A Shared Duty

Viscount Timothy brought a pile of letters. There was no way that many had flown in from the Grand Duchy of Kaian. I put down the pen I was holding. The letters were divided into four bundles, perhaps sorted before being brought to me. I pulled the smallest bundle toward myself.

The name on the topmost envelope was… Marquis Lomond?

Since it was an unfamiliar name, I just stared at it until Viscount Timothy explained. He was a wealthy man who owned the eastern plains as his fief and was a leading figure among the Emperor’s supporters. He was a dandy gentleman with a Pringles-style mustache, but apparently, his personality was incredibly strict. Viscount Timothy’s face grew pale while talking about him. I wasn’t sure if she was nervous because she was in front of me, or if she had been severely disciplined by the Marquis’s strictness before. I couldn’t ask. Before I could even read Marquis Lomond’s letter, the explanation for the next letter’s owner began.

Count Tephard, Count Hoffmann, Count Belton… It was a brief explanation of what roles they played in the Emperor’s faction, where their fiefs were, and what their personalities were like, but the number exceeded ten. When Viscount Timothy cleared her throat while explaining the last letter, I offered her a cup of tea. She declined with a look of horror and finished the explanation at double speed. We’ve seen each other for over two months now; are you still being shy?

“What are all these letters?”

Viscount Timothy composed her voice and spoke.

“They are requests for an audience.”

“Why?”

The door opened. A startled Viscount Timothy looked back and bowed so low she looked ready to prostrate herself on the floor.

“I… I greet His Imperial Majesty!”

Kallios walked in without even acknowledging the greeting and sat in a chair.

“You’re here?”

This equally rude fellow. He didn’t even acknowledge my greeting. I didn’t bother pointing it out since he wouldn’t change now anyway. I wondered what use there was for the Emperor of the Empire to be polite. It’s better to seem a bit rude and arrogant than easy to deal with. It makes people more cautious. Not him, but his subordinates… no, his subjects.

He took the largest bundle, checked a few names on the envelopes, and handed them straight back to Viscount Timothy. Her face, which had been pale as a sheet, had turned bright red in an instant. She received them hurriedly. I watched closely because I thought she might cry if she accidentally dropped them, but she managed to take them without a slip. Good. Well done. I praised her only in my mind.

I looked at the front and back of Marquis Lomond’s envelope, then tore the side and pulled out the paper inside.

“You don’t have to read it.”

“I’m curious.”

As I unfolded the twice-folded paper, he called out, “Big Brother.” I pretended not to hear and read the letter written in elegant handwriting… then put it down. Blessings of the Dragon God, so on and so forth, blah blah blah. The titles attached to my name alone took up more than three lines.

“Is this how they usually write?”

He took the letter I had put down and refolded it.

“What’s with these titles…”

“Marquis Lomond is a man of principle.”

“Principle?”

My interest in the letters vanished. I pushed away the bundle of letters that had been placed in front of me to read. Like someone who had chosen ‘letter collector’ as a hidden profession, he took all of them and gave them back to Viscount Timothy.

“Why do those people want to see me?”

I asked Viscount Timothy.

“Ah, yes! Well, that is.”

“I imagine you have much work to do.”

He spoke while looking at Viscount Timothy. It was a hint for her to leave. Viscount Timothy glanced between me and Kallios. Her bright red face looked like it would pop if touched. He gave a slight nod of his chin. On the verge of tears, she gathered all the letters left on the table.

“I, I have… I, I have an urgent matter, so…”

She’s going to cry. I simply nodded. I was curious why letters were suddenly pouring in, but it would be troublesome if Viscount Timothy said she couldn’t come in starting tomorrow. True to her reputation as a talent recommended by Ilios, she was excellent at her job. I waved to her as she practically fled the room.

The door closed. I heard the sound of tea being poured. Before I knew it, a tea set identical to mine was placed in front of Kallios. He lifted his cup. I laughed at the absurdity. He had been visiting frequently lately, but still, sitting there so nonchalantly was quite something.

I looked at my brother, who looked like a painting no matter when I saw him, and called his name.

“Kallios.”

He set his teacup down elegantly and answered.

“Yes.”

He’s great at answering, even if he doesn’t greet.

“Why would Marquis Lomond want to see me?”

He just stared at me silently. He didn’t seem to want to answer. I met his eyes for a moment before pulling forward the documents I had pushed aside for Viscount Timothy’s visit. They were prepared and submitted by Count Rostion. My mind felt at ease seeing sentences that were concise and stuck to the point.

I heard the sound of pages turning beside me. He was flipping through a bundle of papers twice as thick as mine at a speed that made it hard to tell if he was even reading. If he had work to do, he should stay in his office; why come all the way here? The distance between the Emperor’s Palace and the spire was considerable. In my past life, it was like the distance from the humanities building to the engineering building at my university. I thought I was going to die when I took one engineering course as a clueless freshman. Even on a bicycle, it took fifteen minutes.

Judging by how he collected the letters and sent her back, there must be a reason. But I didn’t bother asking twice. If it’s something I need to know, I’ll find out eventually.

Besides, I had a suspicion. I hadn’t dared to think about it because I hoped it wasn’t true, but his attitude confirmed my thoughts.

An Emperor with red eyes stabilizes the nation, and an Emperor with red hair makes the nation prosper.

It was likely a coincidence upon coincidence, but in Caprejena, this saying had passed as truth until now.

