"By the way, Imperial Father. Do you still intend to leave Victoria and Chloe's marriage arrangements undecided? Rumors are already growing rife among the Empire's high nobles regarding the two princesses' matches."
At that question, the Emperor shrugged with a listless expression.
"The debutante ball is today—is marriage not still a bit premature? Chloe is yet too young and pure. Our youngest lacks the mental readiness to endure treacherous social circles and the position of lady of a noble house. I intend to keep her by my side a while longer and cherish her."
"If that is Imperial Father's will. Then, what will you do about Victoria? Is she not already twenty-four?"
The face of the Emperor, who had been speaking softly like a benevolent father, contorted the instant his eldest daughter's name was spoken, as if he had bitten into an insect.
"Which noble house in the Empire would take that crazy wench? Unless they are mad, what house would wish to bring that bloodthirsty Sword Demon in as a daughter-in-law? There will be no young nobleman among the Empire's aristocracy who can endure her temper."
"Did she not have a huge fight with Arthur not long ago as well?"
"Yes. No matter how Arthur is not one to die from such things, what kind of crazy wench swings a sword at her own younger brother? She is not of sound mind. It is vexing enough that she is my child."
There was no one in the Imperial Palace who did not know how terribly the Emperor loathed and despised Victoria, his eldest daughter among his children.
Maximilian, the eldest son and Crown Prince, likewise felt not the slightest familial affection for his half-sister, so he set down his teacup and merely nodded in appropriate agreement.
"Still, she is the Empire's First Princess in name. There must surely be at least one ambitious house that, coveting a massive dowry and ties to the Imperial family, would step forward to take her even at the risk of their lives."
"Ha. If such a house exists, I wish they would appear quickly. I would normally never tolerate insolent fools who dare cast marriage proposals at the Imperial family first, but she is an exception."
"I do hope one appears soon."
"Actually, it would be a problem even if one did appear. That wench will obviously die from a blade wound in the middle of a bloody battlefield before long anyway."
The Emperor snorted and spat out coldly.
His voice was so cold and dry that one could not believe it belonged to a father.
"Since she will obviously return as a corpse before long, is there any need to hold a wedding and make the young groom who married her a young widower? It would be better for him to meet another young lady."
The Emperor sipped a cup of tea, cast his gaze toward the map hanging in the corner of the office, and added another remark.
"And most decisively, there will be another war soon."
"You speak of the Laurent Kingdom expedition?"
"Yes. She seemed eager to go to the battlefield, so I shall grant her wish. At the very least, if I let her roam outside, she causes fewer accidents, does she not?"
"…Even if not during this southern expedition, did she not cause a major incident last time?"
"Well, the result was what it was, but in conclusion, the objective of executing the traitors was achieved, was it not? Chloe was rather greatly startled, but…"
"Indeed, annihilating a traitor's entire clan is an effective way to eliminate future trouble. Then, do you intend to entrust the Laurent Kingdom expedition, beginning next spring, to Victoria after all?"
"In any case, though it is only in name, she bears the grand title of Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army. It is only right and proper that she should lead the army to the battlefield, is it not?"
The Emperor smiled a sneering smile and tapped the table.
"Originally, the position of Commander-in-Chief is a symbolic seat where any with the Imperial bloodline is made to sit as a mere figurehead. Yet she seriously believes she is actually commanding the Imperial Army—a truly laughable affair. The actual duties are all performed by the generals beneath her."
The Emperor leaned deep into his backrest and continued.
"Do you think she can topple the Laurent Kingdom?"
"Would it not be difficult? Even under His Late Majesty, and His Majesty before him, they could not surpass the walls of the Laurent Kingdom. I do not believe Victoria's military talent surpasses that of both."
"The Laurent Kingdom is a natural fortress surrounded by mountain ranges and highlands. It is impossible to break through with the cavalry the Empire prides itself on, and in the end, all that remains is an honest siege. But breaching those absurd walls is no easy task."
"One need only surmount two walls, yet that is the difficult part."
"Well… it cannot be helped. In the end, a siege is an honest battle fought with blood. Deploying only the Imperial Army would be too costly, so I shall have to ponder over which noble to request private soldiers from this time. Preferably pliant nobles who are less likely to clash with her…"
In the pupils of the Emperor, who had been murmuring light political calculations, thick and viscous hatred and killing intent suddenly coiled like a snake.
The air in the office became suffocatingly heavy in an instant.
"A wench born devouring her own mother……"
At the brutal curse spat out as if chewed and torn, Maximilian carefully controlled his expression and maintained silence.
Because he knew all too painfully that, even as Crown Prince, any answer at such a time could offend the Emperor's mood.
The only woman the Emperor had ever loved in his life, and the first daughter who had arrived as if by equivalent exchange for her life.
Love turned directly into hatred, and the Emperor vented all the negative emotions he possessed upon that daughter.
"Speaking of that wench makes my mouth and ears feel filthy. I must wash them."
The Emperor, with familiar ease, rinsed his mouth and ears in the water basin set in the corner of the office, then opened the window facing north and briskly emptied the water outside.
To the north was where Victoria's detached palace stood.
Maximilian, gazing at that scene briefly, after a short deliberation, brought up Ian Stirling's name once more to change the atmosphere.
"……There is one matter of concern. Lately, Victoria seems to be displaying very blatant affection toward Ian Stirling; what do you intend to do about that? Would it be better to let Victoria do as she pleases?"
"Throw Ian to Victoria, you say? What, as a husband?"
The Emperor snorted as if asking when he had been angry and shook his head.
"That would be too great a waste of Ian Stirling. His talent is too precious to be consumed by Victoria."
The Emperor narrowed his eyes and showed a mischievous smile toward Maximilian.
"And…… Victoria is not the only one who likes Ian Stirling, is she? Our adorable Chloe also seems to have fallen head over heels lately, following that rascal around everywhere."
Maximilian started in surprise and opened his eyes wide.
"You knew, Imperial Father?"
"Hehe, you fool. How could a parent not know their own child's inner thoughts? My youngest daughter, whom I would not hurt even if she were placed in my eye, has lately been flushing and spending markedly longer dressing up. Would a father be so blind?"
The terrifying monster who had been cursing the eldest daughter as if to tear her to death just moments ago was nowhere to be seen, and the Emperor was already chuckling with the face of a hopelessly doting father.
At this bizarre temperature difference, Maximilian inwardly felt his skin crawl, but maintained a calm exterior.
"To be honest, even if the lad is capable, affable, and clever enough to be to my liking…… is our youngest not too precious to hand our beloved Chloe over to a hostage brat from a defeated nation? She is a noble Imperial Princess of the Empire."
"Haha, no one in the Imperial Palace can withstand Imperial Father's terrible love for your youngest daughter."
"Indeed, no matter how much I like the lad…… honestly, there is the matter of difference in status. In any case, we can determine such romantic affairs slowly later according to the situation. It is not something to conclude immediately."
The Emperor glanced at the clock and slowly rose from the sofa.
"Now, let us end this pointless chatter here. The sun has set, and it is nearly time for the beasts to crawl out into the main hall. Go and prepare to greet the second day of the social festival."
"Yes, Imperial Father. I will demonstrate perfect control without the slightest error for the remainder of the festival."
Maximilian rose from his seat and bowed with elegance and impeccable discipline.
The two men's secret political meeting thus concluded, and Maximilian quietly opened the heavy oak door of the office and stepped out.