Semi-Coercive Imperialist

─One week later.

The appellate hearing of the criminal trial assigned to Hannah Usar.

“I will… accept all charges.”

In the courtroom, the attitude of the nobles seated in the defendant’s box had done a complete about-face.

“…Uh, what?”

Hannah blinked, pausing midway through organizing her documents.

“We accept the charges as stated in the indictment.”

They hung their heads low like sinners, and there was no defense counsel present.

“…”

Hannah sat at the prosecutor’s bench and stared blankly at the scene.

It was strange. To begin with, the appeal had been scheduled far too early, and she had spent the entire week burning the midnight oil preparing mountains of additional evidence and legal analyses to refute their sophistry.

And now they just roll over like this?

“Then I shall proceed to sentencing.”

The judge was no different. He hurried the trial along with a look on his face as if something were stuck in his throat.

“All criminal proceeds of the defendants shall be confiscated, and a sentence of five years’ imprisonment…”

A verdict delivered just thirty minutes after the session opened.

Unlike before, it was over in the blink of an eye.

“…?”

After the trial ended, Hannah stumbled out of the courthouse. The outcome was exactly what she had wanted, yet something about it left a bad taste in her mouth.

The clerks and administrative officers also wore looks of utter disbelief, but.

“W-well, at least it worked out!”

“Shall we go out for a team dinner?”

“Let’s do it, Sir Knight!”

“…Huh?”

Instead of joining the dinner, Hannah pressed her wallet into their hands. She had spotted someone in the courthouse park.

“Go eat without me! I’ll just be a moment.”

Maximilian. Clad in the formal uniform of a Sentinel Knight, he was a man who stood out from a distance.

“Sir!”

Hannah called out and ran toward him. When Maximilian turned to look at her, he merely raised an eyebrow in silence.

The deeply suspicious manner in which this trial had unfolded.

If she were to trace the cause, no matter how she thought about it, there was no one else it could be.

“…Hah.”

Hannah stood before Maximilian and looked at him. She took one deep breath as she met his cold Golden Eyes, the same as always.

“Was this, by any chance, external pressure from you, Sir?”

Maximilian glanced at her hands. The documents she had prepared were crushed into a crumpled mess.

“You put in quite the effort, I see.”

With that, he began walking slowly toward somewhere. Hannah naturally fell in a step behind, trailing after him.

“I had every intention of securing the conviction on my own.”

“Then you should have secured it at the first trial.”

“But the evidence was so airtight that-“

“The judge had already been bought, and the duties of an Imperial knight are far too heavy to waste time on a mere criminal trial.”

Thud. Thud.

Their footsteps overlapped.

Hannah walked watching his back, while Maximilian already had a destination in mind.

“Before you are a commoner, you are a knight of the Sentinel. If you lose in something as trivial as a trial, that is not your personal incompetence. It is a problem for the entire Sentinel Knight Order. I see no reason whatsoever to tolerate such humiliation.”

He stopped and turned to face Hannah.

“Knight Hannah Usar. If the result is right, do not be choosy about the means. We are short on time, and you have your own power and authority.”

My own power and authority.

“Remember this. Before you are a commoner, you are a knight.”

“…”

The defeatism toward the nobility that Hannah had unconsciously carried, or rather, the defeatism that any commoner could not help but feel.

Maximilian had pointed that out, and Hannah thought it over carefully before nodding.

“Yes. I will keep that in mind.”

“Good. Get in.”

They were already at the parking lot. Maximilian gestured toward a luxury car with his eyes.

“Oh, I have my own car.”

The moment Hannah pointed to her trusty ride, parked not far away.

Hissssss─.

Black smoke came pouring violently from the gaps in the junker’s hood. One look was enough. It was broken. It had ceased to be a car.

“…I’ll get in.”

Biting her lip in embarrassment, Hannah climbed into the passenger seat.

“…”

Maximilian stared at her in silence.

