Chapter 564: Paying a Visit to Apologize

The splendid palace—its intoxicating radiance shone upon everyone.

But at this moment, these bigwigs who stood at the very pinnacle of the Empire, who could remain unruffled even before a natural disaster, all looked as nervous as if they had returned to the moment they first became fathers; on those taut, gloomy faces, cold sweat had even begun to seep out.

“Hey, hey, hey, what’s with you all—looking like you’re facing a mortal enemy. In your eyes, is cute little me, the Pink Bear, really that scary?”

Feeling that he had suffered inhuman cold violence the instant he took office, the Pink Bear slapped the table in dissatisfaction:

“Right now the Empire is buffeted by wind and rain. All the more we must unite from top to bottom to weather the hardship. If you are this slack, how are we to give account to every side—to the countless commoners of the Empire?”

“No...... the very fact we let you sit in that seat is already hard enough to give account for, all right.”

After a long silence, even Count Bugaard’s cultivation could no longer keep his facial muscles under control. His cheeks twitched as he took the lead to speak:

“I do not understand—what shock did His Majesty suffer that would make him have you...... the Pink Bear serve as Regent.”

Pink Bear.

Regent.

Those present were all figures at the Empire’s apex; naturally they knew exactly what sort of thing this puzzling creature in a fursuit was.

Thus, when these two matters were suddenly linked together, in their eyes it was unquestionably more absurd than if the brutal demons opposite them were to suddenly all turn into charming, gentle beauties.

And yet this utterly absurd thing had happened just so.

Therefore, when the Pink Bear strode to this position with the gait of one who recognizes neither kin nor friend, everyone gasped in unison while thinking the same thing:

The Empire is probably done for.

“Is there a problem?”

Hearing such words, the Pink Bear immediately grew displeased. He rounded his bear eyes and bellowed:

“Consider how I am handsome and dashing, incomparably cool, peerlessly brilliant, possessed of great wisdom disguised as foolishness, and transcendent beyond the crowd...... and, uh, that, that...... handsome and dashing—on what basis, on what basis can I not be Regent? Huh? On what basis?”

The Pink Bear slapped the table till it thundered. With each slap, the antique council table that had recorded countless great affairs of the Empire shuddered violently, and along with it the corners of everyone’s eyes kept twitching.

On what basis?

Just on the basis that even when praising yourself you couldn’t string together five descriptors, you Pink Bear!

Count Bugaard drew a deep breath again:

“Lord Pink Bear, we do not intend to contend with you. Since His Majesty has you serve as Regent, we have no standing to refuse. After all, the royal blood in your veins is indeed genuine. However...... we hope you will exercise that special authority with caution. After all, every word and deed of yours now pertains to—”

“Don’t call me Pink Bear. Address me as His Grace Duke Orlanriel Leopold,” the Pink Bear said suddenly.

“What?”

Count Bugaard, along with the others, all stared, thinking they had misheard.

But the Pink Bear knocked his two bear legs against the long table and, with his nose in the air, snorted:

“I said, call me Your Grace, the Duke.”

“Your Grace...... the Duke......”

Count Bugaard frowned in thought for a moment, then asked in puzzlement: “When did you have a ducal title? How have I never heard of it?”

The Pink Bear—or rather, Orlanriel Leopold—though he wore a ridiculous fursuit all day and never behaved properly, was indeed the present His Majesty’s genuine uncle. In terms of status, being conferred a dukedom was not beyond comprehension.

But a matter this large, it shouldn’t be possible to hide it so deeply. Could it be a private ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ affair from the late emperor’s time, so they did not know?

“That?”

The Pink Bear dug at his nose and said casually:

“I just now conferred it upon myself.”

“Hah? What did you say?”

“I said, I just conferred it upon myself.”

The Pink Bear looked perfectly taken for granted. “As the Regent temporarily in charge of the Empire’s great authority, I ought to have a status befitting it, right? A trifling dukedom—what’s wrong with self-conferring one?”

“A trifling...... dukedom......”

Count Bugaard—who had labored half a lifetime to finally squeeze into the Empire’s Hall of Audience—upon hearing this, saw black before his eyes and nearly fainted on the spot.

But before he could say anything, a clamor rose at his ear.

“N-no...... this is bad—Marquis Modor has fainted!”

“Quick, summon the imperial physicians!”

“Make way, make way, I can use Healing Arts!”

“No good—he’s had a fit of furious fire to the heart. Healing Arts won’t help!”

The originally solemn and dignified Hall of Audience thus fell into utter chaos.

The Pink Bear, however, had no awareness that he himself had thrown the meeting into a shambles. Still hugging his bear head, he cheerfully let his thoughts run wild.

“Aiya, after being suppressed by that brat Aldrich for so long, I’ve finally lived to see the day I can do as I please. With this power, what should I do first?”

“Should I first go give that bunch of dead loli-lovers from the Kingdom’s consulate a thorough thrashing, or issue an imperial decree to collect the Empire’s most top-tier photo albums of beautiful girls?”

“Aiya aiya, such a headache.”

“......”

