To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

[…We need help from the Merna Empire.]

[What kind of help?]

[The old imperial family will be restored in the Holy Hilysid Empire. We hope the Merna Empire won’t consider it rebellion and intervene at that time.]

Liv spoke naturally with smooth pronunciation, having memorized these sentences at Count Lester’s house yesterday. William asked again with a slightly interested look.

[Does a … of the old imperial family exist?]

[… in that state.]

Walter answered on behalf of Liv. Since they couldn’t reveal that Liv was the last imperial descendant due to safety issues, he probably answered vaguely that they had secured a descendant of the old imperial family. After hearing Walter’s words, William smiled gently.

[I see. I’ll take note of that.]

At that moment, Liv’s eyebrows frowned slightly. The fact that he said that meant…

[When can we meet again?]

[Hmm, … I’m busy so I’m not sure, but I’ll contact you when I have time…]

It was certain. William was clearly putting up a wall against them. Of course, they could try to persuade William once more here. But…

‘It would be difficult without knowing what he’s thinking.’

What Liv had proposed to him was a kind of deal. If the Merna side prevented international conflict regarding the Holy Hilysid Empire, the newly enthroned Emperor of the Holy Hilysid Empire would pay a corresponding price. But William had effectively rejected that proposal.

Then, either Liv’s proposal wasn’t very beneficial to him, or he had another option that was more beneficial. It was dangerous to act rashly without knowing what that was.

[Yes, I understand, Your Highness. Thank you for your time.]

Liv greeted him neatly and stood up, and Walter followed her with a slightly confused expression. Hayden looked like he would follow whatever Liv did unconditionally, and Hildegard also left the room with a look of not understanding what was going on.

As they were leaving the 2nd Prince’s palace, Walter asked in a serious voice.

“Liv, what do you think the 2nd Prince is thinking?”

“I think he’s chosen another side.”

“I guess so…”

“Sister, what’s going on?”

As Hildegard, who couldn’t understand their conversation, asked, Liv was silent for a moment before speaking.

“It seems he has no intention of helping us. He’s outwardly friendly, but that’s all. And there must be a reason for that.”

“What reason?”

“In my opinion…”

Liv thought for a moment before starting to speak.

“The reason we made this proposal to the 2nd Prince was because the nobles Brother Walter was close with had connections to the 2nd Prince. Moreover, the 2nd Prince was the most likely candidate for Emperor. Brother Walter said he would ascend to the throne if there were no major variables.”

The problem arose there. The belief that the 2nd Prince would naturally succeed to the throne.

“But maybe he feels more insecure about succeeding to the throne than we thought. So… the 2nd Prince might contact the Emperor of the Holy Hilysid Empire right now to sell us out and borrow his power to solidify his position.”

“Ah… So you’re saying the 2nd Prince might sell us out to August and try to become Emperor with his help?”

“Yes, that’s possible.”

Both the Merna Empire and the Holy Hilysid Empire were in a situation where they were trying to get help from each other. Just as Liv was wearing a dark expression, wondering if they might have to leave this country and seek help elsewhere, Walter intervened.

“That won’t happen. He’ll leave us alone without killing us until the end, to trade with the Emperor. He’s probably weighing between the Emperor and us right now.”

When Liv looked at Walter with a questioning gaze, he smiled slightly.

“In the many lives I’ve lived, the 2nd Prince became Emperor in most cases. Rarely, the 1st Prince became Emperor too. Sometimes the 2nd Prince fled to the Holy Hilysid Empire to survive, and I protected him then. I got to know what kind of person he is well enough while staying with him.”

Because Walter’s voice was filled with confidence as he said this, it was sufficiently believable.

“Was it always either the 1st Prince or the 2nd Prince who won? What’s the usual probability?”

“In the lives where I was aware of the Merna Empire, the 2nd Prince won in eight out of ten cases, and the 1st Prince was the winner in the remaining cases. There’s something called the butterfly effect, and sometimes the world situation changed depending on my actions.”

“Hmm, then it seems siding with the 2nd Prince has a higher possibility after all…”

“Well, there was one time when both of them lost. An unexpected figure emerged, usurped the throne, and became an absolute monarch leading the prosperity of the Merna Empire. The results differ depending on our actions, so we don’t need to rely solely on probabilities.”

“Madam, in that case, why don’t we just side with another faction? The 1st Prince’s side, I mean.”

