Clean and Organized

The next day.

The elves had been dealt with, and cleanup had begun.

Since everything happened inside the estate, corpses needed removing and bloodstains needed scrubbing.

Everyone moved busily.

Of course, I was loafing around.

Setting up a rocking chair at the estate entrance, sitting and drinking coffee.

Leisurely afternoon pleasure while everyone else sweated at work!

“Ah, slacking off feels so good.”

“Are you sure it’s okay to send the captured elves back?”

Roderic, standing beside me, worried.

I shook my head.

“All the real warriors are dead. Only small fry remain. Sending them back benefits us.”

“Really?”

“Yes. The elves are an alliance of four clans, sharply opposed to each other. The outside world doesn’t know much about it.”

Lisera being driven to human experimentation must have involved considerable internal political issues.

I wrapped it up.

“When we send them back, they’ll be chaotic internally, investigating this incident and assigning blame. For the time being, the elves won’t dare act rashly.”

“……”

Still, Roderic’s face didn’t relax.

The entire elven population could potentially become enemies.

I smiled and said,

“Since we have Fourth Princess Lisera, the elves will prioritize dialogue. They’ll eventually send negotiation envoys, but that’ll be next year.”

“How will you persuade Her Highness?”

“I’ll handle that myself.”

As Sirik, I had embraced Lisera and comforted her.

But as Rigen, I needed to speak to her separately.

Roderic said,

“I hear the Noble Assembly’s envoy will arrive soon. How about cooperating with them to keep the elves in check?”

“The Noble Assembly……”

I thought briefly and said,

“The Round Table held in the capital — the day when the twelve houses gather isn’t far off, is it?”

“Right, next month. We’ll need to prepare to head up too.”

“Then let’s talk with the Noble Assembly this time and get a feel for things first. And……”

“Excuse me, son of Librata.”

A voice suddenly interrupted.

An elven handmaid.

I had sent the other handmaids back, but this one woman remained.

There were issues with Lisera’s mobility, so I had permitted it.

The handmaid spoke quietly.

“Her Highness wishes to see you in the back garden.”

“Tell her I’ll be right there.”

“……”

The elven handmaid silently turned.

I stood from the chair and said,

“I’ll go persuade the princess. Brother, please finish organizing the household and talk with Father. He must be confused with all these chaotic incidents.”

Roderic patted my shoulder.

“Right, good luck. Let’s have dinner together when it’s all over.”

“What? You’re not just treating me to a full-course dinner but introducing me to a woman too? One with a magnificent chest?”

“……You brat.”

When I made a fuss, Roderic laughed in disbelief.

I laughed back, gave his shoulder a pat, and turned.

The back garden of Librata manor.

The garden.

Flowers swayed in the warm breeze.

Lisera stood in their midst.

“……”

Last night’s events were just fantasy.

For now, I had to treat her as Rigen.

I resolved myself and approached. Lisera turned around.

The veil that had covered her face was gone.

“Hello.”

At her calm greeting, I couldn’t answer immediately.

Because Lisera was holding an armful of flowers.

Just like in childhood.

“I’m sorry. I asked permission through Amelia, but was this too sudden?”

“No, I was planning to completely redo the garden anyway. Labor is always welcome.”

“What will you do from now on?”

Lisera’s calm question.

Naturally, she knew everything that happened last night.

I decided to speak lightly.

“Your Highness has been kidnapped. I’ll need to collect a ransom going forward.”

“That will be difficult. The elders might wait until your energy wanes, perhaps even until you die of old age.”

“Mutual peace — what a wonderful thing.”

“Why did you do this?”

Even though Librata was one of the twelve houses, it was weak.

Even setting that aside…… for a single human noble family to make enemies of all the elves was extremely dangerous.

Of course, I had various contingency plans, but to others it looked insane.

I explained my future plans.

“I’m thinking of taking Fourth Princess with me to the capital and attending the Round Table.”

“And then?”

“Librata, the weakest of the twelve houses, traveling with the Fourth Princess? Our reputation will skyrocket. Our house will thrive, and I, the youngest son, will break through to new heights! People will flock like mountains to flatter me, and beauties will pour in like the sea wanting to fall into my arms.”

