episode_0079

“Since the well-respected Emperor is backing you, does it feel like you own the world?”

“……”

“Or do you think that well-respected Emperor will be on your side forever?”

Well… I fully admit that what I’m doing might be uncomfortable for conservative people.

The reality is that even young people who view my actions favorably express some concern.

I also admit that I can’t take such bold actions without the Emperor’s halo.

It’s also true that thanks to the Imperial Family, who empower me, I have less to worry about.

Why is this old man suddenly in such a rush when even my own mother and father are staying put?

“I’m not sure what you mean. It’s true that I’ve been able to do this kind of work with the help of His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Prince Consort, but is that wrong?”

“It is wrong.”

I frowned and looked at the late Duke of Devonshire.

“What you’re doing is a challenge to the existing order and morality. These challenges will lead to conflict and cause social division.”

“So?”

“Do you think we don’t know that your Emperor is using that division to weaken the existing nobles and foster new powers to keep them in check?”

“Oh, is that so?”

That was ridiculous nonsense.

The idea that an elf wearing revealing clothes would cause the nobility to be divided and create new factions.

It’s a sickness to be so delusional over just one piece of clothing.

Besides, if a group can be divided by a single piece of clothing, shouldn’t they just collapse?

It felt ridiculous, like watching parents blame cartoons or games for their children’s downfall.

Well… I can understand the concern.

It’s stranger to accept something different right away.

But that’s none of my business.

“So what do you want me to do?”

“What?”

The late Duke of Devonshire’s expression twisted visibly.

He probably didn’t expect someone so young to be so insolent.

I twisted one corner of my mouth up and added,

“If I may correct you, Your Grace, whatever His Majesty the Emperor does is none of my business.”

“Ha, you are also a noble. His Majesty the Emperor and you are distinctly different groups, and you should be thinking about the interests of the nobles, not the Imperial Family.”

“Tsk.”

I know that the ideal lord-vassal relationship was shattered during the succession war, but still, saying it out loud is a different story.

“Watch your mouth. You should remember there are Imperial Knights outside.”

Just this one sentence won’t bring him down, but I’m confident I can make his life difficult enough.

Besides, I have not only Imperial Knights but also Princess Elizabeth on my side.

“And since you’re talking about benefits, let me tell you that I’m doing this because I want to. The ideas for the ads, posting the ads, making and selling the clothes, and being dissatisfied with the current fashion culture are all my will and my ideas.”

The reason and motivation for starting this may be absurd, but my goals have always been clear since I started.

Get rid of the terrible corsets and see more diverse clothing.

Thanks to a bit of good fortune, I’m starting to see results quickly, and I won’t tolerate anyone interfering.

“Ha! Then why have you been quiet until now? What’s the reason for suddenly expressing these firm beliefs?”

I twisted my face and openly grimaced.

I really hate that kind of logic.

I would understand if I were over thirty, but what nonsense is this to someone who hasn’t even had their coming-of-age ceremony yet?

“Would you seriously listen to what a twelve-year-old says, Your Grace? You foam at the mouth even when a seventeen-year-old speaks.”

“Don’t be sarcastic. That doesn’t change the fact that you suddenly started acting.”

“Of course.”

He probably thinks I’m being swayed by the Emperor now, so he would have believed me even less if I had done this when I was younger.

“Well, even if everything you say is true, Your Grace, if my actions are not understood by everyone, then why do people commission my atelier? It’s just a young kid acting out of his mind, so why would people have any reason to be interested in a positive way?”

“Young people want something stimulating. But you’ll understand when you gain more experience that your actions are detrimental to us nobles.”

“I’ll ask again, how is it detrimental for me to make clothes and put out suggestive advertisements? Isn’t the fact that it’s happening the problem? If a group is divided by wearing slightly thinner clothes, shouldn’t it just collapse?”

“For the sake of the group, it’s necessary to put aside personal opinions for a while. The fact that nobles are wasting their energy on useless debates because of your actions is beneficial to the Emperor.”

“Ha- really…”

I’m starting to get annoyed now.

It may be a loss from the nobles’ point of view.

But that’s their side.

The stronger the Emperor who backs me up, the more I benefit, so why would I change my mind after listening to that kind of persuasion?

