episode_0017

Even though I caused such a mess at the diplomatic meeting, the fact that the Emperor let it slide without saying anything shows that he must really think it’s okay for me to make such a mess.

Or maybe the Empire’s power is so overwhelming that he thought it was okay to mess up and get away with it.

In fact, in the main story, the Emperor is seriously planning to start a war with the whole world, and in reality, just before that, the efforts of the protagonist and his party managed to stop it. The Kingdom and the Federation are still dealing with the situation somewhat wisely. Currently, unless the Empire divides itself or all the countries outside the Empire unite, there is no country that can win a war against the Empire.

Even if a war were to break out, the side that attacks the Empire first will never escape unscathed.

…And I am one of the most central figures in that Empire. And I’m only fourteen years old.

Am I going to become a criminal?

Well, there are still a few years left until then, so let’s think about it slowly. If necessary, I can just erase all the mess and assassinate the Emperor.

I also planned to do my best to prevent such a thing from happening before that.

Anyway, the fact that my reckless actions didn’t cause any major problems wasn’t really surprising.

What was really surprising was something else.

“You had a conversation with the Princess?”

“Why? Is that not allowed? You were representing the Empire at the tri-country summit.”

“No, it’s not like that.”

The pride in Alice’s face as she said that was evident.

It was understandable. Alice, who usually only studied and trained in the palace, must have felt proud to have accomplished something. And it’s not just any accomplishment; she had a conversation with the only Princess of the Kingdom.

I don’t know exactly what kind of person the King is. He only appeared in the game’s dialogue a few times.

But his daughter, Charlotte, is a good person. She never pretends in front of anyone. Besides, if she appeared as a deceitful character instead of a heroine that players could capture, she wouldn’t have been as popular.

If the person Alice had a conversation with was someone else, I would have been suspicious, but with Charlotte, there shouldn’t be any major issues. After all, I’m scheduled to meet her at the Academy next year. Charlotte will be sent as a student by the King.

There must have been a reason why the Emperor didn’t scold Alice harshly this time.

Maybe I pleaded with him not to do so.

“You must have had a rewarding time.”

When I said that, Alice raised her chin proudly.

It was more cute than dignified, to be honest.

*

After that, there were no special incidents. The Emperor didn’t call me separately to ask questions, nor did he give any orders to assassinate anyone else.

I thought maybe it was because I was going to the Academy next year. It would be troublesome if any bad rumors about me spread to the school I was going to attend. Besides, if the Emperor sent me to the Academy, it would be to investigate the nobles and capable commoners who would rise to important positions in the future, not just to study hard.

The original Claire was like that too. She was a transfer student at the Emperor’s behest, not someone who originally attended the Academy. She even said she didn’t particularly want to go to the Academy.

So, studying hard with the intention of entering the Academy from the beginning, attending mock exams diligently, I naturally thought I would be able to enter the Academy right away.

But—

“There is a place you must go.”

Me?

To resist the urge to blurt out, I had to make a tremendous effort.

No, even so, if such a thing is planned, you should give a heads up in advance.

“It seems like it’s time to organize the military forces in the northern empire. The autonomous region of Riklant eventually requested help from our empire. They will provide information on the leaders of the military forces that need to be dealt with, so organize and come.”

Ah, it’s a military issue.

Even though they tell you where to go, it seems like the task is right in front of you, showing that the military in this world is truly military-like.

“…Understood.”

Of course, I have no grounds to refuse here. At most, I could say, “I want to go to school instead of the battlefield,” but the emperor didn’t raise me here with the intention of sending me to school.

However, going to the battlefield doesn’t mean I can’t go to school.

The entrance exam can be taken in the nearest city to the battlefield, and there is still plenty of time until next April.

…If we take the motif of this game as a European country, the original school term should start in August or September, but Azerna Chronicles is a Japanese game. Even though it is being exported overseas, it was originally a game that sold best in Japan, and naturally, the game content is tailored to the tastes of Japanese players.

And since Japanese gamers who buy games for school settings wouldn’t necessarily expect a European-style academic calendar.

Therefore, the Royal Londarium Academy also follows the Japanese academic calendar, starting in early April and following a three-semester system. This way, they can include episodes for the Japanese anime-style summer and winter breaks.

By the way, there is also a Valentine’s Day event with a European theme in the background. Depending on which character you spent the year with, the heroine who gives you chocolate changes.

“Do you feel disappointed?”

“…”

The emperor asked that, and I raised my head to look at him. The emperor, as usual, with a slight smile but no other emotions showing on his face, was silently looking down at me.

“No, Your Majesty. I will follow the order.”

I know very well what the emperor is asking. He also knew very well that I had been studying for the entrance exam with Alice.

Perhaps this order is to make it clear that I am in a different position from the real princess Alice.

It was the first assassination mission since the assassination of the viscount. And it’s in the northern region where all sorts of military forces are in turmoil. Some reckless military forces even invade the boundaries set by the empire.

It seemed that the emperor was planning to clean them up this time.

“Hmm.”

After making an incomprehensible sound, the emperor said, “Understood. You may go now. Departure will be in a week. Someone from the military will inform you of the details soon.”

He said that.

…If the emperor’s intention is that, it seems unrealistic to start school in April next year.

It’s a shame.

*

“Are you really going to the battlefield?”

