“Please accept my apologies for yesterday. My study was inadequate. I beg for your forgiveness, Your Highness.”

“I told you that you don’t have to come back though?”

“I was ordered by His Highness Leonard to assist you, Your Highness.”

“And I told you that you were incompetent and I don’t need your help  right?”

“I have no excuse.”

Hearing me, Utz hangs his head down but it doesn’t seem like he will leave.

Rather than give up, it’s more like he is more persistent now.

“Haa……who is the most harmless noble in the white seagull alliance?”

“It is the son of Baron Becker, Damien von Becker. He does have a feeling for Finne-sama but he only joined the alliance because he was invited by his friends.”

“Hmph…….it seems that you have studied them. Still, that information is already outdated since yesterday.”

Saying so, I showed Utz a few sheets of paper.

It was a long written apology letter with a signature at the bottom. Of course, that signature belongs to Damien.

“This is……!?”

“I’ve already removed a few harmless nobles from their alliance. Damien is one of them.”

“This fast…….how did Your Highness do it?”

“There are various kinds of nobles in the white seagull alliance. Their main members might actually be those who have the chance to become Finne’s fiance but there are also those who can only dream of it. A lot of them only joined because of their friends and acquaintances. Those guys usually are not wealthy. So, by digging up their debt record, I bought up all their debt. In other words, their debtor is now me.”

“That is certainly an effective measure but………where did you get that kind of money?”

“I don’t spend my money. I leave them all to Sebas for a long time. He has been managing that money for me.”

That’s the truth. I left managing my asset to Sebas and he has been using it well and it has now increased dozens of times the original amount. Even so, that story is only there so that people won’t get suspicious of me when I spend the money. Our true source of income is the reward I received as Silver. Inside the Empire, perhaps I might be one of the tops in terms of personal assets.

“You have been doing that……….but, Um….”

“You want to ask me why I spent that amount of money to get rid of those harmless nobles right?”

“Yes, exactly.”

“You will understand. If you are willing to help me then move according to Sebas’s instructions. Sebas.”

“Yes, sir.”

Utz opened his eyes wide at Sebas who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Well, normally anyone would be surprised huh.

Leaving such Utz aside, I handed a list to Sebas.

“My my, this is quite an expense isn’t it?”

“It’s okay. Use as much as you want. After all, I will have to thoroughly teach a lesson those idiots at the white seagull alliance. To know their place that is.”

“In other words, we have to thoroughly crush them, yes?”

“That’s right. Show all the nobles inside the capital how to properly use money.”

Hearing so, Sebas beautifully bowed and left the room with Utz.

Now, let’s leave the preparation to those two.

While I was thinking so, a new guest arrived at my room.

“Your Highness Arnold. It’s me, Alois von Simmel.”

“Welcome, Earl Simmel. I am sorry that I have to call you here suddenly like this.”

“It’s nothing, I have a lot of time to spare after all.”

There was no lie on Alois’s face. I heard that he has been studying a lot but he still has a lot of free time huh. As expected of him.

I smile at such Alois.

“That’s good then. I have a little work I would like you to do for me, can you?”

“That will depend on the content, Your Highness. Unfortunately, I am not such a talented person.

Alois doesn’t guarantee that he will do it. He’s good.

So he has been studying in this kind of area as well huh. That’s a good thing.

“Silver did vouch for you though?”

“!?”

“Oh, should I say that it was Grau instead?”

“You are……how……..?”

That is something that only Silver and Alois are supposed to know. However, now someone else knows about it too.

“I was the one who asked Silver to assist you. I don’t want anything to interfere with Leo’s work after all.”

“You were……the one who ordered Grau?”

“That would be correct.”

Hearing that, Alois took a step back and immediately kneeled down.

“What’s wrong?”

“I must express my gratitude……Your Highness. It was because of Your Highness that I was able to save my territory……..”

“I wasn’t the one who protected your territory. It was you and Silver. However—–if you really feel gratitude toward me then I want you to lend me your help.”

“Yes, please ask me to do anything. I will accomplish it with all my power.”

“You exaggerated. I just want you to spread some rumors about me, that’s all.”

“To spread the good words about you, isn’t it! Please leave it to me!”

Alois’s face brightens.

