After Noah took his leave, the Emperor summoned his longtime confidant, the First Prime Minister.
Whenever the Emperor sought Noah's counsel, he invariably moved to act on it or discuss it immediately.
Anticipating this, the First Prime Minister had been waiting on standby and arrived at the Emperor's study in less than five minutes.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty."
After offering a formal bow, the First Prime Minister spoke the words with measured calm.
Even the Emperor found this surprising and looked puzzled.
"What is there to congratulate?"
"I observed that Your Majesty's countenance looks exceptionally bright today. I surmised that something remarkably pleasing must have occurred."
"Heh, was it showing on my face?"
The Emperor's smile broadened with genuine delight.
"Noah has taken on the air of a truly formidable figure, more and more by the day."
"Oh? I would certainly be delighted to hear of it."
Seeing the First Prime Minister's interest, the Emperor took on the proud look of a father boasting of his son and recounted his entire exchange with Noah.
The First Prime Minister nodded along, listening attentively to the very end before speaking.
"Truly admirable. To act strictly upon noble rationale from start to finish... Among all Your Majesty's sons, the Wise Imperial Prince stands entirely alone in that regard."
"Indeed."
"He is truly the ideal paragon of the imperial family."
"And so, that is where things stand. I shall employ Rice Cake for the subjugation. I feel for Henry, but for now, I do not wish to hand military authority over to him."
"Understood. I will arrange matters accordingly."
"...Furthermore."
The Emperor paused, pinching his chin in thought.
Seeing that pensive expression, which bore a striking resemblance to Noah's, the First Prime Minister secretly mused on how truly alike father and son were.
After a brief silence, the Emperor looked up.
"Gather some promising young talents with potential and have them join Rice Cake's subjugation force."
"Understood. For what purpose shall they be selected?"
The First Prime Minister asked to confirm.
Depending on the objective, the type of personnel chosen would differ considerably, so he knew he had to grasp the intent precisely.
"As long as they have potential, that will suffice. The sole condition is that they must not belong to anyone's personal retinue."
"By your will."
"Heh. You have a look on your face that asks why I would do such a thing."
"...Ah."
The First Prime Minister flushed slightly, looking embarrassed.
"While there is still time, I wish to nurture young men who belong to no one, yet understand military affairs and have witnessed real battle. Independent talents whom the next emperor can employ, regardless of who inherits the throne."
"I see!"
An imperial prince who ascended the throne could almost never place his trust in the retainers of another prince.
Whether for convenience or sheer favoritism, a ruler inevitably relied on their own retinue.
The Emperor held the reins of military authority in an unyielding grip.
Consequently, the personal retainers of imperial princes had virtually no opportunities to experience actual warfare.
The Emperor's aim was to prepare capable, neutral personnel for the benefit of the next emperor.
That line of thinking, too, bore a remarkable resemblance to Noah's.
And what would Lord Noah have done in this situation? the First Prime Minister wondered.
"And there is one more thing. A matter of great importance."
"Yes, Sire."
"I intend to become a retired emperor."
"—?!"
It struck like a bolt from the blue.
The First Prime Minister was so utterly stunned that anyone could have read it on his face.
"W-What could Your Majesty possibly mean by that?"
"Do not lose your head. It is merely a continuation of our previous discussion. Ensuring three generations of prosperity through a worthy grandchild. That remains unchanged."
"I see..."
The First Prime Minister felt a faint wave of relief.
"However, I too am only mortal. While I can still manage affairs today, my judgment will inevitably decline as the years catch up to me. If that is the case, it would be far better for the Empire to properly pass on the throne while my faculties remain sharp. And besides..."
The Emperor offered a wry smirk.
"I realized the other day that living as a retired emperor, watching my son flourish as the reigning sovereign, might not be such a bad life after all."
"Is that so..."
Convinced, the First Prime Minister bowed his head deeply.
Even with his head lowered, he knew his expression remained rife with shock.
(As expected of Lord Noah... to think he has altered the course of even His Majesty's life...)
The First Prime Minister was by no means dull-witted.
Rather, a prime minister's primary role was to mediate between the Emperor and the ministers serving beneath him.
As a result, those in such positions were exceptionally attuned to the subtleties of human emotion.
The First Prime Minister grasped the truth at once.
It was Noah who had led the Emperor to this realization at this exact moment.
The Emperor had taken an immense liking to Noah.
Rather than continuing to wield absolute power himself, he wanted to witness what kind of reign Noah would bring about upon taking the throne.
Noah had driven the Emperor to resolve to abdicate of his own volition.
His caliber was growing greater by the day.
Such were the First Prime Minister's private thoughts.
☆
That evening, at the residence of Third Prime Minister Jean-Brad Reidouk.
Upon returning to my estate from the imperial palace, an invitation from Jean arrived.
He was hosting a banquet that night and earnestly requested my attendance.
While Jean held parties frequently, the tone of this invitation had been unusually persistent.
Intrigued, I made my way over around sundown.
When my carriage pulled up in front of the mansion, Jean came out to greet me personally.
"Welcome, Your Highness."
"What kind of gathering is it tonight?"
"Please, come inside."
Jean did not answer.
I decided not to press the issue.
Led by Jean and his servants, I entered the mansion.
I was escorted into the grand reception hall.
"Oh! It is an honor to see you again, Thirteenth Imperial Prince!"
