<strong>- Is it really just one letter of rmendation that I need to write? Nothing else?</strong>
“Yes, that will suffice…”
The sensation of suddenly bing a behind-the-scenes influential figure of one of the great powers of thete 19th century, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was quite peculiar.
“… Please, really, that is all I need. So do not do anything else.”
<strong>- So, I don’t need to make any public endorsements in interviews or anything?</strong>
“Your Majesty… no, Your Imperial Majesty. Please.”
In reality, the situation was not bad at all. After all, having the Empress of the Austro-Hungarian Empire as a supporter was a significant advantage.
Moreover, she was not the type to lose her head just by being associated with me.
Perhaps she was more like the dedicated type, akin to Silver ze when she was not in heat?
“Please handle it cleanly. You know how far you must go, given your esteemed position.”<strong>- Handle it cleanly… I understand. I will take care of it myself.</strong>
“… This is unsettling.”
However, one concern lingered— her devotion and loyalty towards me were too intense.
I had never imagined that she would dismiss all suitors and remain faithful to me until now.
<em>What are you, Queen Elizabeth? Are you seriously thinking of marrying the nation?</em>
<strong>- By the way, Adler. There’s a policy I’ve been pushing fortely…</strong>
“… Yes?”
As I stood there and thought about various things, a shy voice faintly emerged from the other end of the phone.
<strong>- I, I n to grant noble titles to all mana users within the empire.</strong>
“Is that so…?”
<strong>- From the minimum noble titles… if their skills are proven superior, they could even be Earls… Anything beyond that, I will appoint at my discretion. I’m pushing for the establishment of such aw.</strong>
Even though I was worried about the unreliable side of Lilia that I witnessed, the advocation of such an excellent policy reassured me. Indeed, the Imperials were a different breed altogether.
But why was she telling me all this now?
<strong>- So, Adler… have you considered swearing allegiance to our empire?</strong>
“What?”
<strong>- They say Britain favours mana users, but they don’t even confer noble titles, right?</strong>
This question was quickly resolved by her following words.
“They do grant something like a knighthood as far as I recall. What was it called again? A mage title, I guess?
<strong>- Hmph. Such a title is nothing but a hollow status. Ites with very few rights, but many responsibilities and duties…</strong>
“… Hmm.”
<strong>- Our Austro-Hungarian Empire is different from such petty states! In any case, the bill is expected to pass in a few months, and by the time you arrive, you could be granted a title right away.</strong>
The Queen, no, the Empress, hurriedly spoke over the phone, then took a moment to catch her breath before continuing in a shy voice again.
<strong>- So… that means you could even marry someone of imperial heritage, like me.</strong>
“What?”
<strong>- A title like that of an earl would be sufficient for you to be my consort. Naturally, there might be some bacsh since you’re a foreigner, but…</strong>
“No, there would certainly be heavy bacsh.”
<strong>- Then I’ll just grant you a higher title.</strong>
I take back my initial thoughts. The future of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a major power of the 19th century, seemed utterly bleak.
<strong>- Adler, this is a policy I’m pushing for despite heavy opposition, just for you.</strong>
<em>… Thinking about it, the future of the nation was never bright to begin with.</em>
<strong>- I, I now have the power and authority to be with you. So, so…</strong>
However, whether she knew my thoughts or not, she continued to bber through the phone.
<strong>- Pl-Please, put the cor back around my neck…</strong>
Hearing her, my head began throbbing painfully.
<strong>- The joy I felt when I ascended to the throne of the Empire cannot hold a candle to the happiness I felt when you trampled on me like a dog…</strong>
“Please…”
<strong>- C-Could you speak informally to me?</strong>
As I mentioned earlier, on the surface, the situation wasn’t bad.
But the problem here was… I had be the object of unhealthy obsession from numerous influential women.
Not only that, people I couldn’t even remember seducing were now plotting to abduct or assassinate me.
In such circumstances, wouldn’t bing a behind-the-scenes yer of an Empire be too dangerous?
The Probability of being Assassinated, the Probability of being Raped, and the Probability of being Imprisoned are already 100 percent, so there''s nothing more to add.
“… Haaah.”
That worry was momentarily alleviated by Miss System’s clear exnation.
No, not alleviated; perhaps resignation was the more appropriate term here…
“… Lillia.”
<strong>- Ye-Yes!</strong>
“I’ll think about it, but first, take care of the request I made.”
Regardless of how things had turned out, I wanted to end the call soon, so I granted her request to speak informally with her. Immediately, a sputtered voice oozed out of the handset— a voice that seemed to have melted like butter.
<strong>- Yessh…?</strong>
“Haa.”
I wonder what reaction the citizens of the Austro-Hungarian Empire would have if they heard this voice.
<strong>- I will definitely fulfil it…!</strong>
“… Right.”
<strong>- And, I’m preparing a title as well… Whenever youe…</strong>
Suddenly, an ominous feeling overcame me and I frantically smashed the handset’s magic stone before slumping in my seat.
“… This is utter madness.”
Honestly, I’d rather quit everything and just be an envoy.
But, I didn’t have much longer to live anyway. Moreover, I felt like going to the Austro-Hungarian Empire would entangle me in an incident like the Sarajevo affair, so I just gave up.
That''s not really the problem.
“… I know.”
In fact, before I could even leave Britain, I had no doubt that the strongest being in this world would tear me apart. So, it was never a viable path that I could take.
.
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.
.
“She’ll handle it well enough on her own…”
With a sigh, Isaac Adler rose from his seat. The contents of the recent phone call had already begun fading from his mind.
