Prologue
IN ANY WORLD, meaningless customs and traditions are everywhere.
Even those that were necessary for some reason in the past tended to lose
their meaning over time. Humans are foolish creatures, however, and
though they might realize they're following their silly customs for no
reason, they'll continue for many long years, unable to give them up. And
even for an evil lord like me, Liam Sera Banfield, it can be difficult to go
against the societal grain.
"Spending half a century on training is a complete waste of time," I
muttered, staring at the holographic image projected before me.
I'd already graduated from primary school, but the hologram
portrayed me in the uniform of the military academy, the next step in my
schooling. One would think a cadet's uniform should have as little
ornamentation as possible, but with the Empire's glorification of nobility,
the uniform was gaudy as hell.
My appearance in the image conformed to the military academy
dress code set by the academy. My hair was cut a little shorter than usual,
but there really weren't any other changes to my person. Had I grown at all
since entering primary school? I was already in my late sixties, but I still
looked like a middle or high schooler in terms of my previous life. At my
present age, technically I was an adult in this world, but society still
treated me like a child. I couldn't help but maintain my sensibilities from
my past life, so I felt that spending over fifty years on one's education
before being considered an adult was absurd. However, that was simply
the norm in this world. After all, even after this extended training period,
people's lives lasted hundreds of years.
My most trusted maid robot, Amagi, stood tall and beautiful beside
me, gently admonishing me for my complaints. "As a noble, you must at
the very least become qualified as both a military officer and as a
government official, Master. Without such qualifications, you will not be
seen as a fully-fledged member of the nobility."
Amagi's glossy black hair was gathered in a ponytail, and she wore
a maid uniform that was a bit too provocative, leaving her shoulders
exposed. The rest of the outfit was quite elegant, so it seemed unnatural to
have her shoulders bare like that, but each robot maid bore a mark there
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that indicated that they weren't human. The law stated that this mark must
be visible, so no matter how much it annoyed me, I couldn't order her to
cover her shoulders.
"I'm just venting."
"You do not wish to attend the military academy."
"Well, I can't get out of it with money."
The worst part of my training would surely be my time serving in
the military, when my life might actually be in danger. I would be stuck in
the service for six years after graduating from the academy. Even nobility
had to serve, and that meant the possibility of fighting battles and losing
one's life. A harsh period awaited me there, one that apparently dominated
the memories of most nobles who'd been through training. There were
those who tried to worm their way out of it, but as Amagi stated, the
Empire wouldn't accept you as a legitimate noble without going through
military training.
To me, though, throwing those who would never be expected to
fight in the future due to their noble positions into the military was just
stupid. Plus, actual career soldiers had to put up with spoiled noble brats in
their ranks. However, money did tend to grease the wheels in this world.
"Anyway, how about we make some charitable contributions before
my time in the military? Amagi, send the Imperial Army a message from
House Banfield. Tell them to expect a generous donation this year. Also, if
they have any equipment they're looking to get rid of, we'll buy it off
them."
The military was always upgrading its weaponry, replacing old
equipment with new, so when they acquired updated tech, they sold their
old hardware to the nobility. The military was always spending tons of
money. However, there were plenty of times where their investments
didn't bring returns and their budgets were always getting cut, so they
were always trying to make a little money back somehow. That was where
nobles with deep pockets like me came in. The Imperial Army was ever
eager to receive donations or sell their old equipment to the rich. If I
happened to mention my military training when offering such financial
assistance, they were sure to do whatever they could to make me
comfortable during my time with them. Normally, nobles were expected to
act as an upstanding example to everyone around them, so manipulation of
that sort was frowned upon. But I was a villain, you see, so I would never
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hesitate to make use of whatever options and resources I had available to
me. In fact, I preferred to use underhanded methods such as these.
Amagi opened her mouth to say something, but checked herself and
quickly moved to carry out my command. She only gave me a bit of a
resigned look. "As you wish, Master."
"Money is everything in this world. With money, one can bend even
morality to their will. If I have the means, I say why not enjoy my time in
the military?"
Just as I was thinking to indulge in a loud, villainous laugh,
someone arrived at my office's door, and Amagi gave them permission to
enter. This was my mansion, my planet, and no one could stop me from
enjoying my moment of gloating...but then Rosetta walked into the room.
She asked, "Darling, have our uniforms for the military academy
arrived? I must try mine on too!"
At the appearance of my beaming fiancée, I ended up spluttering
instead of laughing.
"R-Rosetta?"
Her name was Rosetta Sereh Claudia. The first feature that leapt out
at you was her long, radiant blonde hair, which was styled into thick
ringlets. With that blonde hair, her blue eyes, and a rather voluptuous
figure for someone the same age as me, she was practically the ideal
woman, as if she'd stepped right out of a painting.
