"I've been through war, had assassins come right up to my doorstep, and spent ten years trembling in fear and anxiety. How could my body be intact? I'll likely die soon."
"I see."
"When the Emperor dies, the legitimate children, including the First Prince, will be in a state of emergency. They're incompetent, you know. They've only been surviving under their father's shadow until now."
"But isn't the Second Princess at a disadvantage in terms of legitimacy since she's born of a concubine? The imperial succession is more about bloodline than ability."
"That's true. That's why the Second Princess is probably busy recruiting princes and princesses who are favorable to her. For example, offering them a comfortable life in exchange for supporting her claim to the throne."
"And if that doesn't work?"
"She'll overthrow everything."
Nemara said.
"The Second Princess is a former commander with extensive field experience, and she has all the veteran officers who fought with her during the war. She's seized key positions throughout the Empire. Honestly, if she wanted to, she could occupy the Imperial Castle tonight."
"A coup d'état, then."
"But such forceful methods come with many side effects, so I think she's probably waiting for the Emperor to die naturally and moving in a direction where other princes will support her. Perhaps someone might suffer a suspicious death in the process."
"As an example to others."
Everyone seems to be thinking along the same lines.
The Emperor is on his deathbed, and the legitimate children will be the Second Princess's prey.
If the Second Princess can overcome the legitimacy issue, she'll become Emperor without much trouble.
But suddenly another possibility occurred to me.
"What if the Second Princess doesn't become Emperor?"
"You mean installing a proxy? Hmm..."
Nemara folded his arms.
"It's not entirely impossible. That might even be better. For example, she could put forward a legitimate child she's completely won over while holding all the real power behind the scenes."
"Is there such a prince or princess?"
"Well, I don't know that much. I've heard the youngest princess is somewhat slow-witted, so if she's looking for someone to manipulate, it might be her."
The youngest princess...
"But why are you so interested in this?"
Nemara asked.
"Is Professor Dian perhaps planning to enter politics?"
"No, no, nothing like that. I'm just wondering if the turmoil in the Imperial Castle might affect my daily life."
I vehemently denied it, waving both hands.
I fled to Brunswell, abandoning everything because I hated being in the spotlight with heavy responsibilities.
If I had wanted to enter the Imperial Castle, I would have done so when my value was at its peak.
I came to the Academy solely to ensure good childcare conditions for Linus.
"Even so, when the time comes, you might be forced to make a choice," Nemara said.
"The process of the Emperor dying and a new one being appointed won't be as smooth as you might think. Someone with power like Professor Dian will receive various proposals. Including Lord Linus."
"That may be true, but I can just refuse them all. At least that's what I'll do. I really hate staying up late racking my brain."
"It won't be that easy."
"We'll see about that."
Nemara slowly nodded.
"If that's your intention. By the way, I heard the vacation is over. Shouldn't you be heading back soon?"
"Ah, right."
I had forgotten.
"Take Kirrin back to the Academy."
"I should do that."
I stood up.
"Take care of yourself. I hope you find the other clans successfully."
"Thank you. About what I asked..."
"I'll mention it to the Second Princess. I'm just passing along the message. I don't want to get caught in the middle and get a headache."
"Understood."
# # # # #
I prepared to leave for the Academy.
It's already a day past the start of the semester, so everyone must be worried.
While Kirrin was packing, Jakrion and Sharian wouldn't leave her side.
Drebron was absent, having urgent matters to discuss with Nemara.
"If you leave like this, when will we see you again?"
"I'm so worried. What if you go back and cry alone again?"
Kirrin smiled at her siblings' concerns.
"I won't do that anymore. I've talked enough with Father. From now on, I'm going to work hard with my own determination."
"You've grown up so much..."
Jakrion wiped his eyes with the back of his calloused hand.
The cold demeanor he showed when first ambushing me was nowhere to be found.
They all become completely different people when they're with Kirrin.
"Actually, you two might see Kirrin more often in the future."
The Dark Elves turned to me abruptly.
"What do you mean?"
"At your father's request, you two might be transferred to the Imperial Castle."
"The Imperial Castle?"
