The Father Becomes a Son

Dinner at Librata manor.

At the head of the table sat Count Librata.

Below him, the eldest son Roderic.

Me, the youngest.

“Usually it ends with three men, but that seemed too boring, so I invited many guests.”

“……Am I allowed to be here?”

Garul, sitting beside me, fidgeted restlessly.

It was already unusual for an escort knight like him to participate in a noble family’s dinner.

And across from him sat Lisera.

I gestured with my chin.

“Hey, look at Melius over there. Propping his chin up and sitting cross-legged. Completely at home. He’ll probably take off his socks and lie down soon.”

“Where’s the shoe rack here?”

Melius, sitting beside Lisera, asked seriously.

Heinkel, sitting across from Melius, spoke to the count.

“I am honored to be invited to dinner, Count Librata.”

“Not at all. We’ve faced many crises recently, and everyone sitting here supported my sons and our house wholeheartedly without sparing effort. I wanted to repay that even a little, so please all be comfortable.”

The count skillfully lightened the atmosphere.

Actually, I arranged this dinner gathering.

Garul and Roderic, Heinkel and I — we had grown close through Marquis Crocell’s incident.

And the new members who joined through this recent crisis needed organizing once.

To arrange future matters.

“I’m equally honored, Count Librata. Not only did you guarantee my safety, but you’ve also been so generous. I will certainly repay this kindness.”

Alicia, sitting beside Melius, spoke.

Then she looked at me.

“I’m also grateful to Young Master Rigen. You successfully resolved Marquis Crocell’s affair and this recent crisis. If things had gone wrong……”

I shook my head to cut her off.

Alicia understood the meaning and fell silent.

Since Lisera’s position in this elf incident was delicate.

I lightened the mood appropriately.

“Ah, embarrassingly, what she just said is true! So everyone hurry and praise me! Three cheers for Lord Rigen, then offer all your money and women!”

“Long live Lord Rigen! Ack!”

When Garul threw both hands up, I kicked his shin.

You actually do it when I tell you to!

When everyone burst into laughter, I said,

“We don’t know each other well, but various things happened recently. It might be uncomfortable or awkward, but I invited you to eat together. Of course, someone other than me will pay.”

Suddenly Melius opened his mouth.

“I’ll pay.”

“The bastard’s rich.”

“Rigen, I can never thank you enough. As long as Librata protects the Fourth Princess, I will always stand with you.”

Melius spoke seriously throughout.

“I swear on the spirit tree.”

“……”

I momentarily froze, and Heinkel also looked shocked.

According to elven custom, that was a powerful oath.

The moment he broke the oath, Melius could never return home.

Lisera spoke quietly.

“Excuse me. I am called Lisera. Many things happened because of me……”

“Wait, this will get endless, so let’s save apologies and praise for later individually.”

I cut it off decisively.

“Everyone, let’s eat first.”

The dinner main course was well-roasted lamb.

Lightly salted, the savory taste was perfect when placed in the mouth.

After eating meat to our hearts’ content, we cleansed our palates with lemon juice.

Roderic, Garul, Amelia, Heinkel, Melius, Alicia, and Lisera.

Everyone had different positions and races, but gathered in one place.

And now they would go to the capital and act according to my instructions.

But they were all relationships centered on me — some were still awkward with each other.

Tonight’s dinner was arranged so they could become friendlier with each other.

Dining is also part of politics.

A habit from my emperor days.

Garul, who had been eating meat voraciously, asked Melius.

“By the way, is Lord Melius wealthy?”

“I’ve lived long, so I have considerable savings. But I also pay a lot in taxes.”

“Really?”

Heinkel joined the conversation.

“For any race, once you pass fifty, additional taxes are imposed.”

“Father…… I mean, His Imperial Majesty was particularly concerned about that.”

When Lisera, who had been drinking juice, spoke casually, everyone listened attentively.

But they couldn’t readily ask more.

At times like this, deploy the clueless one.

When I lightly pushed Garul’s shoulder, the frozen guy immediately spoke.

“What did His Imperial Majesty say?”

“The empire’s structure means everyone lives long, so money easily becomes stagnant. Money is like blood — it must circulate continuously, but if countless people keep clutching money for a hundred, a thousand years, currency is issued excessively and an economic vicious cycle occurs. So it’s important to force money to circulate, but reduce resentment — that’s what he said.”

“As expected of His Imperial Majesty!”

Suddenly Alicia clenched her fist and shouted.

When the proper young lady suddenly raised her voice, everyone looked at her in surprise.

Regardless, Alicia looked at Lisera and spoke rapidly.

“That’s our Majesty for you! Making people pay taxes happily! It sounds impossible, but His Majesty had to accomplish that impossibility. Moreover, the empire had to pursue all sorts of national projects from the beginning. That’s also why he pushed through casino establishment, right?”

“Ah…… probably. Thinking about it, the capital’s casino promotion was around that time too.”

“……Mm, excuse me. I suddenly raised my voice.”

Alicia, whose eyes had been sparkling, came to her senses and apologized.

But Lisera smiled slightly and said,

“It’s fine. Now that you mention it, I remember the casino establishment. Father came back after kicking the chancellor’s butt for opposing casino establishment as immoral.”

“……He kicked his butt?”

“All the famous officials probably got their butts kicked by Father at least once. Later, there was even competition over who got kicked more.”

Everyone looked dumbfounded at Lisera’s words.

Well, such detailed anecdotes about me wouldn’t be known.

