No sooner had I returned to the capital than a pile of work flew in. Not only did I have to handle the Imperial Investigation Department’s duties, but I also had to take on the roles left vacant due to the sudden passing of the Emperor.

Even after returning from the Count’s residence, Carl couldn’t go to his own quarters and headed straight for Argumen Palace, where the meeting rooms of the Imperial Treasury and Administration were located.

After receiving a brief report from the Treasury officials, he checked if any new issues had arisen while he was away from the capital. Fortunately, Argumen Palace was quietly carrying on with its duties even without its master.

The next place to check was the military base. One of the most practical and solemn rights held by the Emperor was the military command authority. By holding the power to move the empire’s army, the Emperor wielded enormous power, which Carl now temporarily assumed.

As the Emperor’s death was still kept secret, even the title of temporary military commander had not been made public. Perhaps it should be said that the work became several times more arduous because it had to be done secretly.

Yet, though he had reason to complain of fatigue, not a single groan escaped from Carl. He finished checking the military checkpoints, bases, and training grounds. Even after that, Carl had to deal with a backlog of work for quite some time.

Before he knew it, the sun was setting, and the surroundings were gradually steeped in darkness. Clovis had simple refreshments prepared in place of his superior, who had his nose buried in a pile of documents without eating.

Knock knock.

There was no answer. After politely knocking twice more, Clovis carefully opened the door and pushed his body inside. Considering that Carl might be checking confidential documents, he had pushed the trolley in himself without borrowing the hands of other servants.

“Your Highness. You need to eat.”

His superior did not divert his gaze from his surroundings when engrossed in something. Even at Clovis’s gentle voice, Carl remained motionless, focusing only on the documents.

As if expecting this, Clovis slowly pushed the trolley and stood next to his desk in the office.

“I’ll prepare the tableware next to the documents you’re looking at.”

Only then did Carl slowly raise his head with a deep sigh. His hands were still clutching the documents. Seeing the tired look in his eyes, Clovis quickly took out a glass from the trolley and poured water.

“Please wet your throat first.”

He had been so absorbed in the pile of documents that he had even forgotten his thirst. After gulping down the cool water, Carl finally put down the documents completely.

“Aren’t you overdoing it, having just returned from the south?”

“If I don’t do it today, tomorrow’s me will have to overdo it even more.”

Is that so? Come to think of it, it was work Carl had to do anyway. If he didn’t do it today, the next day would only be more arduous. Indeed, the intensity of power is proportional to the amount of responsibility. When one rises to a high position, there is that much more to protect and accomplish.

With the throne empty now, Carl would have to move more busily than anyone else. With a complex feeling of both pity and awe, Clovis looked at his superior.

“A message came from Lord Rodrigo. He apologizes for not being able to have an audience with the Grand Duke due to being away, and has instead entrusted the report to Captain Tekla.”

“Is there anything noteworthy about Commander Rodrigo’s movements?”

Rodrigo was the commander-in-chief of the imperial army. In other words, he could be seen as the official directly below the Emperor in terms of military affairs.

For such a Rodrigo not to return immediately upon news of the temporary military commander’s arrival, but to delegate the task to a subordinate? There was something unsettling about it.

If he wasn’t uncomfortable with Carl being the temporary military commander, he should have eagerly come out to report directly about the imperial army.

The meal was a secondary pretext; in fact, the reason Clovis came to see Carl was to report on the movements of pro-Franz officials, including Rodrigo. Clovis set the plate, fork, and knife next to the glass.

“There’s nothing overtly apparent, but there are quite a few things that make me feel uneasy for some reason.”

“Like these things today.”

Rodrigo didn’t openly support Franz, but he was someone very interested in the magic stone processing business.

Originally, the right to process, sell, and manufacture mined magic stones was given solely to the Louisette Count family, but those in the know were aware that the real owner of this business was Grand Duke Toskur.

That was also the reason why Celeste was entangled in unnecessary scandal with Franz.

The Louisette family and Franz, with their intertwined interests over magic stones. Since it wasn’t a relationship openly known to the public, people only connected the young, unmarried Celeste and Franz’s point of contact as an affair.

With interests entangled in that direction, it was fair to consider Rodrigo as essentially pro-Franz. Such tendencies were evident even in normal times, but now…..

“Any other officials we need to check on?”

“Commander Gregory is said to be returning immediately after going out to inspect the east and west. I heard that he received the message and departed as soon as he finished checking the flood damage of the Manus River in the east and west, which was quite severe and required even military deployment.”

The military commander of the empire is the Emperor. And right below the military commander are three commanders-in-chief. Rodrigo, who commands the imperial army, Cassel, who commands the capital’s army, and Gregory, who commands all non-capital armies covering north, south, east, and west.

While Rodrigo was closer to an opportunist, Cassel and Gregory were stubbornly single-minded to the point of frustration, so there was nothing to worry about separately.

The most critical aspect when imperial power changes hands is the direction of this military power.

For the two years after Maximilian ascended to the throne as Emperor, the discipline of the imperial army had become quite lax because the new military commander was too young.

Whether intentional or not, the lack of ability of the highest authority led to such results. It wasn’t because Maximilian was incompetent, but rather because he was too young to have the capacity to lead people.

With the throne empty, a fierce battle between those close to the position of the next Emperor will soon begin. Whoever grasps the military power is virtually no different from becoming the owner of the next throne. That’s why Rodrigo’s arrogant behavior was close to a red signal.

Tap, tap.

Carl’s fingers tapped the table. It means his thoughts are deepening. Anyway, the time left to hide the news of the Emperor’s death was not much. In just a few days, the Emperor’s death will be known throughout the empire.

Until then, Carl intended to take on all the Emperor’s authorities, even if temporarily. It’s too late to move after it’s already announced to everyone.

Moreover, with a gloomy fellow like Franz, one couldn’t know what he might try to do, so they had to move quickly.

“Um… well…”

It’s unlike Clovis to start speaking hesitantly. What difficult words is he trying to say now? When Carl looked up at his face, Clovis unnecessarily glanced around once more and whispered in his ear.

“What do you intend to do about Count Louisette?”

Celeste. He hadn’t forgotten, but the thought of Celeste, which had been pushed to the back of his mind while dealing with political matters, came rushing back all at once.

He had become a father overnight. He had suspected, but to think it was really true.

To think that those blue eyes, which he thought were the spitting image of Franz, were actually resembling him. Carl leaned back against the chair.

It was a strange feeling. It was hard to believe that there was a life in this world that resembled him and that he had created.

And also, Carl found it hard to believe that he had formed a close relationship with someone and created a life. Perhaps it was even more so because he couldn’t remember what happened with Celeste two years ago.

“Is this a matter for me to think about or not?”

“Pardon?”

Clovis’s eyes rolled. Carl’s too calm and dry tone felt somewhat off. Surely, he’s not planning to ignore it?

“Of course, we should officially become a family.”

“You mean…”

Marriage!

Clovis straightened his bent waist in surprise.

“Why are you making such a surprised face? Wasn’t that what you said?”

“What did I say?”

“‘You must take responsibility, Your Highness.’ I think you shouted that with your eyes wide open and even raising your voice.”

“Ah…”

That’s right. In Urentum, when a suspicious child and a woman with likely circumstances appeared, he had half-seriously, half-jokingly told him to take responsibility.

To think that His Highness, straight as an arrow, took my words as advice? The corners of Clovis’s mouth twitched.