Book 10: Chapter 11: Emperor
Above Baron Glynn's home planet.
In the large conference room of the flagship Argos, Viscount Myatt was summoned.
With no Calvinist nobles behind him, he was docile like a borrowed cat.
He is pouring cold sweat and shrinking in front of us, the Cleoist nobles.
"Congratulations, Viscount Myatt. You have won."
I took the initiative in applauding, and the strong-looking nobles followed suit, applauding in turn.
But Viscount Myatt was frightened.
He did not look like a man who had won a victory.
Is that natural?
Ostensibly, this is a battle for territory, but this is an important battle to determine the next emperor.
The Calvinists have the upper hand in the territorial dispute, but they have lost most of their main forces and are losing the battle for succession.
Viscount Myatt is aware of the situation and is probably not pleased.
"This one couldn't rescue Baron Glynn in time, and he was killed in the middle of the battle. No~, I am very impressed with the way you guys fought."
I was the one who killed Baron Glynn.
Technically, I just ordered Tia to do it, but I made the decision.
Viscount Myatt blurts out a muffled voice.
"I believe it was you and the others who did Baron Glynn."
"That is an accusation. We tried to help Baron Glynn, but we just didn't get there in time. Didn't we?"
If you ask for agreement in an intimidating manner, Viscount Myatt nods.
It's the only choice in the situation.
If he refuses, Viscount Myatt will simply disappear.
"Now, let's deal with the aftermath of the war. The Barony of Glynn was defeated and lost its lands. The head of the family was killed in the war, and he has no lands. Is it safe to say that the Baron de Glynn's family will be destroyed as it is?"
When I asked the people around me, they all nodded and seemed uninterested.
In the first place, they are not interested in territorial disputes with other territories.
After all, it doesn't enrich their pockets at all.
"Rejoice, Viscount Myatt. From this day on, the main planet of the Barony of Glynn is yours.
"Y-You can't just get a planet like this and maintain it!! In the first place, I am not convinced that we should even be burdened with the debts of Baron Glynn."
It is a desolate Baron Glynn's planet, but as a matter of course, it also has a huge set of debts.
For this reason, Viscount Myatt said he did not want it.
"You have won. You can have it without a care in the world. There is no use throwing it away. After all, the Baron de Glynn is dead. You destroyed it."
"W-Well, that's..."
If there is no one in charge, and the reason is that the Viscounts Myatt destroyed it - then there is no excuse.
The empire will make Viscount Myatt take responsibility.
Viscount Myatt is pale, but I have a condition.
"Give me Charlotte. If you do so, I will take the barons' main planet and their debts."
Viscount Myatt jumped at the proposal.
.
Capital Planet.
With the details of the proxy war in hand, Calvin summoned Cleo.
"Let me ask you one last question. Was this what you expected?"
Without any intention of voicing resentment after all this time, Calvin was genuinely curious.
But Cleo speaks his true feelings with a cool expression in front of Calvin.
"I didn't expect this outcome. I didn't expect them to annihilate my SS either."
"--I guess he's found out about it. Now what are you going to do? The Banfield family has risen to be the most powerful in the empire. Even you, who will become crown prince and eventually emperor, can't afford to get him like that."
"You killed my vassal, so you will get what you deserve."
Hearing Cleo's answer, Calvin mocks himself.
"To be defeated by you to that extent--I knew that the only enemy I had was the Count of Banfield."
"What do you mean?"
Cleo expressed his displeasure, but Calvin was not afraid.
The reason is that it has been decided that Calvin's custody will be entrusted to Liam.
No matter what Cleo said, Liam would not listen.
"After all, you should have stayed quiet until you became emperor. From now on, he will treat you as an enemy. If you let your guard down, you will not only be unable to use the methods that were possible, but if you are not careful, you will be ousted. He would have won even if he had to carry Cedric, the man he was taking care of, against you."
If he wanted to beat Liam, he should have stayed quiet.
Cleo's brow wrinkles at that, but Calvin looks up at the ceiling.
"You were too hasty. No, is it the same for me? If I had gone and bowed down to him myself at that time, my position would have been secure."
Calvin recalled calling Liam to incorporate him into the faction, but he had no idea at the time that this would happen.
e
Calvin stands up.
"Cleo, father wants to see you. From now on, you are the crown prince, the first in line of succession. Let me congratulate you."
As Cleo headed for the audience chamber, Licitea accompanied him.
Cleo finally got to talk face to face with his father!
