There is a man named Wallace.

His claim to the imperial throne is in the hundreds, making his value as a member of the royal family rather dubious.

His abilities are below average, scoring in the forties in everything—not failing, but not excellent either. That was the kind of man he was.

"Hmph—Liam, are you telling me to throw a party every single day? Let me be clear, that's impossible."

Liam struck Wallace for his firm refusal.

"What was that for! That hurt!"

"Listen, Wallace, I'm extremely busy right now. I've even roped in Eulisia, who used to just play around every day, to seize this opportunity."

"Opportunity? You mean crisis, don't you?"

"No, it's an opportunity. I'm on the verge of grasping good fortune."

What is he talking about? Wallace's face showed his confusion, but he couldn't defy an order from his patron, Liam.

"You should just manage it yourself, Liam."

"There are various reasons. Just get the party ready. It'll be boring if it's the same every time, so make it elaborate."

Liam's unreasonable demand was giving him a headache.

"Throwing a party every day and making each one elaborate is impossible. Let's just keep it simple and get it over with."

"—Wallace, I'm very particular about my parties. I won't tolerate any corner-cutting. I'll provide the people and the money, so do your best."

This guy is the worst, he thought, but couldn't say it out loud.

It was true that Liam was busy.

In fact, Wallace thought it was rather energetic of him to want to throw parties despite being so busy.

"Well, I suppose I'll do my best for you. But don't expect too much. And besides, why don't you do it yourself?"

"If I managed everything myself, it wouldn't be fun to attend, would it?"

No matter what clever things he came up with, there would be no surprise if he knew about them from the start.

Liam said he'd hate it because he'd be too worried about whether everyone else was having fun—Wallace thought he was just being selfish.

(I wanted to take it easy, but it can't be helped—it's scary to anger my patron, so I guess I'll put in just enough effort to have an excuse.)

◇

A meeting hall for Calvin's faction.

There, Liam's actions were the topic of discussion.

"He's not joining the expeditionary force!?"
"Did he run away?"
"No, he's dispatched his most capable knights, who could be called his confidants. It seems he's surrounded His Highness Cleo with his own elite troops. I believe he sent a knight named Klaus, whom he often took around the capital planet."
"Isn't he one of Liam's closest aides?"
"Since he sent his confidant, I don't think he's planning to abandon Cleo's faction. However—"

Cleo was the commander-in-chief, but everyone believed that Liam was the de facto supreme commander.

However, it had been announced that Liam would remain on the capital planet.

Calvin smiled.

"—We've won, haven't we?"

"Your Highness the Crown Prince?"

"This fact will start rumors that Liam-kun backed down out of fear of the enemy. No, we'll spread those rumors ourselves. Even if the expeditionary force wins, his reputation will be ruined."

The nobles shared his opinion, but there was something that concerned them.

"Your Highness, do you think Liam stayed behind without any plan? Ever since the lineup was announced, he's been attending parties every day, seemingly at ease."

Calvin was also concerned, but there was no way for Liam to turn the situation around.

Liam had strayed from the path himself.

"It's a concern, but he made the wrong choice. From this point on, his credibility will surely plummet. After all, he ran away without fighting. It's too late for him to make a move now; he's missed his chance."

He sent his subordinates to the battlefield while he remained on the capital planet.

How would others see this?

—They would think Liam had fled the battlefield.

No matter how hard Liam tried, even if there was no need for him to go to the front lines—he would be seen as a coward who ran away.

Calvin had also run away, but that was before the commander-in-chief was announced.

He could make any excuse he wanted, and his faction would move to criticize only Liam.

"—Perhaps we overdid it a little. It's an anticlimactic end."

"It's not over yet, so we can't let our guard down. But even if Liam-kun is finished, he's still a nuisance as long as he's alive."

Even with his reputation tarnished, Liam's mere existence was a problem.

Recently, he had been making a name for himself in a corrupt region where he'd been sent for training.

Despite being a trainee, he had pushed through reforms and purged the corrupt officials.

His high abilities and overly virtuous spirit—they would surely continue to trouble them in the future.

"—Let's send in the pawns we've prepared."

Calvin was almost certain of his victory.

However, this was the same Liam who had defeated Linus.

He wanted to crush him while he had the chance.

Perhaps, on the verge of victory, he had let his guard down.

◇

The party venue.

The nobles in attendance were deeply moved.

It was a standing buffet party held amidst a display of art—mainly stone statues.

It was also an exhibition of new works created by a gathering of up-and-coming artists.

"Hoh, magnificent."
"I'd like to have this one."
"I've already reserved that one over there. It's been a while since I've been to a party like this, but it's quite enjoyable. The last one I attended was too bizarre for me to enjoy."

The party seemed to be in full swing.

The invited guests were nobles—and their families.

Officially, I wasn't the host, but everyone knew I was involved.

It was a good opportunity to show off my wealth, so I had invited promising nobles.

However, most of them were nobles from my own faction and their families.

