"Well then, Oskar Almon… Do you know why I summoned you here?"
"U-Um… I humbly apologize. May I ask the reason?"
Sometime later, Hercule called for Oskar Almon.
He was the second son of the Almon Clan's branch family. Because this great clan was one of Hercule's targets, the clan head was now in prison and most of their estates had been confiscated.
A branch family must obey the head family. If the head family took part in a rebellion, its branch families could not avoid getting involved. Hercule was aware of that, so he gave light punishments to the branch noble houses who took part in the rebellion.
The Almon Clan's branch family was no exception. But it wasn't like they were free of blame. Though they avoided execution, their house was abolished and their possessions were all confiscated.
Oskar was wondering why he was personally summoned by the Emperor, and why Oskar was singled out among his brothers. But he did have an idea. It must be about how he successfully broke out of Hercule's encirclement.
With that thought in mind, Oskar bowed to Hercule and implored the reason.
Hercule's answer was as he expected.
"You broke out of my encirclement, that's why. I was confident, you know, that I could have massacred you all until not a single man was left standing. Yet you managed to break out splendidly."
"Am I going to be executed?"
Oskar asked with a pale face. Hercule likely did not tolerate the existence of an enemy nobleman with an outstanding commanding ability like Oskar.
Was he about to go on the chopping block, get imprisoned, or sent into exile? Oskar wondered what crime was he going to be accused of.
Oskar duly resigned himself to fate. No matter the cause, the fact was that he had taken part in the rebellion. The death penalty was a given.
Yet Hercule said something completely out of the left field.
"Execution? What are you talking about… I summoned you to make you a general in my army."
"M-Me? A general?"
Oskar made a bewildered expression. He would understand if he had attained some kind of accomplishment. But as it stood, he was someone who had opposed and caused damage—however little—to Hercule.
What does His Imperial Majesty mean by that...?
As he was thinking that, Oskar remembered a similar case that happened before.
Mercenary Captain Darios. The man who once revolted against the Lemurian Empire, giving the late Emperor Hadrianus III a big fright that was an indirect cause behind his death.
Hercule made such a man his retainer.
"I have a high opinion of your commanding capability. A powerful army requires equally excellent commanders. I want you—what do you say? I believe this isn't a bad offer… You will be able to restore the prestige of the Almon Clan."
"I am honored to receive such high evaluation from Your Imperial Majesty."
Oskar silently bowed to Hercule. It wasn't like he had a choice, anyway. Should Oskar decline, death would likely await him. It would be far too dangerous to let a rebellious element who refused the Emperor's invitation to continue existing within the Empire.
Not only that, the Almon Clan's standing would be jeopardized.
In the first place, Oskar had no reason to refuse. If he could gain some achievements, the road to success would lay wide open. He would be able to regain the fallen fortune of the Almon Clan.
And above all…
This Emperor recognizes my ability!!
"Though I am still young and inexperienced, I will try my best to serve Your Imperial Majesty."
"Haha, no need to worry—I'm quite young myself. Let's both try our best not to lose to the old folks."
Hercule extended his hand out to Oskar. Though he was taken aback at first, Oskar grasped Hercule's hand tightly.
"You are my vassal from here on out, then. No having second thoughts, alright?"
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty. I'm ready to accompany you anywhere."
Oskar Almon.
Hailing from a branch family of the Almon Clan from Misr, he bore the moniker "the Taciturn". Hercule discovered his talent during the Revolt of Hadrianus and subsequently recruited him.
He was one of Emperor Hercule's Seventeen Retainers.
"Your Imperial Majesty."
"What's up, Carolina?"
"That's my line. What's Your Majesty doing so late at night?"
Carolina called out to Hercule who was gazing at the moon from his room's balcony. Hercule shrugged his shoulders.
"I was just thinking, the moon is different from a star, isn't it."
"Different how?"
"It's nothing important."
Hercule evaded the question with a vague reply. An unbelievable truth was no different from a lie.
"Anyway, it's quite admirable for a woman to come to a man's room this late at night."
"My father will probably get mad, but… Your Majesty?"
Carolina smiled mischievously. She was wearing a flimsy negligee with a stole draped over it.
For her to visit Hercule in such a dangerous appearance indicated that she fully trusted Hercule, but at the same time, she wouldn't mind it if something happened between them. That made Hercule a bit happy inside.
"I happen to have a bottle of excellent wine here. Care to join me for a drink?"
"Since I'm already here, I'll join Your Majesty."
After uncorking the bottle, Hercule poured a glass of deep red wine for Carolina. And then, when he was about to fill his own glass…
"I'll pour it for Your Majesty."
"Is that so?"
Carolina received the glass bottle from Hercule then poured wine into his glass.
Having finished pouring wine for each other, they lightly clinked their glasses.
"Here's to your lovely eyes."
"Cheers. Really, Your Majesty never changes."
They slowly indulged in the wine. To gulp it down all at once would be boorish—the wine wasn't the main show; it was the conversation between the two of them. The wine was only a lubricant for the conversation.
There would be no point to it if they got drunk and started slurring their words.
"Nice work, Your Majesty. It must have been tiring."
"It was. But if I didn't properly clean up, there would be a ton of trouble later."
Cleaning up, that is—to deal with the aftermath of the war.
Did the war put down rebellious elements, solidify the government control and strengthen them Empire? Or would the Empire become more unstable than ever and weakened?
It all hanged on how Hercule dealt with the aftermath.
"What did the Empress say?"
"She gave her thanks. But either way, it would have been too scandalous to kill my own brother."
Hercule thought back on his mother, who expressed her gratitude while shedding tears.
"Anyway, it's lucky that the Empress Dowager showed prudence. Had she supported Hadrianus in the revolt, I would get branded as a matricide and a fratricide by now."
"Does Your Majesty…," after hesitating a bit, Carolina asked, "…hate Her Highness the Empress Dowager?"
"Carolina, let me teach you something."
A smile appeared on Hercule's face.
"The opposite of love is neither hatred nor disgust. It's apathy."
"…"
That's right—it was apathy. Hercule cared little about how the Empress Dowager felt about him. He would take no issue with her as long as she stayed obedient.
"That ruined the mood. Let's talk about something more fun, shall we? We don't have to discuss politics right now."
"Then…"
The two then switched to more familiar, pleasant topics.
As the conversation livened up, the wine kept flowing and the two munched on snacks served by the maid.
"These are great. Did the head chef made these?"
"I think so. His skills are reliable as always; these snacks go really well with the wine. Still, I feel bad bothering him this late at night."
"Well, it's his job, isn't it?"
"Right on! I'll still pay him extra later, though. My goal is to build a wholesome nation, after all!"
Being half-drunk, they both became talkative. Before anyone noticed, Hercule had moved to sit beside Carolina. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder; Carolina didn't brush him away, she even rested her head on his shoulder in return.
"Your Majesty…"
"What's wrong?"
"I am fond of you. I love you."
Hercule didn't reply but merely held Carolina's chin. Carolina shut her eyes.
Hercule placed his lips on Carolina's. Their lips were joined together.
"I love you, too."
"Your Majesty…"
They shared another kiss. Then, Hercule asked.
"How about it?"
"…I'll leave everything to Your Majesty."
Hercule embraced Carolina. His tongue crawled on her ears.
"N… Your Majesty… It's my first time, so please…"
"Ahh, I got it."
After that, they spent a honey-sweet night together.
The two officially got betrothed the day afterward.