"Your Majesty..."
"Hm? What is it, Henry? Why the grim look?"
Henry, who had been singing my praises until just moments ago, suddenly took on a troubled, solemn expression.
"It concerns the oversight of the realm during Your Majesty's absence..."
"...Ah."
I gave a small nod.
Henry hadn't spoken the name aloud, but he was referring to Oscar.
It was practically an open secret that Oscar still harbored ambitions for the throne, and Henry was well aware of it.
Originally, the imperial princes whom our father, the previous Emperor, relied upon most were the three of us: me, Henry, and Oscar.
We were appointed because we were simply the most capable among all the imperial princes.
Even after Father abdicated the throne to me, I continued to rely heavily on Henry and Oscar just as he had.
Partly, it was to fulfill Father's earnest wish.
Ultimately, with me reigning as Emperor, working hand-in-hand with Henry and Oscar to secure a long and prosperous era—that was what would elevate Father's legacy most in the annals of history.
...Though history is written by the victors, so I could shape it however I wished if I truly set my mind to it.
The other reason was simple: capable people are invaluable treasures.
I understood why Father had valued Henry and Oscar so highly.
Of Father's surviving sons, there were fewer than twenty.
Among them, those two stood out as exceptionally gifted.
That being the case, I personally wanted to make full use of them both.
I wanted to, but... Oscar's unyielding ambition remained a thorny issue.
"Forgive my presumption, but if both Your Majesty and I are absent simultaneously—"
"You need not say another word."
"Understood."
I rested my chin in my hand, lost in thought.
I needed to devise a way to keep Oscar from getting any dangerous ideas while I was away.
Naturally, I couldn't confront him directly.
Oscar was excelling as Minister of Finance, serving as an indispensable pillar of the imperial court.
Moreover, he had never once allowed his ambition to surface in the open.
Taking direct action against him was both impossible and pointless.
In that case...
"...I'll leave Shem in charge of the realm."
"Shem?! His Highness the Crown Prince?!"
Henry was utterly astonished.
And understandably so.
Shem was my firstborn son, after all.
"If I may say so, His Highness is still a toddler barely on his feet."
"Indeed. That is why I will appoint a mentor to assist him."
"A mentor..."
"As for the official title... right, Prince Regent should do nicely."
"Prince Regent..."
Henry carefully weighed the words, turning them over in his mind.
"Yes, Prince Regent. Among all royal titles, it is likely the most prestigious."
"Indeed. Depending on the circumstances, it carries authority that can even supersede the Emperor's."
"It commands immense administrative and executive power, and in some cases, entails acting as tutor and guardian to a young ruler."
"So you would grant him high standing to win his favor..."
"Precisely. It also signals that I place My trust in him. Bestowing an honor of that magnitude should give him pause, even if treasonous thoughts cross his mind."
"...Understood."
"Let us take one more precaution."
"What might that be?"
"Let us confer a new title upon Syrias. How about... the 'Loyal' Imperial Prince?"
"Loyal Imperial Prince..."
"While I do trust Henry,"
I began, letting out a soft chuckle as I gave a playful shrug.
"If asked which of My brothers would never, under any circumstances, harbor thoughts of rebellion—"
"I see. It would be Syrias."
Taking my cue, Henry broke into an amused smile.
Sixth Imperial Prince, Syrias Ararat.
A son of the previous Emperor, and the most earnest, upright man among all my brothers.
His integrity bordered on sheer stubbornness; he was completely inflexible.
To Syrias, notions like rebellion or usurpation were unthinkable—things he would never even dream of entertaining.
Consequently, Syrias was likely the most loyal man to the Emperor in the entire realm.
By appointing Syrias as the Loyal Imperial Prince, I could subtly apply pressure on Oscar.
"With a titled imperial prince in place, he can serve as a formidable political counterweight."
"Precisely."
"A brilliant move, Your Majesty."
"...Henry. What is the current strength of the Imperial Guard Army?"
"Pardon? Why do you ask... No, forgive me."
Puzzled, Henry had asked almost on reflex, but he quickly caught himself and searched his memory to answer.
"If we speak of troops ready for immediate mobilization, roughly thirty thousand."
"Humph."
"Shall they accompany the personal campaign? That would leave the imperial capital entirely unguarded, however."
"Leaving it wide open is precisely what I want."
"...I see."
Henry seemed to grasp half of my intention.
Yes—by deploying the Imperial Guard Army away from the capital, I would ensure Oscar couldn't seize control of them under any circumstance.
"Then they shall march with the campaign—"
"No, send them to Jessica."
"To Her Highness the Consort?"
Henry was taken aback once again.
His astonishment this time far surpassed the last.
"Forgive my presumption, but Her Highness has no need for additional troops. Would it not be wiser to keep them around Your Majesty to safeguard your person?"
"I am well aware she doesn't need reinforcements. That is not the purpose."
"Then what is?"
"Issue the order to Jessica semi-publicly: in the event that the Empire falls into crisis, she is to lead the Imperial Guard Army to eliminate the threat."
"...I see!!"
After a ten-second pause, Henry's eyes widened in realization as full understanding dawned on him.
"So that is why the order must be semi-public."
"Precisely. The blade is not aimed at this Noufe fellow; a clever man will understand its true target on his own."
Indeed. A man as sharp and capable as Oscar would immediately realize that the Imperial Guard Army's spearhead was pointed not at the rebels, but straight at him in the capital.
"Truly magnificent, Your Majesty. A masterstroke blending politics and military strategy at the highest level. I am in awe."
