After leaving Oscar's estate, I hailed a street cab and climbed inside.
"Where to, sir?"
"The Royal—Sky Road."
"Right away, sir!"
Following my order, the driver cracked his whip, setting the carriage in motion.
I had a specific reason for using that commoner slang.
Sky Road—the road above the heavens.
Originating from the perception of the Emperor as a celestial being, the grand avenue before the imperial palace was colloquially referred to as Sky Road.
Since it carried a slightly mocking undertone, members of the imperial family rarely used the term, even if they knew it.
I had used it deliberately.
Then, assuming an innocent demeanor, I struck up a conversation with the driver.
"How are things? Business treating you well?"
"Aye, just about gettin' by. A while back, there'd be no fares no matter how long I drove around. There were times I could barely afford feed for this fellow here."
The driver spoke while reaching out to pat his horse.
"These days, if you head out, you're bound to pick up a passenger, so I'm not starvin'."
"I see."
I nodded firmly.
Since the opportunity had presented itself, I wanted to disguise myself as an ordinary person with no ties to the ruling class and hear the unvarnished voice of the common people.
True information rarely reaches an emperor.
People fear punishment, or they seek to flatter.
Most of the reports passed up by ordinary ministers are embellished.
Henry and Oscar know me well, so there is less of that with them, yet they still exercise a degree of tactful discretion.
The only one who doesn't mince words in the truest sense is Phil Mohm, whom I happened to pick up by chance.
I consider him a genuine treasure.
"So the economy is looking up. Do you know why that happened?"
"A fella like me wouldn't understand complicated matters like that."
"Just what you feel is fine."
"Well now... reckon it's 'cause the Emperor abdicated."
"Oh?"
The economy improved because Father abdicated to become the retired emperor?
Why... would that be?
Frankly speaking, even now, I don't hold a candle to Father.
Father is the greatest in the Empire—no, he is a wise ruler ranking among the very best across all dynasties recorded in the history books.
The economy improved because that Father stepped down...?
What on earth could that mean?
"Why would the Emperor abdicating make things better?"
"Well, the previous Emperor was an old man, right?"
"Yeah."
"Means it wouldn't have been a shock if he suddenly dropped dead any day."
"True, he is of that age."
"When an emperor dies, what with one thing and another, you can't run a proper business for at least half a year—maybe even a full year if things go badly."
"...Ah."
It clicked for me.
The passing of an emperor is a monumental event.
Naturally, decrees are issued to the provinces as well, but the imperial capital, being right under his feet, is required to enter complete mourning.
Entertainment venues like taverns are completely shut down.
A wide array of restrictions is enforced, such as eating simple meals and prohibiting fashionable attire.
To be frank, the imperial capital comes to an absolute, temporary standstill.
"So, seein' as it was gettin' to be about that time, folks saved up tightly to make sure they could survive when it happened, tightening their purse strings."
"I see. If he's no longer the Emperor, his passing won't cause such a fuss."
"Exactly. The current Emperor is young, so there's decades left before he kicks the bucket in the natural course of things. With that kind of peace of mind, people've started loosening their purse strings, I reckon."
"I see."
I nodded firmly.
It was an angle that had never occurred to me, but it made total sense.
In the end, as long as a ruler can reassure the people and give them hope for the future, they have earned a passing grade.
This... was an unexpected windfall.
I had knowledge of the ceremonial protocols surrounding an emperor's demise, but I had never imagined the impact it had on the common folk.
Being able to hear this was an unanticipated joy.
"Here we are, sir."
"Ah, thank you."
I pulled some money from my pocket and handed it to the driver.
The driver took it—and his eyes went wide.
"S-Sir?! What is this?!"
"A tip. Keep it."
"A t-tip... isn't this around a hundred...?"
Strictly speaking, it was 1,000 Rien, but I chose not to point that out.
As a ruler, as the Emperor.
Hearing what he just told me was a bargain at the price of 1,000 Rien.
I need to consider the impact of governance from more diverse angles.
I hopped down from the carriage.
Leaving the driver frozen in place, I paid him no mind and strode forward.
Sky Road—the grand avenue before the imperial palace—had only sparse foot traffic.
I made a beeline for the palace's main gate and stopped before the sentry.
"Who goes—gah!"
The guard challenging me turned pale and instantly threw himself to the ground.
"F-Forgive me! Forgive me!"
"Being faithful to your duty is commendable. Send word inside: if the Retired Emperor is still awake, I request an audience."
"Y-Yes, Sire! Right away!"
The guard scrambled inside.
I waited on the spot for a short while.
It was normally unthinkable for the Emperor to visit the Retired Emperor's palace in such a fashion, but since my return to the imperial capital had not yet been made public, I felt this approach was preferable.
After a few moments, the guard came rushing back.
He had run in such a panic that he tripped along the way, crawling up before me.
"T-The Retired Emperor will see you."
"Good. Well done."
I tossed the guard some small coins worth about 10 Rien and stepped inside.
Perhaps because the guard's advance message had arrived, several court ladies had already gathered to receive me.
"We shall guide you."
Being court ladies who attended Father, they did not show excessive terror upon seeing me, the Emperor, but bowed strictly according to etiquette.
They then escorted me inside the palace.
Following the court ladies, I arrived at Father's study.
It was the study he had long used for government affairs, but after yielding the imperial throne to me, the reports had dwindled, and books had taken their place.
Father was reading inside that study.
"Oh, you have come, Noah."
I took a step forward and knelt before Father.
Having become the Emperor, the only person in this world I kneel to is Father, the Retired Emperor.
Father accepted this serenely, his face softening into a warm expression.
"Make yourself comfortable."
"By your will."
I stood up and faced Father directly.
