The guide revealed the truth to me.

Upon hearing this truth, I said,

"You know, the 'after-sales service is thorough' thing was true, wasn't it?"

"Huh?"

The guide let out a foolish sound.

He must have been embarrassed and trying to act tough when he told me.

I never imagined he was secretly doing so much for me.

"You don't have to hide it. You were doing a lot behind the scenes for me, weren't you?"

"No, well... yes."

If I had been treated like Peter, I would have been forced into something and contracted a venereal disease by now.

He was doing his best for me.

Perhaps he was the one who arranged for me to meet Kurt? It might have been a coincidence, but it seems like something he would do.

Could it be that all my good fortune with the Reizel family was his doing?

"You're such a good guy."

"Huh?"

The guide clutched his chest.

As I was about to say something, I spoke first.

"Don't be embarrassed. You cut ties with the Reizel family for me, didn't you? I heard that family was demoted and is having a hard time. Besides, if I had been tied to a family like that, I would be in trouble now. Thank you so much."

"--N-No, stop it."

Seeing the guide blush and struggle, I offered my sincere thanks.

He really is a good guy.

"You also cornered the infuriatingly virtuous Lord Pittock family, didn't you? I hated that family too. Goody-two-shoes are so annoying."

Was the family feud also his doing? I'm very grateful that he eliminated that eyesore of a family.

"N-No, that's--"

As the guide hid his face and trembled with embarrassment, I rubbed my nose and said...

"You're... so kind. Ah, thank you."

As I shyly expressed my gratitude, the guide let out a scream.

"GYAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!"

The guide vanished as if he had dissipated.

As I stood there in surprise, Brian began to move.

"My Lord Liam, what's wrong?"

--Thinking of the guide who disappeared from my sight in embarrassment, I shook my head slightly.

"It's nothing. Yeah, I suddenly feel better. I'll give up on the hairstyle."

Brian tilted his head, but seemed to understand and was contacting the government office.

I was making too much of a fuss over a hairstyle.

However, what bothered me was that the hairstyle fell out of fashion within months of me acknowledging it.

Were you guys messing with me?

◇

Before enrolling in the junior academy.

Many guests visited the territory, wanting to meet me while I was still here.

Nias was one of them.

"My Lord Liam~, Nias wants you to buy her a battleship."

Seeing Nias dressed up, I scoffed.

"Go home, disappointing girl."

"How cold! Your attitude is so cold, My Lord Liam!"

Nias, who had become quite wealthy after selling a fortress-class ship, was taken away by the servants when I snapped my fingers.

"My Lord Liam, two hundred ships will do!"

Her scream was one that could confirm the Doppler effect.

Besides, she completely misunderstood my feelings.

I could tell her, but it would be too much trouble, and I'd feel like I lost.

After all, I'm in the superior position.

Just figure it out already.

"Amagi, call the next guest."

"Yes, Master."

Amagi brought the next guest into the room.

It was Eurycia from the Third Weapons Factory.

She was dressed up quite a bit and wearing a provocative outfit.

"Count, it's been a while."

After greeting the determined Eurycia, I had her sit down -- she showed me the inside of her skirt. She also emphasized the cleavage of her chest.

"I wanted to introduce you to the new weapons that the Third Weapons Factory is selling --"

She started explaining the products, but I had no interest.

Their performance was barely different from slightly older products.

The design was excellent, but the performance had only improved slightly.

But the price was high.

It was poor cost performance.

Watching Eurycia, who seemed to be paying attention to me, I thought she was also a disappointing girl.

"--I don't feel like buying them."

Then, Eurycia took off her jacket.

It was an outfit with a lot of exposed skin, almost like underwear.

She sat next to me and leaned her body against me.

Unlike Nias, she had a certain allure.

She's beautiful, but she lacks this kind of skill.

"Count, if you buy them, you can do as you please with me --"

I shook off her arm, stood up, and clapped my hands.

The servants took Eurycia away.

"W-Count!?"

"I had expectations for you, so this is disappointing. --Take her away."

"M-Count!!"

She disappeared just like Nias.

Women related to weapons factories are no good.

Well, it's amusing, so I'll let the weapons factory know to keep assigning them to me.

Amagi looked at me.

"This concludes the morning session."

"There's an afternoon session too?"

"Yes. Mr. Thomas wishes to have an audience."

"Echigoya?"

◇

Liam's mansion -- one of the guest rooms.

Eurycia, in her underwear, distorted her face in frustration in the luxurious dressing room.

"--To humiliate me like this, I will never forgive you."

Eurycia is a talented woman.

She had been pursued by many men before.

Among the men who approached her were nobles.

However, she refused them and had persevered until now.

She had a face like an actress, a body that men preferred -- she acquired education, and worked hard with the goal of ingratiating herself with the heir of a great noble family.

When she was assigned to the weapons factory, she was happy because it offered more opportunities to meet great nobles.

She polished herself and protected her purity -- all to catch the eye of a great noble.

She was aiming for a golden marriage.

She believed she had the qualifications for it, and she was not mistaken.

Yet, Liam didn't even look at her.

At first, she thought he liked her and planned to use Liam to find her ideal partner -- Eurycia couldn't accept this.

"I will definitely make him turn around, and then I'll discard him. I'll laugh watching him beg for forgiveness."

Liam is a great noble.

When discarding him, she would need to be dating a man of equal or greater standing.

But before that, she was determined to make Liam turn around.

"Speaking of which, the Count will be entering the junior academy soon, won't he?"

Eurycia looked in the mirror and noticed her own cold smile.

◇

After the lunch break.

I had an audience with Thomas.

"It's become quite difficult to have an audience with you, My Lord Liam."

Lately, too many people have been gathering.

