The struggle to decide the next emperor within the Empire was proceeding with Cleo in the lead, contrary to most predictions.

Ever since Liam announced his support for Cleo, the faction had been rapidly expanding.

Having overcome numerous crises, the voices supporting Cleo now outnumbered those for Calvin.

However, there was one person who was not happy about this situation.

—Cleo himself.

"It's not my name they're all saying, it's Liam's."

He grumbled in his room, but no one was listening.

He was relaxing alone for the moment.

The one who entered his room was his recently cheerful older sister, Lysithea. Despite being royalty, she was a woman who had chosen the path of a knight to protect Cleo.

Lysithea, with her orange hair tied in a ponytail, happily reported to Cleo.

"Cleo, did you hear? We had so many visitors today that the waiting list for an audience is now several years long!"

The number of nobles and merchants coming to greet Cleo had been increasing.

Furthermore, various organizations were also requesting audiences to meet with Cleo.

Lysithea was excited by this previously unthinkable situation.

"It's great that the faction has solidified. Besides, Brother Calvin is absent right now. There are many nobles who want to meet you. The number of people wishing to switch sides from Calvin's faction is also growing."

It was now rumored that the one closest to the imperial throne was Cleo.

However, the gap between him and Calvin was not very large.

The precarious situation, where any small incident could blow Cleo away, remained unchanged.

"Isn't it Count Banfield they want to see, not me?"

In response to his sarcasm, Lysithea's expression hardened slightly.

"They're probably aiming for Count Banfield too, but that can't be helped. He is your greatest supporter and backer. Without the Count's funds and military power, who knows where we would be right now."

Chided by his sister Lysithea, Cleo decided to apologize meekly.

"I was just joking. But it's tiresome dealing with petitions all morning."

"It just means there are that many people relying on you."

"—It's better than being ignored, I suppose."

(Though most of them probably just see me as the Count's figurehead.)

In truth, he wasn't happy.

He was in his current position not by his own power, but by Liam's.

He recognized that, as a prince, he was still in a weak position.

"Count Banfield is on the capital planet right now, so we're safe no matter what happens! Now then, as for today's schedule—"

Just as Lysithea was about to inform Cleo of his schedule like a secretary, a commotion arose outside the door.

The guard knights came to check with Cleo.

"'Your Highness Cleo, may we have a moment?'"

"What is it?"

"'W-well, actually—Your Highness's mother is here.'"

"Mother?"

The seated Cleo shot to his feet, and Lysithea also stood with her mouth agape in surprise. Their biological mother, [Annabelle Ciel la Langran], had come to visit them out of the blue.

Cleo and Lysithea couldn't hide their confusion at the appearance of the person who had never tried to meet her children before.

They exchanged glances, and Cleo sought Lysithea's opinion.

"Sister, what should we do?"

"—I'll confirm what business she has here. You can give your answer after that. I'll handle it, so Cleo, you stay here."

As Lysithea hurried out, Cleo watched her go and sat back down in his chair.

"What is she doing here now, of all times?"

◇

Meeting with Lady Annabelle, Cleo couldn't hide his surprise.

Thanks to anti-aging technology, Lady Annabelle's appearance was indistinguishable from that of a young woman.

No one would believe you if you told them she had three children and was old enough to have grandchildren.

She could even pass for Cleo's older sister.

This Lady Annabelle was wearing a uniquely flashy dress. The large collar made it look like a frilled-neck lizard.

Her hairstyle was also unique, done up in a way that resembled an onion.

The fact that his mother, who had previously been indifferent to him and his siblings, was now smiling and talking to him felt nothing but strange.

"My dear Cleo, you've grown so much I hardly recognize you. I heard, you know. They say you now have more influence in the palace than even Prince Calvin."

Lady Annabelle had basically been a recluse in the inner palace, cutting off all contact with the outside world. As a result, she was out of touch with current trends and had a peculiar fashion sense.

It seemed that even Lady Annabelle had heard of Cleo's rapid rise.

And so, she had apparently gone out of her way to meet her daughter—no, her son.

Standing diagonally behind Cleo and watching Lady Annabelle, Lysithea wore a bitter expression and averted her gaze.

While Lady Annabelle smiled at Cleo, she didn't even glance at Lysithea.

"If things continue like this, Cleo, you'll be the next emperor."

"It's not decided yet."

"What are you talking about! —Prince Calvin may be the Crown Prince, but he's away from the palace right now. He's showing a weakness by going to fight the Hegemony. You have to take this chance to solidify your position!"

Lady Annabelle's opinion wasn't wrong.

Now, while Calvin was absent, was the perfect time for Cleo's faction to expand its influence within the palace.

But Cleo hadn't been involved in that matter.

"I've left it to Count Banfield."

Lady Annabelle's gaze sharpened.

"—Cleo, I understand very well why you favor Count Banfield. It's because he was the one who supported you in your time of need, wasn't it?"

"Yes, that's right."

(You didn't even try to help us.)

Cleo cursed her inwardly, but he didn't say it out loud.

He wanted to avoid a conflict with his own mother here.

However, Lady Annabelle seemed to have sensed Cleo's feelings.

"It must have been so hard for you. I've done a truly terrible thing. I should have asked my family to protect you."

Grabbing Cleo's hand, Lady Annabelle looked genuinely apologetic.

At her blatant insincerity, Lysithea, waiting in the back, furrowed her brow. She muttered "Too little, too late," in a low voice, but it seemed Lady Annabelle didn't hear her.

"But, you know, it's not good to rely completely on someone. If you keep depending on the Banfield family, problems will arise during your reign."

