This chapter is brought to you by my sudden burst of enthusiasm.
Chapter 118: Oscar and Indra
“With this upcoming military campaign, I expect to be away for at least half a year. So, I have an important task for you, Oscar.”
“What might that be?”
“You’ll be the examiner for this year’s knight selection.”
“The knight selection…?”
Oscar frowned.
Just a moment ago, he had been laughing cheerfully, but now his expression had completely changed.
“I understand your feelings. Usually, such a role is given to a more idle prince.”
“No, I would never—”
“It’s fine. Under normal circumstances, that would be the correct choice.”
“—yes.”
Oscar nodded solemnly,
He read between the lines of my reference to “normal circumstances.”
In any situation, the approach during peacetime and times of emergency is entirely different.
Of course, Oscar understood this reasoning, and from the way I phrased it, he realized I was now discussing an emergency situation.
“I humbly accept your order.”
“Umu.”
“So, how should I handle the selection this year?”
“I’ll leave the method to you—but reject all the competent ones.”
“Reject? All the competent ones?”
“Yes. And if you need a cover, feel free to accept large bribes from the incompetent ones. I’ll write a note authorizing that this is my command.”
“…Why such a thing?”
“Of course, I’m not simply telling you to reject them.”
“Understood.”
Oscar nodded slightly.
His expression seemed to say that this was only natural.
“After rejecting the capable candidates, consult with Henry and assign them to suitable positions.”
“…For the campaign, you mean?”
“Yes.”
I nodded firmly.
Looking straight at Oscar and continuing seriously,
“I don’t know how this campaign will turn out, so the more pieces we have, the better.”
“If that’s the case, couldn’t we do it after a normal selection process?”
“No. We must not let the opponent notice. That’s why Henry isn’t handling this. If the Minister of War, Henry, did this openly, it would raise suspicion. That’s why you’re in charge. If you do it, it will look like internal affairs.”
“I see…”
Oscar nodded slightly and began to contemplate—his face showed deep thought.
I waited for him to speak on his own, not interrupting his thought process.
After thinking for about ten seconds, Oscar looked up and stared straight at me.
“Then, I believe Dustin would be more suitable than I am.”
“The Tenth Prince?”
I was a little surprised and looked at Oscar.
The Tenth Prince, Dustin.
He is my older brother, and although publicly known as a mere—no, an extraordinary womanizer, I believe he is a capable man, different from both Henry and Oscar.
“Yes, I am in a somewhat conspicuous position myself. Perhaps it would be better for Dustin, who has no official role.”
“Hm.”
“Moreover, Dustin is known for his love of women. If we’re going for camouflage, he’s more suitable. If it’s Dustin, he’ll understand if Your Majesty conveys it verbally without leaving any written trace.”
“Haha, you hold him in high regard.”
When I said this, Oscar sighed.
“It’s frustrating at times. He has the ability, but using it solely for womanizing is unbecoming of a prince.”
“Hm.”
I nodded.
I see, so that’s how Oscar interprets it.
Well, it’s only natural.
He wouldn’t dare say to me, “He’s pretending not to be interested in the throne.”
I could sense from the atmosphere that Oscar probably holds the same opinion as me deep down.
I thought further.
And I considered Oscar’s suggestion.
There was also the matter of Sheryl.
I decided to follow Oscar’s suggestion and leave it to Dustin.
For the true purpose—
“Understood. I’ll heed your advice. I’ll summon Dustin later and inform him. You, on the other hand, will act as a buffer for those rejected.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Oscar bowed his head.
I watched him as he did so.
Summoning Oscar here was primarily for appearances.
Oscar, too, has ears and eyes in the court.
The details of my conversation with Henry here in the pavilion wouldn’t be known, but the fact that we “talked” would be.
If I only spoke with Henry, it could raise suspicions or cause concern, but by also speaking with Oscar, it would seem as though I had an equally confidential conversation with both.
Within my court, Henry and Oscar are like my two arms.
If I were to discuss confidential matters with only one of them, the other might start harboring various suspicions.