Hearing this, everyone again saw black before their eyes, and those few words naturally surfaced in their minds once more:

The Empire is, indeed, done for.

......

......

“Let Orlanriel...... Grand-Uncle, serve as Regent?”

At the couch, Albert lifted his head in a daze and, in a tone of near incredulity, said:

“Th-this is far too much like child’s play. You...... Father, you know Grand-Uncle Orlanriel’s temperament. Letting him be Regent...... isn’t that pushing the Empire into a pit of fire?”

“Don’t worry. Cough, cough...... My uncle indeed never behaves properly, but on matters of right and wrong, he can tell the line.”

Aldrich III coughed a few times with clenched fist, then continued:

“With his temperament, at worst he’ll use public power for private ends—give the Kingdom’s consulate a beating, or have people collect photo books of beautiful women for him. Compared with the conduct of certain parasites in the Empire, I think it hardly amounts to...... pushing the Empire into a pit of fire.”

“But......”

“What.” Aldrich III suddenly cast a meaningful look at Albert and asked:

“Do you have a better idea?”

“I......”

Albert’s anxious look froze all at once. As if realizing something, he swiftly gathered his emotions back in and lowered his head:

“No. Since it is Father’s arrangement, I have absolutely no objection.”

“Very good. Then you may go. I need to rest.”

Aldrich III waved a hand, then closed his eyes—making the appearance of not wishing to speak further, of closing the door to send off guests.

Albert’s face was expressionless, but his lowered hands trembled slightly as they clenched tightly at his hem.

Regency.

Regency.

He had done so much precisely to obtain that seat legitimately—then, borrowing the inherent authority of the Inner Council, he could thoroughly extend his hand into every facet of the Empire, countless interests converging here. This was exactly the goal.

But, but why—why would this muddle-headed emperor who hovered between life and death rather hand the Regency to that damned ridiculous bear than to his only son?

Could it be......

“Elder Brother Albert.”

Startled awake, Albert jerked up his head and looked toward the speaking Celicia.

By now she had finished instructing the maid on matters concerning the medicinal ingredients. As if she had not heard a word about the Regency just now, she turned and reminded him:

“It’s time to go.”

“Ah...... mm. Go...... let’s go.”

Albert rose and, with steps a touch unsteady, walked out of the room. In the last sliver of his glance he saw still that aged, dry face—one that would never, under any circumstance, take back what had been said.

The great door closed; the poleaxe lowered. The maid waiting outside once again supported Albert, making him look even weaker than before entering that room.

Celicia let her gaze pass once more over the now-closed room and murmured under her breath: “So that’s how it is.”

From beginning to end she had not traded even a single sentence with her Imperial Father, but the purpose of her trip had been achieved.

“Are you all right, Elder Brother?” Celicia turned again to Albert and asked.

“I-I’m fine. Of course I’m fine.”

Albert forced a smile:

“Do I look like something’s the matter?”

“You look a bit pale.”

“Ah...... th-that’s because the previous injury hasn’t fully healed. I’m merely a little short on blood-qi.”

“I see. That’s good.”

Celicia suddenly clapped her hands and said:

“At first I worried you might be somewhat unwell, but now I needn’t worry. Elder Brother Albert, are you free next?”

“Free?”

Albert started, then looked at Celicia with wariness. “What is it?”

“Mm...... nothing urgent. But as your only younger sister, can’t I invite you...... to dine together?”

Celicia tilted her head, her tone suddenly weighted:

“Elder Brother, sir?”

“......”

Albert was about to say something when a palace maid happened to pass by and paid them both a respectful salute.

Watching those several maids who, after turning away, continued whispering and every so often snuck a glance at him and Celicia, Albert took a deep breath and swallowed the courteous refusal he had prepared. Then he smiled and said:

“Of course. It would be my honor, my dear...... sister.”

“That’s wonderful.”

Celicia extended her hand. “I’ve made a reservation at a well-known noble restaurant. The environment is very good—very quiet and very secluded. I think...... tonight there shouldn’t be any unrelated people disturbing the...... exchange between us siblings.”

Outside the window, the shadow of a bird circled anxiously in the sky. Yet deterred by Celicia at Albert’s side, it hovered and dared not approach......

......

......

“What are you here for again?”

At the Marquis Dion’s residence, Sharp looked at Veil—who had come calling yet again—and his cheek twitched as he demanded:

“Was humiliating House Dion last time not enough? You’ve come a second time?”

“No, no, no—Young Master Sharp...... oh no, that’s wrong. It should be Lord Marquis Dion. You misunderstand.”

Veil—without the casualness of last time when she’d been at Celicia’s side—was quite respectful in her manner. With a sweet smile, she said:

“This time, I haven’t come to make trouble.”

“Not...... to make trouble?”

Sharp frowned, but there was still vigilance in his eyes. “Then you......”

“This time I’ve come on behalf of the President to...... apologize for our previous discourtesy. Look!”

Veil pointed, directing Sharp’s gaze to the several massive carriages she had brought:

“These are all gifts the President specially prepared to express apologies!”