Early one afternoon, Byron Alan came to visit.
Because Byron was in my service, I received him not in a formal reception room meant for outside guests, but in the living room I used on a daily basis.
I sat on the sofa while Byron remained standing before me.
Behind him, servants were steadily carrying in boxes and chests, piling them up one after another.
Watching the commotion, I asked him, "What is all this? What happened?"
"Word just reached me from the inner palace. Ada has been graced with His Majesty's favor and officially appointed as a low consort."
"Oh?"
I see, I thought, nodding to myself.
Ada was the woman Byron had sent to the imperial palace as a maidservant.
She was someone Byron had selected based on my advice when we first met six years ago.
Now, she had shared the Emperor's bed and risen to the rank of consort.
"This is merely a modest token of my gratitude."
"I see."
Remaining seated, I looked over the boxes stacked behind Byron.
Most were opened wide, leaving the gold, silver, and jewels inside in plain view.
"You certainly splurged. There must be around thirty thousand Rien here."
"Ghk..."
"What? Why so surprised?"
"No, it's just... I am simply awestruck by Your Highness's discernment. To appraise the exact sum at a glance—truly magnificent, Lord Noah."
Oh, is that all it was?
"Well, it turned out well for now. Starting as a low consort, is she?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Above a low consort is a side consort, above that is a primary consort, and reigning over the very apex is the Empress."
"Indeed. If she could eventually rise to become a primary consort, it would be a dream come true."
I nodded at Byron's ambition.
The women in His Majesty's rear palace were strictly divided by rank.
At the pinnacle, needless to say, was the Empress.
Below her was the "primary consort," which carried the weight of a principal wife.
Beneath the primary consort was the "side consort," designating a secondary wife, and at the bottom was the "low consort," marked by the character for "commoner."
Much like civil officials, consorts climbed the ranks through the Emperor's favor and the standing of their sons.
The Crown Prince's mother was the Empress, while the mothers of imperial princes automatically held the rank of side consort.
When I was named the "Wise" Imperial Prince six years ago, my mother had been promoted one tier higher to primary consort alongside my elevation.
Since there could only ever be one Empress, if one aimed for the top, becoming a primary consort was effectively the highest achievable peak.
"Now, all we can do is pray that she receives even more of His Majesty's favor."
"No, from here on out, it's all politics."
"Pardon?"
Byron looked taken aback.
He wore the expression of a man confronted with something that had never once crossed his mind.
"I said it's politics. Naturally, winning His Majesty's favor is the quickest path, but beyond that, maneuvering among the consorts is vital."
"Is that truly the case?"
"Imagine slipping up. What happens if another consort swaps out Consort Ada's perfume for a scent His Majesty despises?"
"—Ah!" Byron gasped, his face turning pale in an instant.
"The rear palace is just like the world of men. In terms of sheer malice, it's a den of demons far worse than any court of lords."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
"Send funds to Consort Ada. Now that you realize it's politics, you know how to proceed, don't you?"
"Of course! Thank you ever so much, Your Highness!"
With that, Byron bowed in a fluster and hurried out, taking his servants along with him.
After a moment's thought, I took out the pen and paper kept in the living room and penned a letter.
"Is someone there?"
The moment I called out, the maid Zoe stepped inside.
She had probably been waiting outside the door the entire time.
"Did you call for me, Master?"
"Yeah. Take this letter, along with about ten thousand Rien in cash, and deliver it to my mother in the rear palace."
"Um... Me? If it's the imperial palace, wouldn't Mr. Dylan be better suited for the errand?" Zoe asked, puzzled as to why she had been singled out.
"Men are strictly forbidden in the rear palace. Even I, her own son, am not permitted to enter."
"Is that true?"
"Imperial princes are separated from their mothers right after birth. We only get to see them once a year or so."
"Ah, now that you mention it..."
I often mentioned such details in passing conversation with those outside the imperial family.
Zoe had served me for quite some time, so she had likely heard about it before.
"Never mind that for now. When you see Mother—the Consort—pass along a message as well. Tell her I intend to act as Consort Ada's patron."
"Um... Are you perhaps involving your own mother in politics?"
"I am. What of it?"
"She is your mother, though... right?"
"That's how the imperial family works. Even between parent and child, interest and justification matter far more than sentiment. Ada is a woman I personally chose; she's diligent and ambitious. If Consort Ada climbs the ranks, she will become a powerful ally for Mother as well."
