“That damn Zen... Just when I was thinking he’d finally sent me a letter... I can’t believe what he sent along with it.”
“If you’re going to look happy while complaining, how about you be honest with yourself and accept that you’re happy?” The eldest brother Yohia chided Sharla. No matter how much time passed, she was always a kid.
The two of them were in the study of the Leadon family’s main residence. What had Sharla so astounded was the arrival of the renowned sorcerer monk Shiltz, who’d been put in a state of apparent death by sorcery for a while. The knights who served Nazalf Prefectural Governor Cummel had responsibly taken on the duty of transporting Shiltz back to the imperial capital.
“I didn’t think someone would find the imperial princess’s whereabouts so quickly.” Yohia sighed.
“The silver lining here is that he didn’t tell any of the other sorcerer monks.”
“All thanks to that Shiltz guy’s ego, wanting to show off. He was too eager to make an accomplishment and stand out.”
Zen had written in his letter that Keel had looked inside Shiltz’s head, so they knew these things for a fact. He’d added one more thing too.
“We’ll be sending over Shiltz himself, so please deal with the aftermath for us. I’m sorry that I’m such a pathetic little brother, having to rely on his family like this.”
As Sharla sat rudely on Yohia’s desk, she flapped the letter around. “What a cheeky little brother he is. What does he mean pathetic?!”
“Yes, things turned out as we expected.” Yohia let out a rare smile. He’d believed that Zen, who’d made a contract with a divine beast and studied under the Vajra Temple’s previous high priest, would definitely protect Her Highness if a sorcerer monk assassin was sent.
“Well, if all you have to do is protect Her Highness, then even I can do that...”
“It’d probably be impossible for you to get by as a family with her in a remote village.” Zen might have had weak life skills, but Sharla was even worse. Her life skills were hopeless. If there were no one to look after her, she’d become like a baby, unable to live on her own. While someone with weak life skills could still be trained, those who were hopeless would never improve.
“Hmph! And you would be too cold-blooded for Her Highness to open up to you when you’re supposed to be creating a home.”
“Well, I don’t object to that.” Although as a public figure, Yohia was able to earn other people’s respect, he knew very well that as a private individual, his temperament didn’t really encourage the affection of others.
“In the end, there’s no one more qualified to shelter and guard her than Zen.”
“He can easily do anything, and he’s liked by everyone, after all.”
It was true that he didn’t have any outstanding talents like Yohia and Sharla, but like how a strong light makes a dark shadow, Yohia’s and Sharla’s skills and personalities had plenty of shortcomings. On the other hand, Zen had no weaknesses at all. His abilities and personality were terrifyingly in balance.
People in society said funny things about Zen, like how he was just the spent tea leaves of his older siblings or that he was a disgrace to the Leadon family, but from Yohia and Sharla’s point of view, those were absurd things to say.
Indeed, his older siblings highly valued Zen.
“First of all, half the reason people say those things is because of you, Yohia.”
“That’s because the reason I purposefully sent him around the central government and made sure he never got promoted wasn’t his abilities. It was all part of my plan,” Yohia affirmed, unashamed.
In the past, there had actually been a decent amount of pushback from Zen’s direct superiors, like the section chief of the Tax Bureau who’d greatly valued him, to keep Zen in their departments. However, Yohia made full use of the authority granted to him as the Chancellor of Ceremonial Affairs and sabotaged his little brother’s life as a government official.
Why had he done that? It was of course for the empire’s future. It was to put Zen at the lowest rung of every post and have him understand all the intricacies of the six ministries’ work.
“He really is a skilled man,” said Sharla. “My brain would collapse in three days if I had to be an office worker and deal with all those numbers! Before it even got that far, I bet I’d thrust my letter of resignation at my superior’s face.”
“I think it’d be impossible for me to take command at the front lines of the Ministry of Military Affairs or Ministry of Justice myself.”
Their younger brother was the only one who held that talent that made him a jack-of-all-trades—or well-rounded, to phrase it better. That was why Yohia, through his convoluted way, purposefully had Zen gather experience everywhere he could.
“Being versatile enough to comprehend the duties of all six ministries and having a personality that everyone likes are two qualities that are desired in a prime minister,” he said.
“It’s just as you say, Yohia. Zen has the ability to stand above us in time.” Those like Yohia and Sharla who held innate sharp skills were suitable to become chancellors, but it was the prime minister’s duty to lead and make use of such capable individuals. Yohia and Sharla knew this, so they were raising Zen while looking at the long term. They were viewing things from the lens of the world and the nation, a perspective at a height that most people couldn’t reach.
And even now, while Zen was kept away from the central government, he was continuing his education to become a prime minister.
“I can’t entrust the empire to fools who can’t see beyond their self interests,” said Yohia. “Before long, I’ll have Jemma II abdicate the throne.”
“Indeed. The wise Lady Elysia is the one who’s suited to become the empress of Great Catalan.”
“When Her Highness ascends to the throne, she’ll need her prime minister by her side.”
“That’s what Zen’s for. That’s why we want the two of them to live carefree lives in the countryside, building a relationship of mutual trust.”
Yohia and Sharla nodded to each other. It was necessary for the two siblings to make sure their opinions aligned whenever they had the chance. It was because they were both wise and great at taking the initiative, so if they weren’t completely on the same page, it could lead to a fatal error. If that happened, they wouldn’t be able to fight against the emperor and the formidable prime minister’s party and drag them out of power.
Five years. Or ten. They’d overhaul the imperial court’s system and definitely bring Elysia back.
“Until that happens, if Zen and Elysia could possibly produce an heir, it’d be some peace of mind for the Leadon family,” said Yohia.
“You’re wishing for too much— No, you’re too impatient.”
See, if they weren’t careful, they’d immediately find they weren’t completely on the same page.
A rare wry smile arose on Yohia’s face. “Indeed,” he said to his astonished sister.