A Tour of the Imperial Capital

I returned to the imperial capital and immediately headed to Leo.

Leo knew I was making moves, but he didn't know I was connected to Silver. So I needed to clear up any questions he might have about that.

"So Brother was connected to Silver after all... I knew you had a lot of acquaintances, but I never expected you to have contact with someone that important."

"I wasn't the one who sought him out. He approached me. As proof of his trust, he offered to help bring Duke Kleinert over to our side. So Silver and I arranged things to make it look as though you had asked Silver for help. Sorry for only getting your approval afterward."

After reporting what had happened in the ducal domain, I explained Silver to Leo in his room.

I had to make it seem as though Silver was the one taking the initiative, or it would become difficult for me to act. I was merely being used by Silver. Even if this story leaked, most people would reach that conclusion.

Our connection to Silver would eventually be discovered. I had to prepare for that as well.

"All right. You must have had your reasons for doing things your way, Brother."

"Yes. I didn't tell you because I didn't completely trust Silver. However, he acted just as he promised. For now, I think we can trust him. That said, he is certainly a man with many mysteries. He still hasn't revealed why he is helping us, so we should wait before placing our complete trust in him."

"I see... I'd like to meet him, too."

"I'll let him know, but considering that he went out of his way to contact me, he doesn't seem interested in meeting you directly for now. I know how to contact him, but whether he'll respond is up to him. He's like a joker who moves freely instead of doing exactly what we want. Let's not rely on him too much."

"I understand. But thanks to him, the Kleinert domain was saved, and the duke agreed to cooperate with us, didn't he? He must be a good person, at least."

"You always choose to see things in the best possible light..."

I sighed in exasperation.

Lately, I felt as though I had been hearing that kind of sigh quite often. The reason was obvious. Besides Leo, another person of a similar type had recently joined those around me.

"By the way, I heard someone was sent here from the ducal family. Who came? Surely the duke himself didn't come all this way..."

"Yes, that's right. Sebas, go bring her here."

"Yes, sir."

When I called to Sebas, who was standing at the corner of the room, Fiene came over from a nearby room a short while later.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Prince Leonart. I am Fiene von Kleinert, eldest daughter of Duke Kleinert. I hope we will become well acquainted."

Fiene elegantly pinched the hem of her skirt and bowed.

Leo returned the greeting with flawless etiquette and without the slightest hint of surprise.

"I am the Eighth Prince, Leonart Reeks Adler. I never expected to have the opportunity to speak directly with the Blue Gull. You are far more beautiful than you appear from a distance. It is an honor to meet you."

"My, what a smooth talker you are. It is an honor for me to meet Arnold-sama's younger brother as well. Just as Arnold-sama told me, you seem like such a kind person. That is a relief."

"Brother talked about me? That makes me curious. Would you tell me what he said?"

"Of course. Ah, let me pour you some tea."

"Thank you very much."

They hit it off in less than a minute. My own little brother was terrifying. Slipping so smoothly into people's hearts was practically a talent.

They had few topics in common. Naturally, they became animated while discussing the one subject connected to them both: me.

As for me, all I could do was grimace uncomfortably. Perhaps Leo took pity on me, because he turned the conversation toward me.

"By the way, Brother, how do you intend to have Fiene-san help us?"

"She'll basically serve as a negotiator. Also, for a while, she'll frequently travel from the mansion in the imperial capital to our residence. That alone will show that Duke Kleinert has taken our side. That's all for now. Ah, I've already told her about my relationship with Silver. You don't need to worry about that. She knows I deceived her and is cooperating with me anyway."

"You keep putting things in a way that makes yourself look bad... It is true that my family angered Silver-sama, and it is also true that Arnold-sama interceded for us. Isn't that enough?"

"We think alike. I feel the same way. One of Brother's faults is that he puts himself down more than necessary."

"Sigh..."

It felt as though Leo had somehow become two people.

Still, having more good people on our side would make it easier to gather allies. My worries would probably increase, though.

"That's just how I do things. Don't worry about it. More importantly, Leo, have you managed to gather any allies in the imperial capital?"

"Hmm, not really. All the influential people in the imperial capital have already been drawn into one of the three factions."

I asked about Leo's progress to change the subject, but the answer was exactly what I had expected.

Even if it became known that Duke Kleinert had joined Leo, only the neutral forces would move. Those who had already been drawn in by our three rivals could not be swayed. With no one yet aware that the duke had taken our side, that was only natural.

"Um... I don't know much about the situation in the imperial capital. Could you tell me about the three rivals?"

"You didn't tell her?"

"I was tired from all her unrelated questions along the way... I couldn't find the energy to explain."

"I'm sorry..."

"No, you're something else, Fiene-san. You managed to trouble Brother, who usually lets just about everything roll off his back."