We'd met in primary school, and she was the first human woman I'd
taken an interest in since my reincarnation. At first, she'd possessed a steel
will and treated me coldly, as though I were completely beneath her notice.
I became determined to break that will of hers, but by the time I managed
to secure my engagement with her, she'd already fallen for me. It might
sound odd for me to say this, but Rosetta was head over heels for me and I
had no idea why. If Rosetta had a tail, she'd probably be shaking it like
crazy every time she was around me.
Once again, I thought of a coworker from my previous life, Nitta,
and recalled him using the term "relationship speed run." It's true that my
goal had been for her to submit to me, but she'd done it so fast, it left me
flummoxed. I'd been looking forward to crushing her will, but after she'd
fallen for me so suddenly, I found myself rather...scared of her. Basically,
I had no idea what to do whenever she was around me.
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At the moment, Rosetta had her face right up in mine, eyes sparkling
with the eagerness to inspect her new uniform. If I backed up, she just
moved forward to close the distance. At a loss for what to do, I turned to
Amagi for assistance. I felt pathetic doing so, but my robot maid was the
only one I could rely on for help.
"This is difficult to say, Lady Rosetta, but there is no military
academy uniform for you." As Amagi plainly stated this fact, I fell in love
with her all over again.
At first, Rosetta's face was blank, as if she hadn't understood the
meaning of Amagi's words, but as they finally sank in, she began to panic.
"W-wait. I'm going to the military academy with you, aren't I, Darling?
W-wasn't that the plan?"
No matter how much she looked between my face and Amagi's, the
truth was that the only ones in our circle who'd be attending the military
academy were me and the former Imperial prince I was currently looking
after, Wallace Noah Albareto. Some minor nobles from House Banfield
would also be attending, but Rosetta was not among them.
Amagi explained to Rosetta that there was no need for her to attend
the military academy. "Master is the only one obligated to serve in the
military. There are, of course, some couples who both serve, but that is not
common."
"B-but I'd feel bad if only Darling had to attend."
When I saw her being so meek, I couldn't help but think, This isn't
right! Shouldn't you be more confident? In fact, I preferred that she'd say
something like, "I wouldn't mind attending in your place if you're going to
be a coward about it!" You're supposed to be more arrogant, aren't you?
What happened to that high horse you used to be up on? I wanted to say
all this out loud, but I knew it would be pointless, so I simply informed her
of my decision instead.
"This matter is already decided, and I won't be taking any
complaints."
Rosetta looked surprised for a moment, but she quickly hung her
head and apologized, "I shouldn't have spoken out of turn."
That was somewhat satisfying, but what I really wanted was to see
her get upset, as I still hadn't given up on my desire to torment the noble-
minded Rosetta. This was where my attack truly began!
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"Well, I don't have a military academy uniform for you, but I did
have another special uniform prepared..."
I snapped my fingers, and the three-dimensional hologram switched
to a mannequin-like figure wearing a maid uniform. The figure was clearly
based on Rosetta. As I enjoyed her flustered reaction, I summoned a
certain person to the room.
"You'll be undergoing your own training right here at the mansion.
Serena!"
Serena, who'd been standing ready outside, entered my office. She
was the head human maid of House Banfield, boasting the same amount of
power within the mansion as its butler, Brian. Though she was an older
woman, she stood proud and tall, and every one of her movements was
graceful and refined. Taking her place before Rosetta, she explained my
plans for her.
"We have judged your basic education to be insufficient, Lady
Rosetta. As such, while Master Liam is attending the military academy,
you will make use of an education capsule and undergo some etiquette
training. If possible, the master would also like you to undergo training at
another noble house."
Despite being nobility, Rosetta had led a completely destitute life,
and hadn't been able to complete a basic education. She hadn't undergone
training at another noble house either, so by this world's standards, she
was barely qualified to even be a noble. Anyway, the Empire didn't
require women to serve in the military, for some stupid, antiquated reason
like "ensuring the children of the next generation." This outdated tradition
led some people to undergo sex changes just to avoid military service.
Apparently, many people graduated from military academy to discover
that friends of theirs had become women in the time they'd been apart.
Personally, I didn't really want to go that far to avoid serving.
In any case, the current topic was Rosetta, not the military academy.
I commanded Serena in a stern tone, "Serena, I don't want you going easy
on Rosetta. In fact, I'd like you to give her a strict education."
Serena's eyebrows raised slightly, as if my command had surprised
her, but she quickly regained her impassiveness and asked, "Is that right? I
don't mind giving her more gentle guidance."
