After the incident with Alice, Chris-san deeply apologized to me.

  Apparently, Chris-san didn’t have any intention of harming me, he was just being vigilant to his own surroundings like usual.

  As a result, he apologized for acting in a way that seems to test me, and despite his status as an Emperor, he apologized with his hands on the ground.

  It’s not that he did any real harm, but even when I told Chris-san that I forgave him right away…… he still didn’t raise his head, which honestly troubles me.

  And now, Alice and I have been led to a different room than we were in earlier……


  [Whamf, omnom…… Refiww pwease!]

  [Can’t you be a bit more reserved!?]

  For some reason, we were being treated to a lavish dinner.

  I wonder if Alice’s actions earlier had something to do with it, but the large dining room really only had a minimal number of servants compared to the reception room.

  I’m not yet able to keep up with the situation, so I just called out to her.

  [What are you saying, Kaito-san? This is just an appropriate remuneration! I have every right to eat this dinner!]

  [……Huh? W- What the heck are you……]

  [Like I said~~ I went along with “His Majesty, the Emperor’s farce”, and moved along with what he wanted……]

  [Eh?]

  [Yes, it’s as she says. I’m quite grateful to Alice-sama. Please eat as much as you like.]

  [Eh? Ehhh? C- Chris-san!?]

  What the heck’s happening? I don’t know what the heck the two of them are talking about.

  Seeing me tilting my head, Alice swallowed what she’s been eating before turning towards me.

  [Look, Kaito-san. I told you earlier, didn’t I? This person’s whole thought process is for the good of his country and to make his country better…… There’s no way that someone like that would make risky choices to antagonize Kaito-san.]

  [……Errr.]

  [That is to say, he set up those people acting covertly earlier “with the intention of being found out” from the start. Putting aside if they’re around when we just entered that reception room, there’s no reason for them to be sneaking around back in the gates if it’s really as he said.]

  Seriously, what does that mean?

  Did he put in place those people under the assumption that they would find it from the start? What the heck was it for anyway?

  [It’s just my guess…… His Majesty, the Emperor himself wanted to treat Kaito-san as a guest of honor from the beginning, to treat you courteously, and also, to create an image for the nation that they should never be at odds with you, right?]

  [……Yeah, but……]

  [There were some people who weren’t convinced…… right?]

  [That’s right.]

  Alice’s words seemed to be true, as Chris-san nodded with a serious expression on her face.

  [Well, even though this is His Majesty, the Emperor’s nation, that doesn’t mean that this nation is monolithic. From the perspective of His Majesty, the Emperor, who has met Kaito-san and knows Underworld King-sama, Kaito-san isn’t someone to be taken lightly…… but among those idiotic nobles, there might be some of them thinking that “Just because he got talked to by the affectionate Underworld King-sama, this impertinent youngster is becoming arrogant”.]

  [……You could seriously see everything huh.]

  [Well, I could see things to a certain extent. And then, His Majesty, the Emperor wanted to restrain those nobles from acting stupidly, making them think that Kaito-san wasn’t someone they should antagonize, suppressing them from moving. That’s why that image earlier was necessary?]

  [That image?]

  [……Me bowing to Miyama-sama and asking for your forgiveness. I have placed many servants in the reception room to facilitate the spread of rumors…… All I need to do is to add a few words to the rumor and it will spread to the world that “The Foolish Emperor trying to plot against Miyama-sama was discovered by him, making him bend down on the ground and beg for forgiveness”. That would reduce the number of people with foolish ideas and make it easier to keep them in check, and it would also make it easier for me to stand on Miyama-sama’s side and express my opinion.]

  Adding to Alice’s words, Chris-san nonchalantly spoke about his plan as if it were someone else’s business.

  Seeing Chris-san like that, Alice let out a big sigh before she spoke again.

  [……That’s why I don’t like this person…… Depending on how things went, he was even “going to get himself killed”.]

  [What!?]

  [………………]

  [If I didn’t see through the covert movements he prepared, in the situation that plan he had didn’t work…… He would have harmed Kaito-san on his own and show the country the folly of antagonizing you by having him, the Emperor, killed by the Underworld King-sama, Death King-sama, or anyone around you, right?]

  [……Yes, it’s in the best interest for the Archlesia Empire to build a friendly relationship with Miyama-sama without antagonizing him…… And I’m willing to give up my life to accomplish that. No matter what Alice-sama says, I am a tool for my country. The national interest is far more important than my life.]

  [……………….]

  A chill ran down my spine.

  Serious eyes and a tone of voice that held no hesitation…… He’s serious. Chris-san is serious, and he’s willing to easily give his life if he thinks it’s necessary for the sake of his country.

