After waiting in the lobby for about thirty minutes, we were informed that the palace was officially going into lockdown.
Between the investigation into the incident and the mountain of paperwork required for the aftermath, there was plenty to keep the authorities busy.
"Listen up, everyone. We're moving to the Inner Palace."
At my wife’s command, we headed into the deepest reaches of the palace—the Emperor’s private quarters. Standing guard before the entrance was a unit of the Emperor’s Personal Guard.
"I am Veronica, 128th Imperial Princess and 4th in the line of succession! In light of the Emperor’s passing, I am here as the ranking female successor to oversee the dissolution of the Inner Palace!"
The guards had clearly already been briefed on the situation. They stepped aside and ushered us through without a moment’s hesitation.
A court lady met us inside to take over as our guide, leading us toward a grand hall in the back where the women had been gathered.
Every single one of them shared a specific trait.
They were lolis.
Overwhelmingly loli.
Before my eyes sat a harem of girls whose bodies had been subjected to larval fixation.
…No wonder the Emperor was universally despised.
I could understand it if they’d chosen this for themselves, but there was no way that was the case.
My wife stepped out in front of the group.
"Mothers, sisters. I have come for you."
"Mothers?" I whispered, my confusion leaking out.
Veronica leaned in to explain. "The Emperor’s spouses are considered parents to all his children. It is likely a system designed to prevent messy succession struggles between half-siblings."
"Huh. You’d think that wouldn't be enough to stop people from fighting."
"Apparently, it has happened in the past. But for this generation, we had a very clear common enemy in the form of my father…"
Maro was truly in a league of his own when it came to being hated. I was actually starting to feel a little sorry for the guy.
"Veronica. What of His Majesty?"
A gorgeous little girl spoke up, her voice carrying an air of authority. I guessed she was the First Wife.
"He has departed," Veronica replied with a respectful bow.
"Did you lay hands on him?"
"No. I was not even afforded the time to prepare."
"Then who?"
"My brother, Cyrus."
Ah, right—the muscle-bound second elder brother with the glasses.
"What a troublesome boy… And the man beside you?"
"He is my husband, Leo Kamishiro."
The stunning loli-girl peered up at me, her eyes narrow and inquisitive.
"The face of a hero. A well-proportioned physique. My, he is a completely different type from His Majesty. Veronica-chan, you have excellent taste in men. I'm quite surprised."
To be fair, I think ninety-nine percent of humanity is a "different type" than the Maro Emperor. Still, the compliment made my wife blush.
"I am… deeply embarrassed…"
"Oh, there’s no need for that! Look at these glutes! So firm!"
"Oh my gosh! First Consort, did you see his chest?! He’s got a huge rack!"
"Eeeek! Veronica-chan, you lucky pervert!"
I immediately revised my assessment.
They might look like little girls on the outside, but on the inside, they were a pack of thirsty middle-aged women.
"Oh, forgive us, dear. We ‘aunties’ are just so, so bored. Our lives are utterly devoid of stimulation… Oh my, just feel this arm!"
I stood there helplessly as the older-women-trapped-in-tiny-bodies began prodding and poking various parts of me.
"Now then, everyone, please follow me," Veronica cut in.
The women swarmed around her, forming a long, shuffling line.
"Veronica-chan, thank you for saving us," one said.
"I… I did not arrive in time to save everyone…"
"We have heard the rumors of Leo-kun’s deeds. It was his strength that created this opportunity. It is thanks to you that we are free, Veronica."
The First Consort stepped forward and pulled Veronica into a hug.
"You are our daughter, Veronica. You are our hope—the beloved child who fulfills our dreams. You have done well. From now on, live for yourself. Be free. Be as free as the stars."
For just a fleeting moment, my wife’s eyes shimmered with tears. But in the next heartbeat, she straightened her posture, returning to her usual, commanding self.
"Indeed! I shall take this country for my own!"
"That's the spirit. Become the Emperor and tear down this ridiculous Inner Palace."
"I promise you I shall! For I have my beloved husband at my side!"
Dismantling the Inner Palace and my own harem plan seemed to be trending in the same direction… though I suppose the lack of incestuous elements was a key difference.
"Listen up! Students, you are to guard the mothers under the direction of the Imperial Guard! Lord Groom, Melissa, Claire, and Ren shall serve as my personal guard! We’re heading out!"
A fleet of cars was waiting for us within the palace grounds. We moved out in a long, armored procession.
Military escorts joined the convoy, but according to Veronica, the only ones we could truly trust were the Imperial Guard and our own group. She explained that while there was no immediate profit in killing her yet, she’d be erased just as quickly as the Emperor the moment she became an obstacle to the higher-ups.
Inside the car, the news of the Emperor’s assassination was already on every channel.
The reports matched what we’d seen with our own eyes, for the most part. The main difference was the spin: it was being framed as a lone-wolf act by Cyrus, motivated by a desperate concern for the Empire’s future.
Never mind the fact that not a single one of the bigwigs in that room had lifted a finger to stop him.
The report mentioned that some high-ranking General—whose name I didn't even recognize because he was so high up the food chain—had resigned to take responsibility. His successor? None other than that old man, Lieutenant General Takakura.
By the time we reached the palace gates, a massive mob of protesters had already gathered.
Their slogans were a mess: "The evil Emperor has fallen! Citizens, unite and win the war! Government, release Prince Cyrus!"
I couldn't make heads or tails of it. No matter how you looked at it, the whole thing smelled like it was being orchestrated by the government. The Emperor, who had been used as a scapegoat for every failure of the war, was being depicted as a literal demon king in the media.
So this was how propaganda worked.
Once the news finished its exhaustive list of the late Emperor’s sins, it moved on to a special feature introducing the candidates for the throne.
The frontrunner was the eldest brother, Thomas. The "Legitimate Candidate," highly popular among the high nobility.
Next was Walter, who had moved up the line after the second brother’s "incident." He was a favorite among the civilian bureaucrats in charge of internal affairs.
And then, there was my wife. She was the overwhelming favorite among commoners and the lower nobility, with rock-solid support from the military.
The commentators were saying the next Emperor would be decided by which brother Veronica chose to side with.
"Wife-chan. Are you going to pick a side?"
"I shall not."
Figured as much.
"Does that mean Your Highness is going for the top spot yourself?" Melissa asked, leaning forward with a grin.
"That depends… on what the ministers and Takakura’s faction are plotting."
We eventually arrived at our destination: a luxury resort hotel. They’d rented out the entire place, including the annex, for our use. It was the height of decadence, all on the taxpayers' dime.
The loli-hag brigade was given the best suites in the building, with the Imperial Guard maintaining a high-security perimeter.
The students were put to work as well, using the situation as a practical exercise for VIP security training. I ended up pulling a two-hour shift standing guard at the entrance.
Come to think of it… normally, you wouldn't get a chance to do VIP security until you’d been in the army for years. There’s usually a massive waiting list just for the training. There were probably career soldiers who would’ve paid out of their own pockets for this kind of experience.
I felt like I was being incredibly spoiled.
Once my shift ended, I got a call on the comms.
"Sorry, Lord Groom! I need a hand with some cargo!"
Major Piggett had a job for me at the loading bay.
I spent the next hour operating a forklift, moving crates of weapons and ammunition. Turns out, there aren't many students who actually have a license for heavy machinery.
...Wait. What exactly is a Lord Groom supposed to be doing, anyway?
And so, the first day ended without a single assassination attempt or hidden conspiracy.
Honestly, I’m starting to feel like I’d rather just go back to saving other planets.