Chapter 85

At the age of eleven, the day I had been looking forward to for a while finally arrived.

"Big brother, hello!"

"Big brother, what will you teach us today?"

"Hey, Werner, Fer. You were told not to run, right?"

My cute younger brothers came to me.

"Welcome. Terry, Werner, Fer. You must be tired from walking all the way here. I have drinks prepared, so why don't you rest for a bit?"

My twin brothers now love to walk around the Emerald Room, where I perform alchemy, as if it were a theme park.

Moreover, my youngest sister is only one year old and requires a lot of attention, and the Empress is busy with official duties.

The twins, who are at the age where they want to be doted on, are happy to have me as their companion, and I, of course, willingly, gladly, and enthusiastically do so.

"Big brother, how long can we stay today?"

Seeing Fer ask, I feel a bit envious of Terry being called 'big brother.'

Hmm, but while 'big brother' is also nice, 'big brother' has its own charm.

It has a certain appeal.

When we moved from the waiting area of the Blue Room to the spacious inner room, Nomariola had prepared juice.

This room used to be just an empty room with nothing but built-in shelves.

Now, it is lined with research papers from Diora and books I bought with my allowance, and the Empress, out of pity for the empty room, has provided various furnishings such as chairs, tables, carpets, and ornaments.

It has now been transformed into a respectable library where I am not embarrassed to have my younger siblings.

"Father is in a meeting, and Mother said she will meet with the Romulus ambassador's wife, so I don't think anyone will come to call us before sunset."

Terry answered while confirming with the nearby guards.

The guards, who are gradually becoming familiar, immediately put their hands behind their back and show that they are not touching their swords when they meet Ikt's eyes.

Should I think they are following orders, or should I suspect that Ikt has done something?

According to Terry's guards, there is an emergency meeting, so the main building is in a flurry.

The palace is primarily a residential facility, but it is also a political venue, so it gets busy when nobles come and go.

Therefore, they want the twins to play in the left wing today rather than the main building.

Since the morning studies are over, they can use the time as they please.

"Then, let's try to reproduce magic using essences today. They require careful handling, so Terry, can you do it?"

"Ah! I can do it!"

"I want to do it too!"

"Alchemy has the condition that you follow big brother's instructions, right?"

Essences are relatively safe, so the twins have handled them before.

That's why they are making this claim, but Terry, acting like an older brother, reprimanded them.

Until last year, Terry was raised as the eldest son, but then I, an unexpected older brother, appeared.

Moreover, I had initially provoked a huge fight, which made it difficult for him to get used to being treated as a younger brother.

Now, he has become accustomed to it, and when I designate him, he pretends it's nothing in front of the twins, but he looks at me with hopeful eyes.

"Then, let's start with a review of essences."

After the brothers finished their juice, it was time for a pre-experiment study.

In response to my words, Nomariola cleared away the juice, and Wearrel hung up a diagram illustrating the effects and characteristics of essences on the bookshelf for easy viewing.

This has become quite routine.

Although there was a period of unease when Nomariola's attitude suddenly changed, she has been following orders and maintaining a cool demeanor except in front of me, my close attendants, and Wald.

Once she lets down her guard, she smiles and reports various things, such as her sister becoming interested in making perfumes from eucalyptus oil and becoming more active as her discomfort subsides.

(Well, it's time to call upon Sefira-Sefirot.)

I call out to this mysterious intelligence in my heart, but I keep it a secret for now.

Not only from Nomariola and Wald, but also from my father and younger siblings.

If I were credited with creating Sefira, I couldn't hide it, but I hope that Fer will grow interested in alchemy and eventually create and announce an intelligence like Sefira.

He might uncover things I don't understand, and the day may come when I can openly use Sefira, which makes me excited.

(You're back?)

(I followed your instructions and eavesdropped on the meeting.)

(It's about a rebellion, right? The disputed territory Helkoff mentioned?)

The topic of the emergency meeting is about Romulus, a country of beastmen under the empire in the north.

There is a disputed area on the border with the empire where beastmen are fighting each other.

(In the Romulus, Bayfar region, near the Fanan Mountains, the conflict between Iscariot-type beastmen and Romulus-type beastmen has worsened. The situation has escalated with the appearance of their leaders, and the neighboring lords have sent troops to confront each other.)

(Ah, so the Romulus side has lined up troops against the empire?)

This means a declaration of war, but it is only the decision of some regional leaders or local lords.

Romulus as a country must be in a panic.

For the Iscariot Empire, it would be embarrassing to do nothing while a country under its protection turns its sword against it.

However, if they seriously intervene in a local conflict, they will be seen as weak.

(The ideal solution from the Emperor's side would be for Romulus to calm its citizens and publicly apologize to the empire, wouldn't it?)

(It seems the Romulus ambassador does not have that intention.)

(Well, Romulus will only be seen as weak.)

The ambassador cannot make promises without knowing the country's stance.

For the country, it is a troublesome situation.

However, for the locals, it is a release of long-suppressed grievances, and they will not easily back down, and if provoked, there could be casualties.

(The Emperor does not intend to act immediately?)

(He does not want the people of both countries to be hurt, and he is in agreement with the Romulus ambassador.)

This means it will be a political discussion about who will take the blame.

"Ah, ah!"

"Ah, don't panic, Terry. Just push it slowly and steadily, and it will be fine."

We moved to the Emerald Room and are now conducting an experiment using essences.

The experiment involves creating an object by mixing essences and then applying pressure to generate static electricity.

It seems Terry mixed the essences incorrectly halfway through, causing sparks instead of static electricity.

Since sudden pressure can be dangerous, I guided Terry by adding my hand to his.

Then, the purple lightning crackled and burst in the test tube.

"......I couldn't do it as well as big brother."

It seems he was surprised by the different result because I had demonstrated it once before.

"I can't match big brother, in magic or alchemy......"

"That's not true. I just have more experience because I'm older than Terry. When you're my age, you'll be able to do much more."

It seems Terry is using me as a role model, which is gratifying as an older brother.

However, I haven't really done anything other than alchemy, so being surpassed is inevitable.

Terry, as the next emperor, has more and better tutors.

As an older brother, it's good to stimulate their motivation while providing support so they don't give up.

In my previous life, popular tutors were good at maintaining students' motivation, and they were well-liked.

I want to be liked by my younger siblings too, so I'll keep trying.

"Look, fire!"

"I, water!"

Even though they can't use magic yet, Werner and Fer seem to be enjoying the essences, which can only produce sparks.

The guards are watching them play with essences, which can only produce minor phenomena, not magic.

However, they are still on guard at the entrance to prevent the swords from hitting the equipment.

Ikt, who has never hit anything, is inside the room.

"Excuse me, Your Highness."

"Helkoff?"

It's unusual for him to interrupt while I'm playing with my younger siblings.

I left the room to the guards and moved to the Golden Room.

Helkoff, being from Romulus, had received a letter from his hometown about the situation in the north, so I had him gather information in the left wing.

"According to information from a military acquaintance, the meeting has just ended. And, well......"

It seems there is a situation where Helkoff is hesitating to speak.

I smiled and nodded, encouraging him to continue.

"Actually, there is talk of sending a prince to establish authority."

"That...... It's impossible for my younger brothers, who are under ten, right?"

It's an obvious question, but Helkoff, with a serious bear face, nodded solemnly.

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Next: Northern Rebellion 2