Despite my expectations, I could hear Kalroy gradually approaching me. Wanting to avoid meeting Kalroy at all costs, I called up the information window.
‘Tell me quickly. A way to avoid meeting Kalroy right now.’
Perhaps the question was wrong, as only question marks filled the information window.
‘Is there any justification for why a regular Omega like me shouldn’t speak with Kalroy?’
This time, quite useful content appeared.
[Once promoted to regular Omega, one cannot converse with any Alpha other than the Prince without the Prince’s permission. Even when together, one must maintain a certain distance or more.]
As I read through the information window, words tumbled from my mouth.
“Don’t come close.”
“How dare a lowly Omega order the Crown Prince around? I’ll overlook it just this once, so tell me why you’re suddenly saying not to come close.”
I forcibly suppressed the laugh that wanted to escape and answered.
“As of yesterday, I became Prince William’s regular Omega. Even if you are the Crown Prince, I cannot be approached without His Highness the Prince’s permission. If I don’t conduct myself properly, I could die.”
Kalroy seemed shocked by my response and hesitated for a moment. Then he flew into a rage with an even louder voice.
“You were promoted to regular Omega? Without going mad, how could such an important matter be carried out without my permission! I must hold William accountable for this.”
No matter how immature he was, seeing Kalroy act selfishly without knowing his own precarious position hanging on the edge of a cliff made me sigh involuntarily. I considered just ignoring him and running away, but feeling sorry for Kalroy, I left him with one helpful piece of advice.
“Your Highness, though it goes against protocol, may this humble one loyally offer a word to the great Crown Prince?”
Kalroy came right up to me and said with a pleased smile.
“I’ll specially permit it.”
“Please release Knight Rob and listen well to what he says.”
“…What?”
“You absolutely must do so. The only person who can be of the greatest help by Your Highness’s side is him.”
Kalroy blinked as if bewildered.
“Be more specific.”
“I have already greatly violated palace etiquette. I must now go to His Highness the Prince.”
Then I ran straight toward the Prince’s quarters. Since the Crown Prince couldn’t run after one Omega for the sake of his dignity, he wouldn’t be able to chase me.
Poor Kalroy. In truth, you’re just a victim sacrificed to the adults’ power struggle… I’m sorry I can’t take your side, but I’ll help ensure you don’t receive punishment excessive compared to your crimes. No, even if descending from the Crown Prince position is unavoidable, I’ll try my best to ensure you receive no other punishments.
I knew that having such thoughts was unnecessary meddling, but I couldn’t help it because Kalroy’s situation was pitiful. Of course, I hadn’t forgotten that making William into a wise ruler and preserving my own life took priority over saving Kalroy’s life.
However, turning a blind eye to a child in difficulty went against my educational ethics. Of course, circumstances couldn’t justify all sins, but Kalroy was already paying sufficiently for his crimes and would pay for them again by descending from the Crown Prince position. It would be proper to prevent anything harsher than that.
By now, the private meeting with Aren should be over. I had to hurry back and stand guard before William’s eyes turned fierce.
Huk, huk…
After catching my breath from running in front of the office, I knocked on the door. When told to enter, I went in to find Aren laughing loudly.
“Truly remarkable. How did you think of all that?”
William also laughed along with Aren. Perhaps because they were blood relatives, the two resembled each other mysteriously.
“It’s not my idea but Daniel’s. He said he heard rumors when he was caught by the Crown Prince.”
Aren looked at me. His gaze had become even gentler than yesterday.
“I felt something unusual from the first time I saw you, but you’re extraordinary. You’re fully qualified to be by His Highness the Prince’s side.”
“You flatter me.”
I bowed my head politely and went to stand in the attendant’s position. Though Kelton gathering private soldiers alone was sufficient to strip him of his position and send him to prison, justification was important to prevent the current Emperor from bearing the stigma of imprisoning loyal retainers for his own power.
Our plan was to use ‘scandals’ – that is, black propaganda – for the Emperor’s justification.
Aren rubbed his chin and said.
“When I had people investigate Kelton’s surroundings, interesting facts were revealed.”
Having finished speaking, Aren slightly raised one corner of his mouth. His expression revealed confidence that he had discovered not just any scandal, but the most certain scandal capable of causing great damage to a noble’s reputation.
Aren probably enjoyed the process of choosing among various scandals, just like me when I looked at the information window.
“What is it?”
Aren, whose facial muscles had been twitching as if about to speak, suddenly closed his mouth.
