Volume 1: 11 - Virtuous Old Man, Become the Viceroy Part 2

「….. Eh! 」

Brother-in-law? What brought this on?

「Surely you jest, Hessen-sama? 」

「No, I’m serious. You can marry my daughter-or my granddaughter, or if you like it I can have you as a step-brother 」

「Huh! 」

I raised my voice for the second time today.

The gaping age difference between us is enough to suggest I call him grandfather.

Calling him a step-brother is out of the question.

「Carlisle’s been stingy. Keeping such an incredible son hidden, he should have introduced us sooner 」

………

……………………………………………………..

…………………………………………..

I caught a glimpse of Father in his eyes as he spoke.

He’s apparently taken a serious liking to me.

I suspect he might have caught my father’s sickness.

There is that sinking feeling.

☆

While Alec and Hessen were in the dining room, discussing the step-brother pact, a girl came to visit Angie who was waiting in the guest room.

「Eh, Your Majesty! 」

As soon as the girl entered the room, Angie abruptly rose to her feet and stood up straight.

The person who has entered is Elizabeth C. Forsythe, the Imperial Monarch.

She is dressed in plain clothes – dressed as Eliza.

「Don’t be afraid, treat me same as before 」

「Ha, yes. So … Eliza-san? 」

「Yes. I’m sorry to come unannounced. I came because there is something I wish to talk to you about 」

「I understand. I’ll send for Alec-sama right away 」

「No, I came to talk to you Angie, not him. That’s why I had Hessen separate you two 」

「I see… 」

Angie was a lot surprised but waited for Eliza to make sense of the situation.

What could the Monarch possibly want with her ….. She racked her brilliant young head.

「You’re his fiancée, aren’t you, Angie? 」

「Yes! I am. And I love Alec-sama 」

Eliza winced a bit at the sight of Angie’s innocent smile.

「Well, let me ask you this. What would you think if there was a woman who appeared and claimed her love for him too? 」

「I’d be pleased 」

Angie’s answer was immediate. Eliza flinched once more.

「Pleased? 」

「Yes! I would want to get to know that person. To talk to her about all the wonderful things about Alec-sama 」

「Really? You wouldn’t feel jealous? 」

「Jealous? Hmmm, I’m not sure. I like learning about Alec-sama, the more I talk about him, the more I like him and can’t think of anything else. And this makes me neglect some of my studies 」

Angie looked a little shy as she said this.

「I don’t think there is a reason to feel jealous 」

「The more I learn about him the more I like him and think more about him huh? 」

Eliza looked a bit depressed and in thought.

After a few seconds, she raised her face. She was back to her cheery self.

「Thanks. That’s nice to hear 」

「All right 」

「I’m leaving now. Oh yes, don’t tell Alec I was here 」

「I should not tell him? 」

「Yeah, I want to surprise him. This is something I’m sure he’ll enjoy 」

「I understand! I won’t say a thing 」

「Thank you. I’ll see you later 」

「Yes! 」

★

A few days have passed since I was turned into a step-brother by Hessen with no room for debate for me.

He took a bigger liking to me than I thought, as there was a feast every single day.

Sometimes the guests would be his men, sometimes it was the nobles living in the capital that he was acquainted with.

Every day he would invite different people to the banquet and introduce me to them.

Hessen would make an over-the-top introduction for me, and not to kid, it was like one of my situations with Father.

I’m a lot relieved that today there is none of that.

"

"

Today is the day I have the audience with the Monarch.

As a result, Hessen had no choice but to put off the banquet for this day.

The relief is stronger than the anxiety over the ceremony, if it was not the case I would be in a panic right now.

Dressed in my formal attire as a baron, I entered the royal palace and into the audience room.

There on the throne, is Eliza.

Unlike when she was at the Carlisle Mansion, she is clad in the Monarch garb.

The regal aura she is exuding is second to none and she looked even more dignified for the throne.

There is a red carpet on the floor, leading to the throne, with nobles and ministers lined up on either side of it.

I followed the protocol and came before Her Majesty.

「You have done a great service 」

「I live to serve you 」

「You should be rewarded for your work. Whatever it may be, make your choice 」

「Your Majesty’s Will be done 」

Never be foolishly honest about your desires just because the Monarch has given unlimited choices.

It is rude to give personal preference to the Monarch.

So I translated 「whatever it may be 」 into aristocratic language, and responded with that.

「All right. Now, Alexander Carlisle 」

「Yes! 」

「I confer upon you the title of Viceroy 」

「Vais roi? 」

I simply nodded my head at the perplexing word.

There was a momentary murmuring delay around me.

What does it mean? I sought knowledge from the Philosopher’s Stone that I carried in my hand.

The knowledge regarding the word that was just said came to me immediately.

Viceroy.

Vice, roy.

A position even higher than the Prime Minister, the highest position that can possibly be given to non-royal people.

「Whoa! That’s my step-brother! 」

One of the ministers, Hessen of course, rejoiced so loudly that the audience room shook.

The people around me murmured even more and looked at me with envious eyes.

「For my sake and for the Empire. Keep up the good work 」

「I live to serve you 」

I bowed and then looked up at her.

Her Majesty – Eliza was looking at me with her passionate gaze.

No, this is much more than I could have expected.

Viceroy…. I did not see that coming.

Gold treasures, yes, one position from baron to viscount, maybe.

I had expected some similar rewards to those; this was not in even in my wildest dreams.

I thought I had been blessed enough before.

Turns out I have yet to reach the top of my SSS-rank life.

[TL Note: Thanks to the readers and thank you Mio for the “Vais roi” suggestion]