But I shook my head.

“Eh?”

“It’s the opposite. I want you to start a bad rumor about me. A rumor that I am a scary and frightening person.”

“W, won’t that worsen your image, Your Highness?”

“It’s all right. And, I already talked about it with Silver. This is his plan, not mine.”

I gave Silver’s name to ease Alois’s worry.

Still, Alois was half suspicious about it but he reluctantly nodded at my request.

“Your Highness, please promise me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Once the situation calms down, please allow me to correct the rumor. I will not be able to face the people of my territory if I do something like that to our benefactor.”

“That is……….it will depend on the situation. I can’t promise you that.”

“No way…..”

Seeing the pained look on Alois’s face made me feel like I did something wrong. Well, I am indeed doing something bad though.

Can’t help it then. If Alois doesn’t agree to help me here the plan might fail after all.

“Alright. Do whatever you like.”

“Is that true!? Thank you very much!”

Alois vigorously bowed.

Well, even if Alois corrects it, there is not much difference between a man who uses a child to conduct an information operation and a man who performs an information operation on a child though. The situation won’t change that much.

“That’s all I want you to do. Can I leave it to you?”

“Yes! Please leave it to me!”

Alois cheerfully replies.

When such Alois was about to leave the room, I stopped him. There is something I want to confirm after all.

“Earl Simmel, no, Alois.”

“Yes?”

“Ah, no…..uhh…..aside from me, have you met any other imperial family member?”

“I have talked with His Highness Eric and His Highness Leonard several times but unfortunately, I haven’t the opportunity to meet with anyone else, Your Highness.”

Hearing that, I internally sighed.

The reason why Father left Alois in the castle was not just that he can learn a lot here but also because he thinks that he is a good candidate for Christa’s husband. It’s Father we are talking about. He will never marry Christa off to another country. If that’s the case then, the only partners for her would be among the nobles of the Empire.

If she will marry someone anyway, it would be better to prepare a good partner for her. That is probably his thought but the fact that Alois still doesn’t have the chance to meet her yet means that Father is probably still hesitating.

“It would be great if he can stop being so useless when it comes to his daughter……..”

“Yes?”

“Just talking to myself. Well, why don’t we have a meal together next time? I’d like to introduce you to someone.”

“Is that true? Gladly!”

Alois then smiles innocently.

Alois is a boy with a promising future. His capability has been proven with the last civil war. He is also the first on the list of Christa’s husband candidates. But in the end, it would depend on whether they like each other or not.

For now, let’s have them meet and see their reaction.

Thinking so, I dismiss Alois.

Then, passing each other, Finne stepped into the room.

Her expression was terribly dejected.

“What’s wrong? It’s not like you to make such a cloudy face.”

“My apologies…..it is all because of me……”

Saying so, Finne looked even more dejected. It seems she thinks that the problem this time is her fault huh.

That’s just absurd.

“It’s not your fault. Half of the responsibility lies with those foolish nobles and the other half is from my father.”

“However,…..it is because I stay at Al-sama’s side……”

“Don’t misunderstand. If I think that you are annoying then I would have sent you back to your territory a long time ago. The fact that you are still by my side means that I don’t think so. You got that?”

When I pressed Finne with a strong tone, she nodded with a slightly surprised look. While smiling at such Finne, I ask her to brew me tea as usual.

“Good. then can you get me some tea? I want something strong.”

“Y, Yes! I will prepare it immediately! Uh, Uhh…..Al-sama…..?”

“Hm?”

“Um…..I also have some sweets……”

“Of course, bring that too.”

“Y, Yes! I hope it will be to your liking.”

Saying so, Finne starts preparing them while humming some tunes.

The usual scene. The usual daily life.

Now, there are people that are trying to destroy it. More importantly, those who seek to destroy this modest daily life of mine only have the status of my vassal.

“I will not show any mercy……”

I muttered my determination in a small voice so that Finne wouldn’t hear it.

When I muttered that, anger rose from the bottom of my heart but I calmed myself down.

I want to smile at least in front of Finne. If I make a scary face, she might get worried about me again after all.

“It’s ready! Here, Al-sama!”

“Yeah, thanks.”

The black tea I sip was delicious as usual.

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