With Liam gone, the House of Banfield was in turmoil.

Brian was holding his head in his hands.

"Uuuugh, to think that Lord Liam would disappear... This Brian still can't believe it."

The search for Liam was ongoing, but because of it, information had leaked.

And now, unscrupulous individuals were beginning to make their move.

Among them, the biggest problem was—

"I'll kill you, you fossil!"

"Just try it, you mincemeat woman!"

—Liam's own knights.

When Brian peeked out the window, he saw Tia and Marie, having smashed through a wall of the mansion, grappling with each other.

Once out in the garden, the two drew their weapons on one another.

Their eyes were bloodshot.

Their breathing was ragged, their hair and clothes disheveled.

Until now, they would simply pass each other in the mansion without so much as a glance or a greeting, but now they had drawn their weapons on each other multiple times.

Without Liam, they were unable to control themselves.

"Those two again?"

They were a source of headaches for Brian.

But that wasn't all.

From another direction, the sound of an explosion could be heard.

If this had been an enemy attack, it would have been a relief, but such was the current state of the Banfield household.

A report reached Brian.

"What happened?"

"I-It's terrible! Lady Rinho and Lady Fuuka are fighting with Lady Chengshi and—"

Brian cut the communication and clutched his head.

"Lord Liam, please come back soon!"

◇

In a hallway of the Banfield mansion.

Rinho, with her long, navy-blue hair, sat in a chair while dressed in a maid's uniform.

She was slacking off from her cleaning duties.

Holding an information terminal, she was checking the comments on her videos.

"—Tch, my view count has dropped. As expected, I'm the universe's bloodiest idol because I cut people down. This is no time to be wearing a maid outfit and cleaning."

Watching Rinho was Fuuka, a girl with messy orange hair.

Also in a maid outfit, she was diligently cleaning with a broom.

"You, get back to cleaning. You'll get scolded by old lady Serena."

"Hah? You're scared of her? You really are a coward."

"—Say that one more time."

As Fuuka angrily raised her broom, Rinho also grabbed the broom she had placed beside her.

Though shaped like a broom, it was a high-performance cleaning device.

It was a precision machine disguised as a broom.

"I'll say it as many times as you want. —Coward."

The moment the two instantly created distance and were about to fight with their brooms—a slash flew between them.

When they looked down the hall, they saw a woman approaching.

—It was Chengshi.

"Oh, you dodged it."

She wore a knight's uniform modified from a cheongsam.

But her hands were strange.

Rinho was smiling.

"Did you modify your body?"

Chengshi's fingernails had extended into blades.

And her arms were stretched, revealing a metallic color underneath.

Fuuka's nose twitched.

"I smell machinery. Did you turn your whole body into a machine?"

Chengshi didn't answer, but when she opened her mouth, the muzzle of a gun was visible inside.

The two dodged in an instant as a laser beam scorched the floor.

Rinho swung her broom up and brought it down on Chengshi.

Chengshi caught it with one hand, her form no longer human.

However, Rinho was unfazed.

"Your head is still flesh and blood, right? Should I just smash it? —If it's self-defense, even my senior disciple won't blame me for killing you."

At those words, Fuuka also lunged at Chengshi.

"I like the sound of that! Keep me company while I blow off some steam!"

Faced with a non-human figure, the two were excited.

And Chengshi was the same.

"You'll make for perfect test subjects."

Chengshi had targeted the two as a reference for when she would kill Liam.

The two attacked with the One-Flash Style, but Chengshi had also devised countermeasures.

She instantly dodged their attacks.

Rinho looked annoyed.

"I can't get serious without a real sword. More importantly, you—you read my moves."

Fuuka threw her broom aside.

"You messed with your brain too? It must be tough being weak."

To obtain psychic powers, a sixth sense—Chengshi had even tampered with her brain, the only part of her that remained.

At the two's attitude, Chengshi's eyes widened, and the lenses within her pupils repeatedly contracted.