They say the expiration date for the Arnevus Imperial Family has passed, but that refers to the authority of the Emperor and the Imperial House. Myths with visible achievements still hold absolute power for some, and for others, they serve as a very convenient pretext.

I pulled the papers back. A question for him came to mind, but I held it in for now.

However, he seemed unable to hold it in. Just as I turned my gaze back to the documents, he spoke.

“Do not worry about it.”

Taking all the letters before I could check them and then telling me not to worry without any explanation. I wasn’t sure if his habit of only throwing out the main point was just a personality trait or if it was because he overestimated me.

“About what?”

“I will handle it.”

“They aren’t ladybugs, though?”

At my joke, his dried-rose-colored eyes, which had been fixed on the paper, turned toward me.

“It is no different.”

“Haha,” I laughed out loud and looked out the window.

That boy’s gift had given me freedom. I no longer had to be trapped inside this spire. It was a truly grateful gift, but it wasn’t purely a good thing.

The reason I hadn’t become the Crown Prince or the Emperor was that I couldn’t live outside the spire.

It was because I was so weak it wouldn’t have been strange for me to die at any moment.

“Aphelion… how is the weather in the Grand Duchy of Kaian?”

“Big Brother.”

“Since it’s in the north, is it colder than here?”

Even with such a body, I had become a burden to him simply because I was born with the ‘Blessing of the Dragon.’ He was constantly compared to me—or rather, to the dream-like achievements a ‘Red-Haired Emperor’ would accomplish.

“I wonder if I won’t be able to marry? Mmm… even if I do, I won’t have children.”

“Big Brother.”

“It’s fine. I never liked kids that much anyway.”

An adult member of the Imperial Family who does not inherit the throne must leave the Imperial Fortress.

Even if such a rule didn’t exist, it was right for me to leave.

I heard the checks from the nobles were still fierce. Kallios had been handling it wisely so far, but… what about now, when the ‘Red-Haired Prince’ has become healthy?

Whether I have an interest in the throne or not.

Whether I have the ability to become Emperor or not.

That isn’t what’s important.

If I stay here, in this fortress… I will become the sharpest spear that stabs him. Before, I was just a needle that would prick, but now, a wrong turn could be fatal. I really didn’t want to create such a situation. It wasn’t because I was afraid he would become a villain.

I hated the thought of him being hurt or troubled because of me.

I also hated the thought of the country he rules, and the country Sierra lives in, falling into chaos.

“You know, Kallios.”

“Big Brother. I can handle everything.”

“Still, I thought I’d have a bit more time… the rumors spread too quickly.”

I spoke with sincerity. I truly felt regret. I acted nonchalant, but in truth, I hated it.

I wanted to stay here as long as possible, for my whole life if I could. Although my heart had become sturdy, it didn’t mean my body was fully healthy. I was still weak enough to need to be careful of the late summer night breeze after the heat had faded slightly. I wouldn’t be shattered by the blessing, but I never knew when I might collapse from some illness.

…Well, everyone dies. You never know what will happen even to healthy people. Just like how I, who survived a month of continuous overtime, was taken out by a single traffic accident.

So. Since you never know how life will go.

I wanted to stay by the side of him, Sierra, and my faithful knights, Isaac and Ilios.

If I just live quietly as if I were dead, wouldn’t my existence be forgotten? If Kallios does well, wouldn’t Caprejena naturally become his country? Then, as the Emperor’s brother, I could spend time enjoying small luxuries here, welcoming those kids when they visit, and as they grow up and start families of their own… Ah. You look exactly like your mother and father did when they were young…

“I guess I shouldn’t have taken those walks in the garden.”

“Big Brother.”

I wondered what kind of expression he was making. Since he was the type of person who only furrowed his brow even when I was dying, it wouldn’t be anything dramatically expressive. But I didn’t look.

I was more curious about my own expression. I hoped it looked something like, it’s a bit of a shame but it can’t be helped. I was woefully lacking and weak compared to him, but I was still the older brother. When else would I show a mature side if not now?

“Don’t be like that. I can’t leave right away anyway.”

“…”

“I heard you trashed the Aphelion Royal Castle. They’re fixing it now… but it’ll take quite a while. It needs to be redecorated, too. I’m still the First Prince of the Empire. I can’t live in some half-baked place. I didn’t realize it, but my tastes are surprisingly picky.”

“…”

“And… I still have things left to do.”

“…”

“Kallios.”

I asked while drawing an ugly Pi*achu on the last page of the documents.

“Will you tell me about the dream you had today?”

He was silent. I waited while coloring in the blush on Pi*achu’s cheeks. I heard him sigh. The rustle of fabric touching fabric. Another sigh.

“You do not have to do anything you do not wish to do.”

The words I had said to that boy came back to me. I pressed the tip of the pen hard against the paper. Black ink began to bleed into the page. I let go of the pen as if throwing it and stretched. Uuugh. I made a groaning sound and swayed my body from side to side before lowering my arms.

“I’m always living like that.”

I hated the idea of leaving this fortress and becoming distant from my kids.

But it was something that had to be done eventually. It’s only natural for a child to grow up and become independent. Though in this case, I’m the one becoming independent, not the kids.

Besides, as I told Kallios, I wasn’t leaving right away. It would take at least a year to prepare. It felt insufficient to do everything I couldn’t do because I was sick, but it wasn’t exactly a short time either. One year, full of all four seasons.

I looked at him with my chin resting on my hand. After looking at his expressionless face, I gave a wide grin.