The Grand Imperial Throne Room.

This room by far is one of the most lavish rooms in the entire Imperial Palace. The name alone says it all. After all, this is where the Emperor of this vast country holds an audience.

Towering Corinthian-style columns, sparkling ornately patterned floors made of white marble, magnificent curtains decorate the high-arched windows, and priceless paintings by different famous artists collected over the centuries by my predecessors adorned the walls. Even the ceilings had beautiful murals painted with scenes of the Empire’s long history.

The focal point of all this glamor leads straight to the elaborate throne atop a high dais. Two winged goddess statues are flanking the sides of the dais in poses as though to present and give reverence to the one seated on the throne.

Now you can all see why I didn’t want to make my broadcast from here. I’m not some kind of divine being that needs to be worshiped. Unfortunately, the past monarchs had different ideas.

But right now, I am seated on this very throne. I need to get a new footrest. My feet are barely reaching it! Ahem* I digress.

I am here for a very important reason.

Kneeling before me at the bottom of the dais was Lady Antoineth von Stahlin-Bohrbon. Oh, I forgot to correct that.

It’s just Antoineth now.

With her title and status as a noble revoked and her family branded as traitors, she can no longer call herself “von Stahlin-Bohrbon” or consider herself a member of the

Ah, just so you’d know.

She is the daughter of the late Archduchess Bohrbon who, coincidently, was Stahlin’s wife. The Bohrbon’s were one of the Cadet Branches which makes her my rather distant cousin. I still can’t understand what Archduchess Bohrbon saw in Stahlin to marry him. I heard she was a quiet and nice lady. Knowing that little sneak, he must’ve whispered sweet words to her and managed to snag her hand in marriage.

Too bad Stahlin’s blood was thicker in her children. Especially her son, Napolyon. Oh, does the name sound familiar? That’s right. Napolyon was that turd who lusted after Nera and wanted her as a sex slave.

When the Archduchess died, rather mysteriously at a young age, her son inherited her title and became Archduke Napolyon von Bohrbon and Stahlin became Dowager Archduke.

Frankly speaking, I also hate the father and son duo. Stahlin was one thing but Napolyon was in a league in his own in the villain department.

Napolyon’s bullying of “me” was just as horrible as my bratty half-brothers who once dunked me into the pond. No, it was way worse. To name a few, that included pushing “me” down the stairs and having his goons gang up on “me.”

...Isn’t that attempted murder, already?

Sadly, “I” couldn’t complain as I knew his father turned a blind eye to it.

It became cemented in that turd’s mind that he could have his way with anything and that “I” was to be subservient to him. If a child was left to do whatever they want, it would definitely result in a spoiled brat filled with nothing but hedonism and debauchery.

Napolyon was a textbook example of the worst kind of noble.

He even colluded with their wench of an aunt and Stahlin’s sister, Lady Griselda Batory (btw, she was my former governess, complete hag). They secretly ran an illegal slave ring under the guise of orphanages and usually targets orphans and children from poor families. Some of those children wound up being used by Stahlin for his experiments.

She was also in cahoots with Napolyon and the Rasfutin Twins to cart off Nils and Nera as slaves during my Coronation and cover it up with some trumped-up excuse then to replace them. Thanks to our network and my memory of Batory being the main antagonist of a series of Quest Chain, we were able to foil their little plan. nils and Nera really let them have it, beating them and Batory’s goons to a pulp thus revealing their hidden combat prowess.

Just to let you know, I’m the one who trained them personally.

Batory wasn’t there during that incident as she tried to slip away when the fight began. She managed to get back to her mansion and attempted to flee with what belongings she could carry but my team had intercepted her.

She was executed a few days before for her unforgivable crimes. The Rasfutin Twins got their just desserts with a lifetime of slavery teaching them the value of hard work.

