The five shining noble families representing Edenbell.

The Heswins, Rockfords, and Fredericks, the Counts of Wilter, and even the Grand Dukes of Lundberry.

Of course, the most influential among them was the Heswin dukedom.

However, in the current situation where everything was turning out favorably for Sinclair, the one who benefited the most was none other than the Wilter County.

As soon as rumors spread that the outcast Prince Chaz had personally visited Sinclair’s palace, and was now frequently enjoying tea time with the princess, strengthening their brotherly bond, the first thing Count Wilter did was to express his intentions to the Duke of Heswin.

The content was simple.

The gist of it was that in the upcoming struggle for the throne, the County of Wilter would support not the crown prince, Hister Butler, but the prince, Sinclair Butler.

Although the Duke of Heswin, who noticed the split between the emperor and Hister, had not yet directly revealed his intentions, circumstances suggested that he, too, was likely to lend his support to Sinclair.

If the most influential Heswin dukedom and the Wilter county, which was comparable to other dukedoms despite being a county, had different intentions, it was obvious that the remaining three families would also begin to waver.

If that happened, Hister would have nowhere to retreat.

However, as is often the case when forces gather in one place, there were those within the five families who were dissatisfied with that fact.

In particular, the Grand Dukes of Lundberry were among them.

It was a very fortunate thing for Hister.

“…So, I thought I’d solidify my friendship with you all after a long time.”

Around noon, the atmosphere in the Lundberry Grand Duchy was somewhat stiffly tense, unlike the usual peaceful atmosphere.

It couldn’t be helped. They also already knew. Who it was more advantageous to lend strength to now.

To be precise, to whom they had to lend strength in order to preserve their lives.

“Grand Duke Lundberry, Duke Rockford.”

Hister, who was sitting at the head of the drawing room, parted his lips as he looked at the two middle-aged men.

“I’m very curious as to how you’ve been doing lately.”

“……”

“I saw you at the Duke of Heswin’s party, but wasn’t it too short a time?”

Neither the Grand Duke of Lundberry nor the Duke of Rockford seemed to find a suitable answer, as they slightly averted their gazes. They, too, had eyes, so they saw it. The scene where Hister was openly abandoned by the emperor that day.

However, it wasn’t as if Hister had come to them recklessly.

“Business is still going well, I take it, Grand Duke Lundberry?”

At the sudden mention of business, the Grand Duke of Lundberry flinched greatly.

“I want your business to continue to flourish for generations to come. I really mean it.”

“……”

“Otherwise, it would be no different than my mother’s efforts for you turning to nothing. Isn’t that right?”

During her lifetime, Yuria had done her utmost to win over the five families.

Well, it wasn’t a particularly difficult task. Circumstantially, there seemed to be no possibility of Sinclair Butler becoming emperor.

But in case of the unexpected, Yuria had devised a plan.

…She had given benefits to the Grand Duke of Lundberry, who had created enormous wealth through business and paid enormous taxes, and had left evidence.

Yuria had passed away, but those benefits had continued to this day. The Grand Duke of Lundberry was paying only 20% of the taxes he should pay at least 40% under various pretexts, and the emperor also condoned it.

“My mother unfortunately passed away early, but she left me treasures no less valuable than that.”

“Y-Your Highness the Crown Prince…?”

“For example, let’s say, Grand Duke Lundberry. Letters stamped with your seal.”

“……”

“Or the discussion on how to manipulate the ledgers in the future.”

It was a blunder. The Grand Duke of Lundberry clearly showed his embarrassment on his face, and Hister laughed softly.

“Ah, I almost forgot about my dear duke.”

Then, shifting his gaze to Duke Rockford, he continued.

“You received land under a pseudonym from my mother, Duke Rockford.”

“Th-that’s……”

“She probably just glossed over it since it was nominally necessary, but she left a donation document.”

Hister smirked.

“She was truly a meticulous person, wasn’t she?”

“…Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

The first to part his lips was the Grand Duke of Lundberry. He opened his mouth very carefully, still with a pale, frightened face.

“We have heard the news. That you have been held responsible for the ledgers of the orphanages inherited from Lady Yuria and the private soldiers you had been raising separately.”

It was just as the Grand Duke of Lundberry said.

Sinclair had tenaciously turned the ledgers inside out, confiscating all the remaining donations, and also assigning all the private soldiers to the imperial palace.

And he charged Hister for all of that.

No matter how much of a crown prince he was, it was obvious that it would be difficult to resolve years of embezzlement at once. Especially now, when it was clear that the emperor would not help either.

“…So, do you wish to receive financial assistance?”