It's troublesome, with all these people trying to use me.

If they offered me benefits, like Thomas, the merchant, I might consider it, but everyone is only thinking of themselves.

"Most of these people are useless even if I meet them."

"The fact that so many people are gathering is proof of how much expectation is placed upon you, My Lord Liam. Ah, let's get to the main point."

Thomas brought the items necessary for entering the junior academy.

"These are the items to be used at the junior academy."

"Won't they be provided there?"

"For someone of your status, My Lord Liam, it is problematic to use the same items as the common students. We have prepared your family crest for all items, so please check them."

Regarding the junior academy, only families of Baron rank or higher among the territorial nobles can attend.

However, if they are court nobles, even knight families can attend.

Therefore, the number of students is very large.

It seems I cannot use the same equipment as the general students.

"This is troublesome."

"I've heard that at the junior academy, you will learn the basics of being an Imperial noble and take classes that will be useful in the officer academy or university."

There are also general students in the officer academy and university.

It seems they intend to educate nobles beforehand to give them a head start, so they don't fall behind those general students.

In other words, they will provide pre-education to nobles to give them a head start.

"It's just a game anyway. There's no need to worry about it."

It's a place for preliminary study before the main education.

"For you, My Lord Liam, it is indeed just a game. By the way, have you decided on your plans after graduating from the junior academy?"

After graduation, it is necessary to proceed to the officer academy or a university designated by the Empire.

One must enroll in both, and refusal is not an option.

"Not yet. It's all the same to me."

"Since you are already a Count, My Lord Liam, it seems difficult for you to remain in the capital planet after graduation."

"I'll be back in the territory soon."

In the Empire, I am just a noble.

But in my hometown, I am a king.

I will savor my kingly気分 in a place where I can lord it over.

To do that, I need to finish my training quickly.

"And then --"

Thomas bowed apologetically.

"Thank you very much for the tax reduction for our company."

I helped Thomas, who had a hard time after failing to deceive the Pittock family.

I granted him a special tax reduction for several years.

Really, he needs to be more careful.

"Be more careful from now on."

"Y-Yes. Also, will you be establishing a mansion on the capital planet, My Lord Liam?"

"A mansion on the capital planet?"

As part of my training, I will be studying abroad on the capital planet, and it seems to be the custom for nobles to establish a mansion then.

I don't think it's necessary, but it seems I need one to maintain my status.

"Come to think of it, my grandparents and parents also had mansions."

"Land prices on the capital planet are astronomical, so it would be best to secure good land early."

The junior academy is boarding-only.

The officer academy is the same, but one must attend university.

I was thinking of renting an apartment, but... what should I do?

"This is troublesome. I won't be using it much anyway. Isn't there another way?"

"In that case, I often hear of people renting hotels on the capital planet."

"Hotels?"

"Yes, even if you establish a mansion on the capital planet, if it's very far from the university, you rent a hotel instead."

It seems that a mansion must be built.

"Then, let's go with that. List the hotels that can be rented. It should be fine to build the mansion while I'm at the junior academy."

"Understood."

I have no intention of using it anyway.

It's fine to build it safely.

Perhaps I should look for cheap land and build it there?

◇

Brian was in his room in the mansion -- on the veranda, tending to his bonsai.

He was humming a tune.

"It's a beautiful day today, isn't it?"

Before Liam was born, he never thought such a day would come.

And now, Liam is of age to enter the junior academy.

"I'm looking forward to the day My Lord Liam returns."

As he arranged and admired his beloved bonsai, the head maid came to the garden.

"Oh, what is it?"

The head maid was holding a parasol.

"A walk. He's walking around the mansion on his own."

"He's very dedicated to his work."

Thinking it was good that he called this person, Brian invited the head maid to the veranda.

He prepared tea, and the two began to reminisce.

"Brian, how is your family doing?"

"My grandson and his wife are scheduled to return here soon."

"--Is that so. It's good that you can call them back."

Brian has a grandson, his wife, and a great-grandchild.

His son and daughter-in-law -- they were no longer around.

"Yes, thanks to My Lord Liam."

"When you live a long time, many things happen. Old habits are hard to break, and it's easier to work than to rest on holidays."

"You're a workaholic, aren't you?"

As Brian laughed, the head maid nodded, saying, "That's right."

"--Brian, you've found a good master. It was worth enduring, wasn't it?"

"It's not endurance. It was my way of repaying Lord Alistair."

"You should have just come to the palace. If you had, you would have attained a certain position."

He had been invited to work at the palace by the head maid once.

But he was glad he refused now.

"Even so, I am happy now, so it's fine."

"You have no desires. --I envy you."

◇

--From a place where Liam's mansion can be seen.

There lay the collapsed guide.

After revealing everything to Liam, he was thanked and received a fatal blow.

He was fading away and could no longer move properly.

He never dreamed that he would be thanked so sincerely while in the middle of revealing the truth.

What is that guy? --The guide was genuinely terrified of Liam.

Breathing with difficulty,

"D-Damn you -- Liam -- I will definitely get revenge -- this grudge I will definitely --"

To get revenge, he had to rest for a while.

And he had to gather negative emotions.

He needed to gather as many negative emotions as possible to defeat Liam.

"That's right. The capital planet of the Empire. There, an overwhelming amount of negative emotions swirl. If I go there, I can recover."

And then, next time, he would defeat Liam -- thinking this, the guide stood up and staggered away.

Following behind him was a dog.

Its form gradually became clearer, but the guide was too weak to notice the dog following him.

"Liam -- the next time we meet, it will be your end."

The guide once again swore revenge on Liam.

Brian (crying): "It's painful to say goodbye to everyone. This Brian looks forward to the day we can meet again."