I Didn't Want to Become the Emperor of This World

Chapter 8

“…!”

I was quite used to the being written anew on its own, but it was the first time I had seen the pages turn by themselves, so I was quite surprised.

But my surprise at the pages turning on their own was brief.

My attention was captured by the content around the middle of the diary, where my ‘intermediate ending’ was written.

…….

According to my plan, the noble faction was clearly divided into two factions. The ‘Vaimal Ducal Faction’ and the ‘Panshin Ducal Faction’.

The nobles of the two ducal factions brought all their knights, vassals, and servants from their territories to the royal castle. As if to appeal their loyalty to the duke they followed.

The 1st Knight Order, which followed Duke Vaimal, and the 2nd Knight Order, which followed Duke Panshin, also openly issued statements, saying, ‘We are loyal to the duke, not the king’.

Thus, the two ducal factions initially promised a friendly competition over the throne.

However, their suspicion and wariness towards each other gradually grew.

Eventually, it reached a point where the two ducal factions' camps confronted each other within the royal castle. The Vaimal Ducal Faction took up residence in the west palace, and the Panshin Ducal Faction in the east palace.

As the ‘Throne Handover Ceremony’, where I said I would hand over the throne, approached, the wariness reached its peak.

However… the two ducal factions only remained wary of each other, and no actual armed conflict occurred. At this rate, the power of the 3rd Knight Order alone would not be enough to wipe out the noble faction.

My plan to weaken the noble faction's power by dividing them into two was somewhat successful, but the fundamental problem still remained.

That was the end of the newly written content.

‘Hmm… does this mean the plan is still lacking?’

I thought it was enough to divide the noble faction into two factions, the ‘Vaimal Ducal Faction’ and the ‘Panshin Ducal Faction’. I thought that the two factions would then kill each other on their own.

But looking at the content in the , it seemed that was not enough.

What should I do? How could I make the two ducal factions go beyond being wary of each other and kill each other.

‘…Ah.’

Then, a thought suddenly brushed past my mind.

That is, for me to ‘directly’ provoke the two ducal factions.

‘For example, let's say I have Jereuth assassinate any noble from the Vaimal Ducal Faction. And I disguise it as if a noble from the Panshin Ducal Faction did it… then would Duke Vaimal stay still?’

He would absolutely not stay still. Duke Vaimal would surely attack Duke Panshin. With each and every supporter being precious at this point, his supporter was assassinated, so Duke Vaimal would have no choice but to take revenge.

‘There's just one problem… if Jereuth kills a noble from the Vaimal Ducal Faction and disguises it as if the Panshin Ducal Faction did it, and it's discovered that it was my ploy, it could become a really big problem.’

If I were caught trying to sow discord between the two ducal factions with such a ploy, the noble faction would surely unite their forces again and attack me.

Then I would surely die.

‘Do I have to trust Jereuth's assassination skills and disguise skills…?’

It was when I was pondering.

Scribble, scribble, scribble―.

The middle part of the that I had opened began to be written anew.

The day before the Throne Handover Ceremony.

I was convinced that was the timing to hit the peak of the discord. So I ordered Jereuth to kill ‘Viscount Krain’ of the Vaimal Ducal Faction and disguise it as the work of the Panshin Ducal Faction.

Indeed, as if proving his career, Jereuth perfectly succeeded in the disguise according to my command—

That night, the two ducal factions pointed their blades at each other.

The entire royal palace reeked of blood.

That smell was a signal that my plan had succeeded.

As if I had worried for nothing, the was hinting at my success. Thanks to that, my mind calmed down.

But I still couldn't smile at ease. Because that future had not yet come to me.

‘Anyway, let's try it like this for now.’

The plan was set, and I had a guarantee that the plan would succeed.

So, what I had to do now was to tell this plan to my sword, Jereuth, and execute it.

‘But before that, it would be good to do what I can in advance.’

Before telling Jereuth the plan, I decided to first carry out the first stage of the plan, the ‘division of the noble faction’.

Scribble, scribble―.

I began to write two letters. One was a letter to be sent to Duke Vaimal, and the other was a letter to be sent to Duke Panshin.