As for Napolyon, he left the venue of the ball and proceed to the area expecting to finally have Nera bound as a slave only to face her in combat with Nera herself personally “axing” him. Come to think of it, he was also one of the primary antagonists in the game. Many times he harassed Arte and his friends until he was finally killed off in the storyline. I always hated his self-absored dialogues both in-game and in real life.

But that’s never going to happen here. Probably, because he was already dead before they even met. I gave the order to kill if he couldn’t be apprehended. Call me cold but I’m not letting that criminal loose.

As a result, Antoineth is the only one left from Stahlin’s shitty family. Despite all that, she still looked as though she was the one who was wronged and wanted revenge.

It was out of civility that I was meeting her privately rather than in an audience full of nobility while being broadcasted throughout the Empire. The only ones here were me, Leofold, Wynston, Nils, Nera, and a handful of knights. Nonetheless, I brought her here to show her the power of my authority.

“I am sure you both know why you have been summoned here?” I say after a few minutes of silence.

“You murderer!”

She spoke with such a strong voice as though I had betrayed her. What the hell…

“Well, that’s rich coming from you. But I want an answer, not an accusation.”

She flinched and paled when she saw the expression of coldness on my face. I guess I never showed this face before to her since I always maintained the “obedient puppet” mask. Er, actually. The “Wilthelm” that was always in front of her was somebody else. I’ll explain later.

“Why did you do this?! You murdered my father! My Brother! How could you?! Papa has been good to you! He was the father you never had! He protected you when your half-siblings aimed for your life! He was the one who made you Emperor! You owe everything to us!”

Antoineth blurted out with eyes filled with hate at me.

“How dare you speak to His Majesty in that manner?!”

“Leofold. Stand down.”

“But… Yes, Your Majesty…”

He relents upon seeing my expression. I then turned my attention to that girl.

“Quite the irony since he was the one who egged my half-siblings on. What’s more…did you forget he was the one who killed my father, framed my brother Wolthalm, killed my half-siblings, and plunged the entire Empire into a dystopian state?! I don’t owe your family or that man anything. The throne was mine by right and law. He should be grateful I vaporized him on the spot rather than torture him slowly to death.”

Antoineth shivered having recalled how I obliterated Stahlin.

“But I digress. As for you, I’m sure you know what your offenses are?”

“Why? What have I done?!”

“For my end, it would be physically abusing me and shaming me in front of our peers. All full knowing that I was already of higher standing than you. That is already at the level of Lese Majeste.”

“That- That was just playful teasing!”

“Does pouring hot tea on my head sound like a joke to you? Maybe I should have you dragged to the kitchens and let the cooks pour their boiling oil all over you then rake you over the coals?”

Antoineth gasped when I said such a cruel idea. I was just scaring her of course. I could opt for the gallows if she wants.

“I-I thought that didn’t bother you?! You never complained?”

Are you kidding me? In what dimension is that okay? And I never complained?! That’s probably because it was “that guy” that was taking the brunt end but still where’s your morals gone?

“It would’ve fallen on deaf ears anyway. Also...who in their right mind would not be bothered by that?”

“That’s because you were pretending to be a useless oaf…” Nils murmured underneath his breath. I ignored that.

“In normal circumstances, you would have been penalized severely with the worst being death. Unfortunately, that shit was pulling the strings which left you uncontrolled. You acted in such a way as though you thought everything should revolve around you. And that you basically believed that you were slated to become the next Empress. You even began using Imperial Jewelry and Funds when you didn’t have permission even if you were just the Prime Minister’s daughter.”

“Those were meant to be mine!”

“No, they were never yours and will never be yours. Stop expecting to be an Empress, you spoiled brat.”

Antoineth was still glaring at me as though she didn’t want me to disprove her little delusion that she was in the right.

“And that aside, I was also testing you.”

“T-Testing?“

“Yes, I felt worse in the hands of your father and brother. So your harassment was quite tepid. Nevertheless, I had to observe whether someone like you could become Empress despite being the daughter of that swine. You failed miserably. Heck, you were no different. You treated the servants of the Palace horribly. Ordered them as though they were yours. Made unreasonable demands and severely punished them just for the amusement of it.”