In the future, Rosetta would be in a higher position than Serena. I
suspected Serena might want to suck up to her now for better treatment
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later, but I wasn't going to let that fly. I knew Serena was a highly capable
head maid, who was strict with the noble ladies in her past position at the
Imperial palace. If I wanted her to be firm, she wouldn't let Rosetta
intimidate her.
"That won't be necessary. Give her a thorough education. Teach her
just what it will mean to stand beside me."
I tried to put on my best stern expression as I looked over at Rosetta,
whose manner and movements were awkward with nervousness. That's
right, you'd better be scared! Don't forget that this is enemy territory for
you!
I had wanted to break her steel will myself, but just being around
Rosetta these days threw me off so much that I'd pretty much given up on
that. The only thing I could look forward to now was seeing her cry
because she couldn't endure Serena's bullying.
"I want you to take these lessons to heart before I return, Rosetta," I
commanded firmly. "Consider that an order."
Rosetta clenched her fists and put on a brave face. "I will."
***
"No! No! I don't wanna go to the military academy!"
It was the day of our departure for the military academy, and former
Imperial prince Wallace was clinging to a pillar in House Banfield's
spaceport. He was a flashy-looking, blue-haired young man whose features
suggested a certain shallowness. True to his appearance, his personality
was every bit as superficial as one might suspect.
I had become his patron and therefore looked after him, but every
time I gave him a little pocket money, it was gone in an instant. At the end
of every month, he was always absolutely broke. When he first arrived at
my mansion, he was given some respect as a former Imperial prince, but
now everyone called him a good-for-nothing leech behind his back. In
truth, though, it wasn't like I was expecting anything of him; I'd just
become his patron because I liked the idea of having a member of the
Imperial family as a lackey. Now when I looked back on the decision, I
really felt like I jumped the gun.
I couldn't just throw him out now that I'd taken him in, however, so
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I grabbed Wallace by the scruff of his neck and marched toward the ship.
"Just shut up and get in!"
Even though he looked like a high schooler, Wallace was throwing a
tantrum like a spoiled toddler.
"I won't survive a day in the military! Beautiful, sensitive people
like me become punching bags for anyone with a higher rank just because
they feel like it!"
Wallace had a rather inflated opinion of himself. As I dragged him
behind me, I assured him that wouldn't be a problem.
"Don't worry, I've already taken measures. I made sure Tia and a
few other of my knights are already on the inside. If anyone tries to lay a
hand on either of us, they'll learn a hard lesson."
You couldn't wait to implement such safeguards after you were
already enrolled. If you had the funds, it was best to be well-prepared
beforehand.
Still, Wallace kept resisting.
"What'll you do if some vicious instructor sets their sight on us?"
"We don't need to worry about that, either. I've made hefty
donations to the military over the past several years, all with notes attached
saying, 'I'm greatly looking forward to my time at the academy.' Anyone
stupid enough to hassle me will get transferred to the front lines."
In primary school, a delinquent named Derrick had picked a fight
with me, but I knew my preparations for the military academy were
flawless. Even if an instructor did decide he had a problem with me, the
upper brass would have my back.
Hearing all this, Wallace finally relaxed.
"You're the only person I know who'd go that far to prepare for
their time at the military academy, Liam. I'm relieved to hear it, but a little
astonished too."
"That's just what it means to be rich. Money and authority are
meant to be used, and I'm not one to hesitate when it comes to exercising
my power for my own good."
A minute ago, Wallace had been crying and wailing, but now his
face took on a grim expression as he reminded me of House Banfield's
current dilemma.
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"Even if you can make use of your money and authority at the
military academy, there's nothing you can do about the Berkeley Family,
is there? Are you really okay with how things are going on that front?"
The Berkeley Family were the relatives of Derrick, the one who
started a fight with me in primary school. Despite being nothing more than
a collection of barons, they were gearing up for a conflict. Tensions
between House Banfield and House Berkeley were high.
"What about them? If they stand up to me, I'll just knock them
down."
"As always, I'm relieved at your confidence," Wallace sighed.
I shoved him forward with annoyance. "If you're done whining,
then get on board already."
I gave him a kick for good measure, then followed him onto the
moving walkway that would take us to my ship. The moving walkway led
to the Vár, a superdreadnought several thousand meters long, that
functioned as my army's flagship. The thing was entirely too huge and
looked more like a building than a battleship. The fact that this monstrosity
functioned as a ship was one of those things that made this world so
unbelievable to me.
At the end of the moving walkway, a large group of people had
lined up to see me off, including Amagi and my butler Brian. Rosetta had
been left at home. After all, I couldn't let her sully my dignity as an evil
lord by calling me "Darling" in front of all these people.