“That damn Emperor, Emperor, Emperor! Let’s say His Majesty the Emperor benefits as you say, Your Grace, but what’s that to me? Isn’t it common sense that it’s better if the person who supports me benefits?”

“Don’t think the Emperor’s protection will last forever.”

“So what do I lose? To put it another way, would things be different if I defied His Majesty the Emperor now? Have you forgotten that I am the son of Count Hume?”

“……”

If you’re going to persuade or threaten me to stay still, at least throw me a tempting bait. Our family is loyal; who else should we trust if not the Emperor?

“And seriously, why are you so bothered by wearing slightly thinner clothes? Does the country fall apart if you wear a slightly thinner skirt? If you want to be so bundled up, shouldn’t you dress like the nomads of the Arctic?”

“Don’t you know how dangerous it is for young people to indulge in luxury and extravagance?”

“Oh~”

That “logic” finally came out.

I had been waiting for it to come out, and I was delighted when it finally did.

I dropped my sneer and glared at the late Duke of Devonshire.

“Then you shouldn’t wear pants either. It seems you’re not uncomfortable with noble blue blood wearing barbarian clothes. Even the Hume family, who detests elves, doesn’t say anything about pants, so how hard is it to tolerate that much?”

“Ha… such arrogance from a young one.”

By repeatedly being sarcastic, I finally got under his skin.

I heard that the first one to get riled up in an internet argument loses, so this could be considered my victory.

As the late Duke of Devonshire said, I put an arrogant and conceited smile on my face and said,

“Since you mention arrogance, let me tell you one more thing: I’m already exercising a lot of self-restraint.”

“Ha! Self-restraint? Do you not know the meaning of self-restraint because you didn’t graduate from the Academy?”

“Even if I’m uneducated, of course I know. By any chance… does the Devonshire family enroll in the Academy to learn a single word? That’s quite an efficient education.”

“……”

And strictly speaking, I’m not uneducated.

I graduated from university in my previous life, so I’m practically an Academy graduate.

To try to compare me, who has been studying for 16 years, to someone who attends a 3-year Academy as a child is truly an arrogant noble.

“An insult to the family will not be easily overlooked.”

“Oh, is that so? You kept treating me like a kid, so I acted like one, but it seems you don’t like it.”

“It’s good to be full of spirit, but I’m not afraid of a dog barking.”

“But didn’t you come here yourself because of that dog’s bark?”

“Listen, no one will think you’re strong just because you’re bluffing like that.”

“If you’re wondering whether it’s a bluff or not, I can show you.”

I crossed my arms and tilted my chin slightly.

“… It’s impossible to reason with you.”

The late Duke of Devonshire, his hands trembling and clenched into fists at my insolent attitude, abruptly rose from his seat, looked down at me, and said,

“I’m warning you one last time: stay within the lines. I’m not denying change, but I hope you realize that the change you and the Emperor want is too radical.”

“……”

The late Duke of Devonshire, leaving a growling warning, stormed out of the room, clearly showing his displeasure.

“Hoo…”

The stuffiness in my chest, which had been there throughout the conversation, eased a bit.

I leaned back in my chair, burying myself in it, and looked at the ceiling.

A young one, stay within the lines, too radical.

What a joke.

_

“Is it okay to come in?”

After sitting in the lounge for a while to calm down, Princess Elizabeth carefully opened the door and peeked her head in.

So she does have a sense of awareness.

It was the first time I had seen her look like a girl her age, and I found it a little cute.

How great would it be if she always acted like that?

“Pfft.”

I chuckled and gestured for the Princess, who was carefully watching my reaction, to come in.

Suddenly, I started grinning, and the Princess frowned as if looking at something strange, but soon wore an expression of understanding and slipped inside.

“The guest who just left seemed very angry. What did you do?”

“Just had a deep conversation.”

So deeply that we severely scratched each other.

“He’s not just anyone. Is it really okay?”

“I just need to win. Even if he’s a big shot, he’s not a monster.”

“Oh my.”

The corners of Princess Elizabeth’s mouth suddenly turned up at my bold answer, which I blurted out while my head was heated.

“What are the employees doing now?”

“They’re eating.”

“When they finish eating, tell them not to start working right away and to gather for a moment. I have something to say.”

“Okay. Can I look forward to what you’re going to say?”

“Yeah, go ahead and look forward to it.”

I’ll show you something so hot you’ll be surprised.