No, even if known, they probably didn’t spread to these remote mountains.

“……Excuse me, could you tell us about His Majesty?”

“I’d like to hear too.”

When Heinkel and Melius spoke to Lisera, the atmosphere relaxed further.

Actually, everyone had been intimidated by Lisera.

Both because of her princess status and her blindness.

But thanks to using me as a topic, the distances naturally narrowed.

Now they even exchanged jokes with each other.

“……”

Truly heartwarming.

Even in this way, I’m helping my child.

My hard work as emperor wasn’t completely in vain.

“Are you all right, Young Master?”

Suddenly, a small hand pressed on my shoulder.

When I looked up, Amelia stood behind my chair, pressing on my shoulder.

A peculiar expression.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“Everyone is enjoying themselves, but you’re pulling back.”

“I’m a bit of a loner.”

“Don’t lie. Before dinner……”

I raised my index finger to my lips.

Lisera also had good hearing.

Amelia also closed her mouth.

Before dinner, I asked Amelia for a favor.

Since blind Lisera might make various mistakes, to be mindful.

But not to show the consideration too obviously.

It was a demanding request, but Amelia executed it flawlessly.

Well, she might look like a beautiful girl, but she’s been a maid for over twenty years.

Amelia spoke carefully.

“……Young Master, you’ve really changed a lot.”

“Mom, am I pretty?”

“You’re pretty.”

“……”

Suddenly feeling ticklish.

Amelia, as if knowing everything, smiled slightly and pressed my shoulder firmly.

“If you’re struggling, tell me anytime. I’ll hug you tight until you feel better.”

“Goo goo, ga ga.”

“Really, stop playing around.”

“You’re telling me to hug you now? Mom, hug me!”

I tickled the back of Amelia’s hand playfully.

Amelia sighed and lightly slapped my shoulder.

“Young Master, if you keep playing such tricks on me, the other ladies will feel left out.”

“Let them. I only need Amelia.”

“Young Master, really stop teasing me. I’ll get angry, okay?”

Amelia pouted and scolded me.

As I smiled and tickled Amelia’s hand, the count approached.

“You two are having a nice time, but let’s talk briefly, Rigen.”

“Your Grace, I’m really getting angry, okay?”

Now Amelia snapped at the count.

The balcony.

The count and I stood side by side, taking in the night air.

The count spoke.

“So much happened in such a short time.”

“From now on, Librata manor will be safe. We made an employment contract with dark elves.”

Lisera would go up to the capital with me.

If the elves moved, they’d target me.

Still, just in case they tried to take Count Librata hostage, I took this measure.

No matter how reckless elves get, they can’t openly spill blood when dark elf agents are guarding.

“So, will you head straight to the capital?”

“Yes, I’ll bring everyone I gathered and go up. The Round Table convenes next month — I want to go up early to probe the political situation and investigate various matters.”

The capital, the Millennial Empire’s center.

Where all races gather, where money and politics flow.

“As you know, the empire’s current situation is far from normal. Not just Marquis Crocell and the elves — there are likely problems elsewhere too.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

The count nodded.

“A hundred years since the emperor disappeared — the empire still stands, but actually only the surface is intact while the inside is cracking in small ways. I sometimes worry about that.”

“Yes, that’s why I’m going.”

How my children are living.

How the country I built is running.

I need to examine everything and think about the second emperor problem.

I explained my immediate plans.

“I lightly hit the dark elves once, but this can’t be the end. When they learn I’m going up, they’ll approach. Using the dark elf intelligence network will make things much easier.”

“Will you go up by rail?”

“Yes, that’s fastest.”

“……Then be careful of the Railway Military Police. Endure as much as possible and pretend you didn’t see anything.”

The count’s worried tone.

Is this about the Railway Military Police?

I felt puzzled but said for now,

“Even if I try to cause trouble, the people eating with me now will stop me, right? You don’t need to worry so much anymore.”

“Right, right.”

The count patted my shoulder firmly, then pulled paper from his pocket.

When I received it, it was a check.

Ten million won, issued by Count Librata’s house.

“You’ll need money to do big things.”

“……No, it’s fine. I know the household finances are difficult — why would you do this?”

I declined in surprise.

Librata was a count’s house, but finances weren’t very good.

Also because of Rigen.

“You brat, this is all Father can do. Take it.”

“……”

The count forcibly pressed it into my hand.

Looking down at the check, my chest tightened.

As emperor and commander of the imperial military, I handled enormous sums.

And yesterday I closed a 4 billion contract — 1 billion would arrive soon.

But why does this single check hurt my heart so much?

The count stood beside me and looked at the night sky.

“When I first heard you could read Elven script, I thought you were mocking me. But watching you wisely navigate successive incidents, I think you prepared hard for this time.”

The count said,

“When you go up to the capital, Kalbina will be waiting. Whatever difficulties arise, you three are siblings. Return safely together. That’s all I ask.”

“I certainly will.”

“Rigen.”

The count suddenly called seriously.

“Thank you. But don’t overdo it. Take care of yourself. Don’t get hurt.”

“……”

My throat choked up.

I’ve heard countless praises for myself until sick of them.

But why does this one phrase strike my heart so?

Not the honor of the twelve houses, but just the voice of a father worried about his child.

I was grateful and sorry.

Because I never had a father figure in my previous life either.

I barely answered.

“Thank you, Father.”

Father said nothing more and just patted my back.

That alone was enough.

To resolve from tomorrow to run with all my strength.