Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 185

185.

While Lillian prepared to depart for Grenian, Hamilton made her trip widely known.

It was no exaggeration to say that Hamilton was the busiest of the commanders. Despite his initial worries about the position, he was proving to be exceptionally capable.

Then, Ted came to thank me.

“Thanks to you, I’ve been assigned to the South. I appreciate your help.”

“I didn’t do much. His Majesty makes all the decisions. There were objections, but as a member of the Imperial Family, it’s true that you have a responsibility to resolve the unrest in the South.”

I took a sip of tea before continuing.

“Duke Beregon certainly didn’t seem pleased. He seems to think that resolving the Southern Coalition’s continued provocations is the responsibility of March Serbaçe [a region bordering the South] and Lord Mitchell.”

I spoke calmly, but my words were enough to sow discord between Ted and Duke Beregon.

Ted gave a bitter smile.

“To my maternal grandfather, I am a grandson, but Lord Mitchell is a son and the next head of the family, so it’s understandable. Resolving the Southern Coalition issue would bring great merit, but suddenly, I’m stepping into that situation.”

I didn’t bother to refute Ted’s words.

Instead, I further heightened Ted’s wariness towards Mitchell.

“It probably won’t be easy even if you go. March Serbaçe is from Duke Beregon’s knightage, and Mitchell has already firmly established himself. They probably won’t welcome you.”

“It’s a problem I have to overcome. I will never tarnish the honor of the Imperial Family.”

“Good. Go and uphold the honor of Leod.”

I emphasized our shared surname.

‘Not bad.’

Ted and Beregon being at odds is very good for me.

‘Duke Austin’s Riverhill family also can’t fully support Chen due to their own ambitions.’

Recently, the movements of the two ducal families have been unusual.

‘Perhaps my rapid growth has caused Beregon and Austin to become impatient, and the two dukes have begun to directly exert the influence they had previously exercised through the princes.’

Furthermore, as they began to properly support their sons, the next heads of their families, Ted and Chen were feeling a sense of crisis.

‘I should meet Chen soon too.’

Chen has a completely different personality from Ted, but he might be easier to handle.

I roughly concluded the conversation and sent Ted back.

I didn’t want to worry about the Southern Coalition issue any further. Handling the affairs of the South myself would be taking on too much.

The Grenian stabilization issue, Western development, etc.—I have plenty to do.

After Ted left, Gale visited.

“Your Highness!”

“Ah, I was about to start training. Want to join, Gale?”

“I have something to tell you before that.”

I offered Gale a seat and asked.

“What is it?”

“Now that Lillian, the Archmage of the Magic Tower, is going to Grenian, I would like to send knights to Grenian as well.”

“Of course. It’s difficult for Lillian to take care of Grenian alone. We need knights to be in charge of security.”

“How about sending Vice-Commander Riorden and the knights?”

I immediately agreed.

“Riorden is trustworthy. He’s experienced and skilled, so he can definitely go and do his part.”

Since Gale was here, I asked about the atmosphere of the Knights.

“How’s the morale of the knights?”

“It’s definitely higher since the war with Phireon. Loyalty has also been strengthened. A few days ago, Soris provided horses and some equipment to the knights who hadn’t received them yet, and the knights were all delighted.”

“Horses and equipment are basic necessities for knights. There are no issues with delayed salaries, right?”

“No.”

I spoke comfortably to Gale.

“If the Knights need anything, request it at any time. The Knights are my symbol of power. Even His Majesty, when he founded the Empire, had the Imperial Knights by his side.”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

I stood up.

“Good. Let’s make the most of today. It’s rare to spend time like this inside the Imperial Palace. Like the Southern Coalition issue, there are many problems in the Empire, and I intend to actively step up and solve them. Just because I’m the Crown Prince doesn’t mean people will recognize me if I stay in the Imperial Palace. I need to go everywhere and make my presence known.”

The Empire is in its early stages.

Because it is still in the early stages of its founding, it relies heavily on His Majesty’s presence.

If His Majesty were to disappear tomorrow, how many nobles would pledge allegiance to this Empire, recognize me as the rightful heir, and enthrone me as Emperor?

Or would the people agree to me inheriting His Majesty’s position?

These are all issues that cannot be guaranteed.

A stable empire can safely pass power to the successor even if the Emperor suddenly disappears, but an early, chaotic nation is different.

Moreover, the Empire is full of prestigious families.

They are always eyeing the Emperor’s vacant seat.

I needed to show my presence to both the nobles and the people.

That I am the rightful heir and an excellent successor.

Gale stood beside me and said.

“Your Highness, while various tasks are important, you must not neglect the preparations for your coming-of-age ceremony.”

I exclaimed, “Ah!”

My coming-of-age ceremony and wedding were not far off.

* * *

On the evening of the scheduled banquet, the Crown Prince’s Palace received far more requests for visits from nobles than at its first banquet.

Even nobles whose visit requests had not been accepted were demanding entry at the entrance of the Crown Prince’s Palace, claiming they had come to the banquet.

Gale personally greeted the nobles at the entrance again, politely turning away those whose visit requests had not been accepted.

“Thanks to the Duke, my presence seems to be greatly felt by the nobles.”

Duke James held up his wine glass.

I lightly clinked glasses with him.

