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“So… Albert ended up deciding to work under you, huh.”

Arthur Ruelberta put down Albert’s letter and took off his glasses. He rubbed his face with his wrinkled hand, looking as if he had swallowed a long-held worry and felt relieved.

“What a funny guy. He said he’d never touch magic formulas again, and now this… What a spineless kid.”

Though the content sounded close to criticism, Arthur’s tone was endlessly gentle. He turned his head toward the window.

We were sitting in a cafe inside the department store. The VIP room, reserved for special guests, had a large glass window that offered a clear view of the cityscape.

“Tristan, you’ve done something unnecessary too. What use is hiring that old relic? Tsk… Since it’s come to this, make sure you squeeze every last drop out of that old man. Show him what it means to receive money from the Ruelberta family.”

“That’s exactly what I plan to do.”

I sipped my coffee. Its aroma was just as exquisite as tea. It must have been imported by Ruelberta as well. Typical of the Ruelberta family, always insisting on the best and owning everything.

However, Wendy, sitting next to me, didn’t seem interested in the coffee.

“Heehee…”

Wendy was drooling slightly as she stared at the desserts on a three-tiered crystal tray. The tray was filled with cakes that sparkled like jewels and cookies that emitted a sweet aroma. Did she want to eat them that badly?

I casually handed Wendy a cake from the crystal tray.

“Count, are you sure?”

“Try it.”

“But… how could I dare…”

“I don’t eat things that taste bad. You taste it and tell me how it is.”

“…Is it really okay?”

“I won’t say it twice.”

“Y-yes! Then, I’ll enjoy it…!”

Wendy, holding a fork, opened her small mouth and tasted the cake. Immediately after, her eyes sparkled with delight.

“~~~It’s so sweet!”

Her reaction was so over-the-top that it was amusing to watch. Wendy looked like the happiest girl in the world as she savored the cake. But Arthur, seeing this, suddenly exclaimed in admiration.

“As expected of Tristan. Having your maid taste it first, how thorough. I see you still remember how your grandfather was poisoned?”

“!?”

At Arthur’s words, Wendy froze with a forkful of cake in her mouth. This old man… is he doing this just to see her squirm?

I hid my expression and spoke.

“…Of course, I remember.”

Count Tennessee Ruelberta, the father of Milliam and Arthur, and Tristan’s grandfather, was poisoned. It’s said that he was poisoned by someone out of resentment, but in truth, it was Milliam who poisoned him. Arthur doesn’t know that.

“Since ancient times, the Ruelberta family has had many enemies. Of course, this place is under my complete control, so such a thing would never happen. So you can eat without worry.”

“Y-yes…”

Wendy swallowed the lump in her throat. Watching her, I asked Arthur,

“By the way, has the rooftop been repaired?”

“Hmm. It was a strange incident. Right after that, the Imperial Magic Investigation Team rushed in and inspected the scene. Then they repaired everything and left without saying a word about what they were investigating.”

“…It was probably evidence destruction.”

I knew the full story of the incident. That day, an explosion of unknown origin occurred on the rooftop of the department store, forcing people to evacuate. In reality, it was the result of a battle between me, Blanshe, and Captain Marco. The Imperial Magic Investigation Team was sent by the Imperial Family to destroy evidence.

Arthur Ruelberta nodded.

“I think so too. We may never know what exactly happened in someone else’s business, but it’s clear that the Imperial Family was involved.”

The fact that the Imperial Magic Investigation Team was involved was as good as saying the Imperial Family was involved. In other words, the Imperial Family had no intention of hiding their involvement in this incident. However, since the evidence was gone, they could deny it.

Arthur warned me.

“Be careful, Tristan. The Imperial Family has been acting strangely lately. They say even the Emperor hasn’t been showing her face often in the Imperial Palace.”

“…The Emperor, you mean?”

“Yes.”

The Empress who rules the Meikhael Empire, Lucy Meikhael. She is an Emperor shrouded in mystery. She usually wears a mask, so very few have seen her face.

During the day, she only listens to her subjects and makes no comments on state affairs. Yet, by the next day, state affairs are neatly concluded, which is quite astonishing.