"If I can kill Liam with this, then there's no problem."

The corners of Rinho's mouth turned up in a smile.

"You weakling. You really think you can beat my senior disciple?"

Fuuka's hair stood on end.

"You thought you could beat the One-Flash Style with that? —I'm going to slaughter you."

Her body cracking and creaking, Chengshi's form became inhuman as she lunged at the two.

◇

Do you remember Baron Norden?

He was one of Liam's vassals—an Imperial noble who relied on Liam.

He was also related by marriage to the House of Count Norden, which existed in the Allied Kingdom.

Previously, he had incurred Liam's wrath, had the heir of his subordinate, the Clover baronetcy, killed, and his connection to Count Norden was exposed, leaving him in a desperate situation.

And now, the head of that very House of Norden—was brazenly striding into Liam's mansion.

"It's quite noisy, isn't it?"

He was a short, stout man who looked like a mafia boss, with a cigar-like luxury item in his mouth.

Beside him were several officials who were supposed to be at the government office.

They were officials of the Banfield family.

There were also knights present.

They were the hereditary vassals who had once abandoned the Banfield family, leaving with the previous and prior generations of lords.

They were protecting a child born to one of Liam's father's mistresses.

The boy, who looked to be around fifteen, was seventy years old, an age still considered a child in this world.

He had just graduated from elementary school and was living freely without advancing to an officer's academy or university.

His name was [Isaac Sera Banfield].

He was a handsome boy with blond hair and blue eyes, but his gaze as he looked around was cold.

"What is this boring mansion? It's so shabby, not fit to be my residence."

As Isaac evaluated Liam's mansion, those around him were deferential.

Baron Norden's attitude was particularly blatant.

"You are absolutely right. A shabby mansion like this is not worthy of you, Lord Isaac."

He spoke as if Isaac were already the master of the mansion.

Everyone around him thought the same.

Baron Norden's ambition was burning.

(Liam! I'll make you pay for making a fool of me. While you're gone, I'll install this brat as the head of the Banfield family and seize real power for myself!)

Though merely a vassal, Baron Norden's family was trying to seize control of the Banfield family by propping up Isaac.

And—cooperating with them were a faction of officials from the government office.

"If Lord Isaac becomes the head, the House of Banfield will prosper even more. Liam doesn't understand governance. For an Imperial noble to use dolls is just too shameful."

The reason they betrayed Liam was that they couldn't embezzle funds under the control of artificial intelligence.

No matter how high they rose, if they abused their power, they would incur Liam's wrath.

For ambitious people who wanted to climb the ladder, Liam was an obstacle.

They were the very corrupt officials Liam desired.

Next to speak were the knights who had once abandoned the Banfield family.

"Indeed, Lord Isaac is the most suitable to be the head of the Banfield family. Liam is only strong; he has no pride as a nobleman."

The reason they supported Isaac was because of Liam's father and grandfather on the capital planet.

To get their hands on the Banfield family's swollen fortune, they had dispatched Isaac.

And they had sent knights along as his escort.

For the knights, it was unforgivable that the house they had abandoned had prospered so astonishingly.

If they had stayed, they could have wielded great power as hereditary vassals, but now newcomers were acting high and mighty.

They couldn't accept that they should have been in that position.

Thus, those with aligned interests gathered to take over the Banfield family.

Two knights were watching them from the shadows.

It was Tia and Marie, battered and bruised from their fight.

"These lowlifes have some nerve, breaking in while Lord Liam is away."

"I'll teach them whose mansion they've broken into."

Just as the two were about to act, a shadow crept up on them.

—It was the Guide.

◇

The Guide was watching Tia and Marie.

He had been working to sow the seeds of discord in the Banfield family during Liam's absence.

A moment ago, he had tampered a little with a knight named Chengshi.

He had stimulated her desires.

As a result, she had started to move to kill Liam.

However, the Guide didn't think Liam would be killed by something like that.

He just thought it would be good if it caused some chaos.

