Arma Dianitas.
He was the Third Prince of the Dianitas Empire.
Also, he was the Emperor's illegitimate child.
He was the only child born to the only woman to whom the Emperor, who made all decisions calculatively, gave his sincerity.
Because the child was born after a difficult delivery, the Emperor did not want to see the child again from his mother.
The Emperor sincerely loved Arma's mother.
She was the only one who could displease the Emperor, and she was the only one who knew everything about the Emperor.
However, surprisingly, she was not the Empress.
She wasn't even in the imperial palace.
The reason Arma was treated as an illegitimate child was that the Emperor did not grant her any power.
Also, it was because she was kept in a mansion with strict security.
However, due to a major arson incident that occurred before that, the public believed she was dead.
Because the Emperor decided so, she became a dead person.
Arma grew up being pointed at as an illegitimate child his entire life.
You cannot kill a dead human.
You cannot compete with dead humans.
Therefore, Arma's mother was the safest of the Emperor's possessions.
It is not even funny that the Emperor, who lacks nothing in the world, loves a commoner he met during a secret mission the most.
...Thought Arma, who was having a private audience with the Emperor.
"So... are you saying I should let Jill Robert go?"
The Emperor, sprawled on the sofa in disheveled clothes while tilting his glass, chuckled softly and asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Arma bowed his head slightly and answered briefly.
A large piece of gauze was conspicuously attached to his pretty face, which was smiling shyly as if embarrassed.
Due to what happened yesterday, the banquet was adjourned with the decision to postpone it.
It was because the Duke of Bellion happened to get involved, and things became complicated thanks to Arma, who uncharacteristically stepped forward.
If Arma hadn't stepped in, it would have simply ended as a dispute between nobles.
However, the moment Arma got involved, it became a crime of insulting the royal family.
Of course, the Emperor, Sevirus Jin Dianitas, had no doubt that all of this was the work of his cunning youngest son.
"Are you saying you won't punish him for insulting the royal family?"
"Yes... Baron Robert wouldn't want to be beheaded for something as trivial as this, either."
So, it would be slightly more accurate to say that he tried not to doubt.
"We sometimes make mistakes, so..."
A look of embarrassment was visible on his face as he scratched his cheek with the tip of his index finger.
"...Mistake?"
"Yes, ahaha..."
The Emperor knew that the foolish behavior and expression that seemed imminent were not sincere.
The eccentric who insists on that clueless act simply because it's a hassle, despite being able to easily surpass his inadequate older brothers and stand above them.
However, he just realized that the word 'mistake' was sincere.
'A mistake for a guy who lives everything just as calculatingly as I do?'
The Emperor narrowed his eyes and rubbed his chin.
It was to gauge sincerity.
"Well, if you, the person involved, don't mind, I'll let him go."
The Emperor replied, recalling the dozens of long letters and petitions he had received from Baron Robert.
"It's a pity for Baron Robert, too."
He spoke in a voice that showed no regret at all.
"To someone like him, that fellow is his only child."
Since he was over 60 years old, he wouldn't be able to have a new heir, and the next Baron would inevitably be that thoughtless fellow.
"Even though he was rather rigid, he was usually decent at his work; how could he fail at raising his children so spectacularly?"
The Emperor murmured softly, a habitual smile playing on the corners of his mouth.
"Hahaha, Father, really..."
He shrugged his shoulders at the look that seemed to say, 'Don't talk about others.'
"He didn't exactly fail. There is something quite excellent right in front of me."
He flicked his finger, smiled, and spoke lightly.
It was then.
Knock knock.
There was a sound outside the door, followed by a neat knock.
The Emperor tilted his wine glass in his disheveled posture and nodded to Arma.
“Please come in.”
Arma opened his mouth with a gentle smile.
The Emperor lightly shrugged his shoulders as he watched his youngest son, who, despite being a prince, steadfastly maintained the use of honorifics.
"What is the matter while I am chatting with my son for the first time in a long while?"
At the sound of the Emperor's un-emperor-like voice, the soldier who had entered hurriedly bowed.
"I'm sorry. I thought I needed to let you know urgently."
"Oh... did something happen?"