Amagi was as composed and professional as ever, but beside her,
Brian was wiping away tears with a handkerchief. Well, I guess crying was
"the same as ever" for him. What a pain.
When he saw me, Brian blubbered, "You're finally off to the
military academy, Master Liam. I'm so proud, but I can't help worrying
about you too!"
I might have been a noble, but I was going to be joining the military,
which meant I could get caught up in military conflicts. An enemy
wouldn't hesitate to fire on you just because you were nobility, and no
matter how noble your birth, when you died, you died, just like anyone
else in this world. Brian was beside himself with worry about that very
thing. To make things more dramatic, in his free hand he clutched a
framed picture of my great-grandfather. I wasn't the least bit happy,
having a gray-haired old man crying over me this way.
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"Cut it out, already. And don't forget to keep an eye on Rosetta
while I'm gone."
"Why, of course I plan to watch over her, Master Liam, but what do
you mean by 'keep an eye on her,' exactly?"
Brian didn't seem to catch my drift, so I elaborated a bit.
"I've tasked Rosetta with receiving a strict education. So, Brian, I
want you to keep an eye on her too. Do you get what I mean, now?"
Because so many people were watching us at that moment, I
couldn't exactly tell him, "I want you to make sure Rosetta is thoroughly
bullied." However, Brian had been by my side ever since I'd been
reincarnated. He stood up straighter and nodded, finally understanding my
meaning. "Of course, sir."
There were some areas that required improvement, but Brian was a
fairly capable butler. He tended to get involved in strange things
sometimes, but I enjoyed having subordinates I could rely on.
Finally, I turned to Amagi. "We'll be apart for a while again. I'll
miss you."
I took her hand. I didn't like leaving my territory, but the thing I
hated most was not being able to see Amagi.
She gave me a somewhat frustrated smile. "You should save lines
like that for your fiancée, Master. I too will be wishing for your safe
return. Please take care of yourself."
"Don't worry. I'm sure some of this will be a pain, but a god of
good fortune is always watching over me."
I had to make sure to thank the unseen presence that I was sure still
looked out for me, even now.
While I talked with Amagi, Marie approached, no doubt to inform
me that it was time to leave.
Marie Marian, who would also be attending the military academy
with Wallace and me, dropped to one knee and bowed her head. She was a
female knight with striking lilac-colored hair, and she stood out even at
House Banfield as a rather talented individual. She was probably just about
as tough as Tia, who had some personality problems, but it was Marie's
appearance that I valued most about her. She had an air to her like a sharp
blade, and though she revealed some pathetic traits every once in a while,
she was on the whole a very attractive female knight. I kept her at my side
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because it was only fitting for an evil lord to be served by beautiful
women, after all.
"It's time, Lord Liam."
Reluctant as I was to do it, I let go of Amagi's hand.
"Understood. Amagi, contact me right away if anything happens."
As the crowd saw me off, I boarded the Vár.
***
Because of the Empire's massive size, there were actually a number
of military schools, but being the closest to the Imperial Capital Planet, the
one known as the Imperial Military Academy was for the elite. Only those
who had graduated primary school with the best grades, or the children of
nobles who would carry the future of the Empire on their backs, were
allowed to attend this particular institution.
However, even a school such as this had its problem children. On
the first day of class, cadets with questionable records were summoned to
an indoor training facility. Among these was Marie. All of the cadets there
wore black tank tops, cargo pants, and boots, and stood in a line. The
brawny instructors before them all looked fierce enough that it was
unlikely an unskilled knight could even lay a finger on them. These
instructors had been specially chosen to preside over those cadets judged
to be slightly problematic. The fact that Marie and these other problem
students were allowed to attend this elite academy at all was proof of their
talents.
Standing before the cadets, the voice of one of the instructors
boomed out to them loudly, without the need of a megaphone, "You kids
with spots on your records aren't like the other cadets. Your training will
be particularly rigorous, so you better be prepared to work your asses off if
you want to earn the honor of serving in this military!"
The instructor zeroed in on Marie. "Looks like we've already got
somebody who thinks they're above the rules. You! Did you not read the
regulations before you enlisted? There's no long hair at the military
academy!"
Marie stiffened and scoffed at the instructor. "Don't bark at me. I'm
just here to become officially qualified as an Imperial soldier. There's
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nothing you people could possibly teach me."
In response to Marie's declaration, the instructors took off their
jackets. Every year, some strong-willed brats were revealed in this room,
and it was customary for the instructors to knock those cadets down a peg
by force.
