A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

169 – For My Emperor (3)

Before regression.

The Habsburg emperor was so strong and healthy that there was one problem that was not mentioned in person.

-Who will be the next emperor?

After the name was changed from the Tersian Empire to the Habsburg Empire, the Habsburg Emperor did not specifically change the heir to the throne from Astasia to someone else.

Therefore.

-Are you really trying to hand over the throne to Astasia’s companion, traitor Gray?

This story was often passed around in the imperial social circles.

Well, what more can I hide now?

At the age of 20, at the same time as Nostrum fell, I married Astasia.

As a message of reconciliation and negotiation from the Thersian Empire to the entire Nostrum, we have become a symbol of harmony through the marriage alliance.

-Anything is possible as long as it is not from the Nostrum royal family.

If it weren’t for Saint Geo’s bloodline, he would have the courage to even embrace the Duke of Morgania, which was once the queen’s maternal family.

Because they made the Earl of Gibraltar, not anyone else, the princess’s partner, no one dared to ask the Habsburg Emperor about the succession.

So I asked.

Who does the Habsburg emperor consider to be his successor?

I remember at that time it was probably the first gateway to the Gibraltar Gorge, above the canyon where the transcontinental train passes towards the empire.

The answer the emperor gave at that time still remains in my mind.

And that memory was recalled again at this moment.

“Hapsburg Majesty.”

“Yes, Gray! Did you have a good time meeting Astasia?”

As soon as I arrive at the emperor’s drawing room, the emperor welcomes me.

He must have realized that I am reluctant to be hugged directly with both arms, so he pointed to my seat with one arm and guided me personally.

“Let’s sit down.” Should I have a drink?”

“I am a minor, Your Majesty.”

“They say it’s a Nostrum tradition not to drink alcohol when an adult recommends it.”

“Is it illegal to suggest drinking to a minor, only in the Thersian Empire?”

Originally, I would have hidden the story behind it.

“Or is it legal in the Habsburg Empire?”

But this time, I decided to be more direct and strong.

“.. Haha!”

The Habsburg emperor chuckles and sits down in his chair.

As I sat down on the chair in such a comfortable position, I got goosebumps for a moment because the sight overlapped with the sight I often saw in the villa built by the Earl of Gibraltar before his return.

“Okay. So you’re looking at it up to that point? But do you know that?”

The Habsburg emperor smiled as he filled the empty wine glass himself.

“The Habsburg Empire means a unified empire that completely dominates the Kingdom of Nostrum, and the only country on the continent.”

“Yes.”

“Wouldn’t that mean that Nostrum would be destroyed?”

Crash.

I felt the touch of a sharp blade behind the sofa where I was sitting.

Although it didn’t touch my skin directly, the deadly feeling that could kill me at any time was piercing my skin.

“Is it okay for Nostrum’s master of Gibraltar to say such a thing?”

“Are you even going to send away the head? The envoy sent on behalf of the kingdom was thinking about selling out the country, so you cut off the head and send it back? We care so much about our alliance with the kingdom?”

“The words are getting longer.”

“It has no choice but to be longer.”

I pointed to the empty space in front of me.

“It’s not like I was welcomed as a guest.”

“…”

“I don’t really like trying to make things happen when you already know everything. I already told Astasia about it.”

I lifted the cane and lightly tapped it towards the weapon pointed at my neck.

“I am not interested in eternal well-being and peace between the two countries.”

“Then what?”

“I came to see Astasia.”

“…”

Did I feel worse?

The aura on the blade gradually began to darken, and I took down my staff.

“Take it out.”

“…”

Despite the emperor’s words, the blade remained still.

No, it was getting closer to my neck.

“You are my guest. Don’t make me hesitate.”

Slurp.

The auror disappeared, and the blade retreated.

Life was still directed at me, but I didn’t care at all.

“I’m sorry. When I become emperor, people around me will probably cause a lot of anger.”

“Still, it’s Gibraltar. Was there anyone who was worried about me?”

“Right now, several of the generals in the banquet hall were complaining. Is it okay to welcome Gibraltar’s blood like that?”