“Please, get in.”

“…”

“Yes?”

“…”

What on earth is his problem?

A question mark practically floated above Hannah’s head.

“?”

“…”

“What?”

“…”

Hannah blinked and looked around.

Herself in the passenger seat, and the driver’s seat, completely empty.

Only then did she realize her mistake.

“Oh, I assumed a chauffeur would be coming separately.”

She hurriedly moved to the driver’s seat. Only then did Maximilian take the passenger seat beside her.

“…Ahem. Where to?”

“The Sentinel.”

Hannah stepped on the gas.

Vroom!

She marveled at the performance of the car as it shot forward.

“Wow…”

She drove with her mouth hanging open. A car that turned when you turned the wheel, that moved when you hit the gas. It had been far too long since she’d driven one like this.

Vroooom.

Gliding smoothly, they crossed the Imperial center and arrived at the Sentinel Knight Order headquarters before she knew it.

Maximilian got out of the car. Hannah followed him out, secretly reluctant to leave.

“Um, Sir. The car key…”

Hannah held out the car key with both hands, respectfully.

Maximilian gazed at the key in her hands for a long moment, then said, offhandedly:

“It just so happens I was due for a new car.”

“…Huh?”

He jerked his chin toward t⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌he car and added,

“I’m telling you to keep it.”

“…What?”

Maximilian walked into the Knight Order headquarters just like that, and,

“…WHAT?”

Hannah stood frozen, staring down at the top-of-the-line, brand-new car key placed in her hand.

* * *

The deepest sanctum of the Imperial household.

Beyond the crimson drapes, the Emperor upon his throne slowly read thr⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌ough a document handed to him by someone.

“It is a law to protect the purity of the Aran, Your Majesty.”

A proposal for a new policy. An elegant voice tickled the Emperor’s ear.

─Hmm.

The Emperor gently set the document down and looked across at her, a satisfied smile forming on his lips.

─Explain it to me in that beautiful voice of yours.

At this, the woman smiled faintly and began.

“Currently, within Your Majesty’s great Empire, in addition to the Merin, the Sled race, and the many foreign peoples who have crossed the borders, even Subspecies live among us…

…The Empire is the most superior nation, so it is understandable that they breathe and live within our territory. However, is there truly any reason they should be granted ‘citizenship’ equal to that of the Aran?

Should those inferior breeds ever enter into marriage with an Aran, the purity of the Aran would be forever tarnished. Therefore, we must, by the name of the law, refuse and block such filthy crossbreeding at its source.

Not only the Subspecies, who cannot even approach being human, but also those with dark skin. Those who follow religions far too alien to the Empire, for whom religion has become their very way of life, must be treated the same way…”

The Emperor closed his eyes quietly. As though savoring the lyrics of a beautiful opera─ he listened to the words she recited.

“I wish to name this law the ‘Imperial Citizenship Law for Protection of Aran Bloodline’, which shall establish the very foundation of the Empire.”

From between her crimson lips, the contents of the bill flowed like poetry.

“Article 1: Marriages between other races or Subspecies and those of Aran blood are strictly forbidden. Article 2: Extramarital sexual relations between Aran and such peoples shall likewise be designated as racial contamination and severely punished.”

The retainers standing behind her exchanged wary glances.

“Article 3: Inferior races may not employ Aran-blooded individuals under the age of forty as domestic servants or in any private service capacity.”

This, to purge the mongrels who dared wield money as a weapon to command the Aran.

“Article 4: They may never use the Empire’s sacred national flag or any colors symbolizing the nation. Article 5: Other races and Subspecies shall bear the duty of paying taxes to the Empire, yet shall be permanently stripped of the right to hold public office… Such is my proposal, to protect the purity of the Aran.”

Though the law was still incomplete, the smile never left the Emperor’s lips.

“Henceforth, only those who carry the blood of the Aran, those who prove through their actions the will and ability to be loyal to the Empire, shall earn the right to be true ‘Imperial citizens’.”

