It had been about three years since I started attending the Imperial University.

"Thank you all for gathering here."

Gathered in the large conference room of a hotel were a bunch of nobles, every last one of them with a villainous look on their face.

A dandyish man, young yet with slicked-back white hair, maintained a nonchalant attitude.

This villain, who looked like someone you couldn't let your guard down around, was Count Francis Sera Gannes.

"Well, well, I never thought I'd be summoned to the Capital Planet to be involved in the founding of a new faction. I'm delighted~"

He's all smiles, but he's the type where you can't tell what he's really thinking.

A common type among villains.

And then there was the muscular old man with an eyepatch—no, it was Count Jericho Sera Goul—laughing heartily.

His body was covered in scars, which could easily be removed with modern medicine, yet he hadn't.

It seems he prefers an appearance that intimidates those around him.

This guy, too, looked like a bad dude, both in face and appearance.

"I never expected to be summoned by some brat from the Banfield family!"

He threw a stinging, sarcastic remark my way.

For a man of his build, he's quite petty.

He's not as tough as he looks; he reeks of a small-time crook.

Amidst all this, Baron Exner, a rather handsome middle-aged man, stepped up to play the mediator.

"More importantly, Lord Liam, are you serious about establishing a faction? We've heard the rumors about His Highness Cleo, you know."

The prince furthest from the imperial throne.

It's no wonder they're anxious, hearing that we're going to support Cleo.

But I have a plan to win.

"Of course. I promised to put His Highness Cleo on the imperial throne."

The nobles began to murmur amongst themselves.

They were mainly landed nobles, each possessing their own territory.

Many of them were lords who stayed away from the Imperial Court, and thus, many were not privy to its inner workings.

Baron Exner was looking worried.

"I've heard that His Majesty's impression of him is... well, not very favorable, shall we say?"

"I'm sure it is. That's precisely what makes it valuable."

To me, the current Emperor is highly likely to be an enemy, so I have no choice but to eliminate him.

Count Gannes showed strong interest.

"Excellent~. My house has a history of being treated coldly after incurring the wrath of an emperor several generations ago. I'd like to use this opportunity to make a comeback."

What kind of evil deeds did his family commit? Well, as a fellow corrupt lord, he's as reliable as they come.

As the number of supporters grew, Count Goul also came around.

"I can't have the squabbles at court affecting my territory. It's true that I want a convenient Emperor. But I hear that both Prince Calvin and Prince Linus are formidable opponents, aren't they?"

Hearing this, I presented some documents.

"Please take a look at this. It contains details of Prince Linus's backroom deals with a foreign country."

Count Gannes placed a hand on his chin.

"This is a bit weak. It's not an unheard-of story, and it wouldn't be surprising if it were true. Even with evidence, I think he'd just feign ignorance."

We don't need to corner him.

We just need to publicize the fact that Linus is doing shady things behind the scenes.

"Unlike the shady Linus, we can promote His Highness Cleo as an upstanding man. Besides, I don't expect to bring him down with just this. We'll have him win the throne through sheer ability."

Baron Exner was breaking out in a cold sweat.

He's probably thinking this is all too much for him to handle.

"There's no problem at all. His Highness Cleo will be the one in the line of fire, and I will be the one supporting him. All I need from you all is your subtle cooperation."

If they know we have this many allies, others will surely offer their cooperation.

There is strength in numbers!

Still, I gathered a bunch of villains, but... there are fewer than I expected.

I wonder if many of them disappeared when I destroyed the Berkley family?

◇

Liam became the representative of the faction and widely publicized his support for Cleo.

That evening, Linus came to meet with Cleo.

The two met in the reception room and were making small talk, but Linus grew impatient and got to the point.

"Cleo, I misunderstood you."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Regardless of your position, I thought you would live a modest and peaceful life. That's why I've overlooked you until today."

"—Is that so."

Linus stood up from the sofa.

"From this day forward, you will never have another peaceful night's sleep."

It was as if Linus had declared war on Cleo.

"A declaration of war? You seem quite confident, brother."

"—Don't get cocky, you little shit."

Linus dropped his pretense.

"Don't get full of yourself just because you've got that brat from the Banfield family on your side. Do you really think you're on my level just because a mere hundred nobles have sided with you?"

From his irritation, Cleo could guess.

"You seem quite irritated. —Did something happen?"

