Chapter 20
About two weeks had passed since the incident. Because the turmoil had been so great, there had been no notable developments in the struggle for the throne.
Meanwhile, Leo and I had gone together to a certain place.
It was called the Inner Palace.
It was where the Emperor's consorts lived.
Located behind Imperial Sword Castle, it was a women's palace that only the Emperor and those he permitted could enter.
We had only one reason for coming here.
To see our mother.
How long had it been since I'd last seen her? It might have been about three months. Well, I was the only one who hadn't seen her in a while.
Apparently, Leo came to visit whenever he found the time. That was very conscientious of him.
"Mother, Al and Leo have come to pay their respects."
"Welcome. I've baked some sweets. Stay and have some."
In the Inner Palace, she was probably the only mother who would greet a son she hadn't seen in ages with such a casual remark.
Her name was Mitsuba. She had long black hair and black eyes. She was so young and beautiful that no one would guess she had two grown sons. According to her, she put a great deal of effort into maintaining that appearance.
She was a dancer from the East, and the legendary dancer whom Father had fallen for because of her beauty and proposed to on the spot. Even now, people in the Imperial Capital enjoyed hearing the story.
Well, the reason it was considered a legend was that her response to his proposal had been utterly outrageous: she had said she would not let him interfere in their children's education, then asked whether that was all right with him. But then again, that was exactly the sort of thing our mother would say.
In fact, she had never let the Emperor interfere in our education at all.
That was how I ended up the way I did, but Leo grew up splendidly, so I suppose it evened out.
We sat at the table that had been prepared for us and nibbled on sweets. Then—
"Speaking of which, it's been a while, Al."
"Yes, it has been a while, Mother."
"Was it because you were having too much fun playing? Or have you found a sweetheart?"
"The former."
"What a boring answer. You two have far too little romance in your lives. At least give your mother some love stories to listen to."
Sometimes I wondered whether this woman forgot that her sons were princes.
If Leo had a girlfriend, it would be a major issue. We'd have to investigate everything, from her family background onward.
Still, we were raised as ordinary children, without worrying about any of that. We were taught the bare minimum of etiquette and manners, but that was about it.
Her policy was simple: if a child wanted to do something, she let them. So even when we escaped because our tutors' lessons were boring, we were never scolded. She only told us every time that we should study if we thought it would be necessary in the future.
Looking back, it was terrifying. What did she think a prince's education was supposed to be?
By leaving us to our own devices, she raised a slacker for an older brother and a meticulous younger one. You could say our personalities had come through perfectly.
"That reminds me, why did the two of you come here together so formally?"
"Mother. I have been appointed plenipotentiary ambassador, and my older brother has been appointed my aide. It seems I may have to leave the country before long. We came to report that to you."
"Oh? Is that so? Then I'd prefer souvenirs I can eat. Decorative items would only give me trouble."
"Haaah..."
How could someone with a personality like this manage to live in the Inner Palace?
The Inner Palace was currently embroiled in its own power struggle. Apparently, the mothers were scheming to put their own children on the throne. With the Empress and the Emperor watching, they could not act too openly, but there was no doubt that it was a place where careful maneuvering was required.
"Mother, aren't you worried about that?"
"Do you want me to worry? Leo, you're still such a child. I have no intention of fussing over an eighteen-year-old. If His Majesty entrusted you with this work, it's because he judged you capable. I trust his judgment."
"I see... Then I'll approach my duties with confidence."
"I was practically nominated as an afterthought, so I'll just take it easy."
"Do as you please. Even if you fail, you won't be killed."
Mother said that while sipping her tea.
Anyone else would have said that failure was absolutely unacceptable, or that this was a chance to impress His Majesty.
As I was thinking that, I heard a knock at the door.
When Mother answered, the door opened, and Christa poked her head in.
"Oh, Christa. Come in."
"Mother!"
Wearing a bright expression she never usually showed, Christa ran over to Mother and climbed onto her lap.
Once petite Christa was settled on Mother's lap, she stared intently at the sweets on the table.
At least, she seemed to understand that the sweets had been prepared for us.
"You can eat them. Al and Leo hardly eat anything."
"Really? Big Brother Al, Big Brother Leo?"
"Sure, go ahead. Eat as much as you like."
"I think I'll have a little more, too. Shall we eat together, Christa?"
"Yeah!"
Christa looked perfectly at ease as she reached for the sweets.
She looked as though she were with her real mother.
Christa's mother had died when Christa was young. Mother had been the one to say that she would raise Christa.
Ever since then, Christa had looked up to Mother as if she were her real mother, and through that relationship, she had grown attached to us as well.
"Speaking of which, Erna came to say hello. She apologized to me about you, Al. Did you do something?"
"Yes, well, she went and meddled where she shouldn't. Thanks to her, I got saddled with the troublesome post of aide."
"Big Brother's lazy... Bad!"
Christa pointed the arm of a stuffed rabbit at me.
Apparently, the stuffed rabbit was the one doing the scolding. When I frowned, everyone laughed.
That peaceful time soon came to an end.
Just as I was thinking it was about time to leave, Mother suddenly asked me something.
"Oh, right. There was something I meant to ask."
"What is it?"
"Which one of you will become the Blue Seagull Princess's consort?"
"Pfft!!"
Leo and I both spat out our tea at the same time.
Choking, I wiped my mouth with the towel Christa offered me.
What was with her, asking something like that out of nowhere?
"Fiene-san and I aren't like that, Mother..."
"But it's unusual to hear you call a woman -san. Does that mean Leo has the advantage?"
"People do say she and Leo make a good match, though."
I took the opportunity to pin the whole thing on Leo.
Leo's expression practically accused me of betrayal, but I had no desire to get involved in such a troublesome conversation.
Just as I was thinking that I should leave as quickly as possible, an unexpected ambush got in my way.
"Mother, Fiene is Big Brother Al's friend."
"Oh! Is that so?"
"Yes. Fiene is really pretty, and she and Big Brother Al look good together."
"Oh my."
"No, no..."
Mother gave me a look that seemed to say I had quite an eye for women, leaving me bewildered.
How could she take a little girl's word at face value? Fiene and I made a good match? If that sort of talk got around the Imperial Capital, people would laugh.
"We only spend so much time together because of my connection with Duke Kleinert. There's nothing going on."
"Even so, she's the most beautiful woman in the Empire, you know. Right, Christa?"
"Hmm... Mother is prettier!"
"Thank you, Christa! I think you're the prettiest too!"
For some reason, the two of them hugged. I sighed, stood up, bowed once, and left.
"You're leaving already?"
"I've been here quite a while. Besides, I have someone to meet today. You stay a little longer."
"See you, Big Brother Al."
"Yeah, see you. And you too, Mother."
"Yes. Take care of yourself. You always push yourself too hard."
"I've never overexerted myself even once in my life. I've always lived as I pleased."
"Is that so? Well, I'll let you keep saying that. Then do your best."
After Mother saw me off, I left the Inner Palace and steeled myself.
I felt there was still a long way to go.
To preserve that peaceful space.
I couldn't afford to rest.
"Sebas."
"Yes, my lord."
"Find out the neutral nobles' weaknesses. We'll do what we can while we're in the Imperial Capital."
"Understood."
And so my covert activities began anew.