"Looks like you'll need to be given especially strict instruction."
The instructors ordered the other cadets to form a large circle around
her, which they then entered, stretching their arms and loosening up as
they did so.
The instructors surrounded Marie.
"I think you can expect to go to the barracks with an injury or two
today, girlie."
One of the instructors rushed forward with a fist aimed at Marie's
face. The reason none of them intended to hold back against a woman like
her was because they had already determined that she possessed a certain
degree of skill. However, they would soon find out how wrong they'd been
in guessing just how skilled she was.
The instructor's fist passed right over Marie as she swiftly leaned
back to dodge it.
"Your bark's worse than your bite," she said. "They'll let anyone be
an Imperial soldier these days, won't they? How about I instruct you?"
Still leaning back, Marie aimed a kick at the brawny instructor's
chin, and the force of her blow sent him flying. She then straightened
herself calmly, while the instructor was left lying face-up on the floor.
Marie extended a hand and beckoned to herself, provoking the other
instructors with a sneer. "Why don't you all come at me at once? I'll teach
you so-called soldiers what real violence is."
Looking back at their fallen comrade, the other instructors grew
enraged.
"We'll wipe that smirk off your face!" one of them growled.
Just as she had suggested, all the remaining instructors charged her
at once. The whole time, Marie kept a smug smile on her face. Her former
polite façade had been discarded, as she displayed her true nature.
She said, "I'll beat it into you! I'll show you who's really in charge
here!"
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***
Their little bout was over in less than an hour. Seated atop a heap of
semiconscious instructors, Marie laughed loudly.
"Weak. So weak! Can instructors like this even provide 'rigorous
training'? Maybe I should retrain the lot of you! If you'd like, I could think
up some training exercises that would have you weeping and wailing like
children!"
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Page 13
Marie looked down with scorn at the groaning instructors beneath
her. Honor, my ass. To me, what would be an honor is serving as House
Banfield's—no, as Lord Liam's head knight. I have no loyalty to the
Empire. All I have for the Empire is contempt.
Marie despised the Empire that had betrayed her long ago. She was
only attending the Imperial Military Academy in order to protect Liam—
and to fulfill his desire to have Imperial knights for vassals. Two thousand
years ago, Marie was an Imperial knight, but her qualifications were
obsolete in the present age. In fact, her very identity had been erased from
history, so she had to acquire all new qualifications in order to become an
Imperial knight. Since Marie was only attending the military academy to
achieve that end, the training she could expect to undergo would serve
only as an amusement to her.
She looked down at the instructors and told them coldly, "If you
want me to cut my hair, you can tell me to do so when you're able to back
up your threats. If all of the instructors here are like you, it just shows how
little one can expect from the 'honorable' Imperial Army."
The instructors could say nothing in response. Normally, something
like this would have gotten a cadet kicked out of the academy, but Marie
was connected to House Banfield. No one in the military's upper brass
would want to anger a noble family that had provided such generous
donations to their cause. The instructors had been bested, not just in skill,
but in authority as well. All they could do was despair at the incredible
problem child they now had on their hands.
Suddenly, another cadet—another knight of House Banfield, like
Marie—rushed over to her. This knight was part of the woman's faction,
and her face had gone pale. However, her worry didn't seem to stem from
the fact that her superior had just beaten the crap out of their instructors on
their first day at the academy. Rather, it seemed she was anxious about
another matter.
"Lady Marie, Lord Liam is contacting you."
"Huh?"
The other knight manipulated her tablet, which then displayed an
image of Liam's face. Cowed by Liam's expression of extreme annoyance,
Marie adjusted her position on top of the instructors so that she sat up
straight at attention.
"Lord Liam! I-is there some emergency?"
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Marie worried that something had happened to her lord, and she
watched anxiously as Liam raised an eyebrow and explained the reason for
his displeasure.
"No, the only thing currently bothering me is you, Marie. Just now
the instructors asked me to do something about you. Are you really
causing problems on your first day? Is that any way for a knight of mine to
behave?"
"N-no, I... Er, they told me to cut my hair! But a woman's hair is
her life! I can't just cut it so easily."
Liam's response to Marie's excuses was a cold, "Cut it."
"Huh?"
"You were aware of the regulations before you arrived, were you
not? Are you really going to stoop down to Wallace's level? He got in
trouble for his hair too, and now he's bald."
Marie didn't particularly care about Wallace, but it did hurt her
pride to be compared to him. At the mansion, he was disdained for being a
freeloader, a layabout, and a horrible playboy. Frankly, he had a lousy
attitude about life, and Marie had seen Serena reprimanding him more than
a few times.
I-I'm not that bad, am I?
