Volume 2: 1 - Virtuous Old Man, Count Beyond 1000 Part 1

In the courtyard of the royal palace.

There, I was alone with Eliza.

She was walking ahead of me, leading the way.

Dressed in the royal garb, she radiated dignity that was hard to comprehend given her age.

She looks to have been born to be the Monarch.

Eliza stopped in front of a particular flowerbed and turned to me.

「I want the Empire to be stable and long-lasting 」

Eliza’s tone was serious as she began with this statement.

「I want to create a peaceful place and restore the backbone of the Empire that was almost shaken by the previous Emperor. That’s my goal 」

「Yes, I think you will able to do it 」

「What do you think is the most important thing to achieve that? 」

「What is ……? 」

It was a question that I could have answered any number of ways if I wanted to, but the right answer could only be found in Eliza’s mind.

As such I asked my own question.

「Confidence, strength, authority. It is important to have a person with with the same values and quality in power for the longest time. Are you familiar with political history? 」

「…… Yes, it’s common for a change of a prime minister to cause political upheaval 」

The memories of my previous life and the studies I have done using the Philosopher’s Stone, gave me knowledge that allowed me to answer Eliza’s question perceptively.

「Yes, that’s why I want someone who will be my side for a long time. Someone who will outlive me, someone who is smart, and has a good grasp of things 」

「That’s why you made me your second-in-command 」

Eliza nodded unhasting.

I see, that makes sense.

But is that really what you want? I’m not sure if I can handle being Viceroy——.

「Yes, that’s right. Also marrying a Viceroy will be the perfect match 」

「What? What did you just say? 」

Eliza mumbled something while I was pondering the heavy responsibility that would be placed on me as an Viceroy.

I asked her to repeat.

「It’s nothing, it’s nothing. I’m just talking to myself 」

Eliza’s face turned red and she did not seem to be telling the truth. It can’t be helped if she is talking to herself.

「Well, more importantly 」

Eliza regained her composure with a cough and looked at me sternly than before.

「Will you lend me your hand? 」

「You want me? 」

「I want you. You’re all I’ve got— in more ways than one 」

I couldn’t hear what she said at the end because her voice was too low, but still I could tell Eliza truly believed I was the only one who could help her.

「Yes, I will be happy to stand by your side 」

「Thank you 」

Eliza smiled.

She is both the Monarch and a young woman.

She smiled with that kind of expression that is of both.

It was a very attractive smile, and it was enough to make me want to cooperate with her.

◇◇◇

「Oh! You’re back, brother 」

When I left Eliza and returned to Hessen’s house, I found servants and maids in a hurry.

「What’s going on, Hessen-san? 」

「—Presents 」

「Presents? 」

「Yes, and they are all for you, brother 」

「…… I see, they’re for my inauguration as Viceroy 」

The situation made more sense the more I thought about it.

When people win a lottery or get a promotion, they suddenly garner more friends and relatives.

The same must be true when one become a Viceroy, difference is that you can’t just directly present yourself to them, you first have to appease them with a gift.

「But still, this is amazing 」

「Oh, look at this 」

「What’s this pile of sealed letters—invitations to attend a party? 」

I took one of the envelopes and looked at the contents.

It was an invitation to a party written in eloquent writing on a proper paper.

A formal document or invitation is considered rude if the handwriting is not clean.

Beautiful handwriting is a skill that pays for itself.

Such a beautiful handwriting can collect payment to feed a family of ten people with no doubt

Naturally, it was easy to read, and Hessen and I read the invitation together.

「Coincidentally, they’re having a party and would like you to come 」

「Oh, so it’s a coincidence? 」

It’s not a coincidence, I could tell.

There is no such thing as a coincidence at a time like this one.

It was definitely held to invite me, the Viceroy.

「There are so many of them, how many are there? 」

「I didn’t count past 1,000! 」

「What? 」

Hessen is a big braggart.

I asked him about the pile of envelopes because I thought there were at least a hundred, but it was far more than I expected.

So this pile is not the only one?

「And then there are these 」

Hessen said, beckoning me over.

Another maid brought out a pile of more sealed letters.

「What are these for? 」

「Arranged marriage. It’s a way to introduce you, brother, to a potential wife 」

「Well. This one is pretty straightforward. But this is a lot 」

「I didn’t count past 1000 for them either! 」

「That many! I can’t have that many wives! 」

As an aristocrat, and now as Viceroy, I’m going to need concubines.

In aristocracy, the noble, who can manage the side chambers, the concubines, well is highly valued.

For the sake of my lovely Angie, I thought that such a thing was a possibility in the future – but this is impossible.