"Really?!"

"It means you're troublesome enough that even he couldn't brush you off."

"Ugh..."

Ignoring Fiene's dejected expression, I lined up the three gemstones sitting in the room on the table so it would be easy to understand.

"Suppose these three represent our rivals. The first is a blue gemstone: the Second Prince, Erich Reeks Adler, twenty-eight years old. He controls many of the ministers and is known as the intellectual among the princes. The second is a red gemstone: the Third Prince, Gordon Reeks Adler, twenty-six years old. He commands the largest faction in the military and is a warrior who personally takes the field. The third is a green gemstone: the Second Princess, Zandra Reeks Adler, twenty-two years old. She excels at magic and has gathered support from mages throughout the Empire. These three are each expanding their factions while aiming for the Imperial Throne. There are probably other members of the imperial family who want it, but compared to these three, they might as well not exist."

"Civil officials, military officers, and mages. Each of them has a solid base of support. The current struggle for the throne consists of nobles seeking their own interests and joining whichever faction benefits them. It began three years ago, after our eldest brother, the Crown Prince, died on the battlefield."

"I have heard about that... Father said that if the wise First Prince were still alive, there would never have been a struggle for the throne."

"Exactly. If he were alive, we wouldn't be dealing with this mess."

However, in another sense, his death had given every member of the imperial family a chance.

That was what bothered me. He had been intelligent, brave, and an excellent person. Our eldest brother was like an upgraded version of Leo. Could someone like that really have died in battle?

An investigation had been conducted—by the Emperor himself. It had proven that his death was not the result of a conspiracy, but I couldn't shake the feeling that some deeper plot was hidden beneath it.

Even so, there was no point in dwelling on the dead.

"He is gone, and our three older siblings show no mercy to their opponents. Leo, our only path forward is for you to take our eldest brother's place and become Emperor."

"I know. But can I really do it...?"

"Don't worry. I guarantee it."

Saying that, I patted Leo on the back.

Seeing Leo cough, Fiene and I laughed.

■■■

It had been three days since Fiene came to the imperial capital.

After greeting the Emperor, Fiene had visited us without fail. Naturally, many people saw her doing so, and rumors spread throughout the imperial capital.

The rumor was that Duke Kleinert had sent the Blue Gull to remain at Prince Leonart's side in order to support him.

The rumors continued to spread, growing more elaborate with every retelling. The gossip-loving people of the imperial capital might turn it into a love story between Leo and Fiene, but that would not be a bad thing. As long as the rumor spread, word that Duke Kleinert had sided with Leo would spread along with it.

Just then...

"Would you give me a tour of the imperial capital?"

Fiene asked me that.

I knew why she was asking. I knew the imperial capital far better than Leo did.

However, there was a problem.

"If you walk around the imperial capital, you'll attract far too much attention..."

"I'll disguise myself!"

Saying that, Fiene put on a pair of glasses with a confident expression.

She apparently considered it a disguise, but it was no disguise at all. It might make fewer people realize that she was Fiene, but it did nothing to hide the fact that she was beautiful.

The glasses only made her look more like an intellectual beauty. There were probably plenty of people who would prefer her this way. The fact that she thought this counted as a disguise made it difficult to call her intelligent, though.

"Rejected."

"W-Why?!"

As Fiene continued to plead, I sighed in exasperation. Apparently, this girl had no idea that she was beautiful enough to draw a great deal of attention.

Receiving that blue seagull hair ornament was practically the same as being told she was the most beautiful woman in the country.

"I don't want to do anything that will attract attention. If you can make yourself less noticeable, I might reconsider."

I dismissed Fiene's request while muttering to myself that there was no chance of that happening.

Going out with me at this point would be a bad idea. The rumors about Fiene and Leo had finally begun to take shape. Bringing the Dregs Prince into the middle of them would only ruin things.

While thinking that, I spent the morning in my room. Around noon, Fiene entered with a confident look on her face.

"Please show me around the imperial capital!"

"I don't want to. You'll attract too much attention."

"I'll disguise myself!"

As before, Fiene confidently pulled out a piece of clothing.

It was a gray, hooded cloak. It was clearly intended for travelers.

Fiene put it on and pulled the hood over her head. It covered her face completely, so no one would recognize her at a glance.

"Whose idea was this?"

"Sebas-san told me about it!"

"That Sebas... We also have to think about your protection, so we'll do this another time."

"Sebas-san said I don't need an escort as long as I have Arnold-sama with me!"

"..."

Was that butler thinking of nothing but getting in my way?

I had wanted to finish gathering the neutral nobles who seemed likely to come over to our side today...

Staring at me with sparkling eyes, Fiene made me sigh and give in.

"All right. Let's go outside and get something to eat."

"Yes!"