Once, just this once.

If they could pay for it with this one time, it wasn’t such a bad deal for the Grand Duke of Lundberry and Duke Rockford.

“Is our friendship that shallow?”

But the answer that came back was truly absurd.

“If you come out like this, I’m inclined to be very disappointed and take all these things to my dear elder brother.”

“Wh-what do you mean by that…?”

“You already know, don’t you? The fact that if my brother becomes emperor, it will be absolutely impossible to deceive with petty tricks as you have been doing.”

“……”

“Lundberry, Rockford. I didn’t come here to receive help.”

Hister spoke in a regretful voice.

“I personally walked here to tell you the only way to survive.”

Soon they realized.

That the two families that Hister had decided to tie up after quickly noticing the division among the nobles were none other than them.

And that they had no right to refuse it……

“I don’t have much time left. At this rate, I’ll be beheaded alongside you.”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince… such words are……”

“But if I become emperor, the things you worry about will never happen. Rather the opposite. I am not one to easily forget favors.”

“……”

“Yes, for example… I could put more power in your hands than the Duke of Heswin has.”

The two men flinched for a moment.

“Don’t you think it’s time to change the heads of Edenbell’s shining five families?”

That’s what I thought.

Hister asked with a smile, and Duke Rockford, clutching his trembling hands tightly, asked with shaky eyes while looking at Hister.

“I’m sorry, but… Your Highness the Crown Prince, isn’t His Majesty the Emperor moving differently from before?”

“So?”

Hister asked back with a stiff face. Rockford closed his eyes tightly at his cold air and opened them again, unable to even meet his gaze, and continued.

“So in the current situation… couldn’t there be problems with the succession to the throne…?”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Crown Prince. You seem to have not known the meaning of that position while speaking like that.”

“…Pardon?”

“The crown prince is the first in line to succeed the throne. You must know that.”

Hister glared at them with his brightly shining golden eyes and spoke in a sinister voice.

“In other words, the moment something happens to the emperor, I become the next emperor.”

“Y-Your Highness! What… are you saying……”

“Well. It means I have that much resolve, doesn’t it?”

No matter what tricks Sinclair Butler uses, as long as Hister holds the position of crown prince, there is no way for him to take the throne anywhere.

Even more so if the emperor, who had been attacked by a lion and fell ill, eventually fails to recover and dies.

The faces of the Grand Duke of Lundberry and Duke Rockford, who understood Hister’s words, were blank.

But even so, a manic light was already seeping from their eyes.

Originating from the splendid dream that they could now drive everyone else out and be at the pinnacle of power……

“The deal seems to be made.”

Looking at them, Hister said with a smile.

“You will be the new founding contributors of the new Edenbell.”

* * *

Chaz’s expression was as bright as it could be.

To the point where passing maids couldn’t stop gossiping, “Did we know that Prince Chaz could smile like that?”

“I’m so happy to have tea time with you like this, Lady Elaina.”

Feeling the indescribable excitement in Chaz’s eyes looking at her, Elaina smiled affectionately.

“And… the weather is so nice today too……”

“The weather must be nice for you to have a pleasant tea time with Prince Chaz.”

Chaz smiled faintly.

“It would have been nice if elder brother was here too……”

“He’ll be back soon anyway. Until then, you can spend time with me, and then we can all have dinner together, right?”

“C-can we do that?”

“Oh my, of course.”

There was not a hint of pretense to be found on Elaina’s face as she answered nonchalantly. She was still as warm and kind to him as when they first met.

He didn’t know how good that felt.

And, unlike before, his elder brother who took care of him as well.

“Prince Chaz?”

When there was no response, Elaina looked at him with slightly worried eyes.

“These days… how happy I am……”

Chaz seemed to gauge the reaction for a moment, then closed his eyes tightly and suddenly blurted out a very cute remark.

“I never once imagined that I would spend such time in the imperial palace……”

“……”

“It’s all thanks to you, Lady Elaina. Thank you so much.”

At the innocent yet poignant words, somehow the tip of her nose felt stinging. Elaina looked at the blushing Chaz and gently patted his back as she parted her lips.

“There will be countless days like this in the future. But if you thank me like this every time, won’t it be too embarrassing for me to hear?”

At her answer mixed with sincerity and playfulness, Chaz finally lifted his head. Then he looked at Elaina and smiled brightly.

……However, his smile did not last long.

“Your Highness?”

“……”

“Prince Chaz.”

Feeling something was strange, Elaina turned around.

“Truly,”

Then she saw Hister striding toward them.

“It looks like you’re having a good time. Your Highness the Princess. And Chaz?”