The letters were to be sent to different people, but the content written was the same. That is, that I would hand over the throne to the duke.

To one of the two, Duke Vaimal or Duke Panshin.

***

Chirp, chirp―.

The next morning.

I stayed up all night writing letters to be sent to the two dukes, Duke Vaimal and Duke Panshin. The reason it took so long to write the letters was to not make even the slightest mistake.

‘…I'm so tired.’

In Korea, I wasn't very tired even after working part-time late at night while attending university and then going to the library again, but my current body, perhaps because it was twelve years old or because it was so sickly, tired easily.

Knock, knock―.

A familiar knock was heard from outside. It was probably Elly's knock.

As I expected, Elly quietly opened the door and came in. Then, seeing me sitting at the table, she asked with somewhat surprised eyes.

“Did you rest well, Your Highness? …Did you perhaps stay up all night?”

Elly asked with a worried voice, while being surprised.

To such an Elly, I smiled lightly and replied.

“I couldn't sleep well.”

“Ah… I see. Then, Your Highness, how about resting a little more?”

“It’s fine. More importantly, could you please call the vassals of Duke Vaimal and Duke Panshin?”

“The vassals of the Dukes… I can call them, but is there something the matter?”

“Yes. It is an important matter. So please be sure to call them.”

Elly hesitated, perhaps worried that I was going to meet the vassals of the two dukes, who were the apex of the nobles. But perhaps unable to refuse my command, she nodded her head heavily.

“I understand, Your Highness. Then I will be back shortly.”

***

About an hour later.

Elly returned to the room with two men I had never seen before. One was so fat he looked like he would burst if pricked with a needle, and the other was a man as shriveled as a dry log.

“Your Highness, I have brought the vassals of Duke Vaimal and Duke Panshin.”

For some reason, Elly's voice was quite exhausted. It seemed she had a hard time bringing them.

‘Even I, the crown prince, am treated with all sorts of disrespect, so Elly, my maid, must have a hard time too. There's no way the duke's vassals would have obediently followed Elly here.’

I decided to reward Elly for her troubles later when I seized power—

First, I greeted the vassals of the two dukes.

“Thank you for your trouble coming here so early in the morning.”

“Why did you call us?”

“I hope it is an important enough matter to call me here.”

As expected, and what an incredibly rude tone. They reeked of alcohol, as if they had been drinking and playing late last night.

Generally, a ‘noble's vassal’ was a commoner in status unless they were a knight or a mage.

However, among vassals, there were those who wielded power stronger than that of a decent noble if they served a powerful noble.

Just like the saying, ‘Even a slave from a prime minister's house has a different sheen’, a vassal was also somewhat influenced by the power of the master they served.

Those two were of that kind. As vassals of the apex of the noble faction, no, the apex of this kingdom, Duke Vaimal and Duke Panshin, their pride would pierce the heavens.

To the two vassals who were blatantly showing their annoyance, I handed them a letter and said.

“Please accept this letter. It is a letter to be sent to Duke Vaimal.”

“A letter to be sent to the Duke?”

The fat vassal—probably Duke Vaimal's vassal—tilted his head and received the letter I handed him.

Then, the skinny vassal reacted. Seeing such a reaction, he seemed to be Duke Panshin's vassal, and he seemed to be bothered that I was only giving a letter to Duke Vaimal.

I handed a letter to the skinny one as well.

“There is also a letter to be sent to Duke Panshin. Here.”

“Ah… yes!”

The vassal of Duke Panshin approached me and received the letter with formal courtesy.

The two, curious about the content of the letter, did not move away from me and waited for my words.

There was no need to hide the content of that letter. Everyone in the royal palace would soon find out anyway.

‘And I have to tell them the content of the letter so they'll deliver it to the dukes even a second faster.’

After a brief pause, I spoke.

“Yesterday, I had a conversation with His Majesty about the succession of the throne.”

“The throne…?!”

“Succession…?!”

As if by appointment, the two of them opened their eyes wide.