Under normal circumstances, this might be fine, but right now, I cannot afford for Oscar to have such “suspicions.”
That’s why I called Oscar here to keep appearances.
This way, Oscar will be left in doubt.
In extreme terms, even if Oscar harbors rebellious thoughts until his natural death, it’s fine.
As long as those rebellious thoughts don’t exceed a certain threshold and lead to action, that’s enough.
Doubt becomes a shackle, hesitating one’s actions.
…In extreme terms, that’s sufficient.
“Then, I will take this matter to Dustin.”
“Wa-wait, Your Highness—”
“It’s fine, step back. Don’t worry, you won’t be punished.”
Just as the conversation was wrapping up, a commotion could be heard from a distance.
Looking towards the source of the commotion, I saw one man and several women approaching from the direction of the palace.
The man was elderly but seemed energetic, moving with a youthful gait and demeanor.
In contrast, the eunuchs who gathered around him, desperately trying to calm the situation, appeared frail.
They circled around the pond, stepping onto the single arched bridge, and headed this way.
“I-I deeply apologize, Your Majesty! I failed to report this sooner—”
One of the eunuchs immediately prostrated himself on the bridge.
“It’s fine. Withdraw.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As I spoke, the eunuchs prostrated themselves on all four and retreated, returning the way they had come.
Left behind was an elderly man in fine attire.
No, more than that, an elderly man who exuded an overwhelming presence.
The Thunder Prince, Indra.
He is a high-ranking prince with the title of “Thunder” and the grandfather of my rightful wife, Empress Audrey.
Indra, wearing finely tailored yet slightly disheveled clothes unbecoming of a prince, held his trademark golden gourd.
As soon as Indra entered the pavilion, he sat beside me and clapped me on the shoulder.
“Hey, kid, how’ve you been?”
“What?!”
Oscar, who had been sitting there, widened his eyes and stood up in shock.
“Lord Indra! That’s far too disrespectful!”
“Hahaha, getting all worked up will shorten your life, won’t it, kid?”
“Haha, that’s true.”
“Your Majesty!”
Oscar’s anger was now directed at me as well.
I understand what he wants to say.
Normally, such behavior towards me, the Emperor of the Empire, could be considered an act of great disrespect and deserving of beheading.
“It’s fine.”
“But—”
“I said it’s fine. Moreover, lèse majesté is a crime that requires a complaint.”
“…Understood.”
When I brought up the law, Oscar backed down.
He knew that ever since I was a prince, I adhered to the law but also allowed flexibility within its framework.
Knowing this, Oscar had no choice but to retreat.
“You’re so uptight. Why don’t you relax a little, like me?”
“I’ll pass.”
“More than that, Thunder Prince, what brings you here so suddenly?”
Since Indra and Oscar—rather, Oscar alone—were getting heated, I decided to step in.
If I left it like this, the situation would escalate and become troublesome.
When I intervened, Indra’s expression remained cheerful, but as if recalling something, he clapped his hands.
“Oh, that’s right. I came today to give you a bit of a lecture.”
“A lecture?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
From the corner of my vision, I saw Oscar’s eyebrows twitch slightly, so I thought it best to take control of the conversation.
If anyone interrupts the Emperor’s conversation, it would be considered disrespectful.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Yes, indeed. Can’t you see what it is? I’ll tell you. Your harem is far too small.”
“…Ah.”
I nodded slightly.
It was something I was aware of this issue myself without needing Indra to point it out.
“I understand that, but why is the Thunder Prince concerned?”
“Because Audrey is the Empress, the mother of the nation.”
“Hmm.”
“Kiddo, you rule this land, the Empire. Likewise, the Empress must rule the harem and behave as the mother of the nation.”
“Even Audrey has mentioned something similar.”
“That’s right. Kiddo, if the harem is too small, what do you think people will say about Audrey in the future?”
“…I wonder.”
“They’ll call her a jealous woman or a wicked woman.”
“Will they, though?”
I let out a wry smile.
“That’s how it is. You can’t stop people from talking. The same goes for history books.”