“That doesn’t sound bad either…”

As Liv was nodding at Hayden’s words, she suddenly realized she had taken a wrong turn. A garden that wasn’t visible earlier was spread out in front of Liv. Given that no guards were visible, it seemed they had entered a secluded area.

“I think we’ve taken a wrong turn…”

Just as Liv was saying that, a sound came from somewhere in the garden.

[Our brother was in a bad mood again today…. If we took his anger, you should take ours…?]

[…It’s this bastard’s fault for being born.]

Following that, there was a sound of someone being hit. Startled by the violent sound, Liv unconsciously walked towards where the sound was coming from.

“Ah!”

What Liv encountered was a scene that didn’t fit this imperial palace at all. A boy was curled up and being beaten by other boys. As Liv was about to step forward, Walter grabbed her arm and said:

“That’s the 5th Prince Dante. The other boys are the 3rd and 4th Princes. They’re usually like this, so it’s better not to interfere unnecessarily.”

“…What kind of person is the 5th Prince? Why is he being beaten?”

“There’s a rumor that the 5th Prince was born from the Empress having an affair with another man. Of course, there’s no way to verify if it’s true, but because of that rumor, both the Emperor and Empress shun the 5th Prince. Since the imperial couple turn a blind eye, he’s naturally bullied by the other princes and princesses, and has become the lowest existence in the imperial palace.”

“Are there any other notable points?”

At those words, Walter’s face became hesitant, as if recalling something. But when Liv looked at him as if urging him, he had no choice but to give an answer.

“Dante Münster, the 5th Prince of the Empire. And… in one of my many lives, he once became the absolute monarch of the Empire, defeating all the other imperial family members.”

Now Liv’s eyes were fixed on Dante. No, what she was looking at precisely wasn’t Dante, but-

The clover-shaped Holy Church pendant hanging around Dante’s neck.

Liv could no longer ignore him. So she shook off Walter’s restraining hand and walked towards the princes.

[Who are you?]

One of the princes who noticed Liv asked with a crooked face.

[This place is … not to be approached…. Lord Hamelsvoort?]

[Yes, Your Highness the 3rd Prince. It’s been a while.]

Walter, who finally came forward in front of Liv, showed a gentle smile. He seemed a bit flustered by Liv’s unexpected action, but he didn’t show it at all and pretended to be calm.

[This is a guest from the Holy Hilysid Empire.]

[Ah…]

The 3rd and 4th Princes rolled their eyes as if assessing the situation. Soon, they seemed to judge that there was nothing to gain by getting involved with a dignitary from another country, so they left with a smile as if nothing had happened. Now the only one left was the boy sitting curled up. He slowly raised his head, and his eyes met Liv’s.

“…Ah.”

Liv marveled for a moment as she looked beyond Dante’s eyes. Under his long black hair, his blue eyes were burning with something like will. A blue flame burning hotter than anything else.

As Liv was quietly looking down at him, Dante frowned.

[Are you just looking at me now?]

[That’s not it.]

Now Liv was beginning to see more and more of this boy’s potential. Although he was being bullied, he wasn’t a person who had given up on everything. Anyway, the 2nd Prince won’t side with them. Then it might be right to go to the 1st Prince, but…

‘The absolute monarch of the Merna Empire.’

If the 5th Prince is given the right opportunity, he could grow into a stronger Emperor than anyone else. And he could protect Liv from the pressure of foreign countries.

Liv turned her head and spoke to Walter in Hilysid so that he couldn’t understand.

“I’m going to make the 5th Prince the Emperor.”

“What? Liv, what are you saying?”

“If the princes likely to become Crown Prince won’t help me, I’ll directly make a prince who will be on my side the Crown Prince. Someone who can never abandon me.”

“Haah, that’s not wrong, but… You just like that because he believes in the Holy Church, don’t you?”

“Well, that might be part of it too.”

In fact, since Hanaism also uses the same clover shape as the Holy Church as its symbol, what he believes in is probably Hanaism, but the god they believe in is the same, only the doctrines are different. It didn’t seem likely that someone devout enough to wear that necklace would reject the Gracia family, said to be loved by the Supreme God.

While Liv was talking with Walter, Dante was looking at them with wary eyes. Liv turned back to him. Yes, let’s just gamble openly from the start.

[I’m from the Holy Hilysid Empire. My name is Liv Gracia.]

[…Gracia?]