That's why he didn't have high hopes for Tia and Marie either.

"Might as well stimulate these ones' desires too. Ahh, so busy, so busy."

Black smoke emerged from his fingertips and enveloped Tia and Marie as they were about to drive off Isaac and his group.

Then, the two of them stopped dead in their tracks.

The Guide lost interest and left the scene.

"Well, let's not get our hopes up and move on to the next one."

◇

After the Guide had left.

A thought occurred to Tia.

(Couldn't this situation be used to my advantage?)

Isaac had stormed the mansion, throwing the Banfield family into chaos.

For Tia, who believed with absolute certainty that Liam would return, Isaac was a trivial problem.

So, she thought about how to use the situation.

She glanced at Marie's face and saw her deep in thought.

(She's realized it too. That now is our chance!?)

Tia came up with a random excuse and decided to leave.

"I'm also concerned about movements other than Isaac's group. I'll go deal with that."

Normally, Marie would have criticized her actions, but this time was different.

"Is that so? Then I'll deal with Isaac."

"I'm counting on you."

The two left the scene.

Once Marie was out of sight, Tia broke into a run and contacted her allies.

"Gather the men who follow me. And prepare the fleet."

"Lady Tia!? What are you thinking?"

"Just hurry! I absolutely cannot miss this chance."

She had a plan that she was originally going to execute without Liam's knowledge—but taking advantage of this opportunity, Tia intended to carry out a certain plan on a grand scale.

◇

"—Darling."

Depressed in her room, Rosetta was a haggard figure on her bed.

She had no appetite and could only think about Liam's return.

Watching over her was Rosetta's attendant, Ciel.

(I'm glad that bastard is gone, but the mansion has been so noisy lately, it's unbearable.)

For Ciel, who disliked Liam, his summoning should have been a welcome event.

However, she couldn't bear to see Rosetta suffer because of it.

And also—

'Five minutes ago: Ciel, I can't get in touch with Liam.'
'Four minutes ago: Ciel, if Liam is busy, tell him to call me back later.'
'Three minutes ago: Ciel, are you even reading my messages?'

—Checking her terminal, she saw messages from her brother, Kurt, arriving every minute.

Ciel, telling herself she was on duty, quietly put the terminal back in her pocket and pretended she hadn't seen them.

Besides, if she told Kurt that "Liam is gone," there was no telling what would happen.

(Liam has a lot of enemies, so the Banfield family without its head is just bait. Other nobles will probably flock to it.)

With its head absent and no heir designated, the Banfield family was a delicious prize for other nobles.

If they could become its patron, they could use the Banfield family's wealth, fame, and military power.

It was a situation where even nobles from the same faction couldn't be trusted.

Rosetta was looking at a picture of Liam.

Her eyes were teary.

As Ciel tried to comfort her, a female knight kicked down the door and entered.

At this unbelievable action, Ciel reprimanded her.

"W-What are you doing!"

The intruder—Marie—ignored Ciel's protest and approached Rosetta.

Her eyes were bloodshot and she was agitated.

"Lady Rosetta! This is a crisis! A group of cunning individuals is gathering to take over the House of Banfield!"

"W-Why!? Darling isn't dead. He was just summoned."

But for the enemy, that was enough.

They were trying to seize the Banfield family's power while Liam was away.

"It doesn't matter to them. But if that happens, your position, Lady Rosetta, will be in danger. There will be fools who will try to defile you, the official fiancée."

Many people hated Liam, and there was no telling what they would do.

Marie seemed to have rushed here to ensure Rosetta's safety.

Ciel asked Marie about the future.

"Lady Marie, can't you drive those people out?"

"That would be impossible."

Ciel felt a sense of unease at Marie's casual reply.

Normally, she would have said something like, "I'll slaughter them all!" but it was as if she had been waiting for this timing.

Marie seemed to be prioritizing Rosetta's safety above all else.

