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Gilbert hurriedly headed towards Seraphina after hearing Ian’s message that she was looking for him.

He could roughly guess why she was calling him. With Prince Richard officially starting his activities, it was clear she wanted him to make a decision now.

He was also somewhat aware of the current situation at the academy. The inspection team, led by Richard, was desperate to find flaws in the student council, which Seraphina presided over.

Even the smallest, normally negligible flaws were being ruthlessly picked apart and blown out of proportion. The situation was such that all mistakes were being cleverly pinned on the student council, which wasn’t exactly a good thing.

Of course, Seraphina wasn’t the type to be shaken by something like this. The foundation she had built so far was solid, and she had numerous achievements to cover all of it.

However, in the battle for succession, it wasn’t about how much one had done, but how few failures one had. Achieving great things was expected of a throne successor.

What they had to remember was that they couldn’t afford even a single failure. A flawless emperor doesn’t get a second chance.

“Did you find me?”

“I was waiting.”

“I heard you had something to say.”

“Yes. I have something to say to the priest. So listen carefully.”

Seraphina cleared her throat and looked at Ian with her red eyes sparkling.

“Priest. From now on, you will be an honorary student council executive.”

What?

Gilbert almost frowned at Seraphina’s strange announcement.

What on earth is an honorary student council executive?

Moreover, as far as he knew, there was no such position as an honorary student council executive at Demia Empire Academy. In other words, it was a position Seraphina had hastily created.

“Your expression is disrespectful.”

“My apologies. But the honorary student council executive position seems too hastily made, Your Highness.”

“You’re not being considerate. I created this position specially because I hold you in high regard.”

Gilbert just stared at Seraphina without responding.

Perhaps because his gaze was piercing?

Seraphina finally let out a deep sigh.

“No matter how I think about it, you’re no fun, priest.”

“Your Highness.”

“I give up. I was trying to use you.”

Seraphina, who had no intention of deceiving him from the start, honestly confessed that she had orchestrated this scheme to use Gilbert. She was so brazen about it that Gilbert didn’t even get angry.

After all, it would be ridiculous for him to criticize what the empire’s princess had done.

“Is it because of Prince Richard?”

“Yes. It’s because of my older brother, Prince Richard. He was quiet as a mouse, but he finally made his move. So you need to help me.”

Gilbert found it difficult to guess her thoughts.

He knew Richard’s inspection was thoroughly targeting Seraphina. It wasn’t hard to predict since Richard had previously conducted similar inspections at Demia Empire Academy during tactical combat.

However, unlike before, since Briana, the core strength of the empire, hadn’t died, he thought there wouldn’t be any major issues. No matter how persistently Prince Richard tried to cling on, the fact remained that the academy had repelled the attack without significant damage. He could cause some scratches, but that was the limit.

But Princess Seraphina wasn’t the type to just take hits. With her strong will to become emperor, she clearly wouldn’t tolerate even these minor scratches. Moreover, this inspection was a situation where she was being hit one-sidedly.

Given her personality of repaying grievances ten or twentyfold, it was clear she was preparing a counterattack.

Gilbert realized what she wanted from him.

“Are you planning to show that you’ve drawn me into your faction?”

“More accurately, that the student council repelled the attack. Even if I forcibly drew you into my faction, wouldn’t you still not be fully loyal to me? And if I had that intention, I would have done it long ago. I want your true loyalty.”

Her eyes gleamed mischievously.

The seekers of twisted desire.

Gilbert swallowed hard. The sub-scenario name naturally came to mind.

“Moreover, it’s a declaration to Prince Richard not to touch you since he must have made an offer to recruit you.”

“Is that so…”

So she already knew.

There was no place in the academy where Seraphina’s eyes and ears didn’t reach. She must have already heard about his meeting with Prince Richard a few days ago.

He could feel her sticky desire for possession in her gaze.

Gilbert was certain the sub-scenario was related to her.

“Alright. If it’s Your Highness’s command, I must follow.”

