Meanwhile, the afternoon just before the social gathering began—the Emperor’s office.
In that place which could be called the heart of the Empire, the Emperor and Crown Prince Maximilian sat facing each other on plush reception sofas, skimming through reports on the developments of the social gathering’s first day.
“So, the first day of the social gathering passed without incident?”
When the Emperor asked indifferently without lifting his eyes from the documents, Crown Prince Maximilian burst into a snort of laughter and nodded.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Honestly, I expected it to be quite a headache, but thanks to an unexpected incident, it passed smoothly without anyone the wiser.”
“An unexpected incident. Is it what I think it is?”
“Yes, I speak of that barbaric drinking duel between Prince Ian and Count Gross.”
Maximilian raised his teacup and continued pleasantly.
“We had a list of fellows who needed watching, but most of them had their eyes glued to that rare spectacle, didn’t they? With a high noble and a hostage risking their lives to chug strong liquor in the middle of the hall, everyone was too busy watching to spare time for gossip or idle scheming. Anyone stupid enough to wander about and make moves wouldn’t have come in the first place. Thanks to that, the intelligence agents had a very easy time of it.”
The Emperor also recalled the absurd details of the duel he had heard from Count Gross at the stables, and formed a faint smile.
“That Ian fellow truly has a strange side to him. Even without intending to, he keeps stirring up the board like this, and as a result ends up doing things beneficial to the Empire. To think even his impulsive antics end up profiting the Empire—he’s quite the lucky fellow, isn’t he?”
At the Crown Prince’s praise-laden assessment, the Emperor set the documents down on the table and flashed a sharp gaze.
“Was that truly a spontaneous act born merely of good luck?”
“Pardon? Do you mean he had other intentions?”
“Think about it. Count Gross is a power in the Imperial Cavalry and a longtime loyalist to the Imperial family. In order to create an opportunity to become acquainted with that high-nosed high noble, could it not have been a highly calculated move to deliberately scratch his pride, escalate the situation, and guide them toward a drinking duel where neither party would lose face? He is a man more than capable of drawing up such a blueprint.”
“But did Your Majesty not order Count Gross to approach him?”
“That may be so, but my intention was merely for him to feel him out. Yet after drinking himself into a stupor with the boy, Count Gross seems to have developed nothing but fondness, praising him to no end to the point of being useless. If even that was intended, what a terrifying fellow he would be.”
At the Emperor’s sharp analysis, Maximilian briefly stroked his chin and fell into thought.
Considering Ian Sterling’s clever mind, it was a theory with plenty of merit.
But soon the Crown Prince lightly shook his head.
“I have had occasion to drink with him during a private audience in the past... but my thoughts differ slightly.”
“Differ?”
“Yes. Perhaps if it were some other political intrigue, but yesterday’s duel at least surely involved no such complex calculation. The boy is simply a youngster who likes his drink. A manly chap whose pride was stung, so he flared up and saw red in the moment. I doubt that much was intended.”
“Ho ho, is that so. So he still has his youthful, immature sides. That is a relief.”
At the Crown Prince’s confident reply, the Emperor emitted a ho-ho laugh as if intrigued.
“By the way, Your Majesty, may I share a funny story regarding Prince Ian?”
“Speak.”
“Before the social gathering began, in order to firmly set him straight, I summoned him to my quarters and had Princess Himiko of the Archipelago Kingdom serve him drink while naked. And I gave him a clear warning while showing him plainly: if you too lose your value and become incompetent, you will end up in that miserable state.”
Princess Himiko of the Archipelago Kingdom.
The sole remaining noble bloodline of a ruined island nation, and now a pitiful toy serving naked in the Crown Prince’s quarters.
“But do you know what that brazen fellow replied to me upon seeing that spectacle?”
“What did he say?”
“Without so much as a change in expression, he asked me: ‘Then, if I too become incompetent, I shall end up serving naked like that?’ He asked me that. I nearly found myself at a loss for words and in quite the predicament for a moment.”
As Maximilian shook his head as if exasperated, the Emperor, who had been listening quietly, suddenly clutched his belly and burst into hearty laughter.
“Kekekeke!! My, that’s not just bold, that’s brazen! To throw such a joke at the Crown Prince of a great empire? Hahaha!”
The Emperor laughed until tears practically formed, then soon propped his chin and formed a strange smile.
“But having naked boys serve me is my secret hobby; how did he know to say such a thing?”
“...Ugh.”
In an instant, the Crown Prince’s brow furrowed deeply and naked revulsion spread across his face.
He set down his teacup with an expression of utter disgust.
“I truly still cannot understand Your Majesty’s bizarre tastes at all. No matter what, they are still men in the end.”
“You rascal, when you reach my age and sit in this seat, you will naturally come to understand.”
The Emperor giggled as he looked down at the splendid garden outside the window.
“After embracing all the famous beauties of the Empire so many times in your life that you grow sick of them, there comes a moment when boundaries become blurred. Cute boys with soft, downy fuzz and rebellious attitudes too, in bed they eventually come to look like adorable females—such is the state one reaches. Even those who firmly believed themselves men, from some moment onward they give that up and become females, squealing away—do you know how cute that is?”
“Well, um...”
“Do you know the best part? Those fellows will never bleat the tiresome nonsense about swelling with child and carrying the Emperor’s bloodline in their bellies. As for women who spout such drivel, one can simply sell them off to a brothel...”
“...Then, does Prince Ian suit Your Majesty’s tastes?”
At Maximilian’s reluctant question, the Emperor snorted with apparent disinterest and waved his hand.
“No. That’s a different matter. That fellow is not to my taste.”
“Not to your taste?”
“My taste runs toward the type of toy that is stupid and weak, easily made to cry and break. But Ian, that boy—his head is too clever and his wit too sharp to be consumed by such one-dimensional, crude physical pleasure. Does he not provide me with high-dimensional, intellectual entertainment that shakes the board and makes me read his moves, rather than such beastly delight? He is too precious to take to bed.”
“Well, he is my official after all.”
“Yes, it is better to use him thus. A fine steed is for the cavalry, and a nag is for the pot—use them in reverse and they have no value, no?”
“I shall keep that in mind. Then, has Your Majesty lost all interest in women?”
“How could that be? It is not so. A female-like creature and a true female have different flavors, after all.”
The Emperor replied languidly, stroking his beard.
“Among the newly taken hostages, if I spy a girl who is dim-witted but fair of face, I intend to bring her to my bedchamber for appropriate use. For now, since the conquest wars have ended, there won’t be much for the time being.”
“Hoo. Then after Your Majesty has finished with her, please send her to me as well.”
As Maximilian tossed out the remark with utter nonchalance, the Emperor clicked his tongue and looked at the Crown Prince.
“You too have quite the peculiar taste for seeking out secondhand goods used by others. With Princess Himiko too, I simply bestowed her upon you, yet you insisted on sending her to me first and then taking her back.”
“Well, it’s simply my taste.”
“So, is that why you still haven’t laid a single finger on your new Crown Princess and keep her neglected?”
At the mention of the Crown Princess, an annoyed expression flickered across Maximilian’s face.
“With that woman, nothing matches from head to toe; I simply cannot bring myself to touch her. She is rigid and dull—utterly not to my taste.”
“Still, you are the Crown Prince; you must see to an heir. Even if she is not to your taste, force yourself if you must and sire at least one child.”
“...Yes. Well, if it becomes truly urgent, I shall try my best appropriately.”
“You are twenty-seven now, are you not? This father of yours fathered you at nineteen.”
“...I shall endeavor to do so.”
“Yes, put your back into it. Especially considering how well you play with women normally.”