dominate number one spot...”
'Join the combat department and grind that Hero to dust...'
I hadn't planned this far, but... time to crush the Holy Kingdom's spirits.
“Jenia, cut off all your church donations. The amount's hefty enough to make waves there.”
“Got it.”
“Veronica, no church for a while. Rats there are probably reporting to the Holy Kingdom.”
“Hiiing... Can't I at least grab my statue?”
“... I'll sneak it out for you.”
“Yay!”
And the key line.
“We're going to the academy to smash that Hero party.”
““What?””
“Covet Veronica, and I'll half-cripple their Hero.”
Their eyes shook at my words.
“Apostle... they're worshippers of the same god. Would they really be that shameless?”
“Yeah... it's the Holy Kingdom's doing. The Hero and Saintess might be innocent.”
They were worried about Holy Kingdom relations or faith, but I wouldn't let those who dared poke us get away.
“Sure... if the Hero's uninvolved, no plans there. But if not, I'll crush him for sure.”
-Gulp
As I smiled, their throats bobbed.
“Phew... I'll be back.”
They tilted their heads at the sudden outing declaration.
“Huh? Where to?”
I grinned.
“To see Father.”
-Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is...
-Let him in.
I hurried to Father's office.
“Father.”
-Flinch!
Father jolted.
Calling him “Your Majesty” meant a request; “Father” meant eccentricity incoming.
Father eyed me like, 'This punk... what now?'
“What...”
I grinned and massaged his shoulders.
“Oh my, Father! Your shoulders are so stiff... It breaks my heart!”
Father turned, face screaming “Is he insane?”
But I kept smiling, kneading away.
“Handling state affairs daily keeps the Empire exalted, the people's smiles endless, and the nobles devoted heart and soul.”
“... Out with it, Crown Prince.”
I ignored the implied “quit the bullshit.”
“I just want you, working so hard, to take a short break. Nothing more.”
“Suddenly talking nonsense...”
“Oh dear! Father, your complexion looks awful today!”
“...?”
“Hmm... how about a 'two-week' vacation? If I may suggest.”
Father's eyes shook violently.
'Hook set.'
My smile deepened.
“All work and no rest harms your health... How about setting the pen down briefly?”
“... Crown Prince, look at these documents. If the Emperor slacks...”
“Mother's worries would deepen daily, and you'd end up nursing her...”
-Flinch!
“Sigh... If Mother goes, what of Serena... She'd be down, so send her along.”
“Tha... t... If I waver, the Empire's prestige...”
I spread festival lists before Father.
Then whispered in his ear.
“Overworked Emperor catches a nasty cold, heads to some scenic retreat for recovery... Worried Empress follows to nurse him, lonely Princess joins missing her parents, left-behind son—conveniently Crown Prince—handles regency and clears all duties...”
-Gasp!
Father's eyes bulged.
I massaged firmer.
“Oh dear, Your Majesty! Dropping the pen like that on festival notices... Caught a cold?”
Father gently set the pen on a festival paper at my words.
“Your Majesty... doesn't a cough feel imminent?”
-Kuh... hack...
“Pardon? My ears must be off.”
“Cough! Cough!”
-Smirk
I flung open the office door and yelled.
“Guards! Fetch the physician! His Majesty seems to have a cold!”
Rushing physicians and priests arrived; I picked the oldest.
“His Majesty wants no fuss. Physician only.”
“B-but...”
“Imperial command.”
They hesitated, so I shoved him in.
The bewildered physician checked Father's pulse.
For a long while...
His face grew puzzled.
It read “Perfectly healthy?”
“Your Highness... His Majesty is...”
I placed a hand on the physician's shoulder.
“Eek!”
“Heh... Always grateful for your service... Hope your later years are comfortable...”
The physician trembled.
I slipped gold coins into his robes.
“Physician! Father needs 'two weeks' recovery? Is that true?!”
“Cough! Cough!”
The trembling stopped. He eyed Father, the festival lists, then said worriedly.
“Indeed, Your Highness. Years of duty and this! stifling office air! Likely caused His Majesty's cold.”
“Heavens! What to do?!”
“Perhaps a place with fresh air and water...”
My reply was swift.
“Decided! Send him at once! Prepare the carriage!”
“The report says... severe overwork and mild cold...”
I stuffed more gold coins.
“On second thought, two weeks' recovery for a mild cold.”
I patted his shoulder.
“Good work. Off you go.”
The physician bowed kindly and left.
This is the imperial palace—weak don't survive.
And power comes in many forms.
Long palace service? Means 100-level perceptiveness.
I fussed over Father with various things.
-Whisper whisper
“Father, time's short... I'll have the teleport array ready. This? Made with magic tower engineers—press this button! See? Hair and eye color change, of course with perception block! Lasts 12 hours, plenty. Pocket money? Jenia's handling. All buildings near the list? Jenia's. Not slush funds, legit business, yeah... Ah! Servants for Lily, tight-lipped ones ready. Go first, luggage and staff in... 30 minutes? Duh, this is filial piety! What? Periodic check-ins... Ministers will complain... Tsk... Fine, as you say.”
“Cough! Cough!”
“Guards! Carriage not ready yet?!”
Have a nice~ rest.
Heh heh heh heh heh