Chapter 66

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The imperial throne of the Qifeng Empire is generally inherited by the eldest son of the empress.

While the emperor is allowed to have concubines, their children are considered illegitimate and have no right to the throne.

If the prince is the son of the empress, even if he is a second or subsequent son, he still has the right to inherit the throne. However, the eldest son is generally the one to inherit, so unless something extraordinary happens, the brothers are raised to get along well.

However, the current princes of the Qifeng Empire have a different situation.

Both the elder and younger princes are the children of the empress, but they are not from the same mother.

This is because the first prince's mother, Empress Sophina, passed away due to complications after childbirth, but in her will, she requested that her sister, who was then the emperor's concubine, be elevated to empress.

In other words, the empress and the concubine were sisters, and the elder sister entrusted her affairs to her younger sister, who knew her better than anyone.

After the mourning period, the current empress, Elizabeta, was elevated to empress. The second prince was born after Elizabeta became empress, so he has the right to inherit the throne.

"How complicated...!"

"Yeah... Basically, the empress is supporting the first prince, and she is educating the second prince to support his elder brother. But these things get complicated with the intentions of those around them, right?"

"Even if the parties involved want to get along, outsiders can cause trouble. But it's also a problem if the fire can't be put out."

"If the second prince has declared that he won't compete with his brother, and the fire can't be put out, then there must be something on the elder brother's side?"

"His conduct isn't very good."

"Aah," I nodded with a sigh.

In essence, there are people who would benefit if the poorly performing elder brother is deposed and the younger brother is made the crown prince. People with loud voices and positions of power and authority.

There are always adults who use children for their own purposes.

As I scowled with disgust, Mr. Romanov pinched my cheeks. He had a bitter smile on his face.

"So, today there was a tea party hosted by the second prince, but for some reason, it ended up overlapping with a tea party hosted by the first prince."

"Wow..."

If there was an invitation to the first prince's tea party, even if there was also an invitation to the second prince's tea party on the same day, considering the line of succession, one would prioritize the first prince. However, it seems that some of the great nobles chose the second prince's tea party.

The tea parties served as a clear indicator of where people stood.

If I had gone to the second prince's tea party with the purpose of meeting the empress, I would have been seen as a supporter of the second prince.

That would be a bit problematic.

So, getting a cold at this timing might have been good.

"Also, this is something the two princes don't know, but there was a conflict between the lower-ranking nobles of their respective factions. Aloysha and I happened to pass by and heard the conversation, so we secretly reported it to the emperor."

Mr. Romanov casually mentioned "the emperor," but the emperor...

"The emperor... the Emperor himself!?"

"Yeah. When we went to pay our respects to the empress, the emperor was also there."

"I didn't expect him to be there, but apparently, he wanted to know what kind of accessory the empress desired."

I see. The emperor really cares for the empress.

But didn't the empress want the accessory for legislative purposes?

When I asked, Mr. Romanov explained.

"Well, it seems she wanted it for legislative purposes, but also personally. She thought it was beautiful when Maria wore it, but Maria wouldn't tell her who she got it from. Maria, for her part, thought that since we were hiding a lot of information about you, she was being told not to reveal your name to 'high-ranking people,' so she was being very vague."

Incidentally, Maria was also at the second prince's tea party. After the audience with the empress, when I met her, she had a haggard face and said, "I didn't know how much I could say, so I was desperately being vague."

The empress, it seems, was particularly fond of the "Sisi's Star Flower." The instructions for making the accessory, which were included, were to be handed over to the emperor and would be published along with the law when it was enacted.

"Also, the empress said she wants to include 'curry powder' in the law. Here are the details."

He handed me an envelope. Inside were two sheets of high-quality paper. The sender was not a name but "Second Son."

The writing was bold, and the first sheet thanked us for our cooperation. The second sheet, written in Japanese, thanked us for the curry powder, ending with, "I thought I would never be able to eat it again, but being able to eat it once more feels like a dream." The ink seemed to have smeared at the end.

It also said, "I want to sell curry powder so that I can eat curry whenever I want."

This is a business deal, apparently, since Igor heard that we were starting a company.

I folded the letter and put it in the drawer by my bed, then sighed deeply.

The second son is Japanese.

And, unlike me, he probably hasn't adapted to this world.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be moved to tears by curry made from curry powder that doesn't match the quality of his previous life.

If he is feeling the loneliness of being thrown into a world where no one knows him, perhaps I can share that loneliness with him.

I hope to meet him directly someday.

Until then, I'll do what I can.

But there are obstacles.

"If the second son says he wants to sell curry powder, I don't even know who he is...?"

I tilted my head, and Victor clapped his hands.

"Oh, in that case, you should deliver it to the empress."

"Huh!? Why!?"

"The empress and the emperor both enjoyed the curry, you know."

"Did the second son make the emperor and empress eat curry!?"

What are you doing, second son?

I take back my previous statement. The second son is really adapting to this world. I'm surprised.

Anyway, regarding the sale of curry powder, I'll need to consider the price and other details.

Mr. Romanov and Victor were thanked, and Utsunomiya brought in the afternoon tea.

As I enjoyed the aroma of the served tea, Victor, who had taken a break, fixed his gaze on Lala, specifically on the neck warmer around her neck.

"What is it, Vitya? Do you need something from me?"

"Ah... Lala, or that thing around your neck."

"It's a neck warmer. I just finished making it and am trying it on."

"Yeah, I know that. But, as always, it has effects like 'Ice Resistance' and 'Insulation.' And, a-tan."

"Yes?"

"What effect does 'Phantom Lantern Magic' have?"

"Phantom Lantern Magic...?"

What's that?

I tilted my head, and Victor held out his hand to Lala. Lala took off the neck warmer from her neck and placed it in Victor's outstretched hand.

After examining the neck warmer closely, Victor murmured, "Ah," and then whispered something to it. A screen of white silk-like yarn appeared, and various beautiful flowers were projected, changing like a slideshow.

So, 'Phantom Lantern Magic' refers to a 'magic lantern.'

"You've created another unique magic...," Mr. Romanov said with a chuckle, but his eyes looked like dead fish, and I couldn't help but look away.

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