"We can't stay out too long, all right? You're getting requests for meetings from all sorts of people, aren't you?"

"No, I haven't received any such requests yet."

"...Because you're Father's favorite. No one would dare make a move on you."

The Emperor was not considering making Fiene his consort. He simply liked the beautiful Fiene as though she were his daughter. That was even more troublesome. If someone got too close to her, the Emperor might become angry like a father whose daughter was being courted.

The fact that she was connected to Leo was probably another reason the other nobles were hesitant. Approaching Fiene would inevitably mean approaching Leo as well. Apparently, no noble had yet thought things through that far.

"Well, never mind. Shall we go? However, when I say we're going back, we're going back, all right?"

"Yes! Thank you!"

Fiene answered happily with a radiant smile.

■■■

The streets of the imperial capital were always bustling.

Fiene happily took in the bustling streets.

"Arnold-sama, what is that over there?"

"That's an appraisal shop. Items sell for more if they come with a certificate from there. And just call me Al."

"Would that be all right? Isn't that a nickname?"

"It would be a problem if someone recognized me, even by chance. Al is fine."

"...May I continue calling you that from now on?"

Fiene gave me a questioning look.

Few people called me Al. However, if she wanted to call me that, I had no reason to stop her.

"Do as you like."

"Yes! Al-sama!"

What could she possibly be so happy about?

Admiring Fiene's ability to find joy in even the smallest things, I continued showing her around the imperial capital.

Along the way, we ate at one of my regular restaurants and visited the imperial capital's major facilities, one after another.

Although I had said we couldn't stay out long, showing Fiene around the imperial capital still took a fair amount of time.

Just as I was thinking that we should head back, Fiene spotted a shop selling small goods.

"Sigh... Don't stay too long, all right?"

"Yes!"

She pleaded with me through her eyes to let her look inside, so I reluctantly gave her permission.

Perhaps she was trying to be considerate in her own way, because Fiene never made unreasonable demands. However, as the saying went, the eyes spoke louder than words, and her silent pleas were incredibly powerful.

I had already lost count of how many times she had done this.

Tired, I did not enter the shop. Instead, I leaned against a pillar outside.

However, an unwelcome visitor wouldn't let me rest.

"Well, well? Could that be the Dregs Prince over there?"

Hearing that grating, mocking voice, I furrowed my brow.

Honestly, I had run into the last person I wanted to see.

The person who appeared with a large group of followers was a young man with brown hair cut in a bowl style.

He was tall and lanky, and his clothes and hairstyle were both atrocious. Apparently, he thought he looked cool, because he wore a thoroughly self-satisfied expression.

His name was Guido von Holzwart. He was the son of Duke Holzwart, a man from the second-oldest noble family in the Empire, and, much against my wishes, my childhood friend.

Duke Holzwart held territory near the imperial capital. For that reason, he maintained a residence there, and this fellow often came to the castle as well. Since we were the same age, the adults around us tried to group the three of us together. We often attended lessons and training together.

However, the only person he ever treated well was Leo. He bullied me relentlessly. The people who followed him now had been his fellow bullies since then. I never retaliated or told on them, and even the adults around me had abandoned me. I must have seemed like an easy target.

Perhaps bullying a prince of higher rank had satisfied his sense of superiority.

Even now that we were grown, he picked a fight with me whenever he saw me.

"Guido... What a rare sight. What are you doing here?"

"I happened to spot a poor, shabby face from my carriage—one so pathetic that I could hardly believe it belonged to a prince. As an Imperial noble, I felt obligated to speak to you."

"How kind of you."

"What is that attitude?"

Guido pressed the cane in his hand against the top of my foot and ground it into me.

Then he said with an irritated expression,

"Do you think I can't hit you because there are people watching? Even if I beat you, no one would even talk about it. No one cares about your face."

"Who knows? Leo has become famous lately, so people may recognize my face as well."

Even among the people of the imperial capital, not everyone knew the faces of every member of the imperial family. My bad reputation might have spread, but they probably knew me only by my black hair and black eyes. I appeared before the people at ceremonies and such, but I was always seen from a distance, so they could not make out my features clearly.

However, Leo had recently become famous. If someone with the same face as him were beaten, there was no doubt it would cause a commotion.

"You're not Leonart. Anyone can see that. You're always hunched over, your clothes are always disheveled, and you constantly look down. It's an expression of your lack of confidence. Who would think you're a member of the imperial family? Everything about the way you carry yourself is the opposite of royalty!"

Saying that, Guido struck my shin as hard as he could with his cane. I grimaced at the sharp pain, but I did not collapse.

I couldn't attract attention here. For now, people would only think that someone was being harassed by a noble. If I drew their attention and they realized that my face resembled a member of the imperial family, it would cause a commotion. Whatever the outcome, that would only create trouble.

