Ch.277277. Princess Sairine was also kind to me.

“Are you satisfied?”

After returning from the academy, I found myself in a private audience with His Majesty Emperor Malius in the mansion’s reception room.

With my fist clenched, I subtly gave a thumbs up.

“….It’s perfect.”

Emperor Malius looked at my thumbs up and cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Ahem! Such a request is hardly a favor for me.”

“No, that’s not true. I didn’t expect you to come personally when you haven’t fully recovered yet. I’m truly grateful.”

In truth, I had only planned to borrow the Emperor’s name and spread information throughout the Eastern Continent through the Poison Maiden.

I would have been satisfied with just that, but the Emperor visited in person.

It definitely feels like it will be more helpful.

It couldn’t be otherwise.

After all, the tourists who came to see the Miracle Forest would have witnessed with their own eyes that the Emperor had visited Lake Territory.

And now.

The Poison Maiden will cleverly spread rumors, mixing truth and falsehood.

Lake Academy, recognized by the Eastern Continent’s Emperor.

Even praising it as an excellent example of nobles practicing noblesse oblige through the differential tuition system….

What a beautiful outcome!

That wasn’t all.

Since he visited personally, questions about my friendship with Emperor Malius would grow uncontrollably, and even if nobles didn’t particularly want to practice noblesse oblige, the possibility of them enrolling their children in the academy to build connections had increased.

As I repeatedly expressed my gratitude, Emperor Malius continued speaking.

“The academy grounds are spacious, and I was particularly impressed by the garden where students can play and rest outdoors.”

“Haha, is that so?”

“I heard you developed the northern region, which was almost a wasteland, in quite a short time. Do you have some secret method?”

Secret method, what nonsense….

What experience would the workers here have had until now?

They built defensive formations, transformed the Forest of Monsters into the Miracle Forest, and constructed the central plaza of Lake Territory.

With all that accumulated experience, the northern development and academy establishment naturally progressed quickly.

“I just paid them good wages, that’s all.”

I joked lightly, and the Emperor laughed heartily.

“That means I haven’t been paying my workers properly all this time. The Silver Garden I commissioned in the Imperial Palace six months ago still isn’t finished.”

“Th-that’s not what I meant….”

“Haha, don’t take it so seriously. It was just my joke.”

What kind of uncomfortable joke is this?

It’s especially awkward coming from the Emperor, making it difficult to respond properly.

I scratched my head and adjusted my posture.

“That’s a relief, then.”

“By the way, seeing that you’ve established an academy in Lake Territory, it seems you want to settle here permanently?”

“Is there any need to move? Besides, didn’t Your Majesty say that even if I marry the Princess, I wouldn’t need to stay in the Imperial Palace?”

At the word ‘marriage,’ Emperor Malius stroked his chin and sighed.

“Speaking of marriage, that’s been giving me a headache lately.”

“I’m sure it has. Marriage is one of life’s most significant events.”

“No, it’s about Etherian and Sirin.”

“Is there a specific problem?”

I blinked questioningly, and Emperor Malius furrowed his brow.

“Suddenly, both of them say they don’t want to become queen.”

“….What?”

“Whether it’s because of you, or because I purged the Princess’s close associates recently, I don’t know, but it’s quite troubling. I can’t marry both of them to you….”

“….Your Majesty has many jokes today.”

“It was a joke, but the situation is serious. A princess refusing to become queen…. Who will inherit the Imperial throne then?”

I understood why Princess Sirin would give up the throne.

In the original story, she was reluctantly drawn into the succession dispute to protect her life from Princess Etherian.

The problem was Princess Etherian….

She had aspired to be queen since childhood, yet now she refuses succession?

The only major changes from the original story were my intervention and the resolution of misunderstandings with her father, Emperor Malius.

So it must be one of two things:

Either the resolution of misunderstandings eliminated her desire for the throne,

Or she’s thinking of marrying me.

Either way, it didn’t seem harmful to me.

I carefully spoke in the somewhat solemn atmosphere.

“Your Majesty must have many concerns.”

“….You seem quite at ease.”

“Of course. Whether it’s Princess Etherian or Princess Sirin, both are too good for someone like me.”

“Haha, so that’s how you’re trying to escape?”

“I don’t have anywhere to escape to, do I?”

Emperor Malius stroked his beard and continued.

“So, you truly don’t care which princess it is?”

“….That’s correct.”

“What if Etherian and Sirin gave you the choice? What would you do?”

Just imagining it would be terrible.

Why?