“… But she’s still as an Empress. I’m sure if she tries to cross the line, her subjects will surely restrain her.”
A few monthster, this very fading memory would inevitably be revived in his mind by a shocking piece of news published in the newspaper.
“Surely, there can’t be a problem…”
Though detailed exnations would remain omitted for now.
Do you still believe in this world?
“… Don’t talk so ominously.”
Inexplicably, by the orders of someone equivalent to the Queen, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the British Empire, the Empire of Korea, and the Japanese Empire intervened in what was undeniably a major incident at the Second Universal Peace Conference, an event that would undoubtedly alter future world affairs.
.
.
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.
.
<em>- Squeak…</em>
“… Hmm?”
The negotiations had already ended. So, as I was about to leave the ce, the door of the mansion abruptly opened before someone entered.
“Moran?”
The intruder was Celestia Moran, her face pale as a ghost.
<em>- Brrrrrrrr…</em>
“Have you caught a cold?”
“… Ma-Ma-Master.”
She was shivering hard, so I couldn’t help but tilt my head and ask with concern. But she avoided my eyes while stammering.
“I’m sorry. It was my fault.”
“I-I was right next to you… and I still made such a ridiculous mistake… it’s undeniably my fault.”
Suddenly she knelt down and started to sob and beg.
“Please, give me a chance to make amends.”
<em>- Swish…</em>
“Huh? Uh eh…”
Then, suddenly, she pulled out a small knife from her bosom and held it against her body.
“Wait, what are you doing?”
“… If I fail a mission, shouldn’t I just harm myself until I faint from anaemia? That way I can be barely forgiven, right?”
Startled, I grabbed her hand and asked, only to have such a horrifying answer drift out of her lips in response.
“That’s not right. What kind of upbringing did you have!?”
“Then… Can’t I be forgiven?”
As I vehemently denied her words, Moran’s voice began trembling worse than before.
“… A hound that can’t protect its master doesn’t deserve to exist, right?”
With that, she bowed her head deeply, her face turning even paler.
“Hmm…”
“Then, from now on, just be my adopted daughter instead of a hound.”
Unable to just watch her pitiful state, I gently sat down in front of her, who was still kneeling, and started cautiously voicing out the thoughts I had been pondering all along.
“… It’s a bit odd for a viin to say this, but I guess cruel roles don’t suit me.”
“So you too, don’t feel burdened and just livefortably.”
And then a silence descended between us.
“… Ugh.”
As she trembled with her head bowed, a tear fell from her cheek, and soon, a voice choked with sobs drifted out.
“… I don’t, don’t want to be your daughter.”
“Eh?”
At that unexpected statement, I was taken aback and couldn’t help but ask,
“Wh-Why not?”
“You have to tell me the reason so I can find a suitable alternative…”
<em>- Pop…!</em>
“… Oh.”
Once again, like a ninja, she vanished from my sight in an instant.
“Kids these days are really iprehensible…”
Feeling a déjà vu that ovepped with yesterday’s events, I scratched my head and muttered quietly as I turned my head towards the half-open exit.
“… Isn’t that so, Miss Holmes?”
Charlotte Holmes, emitting a dark aura, was leaning against the door, looking down at me in silence.
.
.
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.
.
“You’ve found me so easily?”
“Are you following me, or have you already deduced the mastermind? I’m not sure which it is, but you are indeed remarkable, Miss Holmes.”
Gazing toward Charlotte, who had been silently blocking the entrance for some time already, Adler began speaking with a smile on his lips.
“But, the situation has already concluded. J. Davenport has already left this ce, and the documents that poor girl tried to protect are now meaningless.”
“It’s aplete victory for me this time, Miss Holmes”
Finishing his deration, Adler shed her a smug smile.
<em>- Swoosh…</em>
“….?”
As Charlotte continued to stare silently, she suddenly drew something from her bosom.
“Since ancient times, the <strong>true name</strong> of a living being has held significant magical importance.”
“What?”
“A name is the simplest yet most definitive concept that defines a person. It could be considered the minimum requirement for casting a spell.”
Suddenly, she began speaking some incoherent nonsense.
“What are you suddenly talking about…”
“It has also been mentioned as a weakness of devils from time immemorial. Maybe it’s because magic and devils are closely intertwined?”
“Of course, even if you have this knowledge, it’s difficult to make use of it. It’s not like devils go around carelessly revealing their names, right?”
Initially puzzled, Adler’splexion began to pale.
“In that sense, Joseon? The Empire of Korea is indeed a grateful nation. The range of surnames used there is significantly narrower than in European countries.”
“Wait…”
“I’ve researched it, and knowing just the surname or the given name allows one to exert about half control. To a devil with seemingly no weakness, that’s a significant penalty.”
Looking up at me with a grin, Charlotte slowly began leafing through the documents she held.
“What’s written here are the surnames of those who have passed the civil service exam over the past few years, kindly provided in secret by a diplomat from the generous Empire of Korea. It seems this country is really fond of records, keeping track of everything.”
“Just wait a moment…”
“If you had been a ve or amoner, you would surely have been sold to the nobility… So your family name is probably in here somewhere?”
Adler, breaking into a cold sweat, stepped forward.
"Park? Lee? Choi?"
“Stop, stop…”
"Not royalty then? How about Kwon? Yoon? Hong? Han?"
Just as Charlotte was about to mention his surname, Adler desperately tried to snatch the documents.
"... Kim?"
“Gogh.”
At the clear pronunciation that leapt from Charlotte’s lips, Adler gasped and fell t on the floor.
"So it was Kim, huh...?"
Looking down at him, Charlotte revealed a sinister smile.