“Well, this is… I can’t say it, but I can’t not say it either…”
“What’s the matter? Just tell us.”
“Well, you see…”
Seeing Aren hesitating awkwardly, I could understand why he was troubled. It must be difficult to convey dirty and sordid stories like adults’ affairs to a young Prince.
Even I, as a teacher, had momentarily forgotten, but seeing Aren worry about such things made me feel ashamed. I thought that people who rose to high positions at a young age through their abilities alone were indeed different.
“What could there be between uncle and me that you can’t say?”
“Ha… I will tell you the plan despite the rudeness to Your young Highness. The best thing for gaining justification is indeed scandals. Among those scandals, the most effective are sex scandals.”
Aren’s efforts to somehow speak indirectly without using direct words were touching.
“Sex scandals? Haha, uncle, what were you hesitating about over such a thing? Though I’m still young, I’m a dominant Alpha and a Prince. So you can just speak freely.”
Aren, who still looked quite uncomfortable, reluctantly spoke about Kelton and Ihelina’s affair as if he had no choice.
“We plan to bring Kelton’s use of private soldiers to trial with concrete evidence, but that alone won’t be enough. Using scandals would be better for moving His Majesty, who has a strong possessive streak.”
The plan was to use people to spread rumors widely throughout the palace so they would reach the Emperor’s ears, thus giving the Emperor justification to deal with Kelton.
Listening to Aren’s plan, which matched my thoughts exactly, I found my lips unconsciously curving upward.
But… is it okay for things to be resolved this easily?
William, who had lived such a difficult life that his life was threatened, suddenly became gentle in character upon meeting me, met an uncle he didn’t even know existed, and political enemies fell into traps they dug themselves…
I was anxious that all events were being resolved so neatly as if they were fitted together like puzzle pieces. Others might ask what the problem was when things were going well, but I couldn’t help feeling anxious. I felt like I was missing something.
Certainly, the original content was indescribably desolate, and the source of that desolation was none other than William himself.
Yet the original content was being destroyed like this?
No. Let’s not worry anymore. It’s good if things are resolved well.
I tried to calm my mind. Perhaps I was being anxious because I’d become sensitive from repeatedly experiencing unbelievable events.
***
Not many days passed before Kelton’s trial proceeded. He maintained a dignified attitude to the very end even during the trial.
He insisted that he had never harbored seditious thoughts against the Emperor and the Stamili Empire. However, the private soldiers captured from Kelton’s castle testified as if they had coordinated their stories, saying they were a secret unit he had recruited and had received special training to attack the imperial palace.
This alone provided sufficient justification for imposing the inescapable crime of treason.
On top of that, scandals about Kelton and Empress Ihelina also erupted together.
Of course, all of this was orchestrated by the progressive nobles with Aren as their leader. Rumors faster than feet took less than a day to reach the Emperor’s ears. As a result, Kelton not only had his noble status stripped but also had his wealth confiscated and ended up confined on Ovel Island at the very edge of the empire.
Empress Ihelina denied her affair to the end, but the Emperor commanded that she be dealt with without mercy.
Even among the progressives, retainers who valued legitimacy tried to dissuade the Emperor, saying it was excessive to send the empire’s Empress to the guillotine based only on scandals without proper investigation, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Alpha Emperor who had nearly reached rampage.
Well, having learned of the betrayal by the Empress and Duke he trusted, it was fortunate he hadn’t rampaged.
In the end, Kelton went to Ovel Island and the Empress met her end beneath the guillotine.
Like other retainers, I couldn’t understand the Emperor’s actions either. If we judge by the weight of crimes, Kelton’s were heavier, so why was Kelton exiled while the Empress was executed? As I looked into space with this question, an information window appeared.
[Kelton’s family is a founding contributor family of the Stamili Empire and has immunity from execution privileges.]
If such were the laws of this empire, it couldn’t be helped, but I felt uneasy about not being able to completely eliminate Kelton.
Still, well, they say once someone goes to Ovel Island, they can never come out, so there shouldn’t be any problems.
While my mind was this confused by the incomprehensible results and rapid progression of events, William remained composed.
Even when nobles used every method to curry favor with William, he didn’t bat an eye.
He worked hard not to make enemies while maintaining a mature attitude of thoroughly separating public and private matters without being arrogant.
“My eye for people is definitely reliable.”
I had come down to the dining hall for the first time in a while to get snacks for the Prince who suddenly said he was hungry. I was humming while putting cookies in a container, feeling good, when someone spoke to me.
“Who are you talking to?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