“Now that the White family has decided to side with His Highness the Crown Prince, the calculations of many nobles will become complicated.”

“Is it a coincidence, or is it intentional? I heard that a banquet is currently being held hosted by Duke Beregon.”

Duke James smiled faintly.

“One of Duke Beregon’s grandsons and one of Duke Yan’s granddaughters have promised to marry, so there is sufficient justification for the banquet. However, setting the date for today is certainly a deliberate choice, knowing about Your Highness’s banquet.”

Duke James took a sip of wine and continued.

“Furthermore, it is a clear attempt to control the nobles under his influence. It’s a kind of warning not to even approach Your Highness’s banquet.”

Not a single noble classified as a noble faction noble, or even leaning towards the noble faction’s power, attended my banquet.

“Now that Duke Yan has abandoned his ambiguous neutral stance and joined the noble faction, they are now undeniably mainstream.”

In terms of numbers, size of power, and overall strength, the noble faction nobles overwhelmed the imperial faction nobles.

Some imperial faction nobles participated in my banquet, but not all of them.

In other words, I was not the leader of the imperial faction nobles, but the head of a new force called the Crown Prince faction.

To maintain a presence in the center, it was necessary to maintain friendships with the imperial faction nobles and, in the future, make them loyal to me as well.

“There will be many changes in the Great Hall [the Imperial Palace] in the future.”

Duke James’s words were tinged with worry, but his eyes and expression were full of confidence.

Once a king, his temperament had not disappeared.

“Olivia liked it very much.”

At the sudden words, I asked, “Pardon?” and a deep smile spread across Duke James’s face.

“As a father, I was very worried that I might be forcing an unwanted marriage on my daughter. I saw Your Highness as the approaching trend, and as the head of the family, I had a duty to align the family with the trend. That’s why I made that proposal at the last banquet.”

I listened to Duke James without answering.

“I also wondered if it was right to arrange a political marriage for my daughter, who has the best qualities in the family and the most outstanding talent in history. But individual power always has its limits. Of course, there are people like His Majesty, but His Majesty is always an exception to common sense.”

Many nobles were already gathered around Olivia.

She has now become as much, or even more, of a focus for the nobles as I am.

A Sword Master, the White family’s heiress, and the Crown Princess!

She was in a completely different position from the young ladies of this era.

She can become mainstream with her own skills alone, and her family background is also tremendous. Furthermore, she can now become the Crown Princess and even the Empress, so it was natural for her influence to grow.

“Fortunately, Olivia accepted. I heard from the servants that she is only waiting for Your Highness’s coming-of-age ceremony. I’m actually a little sad. Seeing my daughter looking forward to her marriage is causing a subtle emotion.”

I honestly couldn’t find the words to say. I was a little embarrassed, and my heart fluttered at the news that she was welcoming the marriage with me.

“H, His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!”

At the words of the Crown Prince’s Palace servant, the banquet hall instantly fell silent.

Furthermore, it was not the awkward voice of the Crown Prince’s Palace servant, but the loud voice of the Great Hall servant that announced my father’s appearance in accordance with etiquette.

Everyone’s eyes turned to the entrance, and as soon as my father’s figure appeared, they hurriedly bowed.

My father leisurely approached me.

“Enjoy yourselves comfortably. It’s not a banquet hosted by me, but a banquet hosted by the Crown Prince, and I am an attendee like you.”

There was a brief commotion, but my father’s appearance further heated up the atmosphere of the banquet.

Since my father rarely holds banquets in the first place, it was certainly an unexpected appearance, but the nobles quickly adapted.

“The banquet is quite decent.”

I lowered my head at my father’s words.

My father received the wine glass brought by the Great Hall servant and asked me.

“How does it feel to be the leader of a minority faction?”

A minority faction—an appropriate choice of words. Even with Duke James, it is true that the Crown Prince faction is a minority.

“The responsibility is heavy.”

“You don’t deny being the leader of a political force.”

“Even if I deny it, everyone already sees it that way. And it’s also true.”

Duke James was surprised by my words.

Well, even Duke James finds it difficult to be around my father, but I am treating my father quite comfortably now.

‘The dinner at the Empress’s Palace was a great help.’

Since then, I have been able to treat my father not as the Emperor, but as my real father.

My father’s image of deeply loving my mother, still unable to forget her and longing for her, left a deep impression on me.

Ron Karl Leod is also human.

He is just a person with excellent skills, not a monster.

He is a person who lives with revenge for his mother and his own political ideals.

I was able to judge my father that way, and thanks to that, the distance between us became much closer.

‘Of course, the fact that I grew beyond my father’s expectations also had an impact. I approached my father with the dinner at the Empress’s Palace, but my father approached me by acknowledging my skill growth.’

As the two people narrowed the distance at the same time, the relationship between them could not help but become comfortable.

“Young Lady.”

At my father’s call, Olivia immediately approached.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What do you think about advancing the Crown Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony?”

“Pardon?”

Olivia was very surprised and ended up asking back in a manner that was out of etiquette, but my father said calmly.

“The Crown Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony is also the wedding of the two of you. It is natural to ask the bride’s opinion about the wedding. I am thinking of advancing the Crown Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony and the wedding of the two of you. Shouldn’t the two of you go together even if the Crown Prince leaves for his direct territory once you become a couple?”