What should I do?

"What is going on?"

I almost clicked my tongue.

Of all times, she had to show up now.

I didn't want her to make things even more complicated.

Fiene had seen Guido strike my foot again with his cane, and anger showed plainly on her face.

"You insolent man!"

"Hm? What is it? Are you his servant?"

"How rude of you."

Saying that, Fiene removed her hood.

For an instant, Guido was captivated by her beauty. Then he realized who she was and looked startled.

"Y-You are... L-Lady Fiene?!"

"Yes, I am Fiene von Kleinert. And you are?"

"I-I'm Guido von Holzwart. I'm the eldest son of Duke Holzwart."

"The son of the illustrious Duke Holzwart? That is disappointing. I thought you would be a more courteous person."

When Fiene looked at him with disappointment, Guido hurriedly began making excuses.

The whole scene was incredibly pathetic. For someone as concerned with appearances as Guido, this must have been unbearable. Being criticized in front of so many people would probably be more than his pride could tolerate.

"N-No, that's not it! He..."

"Prince Arnold Reeks Adler, the prince known as the Dregs Prince. Does that mean you may do anything you like to him? Have you no respect or loyalty toward the imperial family?"

"N-No, that isn't what I meant..."

I glared at Fiene.

It would be a problem if she humiliated Guido here. Fiene was the Blue Gull, immensely popular in the imperial capital and a favorite of the Emperor. It would be easy for someone like her to help me, but she could not do it in a way that destroyed Guido's reputation.

There was no need to make an enemy over something so trivial. If I let Guido do as he pleased, he would be satisfied, and if he was the only one beating me, his reputation would be the only thing that suffered.

I continued glaring at her to tell her to stop, but Fiene ignored me completely.

Then Fiene said something outrageous.

"To begin with... Do you really think I would go out with Prince Arnold?"

"Huh...?"

Fiene looked straight at me.

Realizing what Fiene intended, I sighed.

At this point, there was nothing else I could do. I had no choice but to go along with her plan.

"This is a problem, Fiene-san. I was pretending to be my brother because you said you didn't want people gossiping about you..."

"I'm sorry, Leo-sama."

"W-Wait, L-Leonart...?"

"Yes, that's right, Guido-san."

I fixed my hair and clothes, then straightened my back. I also imitated Leo's manner of speaking and changed my expression to something gentler.

Guido's eyes widened at the transformation, but he soon seemed to remember what he had done. His face instantly turned pale.

"L-Leonart... This isn't what it looks like. It's just..."

"It's all right, Guido-san. I know you've treated my brother that way, and as long as he hasn't said anything, I have no intention of doing anything about it. However, please leave for today. I'm in the middle of showing Fiene-san around the imperial capital."

"Ah, yes... I'll do that..."

Guido left, looking thoroughly uncomfortable.

If he had done something to Leo instead of me, he could be seen as having lost all respect and loyalty toward the imperial family, just as Fiene had said. Leo was, after all, the fourth contender in the struggle for the throne—a prince who might become the next Emperor. He was in a completely different position from me.

Guido must have understood that it would be a bad idea to make the situation any more complicated. The way he hurried away was the very picture of a small fry.

However...

"You really went and did it, didn't you?"

"I'm sorry..."

"Sigh... Let's go for now."

We had to get away from there. We had attracted far too much attention.

We hurried along until we reached the area near the castle. There, I stopped and looked at Fiene.

Fiene looked at me with tears in her eyes.

"...You went and did that on your own, didn't you?"

"I'm sorry..."

"If I had left him alone, only his reputation would have suffered. But after what happened today, he will probably hold some degree of hostility toward you and Leo. On top of that, the information that Leo might have been pretending to be me will make it harder for me to act."

"..."

Tears continued to gather in Fiene's eyes, and she looked as though she might burst into tears at any moment.

Seeing that, I looked away.

There was nothing I could say to Fiene that would change what had happened. Blaming her for something that had already happened would accomplish nothing.

"Let this teach you not to act on your own so carelessly in the future. You could put yourself in danger. Don't do anything rash."

"Yes..."

The tearful expression remained on her face.

Unsure what I should do as I watched Fiene lower her head, I ultimately found myself unable to do anything except offer her a few words.

"But... I know you did it because you were thinking of me. Thank you."

"...Al-sama..."

"I'm sorry. I ruined the mood after you had been enjoying yourself."

"N-No! It wasn't your fault, Al-sama! I was being careless! I'll be more careful next time! S-So... would you show me around again sometime?"

"All right. Next time, I'll disguise myself too."

At that, Fiene's expression brightened at once, and she gave me a radiant smile.

Just seeing that smile made me feel that bringing Fiene on a tour of the imperial capital had been worth the trouble. With that thought, I took Fiene back to the castle.