Linus's eyes were bloodshot, and just as he was about to make a move, Tia, who was standing by behind Cleo, spoke up.

"I can see you, Your Highness Linus."

Linus froze, then straightened his back and left the room.

"—You will regret joining the fight for the throne. You are now my enemy."

Watching Linus leave, Cleo leaned back against the sofa.

"We were enemies from the very beginning, brother."

Tia prepared tea for Cleo.

Watching her movements, Cleo sensed just how capable a person Tia was.

His own older sister was a skilled knight, but Tia was even better.

"Your Highness Cleo, do you dislike His Highness Linus?"

Tia's question troubled him.

"It's not that I dislike him. We both have our positions. I do think that if we had met under different circumstances, we might have gotten along."

Cleo also thought that if they weren't royalty, or if they were royalty but not in a position to fight for the throne...

But it was useless.

There was no point in such talk.

As he was sipping the drink Tia had prepared, Cecilia entered the room.

Her flaxen hair was long and straight, and unlike Lysithea, she was dressed in a feminine manner.

She was a woman with a gentle, placid air about her.

"Cleo-chan, Brother Linus was angry. What happened?"

Cleo looked at his eldest sister and felt anxious.

(If possible, I want to get her, and only her, out of the inner palace.)

A fierce conflict was about to begin.

He wanted to do something, anything, for Cecilia, who was not suited for conflict.

"It's nothing, sister. By the way, Tia."

"Yes?"

"—Could you ask a favor of Count Banfield? I want him to find a fiancé for my sister."

Cleo himself was in a delicate position, and the effects of that extended to his sister, Cecilia.

Despite being royalty, Cecilia had low succession rights and no fiancé.

In a way, her position was worse than Wallace's.

Tia thought for a moment before answering.

"I will relay this to Lord Liam."

However, Cecilia, who was suddenly told of an engagement, could only be bewildered.

"Huh? Whaaaat!? Why are we suddenly talking about my engagement!?"

◇

After the banquet with the nobles ended, I was drinking with Baron Exner.

"Do you have any idea, Count!? How it feels to have posters of yourself sold, and what's more, to find them plastered all over your subordinates' lockers!!"

He seemed to have a lot pent up, and he was getting drunk in a bad way.

"Ah, I understand."

I couldn't understand his feelings in the slightest.

Is it fun to put up posters of a man?

And Baron Exner isn't an idol or anything.

I'm a man too, but if there were posters of me, it would probably be in a situation where an assassin was preparing a photo to memorize my face as a target.

There's probably no one who has a poster of me.

Baron Exner was crying.

"I feel so pathetic, making money by selling my own merchandise. On top of that, my son's engagement isn't settled... ah, the offer to accept my daughter for training hasn't been withdrawn, has it?"

His business acumen, selling his own merchandise to make a profit, is something to behold.

I, too, must possess this much spirit as a corrupt lord.

"Leave it to me. I'll take good care of her."

I see.

So Kurt doesn't have a fiancée.

He must have it tough with his position and all.

While I was drinking with Baron Exner, I received a call from Tia, whom I had assigned to His Highness Cleo.

"Excuse me, it's from a subordinate. —What is it?"

I stood up from my seat to talk with Tia.

I thought I heard a small, lustrous voice say something like, 'Ah~, Lord Liam's voice,' but it must have been my imagination.

"'Lord Liam, I have a request—not an order—from His Highness Cleo.'"

"A request? Is it about money?"

I was wondering how much I should arrange for him, but apparently, that wasn't it.

"'No, His Highness Cleo has an older sister, Her Highness Cecilia. She is over one hundred and fifty years old, an age where it wouldn't be strange for her to be married, but due to her position, she has no partner.'"

I'm not sure what to do, even if you tell me that.

I think I saw her when we met.

She was a beauty with a fluffy, air-headed sort of vibe.

"Do you think I can do anything about it? Engagements and marriages are matters for the Imperial Court to decide."

"'There is no problem in that regard. She has been left alone because she has no partner. Therefore—how about we marry her off to a noble who is close to you, Lord Liam?'"

Tia's proposal was tantamount to saying I should use Her Highness Cecilia to put another house in my debt.

Her Highness Cecilia is royalty, and in the Empire, there is no better bloodline.

If anyone were to complain about her lineage, it would become a major issue.

Her father is His Majesty the Emperor, and her mother's family is of the high nobility—however, because of the problem of being His Highness Cleo's sister, the other nobles couldn't make a move.