Inside the hall was a familiar, if unexpected, face.
It was the envoy from Russi Tsari, the man I had met in the audience chamber.
Though surprised, the situation immediately made sense to me.
Jean was a man adept at forging connections and poured endless effort into maintaining them.
Having learned that the Empire's policy was leaning toward "utilizing" Russi Tsari, he was likely wining and dining the envoy to get in his good graces.
I gave Jean a brief smirk and addressed the man through Leviathan.
"I don't believe I caught your name earlier."
"Ah, forgive my discourtesy! My name is Ivan. It is an honor to make your acquaintance."
"Ivan, is it? Good to meet you."
"Yes, the pleasure is entirely mine!"
"My word, as expected of Your Highness. To think you are fluent in the Russi language as well... Hearing it anew never fails to astonish me. Come now, gentlemen, right this way."
Jean cut in with flawless timing.
There was a large table set in the hall, and he invited us to take our seats.
I sat in the seat of honor, with Ivan beside me, while Jean took the lowest seat.
Once we were settled, the food was served.
Unlike the previous banquet, there were only two guests—myself and Ivan. Thus, the portions were modest, but every dish was exquisite, lavishly prepared, and crafted with painstaking care.
As an imperial prince, none of it particularly surprised me, but Ivan reacted with theatrical delight every time he took a bite.
I could tell his joy was entirely genuine.
Because I was linked with Leviathan to translate, I received the added benefit of sensing my conversation partner's emotions.
Not that I could read their inner thoughts, but I could grasp the broad strokes of their feelings.
Ivan was truly ecstatic, matching his words and expressions, while Jean maintained a polite smile, feeling relieved that his hospitality was proceeding smoothly.
Suddenly, Ivan's gaze lingered on one of the serving maids.
The emotion radiating from him was a rosy hue—lust.
If that's the way it is, I thought, and shot Jean a look.
Well-versed in the art of hospitality, Jean understood everything from that single glance.
"Could you perhaps relay to him that we will arrange for her to attend to the envoy's bedchambers later tonight?"
"—That is what the Third Prime Minister offers."
"Eh? Oh, haha, well now, that is extraordinarily generous of you."
Rubbing the back of his head with a laugh, Ivan grinned.
Once again, his words and feelings were perfectly aligned; he was thoroughly pleased.
Jean rejoiced internally as well, keeping his composure intact.
From a host's perspective, when a guest was easily appeased by nighttime favors—that is, providing them a woman—nothing could be simpler.
Feed them, ply them with drink, and give them someone to hold.
It was the golden rule of entertainment, unchanged since antiquity, and I had a feeling it would remain the same far into the future.
Suddenly, another maid caught my eye.
On the surface, she appeared composed, but underneath, she was trembling and intensely on edge.
The maid stepped forward with a bottle and poured wine into Ivan's glass.
Her tension and terror only spiked higher.
What is going on here? I thought, when—
"Wait, do not drink that!"
The words burst from my lips reflexively, making Ivan jump.
Rising to my feet, I muttered an "Excuse me" and snatched the glass from his hand.
Then, I brought it to my nose.
"...It's poisoned."
"What?!"
Jean gasped in horror.
I stared down into the liquid.
Even within an inanimate object, emotions could linger.
A vicious, murderous intent was steeped within the wine.
It carried the exact same essence as the daggers wielded by the assassins who had once come after my life.
Both Jean and Ivan stood frozen, completely at a loss.
☆
In a private chamber away from the grand hall, Jean joined me as I waited.
He wore a conflicted, remorseful look.
"How did it go?"
"The maid confessed to everything. It appears she accepted a bribe to slip poison into the envoy's cup."
"To think she would actually agree to such a thing."
"She was told it was a slow-acting poison that would only take effect after a full night had passed."
"I see. She thought that would keep suspicion off her."
"That is what she claimed... Good heavens, it is only in moments like this that I truly appreciate how extraordinary Your Highness is."
"What do you mean?"
"I heard the details regarding the aftermath of the Almeria rebellion. How a maid could not bring herself to betray you and confessed instead."
Ah, he meant Zoe.
The Rebel Army had tried to buy Zoe off, but unable to betray me, she had reported the scheme to me directly.
"I had a measure of confidence in my own subordinates' loyalty, but... I am simply no match for Your Highness."
"Setting that aside, we need to apprehend the person behind the assassination."
"Indeed, but the maid stated that 'the culprit wore a hood and robe, so she could not tell what kind of person they were'..."
"That won't be an issue."
I picked up the glass sitting on a nearby table.
It was the poisoned drink I had kept in my possession the entire time.
Holding it, I linked with Leviathan.
A thread of water extended from my bracelet, snaking through the air.
"W-What is this?"
"A guide. If you've heard the details, then you must know I remotely bombarded the ringleader back then, right?"
"Yes."
"Strictly speaking, that attempt was a failure. This is an adaptation of that technique. This thread of water will advance slowly and pierce the mastermind through the legs. If you follow it, you will be able to capture them."
"I-Incredible! To think you had planned that far ahead..."
"I'm leaving it to you. Gather your men and follow it."
"Understood!"
Jean bowed deeply and hurried off to summon his men.
With the guidance of Leviathan and myself, Jean successfully captured the mastermind behind Ivan's attempted assassination alive.