“They’re nothing more than mere servants! They’re supposed to serve me!”

“That doesn’t excuse you either. You even abused my Maid and Chamberlain when they are supposed to be off-limits to you. Mind you, Nils and Nera are from the Marquis Mellvyle House, a respected high-ranking noble house! You should’ve treated them with respect! I thought you had at least the decency for that!”

“Those beasts should be honored to serve someone with such high standing as me! A member of the Cadet Branch! The future Empress!”

Nils and Nera looked as though they wanted to deck her.

The servants and knights whom she maltreated were professionally composed but I could feel the concealed anger and disgust there.

“How many times are you going to bring that “future Empress” BS? We are not going to be married period.”

Antoineth sneered at me, “Have you forgotten? The Imperial Law clearly states that I am the only one left to be your Empress!”

Oh, that law. The one where the monarch can only marry or have a concubine from the 10 Cadet Branches. Antoineth is the only surviving eligible lady from the 10 Cadet Branches.

I snorted, “Have you forgotten that I am the Emperor? By my will, the Imperial Law is hereby abolished.”

Antoineth’s eyes widened in shock.

“Y-You can’t do that!”

“I can and I have. Emperor Sharles II instituted that law to keep that bloodline “pure” and keep power within the Imperial House and the 10 Cadet Branches. But honestly, that’s a load of contradiction in so many ways. And not to mention we have risked ten thousand years of inbreeding and damaging our bloodline to it. Our chromosomes are just passing both the good and bad traits. Latent traits tend to pop in from time to time”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Antoineth was now looking at me like I was some crazy guy.

“Ah, I forgot. You don’t know Mendel’s genetics.”

“What?”

Everyone was staring at me as though I was muttering nonsense.

“Anyhow, Emperor Sharles II was the one who made that law. The Sovereign always had the option of abolishing but never bothered to do so because they believed in that purity nonsense. But the one in front of you doesn’t. So I am abolishing it. Now I have options to choose my bride and you just lost your little lifeline.”

“Y-You can’t treat me like this?!”

“Speaking of treatment. I don’t see how honorable it is for anyone to serve you unless you count me giving them a medal of valor for putting up with you. What’s more, I can never forgive your treatment of the commoners!”

There was a time when I went undercover and saw her carriage run over a commoner Beastclan child who was running towards her mother. That child had her legs snapped from the heavy carriage wheel. In typical villainess fashion, she complains loudly that the child had damaged her carriage and smeared it with her disgusting filth (blood). She even ordered her escort knights to “move that trash who ruined my beautiful carriage.” Things would’ve turned ugly had I not caused a diversion by launching a small explosion in the air that frightened her into thinking there was an assassin and swiftly sped off.

I quickly tended to that poor family and helped tend to the child’s injuries with my Healing Magic.

“I am a daughter of a-“

”Was. And I told you, that doesn’t excuse you from treating living people regardless of their race and status in such a way.”

“Why should I care if I treat those lesser beings as they are! They were commoners and beasts! They're a worse mix to spawn! Those lesser beings-Hiiiiiii?!”

“Enough.”

I already lost patience with her nonsense and released full bloodlust at her.

She shrieked as though she was gazing at a monster. She had an expression of utmost terror as she gazed at this expression I was showing for the first time.

The servants and the knights also trembled in fear.

Leofold’s hair stood on end.

Nils and Nera, who had tasted this bloodlust several times, looked pale.

Wynston remained composed but even then I could see a faint trace of sweat dripping on his brow.

“Your Majesty, calm down… You are affecting everyone in the hall.” Wynston says to me.

Realizing it was too much, I withdrew my bloodlust.

“I didn’t expect you to since you never tried to see the bigger picture. Well, I don’t care for your words. I’m going to deliver my verdict for you...here and now.”

