Chapter 38

We were taken to a bustling street in the capital, lined with shops.

However, when we went to the back, there was a separate entrance to the same building.

"What is this place?"

"Oh, right. It's one of those places, isn't it?"

The fact that Helkoff was surprised suggested that it was a building that was quite common and recognizable at first glance.

Since it was my first time, I was very interested in the completely separate space behind the store and moved my head around to look.

The first floor only had a staircase as the main facility, and I hurriedly followed Helkoff as he climbed up.

A straight corridor and doors arranged at equal intervals came into view.

"Is this a residence?"

"Yes, it's where the townspeople live. Is it rare? It's a common structure, you know."

Helkoff said this with a slightly embarrassed look as I continued to look around.

It resembled an apartment in a movie but was more rugged, with no decorative elements.

While apartments are famous in France, this wasn't as small as those in Paris and had a closer atmosphere to Japanese public housing.

However, since it didn't use concrete, it gave off a strong sense of foreignness.

"This humble abode isn't very interesting, but please come in."

Helkoff opened the door to a corner room and said this.

"Is this Helkoff's house? I'll come in, then."

"Your eyes are full of expectation, but there really isn't anything here."

The interior was a simple two-room layout, but it was spacious.

It was even larger than the single-person apartment I lived in in my previous life, but there was no kitchen or bathroom.

"I think the fireplace serves as a stove. But how do you get water and take baths?"

"Well, first of all, baths are a luxury and not something you can take often."

I sat in the most impressive chair Helkoff offered and started asking about the life of the common people.

The homeowner, who gave me a chair with a backrest and armrests, sat on a work chair without either.

He explained that common people don't unnecessarily light fires and have to fetch water from wells.

In other words, there's no need for a bath, and the kitchen is inefficient.

"I understand that you use wet cloths to wipe your body instead of taking a bath. What about the toilet?"

"There's a communal one on the first floor. This place is quite considerate in that regard. It's not uncommon for there to be none, and in that case, you have to use the public toilets in the neighborhood."

In other words, it's a place you can't go to when the security is bad at night.

It's also a waste to light a fire just to go there.

However, without running water, water itself is limited, so it's not inconvenient if the toilet is nearby.

"In that case, how do you prepare the hot water I use every night? The bathtub is filled with hot water, right?"

"Harti had the kitchen boil water at a specific time every day. The water is then brought to the red room at a fixed time, and we mix it in the bathtub to make it the right temperature."

It seems that my attendants and servants were doing things I couldn't see.

The palace kitchen has fixed times for lighting and extinguishing the fire.

I was reminded again that the palace residents live a luxurious life with unlimited hot water.

"It's not something the prince should worry about, or rather, it's wrong for a prince to be in a position to worry about such things. If you don't live according to your status, those below you will suffer, so please continue the bathing habit."

Luxury in the palace creates jobs.

And by being luxurious, the country's prestige is demonstrated, contributing to the stability of the empire.

The emperor and his relatives are at the top of the hierarchy in demonstrating the country's prestige, and if the most important person doesn't live luxuriously, the lower ranks will struggle.

"It's unbearable to see important people being frugal."

"Despite that, I'm not saying you should go into debt to be luxurious. In a memoir that Sefira read, it was written that showing off and being respected leads to connections."

"Such pretense can also be a source of power. Since the prince is making his own decisions, the use of money is up to you. And the fact that you've been using so much hot water without any complaints shows that you're acting like a prince, so I don't have anything to say."

I thought I wasn't acting very princely, but from others' perspectives, I was acting like a prince, which was a bit amusing.

However, I doubt that bringing me here was the main point.

"Did you bring me here specifically to talk about how I should act?"

"You're sharp. ... Sigh, you're eight this year, right? When I was that age, I hadn't even thought about leaving home yet."

His bear-like face was unreadable, but I could tell he was worried.

"Well, if there's ever a time when you can't stay in the palace, come here. When that happens, I won't be able to move, so please use the things here."

In other words, he must have seen that the funding for the alcohol business had become realistic with Molly's enthusiasm.

On that basis, he designated his house as a hiding place, and in a situation where Helkoff couldn't move...

"Is it something that could harm the Emperor?"

"Is that your first thought? I can't say it's impossible. If you fight, you first attack the weak points. In that sense, the Emperor's position is still weak."

I became emperor at three and am now eight, and my father has solidified his position over five years.

However, the situation of being thrown into the palace, where the nobility has long held power, hasn't changed.

It's like the regency system in history.

A political system where a child who can't make decisions is placed at the top, and the ministers hold the real power.

"Since the Emperor has fulfilled his duty by having heirs like Terry and the twins, some might consider deposing him..."

"Wait, wait. That's unexpected. Please hold on."

Helkoff couldn't follow, so I explained the system where the maternal relatives hold the real power.

(There are still too many enemies to rival Duke Lukaieos in that situation.)

Sefira interjected after I explained to Helkoff.

"I understand. It would only happen if the Emperor makes a serious mistake or has a falling out with Duke Lukaieos. But if I'm used as a scapegoat for that mistake, I could also be the cause of the falling out with Duke Lukaieos."

"Is that really... possible?"

Helkoff tried to stop my negative imagination but then started thinking.

"It's a very extreme thought, but for now, it's just bad rumors. If it turns into a false accusation, the Emperor will protect me. But that could cause resentment. If I bring down the person who accused me, their faction will become an enemy. And it's not impossible that it could be a faction not aligned with Duke Lukaieos."

Currently, the biggest enemy is Duke Lukaieos, the maternal grandfather of the Empress.

He suspects that I might block the path for his daughter's son, Terry, to become emperor.

While it's not wrong to consider possibilities, he's the one who's trying to isolate me on the left and using nobles from his faction to interfere with my contact with my father.

He's the top person I think might do something extreme.

"Well, I don't know Duke Lukaieos directly, so maybe I'm just imagining things."

When I said this, Helkoff seemed to slump.

He leaned forward, and it looked like his head might fall between his spread legs.

"Why are you so calm? Actually, Prince, have you not developed your emotions?"

"That's a bit rude. I do get angry when something bad happens. And I enjoy fun things, and I like you, Helkoff, who cares for me."

When I smiled at Helkoff, who raised his head, he scratched the base of his fur-covered ears and looked away.

I can tell, he's blushing.

"I'm calm because I don't want to be an emperor. I have no interest in power struggles, and I think of the palace as a place to leave someday, so I can view it from a distance."

"...... I think you could make it work there, Prince."

"Even if I did, do you think I could master alchemy? I still have so many things I want to do."

When I said this with a childlike gesture, Helkoff finally smiled.

"I spoke out of turn. Forget it. Oh, but I'll give you the key."

"Is this your own house, Helkoff?"

"It's a rental, but I've prepaid for the next ten years."

He can do that.

(Approaching person detected. The corridor leads only to this room, so the destination is likely here.)

Sefira suddenly issued a warning.

Helkoff seemed to hear it and put a finger to his lips.

I nodded, pulled my hood back over my face, and mentally commanded Sefira to activate the camouflage.

"...... Ah, these footsteps..."

Helkoff muttered, seemingly realizing something, and the next moment, the sound of knocking on the door echoed in the room.

"I know you're in there! Open this door immediately!"

Between the strong knocks on the door, a threatening voice could be heard.

Without showing any fear, Helkoff walked straight to the door and looked at it.

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