Ch.238238. You’re Really Lucky.

“W-What are you saying?”

“I’m not sure, but I heard that His Majesty the Emperor is unwell.”

“Based on what?”

“He hasn’t appeared at any official events recently. Not even once.”

So rumors are spreading because the Emperor hasn’t been seen in public?

The problem is that these baseless rumors might actually be true….

I continued speaking naturally, pretending not to be surprised.

“Is that so?”

“Haven’t you seen the Emperor either?”

“I saw him recently though?”

“R-Really?”

“Yeah, on the day I met Princess Etherian, I also had a conversation with the Emperor. I’m scheduled to see him again soon.”

Sophia, whose expressions rarely change, covers her mouth as if flustered.

“I see…. it was just a false rumor.”

“By the way, who started the rumor that the Emperor has a terminal illness?”

“Remember Reagan Strom?”

“The guy I hit for messing with women in front of me?”

“Yes, he’s been spreading the rumor around.”

Reagan Strom’s parents are also close associates of Princess Etherian.

As expected, they’re playing politics using the Emperor’s health as an excuse.

Should I have smashed his mouth back then?

“From what I can see, this Reagan guy seems like he won’t live long if he keeps spreading such ridiculous rumors so casually.”

“I heard that Reagan’s father has been repeatedly requesting an audience with the Emperor, but he won’t meet him. That’s probably why the rumors have grown.”

“Like father, like son. Maybe the Emperor just doesn’t want to meet him?”

“Reagan may be stupid, but his father is not someone to be taken lightly.”

“I suppose so, that’s why Princess Etherian keeps him close.”

Sophia Leighton puts her glass down on the table and sighs briefly.

“Princess Etherian has been a bit brighter recently, which was nice… but if a succession dispute breaks out, she’ll probably revert to how she was before, won’t she?”

“Once people learn that the rumors about the Emperor being critically ill are false, all talk of succession rights will disappear.”

“…Still, eventually, won’t there be a succession dispute anyway?”

That’s right.

Emperor Malius can’t live forever.

That’s why I told Titus to tell Princess Etherian the truth about the incident, even if it seemed late.

It might be confusing now, but it will bring about some change later.

I gave Sophia Leighton a gentle smile.

“You’re different from the others.”

“…How so?”

“Don’t all the close associates want Princess Etherian to become queen as soon as possible?”

“I suppose so. If Princess Etherian becomes queen, those who have been maintaining connections with her will gain even more power.”

“But unlike them, you seem to not want a succession dispute to happen.”

Sophia Leighton gives a bitter smile.

“Princess Etherian used to have some frightening aspects to her…. so I prefer how she is now.”

“Because if a succession dispute breaks out, she might revert to how she was before?”

“Yes.”

So there’s someone who genuinely likes Princess Etherian as a person.

That made me feel relieved.

At least one person seemed to be approaching her sincerely.

-Hey! Stop pushing!?

-Hurry up and get in, it’s raining outside!!

Just then, loud noises came from the quiet tavern.

And then.

“Sophia, what are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’re meeting a man?”

A voice that sounded somehow familiar.

I reflexively turned my head, leaving behind Sophia’s face that clearly showed her annoyance.

“Huh!? Haven’t I seen you somewhere… Selden Alphonse?”

Speak of the tiger.

No, speak of the devil and he shall appear. What’s going on?

Reagan Strom, who got beaten up by me last time for his inappropriate behavior toward women.

Whether he didn’t get hit enough or got hit too much, his arrogant demeanor seems unchanged from before.

“I was just thinking about you, and here you are, crawling out on your own?”

“O-Oh, it’s been a while. I came to the tavern with my friends, so please enjoy your time with Sophia!”

As he bent his waist at a 90-degree angle and immediately tried to turn away, I stopped Reagan Strom.

“Hey.”

“…Yes?”

“Send your friends away. You won’t need them.”

