Feels Like I'm Being Used

Carlos… the young man we met in Aquarius.

He'd said he would become emperor and asked Alexia to come with him.

Fortunately, Alexia chose us, but looking back, it was quite a passionate invitation.

However, he probably couldn't beat Crown Prince Kelves, the legitimate heir.

"Well, that's beside the point. The problem is having to send an envoy during such a difficult time. Carrying words of congratulations."

"Indeed, that is necessary if the next emperor has been decided. But I don't see it as that much of a problem?"

Essentially, it was just bringing a gift and saying congratulations.

This was done between merchants too.

"We can't afford to have friction with the Empire during this difficult time. But the Foreign Affairs Minister is too busy to leave the country after Father… the previous king's death, and Anatia-oneesama needs to stay by my side. The Minister of War and Minister of Internal Affairs go without saying."

"Ah, so not just anyone will do. You don't want to provoke the Empire by sending the wrong person."

This was the troublesome part of politics.

Even something as simple as delivering congratulations could send the wrong message depending on who went and what they brought.

If an envoy without proper rank were sent, it might be interpreted as the kingdom looking down on the Empire, or that recent events left them with no capacity for proper protocol.

What a hassle.

Just thinking about it was exhausting.

"Right. So, here's the thing."

Princess Tianis looked at me.

This was her expression when she was about to make an unreasonable request.

I had a bad feeling about this.

"Yohane. You've met Crown Prince Kelves, and I just gave you a position in the kingdom. In other words, you now meet the minimum requirements to serve as an envoy."

"Wait, you're joking, right? Surely there's someone more suitable…"

"There isn't. Well, actually there is, but I don't want to use them, so to speak."

"Come on, you have to explain or he won't understand."

Lady Anatia prompted Princess Tianis with a knowing smile.

"There are many factions within the kingdom right now. You know that, don't you?"

"Yes. The Prime Minister and the Minister of War are at odds, I've heard."

"Right. And the current balance is quite delicate."

Princess Tianis took out a piece of paper and began drawing a diagram with a pen.

"The largest faction right now is mine as the next queen and Anatia-oneesama's as the representative of Duke Baroba. The next largest was the First Princess's faction, but that's essentially been disbanded."

She crossed out one part of the diagram.

"Then there's the faction led by the Minister of War, comprised of great nobles. The Prime Minister leads the faction of legal nobles, and so on."

The scale of the factions grew progressively smaller.

"After Father died, the factions shifted considerably. The Minister of War's faction grew significantly. Normally ours would still be the largest, but the key figure, Duke Baroba, doesn't have time to be involved here. With just his proxy, Anatia-oneesama, some people inevitably start taking us lightly."

"Ehehe. I've talked to various people, but I don't have the same influence as Father, who's the actual duke."

So some were using this chaos as an opportunity to seek promotion or expand their factions.

They're shrewd, if nothing else…

"Until I can solidify my footing, I don't want to owe anyone favors. This involves building a pipeline to the Empire, so I'd rather it be done under my umbrella."

"So you're worried someone might inadvertently connect with the Empire and turn against you."

"It's not impossible that my dynasty could end in my generation. The Minister of War was completely determined to make my deceased brother the next king, and that would have made him the obvious choice for next Prime Minister. Rather than curry favor with me now, he might think it faster to simply take what's mine."

Princess Tianis clasped her hands in front of her chest and trembled slightly.

It seemed she was becoming paranoid.

Not that I blamed her. She never expected to take the throne at her age.

Right now, her only allies were her own subordinates and Lady Anatia.

She'd have to feel her way through the royal castle, a nest of power, determining who was friend and who was foe.

Thinking about it that way, I felt sorry for the girl in front of me.

I remembered being in a similar situation when I took over the shop.

A young man taking ownership of even a small shop drew people trying to swindle me, and others who falsely claimed to be my father's acquaintances to mooch money.

The scale was different, but it was quite similar.

"In that case, I understand. I'll cooperate."

"Really?! You can't back out later and say you've changed your mind!"

Princess Tianis looked up with a start.

The anxious expression from moments ago had vanished.

Wait. Was that all an act?

Good grief. It seemed I'd been completely taken in.

"I'll prepare the gifts for Crown Prince Kelves, so don't worry. You just need to congratulate him on his coronation as a representative of the kingdom."

"I'm just a merchant, you know."

"You're too lucky to remain just a merchant."

I wasn't happy about it. I just wanted to succeed as a merchant.

Besides, most of what was accomplished wasn't done by Yohane but by Azu and the others.

The credit just came to me because I was in the position of managing them.

Maybe this too was part of a master's duty, I thought.

When I looked behind me, Azu was looking at me proudly, and Elza was smiling, saying things like "Good for you."

Orleans maintained her cool expression, but she looked a little pleased to hear we'd be going to the Empire.

I'd treat this as an errand and get it over with quickly.

What should I say to Alexia…?