episode_0025

The Imperial Palace, the capital of the Britannian Empire.

‘I had high expectations because she was the princess… … .’

A window without even a thin sheet.

Lloyd opened his eyes in his bedroom with sunlight stinging his eyelids.

My back hurt because of the uncomfortable bed.

“Okay.”

Lloyd stood up and stretched, looking out the window. He saw buildings with ornate gold leaf engravings.

Just the pure white marble used for the pillars alone would cost as much as an ordinary mansion. Just imagining the amount of money alone is enough to give you a sense of awe.

“Anyway, it’s a useless luxury.”

Lloyd’s impression of the palace buildings was like that.

Just take off that one piece of gold leaf and give it to me.

Then I could be free right away.

Luxurious royal family.

Lloyd muttered as he tidied up his bedding.

I really want to just roll around in bed all day… … .

“You can’t commit a crime of disrespect toward the royal family. And that too in the palace.”

This is the annex of the Third Princess Julia Estrid.

And yesterday she clearly said:

— Let’s sleep for now and see you tomorrow when the sun rises.

It is the princess’s order.

It is impossible to disobey the princess’s orders in the palace, of all places.

Phew.

Lloyd took a deep breath and put on his clothes. Even though they were the same servant’s clothes, the ones in the palace were more unnecessarily flashy and uncomfortable.

Lloyd checked his head to make sure it wasn’t ‘blasphemy’. Of course, at best, he was seeing the princess who lived in the same building… … . It would be good to have a good view for now.

Julia Estrid.

The new master who bought him for 1 billion kroner.

“He was clearly a villain according to my knowledge.”

From what he had seen of Julia, Lloyd had concluded that she was unlikely to be a villain. Her personality and attitude were both…

“It’s great to have a reverse perspective.”

There are two types of mutations in the bloodline of the Empire, the Estrid bloodline. One is madness, a mutation represented by Ortega, who is sealed in Lloyd’s mind.

On the other side, there is another trait of Estrid that sealed Ortega.

If madness is ‘evil’, then the reverse is ‘good’.

The possibility that Julia is an unconditional villain is slim.

‘Well, that’s poisonous, though.’

Rather, the problem for Lloyd was that Julia was a perfect ‘good person’. She had noticed that Ortega was sleeping in Lloyd’s mind. In other words, if Julia was a good person, she would definitely try to kill Lloyd once again.

“I have no choice but to listen carefully.”

Lloyd let out a deep sigh.

The perfectly risen sun brightly illuminates the accommodation.

Lloyd groaned as he got out of bed.

It was time to go greet the Third Princess.

— Kuung.

The door that had originally been a warehouse slammed shut.

◆

The hallway leading to Julia’s living room.

Even though it was the residence of the Third Princess, several knights were keeping a close eye on the surroundings.

It was only natural that eyes would turn to Lloyd as he walked down the hallway.

“Wait a minute.”

In front of the princess’s reception room.

One of the knights guarding the hallway stopped Lloyd.

Lloyd flinched reflexively.

Because the opponent was a knight of the White Knights wearing white armor.

He remembered Arno trying to kill himself in the Duchess’s mansion.

“What’s going on? The Third Princess must have already told you about me.”

“This is a body search. Just put your hand on the wall.”

The article literally ransacked Lloyd’s body.

Lloyd, who had been searching through every nook and cranny and getting into trouble every time he found something sharp, was finally able to break free from the harassment after a few minutes.

“… … .”

Even though I entered the palace as the princess’s attendant, I was like this. If I found even the slightest flaw, they would swarm me like a swarm of bees and attack me.

‘It’s creepy.’

Lloyd frowned at the knight’s search, who was deliberately grabbing his hand as if showing off his strength.

I am reminded once again of how dangerous the palace is. Here, servants are nothing more than disposable items. There is no paradise where you run away, and beyond the Gray Duke’s mansion is the palace.

Still, I think it’s better to treat humans like disposable items than to treat them like ‘resources’. It’s still dangerous.

‘It’s impossible to escape from here.’

Well, it’s not that I’m not confident about escaping. But the problem is after escaping. If I’m falsely accused of plotting treason and running away, I’ll be harassed by the imperial investigation team to the point where I’d rather die.

In the end, there is only one way.

‘Let’s get the princess out of the palace.’

The princess leaves the palace, and he who belongs to her naturally follows her.

In fact, even though I said this, it would be better for the Third Princess as well. The palace is full of the power of the First and Second Princes. For the sake of the right to inherit the throne, it would be right for the Third Princess to increase her power outside.

