Begging for Demotion
“What exactly are you suggesting?”
The emperor is dying.
It was a rumor spreading deep and wide through the imperial capital—secretly, yet obvious to anyone who paid even the slightest attention. Askal had heard it, but it hadn’t particularly moved him.
Not until the emperor began coughing as if he meant to expel his very lungs.
“Cough-cough-cough! As—cough!—kal. Devr. Cough!”
It was the kind of cough that made one wonder if the man still possessed functional bronchi. Even a consumptive patient would have taken five steps back upon hearing the emperor’s hacking.
Disgusting.
The emperor’s throne loomed directly above Askal, who knelt on one knee. In other words, it was in the perfect position to spray spit.
Askal desperately tried not to think about his hair getting soaked, but there was a limit to human endurance.
“Switch places with me.”
“Why?”
“I can’t be the only one to receive His Majesty’s gracious saliva.”
Sushia looked puzzled at first, but the moment they swapped positions her face crumpled. Still, she couldn’t possibly show her disgust in front of the emperor. Askal deliberately avoided her glare.
“Cough-cough-cough-cough.”
“His Majesty says to state whatever reward you desire!”
The minister standing bent at the waist beside the throne interpreted the emperor’s coughs. When the emperor nodded, it seemed the translation had been accurate.
It was a godlike level of interpretation. Even Julia couldn’t have managed such a feat.
“I…”
Askal recalled Kane’s advice before coming here.
When His Majesty asks what you want, say nothing.
Why?
Think about it. With the achievements you’ve piled up, you should already be a minister. So why are you still stuck at Grade 6?
Because I’m lucky?
…There are snakes around the emperor. They look upon you, Askal—the man who has rendered great service to the empire—with jealousy. Do not fall from their favor.
Indeed.
Flanking the emperor were two ministers who practically radiated the aura of scheming villains.
They whispered into the emperor’s ear at regular intervals. Askal easily recognized that their gaslighting had already reached its peak.
“The reward I desire is to become a minister.”
Huh?
Askal briefly wondered if his mouth had been enchanted to drag its owner toward destruction, but the voice clearly hadn’t come from him.
“The Evaluation Department is newly established and still lacks a minister. Every achievement Askal has made was done under my direction, so I too am qualified to receive a reward.”
The head of the Evaluation Department stepped forward and spoke as smoothly as flowing water. It was rather impressive rhetoric.
I see.
Now Askal understood how the man had risen to department head despite his lacking abilities. The talent to spot a rotten rope and cling to it faster than anyone else was truly commendable.
But first, one had to determine whether the rope was rotten.
“Cough. You. Cough. Who are you?”
“I am Karis Solem, Your Majesty. Though inadequate, I lead the Evaluation Department.”
The snakes whispered something. After listening, the emperor slowly nodded.
The snake spoke.
“Kill him.”
Thud.
“Pardon?”
That was the end. The head of the Evaluation Department’s head flew off. The emperor’s royal guard had severed it from the body with impeccable skill.
“To dare enter the imperial palace without permission and then demand a reward? I overlooked your subordinate’s achievements out of appreciation, yet you bring punishment upon yourself. A wretch who deserves death.”
At the snake’s gesture, servants entered and cleaned up the former department head’s remains. Sushia’s face had gone deathly pale; she couldn’t utter a word.
“Askal Devr. You shall take that man’s place as minister. That should satisfy you. Withdraw.”
“I cannot be satisfied.”
The air instantly turned to ice. Every eye snapped toward Askal. Sushia pinched his waist hard. What the hell are you thinking?
Askal spoke slowly.
“Simply beholding Your Majesty’s noble countenance is already more honor than I deserve. To receive a reward on top of that? I cannot. Heaven would be outraged. Please withdraw the reward. No—rather, I beg you to demote me.”
“Cough!”
The emperor coughed. Then he rose from his throne. He had been moved by Askal’s words. The snake looked flustered, his eyes asking what kind of madman this was.
“A rare—cough!—loyal subject! Cough! Indeed! Bestow upon him a mountain of gold coins! Cough!”
Askal was stunned.
“I cannot accept! Your Majesty! Please take back your grace!”
“Also bestow a famous sword! Cough!”
“You mustn’t, Your Majesty!”
“Cough! And grant him a horse as well!”
“Your Majesty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Askal screamed.
In the end, Askal—not only promoted to department head but also saddled with a year’s worth of salary in gold coins, a master-crafted famous sword, and a horse—collapsed limply on the sofa in the reception room with a gloomy expression.
I literally begged to be demoted…
Sushia shoved a pastry into the mouth of the sprawled Askal. He chewed. It was delicious.
“You’re incredible. Chief—no, I suppose it’s Director now?”
“Stop teasing me.”
“I’m not teasing. How did you manage to negotiate in that situation? I’m genuinely impressed. Would you like to become the steward of our family? This is a scouting offer. You know how wealthy our house is, right?”
Sushia spoke with surprising seriousness.
A steward managed a noble house’s assets and operations in the master’s stead. In modern terms, an asset manager.
Becoming the steward of the Senestia ducal family would undoubtedly bring enormous power and prestige.
“I’ll do it.”
“Really?”
“You’re getting promoted. With my authority as director, you are now an eighth-grade official, Sushia. Congratulations on your promotion. You’ll be handling much more work from now on.”
“Kyaaaaak!”
It was a scream unbecoming of a duke’s daughter.
The two people who had suffered unwanted promotions lay sprawled on the sofa, waiting for the world to end.
Unfortunately, there was no sign of it happening anytime soon.
Tap. Tap.
Someone entered the reception room.
“Oh. It seems I’ve interrupted your rest. My apologies. Shall I come back at another time?”