For Licitea, too, the emperor was her father, but she only looked at him from a distance and could not recall ever having a good conversation with him.
She was treated worse than the other siblings because she was treated coldly.
Cleo's mouth is agape with a smile.
"When I become emperor, I will introduce men to you sister anyway. There are a lot of nice noblemen to choose from."
Licitea blushes as she is told this and looks happy.
"Oh, really? I'm glad to hear that. I see. I can get married, too? I thought that would be fine since Sister Cecilia could get married, but when I can afford it, I'd like to get married too."
Licitea was a bit buoyant, freed from the uncertainty of when she might die.
Cleo sees his sister like that and thinks.
(I've finally come this far. I'll inherit the imperial throne without any problems and rule this country myself. Liam - you have risen to great nobility, but I am the emperor of this country. Then you won't have to be afraid of me.)
As they approach the audience chamber, only Cleo is admitted there.
Alone, he proceeded to the back, where he found himself in a luxurious audience hall befitting the Empire, a great power.
Although it is called an audience room, it is almost entirely outside.
The reason it is outdoors is because the weather is controlled and there is no need to provide a roof.
In the warm light of the artificial sun, Cleo, who had an audience with the Emperor - [Baglada Noah Algrand] - felt a terrible chill.
(Hey, what is it? Is this His Majesty the Emperor?)
Baglada, seated in a chair, has the appearance of a man in his early thirties who seems to be a good person.
His shoulder-length hair is pulled back in a loose bun.
His body is taller and more solid than Cleo's, and he looks reasonably competent as a knight.
At first glance, he was a smiling, kind man - but he looked very eerie.
"It has been a long time, your majesty. I heard you wanted to see me, so I came as you requested."
He immediately lowers his face to avoid looking at Baglada.
Cleo broke out in a cold sweat, which ran down his cheeks and onto the floor.
Baglada replies in a tone of voice as gentle as his appearance.
"I hear you defeated Calvin. I didn't think Cleo could become crown prince like this. If things continue as they are, Cleo will be able to ascend to the throne in about 30 years, even if we have to take over the reins of power."
Cleo had a lot to say to Baglada, who answered honestly.
The fact that he had appointed himself as the third prince for fun - and that he had not allowed a sex change.
Yes, Cleo was a woman.
The fact that he had been living under the guise of being a man was all for fun for Baglada.
If he lived a normal life, he would have been noticed, but Cleo lives in a back palace.
He can cover his appearance to some extent with a suit, etc., and he is surrounded only by his relatives, so there are few opportunities for him to be bothered.
So, having obtained the position of Crown Prince, Cleo wanted to put the gender issue behind him.
"I have one favor to ask of you regarding that."
"No."
While he had not yet said anything, Baglada rejected Cleo's offer.
"You want a sex change, don't you? If you do that, I will disown you."
"But it is also true that men are more convenient in many ways. I have official duties as the Crown Prince, and I have to be present during that time alone."
"The answer is no. I can't see your disgusted face. Come on, lift up your face and let me see your beautiful face."
Following Baglada's teasing command, he looked up and saw a smiling beauty.
But for some reason, he feels a sense of disaster.
Baglada looks at Cleo, smiles, and speaks.
"By the way, I hear you had a falling out with your backers, the Banfield family."
"--I have obtained the backing of the nobles who are replacing him. People are requesting to meet with him one after another, and we no longer need his backing."
"Oh, I don't really care about that. He is rumored to be a strongman, and I have met him several times at this place, but I haven't had a chance to talk to him. Bring him here once."
What would Baglada talk to Liam about?
Cleo was curious, but was in no mood to ask why.
Despite his gentle tone, Baglada seemed to be in no mood for refusal.
"I will bring him to you as soon as he arrives on the capital planet."
"Please, my sweet Cleo. I've been wanting to have a long talk with him, since he has so admirably risen to the top of the imperial aristocracy in the struggle for the position of the next emperor."
The candidates Cleo has defeated so far.
The princes Calvin and Linus were all backed by great nobles.
They were all powerful men.
Liam, who successfully made Cleo the crown prince, has pushed them aside to become the most powerful noble in the empire.
Cleo did not become the crown prince.
The story is that Liam chose the prince and he became the crown prince.
Cleo turns over and bites his back teeth.
Baglada sees this and gives a nasty smile as he squints and arches his eyes.
"You don't like Count Banfield? You look like you hate him for pushing you up to the crown prince."
Cleo is surprised for a moment, but tries to mend the situation.
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