Arma asked naively.
"Lady Bellion has disappeared! The maid who had come to check on her condition informed me in surprise."
Rattling-
Arma was about to get up from his seat when he saw the Emperor and paused.
The Emperor's eyes narrowed upon detecting that faint movement.
'Aha.'
The Emperor brought the wine glass to his lips and let out a laugh inwardly.
'I see I have something Roselyn will like.'
He thought of the hidden gem he would soon visit and spoke slowly.
"Your Majesty, I shall be going now..."
"My youngest, your father is bored, so please keep me company for a drink."
Sensing the hint of laughter in the voice, Arma looked at the Emperor and smiled awkwardly.
***
"...There isn't as much information as I thought."
Roselyn, who had been sitting in the Imperial Library for hours reading books until her eyes were about to pop out, muttered softly. She didn't know how much or what kind of changes there would be compared to the world she originally knew.
So, she felt a bit regretful about her plan to study the latest political situation and culture there as much as possible before going to Kaluta.
She had only heard stories about Kaluta, so she knew almost nothing about its detailed culture or traditions.
'Is this also close to gambling?'
Based on comparing only what is available, it seems to be almost identical to the other side, but...
'Anyway, look how late it's already.'
Roselyn turned her head and looked out the window.
It had already gotten dark outside the window.
Roselyn stretched and stood up from her seat, realizing that she had crossed over here before lunch and skipped lunch.
It was time for her to put the book she had read back on the bookshelf.
Thud.
Suddenly, the sound of the library door, which had been closed, slammed shut again, and someone grabbed her shoulder.
Roselyn's eyes widened slightly.
It was just as she was about to swing the thick book she was holding, thinking that she had been caught from behind in an instant.
"Young Lady...! So you were here."
"...Your Highness the Third Prince?"
Roselyn paused at the sight of the young man with thick gauze attached to his cheek.
"What brings you here..."
"The Young Lady suddenly disappeared, so everyone is looking for you. I also found this place while searching for you..."
Arma smiled with a reddened cheek and said.
"Everyone is in an uproar. The Young Duke and the Duke, in particular, are making a huge fuss about kidnappings and mysterious disappearances, and are swarming the Imperial Castle..."
Roselyn paused at the voice that trailed off.
Roselyn opened her eyes wide in surprise at the unexpected words.
"Surely they didn't turn everything upside down?"
"No, it's not that far yet."
Roselyn caught a subtle nuance in Arma's answer.
It’s not quite that extreme, but it sounded like it was right before that.
"...I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention, but I lost track of time while reading the book."
"Yes, I think so. I'm glad to hear you are safe. I'll send someone right away to let them know we found you."
As he added, as if to say not to worry, a smell of alcohol wafted from him.
"Yes. But by any chance, did you drink alcohol?"
"Ah, yes. Father... asked me to hang out with him, so do I smell?"
At Roselyn's words, Arma looked like he was about to cry, buried his nose in his sleeve, and sniffed while asking.
It looks as if he is hesitant to take a couple of steps back, fearing that he might get rid of the smell.
Rosalyn, who was looking at Arma, slowly shook her head.
"No, that's not it."
“Yes, my lady.”
In the library, where darkness had fallen and the light relied on candlelight, Arma was quite close to her.
"Yes."
Arma pursed his lips but said nothing. Roselyn shrugged at him and spoke first.
"Thank you for coming to find me. I should go now before I cause any more trouble."
Roselyn frowned as she thought of her father, who visited her room at least once a day.
It was because I didn't think that mentally weak father would be okay.
'...To think you have a weak mentality.'
It was a little funny again.
Roselyn recalled the image of her father, who had always seemed endlessly big and scary.
He was a difficult person to approach and a scary person.
'Father might be going berserk again.'
...The point is that he was never the kind of person who would make you think that way.
"I heard you're joining the Kaluta delegation. By any chance... would it be alright if I went too?"
Roselyn paused at the sound of a voice just as she was about to leave the library.
She looked at him with a slightly flustered expression, then looked puzzled, and soon shook her head.
"No?"
Could it be possible?
Roselyn answered briefly, opened the door, and went outside.
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