─Then, who are the inferior races?

“I wish to clearly define those ambiguous criteria as well, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor listened in silence, then smiled.

─With whom would you set these criteria?

“There is a society I have had my eye on. A place Your Majesty is already aware of.”

─…How lovely, that heart of yours that thinks of the Empire and our people.

At the Emperor’s praise, she bowed her head and responded with grace.

“Not at all. All this wisdom and resolve…”

The firstborn daughter of the firstborn son — the most perfect legitimate bloodline the Empire could produce.

The Emperor’s only flesh and blood.

“…is owed solely to the great benevolence of my father.”

Imperial Princess Justine smiled a vivid crimson smile.

* * *

──There was an institution in the Empire called the 「Kaiser Society」.

On the surface, it is an academic body that researches the history of civilization and anthropology. In truth, it is a cradle of madness, secretly supported and favored by the Imperial household.

This place teems with future war criminals who will one day drown the continent in blood, and they are obsessed with the ranking of races. They seek to grade human beings the way one grades livestock.

“Ah, welcome. Sir Maximilian. You honor us with your presence. Come, come, right this way.”

The president of the Kaiser Society, Wilhelm. The man with the parted hair guided me with a tense expression.

“Please, have a seat.”

I casually picked up a book from his study shelf and sat down.

[On the Hierarchical Structure of Mammals]

It was a zoology book.

“…Doctor Wilhelm. I hear you’ve been conducting research on race.”

“Yes. Of course. Ah, might you also be interested, Sir Kni- of course you are, yes? I’ve heard the rumors.”

“Of course. Not only am I interested, I very much agree with your views, Doctor.”

I smiled to put Wilhelm at ease.

“Just as animals have a hierarchy, there is a clear hierarchy among the races as well. It goes without saying.”

“Ah~ I knew it! How very right you are!”

Wilhelm suddenly pulled stacks of books from under his desk and piled them on top.

“These are books I wrote. I have quite a lot of unsold stock, so…”

“Just explain it to me in your own words.”

“Yes. First, first of all, we Aran are foremost. Someone with perfect traits like you, Sir Knight, is truly the idol of the Empire. Golden Hair, Golden Eyes, tall stature…”

Wilhelm gazed at me with an enraptured expression.

“Ah, anyway. As I was saying──”

The hierarchy of races is as follows. The Aran sit at the apex, and directly below them are the Genen people and the races of the western kingdoms, who share the same roots. Given their deep history alongside the Aran, they may be called ‘quasi-Aran’.

But the Merin, the eastern Sled race, the Yedelem, and the other Subspecies, wallowing in the mire at the bottom of the pyramid, are too inferior to even be worth acknowledging.

“What do you think?”

Their insane theory would one day become reality. Seventy percent of the Merin would be massacred, and more than half the entire population of Subspecies would die in internment camps.

That wave of madness, I could not stop with my power alone.

No, I must not stop it. If it was a sacrifice that had to be made in order to annihilate the greatest evil, the Ezenheim…

And yet.

“By the way, President Wilhelm. You have neither Golden Hair nor Golden Eyes. Does that make you inferior, then?”

At the very least, I must ensure a minimum of selection and control.

That is why I am building my power.

“Pardon? Ah~ well, those physical traits are… um…”

Wilhelm faltered. He stroked his black hair in a fluster.

“My view is this.”

I tapped my temple with my index finger.

“What matters more than appearance is the mind. Of course, it would be ideal if the physical traits are met as well, but even if one’s appearance falls slightly short, an Aran who was born and raised in the Empire with a noble spirit is still an Aran. Much like your exceptionally brilliant mind, Doctor Wilhelm.”

“Ah…! You are absolutely right. The mind! That’s exactly it!”

Wilhelm nodded vigorously.

I continued, as if persuading him.

“And that is why I believe there is a hierarchy even among the Subspecies, and that each has its own use.”

