C16
"From now on, you'll have to learn the tasks of a monarch."
"What?"
The emperor chuckled, and his eyes gleamed intensely.
"Terence, my son. I'll gradually bring you to light."
How much time has passed?
Even after listening to the emperor's rather extensive explanation, Terence remained silent.
"Don't you want it?"
"It's sudden. Please give me some time to think."
"What is there to think about?"
The emperor clicked his tongue, but Terence didn't accept it.
"Prince."
The moment the emperor recognizes Terence, he will become a prince.
It would be a lie to say that he never imagined it, but he never believed it would come true.
Well, now might be the right time as the Birod family has lost power due to Cassius's sudden growth.
Cassius began to rapidly expand its influence a few years ago.
Instead of staying in its original position as a "peripheral power," they tried their luck in many other fields.
Perhaps because the goddess was on Cassius's side, they succeeded in every project they attempted, while other families originally in charge of that field suffered a setback.
Among them, Duke Birod, who suffered the misfortune that affected his territory at the same time, was able to hand over to Cassius the name of the largest family in the empire.
Thanks to this, the empress's power was not as strong as before. Even more so after a rift broke out between mother and son because her son was dating the young duchess.
"Do you really not covet power? Others would be anxious because they can't have it."
"...."
In fact, he didn't covet the throne itself.
However, when he appears, how will the Empress, who hates him enough to send an assassin from time to time, react?
What will happen to his younger brother, who has enjoyed what was given to him as if it were natural since birth?
He was a little, no, quite curious.
But is such curiosity large enough to justify the hassle that comes with accepting this offer?
It was a question to ponder.
At the moment he accepts the offer, a completely different life will unfold before him. A choice that cannot be reversed or renounced.
That's when Terence decided to spend more time weighing the values of both sides.
"Once you come to power, you can have as many other things as you want! Is there really nothing you desire?"
Anything he wants. Is there something he wants enough to become a prince?
The face of helplessness of someone came to mind without context.
Tuktuk-.
The fingers that had been tapping the armrest of the chair stopped.
"What did he just think...?"
Terence shook his head to clear his thoughts. This is absurd.
Why at times like this did that woman come to mind without context? Someone he had just met.
His thoughts returned to the original topic. But for some reason, his concerns lasted briefly, even for him to think about them.
His heart sank.
"It's okay. I'll become a prince."
"Oh! Is there something you covet?"
"...Well. A little?"
"It's quite significant. You used to be someone who had no material desires."
"I'm not exactly coveting something; I just want to reach a high position and help someone in trouble."
The emperor made a strange expression, as if he couldn't believe it.
"Do you want to help someone? Who is it?"
Yes. Someone sighing because they couldn't get a divorce.
"I'll save it for a bit in the future."
"Oh, that's no fun."
However, the emperor seemed to be in a very good mood.
If he asks now, I will grant any request.
"More importantly, Father."
Terence smiled as he used a title he rarely used.
"I was in the street and heard an interesting story."
The next day.
A team of inspectors directly under the emperor's command invaded the central court of the empire.
They nearly annulled the court and exposed the corruption of officials.
Dozens of corrupt officials were arrested, most of whom had received bribes from noble families.
And here.
"Eh? What's this?"
While organizing the belongings of an official bribed by the Cassius family, an inspector discovered something.
It was a single divorce note.
Mansion Cassius.
"I'm very disappointed by this incident."
Duke Cassius, sitting behind his office desk, coldly reprimanded his son.
"I have no words, Father."
Leandro could only lower his head and look at his shoes.
"I wonder what the emperor will ask for using this incident as an excuse."
Yesterday, a sudden large-scale inspection was carried out at the central court.
There was more than one family whose corruption was uncovered, but the one the emperor most recently kept under control was the Cassius family.
This morning, the Emperor summoned the Duke and hinted at him.
"It seems your son's love for his wife is extreme."
"It's all my fault, Your Majesty."
"No, no. I don't want to blame you. How can you preserve love! But... What should I say? Isn't it a bit uncomfortable?"
"..."
"In reality, he's trying to catch someone who's trying to leave. That's why I'm worried if he'll be able to properly lead the Cassius family."