"Come, let's escape from here quickly. It's frustrating, but we don't have the power to fight them. For now, we must flee and wait for a chance to make a comeback."

"B-But, I can't unite the Banfield family. The Banfield knights and army will only obey Darling, right?"

"Please rest assured. I have comrades who share my aspirations. We have gathered knights and an army on another planet. There, we will give birth to Lord Liam's legitimate bloodline!"

"Bloodline? U-Um, Marie, I'm still—"

"I thought something like this might happen! This Marie has secured Lord Liam's genetic material!"

She took out a test tube stored in a case.

Ciel immediately understood what it was, but Rosetta tilted her head in confusion.

(T-This woman, she's done it. No, she's about to do it!)

Marie's excited eyes were even more bloodshot than before.

Rosetta hadn't noticed, but Ciel realized what Marie was planning.

(She's planning to impregnate Lady Rosetta with Liam's genes!)

And, if she was lucky, she was probably thinking of doing the same for herself.

Marie was using this situation to bear Liam's child herself.

Marie's eyes, as she gently helped Rosetta up, shone with a strange purple light.

"Come, Lady Rosetta—let us continue the legitimate bloodline of the Banfield family together."

The weakened Rosetta seemed to think that having knights and an army was for when Liam returned.

"—You're right. Gather the knights and soldiers who are loyal to Darling. In case of an emergency, we must have them as a force for Darling when he returns."

Rosetta, acting for Liam's sake.

And Marie, driven by her own selfish desires.

Ciel was completely put off by Marie.

(Wait a minute. If this is happening, there's one other person who's going to make a fuss.)

◇

The other person who was likely to make a fuss.

She was already making a huge one.

"I will be the one to bear Lord Liam's child!"

The woman caressing a test tube filled with liquid was Tia.

Somehow, she had obtained and was in possession of Liam's genetic material.

Gathered before Tia were knights whose loyalty had gone too far.

They were on a spaceship—a flagship-class vessel, three thousand meters long.

The assembled knights were lined up in formation.

This was the faction led by Tia.

One of the female knights was reporting to Tia about Marie.

"Lady Tia, Marie Sera Marian has secured Lady Rosetta and has entered the third planet with a portion of the knights and fleet. She is gathering the territory's public security forces."

In front of Tia, a simplified 3D map of the Banfield territory was displayed.

Watching the image, Tia clicked her tongue.

She carefully placed the test tube in its case and tucked it into her bosom as if it were a treasure.

"That fossil woman is quite something. That planet is one Lord Liam has been developing with great effort for over ten years. It will serve as a sufficient base."

As she said this, she herself was advancing her army to secure a planet that could serve as their own base.

The territory that Liam had acquired and developed—was now being torn apart by his own retainers, escalating into a succession dispute.

Her adjutant, a female knight, smiled.

"Was that wise? We could have easily eliminated the trash that infiltrated Lord Liam's home planet."

—Tia was just like Marie.

She was planning to use this chaos to bear Liam's child.

"I can't wage war on Lord Liam's home planet. Besides, don't you think it would be disrespectful to stain Lord Liam's mansion with blood?"

She told a blatant lie.

In truth, Baron Norden and Isaac were no match for her.

However, she couldn't resist the desire to use this situation to have Liam's child.

Tia spread her arms wide.

"What we can do is gather our forces for when Lord Liam returns! We will prepare an army to scatter the unscrupulous rabble!"

(I can carry Lord Liam's child! There is no greater happiness than this!)

Tia planned to make excuses when Liam returned, saying, "I had no choice! It was a crisis for the house!"

A crisis for the house—yes, this was a crisis for the house, caused by the rampaging Tia and Marie.

They could have dealt with it beforehand, but instead, they deliberately did nothing and even exaggerated the situation.

"All forces, advance! We will secure all of Lord Liam's territory!"

At Tia's command, a fleet of several thousand ships began to move.

Brian (´；ω；｀): "It's truly painful that heirs are about to be born in this manner."