  [See, it’s just as I said, right? He’s this kind of person…… A doll that works for his country.]

  [Those words were a compliment to me instead. I’ve been thinking of about five ways to convince the fools around me…… Thanks to Alice-sama’s work earlier, I think I’ll be able to easily hold them down. Once again, thank you.]

  [Ahh~ yes, yes.]

  [……………….]

  What can I say, I was unintentionally overwhelmed.

  He was prepared to sacrifice everything for his country, and his will remained unshakeable even if his life was at stake…… Is this the burden carried by a king……?

  As I was thinking that, Chris-san looks at me and slightly smiles, then he bows his head again.

  [However, this is just something I want to say, not as the Emperor, but as a person…… I’m sorry for using Miyama-sama to control our domestic affairs. Please allow me to apologize once again.]

  [Ah, no, that’s……]

  [Whatever atonement I can do, I will do it. Please consider my honest affirmations of all my intentions as my own form of sincerity. Therefore, I urge you to continue to be friendly to the Archlesia Empire.]

  [I- I understand.]

  Seeing Chris-san’s resolve as an Emperor, I couldn’t say anything else.

  We should be almost the same age, but I wonder if it’s because of our different environments that allowed him to have such mature thoughts and actions……


  [Now then, let’s stop with the stiff conversation. Miyama-sama, I’ll have a room ready for you, so please stay the night today…… Ah, please don’t worry. I’m not plotting any other strange schemes anymore.]

  [Ah, no, but that would worry Lilia-san……]

  [I’ll send a hummingbird to Albert Duchy.]

  [You don’t have to hold back, Kaito-san. Now, we could also have a fancy breakfa—– Ouch!?]

  [You are too obedient to follow your desires.]

  Mhmm, how should I say this… It’s like I’m completely following Chris-san’s pace, as he decided to have us extend our stay and stay the night here.

  Then, Chris-san tells us that he still has some work left to do, so after excusing himself and getting up from his seat and was about to head towards the door…… Though he approached my direction first, and quietly whispered.

  [……There’s something I’d like to talk to you about personally later…… No, there’s some information I need you to hear. Please come to my room later.]

  [……Understood.]

  After quietly saying that, he began heading for the door again.

  And when Chris-san reached the door, Alice opened her mouth.

  [Ahh~~ His Majesty, the Emperor, do you have a moment?]

  [What is it, Alice-sama?]

  [This time, I decided that it would be more beneficial to Kaito-san if I went along with your intentions, so I cooperated with you…… But I’m not on your side, I’m on Kaito-san’s side. In the future, if you try to use Kaito-san for the sake of your country’s interest…… Please be prepared for that.]

  [……I’ll keep that in mind.]

  After briefly replying to the words Alice told him, Chris-san left the room.

  Dear Mom, Dad—– How should I say this… It was like I was running around Chris-san’s palm. Having a definite determination to carry his country behind his shoulders, he would even use himself as a pawn in his own chess board—— It seems that him being called the Wise Emperor isn’t just for show.

  [My Lady, His Majesty, the Emperor Chris of the Archlesia Empire sent a hummingbird!]

  [……Huh?]

  [According to what I heard, Miyama-sama is spending the night at his royal castle…… He wants you to rest assured that he will be treated with the utmost courtesy as his state guest……]

  […………………]

  Hearing the words Lunamaria said, Lilia stiffened with a stunned expression on her face.

  Thereupon, after being silent for a while, her hands and mouth trembles as her voice that seems to resonate from the pits of hell resounded.

  [……Luna.]

  [Y- Yes.]

  [……Explain to me…… What the heck happened…… For Kaito-san, who just went out this morning, to suddenly become the state guest of the Archlesia Empire……?]

  [……I- I don’t know……]

  [Aaaaaaahhhhhhh! Geeeeeeeezzzz!!! Why doesn’t that man just go out like a normal person and come back without anything happening!? Seriously, what the heck’s happening!?]

  Holding her head in her hands, tears appeared on her eyes as Lilia raised a sorrowful cry.

  [……Luna, wine…… Bring me some wine.]

  [Huh? Errr……]

  [DO YOU THINK I CAN KEEP MY HEAD STRAIGHT IN THIS SITUATION WITHOUT DRINKING!? KAITO-SAN…… YOU IDIIIIIOOOOOOOTTTTT!!!]

  **********

  {Author’s Notes}

  His Majesty, the Emperor is such a character.

  He’s the kind of person who wouldn’t hesitate to lick Kaito’s shoes if he thought it was the best for his country.

  T/N: 5/11