Chapter 43
The first emperor of the Gridol Empire, Drak=Delassa, has three wives.
The First Empress is Salisha-sama. The Second Empress is me, Piska, Rocabill's birth mother. And the Third Empress is Retswee-sama. Piska is also the birth mother of First Prince Bidecaldo. Filemas and Tsetsedra's mother is Retswee-sama.
Salisha-sama was not blessed with children, but even now she remains the emperor's trusted adviser and something akin to a friend. She was originally the daughter of a neighboring domain's lord, back when Father was merely a minor local lord, so they have known each other for a very long time.
To put it kindly, Salisha-sama is carefree and treats everyone equally, and she has doted on me since I was a child. The fact that the three empresses have never become enemies and have lived together peacefully is largely thanks to her.
Take Filemas's rebellion, for example. It was an extremely serious incident for the family, and there was more than enough possibility that Retswee-sama and those involved could have been punished.
It was Salisha-sama who dispelled that ominous atmosphere.
"What Filemas did certainly can't be forgiven! But isn't Tsetsedra, another child of Retswee, the one who saw through Filemas's rebellion and tried to stop it before it could happen? Punishing Retswee and her family would be completely beside the point. Drak, this happened because you drove your son into a corner. Am I wrong?"
In all the vast continent, she was probably the only person who could speak to Emperor Drak in such a manner.
Salisha-sama did not merely voice her opinions; she also made sure to get things done. Because the Empire had been pursuing a policy of expansion, the emperor was often away at the front. It was Salisha-sama who took charge of domestic affairs in his absence and kept the Empire's finances running.
That was why neither the emperor nor his senior retainers could ever stand up to Salisha-sama.
If she had not been there, the Filemas incident would have cast a great shadow over the Empire, and it might even have left behind deep resentment within its ranks.
The reason I am thinking about all this now is that Father is currently being lectured by Salisha-sama right in front of me.
It was because Salisha-sama had found out that he had dumped his work on me.
Quite apart from the work Father had been dumping on me, lately he had been utterly absorbed in a massive new-city project at the western edge of Rudek. Salisha-sama had heard that the resulting burden had fallen on me.
"Listen, as far as matters concerning Gridol are concerned, I will cooperate as much as I can while you do as you please. But Rudek's city project has nothing to do with our country. It is a personal arrangement between you and Lord Roa, is it not? You should not be neglecting your own country's affairs to prioritize it. Finish what you need to do first. Wouldn't you agree?"
Her words were entirely reasonable, leaving Father unable to utter a word in response. He merely lowered his head and mumbled something under his breath. Even though this was a private space, it was still a rather unusual sight.
"Now, now, Salisha-sama. My father-in-law is only doing this as a bit of relaxation. Besides, he must have entrusted the work to Rocabill because he trusts his abilities..."
The one who had casually slipped between Gridol's two most powerful figures to mediate was my sister-in-law, Luluria.
She had been entrusted with running the Empire's enormous port of Dragen, and had come today to deliver her regular report.
Luluria and Salisha-sama were extremely close, so whenever Luluria stopped by the Imperial Capital, she always made time to see Salisha-sama.
Her personality was almost exactly what one would get by splitting Father's and Salisha-sama's personalities down the middle. When the three of them stood together, they looked like a real family.
That aside, Luluria had happened to arrive while Salisha-sama was lecturing Father, and so she had stepped in to mediate.
"Th-that's right. I entrusted the work to Rocabill because I trust his abilities!"
Father seized on his daughter-in-law's words as though she had handed him the perfect excuse. Salisha-sama glared at him.
"...I see. Then you have had quite enough of a break. In return, I would like to give Rocabill some time off as well. Is that acceptable?"
Relieved, Father said, "Y-yeah, of course." Salisha-sama gave a sly grin, as though she had just secured his promise.
"Then you will take over Rocabill's duties for a while."
"Wha—? No, that won't do. I have a meeting about Rudek Ruins City in ten days..."
Father fell silent when Salisha-sama glared at him again before he could finish.
"No. This time, you will properly attend to your own country's affairs."
"But I promised Roa..."
"In that case, fine. I will go to Rudek in your place. Rocabill, you come with me as well. If you remain in the Imperial Capital, Drak may dump his work on you again. A vacation trip to Rudek might be just the thing."
Caught off guard by the sudden turn of the conversation, I hurriedly shook my head.
"N-no. I'm not much for traveling, and besides, I doubt I have a very good reputation in Rudek..."
Though I had been led astray by Riflerea's information, it was none other than Rocabill himself who had advised going to war with Rudek. Naturally, there must still be people in Rudek who did not think well of me.
"But aren't you on friendly terms with Lord Roa?"
"Well, we can at least talk to each other..."
There was something familiar about Roa=Stein of Rudek. ...The scent of a fellow sufferer.
"Um, then I have a good idea."
Luluria had entered the conversation once again.
"What might that be?"
Pointing at herself and smiling brightly, Luluria said,
"I am on close terms with Roa and the people around him. If I accompany you, I'm sure the two of you can enjoy Rudek without any trouble."
"Ah, Luluria, that's cheating!"
Despite Father's futile protest—and regardless of my own wishes—I ended up setting out for Rudek on a vacation trip.