Chapter 40

Returning to the palace, I escorted the carriage.

Together with His Majesty and Indra, we arrived at a study that resembled a library.

His Majesty turned to Cruise, his confidant.

"Go outside and wait. Do not let anyone in unless I call for them."

"As you wish."

Cruise bowed respectfully and exited the study.

In the study, there remained the three of us and one young eunuch.

"Is this one alright?"

Indra pointed at the young eunuch.

"Yes, he is special. He is deaf, cannot speak, and cannot read."

"I see, perfect for confidential talks."

Indra nodded, looking at the eunuch with interest. Meanwhile, His Majesty looked straight at me.

"Well, I appreciate your suggestion. I think we should go with it."

"If so, Your Majesty."

I stepped forward and bowed slightly as I spoke.

"We should reclaim all military command under Your Majesty."

"Military command?"

"Yes. The military command of the Minister of Military Affairs, Prince Henry, and my position as the Grand Duke of the First Guard."

"…I see."

"Good job, boy."

His Majesty thought for a moment, then nodded, while Indra smiled with a twisted mouth.

"Indeed, if a royal who is dissatisfied with the late emperor's will holds military command, it could complicate matters. It might even lead to the forced exclusion of other princes and their ascension to the throne."

"Yes, it would essentially be a coup. If the military is controlled amidst the chaos after the emperor's passing, it could be forced through."

"True. Still, to hear such a suggestion from a boy..."

"A suitable son-in-law, wouldn't you say?"

"Indeed."

His Majesty's pen moved swiftly across the paper. In no time, two edicts were completed.

He handed one to me.

Reading it, it praised me while also dismissing me from my position as Grand Duke.

So, the other one must be for Prince Henry.

His Majesty gestured to the eunuch, who nodded and left the study with the edict, returning shortly after.

The gestures were large and simple, leading me to think that this eunuch was trained to execute only a few specific commands.

"What about the Crown Prince's demotion?"

This was the main topic. The temperature in the room seemed to drop by a couple of degrees.

"That can be handled in any way you see fit."

I answered.

"Hmm?"

"The appointment and demotion of the Crown Prince are both state affairs and internal matters of the royal family. The emperor has the freedom to appoint and demote heirs as he sees fit."

I stated my view as the Minister of Military Affairs.

"I see."

"However,"

"However?"

"Unlike Gilbert, Prince Albert has not committed any wrongdoing. Therefore, it would be better to keep him as a prince after his demotion."

"Hmm. Then how about this? Albert has no second thoughts towards me or the country, but he lacks the strength to rule the empire. Therefore, I will demote him from Crown Prince to Prince—what do you think?"

"I agree."

"Good. And, Emperor, do you have any intention of making Albert the heir again?"

"No."

His Majesty said firmly.

He must be thoroughly disappointed.

"Then it would be better to make that clear."

"Hmm… make it clear, huh."

"Perhaps giving him a single character would be appropriate. A character that signifies the end, such as '終' (shū) Prince."

Giving a single character is an honor, but it also conveys the nature of the prince to the entire empire. That's why I suggested it.

"Good. Well done, Noah."

His Majesty praised me and then wrote on a new sheet of paper that the eunuch had set up.

However, unlike before, he hesitated and his expression was complex when he finished.

"Phew… not good."

"What's wrong?"

"What is this? The writing is terrible, there are numerous typos, and the sentences are hard to understand. This is a terrible piece of writing."

"Writing a decree to essentially sentence your own child to demotion, even if it's just a demotion, is difficult."

"I see. Well, I can rewrite it."

"May I speak freely?"

"What is it, Noah?"

"I think it would be fine to issue the decree as it is. Formal decrees are recorded. Your Majesty's feelings will be recorded along with the decree. Of course, they will also be conveyed to Prince Albert… and if he feels your intentions, he might serve the empire as a prince in the future."

"Hmm…"

His Majesty stared at the error-ridden decree that revealed his feelings. After a while, he looked up at me.

"You, if you had… no, never mind."

He started to say something but shook his head and canceled it.

"Thank you for your advice, Noah."

"It is my honor."

I bowed.

His Majesty rewrote the decree on a new sheet of paper. The writing returned to his usual style to avoid any doubts about its authenticity. However, he kept the original text, adopting my suggestion to leave it as is for the record.

After rewriting, His Majesty gestured to the eunuch to come over and handed him the decree.

The eunuch took it, looked confused for a moment, and then turned to leave the study.

"Wait!"