"I only hope... the day comes when such measures are no longer necessary."
Though he praised me, I could only manage a wry smile at the reality of having to play such games.
☆
Leaving all practical preparations for the campaign in Henry's hands, I headed out into the city.
Without hesitation, I made a beeline for Alice's establishment.
A short barker was standing outside drumming up business with great vigor, but he caught sight of me and froze in shock for a split second.
Startled though he was, he swiftly collected himself, falling dead silent as if his lively shouting moments ago had all been an illusion.
Keeping quiet, he guided me inside.
He was an old acquaintance, capable of recognizing me instantly even when I dressed in plain clothes.
Back when I was merely an imperial prince, he would welcome me with enough fanfare to proclaim to everyone around that an imperial prince had arrived. But after I ascended the throne, he had shifted completely to treating me with discreet subtlety like this.
Appreciating his tact, I pressed a tip of about a hundred Rien into his hand.
A smile broke across his face, though he still said nothing as he ushered me deeper into the venue.
Alice was singing.
I scanned the room and pointed toward a table tucked away in a corner.
It was an inconspicuous spot, and the barker led me there without a word.
Once I sat down, tea and refreshments were served almost immediately.
I picked at the snacks lightly, listening intently to Alice's voice.
"..."
She's gotten even better.
Alice was the very first talent I had ever discovered, and the first person I had ever patronized.
She possessed extraordinary talent and passion for singing, but her family's dire financial straits had once pushed her to the brink of giving it up entirely.
Blessed with talent but burdened by circumstance—lending a hand to people like that was the true privilege of the nobility.
I had covered her living expenses and resolved every problem money could fix, allowing Alice to sing without a care in the world.
More than a decade had passed since then.
Now, Alice was celebrated as the finest songstress in the imperial capital.
Her reputation as a gem discovered by the Emperor had propelled her popularity to even greater heights.
I lost myself in the beauty of her song.
When the performance ended, Alice retreated backstage.
I beckoned to another staff member nearby and slipped him a tip of about ten Rien.
"Take me backstage."
"Right away, sir."
This employee was also among those who knew my face.
Without uttering an unnecessary word, he led me toward the back of the stage.
Things like this happened from time to time, so while a few envious glances were directed my way from patrons who saw me head backstage, nobody made a fuss.
Upon stepping behind the curtain, I ran right into Alice.
"Ah, Your Majesty... I was just on my way to see you."
"I have something to discuss. It was too noisy out front, so I came back here."
"I see. Please, this way."
Taking over from the employee, Alice led me further inside.
Several dressing rooms lined the hallway backstage.
We entered one of them—a private room reserved exclusively for Alice.
In the center sat a fairly large round table and chairs, where she invited me to sit.
The moment I took my seat, I subtly issued a command to Leviathan.
I had Leviathan monitor the perimeter and project a subtle aura of intimidation, keeping any eavesdroppers at bay.
"May I offer you something to drink?"
"No, I'm fine. More importantly, we need to talk."
"Of course."
Alice quietly took the seat opposite me.
Often, women in establishments like this sold their bodies alongside their art, but Alice was different.
She was strictly a singer; unlike typical courtesans, she sat directly across from me rather than sidling up to my side.
"What I am about to tell you is because I place My trust in you."
"—! Yes. I swear on my life not to breathe a word to anyone."
Surprised, Alice nodded with utter seriousness.
"I need your time. At most... it may take up to a year."
"Understood."
Alice replied without a moment's hesitation.
A faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
"I shall serve you with all my heart. How might I conduct myself so as not to cause offense to Her Majesty the Empress?"
"Ah, that's not what this is about."
"Pardon?"
"I explained things in the wrong order. Let Me start from the beginning."
With a wry sigh, I reset the conversation.
"A rebellion has broken out in the west. As Emperor, I intend to lead the army in a personal campaign."
"...Yes."
Alice looked utterly baffled as to what this had to do with her, but rather than letting out an unseemly gasp, she simply offered a bewildered yet respectful, "Yes."
"Word of My personal campaign will reach the enemy. When it does, I intend to play the part of a foolish, incompetent Emperor."
"I see. That is why you wish to have me accompany you."
"Precisely. You are someone I personally scouted, yet I have never once laid a hand on you. I am well aware the commoners find that peculiar."
"Yes... To be frank, I found it somewhat strange myself."
"I will be entirely honest with you: what I fell in love with was your singing, not your charms."
"Thank you very much."
Alice replied, her voice trembling slightly.
She looked genuinely overjoyed.
"Telling that to the common folk would only invite confusion, so I keep quiet about it. But this time, I intend to exploit that perception."
"...Taking advantage of being far from Her Majesty the Empress's watchful eyes to indulge yourself by bringing me along—that is the story, yes?"
"Exactly."
"As expected of Your Majesty... The enemy will surely fall for it."
"It will make things much easier if they do."
I nodded.
Alice was quick on the uptake.
Since she had shown concern for the Empress—Audrey—right from the start, she grasped the angle involving her immediately.
"During this campaign, I intend to keep you at My side and play the debauched Emperor indulging in wine and women. Just as you said, taking full advantage of being away from the Empress's gaze."
"Understood. I will gladly assist you."
"I appreciate your cooperation. I will send an escort for you in a few days."
"Yes. I simply need to wait here so as not to draw Her Majesty the Empress's attention, correct?"
"That is correct."
I gave a firm nod.
"I'm counting on you."
"Yes, Your Majesty."