“I see.”
“My granddaughter can’t be written about like that, can she? hmm?”
I understood.
Indra was complaining on behalf of his granddaughter Audrey.
Although Prince Indra was known for his free-spirited, bold personality, it seems he’s not much different from other men when it comes to caring for his granddaughter.
“I get what you’re saying, but isn’t that a bit of an overreaction?”
“No, Your Majesty. Prince Indra is right.”
“Oh?”
I looked at Oscar in surprise.
A moment ago, Oscar was fuming with anger, but now he was surprisingly supporting Indra’s argument.
“In our empire, there were Elizabeth and Angela, and in the previous empire, there was Julie.”
“… Yes, all of them are considered wicked women or evil empresses.”
“Yes, and what they all had in common was jealousy and carrying out large-scale purges in the harem.”
“You’re saying Audrey might be written about in the same way?”
I asked, and Oscar nodded firmly.
“There’s also the matter of succession and appearances. We need Your Majesty to give more attention to the harem.”
“More attention to the harem, huh.”
“To put it simply, we want you to act more like the Emperor in this regard. This is also a suggestion from those managing internal affairs.”
“Hmm…”
“And besides…”
As Oscar finished speaking, Indra continued.
Since earlier, Indra, Oscar, and then Indra again—they seemed to be taking turns pressuring me, almost as if they were long-time partners.
“For example, what if in ten years, your father suddenly distanced himself from women? What would people think?”
“Father?”
I furrowed my brows and thought about it.
Father’s fondness for women is well-known.
He has dozens more consorts than I do, and he has dozens of sons and daughters.
Even after abdicating and becoming the Retired Emperor, he still keeps his consorts by his side.
If such a father suddenly distanced himself from women…
“Health, perhaps.”
When I said this, both Indra and Oscar nodded clearly.
“Exactly. The Emperor’s health isn’t good. That’s why he’s distancing himself from women. That’s what outsiders would think.”
“Hmm…”
“If that happens, the surrounding barbarian will make a fuss, hoping to seize thinking it’s a good opportunity.”
“Exactly. Whether the Emperor is fond of women, or whether he can still bed women, is one of the indicators that outsiders look at.”
“I see…”
I nodded slightly.
Being in the position of the Emperor…
There was a lot to think about.
☆
Indra and I were left in the pavilion.
Oscar had left, saying he was going to see Dustin.
We watched Oscar’s back as he departed.
“Was he always this hot-headed?”
“Eh?”
“I thought he was a bit more calm.”
Indra said this while tilting his head in confusion.
“It’s probably because it was a matter concerning the Emperor.”
“Hmm?”
Indra looked at me.
I gazed in the direction where Oscar had left—beyond that as if looking into the distance.
“It just clicked for me now, something that didn’t quite come together before.”
“Oh?”
“For Oscar, the Emperor must be an absolute figure.”
I held back from adding that it was because he idolized that image.
Because he holds the ‘Emperor’ in such high regard, he can’t tolerate the Prince speaking so casually to the emperor, or the emperor not properly managing the harem.
That’s why after he got angry with Indra, he agreed with Indra’s point of view.
When I explained this, Indra said, “Yeah,” and seemed convinced.
“You’re amazing, kiddo, to be able to see that.”
“…”
I gave a slight, wry smile.
The fact that Indra was giving me such a reaction meant he must have understood this long before.
I felt like Indra was testing me a bit.
“Don’t be embarrassed, kiddo. I mean it.”
“Huh?”
“There aren’t many who can see through someone like him, who acts in a seemingly contradictory manner and understand his true intentions. You’re impressive.”
“Haha.”
Lately, I’ve been thinking about Oscar a lot, but well, that’s fine as it is.
“More importantly—”
Prince Indra’s expression changed.
“I truly understand why you haven’t expanded the harem.”
“…!”
My heart pounded loudly.
Trying to be less lazy works wonders sometime.
Do not Join me on –>discord<— to get update notifications and releases. I am lazy af these days.
Thanks for the treat.