How to Live as a Tyrant’s Bastard Brother

A cruel silence enveloped the small reception room as Valenciaunos carefully chose his words.

Thump, thump, his heart raced wildly.

His opponent was the tyrant Jeilliris.

An overwhelming gaze, like that of a dragon, mercilessly pressed down on his shoulders, face, and back.

“I will start with a discussion about the duties and authority of a court official.”

Yet he spoke without a flicker in his eyelids.

“I refuse. I am more curious about how you managed to bring the Shadowless Mage here.”

Even the word ‘refuse’ did not cause him to furrow his brow or emit a sound of discontent.

“Then allow me to speak first. The reason I could bring the Shadowless Mage Sererassie here is that she desired it.”

Despite saying something that insinuated A is B, thus B must be A in front of the Emperor, Valenciaunos remained resolute.

Jeilliris had enough curiosity to wonder what he meant.

“Continue.”

“Then, may I ask one question? If Your Majesty has lived as a prodigy of the Ivory Tower from a young age, made friends there, met mentors, and passionately burned through your youth, what do you wish to do most?”

“Magic, I suppose.”

“However, in the current Empire, it is forbidden for royals to hone their swordsmanship and magic without permission.”

The very person who issued the prohibition sat before him.

What he was saying bordered on embarrassing.

Yet, even as a former bandit, he spoke those embarrassing words with the confidence of a general.

He straightened his shoulders, opened his chest, pulled back his chin, and declared what seemed to be an eternal truth.

“If I hear that an opportunity to become an exception to that prohibition awaits, I cannot help but believe it.”

“I’m having a hard time understanding. It could be a lie, couldn’t it? Moreover, your reputation isn’t exactly stellar. Wouldn’t it be reasonable to be skeptical first?”

Valenciaunos grinned.

That smile, mimicking bitterness, actually appeared cheerful, making it seem even more delinquent.

“Despite my poor reputation, Your Majesty spared my life, granted me a reward, and permitted me to train with a sword, didn’t you? In just a year, a royal who could run amok under the trust of Your Majesty has appeared, and it seems natural to hope that I might change your mind.”

Jeilliris smirked as if he found the explanation satisfactory.

“You’re quite eloquent at exploiting someone’s desperation.”

“My power comes from Your Majesty, unlike Your Majesty’s, which comes from ruling. You are merely a ruler, but as Your Majesty’s advisor, I must engage in politics.”

Valenciaunos recognized that Jeilliris understood through the lens of his past life experiences.

With a slight shift, he tied off his initial query regarding “the duties and authority of an advisor.”

However, he did not let his guard down until the end and organized his words.

“Sererassie must have considered me a link to you, Your Majesty. She attacked me without murderous intent. Your Majesty knows much better than I how much intent plays a role in battle. Hence, I survived. If you still have questions, please ask them.”

Uninterrupted speech, steely eyes, an attitude brimming with confidence.

“You certainly know how to make others want to believe you.”

Jeilliris’s cold voice echoed in the room.

Valenciaunos lightly lowered his eyes and bowed his head again.

“I am humbled by such a high evaluation for someone like me.”

“There’s no need for gratitude. It is not a compliment.”

Valenciaunos suddenly felt as if he had heard a faint chuckle.

“Results do not tell the whole story. But you… clearly did show results. I am curious how long you intend to keep showing them.”

He interpreted the Emperor’s words through his long experience.

While he can let it slide this time, it implied that should the results turn out poorly at any time, his head would roll.

That much was indeed a compliment.

—

“In four days, Duke Planiaties will be visiting with the Duchess.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“We received word that one of our half-siblings wishes to accompany him.”

For a moment, Valenciaunos’s face stiffened.

‘Is it already that time?’

To wish to take a royal outside the capital inherently implied a relinquishing of their inheritance rights.

However, the value of a royal in the Empire was not solely their inheritance rights.

The blood of the imperial family, which stood at the pinnacle of the bloodline, should not spill out carelessly.

“What… do you intend to respond?”

Jeilliris murmured listlessly.

“The Duke cherishes his wife, and the Duchess horrifically cherishes my late sister and her children. Both the Planiaties family and the Duchess’s family are among the most prominent high nobles in the Empire.”

He was beating around the bush, struggling with the pride of the inherent difficulty of rejection.

Valenciaunos recognized that, but, of course, did not reveal it.