“Yes. His Majesty's current health condition makes it difficult for him to properly govern the country, so he said he would pass the throne to me. But… I also judged that I am not fit to receive the throne due to my poor health and young age.”

“…!”

“…!”

“So I intend to formally hand over my authority to one of the two Dukes, who can lead the Plank Kingdom much more admirably than I can.”

“T-to which one, you mean!”

“Your Highness!”

Thump! Thump!

The two sycophantic bastards slammed their hands on the table and spoke. They seemed so rushed that they couldn't even maintain the most basic courtesy. Perhaps because they were so curious and in a hurry, Duke Vaimal's sycophant looked ready to tear open the letter right away.

To the two of them, I smiled lightly and said. It's a bit much for me to say, but my appearance was that of a considerable handsome boy, so my smile was quite plausible.

“I have not yet decided to whom I will hand over the throne. How I will decide is in the letter, so please deliver it to the Dukes quickly.”

Before my words even finished.

“Out of the way!!”

“Move!!”

“Eek!”

The two vassals pushed Elly aside, knocking her over, and rushed out of the room. As soon as they found out that I had practically given up the throne, they all abandoned the sliver of courtesy they had.

I had expected it, but seeing it in person, I could really see that I had no power at all.

I was just a shell that would inherit the throne.

‘It will be different if my plan proceeds properly, though.’

The two vassals of the duke didn't even close the door as they left the room. Not paying it much mind, I extended my hand to Elly, who had fallen to the floor, and said.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah… yes, Your Highness. Thank you.”

Elly, looking apologetic, took my hand and got up, resuming a polite posture. Her head was bowed, but she seemed to have a lot to say.

“Are you flustered that I am handing over the throne to the Dukes?”

“…That is correct, Your Highness. But I believe you have your reasons for doing so. Although an uneducated maid like me cannot presume to understand Your Highness's thoughts.”

“Is that so.”

I spoke in a casual voice, then spoke to Elly again.

“If I hand over the throne to one of the two dukes, what will you do?”

“What will I do… what do you mean?”

“What else. I will no longer be the crown prince, so there is no reason for you to follow me—is what I meant.”

“……”

Elly looked straight at me. Her gaze was mixed with various complex emotions.

“Your Highness. Whether you are the crown prince or not, I will follow you. From the day you saved my life, I have sworn to serve you, even if it means going to the end of the continent.”

I saved Elly's life?

‘Perhaps the original owner of this body—‘Leonardo’—did.’

Unfortunately, I had no memories of Leonardo's past. So I didn't know what Elly was talking about.

But one thing was certain, Elly's loyalty was quite remarkable. I had a vague idea already, though.

“Thank you. For saying that.”

“Yes? Ah… yes!”

Perhaps not expecting me to say thank you, Elly replied awkwardly. To such an Elly, I smiled and—it was the first pure smile I had made since coming to this world—said.

“I have a favor to ask of you. It's sudden, but could you please bring me the 3rd Knight Commander, Jereuth?”

“Commander Jereuth?”

“Yes. I have something to discuss with him urgently.”

Now that I had thrown the bait to the two dukes.

It was time to tell my plan to the fisherman who would fish with me—Jereuth.

***

Crown Prince Leonardo's sudden abdication of the throne.

The letter containing that content was quickly delivered to the two dukes. Almost at the same time.

The two dukes were staying in the most splendid room in the royal castle, a room more splendid than the king's.

The two of them confirmed the content of the letter at the same time.

And as soon as the two dukes confirmed the letter, they shouted urgently.

“Crown Prince Leonardo says he will hand over the throne to the duke with more nobles, vassals, and servants following him! So gather everyone from newborn babies to those who will die tomorrow!! Bring all the pregnant women too! The baby in the womb might count as one person!!”

“Bring all the nobles, vassals, and servants who follow me to the royal castle by next week. All of them! Faster than Duke Panshin!”

It was a little strange that the crown prince was suddenly handing over the throne, but the two dukes couldn't care about that.

Why, because as greedy men, they could not miss the opportunity to become a ‘legitimate king’ by being suspicious of the crown prince.

Just as Leonardo had thought, predicted, and planned.