"L-Lord Liam—"
"Cut your hair. And don't cause any more trouble for me. Or are
you saying I'm a fool for following regulations and cutting my own hair
before I came here? Well, Marie?"
Under Liam's glare, Marie hung her head. "I would never mock
you, Lord Liam."
Watching Marie tremble with shame, Liam gave a satisfied snort
and told her, "Then hurry up and cut your hair. Conversation's over."
He broke off the call and Marie looked down despondently. With
tears in her eyes, she wrapped her beautiful hair around her fingers and
made up her mind. She hated the idea of cutting the lilac hair that she was
so proud of, but if the order came from Lord Liam himself, she had no
choice but to obey it.
"I-I'll go cut my hair right now."
The instructors under Marie all let out weary groans.
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If that was all it took, then what was the point of everything we just
went through?!
***
While Liam and crew were experiencing their first day at the
military academy, back at House Banfield's mansion, Rosetta was learning
directly from Serena. A ball was balanced on top of her head to correct her
posture, and she walked along a chalk line drawn on the floor. Rosetta
moved with exceeding care and perfect posture, lest the ball roll off her
head. Her long blonde ringlets stood out against the chic navy blue maid
uniform she wore. The harsh expression that had once been so common to
her face had been replaced with one of anxiety as she concentrated
completely on her movements.
Serena clapped her hands and pressed Rosetta, "How long are you
going to take to walk that line? Move faster! You need to be bold!"
Serena was being harsh in her instruction. Rosetta would normally
have stood above her in the mansion's hierarchy, but Liam had ordered the
head maid to be strict, and she was honoring that order.
Rosetta tried to move more quickly, and the ball promptly fell from
her head. Watching it bounce off the floor, she started to cry. "I hate this!"
Serena just looked at her with utter exasperation. "How many times
do I need to say this for you to understand? Rosetta, you must complete
this training in order to become a wife worthy of Lord Liam. In the first
place—"
Rosetta wasn't crying because of Serena's strict training. She had
led an extremely painful life up until now, so she was easily able to bear
Serena's harshness. What she couldn't bear was being apart from Liam.
"I wanted to attend the military academy with Darling!"
That wasn't all. Rosetta hadn't even been allowed to see Liam off
when he left. Or, to be more precise, she hadn't been able to see him off at
all.
"I can't believe Darling left while I was still in the education
capsule! I couldn't even say goodbye!"
As Rosetta sobbed, Serena gave a little sigh and responded coolly,
Page 16
"There is no need for a future duchess to serve in the military. What you
require right now, Rosetta, is the ability to manage a household. While
Lord Liam tends to outside matters, someone has to run things here at the
mansion in his home territory. You do not need to wield a weapon to learn
that role."
If two people were to be married in the future, only one of them
needed fulfill the obligation of serving time in the military. There were
women who underwent a sex change in order to join the military, just as
there were men who did the same and instead trained in domestic
responsibilities. There were, of course, plenty of women who served in the
military as they were, and thus the Imperial Army was made up of roughly
thirty percent women. The bottom line was that there was no need for
Rosetta herself to serve, but she desired to share all things, good and bad,
with Liam.
"I wanted to be of use to Darling..."
Even though she was frustrated with the weeping Rosetta, Serena
also respected the young woman. She has the right attitude, at least.
By the time she graduated from primary school, Rosetta's grades
had risen to the low end of average. They had only expected her time in
the education capsule to raise her grades to about mid-range average, so
the fact that she had exceeded expectations could be chalked up to her own
personal efforts. Serena actually rated Rosetta even more highly than that,
but she was still troubled by the girl's less-than-refined personality.
She's not the type of girl you tend to see in noble households.
There were plenty of women who devoted themselves to their
husbands, sure, but not many would want to follow their betrothed even
into military academy so fervently.
Liam, on the other hand, practically fled along with Wallace to the
academy while Rosetta was helpless in the education capsule when he
heard that she wanted to go with him.
Serena took a deep breath to refocus herself and returned to
Rosetta's instruction.
"You'll never be finished with this if you keep crying, Rosetta. If
you want to become a woman befitting Lord Liam, get back up and pull
yourself together."
When she heard that, Rosetta stopped whimpering and stood
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straighter, wiping her tears away. "I understand. When he returns, I'll
show Darling that I can be a proper duchess to stand at his side. Six years
will go by just like that."
"That's wonderful, but Lord Liam will not be returning for some
time after that."
"Huh? B-but...it should only take six years to graduate from the
military academy!"
"After he graduates, Lord Liam will enter a period of practical
training that will last two years," Serena explained dutifully. "After that,
he will serve in the military for at least four more years. Depending on
where he is assigned, he may not return to House Banfield for a minimum
of twelve years."