Instead, he conjured several situations in which Jeilliris could find himself in trouble.

‘Yes, this is just the beginning. The world is moving fast.’

The chaos of the Empire had already begun.

In his past life, during this time, the Duke’s family was attacked by assassins.

The royal who was the Duke’s sister’s child died on the scene.

The Duchess returned to her family, but succumbed to the injuries inflicted by the assassins and the shock of losing her sister’s bloodline.

The deranged Duke pointed fingers at the imperial family for the incident, and his family aligned with him.

Thus began the first civil war of the Empire.

At that time, the past Valenciaunos was lost in vice, wandering between brothels and casinos.

Naturally, he had no intentions of repeating any of that history.

“I will ensure that the cousin returns quietly and safely.”

Jeilliris smiled contentedly.

“Yes. That was the answer I was hoping for. After resting, go speak with the Court Official about the details. And on your way out, have any attendant summon Lady Tenitia.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Valenciaunos left the room, Jeilliris struck the surface of the expensive wooden reception desk with his finger.

“To say you will protect them, you certainly are confident in your abilities, my blood. Yet I am quite curious where you have honed such skills. If you reached that level before my ascension, surely the rumors would have surfaced.”

—

I entered an empty room in the palace and slept like a corpse.

When I opened my eyes, a knight with a wolf-like demeanor was looking down at me.

“Your Grace the Duke. Have you awakened?”

“Ah. Is that you? It’s been a while.”

With her neatly cropped red hair, Tenitia was dressed in knightly attire over her armor and sporting a sword.

“Have you seen His Majesty? Was the last troublesome ‘active search mission’ resolved satisfactorily?”

“Yes. It was. The mission was completed, and I received generous performance bonuses.”

“Then why have you come to see me?”

“Actually, I’ve received a command for a full assignment starting today.”

“A full assignment? Where to?”

“You are now the escort knight for Duke Valenciaunos Solletaraon Solletarass.”

Upon hearing that, I took a small breath.

Platinum, black iron, azure, and bronze.

The missions of the four knight orders often overlap, and there is fierce factional combat between the orders.

Still, it was tradition for escorting members of the imperial family to rest with the Platinum Knights.

Of course, during a time when royals were treated as potential traitors…

“It seems I’ve been put on the first priority watch list. If strange machinations occur, your blade might soon sever my neck.”

Tenitia aims to become a Swordmaster in the future, and she is so strong that comparing her to me now is laughable.

Honestly, I cannot guarantee that the pre-regression me could defeat the current Tenitia without receiving any injuries.

“But on the other hand, if anyone dares conspire against His Majesty, I’ll gladly sever their neck myself.”

With a gallant smile, I could only grin with satisfaction.

To have such a formidable knight by my side is an honor.

My plans do not revolve around fleeing to the mountains to avoid destruction.

The more capable individuals I have at my side, the better.

“It is reassuring to have you around. Have you heard what duties I’ve been assigned?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Then let’s just enjoy a cup of coffee before I consult with the Court Official.”

“…Do we have to drink coffee?”

“That would be better than dozing off or taking another nap in front of the Court Official. Would you like a sip?”

“Knights do not drink such delicate beverages. I would gladly accept beer, wine, or whiskey, but I must decline coffee.”

In the Empire, coffee is perceived as a drink for the bourgeoisie who gather to flaunt their superiority.

Natural animosity formed between the bourgeoisie, who gamble their lives for money, and knights, who stake their lives for loyalty, thereby condemning each other’s cultures.

“I understand.”

“Thank you. I suggest you consider trying to abstain from that decadent drink which turns His Majesty’s clear mind into dark water, as well.”

“Then please understand my position as well.”

However, the weary royal who has to work like an Administrative Officer, train like a knight, and hold secrets like a mage has, unfortunately, to drink three cups of coffee today as well.

—

“You have arrived right on time. I was just about to have a cup of coffee; would you care to join, Your Grace and Lady Tenitia?”

The elderly Court Official offered coffee.

Once again, I accepted, and Lady Tenitia declined.

“I am grateful for the invitation, but knights do not drink coffee.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the visible effort she took not to frown.

The Empire revolves around knights, nobility, bloodlines, and power.

No matter how high-ranking an administrative official may be, it is common sense to treat knights with mutual respect.

Administrative officials may receive noble titles, but they are merely nominal nobles without territories or subjects.