“B-But these are friends I haven’t seen in a long time! I was really looking forward to having a drink—”

“If you don’t want to get thoroughly beaten, send them away.”

“…Understood.”

With slumped shoulders, Reagan Strom sends his friends away.

He yells at his confused-looking friends and then scurries back to me.

“I-I’m back.”

“Sit down.”

“Yes, of course.”

Sophia seems amazed by Reagan’s polite behavior.

I also cleared my throat with a slight smile.

“Have you been well?”

“I’ve been fine. How have you been, Sir Selden Alphonse?”

“Just barely surviving, I guess.”

“Come on… Weren’t you the first in the Eastern Continent to stop a monster wave? When I heard that news, I was so proud to know you.”

This guy is quite good at flattery, isn’t he?

Well, with his father being a close associate of Princess Etherian, that’s probably all he learned growing up.

“Really? Weren’t you disappointed that I didn’t die?”

“N-No, not at all! I’ve truly reformed since then.”

“Reformed, huh…”

I turned my gaze to Sophia Leighton.

“Is that true?”

“Well, maybe not reformed, but he has matured a bit.”

Sophia Leighton isn’t one to tell white lies.

With wide eyes, I turned my attention back to Reagan.

“I suppose you should mature as you get older.”

“By the way, what brings you to Lumestia territory?”

“Oh, I have an appointment with the Emperor.”

“T-The Emperor?”

“Yes, the Emperor.”

Reagan Strom’s pupils dart around as if he’s flustered.

“That can’t be… right?”

“What can’t be?”

Reagan Strom makes a complex expression, then looks around before continuing.

“There are rumors that the Emperor is unwell.”

How can he spread rumors himself and then act so brazenly?

At least he’s being somewhat honest about the situation, so I felt like cutting him some slack.

“You didn’t spread those rumors yourself?”

At my words, Reagan Strom wipes away the sweat dripping from his forehead with the back of his hand.

Then, he continued the conversation calmly.

“…I heard it from my father.”

“Wow, is it okay for you to tell me such things so freely?”

“I judged it wouldn’t matter.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because I assumed you would be on Princess Etherian’s side as well.”

He’s quite perceptive.

As he said, if I were on Princess Etherian’s side, I might actually want Emperor Malius to die.

That’s why he spoke so easily.

Anyway, this is a serious situation.

If rumors continue to grow, people will try their hardest to bring out Emperor Malius to verify the facts.

And if he still resists?

Rumors will grow uncontrollably, and Princess Etherian’s associates will quietly prepare for war.

That’s the problem.

Like the calm before a storm, if one faction provokes the other while everyone is on edge, war could break out even though the Emperor is still alive.

‘I need to buy time….’

For now, I need to devise a strategy assuming Saint Claudia will cure Emperor Malius.

It would also be good to weed out the corrupt individuals among Princess Etherian’s associates.

“Reagan Strom.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“You’re very lucky.”

“…Pardon?”

“People need luck, and from what I can see, you seem to have been born with natural luck.”

Reagan tilts his head with a puzzled expression.

“Could you tell me why you think I’m lucky?”

“Meeting me, and then running into me again today.”

Reagan puts on a forced smile with a very bewildered expression.

“O-Of course, I consider meeting you to be divine providence.”

“Right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“And the Emperor is healthy.”

“Ah…”

“You almost got into big trouble acting on assumptions, didn’t you?”

Reagan Strom nods as if it makes sense.

He adjusts his posture and continues.

“But you know what I’m thinking?”

“W-What are you thinking?”

“Does Princess Etherian really need so many close associates?”

“…Pardon?”

“Stagnant water tends to rot. I think it’s time for a clean sweep of Princess Etherian’s inner circle.”

Reagan Strom swallows hard several times, looking extremely flustered.

“You mean… me?”

“I told you, didn’t I? That you’re lucky.”

“Then…?”

Screech—!

I rose from my chair.

Then I approached Reagan Strom and placed my hand on his shoulder.

“How about we come up with an interesting plan together?”