"H-he'll come back at least once in that time to visit, though, won't
he? Of course he will, right?"
"It is Lord Liam's plan not to return for some time so that he may
finish with his military service as quickly as possible."
"No waaaaay!" Rosetta burst into tears all over again.
"During that time, you'll need to complete your training with
another noble house, as well."
"So, I won't be able to see Darling at all for twelve years...?"
Serena's brow furrowed. "Are you even listening to me?"
"Y-yes!"
Normally, upon reaching a certain age young nobles were sent to
other households as part of their education, but as there had been no
houses that would take in someone from House Claudia, Rosetta hadn't
completed that part of her training. Nobles who never underwent this
would be looked down upon, so Rosetta's situation needed to be resolved
as soon as possible. However, there was a problem plaguing House
Banfield at the moment...and that was the Berkeley Family, the group of
pirate nobles who currently antagonized them.
Serena thought to herself. While we're feuding with the Berkeley
Family, we'll have to choose where we send Lady Rosetta quite carefully...
If they made the wrong choice in where to send her for training,
something terrible might happen. If they unknowingly entrusted her to a
house with ties to House Berkeley, she could be taken hostage.
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Lord Liam left Lady Rosetta at the mansion so she wouldn't prove a
burden during his training, but leaving her here for the full twelve years
makes for other problems. What do we do about this?
Serena had much to think about regarding Rosetta's immediate
future.
***
Baron Berkeley's mansion was a grand building of extravagant
design. Practically a city in itself, it spanned a wide area.
In a large office almost too excessive for a baron, the boss of the
Berkeley Family, Casimilo, sat smoking a cigar. Blowing a plume of
smoke from his mouth, he looked down at a man who cowered on the floor
before him. This man was a noble who had opposed House Berkeley.
Casimilo spoke to the noble in a mock tone of sadness. "To not only
speak poorly of other people, but directly interfere with House Berkeley...
That's just not a nice thing to do."
Casimilo's sons, who stood in attendance, smirked cruelly. Every
one of the sons who surrounded the man on the floor ruled over their own
planets, as the Berkeley Family was an organization made up of the
baronies of Casimilo and his sons. Of course, his sons had only been able
to become barons because Casimilo had parceled out his vast territory to
them, so that they could appear as independent lords. In reality, however,
Casimilo still stood at the top of their collective domains. In its entirety,
their territory rivaled the domain of a duke, and therefore, Casimilo ruled
over a vast number of planets, with over one hundred thousand ships at his
command.
In addition to all this, Casimilo also controlled a great many of the
pirates spread throughout the Empire. Small rogue bands and those pirates
who made their way into Empire's territory from outside remained
independent, but for the most part, the Empire's pirate population
answered to the Berkeley Family. Hence, their moniker of Pirate Nobles.
Many nobles had aligned themselves with Casimilo, but there were
those who defied him as well, such as the man before him now. His face
contorted with emotion, this man shouted at Casimilo, "S-screw you! You
were the one who sent all those pirates into my territory in the first place!"
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Casimilo continued to smoke his cigar as he listened to the man's
accusations. "Well, all you had to do was hand over what I wanted and
walk away. Can't you understand the feelings of a man who wants to give
one of his sons some independence?"
Casimilo had obtained his vast domain by taking over the territories
and peerage of other nobles to hand out to his sons, and the methods he
utilized to achieve this were always forceful.
"You'd kill my family just for that? Even destroy my house? You
damn piraaate!"
The man jumped to his feet and lunged at Casimilo, but a number of
his sons pulled out handguns and squeezed their triggers. The man dropped
to the floor, a puddle of blood immediately spreading out around him. As
his last act, though, he muttered the name of a noble who would stand
against the Berkeley Family.
"Bastards... I hope House Banfield wipes out the whole lot of you."
The noble expired, and Casimilo dropped his cigar, grinding it out
under his heel.
"What a fool. He could have kept his life if he'd just done as we told
him."
"Does this mean I'm a baron now, Dad?" the son in question asked
excitedly.
"Hmm? Sure, of course. Just remember, though, I'll be the one
managing your territory."
Nevertheless, his son was elated to hear it. "Now I'm at the top of
the Family too!"
Casimilo had no idea what this ecstatic son's name was, or where he
stood among his many brothers in terms of age. He only made his sons
barons because he figured he wouldn't have to worry as much about being
betrayed, as opposed to making barons out of those who had no blood
relation. He'd never had any love for his children and saw them merely as
subordinates.