However, it would not be easy to readily reject the proposal of a loyal knight who has served the imperial family for so long.

“I would like to bring out a new teacup, but since the work of the Court has turned into something akin to slave-hunting, I haven’t been able to enjoy coffee with members of the royal family recently. Today, I want to treat you, Your Grace and Lady Knight, to a cup of coffee… oh.”

He seemed to have just shown a hint of tears.

Lady Tenitia’s face flushed a hue of crimson.

“I will accept this gesture of goodwill… gratefully.”

“Then I’ll brew it up cleanly for you!”

The old noble smiled brightly as he poured beans into the filter.

It was fascinating how easily a person’s expression could change.

No, thinking back, I realize I’ve been doing just that under Jeilliris.

“Here you are. Please indulge it.”

I lifted the steaming cup of coffee, fragrant and clear, with both hands.

As I took a deep breath, the subtle aroma filled my nostrils.

“Hmm.”

But upon taking a sip of the coffee…

“Ugh!”

It was disgustingly bitter and awful!

I had no idea what kind of beans were used.

Anxiously glancing at Lady Tenitia, she wore an unexpectedly nonchalant expression.

“Are you alright, Lady?”

“I seem to have had a significant misunderstanding until now.”

“What do you mean?”

“I didn’t realize that something so ‘clearing for the mind’ could resemble such contemplation for something akin to a clergyman’s trial. It seems the bourgeoisie are not as feeble as I thought.”

Goodness.

I felt a throbbing in my nape and cautiously pushed the coffee cup aside.

“Let’s talk about work.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to drink anymore?”

“Let us discuss work, then.”

“Then let me briefly explain about Duke Planiaties, who will be visiting in four days.”

As I listened to the elder noble’s explanation, I momentarily lost myself in thought.

I might know more about Duke Planiaties than she does.

He is a man akin to the king of a kingdom.

This is not just a metaphor that things can happen in the outlying provinces without the central eyes tracking it.

A vassal with territories only owes their lord 40 days of unpaid military service and 10% of taxes annually.

As long as the gold maintains its value, they are allowed to mint currency, and they hold judicial power, meaning secular law and customary law cannot reach them.

Moreover, the Planiaties family was once a royal family until 150 years ago.

They formally declared that all lands belonged to the imperial family, and the Emperor rewarded those lands back to them as territories, which naturally implies a strong sense of local autonomy and independence.

Commoners, who do not learn the noble’s language, can hardly communicate with one another.

Thus, it seems he could be the first to defy Jeilliris.

“….Anyhow, he desired for matters to proceed quietly.”

He had wished for this in my past life as well.

“I understand. Let us omit the grand ceremony, welcoming procedures, and displays of friendship. They would only be burdensome for each other.”

Originally, with a new Emperor ascended, all vassals would have to come to the capital to swear new oaths of loyalty.

Yet, Jeilliris has yet to receive or ask for loyalty oaths from the great lords.

For the great lords, it would be politically burdensome to first acknowledge an abominable Emperor who claimed the throne after killing the rightful heirs.

Jeilliris knows this well, too.

He knows that oaths could be rejected, certain to create at least a situation where they cannot be willingly accepted.

However, if a demand for oaths is refused, force must be applied to maintain authority.

Having barely surpassed a year since his ascension, and with the capital still in chaos, raising an army to attack the distant vassals would be insane.

And a wise ruler would avoid making such proposals to prevent rejection.

“The very fact that permission to go to the capital has been granted implies that it is Your Majesty’s intent.”

“Yes. I believe so. That’s why the Duke has also decided to bring only the minimum number of people with him. And for Lady Tenitia, just to mention it, there is no good to be gained from this matter being public knowledge.”

“What are you referring to?”

“Well done.”

I smiled satisfactorily and confirmed my mission.

“Then I will see to it that the royal remains safe over these four days. We must ensure no abrupt actions are taken.”

“If that royal happens to have an illegitimate child, just let me know. We’ll take care of it on our end.”

Realizing I had one last thing to ask before rising from my seat, I paused to turn back.

“If it’s the minimum number of people… is it the Wyvernfit?”

“That’s correct. A beautiful place indeed.”

—

Beautiful?

It seems all the beautiful places in the world have burned away.

—

The next day.

“I’m, I’m sorry.”

How did Jeilliris handle the illegitimate children before my regression?

Seeing the child before me, I let out a deep sigh.

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