Emperor's Alternate - Chapter 54
“…I should have learned how to use a sword.”
“…A sword?”
“Yes. If I had the mana, I could have found a way to kill.”
The Empress smiled faintly, perhaps thinking that I was talking about monsters.
“I thought you were terrified of such creatures. Besides, you very well know that any training is meaningless if your mana gate hasn’t been breached.”
I don’t know how fast my skills will grow after my mana gate is breached, but it will be a very long time before I reach Lecan’s level. It would be nearly impossible for me to become skilled enough to kill him in such a short time. So, even though I knew it wouldn’t work, I made a pointless comment.
Lecan would have to be in a thoroughly defenseless state for me to thrust a sword into his heart. But this was a lost cause, since it was clear from our conversation in the cave that he didn’t like me. The only way he wouldn’t put up any resistance was if he loved me.
“As for the unfortunate end to the hunting tournament, I’ve already thought of all the ways to handle it while holed up in the cave, so you can rest easy, Your Majesty.”
“…That’s a relief. It’s a weight off my shoulders.”
“There is one thing I would like you to allow, however.”
“And what is that?”
“I would like you to entrust me with the disposition of the ten white elephants that Your Majesty is raising.”
“…They are incredibly expensive….”
The Empress, visibly disappointed, slowly nodded at my indifferent gaze. After all, since she was the one who had caused a major incident that even the nobles were paying attention to, it would be difficult for her to stubbornly resist this request.
“Have it your way.”
I lowered my head, determined to give Benedict the first seven white elephants.
‘Feed them at an astronomical cost and then go bankrupt.’
Dealing with the long-anticipated task did improve my mood a bit.
Even when facing a seemingly formidable enemy, I realized that there might be a chance of winning as long as I didn’t lose hope. While it was crucial to face reality, I wasn’t the type to give up on everything and collapse.
Like the hare and the tortoise in the fable, even if someone as intimidating as Lecan had a chance to slip up. If they were to take a short nap in the meadow, hesitate and get distracted even for a few seconds, I may still end up the winner in the long run.
When a problem arises, I clear my mind and think about the next solution. When the next problem comes along, you go back to the drawing board. That was the approach I learned from Lecan during our short time together.
***
“I think His Majesty the Emperor is secretly in love with me.”
“What kind of disgusting nonsense is that?”
Lecan failed to maintain his composure in response to Benedict’s remarks. Due to growing up under the pressure of the ‘elite aristocracy,’ Benedict had developed an allergy to the manners of nobility. Nevertheless, Lecan found Benedict’s unrestrained behavior quite irritating.
“Otherwise, he wouldn’t have given me seven of his precious white elephants, just for me, specifically. Do you have any, too? White elephants?”
“…What?”
Lecan fell into thought for a moment. Granting them in the name of the Emperor? If that’s the case.
‘This is Leyesha’s doing.’
The only thing that happens in the Emperor’s name that isn’t Leyesha’s doing is Teiles’s scandalous private life.
‘Considering the maintenance cost for those white elephants, it’s clear that Leyesha harbored ill will towards Benedict.’
When her attempt to leave Benedict with no title failed with her compromise with Lecan, she decided to give him a separate headache.
Even though it was nominally a gift, receiving seven elephants would have a considerable impact on the finances of even a wealthy duke’s family, let alone a mere Count like Lecan.
“Oh, these white elephants personally granted by the absent Emperor! There are even seven of them, and you don’t even have one, brother….”
“…Yes, it is a lot.”
Lecan felt somewhat sorry for Benedict and muttered quietly. He didn’t know what Benedict had done to slight this de facto supreme power, but he was going to get what he deserved. As far as he could tell, Leyesha existed as an isolated island, avoiding human interaction as much as possible. He wondered when in the world they even had contact for her to harbor a grudge this deep…
“…It’s good to see that Archduke seems to be in a good mood today,” said the librarian, approaching them with a chuckle.
“Indeed, I am truly favored on this day…”
“Wow.”
The librarian next to Lecan clapped for Benedict, keeping an eye out for reactions.Benedict, who had been completely left out of the new reorganization, had barely been given the authority to manage the system’s underworld. It was an honorary position, of course, with no official title and no salary.
“His Majesty’s failure to give me a position has been a bitter pill to swallow, but now he’s given me this gift. Hmm, I thought I was hated, but it seems not. Well, there must have been unavoidable circumstances.”
“Yes, the Archduke is favored wherever he goes.”
“Oh-ho, so you think so too, brother? This man, even when you pretend not to be my brother, you’re still looking out for me.”
“Shut up.”
“You’re just jealous because I’m the only one who was gifted white elephants, aren’t you? White elephants are rare, and I have seven of them, and you don’t even have one!”
Suddenly, Lecan’s temper flared up and he casually threw away his dagger.
“Get lost.”
“Hehehe, big brother, you don’t have to be so jealous of my white elephants!”
This bastard.