As I was chatting with the surrounding nobles with Rosetta by my side, Kurt, dressed in a military uniform, was attending as a representative for Baron Exner.

When those around us tactfully gave us some space, Kurt waved at me.

"Liam!"

Next to him was Her Highness Cecilia, Cleo's full-blooded sister, to whom he was engaged.

When I approached and started talking, Rosetta began a conversation with Her Highness Cecilia.

I made small talk with Kurt.

"We finally meet. How's the army?"

Kurt had grown a little taller.

And his build was becoming more solid.

"Honestly, it's tough. But it's not bad, I guess? The rugged lifestyle suits me better than being an official on the capital planet."

"You're assigned to the capital planet's defense force now?"

"I'm scheduled to be moved to administrative work soon, though. After that, maybe I'll be assigned to a patrol fleet?"

"If you want to join a regular fleet, I can introduce you. Cedric was promoted to Vice Admiral. His fleet is flexible."

I had backed him and gotten him promoted.

I constantly gave him work to make others recognize him, so his achievements were more than sufficient.

Cedric looked tired, but there was no problem.

"You're the same as ever, Liam. In that case, maybe I'll take you up on that?"

"Leave it to me."

Seeing Kurt looking so happy, I could really feel that he was the second-generation evil lord of an evil lord.

It seemed he had properly inherited Baron Exner's blood.

In contrast, Ciel, who was by Rosetta's side, was different.

She was looking at her brother with a repulsed expression.

To tease her, I brought up Ciel to Kurt.

"Kurt, Ciel wants to talk to you."

"Oh, really? Ciel, you look well."

Seeing Kurt smile at her, Ciel looked disappointed.

But she quickly put on a smile and offered some pleasantries.

"Yes. The Count and Lady Rosetta have been taking good care of me."

"That's good to hear. Huh? That dress, could it be from Liam?"

Kurt seemed to have noticed Ciel's new dress.

I boasted to Kurt in a way I knew Ciel would hate.

Doing this always annoyed Ciel.

"Ah, I had it made by a collection of popular designers from the capital planet. I think—I've had about sixty dresses made so far?"

As long as the parties continued, her dress would change daily.

A dress worn once is never worn again.

This wastefulness is what's so good.

It makes me feel truly evil.

"Liam, you're amazing."

Just then, Rosetta, having finished her conversation with Her Highness Cecilia, joined our discussion.

"Darling, you're so bold. But I have some favorites, so I'd like to keep those."

—That Rosetta, her frugal habits from her poor family haven't gone away.

Cherishing things... does she have any awareness as the fiancée of an evil lord like me?

"I'll have as many made as you want."

"Darling, it's fine to just keep them."

While we were having that conversation, some noble children approached.

Among the attendees, I had also invited relatives of nobles from our faction.

Well, it was to show that we were here.

It was also to curry favor with the nobles of the expeditionary force.

I was making an appeal that I was taking good care of their families.

"Lady Rosetta, your dress is beautiful today as well."

The girls were excited about the topic of dresses, or rather, they seemed interested in dressing up for high society.

Though there were some kids who weren't interested.

"Oh, thank you."

"Where did you buy it?"

"It was custom-made."

"O-Oh, was it?"

At that, the other children gave the girl who had asked where she bought it an exasperated look.

"Isn't it obvious that dresses are custom-made?"
"Where did you come from, some backwater country?"
"Ready-made clothes aren't fashionable at all. You have to have them made by a popular artisan."

—Girls are scary, even as children.

Rosetta spoke gently to the downcast girl.

"Don't be sad."

Seeing the girl on the verge of tears, some related adults rushed over.

They were quite panicked.

"M-My apologies, Lord Liam. —You all, return to your families at once."

"Okay~"

After the children left, I received repeated apologies.

Well, I am a country bumpkin from the frontier.

And Rosetta was also too poor to afford proper dresses.

They were probably afraid of incurring our displeasure with the children's innocent words.

"I don't mind."

However, the people here were all related to Cleo's faction.

I couldn't handle this poorly.

I spoke to the crying girl.

"Don't cry like that. If you'd like, I'll have a dress made for you. You'll attend the future parties in it, won't you?"

The girl looked happy.

Yes! Now she won't say she's too hurt to attend the parties.

Her family came, thanked me, and left.

Kurt, who had been watching, smiled and spoke to Her Highness Cecilia.

"Liam has always been kind."

"I suppose he has."

This guy—he's thoroughly brainwashing Her Highness Cecilia into thinking I'm a good person.

As expected, a capable man destined to be an evil lord is different.

Ciel was looking at me suspiciously, so I gave her a smile, and she turned her face away.

What an interesting girl.

I'll have to tease her more.

Then, Rosetta came to thank me.

"Darling, thank you."

"I haven't done anything to deserve your thanks."

Why thank you? I didn't do anything for you.

In any case, we've been holding parties every day, but—that Wallace fellow has a surprising talent.

I've attended every one, and I'm enjoying them without getting bored.

◇

Outside the party venue.

