"Huh, they put out feelers to all of you again?"
"This time, it seems slightly different from merely sounding us out."
Wearel said this to me, exasperated, on an otherwise ordinary morning.
"There wasn't any warning the last time either, was there?"
"I received an offer to return as a teacher at the Lukiusaria Royal Academy."
"Mine was a request to serve as a training officer in the military, so it's essentially a return to military service."
"I was offered a promotion in the palace guard, but I heard the underlying circumstances from Revan."
It seemed Herkov and Ikt had also been approached with offers, just like before.
However, what differed from before was that there appeared to be leaks coming from the side that had orchestrated these recruitment efforts.
"It appears that Duke Eurasion is behind it this time."
"You say 'this time,' so does that mean the previous feelers were perhaps solely from Marquis Strateg?"
Ikt nodded at my confirmation.
If I recalled correctly, it had started when I first met my younger brother Terry in the garden that time.
Since the palace guard on Terry's side had resigned after drawing their sword against me, I could imagine why Marquis Strateg, who oversaw the palace guard, would want to sound me out.
"But why would Duke Eurasion do this now, of all times?"
I had met him at the welcome tea party for the Lukiusaria royal family last year.
Moreover, at that time, I had played the role of a prince who could be safely ignored, speaking like a war correspondent.
I wanted to be left alone, though.
Especially now, having discovered that this palace contained entertainment novels—something I had never touched before—I was busy having Sephira read them aloud to me.
Frankly, they were like Meiji and Taisho period literature, but to me, who had only ever read academic books, they were incredibly fresh and interesting.
"Could it be about that territory?"
I had no idea what he meant, but Harti muttered something.
I felt like I heard words that seemed distant to me, who was a prince in name only.
"If you're saying that, it means it concerns me, right?"
"Yes, that's correct. I haven't yet informed you about the supplementary provisions regarding territorial inheritance."
According to Harti, the Emperor was apparently obligated to inherit numerous noble titles, territories, countries, and customs.
That involved history, authority, and various troublesome matters, so I'll skip the details.
The problem was that there were apparently several territories designated for imperial inheritance that Father still hadn't acquired.
"Huh, is that okay? Won't it be used for some plot to drag His Majesty down?"
"According to what I heard, since before the previous generation, successors have been unable to meet the requirements for inheritance, so they had been using deputies who met those requirements as substitutes to inherit."
However, in Father's case, when he ascended to the throne, there had been chaotic lack of preparation.
It seemed he hadn't been able to settle the inheritance of other territories all at once, but had spent several years organizing them while meeting the conditions.
Having been Emperor for five years, Duke Eurasion—the previous Emperor's nephew—wanted to hinder these inheritances that strengthened the legitimacy of the imperial throne.
Duke Lukaios, the Empress's family, had assisted with the inheritance.
Apparently, while these equally powerful figures were clashing fiercely behind the scenes, Father had desperately pushed forward with the inheritance and had mostly completed the acquisitions.
The territories and titles he had yet to obtain were apparently lands whose importance had declined previously.
"One of them is a territory defined such that to inherit it, one must be versed in alchemy."
"Huh, there's something like that?"
"I hear that in the past, alchemy transformed the imperial territories, so it was unimaginably important in this age where magic flourishes."
Wearel spoke as if giving a history lesson.
I had read about that in alchemy-related books as well.
First, alchemy in the Empire was originally born to enrich the undeveloped inland territories.
Wetlands, plateaus, and drylands—the center of this continent apparently had extreme environments.
They reclaimed land, improved soil, and constructed canals.
It was said that humans not skilled in magic devised these through wisdom.
"Now that it's known humans can use all types of magic, and methods to draw out power have been systematized, humans are more adept at using magic."
Herkov, who could only use body strengthening and was an amateur at flashy magic, spoke as if it were someone else's business.
Before the Empire existed, the central continent was impassable, and magic was thought to be one type per race.
Humans and the Empire overturned that notion and developed further.
Alchemy was a technology developed through fumbling trial and error, using immature applications of magic techniques that had been undeveloped until now.