Having now been assured of this particular son's independence and
loyalty, Casimilo went on to consider the next order of business. "Now,
we're running low on elixirs. We need to squeeze a planet to replenish our
supplies, but where would be a good location?"
"I know a place," one of his sons spoke up. "There's this girl I've
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been going after, but her family said they wouldn't give her to a pirate
noble. I've been wanting to get back at them for that."
Elixirs were miraculous medicinal solutions, able to cure virtually
any illness or injury. They were exceedingly rare and expensive items, and
therefore difficult to come by. However, the Berkeley Family was in
possession of a means of mass-producing such elixirs: the so-called
planetary development device. It was an ancient technology originally
used to revitalize ruined planets, but if misused it could instead turn
planets abundant with life into empty husks. In that scenario, elixirs were
the byproduct of the process, synthesized from the massive loss of life on
these destroyed planets.
As the lanky son who had made this request stood there fiddling
with his long hair, Casimilo easily made the decision to ruin an entire
planet, thus killing off all its people and animal life, just to obtain some
elixirs.
"Well, if we wipe them all out, it won't exactly matter what they
think, will it? See to it."
"I will! I can keep the girl, though, right? I want to make her my
mistress."
"Do as you like."
House Berkeley's great advantage was that they held several of
these planetary development devices from a bygone civilization. As a
result, Casimilo had made his fortune killing not only people, but entire
planets.
Gazing down at the dead man, he frowned as he recalled the words
the noble had uttered with his final breath.
"Last but not least, what's going on with House Banfield right
now?"
The Berkeley Family wielded great power in the Empire, and yet
there was someone willing to go up against them. That someone was Liam
Sera Banfield.
Casimilo's sons exchanged glances, hesitant to report what
information they had.
Seeing this, Casimilo pressed them. "Tell me."
Finally, one of his older, bearded sons reported, "We sent some
assassins of our own along with some big names we hired to take him out,
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but they all failed."
"Tenacious bastard. Well, as long as we keep sending them, he's
bound to feel the pressure eventually and leave us an opening."
Outwardly, Casimilo appeared to take this report calmly, but one of
his more perceptive sons knew he was actually more than aggravated by
the news and stepped forward to suggest a change of plan.
"Dad, that Liam prick's in the military academy now. I don't think
the Imperial Army will appreciate it if we send any assassins after him
there."
Casimilo knew this already, but his pride had been wounded and he
felt he needed to make a show of force for that very reason.
"And? You want us to just sit back and wait years for him to
complete his training? Listen up—nobility is a business founded on
reputation. Always has been. This punk takes us lightly, and you want us
to just do nothing about it?"
Another of his sons suggested a different mode of attack. "Dad,
House Banfield's in debt. I hear it's a pretty big amount too."
Before Liam's birth, House Banfield had been a poor, tiny territory
out in the boonies, teetering on the verge of collapse, and it likely still was.
No matter how much better Liam might have made things, surely they
would still have a vast amount of debt on their shoulders.
"The debt his predecessors left him with? What of it?"
"He's borrowed from some companies where we have people
behind the scenes. Why don't we make some persuasive suggestions that
they collect on those debts right away?"
Casimilo wasn't sure about this suggestion. He happened to know
that Liam had been steadily repaying his debts. If the companies we're
involved with collect aggressively from this kid who's diligently making his
payments, we'll only lose trust with other clients.
House Berkeley had their hands in a number of moneylending
businesses, both for the profit and to get dirt on other houses. The money
they made from this was nothing to sneeze at, and if the businesses lost
clients because of a downturn in reputation, that would lead to significant
losses to their profits. On the other hand, if they kept sending assassins
after Liam and those assassins continued to fail, more and more houses
would look down on the Berkeley Family.
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We'll just have to prepare ourselves for some losses if we want to
crush that damned kid.
In direct contrast to House Berkeley, Liam had been making a name
for himself by destroying pirates left and right. Casimilo knew that one
day it was inevitable he would have to face off against this noble with a
reputation as a pirate hunter.
If I don't take him down now, I'll be the one in trouble in the future
if he becomes even more prominent.
Plenty of nobles resented House Berkeley, but had thus they far not
opposed him. However, if they joined forces with Liam once he himself
was a fully-fledged noble, Casimilo would have a huge problem on his
hands. Yes, he definitely wanted this taken care of before Liam finished
with his education.
"Very well. Spread a rumor that House Banfield is on the verge of
collapse and won't be able to pay off the remainder of their debts. Hearing
this, all the other moneylenders he's borrowed from should rush to collect
as well."
House Berkeley shifted their sights from Liam himself to House
Banfield as a whole, and a true conflict between great noble houses began
to unfold.
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