Unlike Wallace, she seems like someone whose marriage would be decided immediately if only the issue with His Highness Cleo were resolved.

"—Marriage, huh."

"'Yes. Her bloodline is impeccable, and she has a good disposition. It would be wonderful if a good match could be found.'"

I looked at the drunken, sleeping Baron Exner.

"—A newly risen house would want a good bloodline, right?"

"'Do you have someone in mind?'"

I woke up Baron Exner to talk to him.

Baron Exner was groggy, but he seemed able to talk somehow.

"Baron Exner, I actually have something to discuss regarding Kurt's marriage."

"Kurt? Ahh, we need to find him a partner soon~"

"I have an acquaintance, a woman with a solid bloodline. Though she's quite a bit older."

"Older, you say~? No, that's a bit—I feel sorry for Kurt, you know."

"Indeed, a difference of about seventy years would be tough."

"Seventy!? —Isn't that within the acceptable range?"

Huh? It's okay?

But, on second thought, this is a world where people have long lifespans.

Does a seventy-year difference not matter?

—I'd hesitate a bit, though.

"A-Are you really sure?"

"They say older women are nice~. I think it would be good for Kurt to have a reliable, older wife—"

He was starting to ramble.

"So Kurt is okay with it?"

"I'd worry if it were a hundred-year difference, but I feel like—he said that much would be fine."

In that case, I should introduce them right away.

"Then, let's arrange a meeting right away. Ah, and by meeting, I mean it's practically with marriage as a prerequisite."

"Excellent! With this, Kurt will finally be a man~ huh? Is it better to wait until after he graduates from the military academy?"

"Then let's have them marry after he graduates from the academy."

"Mmm! No problem then!"

I relayed this to Tia, who had been listening to the conversation.

"Is a meeting with Kurt possible?"

"'Yes. Shall I summon him?'"

"Of course."

Heh—I've taken care of my friend's marriage.

Her bloodline is solid, and she's a beauty, so Kurt will surely be overjoyed.

I looked at Baron Exner, who had happily fallen asleep right away.

"You can look forward to a wedding gift, Baron."

◇

When Baron Exner returned to his domain, it was in an uproar.

"What is this about an Imperial Princess marrying into our family!?"

Baron Exner's wife was in a panic.

The entire mansion was in an uproar.

"I-I don't know. I have no idea! I was drunk and asleep, and Kurt's marriage was decided in the meantime!"

"We're a baronial house that has only just risen in status! Even if we were to welcome an Imperial Princess, our rank is not high enough!"

"I-I said it was impossible too! But then Liam-kun said, 'It'll be fine, it'll be fine!'"

"It's not fine! In the first place, we're poor!"

Listening to this conversation was Kurt's younger sister, Ciel Sera Exner.

She had long, soft, wavy silver hair and purple eyes.

Her features resembled Kurt's; she was a beautiful girl with well-defined eyes and nose.

She was petite with a slender build.

While listening to her parents' conversation, Ciel was talking with her brother, Kurt, via communication.

"Oh, you poor thing, brother."

"'Eh, you think so? But Liam went to the trouble of arranging this match for me, so I can't turn it down.'"

Seeing her happy-looking brother, Ciel wanted to cry in her heart.

(Ever since brother came back from his training, it's always 'Liam, Liam'—Liam, I'll never forgive you.)

Her brother, whom she had admired, had started talking about nothing but Liam at some point.

As his younger sister, Ciel could not forgive that.

(Besides, that guy is definitely not the good person my brother and the others think he is. I'm sure he's black-hearted on the inside.)

Kurt sounded happy.

"'Still, marriage, huh. It doesn't feel real. Ah, more importantly, I'm meeting Liam soon. What kind of clothes do you think I should wear? Is my uniform best, after all?'"

Seeing her brother, who was supposed to be going to a marriage meeting, worrying about Liam instead of his prospective partner, Ciel started to cry.

"'What would be a good souvenir? Speaking of a souvenir that would make Liam happy—'"

Averting her eyes from the happy-sounding Kurt, Ciel quietly ended the communication.

"—Brother, I will definitely make you see the light. Please wait until then."

Ciel resolved to unmask Liam and reveal his true nature.

Brian (´；ω；｀): "This is painful. It's painful that Lord Liam is being mistaken for a heinous villain. Lord Liam is no villain! —He's just a little misunderstood."