I was packing my bags in the room when the door suddenly opened, and Alice asked me that.

I turned around from hanging a water pouch next to my bag to see Alice standing at the open door, covered in sweat.

“Yes, that’s what’s happening.”

“That’s what’s happening?”

In response to my answer, Alice walked into the room and said, “That’s what’s happening, and you’re just going to let it go? Wasn’t going to the academy what you wanted? You studied so hard for it!”

Hmm…

It’s true that I wanted to go to the academy. So, it’s true that I studied hard for it. Much harder than what Alice thinks. It’s a place full of characters I like. I wondered if Claire, who would have grown up much happier than in the original, had actually enrolled in the academy, and I was curious about Charlotte’s reaction, who, unlike the original, had become friends with Alice.

Perhaps I could be entangled in the original story and become part of the protagonist’s group. If there is a very dangerous task, I might be able to handle it in advance.

…Although I did consider the latter as a possibility.

Just because I can’t go right now doesn’t mean I can never go in the future. Even if I’m not a student, there were a few ways that came to mind to intervene in the protagonist’s situation.

“Say something!”

Lost in thought, I didn’t say anything, and Alice seemed to think I had lost my words.

“I received an order from His Imperial Majesty to clean up the military forces beyond the northern border and stabilize the political situation in the autonomous region of Riklant.”

At the mention of His Imperial Majesty’s order, Alice seemed momentarily at a loss for words, but then she raised her chin and said, “So?”

So?

I blinked at Alice’s words.

So what does that mean, I don’t really understand.

In this country, the Emperor’s orders are absolute. The Imperial Council doesn’t just ignore the Emperor’s words for no reason. The Council is decided strictly by the vote of the people, and the people want the Council to follow the Emperor. The Emperor’s authoritarian policies establish a sense of ‘national pride’ among the people. And thanks to the Emperor, the situation of the people in the empire has improved significantly.

Mostly due to the exploitation of cheap resources from the colonies.

And the ‘people’ who elect the Imperial Council, the holders of the true political power, are only ‘pure male citizens of the empire’.

Minors might be an exception, but… no, actually, it’s strange to just pass over minors like that. In this country, anyone over the age of 12 is practically considered an adult and sent straight to the factories.

Even if it’s not a national policy, this country is a place where extreme capitalism, imperialism, and strong imperial power are mixed in such a way that it’s impossible to tell how they converge. The Emperor’s ultimate goal is to consolidate everything and create a unified empire.

It sounds plausible, but the means are wrong, using the most wicked diplomacy, war.

The Emperor was willing to work for a ‘war to end everything’, a nonsensical phrase heard many times somewhere.

Anyway, forcing children under 12 to work hard for four hours a day, without caring if they drink alcohol, smoke, or use opium, while the voting rights are only given after the age of 21. If they survive until then, it’s fortunate, but even if they survive, children who haven’t received proper education can’t possibly have a proper interest in politics.

Thanks to this, there is always an abundance of resources in the military. Those with disabilities or struggling with hunger can’t fight in wars, so they are well-fed, well-clothed, and even exercised. It’s much better than working in a factory. Sometimes they have to fight for their lives, but their technological superiority means fewer casualties compared to the enemy, and the rewards are plentiful.

…Thinking like this, it seems like they deliberately maintain that state.

Women have no political rights, and even those who are not ‘pure citizens’ but come from the colonies have no political rights. The same goes for mixed-race individuals. They need to meet a minimum quota to be recognized as pure citizens, and if there are too many ‘colonial ties’, they can be rejected.

Workers think that colonials are taking their jobs, and there are rumors that foreigners are forming secret societies to plot against the country…

Doesn’t this sound like stories you’ve heard somewhere?

Well, it’s a funny thing to say that there were empresses in history.

“Princess? You have the power of the emperor behind you, so why do you just obey his orders without question?”

“Just because I am called a princess does not mean I am the same as other princesses. I am brought here because His Majesty the Emperor sees me as useful, and the princess is truly the heir to this empire.”

“So, are you saying you can do anything?”

Of course.

The Emperor actually sees me as a tool.

It may be true that he loves his children. Ruth, Jaden, and other siblings are the same. In fact, in the story, the Emperor was deeply saddened every time his child died.

However, even to the Emperor, that child is ultimately just a tool.

Would it be an explanation to say it’s the difference between a cherished tool and a disposable one?

Of course, Alice was the most important tool among those tools.

…But there was no need to tell Alice that. She is too young for that.

I turned back towards the backpack and said, “You don’t need to worry. I will complete my mission there and come back. There will be no dying.”

“I’m talking about that right now…!”

Alice shouted at my back in frustration, then stopped. The door was still open. If she shouted here, all the maids would hear.

Alice, who often threw tantrums in the corridor, had learned that such behavior would tarnish her image as she grew older. Of course, she still caused trouble for people by throwing tantrums occasionally.

“…”

For a while, Alice seemed to be trying to control her emotions. I couldn’t see her expression, but I could hear her rough breathing, so she must have been doing just that.

And finally, the not-so-calm Alice—

“…I will go to Father.”

—No, she was not calm at all.

“Princess—”

When I turned my head back, Alice had already rushed out of the room.

“…Sigh.”

I took a deep breath, put down the luggage I was holding, and quickly followed after Alice.