“You don’t care anyway. No, it’s not that you don’t care… “

“Even if the dogs bark, the train runs on the tracks.”

A moment of silence for the many generals of the empire who were suddenly treated like dogs.

“Let’s have a drink. I hope one day we can have a drink together.”

The Habsburg emperor personally brought teaware and poured somnus tea in front of me.

“Thank you. However…”

“Just?”

“Somnus tea should be brewed slowly at 85 degrees, not 94 degrees.”

“…You are probably the first person to say something like that to the emperor.”

“Because I can’t stand the unbearable.”

I held the glass as it was and took a big sip of tea.

“Do you just drink it?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Should I be worried that there’s poison in here?”

“…”

The Habsburg emperor crossed his legs and played with his beard.

“Are you perhaps being sarcastic now because you lost time with Astasia?”

“If you know, can I get up soon?”

“I can understand that, but it’s a bit disappointing. I even deliberately learned how to brew somnus tea for you.”

“From whom?”

“From Astasia. She said apparently that if the kid brews it like this, she drinks it well.”

“…”

As expected, the emperor doesn’t know much.

Even if you know rationally, you don’t understand the aesthetics contained in the somnus tea that Astasia brews in her 94-degree boiling water.

If the tea is hot, it needs plenty of time to cool down.

That is enough time for a man and a woman to talk.

At least I have no intention of talking with the Habsburg Emperor until the tea cools.

Even though Astasia is there.

“I thought I came to congratulate you, but I’ve come to give you a serious warning. Is this Nostrum’s will?”

“It is Gray Gibraltar’s personal will.”

“Why?”

“It could be exciting. No, even if it is excitement, there are people around me who think that way, so I have to tell you.”

I once again took a large sip of somnus tea.

“The only thing I can compromise is the national record.”

“…”

“And if you’re going to use it seriously, I hope you’ll think about it after ‘we’ graduate.”

“They’re just trying to eat it raw.”

The Habsburg emperor openly showed signs of discomfort.

“Take care of old people alone for two and a half years without any political allies?”

“I’m sure you’ve done well so far, and I know that you’ve already lined up many helpful people around you.”

“The more talented people there are, the better.”

“If the talent is a minor, it is labor exploitation.”

“In the Empire, if you are over 17 years old, you can work less than 20 hours a week with the consent of your legal guardian. In the Imperial language, it is called ‘part-time work.'”

“Isn’t the Emperor’s interview on March 30th saying that students should focus on their studies?”

At that moment, the Habsburg emperor flinched.

“…”

“Speeches, interviews, talks. I know everything I can through the media. I try to remember memorable phrases as much as possible.”

“Do you remember the rest?”

“I don’t remember everything. “I just remember what I remember.”

“Haha… “

The Habsburg Emperor licks his lips and laughs.

“Still, it’s a shame. If you start helping now, this continent will become even more peaceful.”

“It’s not for nothing that there is a boundary between adults and minors.”

I drank the tea in one go.

“The year you become an adult. The year you graduate from the academy. After you officially marry Astasia. If it’s a matter of work, let’s do it from then.”

“Hmm…!”

A strange look appeared in the Habsburg Emperor’s eyes.

“That means…!”

“It’s not that I won’t do anything. If it’s an unavoidable fate, if it’s a flow that can’t be resisted, then it’s natural to go with the flow.”

He climbs onto the gigantic airship called the Emperor and slowly narrows the distance towards the Emperor, who is pointing ahead at his head.

“Instead.”

When others are in check, only accept what you can.

When approaching the emperor from behind, reduce suspicion as much as possible.

“Please don’t try to take away Astasia’s happy school life already. I came today to negotiate that.”

“…”

When I approach the emperor, even the shadow protecting the emperor unconsciously avoids my approach.

“On my way back to Orosol Academy, I will receive Princess Astasia.”

Then, I will pierce the emperor’s heart.

“Your Majesty. I will ask you directly.”

Not only the emperor, but even the shadows protecting him were caught off guard.

“Do you think of me as your successor?”

