Our emperor has been in office for a long time, and many of his children are now adults.

(It's time to think about succession: ......)

　The thought of this made me feel heavy.
　He had five sons, four of whom had completed the rites of adulthood and were in good standing.
　Adrienne, the eldest son, was perfect in terms of ability and popularity, but he was the child of the second queen.
　His second son, Rüdiger, although I think he has a level class in terms of ability, tends to be proud and disrespectful of those of lower status.
　As a parent, I wasn't sure I could trust him with the next generation.
　Nevertheless, he was still comparable to Adrienne because he was the eldest son of the first queen and the grandson of the duke.
　The duke is not so foolish as to interfere with the emperor's struggle for succession, but his entourage and his daughter, the queen, are not.
　They seem to be working behind the scenes to make Rüdiger the emperor.
　Adrienne's grandfather, on the other hand, is only a marquis, which inevitably puts him at a disadvantage in the struggle for power with the duke.
　Furthermore, both the Second Queen and her father, the Marquis, seem to be mild-mannered and have no ambition to make their son/grandson the emperor, which is an extra difference.

(Do you decide on ability and popularity? Or do you decide on power?)

　The emperor once again had a headache.
　Although the emperor was the absolute authority in this country, it did not mean that he could ignore the nobles in his support base.
　It is the common people, who have nothing to do with it, who will be inconvenienced if he invokes his power.
　Meena was ridiculed for his "cowardice" and he couldn't bear to burden his people with it.

(If only Adrienne's mother had been the daughter of a duke: ...... If only Rüdiger had been a more popular man: ......)

　The emperor is in so much trouble that he agonizes over meaningless assumptions.

'So that's why. Do you have any better wisdom, Claude?

　It was Claude of Yagami Akira (Levatein) that he consulted with.

''It's troubling.''

　The man who was unexpectedly approached for advice was frank and honest.

'We're supposed to be obedient to His Majesty the Emperor, but it's supposed to be our rule not to get involved in politics.

　Anticipating Claude's answer, the emperor retorted.

'The emperor is not asking the eight divine lights. It is a man named Zabiah who is asking his acquaintance Claude.'

　It's good to be on the edge of the banning line.
　Claude feels that his lord is that much of a pushover and decides to ask for advice.

'I know that His Highness Adrienne would be a good choice for the next emperor: ......

And Rüdiger will not remain silent. His mother, for that matter, will be upset.

　Seeing the emperor's exhausted face, Claude felt sorry for him, but that didn't mean he should be asked for his opinion.

''I have heard that the Duke, who is His Highness Rüdiger's grandfather, has no ambition. Wouldn't it be safer to ask him to persuade him to do so?''

'I tried and it didn't work. My daughter scolded me with a tremendous amount of swordsmanship for not having a cute grandchild, and she whined about it.

That's it: ......

　Claude couldn't find the words to apply.
　The duke was the biggest pillar of support for the First Lady and Rüdiger, but what could he do if even he couldn't control them?　

''If you work with your entourage who know that the duke is against it: ......

It failed and that's what it is now.

　The Emperor replied with a sigh.
　Even though he was told what it was, he seemed to be doing what he had to do in a way.
　That's why Claude is in over his head.

''But even in the current situation where someone's shadow is flickering, is this still a conflict?

That's why I don't think Rüdiger is allowed, but they don't listen.

　The emperor's words were gradually laced with anger.
　It's not surprising, Claude thought.
　It's not a good idea to look up to those who think they have nothing to do with the upheaval, as their leader.

I'm not sure if it's right to look up to them as leaders. Is it because they can sympathize with His Highness Rüdiger's ideas?''

　The current emperor's gentle attitude towards his people was confused and antagonized by some of the nobles.
　They truly believed that such a thing would "take advantage of an entity that should be ruled by the nobles".
　The empire needed a number of aristocrats in order for the land to be ruled widely.
　This was a form of revenge for the size of the figure.
　Even if it is the strongest on the continent as a nation, not all those who run it are superior.

They're not such pretty little balls. I guess they think they'd taste better if their heads are stupid and easy to maneuver,''

　The emperor spat.
　I think the future is bleak for Rüdiger, who is oblivious to the intentions of the nobles and feels good about being subjected to the words of adulation.
　And the First Princess who can't see that.

''Your Majesty wishes to have His Highness Adrienne as Crown Prince, is that right?

Yeah.

　The emperor answered Claude's straightforward question once and for all.
　In response, he gave his opinion.

'Then you may do so. And if our Eight Goddesses, the Director of Magic, and the General agree to it, it will be difficult to overturn, despite the clamor of His Highness Rüdiger and his supporters.

...... I was hoping to see if there was any way to avoid that, but I guess not.

　Claude nodded silently at the emperor's words.
　If even the duke and his entourage couldn't hold them back, there would be no other way but to screw them over by force.

''Although the key to this is whether we can gather the support of the Eight Divine Brilliance, the Director of Magic, and the General.

'Manuel is from the common people, and Bartholomeus is enjoying life as a commoner, so he should be fine. Vilhemina is sure to follow Bartholomeus. The general is from an area where there are many demons, and he has been fighting alongside his people since he was a boy, so there is hope for him. The rest of the men are the problem.

　Claude's expression twitched as the Emperor said.

...... If the remaining four members of the Eight Goddesses and the Director of Magic support His Highness Rüdiger, this country will be split in two. Now I understand why His Majesty wasn't keen on the idea.

　The worst of it, he thinks, and releases it as words.

'If Bartholomeus is over here, even if we have to fight, we can't lose, but I'd like to find a way not to fight first. But I want to find a way out of this war.

　There was no answer to the emperor's murmur.