“V-Verdict?”

“Antoineth, apart from all the punishments placed upon you and your house, with your insolent behavior towards me which is already within the lines of Lese Majeste.”

I mean, they were acts of Lese Majeste and were subjected to execution. But I had no intention of granting her an easy way out.

“On top of all other offenses which had been so conveniently covered by your father has already warranted this verdict. I hereby sentence you…to a lifetime of Slavery.”

“S-Slavery?!” Antoineth shrieked in horror

“Your master will be me and your sub-master will be my Personal Maid, Nera.”

“NOOOOOO?!!!!! ME?! A slave to a BEAST?!!!!! ANYTHING BUT THAAAAAT!!!!” Antoineth screamed in hysteria as she struggled from her guards.

She’s just your Sub-Master. I’m still your Master. It seems my punishment for her appears to be effective considering her racist mentality.

“Bring the Slave Brander.”

Escorted by the guards, the Slave Brander approaches me with his tools. A Slave Brander is a person who binds a person to a master in a slavery contract. A Slavery Contract would bind a person to the master’s will. They can never harm or defy their master. He presents me with a needle on which I need to prick my own finger to draw blood onto a small basin.

“Nera, come forward.”

Nera was still looking apprehensive. She and I discussed this bit for a while so there was no going back at this point.

Nera also draws some blood from another needle and drips a few drops into the basin.

The Slave Brander bows to me and then makes his way to Antoineth.

“NO! NO! NOOOOO!!! PAPA SAVE MEEEEEEEE!!!”

Your shitty father isn’t going to save you anymore.

The Guards restrain her and expose her nape. The Slave Brander takes a scalpel-like quill and draws the brand on her neck. She screams in pain as the brand was carved and burned into her flesh. This brand will remain upon her until I release it.

Which is never going to happen. Ever.

“Antoineth. You are to confine yourself to the lower dungeons to await further instructions. Guards will keep watch on you until I find further use for you. If you understand, nod.”

Antoineth only nodded mechanically.

With finality, I waved my hand.

“Take her away. ”

With that, the curtain has fallen on this sideshow.

“Captain Leofold…continue restructuring the Guards as we have discussed. Focus on maintaining security throughout the Capital.”

“By your will!” Leofold bows at me.

“Prime Minister Wynston, continue working on the plans. We’re going to become busy soon. Please organize a council meeting with the bureaucrats within the week. And prepare for the council with the Twelve.”

“I shall do so at once, Your Majesty.”

“If that is all. You are all dismissed. I have some other matters to attend to.”

Everyone bowed in acknowledgment. And with my permission, they all made their way out until only myself and the cat-eared twins were left.

“Nils, Nera, let’s go back to my chambers.”

They both nodded as I rose from the throne.

“Are you alright, Will?”

“Not yet. But I will be…”

***

It was already late in the evening.

And I was sitting alone on a private terrace. I had Nera and Nils give me some space to think.

After that private trial, I went right to work reviewing the reforms. I don’t want to go into the details but I feel so very drained. Right now, I am sipping some chilled cider.

Normally, I’d go for some sake but I haven’t been able to encounter any brewery in the Empire that offers such drinks.

I glanced at a far-off mirror. Okay, it does seem rather off that despite my mental and actual age, I have the appearance of a fourteen-year-old teenager drinking wine. Somebody might call the police on me...if I was back in Japan.

But other than that. Damn, I look like some high aristocrat from those fantasy mangas savoring wine as he waits for his plan to unfold.

The wind rustled a bit in the cool breeze.

“What is it, Roulette?”

The Commander of the Night Lurkers appeared on the balustrade next to me.

“She escaped. Just as you anticipated. It was them...” She smiled at me.

“Hmph...They act quickly…” I sipped the cider. “Do you want some cider or wine, perhaps? The old man left some in his cabinet.”

“I could take up your offer but we have some important matters to attend to.”

“Ha, ha, well, let’s proceed with the plan.”