“Yes.”

In this drawing room, there is the emperor’s shadow, a maid, and a knight guarding the imperial palace.

“Aren’t we strangers without a drop of blood?”

“It is too traditional… A conservative point of view that the throne should be passed down only through blood relations. A leader’s lineage is not important. What matters is whether he is qualified to rise above others… That is, whether he has the ability.”

In front of these people, the Habsburg Emperor raised his glass towards me.

“Gray Gibraltar. I hope you will succeed me.”

As if a woman was proposing, the Habsburg Emperor was looking at me with eyes filled with anticipation and concern.

“There should be no flaws in those who take over this country that I have built.”

“I have a defect in my leg.”

“Just because my leg hurts doesn’t mean I can’t run the country, right? All I’m looking at is how much the person who will succeed me will not tarnish my name.”

In an instant, the Habsburg emperor looked left and right.

The shadows that caught his eye, the maids, and the knights all had ‘white’somewhere in their hair.

“From my perspective so far, it seemed like everyone else was going to be tarnished…” ” “

“Do you think I’ll give you something gold if I succeed you?”

“That’s right.”

The Habsburg emperor lowered his upper body and held out his cup in front of me, who was not even white, but was gray.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever told you this before.”

There is.

“Death is the perfection of man.”

He also spoke with a similar nuance.

“I think no matter how many achievements I accumulate, they are meaningless.”

Even before returning, I could say the same thing without making a single mistake.

“Grey. You are my ‘completion’.”

At that time it was called a period, but this time it was a more direct word.

“At the end of the battle of great men called the Habsburg emperors, I would like to end with the phrase, ‘I have chosen Gray Gibraltar as the next emperor.'”

Like this.

How can those around us not keep Gray Gibraltar in check?

“Don’t you think it’s the same?”

“What?”

“Just like you ran all the way to the empire to stay by Astasia’s side and kissed her hand in front of everyone.”

“…”

The result is the same.

“I understand. But.”

The end result is the same, but in the end, we are looking at different things.

“If there is something I cannot tolerate, then I will come to stab you in the back, not to succeed you.”

I have to kill this man.

“It’s unacceptable. So, what is it?”

“Well, for example… “

I drank all the somnus tea, then stretched out my empty glass and toasted it with a wine glass.

“They’re trying to get Astasia to sleep with another man.”

“.. Haha!!”

The Habsburg Emperor burst out laughing as if he would fall backwards and clink his glasses again.

“How can you say I’m crazy when you’re here?”

“I’m just telling you this just in case.”

I spoke clearly.

And, I didn’t ask.

If you make me emperor.

If you make Astasia the emperor.

What are you going to do ‘after that’?

“We are not adults yet, and I am not married to Astasia yet.”

“If you make up your mind, you will follow imperial law…”

“I would be grateful if you could do so, but there is a curse in Nostrum and Gibraltar that is like customary law.”

“Oh, that.”

“It’s okay. Can’t you wait two and a half years?”

The future emperor will be after I marry Astasia.

I waited 7 more years.

“That’s all for today.”

Two and a half years until graduation.

And nine and a half years to go until I was 27 years old.

“There is still plenty of time.”

* * *

The next day.

Rumors spread widely throughout the empire that ‘Gray Gibraltar is the next emperor.’

“…The rumor should have spread that he was Astasia’s partner.”

“Master. Would you like to request corrected information?”

“That’s it, Sir Robert.”

It is an unchanging fact that the person who becomes Astasia’s companion will be closest to the position of the next emperor.

“I understand. By the way, master.”

“Why again?”

“…What should we do with these assassins who have been coming since dawn to kill you?”

“…”

As per routine, I sipped somnus tea.

“It’s not the weight of carrying a crown, but you should think of it as an ordeal to become Astasia’s companion.”

It’s not a big deal.

It’s just that assassinations have increased.

“If I lose the throne and Astasia is taken away with him, he can never be taken away.”

I am not protecting the throne, I am protecting Astasia.

“No one can take Astasia away from me.”

Even if it’s my bloodline.