"That may be so, but..."

The problem for Cleo was that even if he became emperor, he couldn't easily cast Liam aside. Liam was the one holding the faction together, and Cleo owed him a great debt.

If he were to betray him so easily, the other nobles would see him as an "emperor who repays kindness with enmity."

They would avoid getting involved with him as much as possible.

Then, Cleo's faction would weaken, and he wouldn't be able to rule as he wished.

Cleo himself had accepted that.

"You should appoint the Langran family to important positions. Don't cast Count Banfield aside, but gradually start using the Langran family. That way, you can prevent his dictatorship."

"What!"

It was Lysithea who cried out in surprise.

"Cleo, don't listen to her! If you start favoring the Langran family now, the nobles in our faction will never accept it!"

Cleo listened to Lysithea's advice, but he found himself thinking.

(Is it really okay to keep relying completely on Count Banfield? Wouldn't it be better to use the power of the Langran family to seize even a little bit of power for myself?)

The Langran family had only approached him the moment it seemed possible he could become emperor. They weren't trustworthy, but he thought it might not be a bad idea to appoint them to counter Liam.

Despite knowing the disadvantage of them being an untrustworthy house, the reason he was willing to accept them was largely due to Liam's presence.

Cleo—driven by his inferiority complex towards Liam—found a reason and decided to accept the Langran family.

"It's fine, isn't it? I have Langran blood in me as well. If I cast aside my own relatives, the other nobles won't be pleased."

Hearing that, Lysithea hesitated.

"That may be true, but how do you plan to explain this to Count Banfield?"

"I'll explain it to him myself. I'll make Count Banfield understand."

(I'm still the weaker one for now. But one day, surely—)

And so, the Langran family came to join Cleo's faction.

◇

The one who approached me while I was busy at work was Marion.

"You're having a tough time too, senpai."

I don't know what he heard to make him come over, but Marion was surprisingly well-informed about my situation.

"What are you talking about?"

"About the Langran family. I heard that Randy-san was granted a special audience with Prince Cleo. It's not just here; it's the talk of the entire palace."

Marion showed me his terminal, displaying something that looked like the message boards from my previous life.

It was filled with posts meant to provoke me.

Ignoring such posts, I continued with my work.

"I'm busy right now, so don't talk to me."

"Liam-senpai, you're as serious as ever. No matter what you say, you can't hide your diligent nature."

—This guy really doesn't understand anything.

He has no idea what I'm doing right now.

"So? Did you come all this way just to show me this? Did you think I'd hunt these guys down and make a bloodbath of them? I'm too busy for that."

"I thought you'd fly into a rage. What a shame."

I don't have time for that.

As the two of us were talking, Randy showed up, dressed in his usual flashy suit. He was gloating triumphantly.

"Liam, do this too."

What he tossed over was work that had been assigned to Randy and his cronies.

"What's the meaning of this?"

"We're comrades in the same faction, let's get along. We're busy, you see. So you can do our work for us."

As he left, Randy and his entourage looked at me and laughed mockingly.

I'm surprised there was still someone who would take this attitude with me.

And from a weaker position than my own, no less.

Marion spoke to me.

"Shall I help?"

"There's no problem. You do your own work."

For now, I'll just lay low.

◇

Lady Annabelle had summoned her nephew, Randy.

Randy, looking nervous, was reporting on Liam.

"He remained calm even when we showed him an arrogant attitude. It makes me doubt if he really went on a rampage at his training assignment."

Randy, who had hastily begun his training as his two-hundredth birthday approached, could hardly be called diligent. But even someone like him could gain enough ability to keep up with the competent bureaucrats around him by using an education capsule.

Even so, a great wall still existed between him and Liam.

Lady Annabelle sighed at her incompetent nephew.

"Keep a close watch on Liam."

"Leave it to me. I've already arranged for surveillance. So, will the Langran family be able to take the top spot in Cleo's faction?"

What Randy was concerned about was becoming the head of Cleo's faction.

Looking at Randy, Lady Annabelle shook her head. Her face said, This boy understands nothing.

"What is it, Aunt?"

"Randy, you need to be smarter. When did I ever say I was supporting Cleo? We're going to make Cleo's faction collapse from within. That is the will of that person."

Lady Annabelle had never intended to support Cleo from the beginning.

"But then there's no benefit for the Langran family!"

"Calm down. I'll make sure we profit from this."

"Does that mean you have a connection to Prince Calvin? If Cleo is gone, the one who benefits the most is Prince Calvin, right?"

The one who would profit from ousting Cleo was Calvin.

Randy guessed that his aunt, Lady Annabelle, was secretly connected to Calvin.

"—Randy, you will continue to watch Liam. If he shows any weakness, you may bring him down. However, you must be absolutely sure not to leave any evidence. You remember how many other nobles he has crushed up until now, don't you?"

Randy nodded, breaking out in a cold sweat.

"O-of course."

The Langran family, invited into the faction by Cleo, began to make suspicious moves.

Brian (´；ω；｀): "With no Guide, one troublesome thing after another keeps coming my way, it's painful. Ah, but—"

Brian ヾ(´ω｀)ノ: "【I'm the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire! Vol. 01】, which went on sale today, seems to be doing well, and this Brian is very happy!"

Wakagi-chan |д゜): "Please also check out 【Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs Vol. 6】, on sale July 30th. This time, a limited edition with a drama CD is being released. By the way, my guardian, Leon-shan, is voiced by [Yusuke Kobayashi], and the one-eyed Luxion is voiced by [Yusuke Shirai]—isn't that amazing?"