"I have heard. It seems you managed to restore the dragon vein in Reararat quite well."
"Yes, however, not completely—"
"Making the decision to use a sacrificial offering was magnificent. Oscar would have agonized over it for three days."
"—!!"
I was struck with astonishment.
A sacrificial offering.
It wouldn't be strange for Father to know that I had restored the dragon vein.
I had restored it once and it failed, which took place some time ago.
However, tossing a sacrificial offering into the restoration happened right before I raced back to the imperial capital via super express.
Which meant that within Father's intelligence network...
There were people capable of transmitting information via super express as well.
I had been made aware of the terrifying extent of Father's information network since childhood, but rarely had I been as shocked as I was today.
Startled as I was, I covered up my inner turmoil.
"...Yes, because it was necessary, I made use of a death-row inmate."
"Umu... Noah, a ruler at times faces difficult choices. Whether to sacrifice one to save many, or to make the many endure in order to rescue one."
"...The ultimate dilemma, indeed."
"Precisely. What would Noah do in such a situation?"
Intuitively, I knew I was being tested.
I thought about it.
Sacrifice one to save many?
Sacrifice many to save one?
To be honest, it was a question without an answer.
Either answer could be considered right, and either could be considered wrong.
That is the nature of such a choice.
However, from the standpoint of the Emperor—
"I believe... I would choose to sacrifice the one."
"Even if that one were to be me?"
"...!"
I fell silent.
In that silence, I locked eyes with Father.
Father's expression was dead serious.
After thinking a bit further, I spoke.
"...If it would serve the good of the people."
"...Heh."
Father let out a soft chuckle.
His expression was one of relief.
"I am reassured. As expected of you, Noah."
"..."
It was nothing worthy of praise—just as that thought crossed my mind...
Father dropped a bombshell.
"If you can sacrifice even me, then it should be possible no matter who the opponent is."
"—!!"
My shock deepened even further.
Father was truly terrifying as always.
No matter who the opponent—no matter if it's Oscar—was that it?
I already knew all too well how formidable Father's intelligence network was.
He was bound to be fully aware of Oscar's ambition as well.
In short, Father was asking, Can you cut down Oscar when the time comes?
"...Yes, I have prepared my resolve."
"I see. Then it is well."
Father's expression softened.
He stood up just like that, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked over to the window.
He looked outside, gazing up at the moon.
"Noah, you must already feel it acutely."
"..."
"There is no 'personal self' for an emperor."
"...No, there is not."
"Food undergoes poison tasting after poison tasting until it is cold by the time it reaches you. Even taking a woman as a man is recorded down to the finest detail. For the sake of government affairs, for the morning assemblies with the ministers, not even a single instance of oversleeping is permitted."
"Should one violate that, history books will brand them as either incompetent or a tyrant."
"Indeed. An emperor possesses no 'private'; there is only the 'public.' Therefore, one is lonely."
"...Yes."
What came from Father's mouth were weighty words born of personal experience.
"Heh, even so, with Noah's talent, you should be able to overcome even that."
He broke into a broad smile.
Father's smile dispelled the heavy atmosphere that had settled over the room.
"I will devote myself to living up to your expectations."
I too brushed aside the heavy air and offered a polite bow.
"Now then, I have not yet heard your purpose in coming, Noah."
"You may already know, Father, but... I am undertaking a personal campaign."
"Umu. Is there something you wish for me to do?"
"Yes—I want you to protect Shem."
"...Oh?"
A brief pause.
Father smiled with genuine amusement.
It was completely different from before—a look showing that he was genuinely delighted from the bottom of his heart.
As proof, Father tilted his head back toward the ceiling and let out a hearty laugh.
"I see, I see! So you intend to make good use of me as well?"
"I am humbled."
"Umu, you did well to bring that to me. Truly admirable, Noah."
Father praised me once more.
Shem, my son, the current Crown Prince.
I only learned this later, but Father had yielded the throne to me after seeing Shem.
Henry, Oscar, and me. The decisive factor in that three-way deadlock had been Shem.
A fine grandson allows one to expect three generations of imperial prosperity—seeing Shem's high level cap, Father decided to yield the throne to me.
I understand the reasoning.
I would have done the same.
Choosing not just based on the son, but looking all the way to the grandson.
Though naturally, I made Shem the Crown Prince so as not to let others catch onto that.
In other words, to Father, Shem was a grandson who might well be more precious than his own life.
There was no telling what might occur during my absence.
However, if I entrusted it to Father, the safety of Shem's life would be undeniably guaranteed.
"Very well, I grant your request."
"Thank you very much."
I bowed my head once more.
With this, another point of concern was cleared away.
A personal campaign is a major undertaking; I must ensure every possible precaution is taken.
What I must do next is—
My mind was running at full throttle, working through the possibilities.
☆
Late at night, at Oscar's estate.
A man appeared before Oscar, who had already retired to bed.
The man's name was Isuka Riote.
He was one of Oscar's retainers.
For a male retainer to pay a visit in secret late at night...
Something had to be amiss.
Suppressing his displeasure, Oscar faced Isuka.
The two were near a table set inside Oscar's bedroom.
Oscar remained seated, while Isuka knelt before him, bowing his head.
"What is your business?"
"Sire... the Emperor will be setting out on a campaign."
"...And?"
Oscar consciously stopped himself from furrowing his brow.
Isuka continued.
"By nature of our department, we will be accompanying him. On the battlefield, accidents can happen..."
"—!"
Oscar's expression changed drastically.
An accident, on the battlefield.
Naturally, what Isuka meant was something triggered deliberately, or simply abandoning him depending on the circumstances.
That, too, was a notion that would never have crossed the mind of an internal affairs specialist like Oscar.
A devilish temptation descended upon Oscar.