In this world, the Adventurers' Guild is a very important entity and has
a certain status in society.
In terms of simple strength, the knights belonging to a country are
superior to them. However, the Adventurer Guild has the freedom that
the knight order does not have.
In contrast to knights, many adventurers work as a pair or trio, which
makes them more useful for tasks that require a quick response.
In the capital of the Archlesia Empire, there stands a branch of the
Adventurers' Guild. Today, many adventurers gathered at the guild,
which also acts as a tavern in itself, to exchange information and engage
in other activities.
At one of the many tables, there was a pair consisting of a man and a
woman.
[…Hey, Nicole.]
[Unnn? What is it?]
The girl named Nicole, who was about 150cm and dressed in a mage's
robe, stopped eating and turned to the red-haired young man seated in
front of her.
[…Ummm, if… errr, if I say that I'm actually a "prince"… What would you
do?]
[…"Request compensation for damages", I guess?]
[Why!?]
[No, I mean, Leo claiming to be a prince is something akin to swindling.
I think you should be liable for damages you did by saying such things.]
Nicole lightheartedly replied to the swordsman-like young man named
Leo, with a smile. It was a smile that showed through her emotion that
she didn't believe Leo's words at all.
[…Unnn, well, I guess you're right. It would be great… if that really was
the case though…]
[…Eh? Just in case… Are you actually for real?]
[For the sake of our friendship as long-time partners, do you mind if I
consult with you for something?]
[That will be one copper coin.]
[How expensive, I'll buy it.]
[Thank you for the patronage~~]
They were adventurers who had been working together for a long time,
and they know each other very well. However, even Nicole, who has
known him for a long time, didn't know that Leo was a member of the
royal family.
[…So, you being a prince, is it for real?]
[Yeah, Leonhard Dia Archlesia… That's my real name.]
[…It doesn't sound like you're drunk and just saying strange things.
Then, putting aside if you're telling the truth or not… Why are you
telling me this now? Does that have something to do with why this
consultation?]
[…Going straight to the point, my sister… well, the current Emperor… I
haven't seen her in years. And yet, she suddenly told me that she wants
to give me the throne.]
[…Huh? W- What do you mean?]
When Nicole heard the pale Leo's words, Nicole looked at him in a daze,
as if her mind hadn't caught up with what she heard.
[That's what I want to ask! I certainly am a prince, but I'm only the
"fourteenth" in line of the succession to the throne, you know? The
lowest of the low. Well, that's also why I was able to be an adventurer…]
[N- Now, now, let's calm down for a bit… I mean, Her Majesty, the
Emperor Chris is abdicating her throne? Eh? Why? Emperor Chris is
very popular with the public, isn't she? She's solved the food problem in
the north, and she's also amended the employment system of
Archlesia…]
[Well, to be honest, I have no idea why Esteemed Sister wants to step
down her throne either. Heck, I don't even know why she's naming me
as the next Emperor.]
[…Hmmm, can't you just refuse?]
Hearing that Chris is stepping down her throne as the Emperor,
something which isn't known to the public yet, Nicole became surprised
and asked about the first topic of discussion, Leo's accession to the
throne.
When she heard her question though, Leo's face turned paler than
before, and shivering, he muttered.
[…It's impossible. Going against Esteemed Sister Chris' words… J- Just
thinking about her terrifying eyes that would look at me when I say
such words…]
[Eh? Y- You're that afraid of her?]
[I mean, Esteemed Sister Chris was originally the "eighth in line of the
succession to the throne", you know? She normally wouldn't have been
able to succeed the throne. And yet, for some reason, all my Esteemed
Elder Brothers and Sisters… As if something I don't know occurred,
they had suddenly lost their positions or renounced their rights to the
throne, making her the one to succeed the throne.]
[…I'm kind of imagining something really scary happened though…]
[No, I'm sure Esteemed Sister did something to them. After all,
Esteemed Sister is the type of person who doesn't hesitate to use any
means to achieve her goals…]
[S- Scary… I feel like I've caught a glimpse of the dark side of the noble
society. Errr, I guess that means Leo is forced to become the Emperor
because your scary sister told you to?]
[...]
In response to Nicole's question, Leo became silent, looking as if he's
thinking about something. Seeing this, Nicole slightly smiled and
continued.
[…Putting that aside, are you up for it?]
[…Honestly, I'm feeling shaken. I didn't use to feel this way, but as I
became more and more active as an adventurer… I guess you could say
that I've come to appreciate this country? Anyway, I've come to like the
Archlesia Empire more than before. I've come to like the people who
live here now… So, if there's anything I can do for the people living in
this country, I also want to do my best.]
[Fumufumu, isn't that great? That's just like you… I think that Leo
would make a good Emperor.]
[…Nicole.]
Hearing her partner's calm words, Leo nodded once, as if he had made
his mind. Then, looking straight into Nicole's eyes, he continued.
[…So, I'd like to ask you regarding the main question I have…]
[Main question?]