Another goal was added to Lloyd’s mind.

◆

Lloyd arrived at Julia’s reception room in a state of confusion.

‘…Why are there so many things?’

The room was so full of life that you wouldn’t think it was the princess’s living room. One wall was full of books. And there was a large desk and piles of paperwork.

The only thing that could be considered a living room was the rickety table and wooden chair in the middle of the room.

— Squeak.

“You’re here.”

The door opened and a voice was heard from behind.

Lloyd stood up from his seat and bowed his head.

“Let’s not be so annoying to each other.”

Julia sat down in the chair across from the desk, waving her hand.

Sensing Lloyd’s somewhat puzzled gaze, she answered.

“Ah, this is my living room and office.”

“… Are you so humble?”

“Phew.”

The corners of Julia’s lips rise halfway.

It was a sarcastic, yet quite charming smile.

“It’s not like the Emperor’s blood relatives get given as much money as you might think. If they had a lot of money, they might buy a spear to stab the Emperor with their remaining assets. And.”

“… … ?”

“I bought someone for 1 billion kroner. I guess I’ll have to tighten my belt for the time being.”

You bought me yesterday, so this office has nothing to do with it — Lloyd swallowed that response. A billion kroner was clearly a lot of money for even the Imperial Family to handle so casually.

“Thank you for buying it for me.”

“That’s unexpected. I thought you’d refute me a bit more sharply.”

“I will refute what the Princess says after I have sufficiently proven my worth.”

“Why? You never know when you might lose your neck in the palace. ”

Julia asked as if it were a mischievous joke.

But Lloyd knew that this wasn’t just a joke. The palace was a place where servants’ lives could be lost more easily than bugs on the walls. It was always right to be cautious.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Julia grumbled slightly at Lloyd’s calm reaction.

“Do you often hear that the reactions are not fun?”

Lloyd just bowed his head.

He rather found Julia curious. She seemed a little more cheerful and girlish than when he had seen her at the Duchess’s mansion. Perhaps she was nervous in a foreign land.

“What. Anyway.”

Knock knock. Julia asked after lightly tapping the desk a few times.

“Now, will you explain to me how you will make me the emperor? Because that is what I paid 1 billion kroner for.”

Lloyd looked up at Julia quietly.

A look of doubt crossed her face.

Instead of answering, Lloyd stood up.

And I looked around.

The infinitely simple room seemed to assert that its owner was a good person. The magnificent marble and gold-leafed buildings beyond the window contrasted with it. Lloyd’s mouth opened slowly.

“Impossible.”

“… Huh?”

“The princess cannot become the emperor.”

Julia looked shocked.

No, maybe it’s a little hurt?

If you keep moving your lips like that, you’ll end up grumbling like this.

“Scammer.”

This time Lloyd was confused.

What is this reaction?

Plus, the way her lips are pointed is strangely cute… … .

‘No. Come to your senses.’

A marked departure from her professional appearance when she was turning the tables at Duchess Grey’s Mansion.

Lloyd, who was momentarily confused, shook his head and came to his senses.

It might be smoke.

From the beginning, Julia was a calculating princess who knew how to hide her intention to take the throne.

“… No. Well. I kind of expected this to happen.”

Huh. Julia, who had been muttering quietly as if talking to herself, soon regained her original expression.

Lloyd, who had been silent for a moment, opened his mouth.

“Please listen to the end.”

“Huh?”

“The princess cannot become the emperor. As long as she stays in this palace.”

“… Is it a problem that I’m staying here?”

It’s a problem.

That’s also a very big problem.

“I’m sure Your Highness knows that there are a lot of spies coming and going within the palace, so I’ll skip over that. But Your Highness wouldn’t have sent spies to other grandchildren, right? ”

“… That’s right.”

It was natural. It costs a lot of money to raise and maintain a loyal spy.

“And also, her power is the weakest. There are many people who look down on her.”

Lloyd thought of the knight guarding the hallway. If the Third Princess had sufficient authority, he would not have been searched.

“Besides, you can’t even attract His Majesty’s attention by living in such an old building. In terms of expanding your power in the palace, there are already only scraps left over from the 1st and 2nd princes and princesses.”

“Definitely. Hmm… … .”

Julia nodded quietly.

It’s a face that seems logically convinced.

It’s good that we can communicate well, right?

She, who was tapping her lips, asked.

“But how? Estrid’s bloodline needs a justification to leave the palace.”

Lloyd already knew that fact.

“You can create a group.”

“… Group?”

Julia tilted her head.