"I see... The world of the nobility is truly terrifying... Understood. I will go at once."
Though visibly awed, Zoe bowed to my orders and set off for the imperial palace.
☆
That afternoon, a messenger arrived from the Bardsley Firm on Cobalt Street.
It was a notice stating that the shopkeeper, Alan, had procured a treasure and wished for me to pay a visit whenever convenient.
Looks like he took the bait of ten thousand Rien I dangled before him.
With that thought in mind, I headed to the Bardsley Firm alone.
"Welcome, Thirteenth Imperial Prince!"
The moment I stepped inside, the proprietor, Alan Bardsley, greeted me with a beaming smile.
Having visited the establishment several times already, I made myself right at home, leading Alan straight into the private VIP room in the back.
Taking a seat, I got right to the point. "So, what kind of treasure is it?"
"Right this way, Your Highness."
Almost as soon as Alan signaled with his hand, one of his employees carried in an object draped in cloth.
"That shape... is it a painting?"
"It is indeed."
Alan gave a subtle jerk of his chin to his subordinate.
The cloth was drawn back, revealing a framed canvas.
It depicted a stunningly beautiful woman.
"It is a painting known as Huwawa."
"Hmm."
I stood up, walked over to the painting, and examined it closely.
"...Is it cursed?"
"Magnificent as always, Your Highness!"
Alan said, gesturing once more.
Another employee entered carrying a second painting.
This one was uncovered, making its subject immediately apparent.
It was a young girl.
It looked like an ordinary portrait, but upon closer inspection, she bore the unmistakable features of the beauty depicted in the first painting—Huwawa.
"And this is?"
"A replica, Your Highness. I am told it was copied around the time Huwawa was originally painted."
"I see. A cursed painting that ages, then?"
"Precisely, Your Highness."
I looked back and forth between the two pieces.
Huwawa, and its replica.
The difference was clear as day.
Through Leviathan, I could sense the extraordinary, unnatural aura radiating from the original.
If that was the case—
I summoned Leviathan to my hand.
Drawing the blade, which had been shrunk small enough to wear as a bracelet, I restored it to its full size.
And then—I swung it down.
I brought the blade down with enough force to cleave the painting of Huwawa in two.
"Your Highness?!"
Alan cried out in sheer panic, wondering what on earth I was doing.
Immediately afterward, his shock deepened into pure disbelief.
Though the painting appeared to have been struck, the canvas was entirely unharmed; instead, a beautiful woman burst forth from within the frame.
Her form was translucent, floating suspended in midair.
She looked just like an apparition.
"——"
The ghost—Huwawa—moved her lips, appearing to speak.
"I see."
"W-What did she say?" Alan asked me, trembling with fright at the soundless specter.
"She says her own blood was used for the paint in this picture. The artist must have been completely out of his mind. Apparently, he murdered her when she was just a child, mixed her blood into the oil paint, and used it to paint her portrait."
"T-To think such a horrifying thing happened..."
"——"
Huwawa spoke again.
Once more, it was a soundless voice that only I could perceive.
"W-What is it this time?"
"She says she wants to repay the favor of being freed. In that case, swear your loyalty to me."
"——"
After the words I understand echoed in my mind, Huwawa slipped back into the painting.
A moment later, she emerged again before returning once more inside.
Thanks to severing her cursed tether with Leviathan, she was no longer imprisoned within the painting; instead, she had gained the ability to use it as a physical vessel, entering and leaving whenever she pleased.
And then:
――――――――――――
Name: Noah Ararat
Imperial Prince Minister of Justice
Gender: Male
Level: 3 / ∞
HP: E+F Fire: F+B
MP: F+F Water: E+S
Strength: E+E Wind: F
Stamina: F+F Earth: F+F
Intelligence: F+E Light: F
Spirit: F+F Darkness: F
Speed: F+F
Dexterity: F+F
Luck: F+F
―――――――――――
My Earth stat had gained a slight "+" as well.
Though it was a cursed painting, considering the circumstances of its birth, this was about what I had expected.
Not bad at all.
Meanwhile, Alan, who had watched Huwawa move freely in and out of the canvas, stood rooted to the spot.
"I-Incredible... To think a cursed painting could be transformed like this..."
He was thoroughly, utterly dumbfounded.