An armed group trying to infiltrate the venue had been eliminated by Kukuri and her team.

The armed group lay fallen in an alley.

They slowly sank into the ground—and vanished.

Kukuri let out a low chuckle.

"—So you've finally shown yourselves."

What flew at Kukuri were shuriken.

When she deflected them, they all turned to flame and disappeared.

As more of Kukuri's masked, black-clad covert ops appeared, black flames erupted and transformed into ninjas.

Once the flames took the shape of ninjas, they readied their weapons.

"—Kill."

With that short murmur, they charged forward to attack.

A battle began in the narrow alley.

Two ninjas leaped at Kukuri, only to be swept aside.

The two turned to fire and vanished, but Kukuri remained calm—she reached into the center of the fire, grabbed the core, and crushed it.

The ninjas who saw this were shocked and backed away.

Facing Kukuri, who knew their secret, a sense of panic was palpable.

"How nostalgic. You all have caused me quite a bit of trouble. However, to be this flustered is disappointing. Your ancestors wouldn't have shown such panic over something like this."

"—Who are you?"

"A pleasure to meet you—and it's been a long time. I am one of those who were called the Shadow Clan of the Imperial Covert Ops. Though, 'Shadow Clan' is just a name others gave us."

Hearing this, the ninjas must have realized the odds were against them, as they tried to flee.

Not letting them escape, Kukuri defeated them by piercing their cores with black thorns that extended from her own shadow.

Kukuri's subordinates also disappeared into the shadows.

Only Kukuri remained, addressing whoever was watching.

"Two thousand years. We have waited two thousand years for this moment. We will have our revenge. Tell that to your master. —Tell them that this is their ancestors' fault."

With only those words, Kukuri too vanished into the shadows.

◇

"Wallace!"

"Liam—I—I'm scared of my own talent."

Liam, his party suit disheveled, had come to praise Wallace for his hard work.

Rosetta had also returned from the party, looking a little tired.

Ciel was preparing a drink for the weary Rosetta.

And she watched Liam and Wallace's charade out of the corner of her eye.

"I used to think you were a freeloader, but now I'm truly grateful! The daily parties are a huge success!"

"You insulted me quite a bit there, but thank you. I never thought I had such a talent myself."

Liam brought out Wallace's favorite liquor, and they started drinking together.

Wallace had planned the daily parties, and surprisingly, they were well-received.

It was an unexpected talent.

(But, this is a talent that wouldn't normally be necessary, right?)

It just looked like they were wasting money, throwing parties and playing around every day.

In reality, Liam was having fun.

In contrast, Rosetta was exhausted from having to be considerate to the attendees every day.

"Lady Rosetta, why don't you take a rest tomorrow?"

When Ciel asked out of concern, Rosetta shook her head.

"Ciel, I can't do that. Darling is holding these parties and gathering everyone to protect the families of the nobles participating in the expeditionary force."

(That might be true, but looking at Liam, it feels like a lie.)

Ciel didn't believe it, but it was a fact that, as a result, he was gathering and protecting the families.

He was even gathering them from the distant frontiers.

From the perspective of the nobles joining the expeditionary force, it was as if Liam, the man who defeated the Sword Saint, was personally protecting them.

"—Wouldn't it have been better for the Count to participate in the war?"

"You're right. Normally, it would have been better to take the families into the Banfield territory and protect them there—but there are demonstrations happening right now."

"Demonstrations over the lord's love life... that's worse than what we had."

Regarding the large-scale demonstrations in the Banfield domain, less than ten percent were for democratization.

In fact, they weren't even worth mentioning.

The vast majority of the rest—were demonstrations about Liam's succession problem.

Demonstrations were being held, demanding that he produce an heir at once.

(In my family, Father was so popular there was a fuss about when his nude photobook would be released—but this is even worse.)

The petitions from the mansion's servants were also an appeal to Liam, who hadn't made a move on any of them, saying, "We're ready anytime, so come on!"

They were telling him to make a move.

Ciel thought.

(Nobles are really something else. Well, I'm a noble too, but... The fact that they can make a fuss over something like this, maybe things are surprisingly peaceful?)

Liam and Wallace were toasting.

"I'm looking forward to the next party!"

"You can count on it! I'm confident about the next one too!"

"That's something to look forward to. Oh, in that case, plan a bucket party for the finale!"

"—Sorry, that's too high a hurdle. Impossible."

Klaus (;゜Д゜) "—Huh? Why am I being treated like his confidant? Um, I'm just a regular knight."

Brian ( ´・ω・｀)_旦~~ "Isn't it because you were always by Lord Liam's side? Oh, here's some simple tea, please have some."

Klaus :(；゛゜'ω゜'): "Nooooooo!!"

Naegi-chan ( ゜∀゜)ノ "Today is the release date for 'The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs, Volume 5'! Everyone, please support it!"

Monica ( ゜∀゜)ノ "And tomorrow is the release date for 'Seventh, Volume 9'! Please support this one as well!"