[Unnn, I'm thinking of becoming an emperor… but I don't know if I can
do it well. I've been away from the noble society for a long time, and
you know, I'm an idiot…]
[Unnn.]
[That's why… if it's okay with you… I'd like you to be with me. I need
your help.]
[Fine with me~~ That's one gold coin!]
[Too lighthearted!? Eh? Hey, I may be the one asking this… but don't you
think you agreed too easily!?]
Nicole nodded at Leo's words, which sounded like a proposal in a sense,
without giving it much thought. Although she did shrewdly demand
money…
[How long did you think we have been partners, Leo? I'm the only one
who can support the idiotic Leo, right? If it weren't for me, how many
times did you think you would have died by now, Leo?]
[Ugghhh… I- I can't deny that.]
[Ahaha, well, I don't feel like working with anyone but Leo now
anyways… Well, I'll go along with you.]
[…Nicole. Thanks.]
[I'm glad that you've settled with that. I can be relieved then.]
[ [ Eh? ] ]
Finished with their topic, the two stared at each other with a smile. Just
as a warm, ticklish atmosphere began to drift between them, the sound
of light applause and a voice resounded.
Hearing the voice, they both turned around at the same time… and
Leo's face turned pale again.
[E- E- E- Esteemed Sister Chris… W- W- W- Why are you here…]
[Well, I just happened to be visiting this place for my inspection. Then, I
saw my cute little brother and wanted to talk to him, but I didn't want
to interrupt what seemed to be an important conversation, so I waited.]
[…You're lying… You're definitely lying… There's no way that an
Emperor would go out of her way to personally inspect a place…]
When they saw the deep smile Chris had as she told them this, as if she
could see through their everything, Leo and Nicole couldn't help but
shudder.
Moreover, not knowing when it happened, they saw that there were no
people in the Guild at all.
[Even so, as expected of Leonhard… As one to be expected from my
successor. I see you've already found a "queen". How wonderful.]
[…N- No, no!? Your Majesty, The Emperor? It's not like I intend to be
queen… I- I'm fine being a concubine… Or rather, I'm a commoner, so
that's impossible, isn't it?]
[Ahh, if it's about that, you don't have to worry. I've already "talked to
your parents about it". You're treated as "the adopted child of a noble"
in name, making you a noble…"since tomorrow".]
[…Isthatso.]
Looking at Chris' smile as she carefreely told them this, Nicole shivered
and whispered to the nearby Leo.
[Leo, Leo… She scares me, she freaking scares me… How the heck did I
become a noble since yesterday? Why the heck did it become decided
without my knowledge? Can I renege on this after all?]
[…You can't. Once Esteemed Sister Chris has her eyes on you, there's no
escaping.]
[Uweeehhhh…]
Knowing that they were all running around Chris' palm, Leo and
Nicole's shoulders drooped down, while their faces turned paler. The
thought of being taught the basics of being a member of the royal family
by the terrifying Chris sends shivers down their spine.
Thinking that the conversation was over, Chris turned around and was
about to leave the Guild. But at that moment, Leo got up from her chair
and spoke.
[P- Please wait, Esteemed Sister Chris… Please allow me to ask you one
thing.]
[…What is it?]
[Why are you quitting being the Emperor?]
[...…]
A question came out of his mouth. Leo was convinced that his future is
set as the Emperor, but he never thought that he would exceed Chris as
an Emperor.
She was indeed a terrifying sister in his eyes, but Leo knew that Chris
was capable. He also thought that she clearly cared more about her
country than anyone else.
That's why he couldn't understand why Chris would quit being the
Emperor… Worried that she might be suffering from a serious illness
that requires her to designate a successor, he asked this question.
Hearing Leo's question, Chris was silent for a while, before she
suddenly… let out a smile that Leo had never seen before. A true
heartfelt smile.
[…I have an important person waiting for me. That man isn't the kind of
person that could be tied down to one country… And for me to be by his
side, the position of Emperor is a bit of a hindrance.]
[…Ehh?]
[That's why, I've decided to pass it on to a successor I could trust.]
[E- Errr… What does that mean…]
[I wonder? You'll have to figure that out by yourself.]
Leaving those words, Chris left the Adventurers' Guild. Being in a public
area within the Archlesia Empire, Chris didn't dare use the words "I've
found someone more important to me than my country", which she had
said to Laguna.
She puts her country first and foremost, and when something comes
along that she wants to prioritize over her country, she would step
down as Emperor. This was Chris' royal ideology, and she doesn't intend
to impose it on Leo.
All she wanted for Leo was to find his own way of being an Emperor, for
him to find his own royal ideology… Hoping for such a future to come,
Chris went back to her castle with a smile.
About three years later… A coronation ceremony was held for the New
Emperor of Archlesia Empire. A few days later, the New Emperor's
wedding took place.
At their wedding, the former Emperor was seen cuddling with a man
with light brown hair…