I grinned.

“Money, women, honor — complete conquest! Thanks to Your Highness, I’ll eat well and live well from now on. I won’t harm you under any circumstances, so I ask for your cooperation.”

“Thank you.”

A kidnapper being thanked by his hostage.

Lisera bowed her head to me.

“I heard about you from Melius. That you would risk such great danger for my sake — I truly have no words.”

“Hey, Your Highness is just a buff-giving totem to me. Just cooperate lightly.”

“Wayne and Berk were my escorts and watchers. They were exceptional even among the elves’ post-war generation. You must have faced a great ordeal.”

“I really love gambling, you see.”

Still, Lisera didn’t raise her head.

“Last night I dreamed a nostalgic dream and thought a lot. And…… I decided to change my thinking. Condoning wrong actions is ultimately also wrong.”

“Everyone thinks of expedients and feels temptation.”

Ah, if Lisera’s heart changed, I should quickly support her.

But the words came out backwards.

What if my daughter’s heart gets hurt?

What if she blames herself for this?

“Everything was caused by me and the elves. Going forward, I will do everything in my power to resolve it. If I can help your house, please use me freely, son of Librata.”

“Just stay comfortable. It won’t match the palace, but.”

Lisera raised her head and looked at me.

No — she was looking at empty space, but I moved my feet to meet her gaze.

Realizing from the sound, Lisera smiled faintly.

“……Your heart is truly kind, unlike your words.”

“It’s a secret. If people find out, they all think I’m a pushover and try to exploit me.”

“I’ll keep it secret. But please accept this.”

The bouquet Lisera held out.

Forget-me-nots.

I reflexively took it.

Holding it in my arms, the fragrance washed over me.

And I remembered.

The first flower Lisera ever picked for me was forget-me-nots.

Lisera said,

“When we go up to the capital, there’s one thing I’d like to ask.”

“Please tell me.”

“I want to offer flowers at Father’s tomb in the capital. At that time…… could you help me?”

“Already……”

You’ve given me enough.

I smiled and said,

“Of course. I’ll thoroughly investigate the emperor’s preferences and definitely complete a perfect bouquet.”

“Thank you very much. Then I’ll take my leave now.”

Lisera bowed to me again and walked away.

The handmaid who had been watching from a distance rushed over to support her.

Standing there, intoxicated by the fragrance, I recalled memories.

Forget-me-nots.

The first flower my daughter gave me.

Saying it was Dad’s favorite flower.

The flower’s meaning.

Please don’t forget me.

Listening to the footsteps fade…… I tightly embraced the bouquet in my arms.

Like I had embraced my daughter.

With all my strength, like in the old days.

Rigen’s bedroom.

After placing the forget-me-nots in a vase, I sat in a chair and fell into thought.

Things to do going forward.

“Reached fourth rank. Continue training psychic abilities. Rescued Lisera. The next step is……”

Should I reveal I’m Sirik Karakas?

Normally, they wouldn’t believe me.

But if I present evidence to make them believe?

“……Mm.”

Would everything be resolved?

Not at all.

My past life self, Sirik, was the empire’s strongest.

Through war and building the empire, I beat down anyone who wouldn’t listen and made them subordinates.

They followed, crushed by my power and ensnared by my leadership.

“But now I’m weak.”

If they learned I was Sirik?

They might rejoice at my return and pledge loyalty.

But knowing I’d weakened, they might try to use me.

Worst case, they might try to kill me.

Everyone seemed to have changed in a hundred years, so nothing was guaranteed.

“Since I don’t know what will happen, I’ll keep it hidden while continuing to build strength. Then reveal it if necessary. That’s the baseline……”

I recalled the empire’s map and various factions in my mind.

Predicting how different sectors would react to me capturing the elves and rescuing Lisera.

I did this daily as emperor, but……

“Mm, this won’t work.”

My information was from a hundred years ago.

I needed current intelligence.

Continuously updated would be even better.

Knock knock.

A knocking sound.

Heinkel entered.

“What is it?”