Moreover, Lucy is an Emperor who has worked hard to restore the authority of the Imperial Family, which had fallen due to the Ruelberta family. She has drawn many nobles to her side and expanded her influence. Of course, compared to the Ruelberta family’s power, it’s still insufficient… but it’s not something to be completely ignored. In fact, the Imperial Family is the only force in the Empire that can counter the Ruelberta family.

According to the original story, there will be a prolonged power struggle between the Ruelberta family and the Imperial Family. In the end, the Ruelberta family wins. And Lucy meets a tragic end at the hands of Tristan. With the Imperial Family completely under his control, Tristan installs a puppet Emperor and manipulates the Empire.

Well… now that I’ve become Tristan, that future will never come.

But the Imperial Family is a significant challenge for me. In about a year, I need to join forces with the Imperial Family to prepare for the invasion of players.

Thinking about it makes my head spin. Who would believe it? That one day, gates will open in the sky, and players from another dimension will appear before us. And that they will kill people and turn this world into a wasteland. No one would believe it unless they’re crazy.

In the end, the most realistic and convenient method for me is to take control of the Imperial Family as in the original story. However, I want to avoid as much sacrifice as possible in the process. The Imperial Family has many named characters. They are all forces that will fight against the players. We can’t afford to lose a single one.

I slowly opened my mouth.

“No matter what the Imperial Family is plotting behind the scenes, they won’t be a threat to the Ruelberta family.”

“Right. Exactly. Ahem… You’re finally starting to sound like the head of the family.”

Arthur nodded repeatedly, then suddenly spoke as if he had just remembered something.

“Oh, right. I heard the little lady became the representative of the new students at Meikhael University?”

“Y-yes!”

Wendy, suddenly addressed, jumped up.

“Hahaha. Calm down and sit. You’re quite the talent. Tristan, don’t you think you should do something for your excellent exclusive maid?”

As Arthur clapped his hands, a man in a suit, as if waiting for this moment, opened the door and entered. It was a face I hadn’t seen before. But Wendy seemed to know him.

“Huh…? Mr. Eugene?”

“It’s good to see you again, Miss Wendy.”

“An old acquaintance? This is Eugene, the manager of our Ruelcia main branch.”

“Nice to meet you, Count.”

“Hmm.”

He was a very polite man. He seemed to know his manners well. In his hands were elegantly packaged clothes. Recognizing what they were, I couldn’t help but frown.

“…A school uniform?”

“Yes. It’s a gift from me to the young lady.”

“Me?! F-for me?!”

Wendy was startled and looked at the school uniform Eugene was holding. Even someone who knew nothing about clothes could tell at a glance that it was made of high-quality material.

“I had it specially ordered from Ruelcia. I can confidently say it’s the most expensive school uniform in the world.”

“…Isn’t the dress code optional?”

Meikhael University, despite being a university, does have a school uniform. However, it’s purely formal. Naturally, no adult student would wear it.

Arthur chuckled and said,

“Technically, the young lady skipped a grade, didn’t she? At her age, she should still be wearing a school uniform, so it won’t look out of place.”

“Arthur… Th-thank you… But I… I’ve never… had a school uniform before…”

Ah, that’s right…

Wendy, who was once a poor commoner, had never attended a school in this world where uniforms were a thing. Wendy, moved to tears, looked on the verge of crying.

“Hahaha. Then it’s even better. Where else would the chairman of the school personally order a uniform for you?”

“Y-yes???? Th-the chairman?!”

“That’s right. I am the chairman of Meikhael University, where you’ll be enrolling.”

Arthur patted his chest as he spoke.

Meikhael University is a national university, but it receives financial support from the Ruelberta Foundation. So while the chancellor is appointed by the state, the chairman is from the Ruelberta Foundation. And that position is held by Arthur Ruelberta, my guardian.

As Wendy, overwhelmed with gratitude, didn’t know what to do with the uniform, Arthur looked at her like a proud grandfather and spoke to me.

“By the way, Tristan.”

“Yes.”

“This might come out of nowhere, but as you know, I’m getting quite old now. Managing the department store and casino is already taking a toll on my body.”

“…?”

I looked at Arthur’s face. Perhaps because of what he just said, he looked particularly old. Arthur spoke to me in a quiet voice.

“So, how about you take over as the chairman of the university from now on?”

 

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