What would happen to the princess who wasn’t chosen?

She would become the queen of the Eastern Continent after Emperor Malius.

I could make an enemy of someone who would hold the greatest power in the Eastern Continent.

So making the choice myself would be too burdensome.

“I’d prefer if Your Majesty decided.”

“You really don’t mind marrying either princess?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm, Etherian will probably be quite disappointed.”

“….Pardon?”

“To be honest, how well has Etherian treated you all this time?”

“Princess Sirin has treated me well too.”

I shrugged my shoulders, and Emperor Malius twitched his eyebrows.

“Then do you desire both Etherian and Sirin?”

“D-desire? Your joke goes too far.”

Emperor Malius, seemingly displeased with the situation, clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, my prospective son-in-law only knows how to use me.”

“Use you? How could I dare think such a thing?”

I showed my gums in a cheeky smile, and Emperor Malius let out a short sigh.

“Sigh…. I’d like you to visit the Imperial Palace when you have time.”

“Visit the Imperial Palace?”

“Shouldn’t you have separate conversations with Etherian and Sirin?”

I couldn’t think of what to talk about with them, but since Emperor Malius had personally visited Lake Territory, I wanted to return the favor.

“I understand. I’ll speak with Princess Etherian and Princess Sirin.”

“Who knows? Perhaps during your conversation, you’ll decide whom to marry….”

“Yes, that’s possible.”

After my vague answer, Emperor Malius clicked his tongue again and adjusted his posture, seemingly trying to change the subject.

“By the way, the Academy Association keeps interfering?”

“Indeed, it made assembling the faculty quite difficult.”

“Hmph, they should be supporting an academy that will lead the Eastern Continent’s future, not hindering it. It seems that place has become stagnant as well.”

“Fortunately, I managed to find professors.”

“For the sake of the academy students, it seems I should clean house at the Association. What do you think?”

“I believe it wouldn’t be too late to act after Lake Academy opens stably.”

Emperor Malius twitched his eyebrows.

“Why should I wait for Lake Academy’s opening to clean up the Association?”

“When Your Majesty speaks of cleaning house, you mean replacing them with your people, correct?”

Emperor Malius tilted his chin with interest.

“Continue.”

“I’m still inexperienced in academy-related matters. Once things stabilize, I can recommend people for the Association.”

“….So you have no intention of taking a position yourself?”

“Someone with more experience in academia would be better than me. It would also prevent gossip.”

Emperor Malius nodded, seeing the logic. Then, with a serious expression, he continued.

“As time passes, evidence of the Association’s interference with Lake Academy’s establishment will disappear…. Even I need a justification to clean house.”

“You needn’t worry about that. Our Lake Academy’s headmaster and faculty will provide sufficient justification. The Association is probably already anxious.”

“Haha, I see you’re plotting something again.”

“It’s hardly plotting. They’ve dug their own graves.”

I carefully began to talk about the misdeeds of Giselle, the most powerful headmaster in the Association.

As I spoke, Emperor Malius’s expression grew increasingly distorted.

Grinding his molars, he raised his voice.

“These… despicable bastards!! How could they do such terrible things to their own students….”

Emperor Malius was grinding his teeth furiously.

He seemed ready to send the Imperial Knights to behead Headmaster Giselle immediately.

I showed my palms and spoke calmly.

“I would ask Your Majesty to wait a little. We have witnesses but no evidence.”

“….I think the testimony of academy graduates is sufficient evidence.”

“He could claim he merely lent them money with good intentions. And if asked how the graduates repaid the money, he would certainly deny knowledge.”

“Well, torture would make him confess quickly.”

“As I mentioned earlier, there’s a possibility of gossip.”

“Gossip?”

“I believe there’s potential for conspiracy theories suggesting Your Majesty moved to fill the Association with my people because you trust me.”

Emperor Malius laughed dejectedly.

Indeed, as time passes, such conspiracy theories would grow uncontrollably.

If I were to marry one of the princesses, these theories would become even more like established facts.

Therefore.

I needed to tighten the noose around Headmaster Giselle’s neck to crush all conspiracy theories.

Of course, I was confident because Giselle had so many vulnerabilities.

Emperor Malius showed a deeply contemplative expression, clearly wanting to resolve this immediately.

Honestly, even if the Emperor beheaded Giselle right now, no one would dare criticize him.

Tick. Tock.

After a moment, Emperor Malius seemed to organize his thoughts and slowly raised his head toward me.

“Since it’s come to this, let me see your political skills.”