Normally Amelia would come and relay that Heinkel wanted to see me.

Heinkel spoke hesitantly.

“I need to speak carefully about this.”

“About how to report to the higher-ups?”

“……”

Heinkel nodded.

Heinkel was a dark elf field agent who had to regularly report intelligence he gathered to his superiors.

If he didn’t report, there would be an inquiry.

“The dark elf upper echelons are already watching Librata because of the Marquis Crocell incident and this incident.”

“Yes. As you said, I’ve been deflecting, but it’s reaching its limit.”

“All for All.”

The dark elf creed, the phrase describing their policy.

Heinkel gave a bitter smile.

“Young Master Rigen really knows us well. Yes, dark elves move as one from top to bottom. But……”

“You’ve been committing deviant actions all along. In fact, you’ve been helping Librata too actively until now.”

“It’s nothing much. Just field judgment.”

“If a disciplinary committee convenes, you’re finished.”

“Hey, I did it all because I wanted to. Don’t worry about it.”

Heinkel scratched his head awkwardly.

He seemed nonchalant, but Heinkel could be assassinated at any moment, even today.

As an example to other dark elves.

Heinkel had also fought the elves yesterday risking his life and wrapped things up.

Loyalty deserved an answer.

“Heinkel, what’s your family name?”

“……”

Heinkel looked shocked.

I stated what I already knew.

“Dark elves always move in unity. All for All. Those who resist are eliminated. That’s the species’ survival method.”

If elves were rural mafia, dark elves were urban spies.

Dark elves stuck together from top to bottom, pursuing only survival.

“But even collectivist dark elves have an exception where they respect individual deviation. In fact, you might not even die if you do it well.”

“……”

“Revealing your family name to the other party and pledging loyalty. That dark elf is permitted any individual play.”

I looked at Heinkel and said,

“This doesn’t guarantee the dark elves will spare you. But you can at least get a chance to explain. And even in the worst case, you won’t be called a traitor.”

Field agents constantly facing death while gathering intelligence.

They had their own honor and beliefs.

Even if they died, being able to shed the stigma of traitor was a blessing for dark elves.

Heinkel spoke carefully.

“It’s dangerous. Even if dark elf pursuit begins, it’ll end with just me dying. But if you do what you’re suggesting now, even you, Young Master, will be caught up as my associate.”

“That’s exactly why I’m saying it.”

I spoke calmly.

“You worried about the empire’s safety. You tried to stop Marquis Crocell, and you couldn’t stand by watching the elven princess be wronged. That might disqualify you as a dark elf field agent…… but it passes you as an imperial citizen.”

“……”

“Excellent. I can’t praise you enough times. I bow my head naturally at your bone-crushing determination.”

I stood and lightly bowed my head.

Just as I had as emperor.

Heinkel jerked back in shock.

“……I, I did it because I wanted to. It’s absolutely not something to be praised for.”

“Don’t lower your head, straighten your chest. Talent with the determination to risk life and choose justice is precious.”

Heinkel’s face showed he didn’t know what to say.

I faced him.

“Heinkel, in my eyes, the empire looks like a mess right now.”

“……Yes.”

“I need to clean and organize it. Follow me.”

At my words, Heinkel stared blankly.

I grinned.

“Hey, it’s hard maintaining this atmosphere. Hurry up and answer.”

Thud.

Heinkel dropped to one knee.

He bowed his head in respect.

“I am Heinkel of Lambert. From now on, I will follow Young Master Rigen — no, my lord — and care nothing for any hardship. Without distinguishing good and evil, not for all but only for you, I will pave the way. Even if you cast me aside, I will never resent you.”

“Thank you.”

I spoke briefly and patted Heinkel’s shoulder.

Then I said,

“Report to the dark elves. That you revealed your family name to Librata and pledged loyalty.”

“Pardon? Then……”

“They’ll try to eliminate you and kill me. But before that, they’ll test the waters.”

I spoke lightly.

“That something exists here that made field agent Heinkel turn his back. Someone of higher rank will come. I’ll turn them.”

Need intelligence?

Squeeze it out of the dark elves.