When I briefly explained the situation, they acted as if it was the first they'd heard of it.
This person Nemara, did he really make such an important decision without consulting them?
He still has a long way to go.
"Let's go now, Dian."
As Kirrin shouldered her bag and stepped forward, her siblings followed.
Rormane and I stayed back a bit to give them time for private goodbyes.
They conversed for quite a while in voices too low for us to hear.
During this time, they patted heads, held hands, and embraced—quite touching.
"I'm really going now. We'll probably see each other again soon."
After saying her final goodbyes, Kirrin left the Black Forest with us.
"Thank you so much for coming, Secretary General," Kirrin said as we walked.
"Where my holy power is needed, I must go. It's only natural."
"What were you talking about with Father for so long?" she asked me.
I smiled faintly.
"Various things. Conversations postponed for over twenty years."
"Did it go well?"
"Yes. Now the Academy won't have any trouble because of me, and I won't have any trouble because of Father."
"That's good."
"It's all thanks to Dian. If you hadn't come looking for me, Father and I probably wouldn't have had such an honest conversation."
"As expected of Lord Dian," Rormane said, pressing her palms together as if in prayer.
"Lord Dian brings salvation wherever he goes. Truly blessed and holy."
The ground sparkled with each step I took, as if I were radiating light, perhaps due to her holy power.
"Isn't playing pranks like this going to get you divine punishment? Hey, look over there."
As I was about to tell Rormane to stop, I turned my head at a certain presence.
Two Dark Elves were standing on a tall tree in the distance.
It was Nemara and Drebron.
They were seeing Kirrin off from afar.
Since they weren't calling out, it seemed they intended to just watch like that.
Respecting Nemara's intention, I decided to pretend I didn't see them...
"Kirrin! It's your brother!!"
Suddenly Drebron shouted, and Nemara's face showed dismay.
"Brother? Father!"
Hearing the voice, Kirrin spotted the two and waved.
"Kirrin! Stay healthy! Eat three meals a day properly! It's hot, so don't stay out in the sun too long!"
"I will, Brother! I'll do that!"
"If there's anything too difficult to handle alone, send a crow! I'll come running to help right away!"
"Shut up, Drebron," Nemara growled in a low voice.
"Father! Take care!"
But when Kirrin greeted him too, he flinched and looked at her.
As Kirrin waved enthusiastically, Nemara reluctantly raised his hand briefly before quickly lowering it. Even that seemed to require tremendous effort.
"Well, what can I say," Rormane commented, watching this.
"Dark Elves aren't easy, are they?"
# # # # #
Meanwhile, in the Fourth Princess's room at the Imperial Castle.
The Second Princess was walking around, examining the clothes in the wardrobe and the curtains draped over the bed.
"You've decorated it quite daintily."
The Second Princess was addressing the Fourth Princess.
She was a woman sitting at the dressing table, visibly intimidated, glancing nervously at the Second Princess's every move.
With silver hair and blue eyes befitting the imperial bloodline, she had a petite frame.
She looked completely different from the Second Princess with her straight posture and overflowing confidence.
"You're an adult now. Wouldn't it be better to change these curtains?"
As the Second Princess lifted the pink curtains covered with flowers and teddy bear patterns, the Fourth Princess stammered.
"W-why did you come here..."
The Fourth Princess's teeth chattered as she spoke.
Like all the princes and princesses, the Fourth Princess was terrified of the Second Princess.
Not only was she a security powerhouse who controlled all the Empire's intelligence and could catch even a flying bird, but above all, her appearance was frightening.
Her body was covered in scars, and the left side of her face was mangled by burns.
The Fourth Princess remembered her sister's beautiful face before the war, but even so, her current appearance was too difficult to look at directly.
She recalled the First Prince's earnest warning never to get close to the Second Princess, who had become a murderous lunatic after seeing too much blood during the war.
Though the Fourth Princess knew she should leave the room immediately and go to her other brothers, she couldn't move readily.
Unknown individuals brought by the Second Princess were already spread throughout the corridor outside.
"Would you like to play a fun game with your sister?" the Second Princess asked, picking up a doll from the pillow.