Imperial Intrigue

The Imperial Palace, just after sunset. There, in a small private drawing room, Evelyn sat down at a table across from a man with golden hair and sharp crimson eyes.

Crown Prince Maximilian vi Eternia, Evelyn's older brother.

A maid entered the room and began arranging a meal on the table. 

Evelyn glanced at her for a moment, but then she looked to her left at an empty seat. Following that, she looked at Maximilian and said, "Is Father not joining us today?"

Maximilian grabbed a glass of wine that the maid poured for him, and then he shook his head. "No. Father is busy preparing for the world council to discuss the gate anomaly forming in the north."

Evelyn sighed. "I see."

Maximilian set down his glass and then said, "Did you miss him? I had thought you would have grown past that by now, Sister."

Evelyn paused and then shook her head. "I'm no longer the young girl clinging to Father's cloak, Brother. It is just…" 

She recalled Alexander's situation and his actions throughout the day before saying, "I was reminded of how important family can be recently."

Maximilian raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Yes."

Evelyn grabbed her own glass of wine and started sipping on it.

To be in this world without a single family member and no one to rely on but yourself. To be forced to risk everything just for a chance to stand on the same level…

After thinking about it some more, she said, "Brother."

"What is it, Sister?"

She looked over towards him.

A kind and caring older sibling who supported her through everything. Even when nobles began forming factions to try and separate them, Max ignored them and continued to stay close with her. 

Comforting her when she cried. Encouraging her when she felt the training was too hard as a young girl…

There were people who said that she was the one who deserved the throne due to her heaven sent gift, but if asked who was the future ruler, Evelyn would always support her brother instead of herself.

Evelyn set her glass down and then gave him a warm smile. "Thank you for always supporting me. Even going out of your busy day to arrange dinner for me like this… I'm grateful. Truly."

Maximilian froze.

Was it because her words were out of character?

Evelyn blushed and then quickly drained her glass of wine. "A-Apologies…"

Maximilian laughed and waved his hand. "No need, Sister." He smiled and said, "I appreciate you as well. And I enjoy spending time with you. Apologies and thanks are unneeded."

Evelyn let out a grateful smile.

Maximilian waved towards the food and said, "Come. The food will get cold if we don't begin eating. How about you tell me how classes have been while we dine?"

===

The sun had fallen, replaced by the shining white moon. 

After dinner, Evelyn retired to her bedroom, ushered away by one of the maids.

However, Maximilian remained. Despite the food and plates being cleared away long ago, he sat there in the silence, staring into space with an inscrutable expression.

At that time, an ambiguous voice echoed from across the table. "Are you having second thoughts?" 

Maximilian looked up and frowned. "Must you always appear from darkness?"

A hooded and robed figure slipped into the chair where Evelyn had been sitting earlier. After making themselves comfortable, the figure chuckled and said, "It is in our nature to live in shadows, Prince. I thought you understood, having lived in shadow for quite some time yourself?"

Maximilian's eyes narrowed. But then he took a breath to calm himself and smooth his expression. "You need not remind me, Void Sovereign."

The mysterious figure, Void Sovereign, chuckled again. "Apologies. But I am curious." They tilted their head and said, "Are you having second thoughts?"

"No." Maximilian shook his head. "We proceed as planned."

"My. How cruel." Void Sovereign leaned back and said, "It would break her heart to know her dear brother is planning to sacrifice her like this. And all for certainty of obtaining the throne that he is already likely to receive."

"...You wouldn't understand. Father's word is all that matters, and he made his choice long ago."

Void Sovereign nodded. "Of course. And that is why we will 'bend' your Father's choice for you. In exchange…"

"I will aid in reviving your heretical god. Yes, yes. I recall the deal."

"Just reminding you." Void Sovereign laughed and said, "It's quite rare to work with someone competent."

Maximilian clicked his tongue.

Polite. Kind. Strangely light-hearted…

Objectively, Maximilian's sudden guest was better than any noble he'd ever met who had tried earning his favor.

Yet… despite all of that, Maximilian didn't lower his guard.

It was a primal instinct and intuition telling him to draw his blade and cut down the being in front of him. That the being in front of him, although reasonable, wasn't human.

It was a fact that any other human facing that being would be able to tell. A voice deep in the soul saying that it was the enemy of all mankind. Merely a being taking upon the mannerisms of humans.

Even so, Maximilian quietly suppressed his instincts and hostility. Instead, he said, "Is there a reason you decided to visit? I thought our scheduled meeting was not for a few more months."

"There is, in fact." Void Sovereign crossed their legs and said, "A variable has emerged."

"A variable?"

Void Sovereign nodded. "I am sure that your spies realized it as well. But your dear sister was pursuing someone today. And this someone is quite interesting, you see?"

"Ah, the commoner." Maximilian nodded. "Yes. I recall. He seemed intelligent and managed to con the gamblers of their cash, but nothing special." He paused. "...Is he more?"

Void Sovereign tapped their fingers along the desk. "...Perhaps. At this moment, he appears to simply be a man seeking a place to die. But you humans have a saying that those with none to lose are ever more dangerous, no?"

Maximilian rubbed his chin. "A no-name worthless life… but one self-aware of that fact and leveraging it to his advantage. Evelyn did say that he managed to defeat a rank 5 monster despite only being a Solmage." He paused and then looked over at Void Sovereign. "You think he can disrupt our plans?"

"No. But he may make things more troublesome. No sane person would wish to address a raging boar while dealing with paperwork, would they?"

"I see…" Maximilian hummed. "Then should I send some discreet assassins?"

Void Sovereign laughed. "You truly are heartless. No consideration on how your sister would feel having her classmate murdered?"

Maximilian waved his hand. "A short discussion and she will rationalize it away. We can even plant some evidence saying that he was a spy. It would be a non-issue… and it would aid in gathering that 'malevolence' you require for her corruption, would it not?"

A bright and far too wide smile cut across Void Sovereign's hidden face.

Maximilian resisted the urge to flinch at the inhuman expression.

Void Sovereign laughed and said, "It would. However, you can leave this to us."

"...Is that so?"

Void Sovereign uncrossed their legs and leaned back in their chair. "That annoying firefly has taken an interest in the young man as well, so it could cause you troubles. Since she's caught wind of us, we have decided to teach her a lesson while resolving the issue."

Maximilian frowned. "...Teach a lesson? To the <Light of Wisdom>?"

"My, my." Void Sovereign chuckled. "It seems you doubt our capabilities still, Prince. But it's understandable. A rank 9 mage may seem quite formidable due to their rarity in this world, but in the grand scheme it isn't much."

"...I will hold you to those words then. After all, quite a few will begin rushing here in the future when we commence the operation in earnest."

"Then let this be a preview of what is to come." Void Sovereign smiled that all too wide smile once more and then stood up. 

Maximilian stood up as well and said, "Is there anything I should arrange?"

"We will send some of our own as 'Heroes' for the midterm practicals. It would be simplest if our agents were able to obtain identities."

"Understood."

Void Sovereign gave a salute. "Then we shall bid you farewell for now, Prince. Please, enjoy your evening." After saying those words, Void Sovereign took a single step and then vanished.

Maximilian stood there and waited, straining his senses to catch any hint of their presence. But nothing.

After waiting for fifteen minutes to be sure, Maximilian sighed and stared out the window at the bright moon. 

For a brief moment, he recalled a similar time in the distant past, sitting beside his sister at a lake. 

But he shoved that memory aside and focused. Staring at the moon, he said, "This is your fault, Father."