121 Episode 17: His Royal Highness the Imperial Brother (2/2)

”... why are you talking about slaves?

”Because he is a child born between me and the mother of slaves I bought from the Aylene Empire. Originally, you can be named a nobleman.”

I opened my eyes to Priscilla's confession in surprise. I honestly can't believe that Priscilla is a slave child. But I don't even think I'm gonna lie in this situation again.

It is true that slavery exists in the Aylene Empire. I do not know that it is a different culture from the Kingdom of Palettia and that it may be a necessary system for an empire that has swallowed many nations by war. Still repugnant though.

”... the possession of slaves is illegal. How many slaves are legal in the empire?”

”Yes. So I wasn't raised as a decent aristocratic daughter. My mother, too, grew up not being taught she was my mother. That's what they told me at an early age when they took me away as a bastard.”

”... Was Count Soothsarah still active?

”For once, we have placed ourselves in the consultative capacity of the Ministry of the Spirit, but that's a de facto retirement. My job as the Lord has almost taken over from my brother as well. Oh, don't worry, my brother is a proper wife's child. My brother hasn't even been informed of the details.”

”Phew...”

Tong, and. While suppressing frustration, I slap my finger on my desk to turn my thoughts.

”When did you find out where you came from?

”It was secretly communicated to my mother. I firmly recognized her as my mother only after she died.”

”... dead?

”Isn't it funny to hear about the end of a secret slave?

So I'm uncomfortable with Priscilla. I immediately realized that I was staring at Priscilla as to where that discomfort was coming from.

Because Priscilla's eyes, which were always thin and narrow, are clearly open. Empty eyes are staring back at me.

”The Countess of Sorcerer seemed to abuse her mother because she had a great deal of eclampsia and was a slave. My father seemed very fond of mocking my mother like that...”

”Okay. I'm sorry, I don't ask anymore”

”Thank you for your concern.... By the way, the color of my eyes is my mother giving in. If I didn't like it a few times, my wife was about to creep me out, so it became a habit to narrow it down completely.”

”He said he knew!

Just imagine what Priscilla was being treated like, and the depths of her belly have been grumpy. Can we still grab the evidence and stick the Earl of Soothsarah up...?

”That's why I grew up as a very depressed child.”

”... about yourself, right?

”Isn't that right? Specifically, it wasn't a good idea to try and destroy the house.”

”... not even now?

”Because it's already a dead body. I'm no longer worthy of revenge.”

”Dead body?”

”By Her Majesty Queen Uphilia, the values that the man believed in were overshadowed from the ground up. Honorable positions are also pursued, just leaving their names at the earliest. And I'm such a fool to get more fatal injuries just to reveal the truth. By now, you'd be rubbing my mind just because I'm alive.”

Priscilla's expression with a smile on her face is heartfelt fun. But the expression is filled with dark joy.

Priscilla, who was haunted by demonic signs, but inadvertently pulls her power to smile the usual.

”I never went to college, but instead I was told to be a samurai and learn to work. So I happened to know Fall when I was on holiday looking around Castle Town.”

”I was surprised to hear that this guy had been eager to watch Aylene's souvenirs for a long time, and when he accidentally dictated, she was a samurai with a royal castle. Then we have a cooperative relationship, which is convenient for each other.”

”... so much so that I can convince you that that's what the relationship between you and me is all about.”

Damn it, it's good with the Chartreuse family, good with the Sorcerer family, something I've always liked. Hopefully it won't have a negative impact on the younger generation today who took over the spiritual ministry from the Ministry of Magic......

”... so? Is this raid, I mean, the thoughts of the Aylene Empire?

”It will. I just don't want you to get me wrong. Some extremists have taken action.”

”Why?”

”I think you realize, because you've begun to augment your armaments by spreading demonic props. Even though it is a country with many wizards, even civilians will be able to use pseudo-magic. Many felt threatened by it.”

After all, huh? And it's going to stir up vigilance, which leads to this raid.

”Even now, the Empire is after the territory of the Kingdom of Palletia. There are endless spiritual resources here. Plus, there are a lot of wizards, and they also invest in their inheritance. If we can take in the kingdom, the reunification of the continent is not a dream.”

”Magnificent dreams,”

”However, my brother...... the current emperor is not going to set it up at least on his own behalf. Rather, he wants to actively establish friendship with the Kingdom of Palletia. You're here, Princess Anisphere.”

”... am I popular?

”Ah. So even inside the Empire, your assessment is truly twofold. I don't know if I'm going to be flexible here right now, or if I'm going to do anything about it.”

You've been quoted high enough to say I'm an empire. I accidentally attach my hand to my jaw.

”Worst case scenario, if you can bring it to war, let's crush it with total force, what a bunch of guys”

”... barbaric.”

”That's all I'm in a hurry for. Your magic is so dangerous and worth it at the same time. Especially when it comes to flying.”

”So you told Priscilla you were running information?

”Wow. Priscilla gave me this information in return.”

I'm not a spy! I stare at Priscilla on the side, but where is the wind blowing?

”We didn't tell each other anything that was going to be important. I also heard about the recent forbidden love between Her Majesty the Queen and Her Royal Highness the King.”

”-... heh, I'll kill you”

”Yikes, Master Falgana, help -”

”Hey here! Don't shield your royal brother!

Here, this guy...! Of other countries, what information are you giving to the royal family too...!! Spy is a confession, heh, then you make me fly my neck legally...!!

”All right, here's a serious story from here! Princess Anisphere, I wanted a chance to make contact with you to negotiate!

”... negotiation?

”Oh, in short, I want you to sell demon props”

- I say no.

I turned off my playfulness and froze all my emotions and answered. Falgana also tightens her expression if she notices my change.

”I can't decide where I live, but as a creator of the concept of magic and magic props in this world, I have to face what this technology creates. I don't want to say no because the magic tricks are convenient. I can't take responsibility, so I don't want to sell magic artifacts to other countries.”

”Responsibility, responsibility...”

”For you too, the magic artifact is an unknown technology, and one that has not yet been popularized in the Kingdom of Palletia. What would you do if you couldn't solve a problem with the magic props and you weren't familiar with the magic that started with me? You want to come over the hedge of country and ask me? Or do you blame me for the glitch and demand compensation? There is no more chance of sending magic props outside the kingdom than there is such a risk. That's why I forbid it.”

Of course, there is also a reason that demonic props are in danger of being used as weapons of aggression. But the first reason I don't want to export demon props is because I can't take responsibility for problems caused by demon prop glitches, etc.

I want to avoid being a problem between states because of demonic props causing problems. Therefore, Uffi is working to ensure that the production of dangerous items, magic props, and physical spills are strictly regulated among his knowledge of magic.

”... I don't think your statement is a legitimate idea as a technician or founder. I also realize in this body that there is no intention of aggression in the Kingdom of Palletia. - But the Empire isn't.”

…………

”Of course, if you sue Princess Anisphere directly with me, you'll pass. I don't have a sweet idea. But... - You're already being targeted. That's all I want you to know.”

The words that Falgana had spoken were conveyed with deep, heavy, crushing pressures on my stomach.