In other words, the rules regarding that territory's inheritance were archaic and had apparently fallen into disuse now.
"Could it be that because they found out alchemy is my hobby, they want to make me inherit that place?"
"Yes, well. I heard that the one who suggested it was a minor figure trying to cozy up to His Majesty's authority."
For Ikt to speak like that, it was either a very important person, or due to Revan, that discourteous source of information.
"...From the looks of it, did the idea of me getting a territory fall through?"
"Yes. Because it was a place the imperial family should inherit, Duke Eurasion and Duke Lukaios apparently formed a rare alliance."
Those words alone made it clear how the two ducal houses viewed me.
"If they end up supporting His Majesty, that's fine, I suppose. So why did Duke Eurasion put out feelers?"
"No, this time it's about pulling people away."
When Harti asked on my behalf, Ikt clearly stated the opponent's aim.
"As Duke Eurasion, he likely dislikes that his own inheritance rights are low. Right now, Your Highness is the most conspicuous and easiest target to strike at. He wants to quickly remove you from the imperial family. But he cannot tolerate anything being taken from the imperial family for that purpose."
"So I understand why he would interfere with the talk of giving me a territory."
Nodding at Herkov's frank opinion, he continued.
"And when he met you last year, you played dumb and deceived him. So, if the people who support you like this were to disappear, that would be ideal. To defeat a general on horseback on the battlefield, you must first trip the horse that supports him."
"Ugh. Dukes are important people, right? Don't they have better things to do?"
Wearel laughed at my disgusted tone.
"Your Highness Asha is virtuous and upright. Even if bad rumors were spread, His Majesty, who knows you, wouldn't entertain them. Therefore, there is no means to attack you directly."
I'm just a shut-in, though.
Also, this makes it hard to mention that I've been using Sephira to secretly read things.
No, come to think of it, wouldn't that cause trouble for more than just me?
"Returning to teaching or the military with a promotion isn't a bad deal, right? Then I won't stop you. You've all been good to me, but I have no way to repay that kindness. If you wish it, please accept their offers."
That was all I could say.
Being a shut-in without backing, I had no connections to elevate everyone.
Asking Father would be wrong, and even if I did, Duke Lukaios would interfere through his close associates.
"Impossible. To leave Your Highness Asha behind. Furthermore, as one who serves at your side, there is no debt. This is how I conduct myself because I think of Your Highness Asha."
Harti denied it strongly, but.
"Huh, did Harti also receive a good offer?"
"Your Highness need not concern yourself with me."
It seemed I wouldn't be told.
But if it affects Harti, could it be his parents' viscount household?
He might have been pressured by noble constraints.
"Well, whether it's a good offer is questionable. Even if they call me a training officer, I'd probably just be shuffled to the fringes of the military. In that sense, Wearel is in a similar situation."
"If you received an offer from Marquis Strateg, Lord Ikt, wouldn't that be a good thing?"
Wearel, nodding at Herkov, turned the conversation to Ikt.
"They maintain affinal relations but are neither enemy nor ally in power struggles, apparently. If I accept the promotion, they will prepare a place suited to my abilities, but they instructed me to make proper arrangements with His Majesty first."
Come to think of it, Ikt had been assigned by Father's appointment, and when Marquis Strateg tried to move him, I had resisted.
I wonder if they were being considerate about that, or just avoiding trouble.
"Are you all sure?"
"If we wanted to return, we would use our own connections. Your Highness Asha need not worry."
"I feel the same, and if I were to return, it would be to my country. It would be good if Your Highness could visit once. The beastmen's capital isn't something to be discarded."
"I only serve here incidentally after receiving a noble title, so I have no desire to serve elsewhere."
They're all so admirable.
But Harti just smiled, and something was different.
Unlike the eyes of a nursemaid watching over me as usual, there was sorrow. There was hesitation.
What kind of conditions could Duke Eurasion have presented to Harti?
I was curious, but if I pressed too deeply like before, I'd probably be stopped.
After all that, the reason I finally found out was because Sephira had secretly read even the letter that Harti possessed.
Daily update
Next: Parting with the Nursemaid 3