Chapter 13

Strategus Marquis reached out to me for a reason that I only understood when I turned seven.

"Political enemy? Of Strategus Marquis? Why would that person try to get close to me?"

All I can think of is a question mark.

After all, I'm the youngest of the four sons of the emperor. In terms of treatment and succession rights, I'm the lowest.

There's no benefit in getting close to me.

The three people who told me this were Wearrel, Helcoff, and Ict.

It seems they suspected there was something behind this sudden move and investigated through their connections.

"Even though it's a low chance, from a family with no succession rights, it's an opportunity to gain a one in ten thousand chance."

"His Majesty himself seized such an opportunity, so it's not impossible. Your Highness, you are actually being targeted."

Following Wearrel, Helcoff said something terrifying.

"Strategus Marquis also has in-laws outside the empire, and it seems they are trying to bring you under their control as part of their power struggle."

Even Ict, who usually doesn't have direct involvement, seems to have investigated.

And probably, through this investigation, the sidekicks also learned about such internal matters.

The empire is a collection of many countries.

Even within the empire, each constituent country has its own king and nobles.

In other words, the empire is like an international organization?

It seems that above the laws of each country on this continent, there is an imperial law that functions like international law.

"So, for someone who wants to expand their influence by leveraging the authority of the empire in their own country, I, who have low importance and can be sent out of the capital without any problem, am a good target?"

"Well, Asha-sama, please don't say it like that."

Harti, who shares half of my blood, helps me change clothes with a troubled expression.

That's because today is the day I meet my father, and it's also my birth month.

In this world, it seems more common to celebrate the month of birth rather than the birthday.

The celebration can be held at any time during the birth month or within that month.

Since there's no internet or cars, it seems necessary to have such a broad timeframe for celebrations.

"Hey, Asha. Thank you for being born. I'm glad to celebrate you again this year."

"Yes, I will spend the day thanking His Majesty and, of course, my late mother."

As always, he picks me up when we meet.

But I'm about the age of a first-grader, so shouldn't he stop treating me like a child soon?

No, well.

It's still fun to be spun around, though.

If I don't say something, will this continue until adolescence?

Is it okay?

"I had new clothes made to celebrate your growth this year. I hope you like them."

"I look forward to them every year. Thank you."

My father, the emperor, gives me clothes for my birth month.

Of course, this includes shirts, neckties, accessories, and shoes to match the clothes.

And it ranges from formal wear to riding clothes and even nightwear.

This is because my father consulted with Harti.

I don't have any other opportunities to get clothes except for these birth month gifts.

In the imperial nobility, where custom-made clothes are the norm, only a tailor of a certain caliber can be invited to the palace.

But I don't have such connections.

When Harti and Ict approached the tailor they use, they were told that the difference in status would lead to bullying among their peers.

So, my father decided to have them made for my birth month.

After all, the imperial household has its own designated tailor.

"This year, the formal wear is in a vermilion and gold color. ... Wait, there's another one, blue?"

I opened the box containing the prepared clothes and compared the two formal wear outfits.

Every year, there is one formal wear outfit, and I usually place more importance on the everyday wear, but this year there are two.

"Yes, I wanted to talk about that."

When I was beckoned to sit, my father's hand touched my hair.

"Your hair has become much lighter. It was a shame that it matched mine so well."

My hair used to be a dark gray, but recently it has turned white.

To be honest, I didn't like the white hair.

"Then, can I have some hair powder? I want to have cool black hair like His Majesty."

"Sure, sure. I'll have it prepared."

I made a mental fist pump at my father's easy agreement.

In this world, hair colors are often flashy, but there are still systems based on birth and upbringing.

In the capital, the better-born people tend to have blue-toned hair.

Even though Helcoff is a beastman with fur, there are almost no redheads in the palace.

Also, there are few people with light-colored hair, so I was worried that my white hair would stand out.

"Actually, the royal family of Luciusaria will pay a courtesy visit in a month. We will hold a tea party to welcome them, and I want you to attend."

"Me? That's an official event, right?"

"Are you nervous? Don't worry. We will also invite noble children around your age. They are bringing a prince and princess of the same age."

No, it's an official event.

I couldn't help but look at my usually noisy sidekicks.

For a moment, I saw a very reluctant expression, but now they were deliberately avoiding eye contact.

This has been the case since last year's office raid incident.

It's not like they would suddenly take off their jackets and accuse me of a false crime if I didn't interfere.

But if they didn't stop me, it must already be decided.

And since the clothes are already made, it seems everyone except me knows about it.

Maybe my father thought he could mention it the next time we met, or he wanted it to be a surprise because he thought I would be happy.

I wish I had known earlier.

"Will Terry be there?"

"No, it's too early for him. At four, he still doesn't know proper etiquette... Speaking of which, you already knew etiquette at that age."

"Harti is a good teacher. I'm sure Terry will learn it soon. What is Terry learning now?"

"Reading and writing. He seems to be a quick learner."

"That's impressive. What about the twins? How is the Empress?"

I asked my father about my younger brothers and imagined their appearances.

In the end, I didn't get to meet the twins, and I'm aware that I caused some problems last year, so I'm a bad older brother.

I can't say I want to meet them because I can't be a role model.

But just hearing about them from my father makes me feel happy.

My brothers are growing up healthy and lively.

"Wait, are the twins already showing differences in personality?"

"Wernell is more active compared to Fehr."

Father is also doting on his cute younger brothers, which is enviable.

Thus, the meeting ended after a thorough discussion about my brothers.

Since I have luggage today, my father's attendants helped me and placed the clothing items in a spare room of the golden chamber.

Despite being called a spare room, it's quite spacious.

I think it's because half of it is empty of furniture.

"Was everything alright?"

"Harti?"

I looked up at Harti, who is both my nanny and aunt, with a worried face.

But I had been chatting happily and had no idea what she was worried about.

"Your Highness has already mastered the languages of various countries with the help of Helcoff and Ict, yet you haven't told His Majesty anything about your own growth..."

It seems her worried expression was due to my not sharing my progress.

I used to do it, but now I deliberately avoid it.

I also stop Harti when she tries to mention it.

That's because I want to avoid being a nuisance and not stand out.

Most importantly, I don't want to bother my father.

"Because His Majesty should be the emperor before he is a father. It wouldn't benefit him to hear what I've been doing."

"But, Asha-sama, you have shown great potential in the forgotten alchemy. That is a merit that should be recognized."

Wearrel, who came to help put away the clothes, joined the conversation.

"No, no. I just read books and keep learning alchemy. I still don't know what I'm doing."

"I can only understand it as difficult poetry. If you can decipher it and actually reproduce the alchemical processes, I think it's fair to call it talent."

Even Helcoff and Ict, who were helping with the birthday gifts, expressed dissatisfaction that I wasn't being recognized.

Alchemical experiments with magic are interesting, so I've been doing them as a hobby.

But I haven't made the Philosopher's Stone or the Elixir yet, so I don't know if I can be called talented.

But through continued practice, I've realized that alchemy seems to have fallen into disuse due to its complexity.

I can't just use famous techniques from my previous life and say "Bashu!"

But I find it interesting, and it seems that thinking so makes me unique.

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Next: The Lost Princess 2