“Your Highness the Crown Prince!”
Sushia, who had been muttering “I want to leave…” like a drowned cat, shot upright the moment she saw the golden-haired handsome man.
The visitor was a heavyweight.
The First Prince of the Empire and rightful heir to the throne.
Cain Barba.
“We greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
As if the earlier disgrace had never happened, Askal instantly straightened his posture and knelt on one knee.
“Be at ease. I have not come as crown prince, but as His Majesty’s errand boy.”
“An errand, Your Highness?”
“Didn’t you agree to receive a horse from His Majesty? It turns out one of the horses in my stable will be given to you. If you’re not busy, would you like to go to the stables now?”
Askal thought that Cain’s words were polite. Even when dealing with someone far beneath him, his attitude carried natural dignity. He easily surpassed the passing grade expected of an imperial crown prince.
He has an ulterior motive.
Askal had just survived a life-or-death tightrope walk. His hyper-sensitive instincts were reading Cain’s true intentions clearly.
But there seemed to be no malice, so Askal obediently followed him.
“What did you think after seeing Father?”
The three of them strolled through the garden. The sun was beginning to set, making the wind pleasantly cool; one needed an outer coat. As expected of the imperial garden, every path was meticulously decorated with ornaments and flowers. Simply looking at them was a feast for the eyes. And in such an atmosphere, one’s true feelings tended to slip out unconsciously. If comparing it to his previous life, it felt like a magical red chair.
“…It was an honor beyond my station.”
“You. Do you realize something? I hesitated for quite a long time. In my view, that hesitation is closer to the answer I wanted than your words.”
Cain continued.
“I’ll speak frankly. My father is incompetent. With his ears and eyes closed, relying only on the sweet lies of snakes, he clings to what little life he has left.”
“Your Highness.”
These were words that could get one executed if overheard. Why were there so many people in the empire who loved self-destructing? Askal’s temples began to throb.
“Do you understand why I’m saying this?”
“I do not.”
“I have been watching you for quite some time, Askal Devr. You have ability. And the winds of fortune blow in your favor as well.”
Cain stopped walking and set the mood.
“Will you not change the empire together with me, Askal?”
“Your Highness, however…”
“Hm?”
“Lady Sushia is listening as well.”
Sushia, who had been walking a little behind, smiled awkwardly. Is this the part where he kills us to silence us?
“Ah, Sushia is fine. We’ve been childhood friends since we were young.”
“Ahaha. Childhood friends—I haven’t heard that in a while, Your Highness.”
If Cain had added that marriage talks had once taken place between them, Askal would have flipped.
Having confirmed Sushia’s safety, Askal spoke.
“I am sorry, but I must decline.”
“Why?”
“Because my abilities are insufficient.”
Cain laughed as if he found it absurd.
“If you say your abilities are insufficient, does that mean there is anyone in this empire who actually possesses ability?”
“Please find someone else.”
In truth, Cain’s qualities were excellent. He was bold and manly, and he took good care of his subordinates. Given his position as crown prince, the atmosphere already treated him as the de facto emperor.
He might be a golden rope. But Askal knew Cain’s future….
One day, Cain would get heavily drunk, ride a horse naked on a whim, fall off, and die.
Because of that, the line of succession would be completely upended. After a fierce power struggle with the Second Princess, Julia would become emperor.
“Haha. Rejected, am I? Well, I am a persistent man. Prepare yourself.”
Before he knew it, they had arrived at the stables.
The stable keeper bowed deeply upon seeing Cain and guided the three inside.
As expected of the crown prince’s stable, magnificent and obviously expensive horses stood in neat rows, impeccably cared for.
Cain stroked a horse’s mane with loving eyes and said,
“Choose any horse you like from among them. Whatever you want, I will give it to you.”
In terms of his previous life, it was like the chairman’s son taking him to his garage and saying to pick any car.
There were many people in the empire obsessed with horseback riding, but Askal was far from that group, so he decided to pick any horse at random.
“Hmm… that one.”
But Cain’s reaction was somehow negative. Seeing the lingering look in his eyes, Askal changed his choice.
“That horse is… hm.”
Again, the reaction was poor.
“Tsk. Then this one.”
Wait, are you giving me one or not?
Askal was gradually growing irritated with Cain, who kept showing reluctance. In a good light, it was deep affection for his horses. In a bad light, it explained why he would eventually die falling off one.
“On second thought, rather than a fully grown horse, I think one I can give affection to while raising it would be better. I’ll take this one.”
Askal had spotted a scrawny foal in the corner of the stable. Surely he won’t object this time.
“Ah, that one was rescued after losing its mother in the wild and was on the verge of death. Wouldn’t you prefer a better horse?”
“No. On the contrary, I feel even more attached to it. I’ll take this one.”
“Is that so? If it catches your eye, perhaps that is fate.”
The smile on Cain’s face as he said this was positively beaming. He spoke as smoothly as flowing water while having zero intention of giving away any other horse.
In the end, Askal brought the foal back almost by force and let out a sigh.
How am I supposed to raise this thing?
It seemed he would need to find someone who could look after a horse.
Still, it’s a baby, so it’s kind of cute.
While holding the whimpering foal, Askal suddenly felt a strange sensation. There was something near its shoulder blades. He examined the area closely.
“…Feathers?”
Just a little, but feathers were sprouting near the foal’s shoulder blades. As if they were trying to become wings.
Come to think of it, he remembered reading that winged horses appeared in the latter half of the empire’s history.
And that horse was called the legendary Pegasus…
“This is insane. Seriously.”
Askal stared at the foal grazing on grass with complicated eyes. The foal tilted its head curiously.