Gilbert thought it was best to accept Seraphina’s not-so-subtle proposal. The sub-scenario was ominous, but refusing here would mean making an enemy of Seraphina.

Given how much help he had received from her, refusing wouldn’t look good. The position of honorary student council executive wasn’t exactly appealing, but there was no other way here.

However, there was one thing he needed to make clear.

“However, as an honorary student council executive, I will only lend my name. As always, my loyalty lies with the empire.”

“Is this another refusal? A man who only refuses isn’t popular.”

“A scoundrel isn’t popular either.”

“Fine. This will be interesting too.”

Seraphina readily accepted Gilbert’s proposal.

***

The heated inspection issue was quickly resolved with Seraphina’s declaration. The public opinion flipped when it was announced that Gilbert was an honorary student council executive.

The inspection team had criticized the student council’s incompetence, but with Gilbert, even if only nominally, being part of the student council, they could no longer claim the student council was incompetent. Targeting Gilbert, who was even being promoted as a hero by the empire, would bring more harm than good.

“Seraphina used her head.”

Richard calmly listened to his subordinate’s report.

He hadn’t expected to topple her with this inspection anyway; he was just trying to create a small crack.

While he was wandering the battlefields, Seraphina had stepped forward. That was years ago, and she had firmly established her position during that long time.

Richard closed his eyes and measured the difference between them.

A certain battlefield where he was at a disadvantage came to mind.

The overwhelming difference in troop numbers and the isolated allied forces.

The despair he felt when the stored food ran out and people started starving.

Richard quietly opened his eyes. At the same time, a smile formed on his lips.

“This is fun. So fun.”

“Your Highness.”

“Do you know? The battlefield is now no different from a playground for me. Even if a famous strategist from the continent came, it would be the same. Those who confidently declared they would defeat me are now all by the Lord’s side. How can I not lament?”

The official prostrating before him pressed his body even closer to the ground. A sinister aura was emanating from Prince Richard.

“I thought there would be a worthy opponent. I thought there would be someone who could teach me a painful defeat. But they all failed. Do you know how I feel?”

Richard’s red eyes lost their sharpness and became dull.

The official, lying flat on the ground, dared not even think of getting up and shouted.

“I am ignorant and cannot fathom Your Highness’s heart.”

“I felt bored. I am bored of the battlefield. The battlefield, which was once so enjoyable, now disgusts me to the point of nausea.”

It’s dull. Richard, who once loved war, now found the battlefield unenjoyable.

“But this is fun. I feel so alive that I wonder why I hadn’t thought of this before. If there is no worthy opponent to match me, if the bloodline flowing in my veins is so superior, then I need not look far.”

The official felt chills at Prince Richard’s madness. He had long known that Richard loved the battlefield. He enjoyed using excellent strategies and tactics to crush his enemies.

But what Richard was saying now was dangerous. Until now, he had thought Richard hadn’t joined the throne struggle because he was waiting for the right time, but that wasn’t the case.

“Seraphina, that child, was my worthy opponent.”

He was just waiting for a fun battlefield.

He was betting the lives of all his followers just for amusement.

Richard Henry Infractus, the first prince of the Infractus Empire.

He was a madman obsessed with the battlefield.

“I ask you. Do you think Gilbert and Ian will accept my offer?”

“I think Gilbert will continue as he is now.”

The official composed himself. Even if the master he served was a madman obsessed with the battlefield, he was not lacking as a candidate for the emperor of the empire.

That alone was enough to forget fear and follow him.

In these times where colossal mechs roamed, a tyrant was more praised than a foolish ruler.

“That’s also fun. What about Ian?”

“In my opinion…”

– Your Highness, Cadet Ian requests an audience with you.

“There’s no need to hear it. The answer is already clear. Let him in.”

With Richard’s permission, the door opened.

He saw Ian entering with a determined expression.

“Come in. Cadet Ian.”

“I pledge my loyalty to Your Highness.”

As soon as he entered the room and knelt, Richard gave a bitter smile.

A useful card had fallen into his hands.

 

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