I caught up to the eunuch, grabbed his shoulder from behind, and stopped him.

"What's wrong, boy?"

"This eunuch reacted to the decree."

"What?"

"The writing was normal, but he was confused because the text was strange."

"…!"

His Majesty and Indra's faces changed simultaneously. The eunuch, looking panicked, shook off my hand and fled.

"Don't let him escape!"

Using Leviathan, I intimidated the eunuch and stopped his movement. He ran for a moment but then collapsed, as if his strings had been cut, and fell face-first to the floor.

"Hey, Emperor, isn't this guy a spy?"

"…That's right. Cruise!!"

His Majesty called out loudly, his voice filled with anger, loud enough to be heard several rooms away.

After a while, Cruise entered.

"Did you call, Your Majesty?"

"That eunuch can read."

"…!"

Seeing the fallen eunuch, Cruise's face turned pale.

"It's my negligence! Please, please forgive me!"

Cruise prostrated himself, banging his forehead on the floor. I had never seen him like this before.

"How should we handle this, Noah?"

Cruise flinched.

"The eunuch should be executed immediately."

"Why?"

"He pretended he couldn't read when he could. This is essentially the same as pretending to be a eunuch when he isn't. It is a crime of defiling the imperial palace, and execution is appropriate."

"That's true, but wouldn't it be better to interrogate him first?"

Indra suggested, and I shook my head.

"If we do, we would have to punish the mastermind as well. Depending on the situation…"

I stopped speaking.

Silence is golden, as they say.

His Majesty would understand.

Yes, what if this eunuch was sent by Prince Albert?

Or by another prince?

"I see."

Indra seemed to understand as well.

"Good job, Noah. As expected. Continue to serve me as the Minister of Military Affairs."

"As you wish."

"What about Cruise?"

Cruise flinched again, cautiously raising his head, his face still pale.

I smiled lightly.

"Cruise should be penalized for inadequate supervision, perhaps a six-month salary reduction."

"Agreed. So, a six-month salary reduction and the handling of this matter."

"Yes!"

Cruise, looking relieved, bowed deeply and then dragged the eunuch out of the study.

☆

That night, in the emperor's study, with all the eunuchs removed, the emperor and the First Chancellor met in private.

The emperor recounted the day's events to his trusted First Chancellor.

Upon hearing Noah's suggestion, the First Chancellor nodded in admiration.

"Indeed, Noah is remarkable. I never thought of that idea."

"Yes."

"Moreover, by chance, it aligns with Your Majesty's thoughts—deciding based on the grandchild."

"True."

"Truly a wise prince, an idea befitting his name."

"Yes."

The emperor, having executed his own son earlier that day, was in a good mood from the praise.

But the good mood was short-lived, and his expression returned to normal.

"So, did the eunuch confess?"

Ultimately, the emperor followed Noah's advice but secretly interrogated the eunuch, entrusting the task to his most trusted First Chancellor.

"Yes, I did it myself, alone."

"How was it?"

"…Noah is incredible. It's as if he can read people's minds."

The First Chancellor was indeed skilled. He removed all the eunuchs but avoided explicit statements. Still, the emperor understood.

The spy was sent by Albert.

Without Noah's suggestion, Albert would have faced further punishment.

"What do you think?"

"I knew nothing."

"…"

"He is still my son, even if I cannot entrust the country to him."

"…"

The First Chancellor said nothing, merely bowing slightly. He had served as the emperor's right-hand man for many years without ever being dismissed. His ability to remain silent at such times was his strength.

The emperor, perhaps disliking the heavy atmosphere, changed the subject.

"By the way, have you heard of the name Leviathan?"

"That… was one of the Four Sages who aided the emperor during the Silver Age, I believe."

"Yes."

The emperor nodded and then recounted the events before he spoke to Noah and Indra in the city. He had heard the voices of Noah's subordinates.

"So… one of the Four Sages, Leviathan, is aiding Noah?"

"Yes."

"Amazing! If this is true, wouldn't it mean there are more than four sages now?"

"Indeed."

"Remarkable… Noah could surpass the Silver Age."

"Possible."

Both the emperor and the First Chancellor nodded excitedly, but they did not get carried away.

The emperor, the supreme ruler of the empire, and the First Chancellor, who had served him for many years, were always able to remain calm.

"Let's look forward to Noah's potential."

"Yes, let's watch how he grows."

They spoke with restraint, but Noah's standing had undoubtedly risen significantly in their eyes.