I pulled a photograph from inside my coat and handed it to him.

A photo of Leo, an Aran Shepherd, sitting in a dignified pose. A magnificent presence from the very first glance.

“This is my dog.”

“Ah, a splendid hound.”

“Yes. Among the Subspecies, the Yaken race is like this dog. Their senses are keen and they are loyal to their masters. If properly trained, they could make excellent hounds for rooting out subversives hiding within our society.”

“…Excuse me?”

At Wilhelm’s questioning, I hardened my expression.

“You heard me. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“Ah, my apologies, my apologies. So, you mean to use Subspecies as livestock, like dogs. Is that correct?”

“Exactly. Those so-called descendants of dwarves are deft with their hands, so they’d be useful too. However, the very worst race, in my estimation, is another one entirely.”

Wilhelm blinked several times before answering in a small voice.

“Could it be the Ezenheim race?”

“…”

I gazed at him steadily. A smile I couldn’t control crept across my lips.

“Wilhelm. You’re a genius.”

“I- I a⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌m?”

“That’s right. If you investigate the subversives who participated in the revolution, the proportion of Ezenheim is conspicuously high.”

The actual data did show this, but to make it more definitive, I was in the process of fabricating statistics and figures. Ideological criminals who had died in prison or been executed were, as a rule, being checked off as ‘Ezenheim’.

That was why I was feeding money to the prisons.

“They are a target for extermination and cleansing, beyond any room for compromise.”

At that, Wilhelm swallowed hard.

“Ex- extermination, cl- cl- cleansing?”

“…”

Evidently, they had not yet progressed that far.

I asked back coldly.

“You agree as well, do you not, President?”

“Uh, uh… yes. Yes. I agree.”

Wilhelm nodded in a daze.

“Then.”

I placed the bag I had brought on his desk.

Click.

Blue light spilled from within.

High-purity Mana Stones. More reliable than cash, and a bribe impossible to trace.

“…S-Sir Knight?”

“A donation.”

“P-pardon?!”

“Use it however you wish, for your research.”

Wilhelm gazed at the Mana Stones with eyes brimming with emotion. Not so much greed, but the pure joy of someone who had just received research funding.

I watched him impassively, then stood.

“Then, I’ll be going. It was a good con⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌versation.”

“Yes, yes! Loyalty!”

Wilhelm gave an awkward salute.

I walked out of the Kaiser Society, seen off by them.

The world had turned to night before I knew it, and cold air rushed deep into my lungs.

…Yesterday, a rumor had circulated through the Imperial Palace.

Talk of a policy called the 「Imperial Citizenship Law for Protection of Aran Bloodline」.

Before the regression, I had assumed that law was Johann’s policy. I was wrong.

“H⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌ah…”

Perhaps a monster had already coiled itself deep within the Imperial Palace. Perhaps it had been there since the day it was born.

Johann may have merely been the one who refined the will of that person─Justine.

I closed my eyes quietly.

Even I could not yet afford to fall out of the Emperor’s favor.

Sebestian is my father, but he will prioritize the Emperor over me. And so I, too, must play the part of a loyal subject to the Emperor.

The House of Ebenholtz becomes mine only when Sebestian allows it.

“What a fucking mess.”

I opened my eyes again and looked up at the night sky.

Stars, shining coldly from dizzying heights.

“…Why.”

From among them, an instinctive question suddenly welled up.

“Why must the Empire be yours?”

The Dark Ruler of an already-doomed future.

You, who will lead the Empire to ruin through your own obstinacy, are of no help to humanity.

You are nothing more than a broken clock. So why?

Why must I, the most precise prophet and pioneer on this continent, serve you?

“…The sky remains in the sky.”

And yet, the sky still held its place above.

I, too, was still merely clinging to the ground beneath it.

“…”

Grow stronger, Maximilian.

For only you shall fulfill humanity’s great hope.