Today’s ally can be tomorrow’s enemy.
Upon hearing the news of Perian’s death, Ian was slowly preparing to move.
I heard that Rudy was still on the news that Robert was dead.
There was no reason for Ian to comfort Rudy or wait for him.
Since Perian is gone, the Duchy is now vacant.
Then someone will have to sit down quickly to stabilize the situation.
Ian moved for him.
“Do you think Rudy can inherit the title?”
“Hmm… … .”
“Don’t look at me and be honest with me.”
Ian was having a meeting with his entourage from the Astrian family.
“I don’t think it’s low… … .”
“Why do you think so?”
“It is because the situation inside the empire has turned to the imperial faction in the situation where the former ruler disappeared.”
“Is it not because of my lack of ability?”
The nobleman waved his hand in response to Ian’s words.
“It’s not worth it. Ian’s ability is far superior to that of Rudy Astria. If it’s just about ability, then Ian-sama should have inherited it.”
“is it? then.”
Ian looked straight at the nobleman and opened his mouth.
“What do you think will happen over time?”
“… … ah.”
“How would you compare Rudy and me in 10 or 20 years from now?”
“that… … .”
The nobleman could not give an exact answer.
Rather, Ian smiled at that attitude.
“Of course I don’t know. Human beings do not even know the future.”
“However… … . We think Ian will be excellent. That’s why I am here.”
“Thank you for saying that.” Ian put on a pleasant expression as if he liked the honest words of the nobleman.
“Our intentions are the same.”
“The head position belongs to Ian.”
The nobles who were nearby also agreed.
Hearing those words, Ian got up from his seat.
“Thank you everyone. Then let the meeting end here.”
Ian smiled and stood up.
Ian left the room and walked out of the room.
Ian’s smiling expression slowly hardened.
“Go… … .”
Ian’s plans have not changed until now.
Become the head of the Astrian family and rise to the top of the empire.
But.
Ian pushed Perian into a corner and looked at Rudy and her surroundings.
They were not very different from themselves.
Everyone tried to sit in the high place they wanted.
From a distance, he thought they were no different from him.
As I got closer to them, I saw a new scene.
They weren’t guys trying to get to the top.
was looking beyond
Getting to the top is just a process, not a goal.
With that thought in mind, looking at Perian, a thought occurred to me.
What would Perian do if he obtained eternal life using mana stones and amplifiers and gained an empire?
No, there was no need to think of anyone else.
If you get to the duke, where should you go next?
Then what should you do… … .
There were only questions floating around in Ian’s mind.
***
“I’m sorry for leaving you alone for a while. I brought some tea.”
“If you need any sweets, just tell me. I will bring you.”
“Don’t you like the car? I’ll get you another car if you want.”
I smiled and looked at the person in front of me.
It was the best kindness I could give.
Despite this kindness, the person in front of him was very uncomfortable and had a subtle expression on his face.
“Lou, Rudy. Since it’s only us, you can do it as usual… … .”
“This is my usual.”
I was doing a treat to Karen now.
A few days have passed since I returned to the capital.
I was making various efforts to inherit the Duchy.
I have been doing various things, such as practicing space magic, visiting people who will support me, etc.
While I was doing that, a man came to me.
Karen Meyer.
I was very surprised to see her.
He must have told Count Meyer that he had no intention of getting married or anything else, but he suddenly came.
I thought quickly.
I need to get this person to break up with me.
So I did my best to serve Karen.
Showing the greatest kindness I can.
That was the way to get Karen apart.
“Lu, Rudy… … .”
“What’s going on? Do you have any pain anywhere? Or even food you can’t eat.”
“Rudy… … .”
“Well?”
Karen just repeated my name and didn’t say anything else.
As expected, I was kind to Karen, and Karen was at a loss.
After stomping on her feet for a few minutes, Karen got up.
“next… … I will come next time.”
“Yeah, you can come anytime.”
I saw Karen off with a smile and returned to the room.
“ha… … .”
I don’t think I’m a bad person in my own way, but being overly kind is tiring.
I sighed and looked at where Karen had disappeared.
“What are you going to do?”
I’m sorry Karen, but I didn’t have any feelings for Karen.
I was just trying to use it as a bridge to reach the Meyer family.
Thinking about it this way, I was very trash.
There was, however, a small aspect of shame.
How did I know Karen would have such a heart for me?
Considering what Rudy in the past was about Karen, there was no way he could have had that kind of heart.
I tried to use Karen, but I had no intention of doing any harm to her.
I was just trying to talk about a business relationship.
“Again, I’m not talking about Rie… … .”
I sighed and got up from my seat.
Karen was also a headache, but for now, there was something else to do.
strife for the state.
You have to think about this.
It goes through a lot of processes to get the original head of state.
Internal members of the family evaluate the successor and compete fairly.
However, this evaluation is now meaningless.
Because Perian died, someone had to quickly sit on the peacock’s seat.
Since the rebels exist outside, it was to create a stable situation internally.
The question then was how to evaluate people.
It is not possible to evaluate people over a long period of time like the original evaluation, and it is not possible to end everything by voting among internal personnel.
In the end, the two needed something to compete.
But you can’t fight like a little kid.
If the two fought normally, someone could get hurt and die if they made a mistake, which could give the Empire’s power, and it wasn’t very good in terms of face.
So a fair battle under the rules was necessary.
So, the answer came from a meeting of the Empire a while ago.
Who has the greater achievements?
It was decided to compete with it.
Accumulate many achievements over a certain period of time and evaluate those achievements.
It was the best option from the point of view of the Empire.
We can fight the rebels and win the battle, or we can stabilize the chaotic internal affairs caused by the rebels.
It was a good proposal from both our side and the Empire side, as we could evaluate the person’s various things based on the achievements he had made.
Then I had to ask this question.
What achievements should I build?
Even though Ian has the Imperial Army, I’m just short.
Although there were a few people to help, they didn’t even have an army.
“It’s an achievement… … .”
I slowly started thinking about this.
What makes me better than Ian?
In space magic and other magical aspects, I lag behind Ian.
Even from a political point of view, he is lower than Ian.
The only thing I could say was superior was ‘information’.
I knew a lot about the rebels.
He has dealt with Aryandor’s time magic before, and he knows about other leaders.
In addition to information about the rebels, he had a lot to gain from the academy.
So you have to do something with that information.
“Rudy Astria. Is there?”
Then I heard a voice outside.
I heard the voice and immediately went outside.
Since there was no user, I had no choice but to go out on my own.
“Rudy Astria. How have you been?”
When I went out in front of it, I saw the figure of the chief wizard, Franz.
“no… … . What’s going on here… … .”
“Heh heh, I’ve been here for a while.”
A man called the Chief Wizard of the Empire came to the mansion with nothing.
I tilted my head at the situation.
I don’t even have a strong relationship with Franz.
I’ve never even seen a face except the last time I collaborated.
“What are you doing?”
“Ah, I have something to give you.”
“yes?”
Franz took a small letter out of his pocket.
“It must have been what Robert left behind.”
“… … Professor Robert?”
I opened my eyes wide and accepted the letter.
“This is the last letter you gave me, and I came here because I think it is the letter you need.”
I looked at Franz with a puzzled face.