To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

[5th Prince, what do you think about this matter?]

[I…]

Seeing Dante hesitating to answer Liv’s question, Liv said emphatically:

[You know, don’t you?]

[Y-Yes?]

[It seems like you already know the answer.]

[I’m anxious about being wrong…]

[No, it’s alright. Just say it.]

At those words, Dante squeezed his eyes shut and began to stammer.

[We should… stop colonial expansion. If we continue like this, we’ll co-collide with the Kingdom of Reboer. Especially our triangle plan will me-meet Reboer’s square plan in Or-Ordan. Then conflict will be una-unavoidable…]

[I see. That’s a good insight.]

Studying with Dante, Liv was learning many things from him. What Liv learned from Dante was mainly knowledge not found in books. Liv’s perspective on the world was gradually broadening, and now she could grasp how to conduct politics.

At the same time, Liv was trying to build Dante’s confidence. Dante was quite an intelligent boy, but perhaps because he had been ignored by the surrounding princes and princesses for a long time, he lacked confidence. However, he always gave wise answers even while trembling, so Liv thought he would make an excellent Crown Prince candidate if he gained a little more confidence.

[Your Highness, to be honest…]

The sound of Dante nervously swallowing could be heard.

[You are really smart.]

[What? Me?]

[Yes. To the extent that I suspect the disregard from those around you might have been a ploy to suppress your spirit.]

[I-I’m not such a great person!]

[Didn’t you say you wanted to become Crown Prince?]

At those words, Dante fell silent.

[Then even if you’re not a great person now, you need to become one.]

[…You’re right.]

[For that, you need to have more confidence than now. You must become someone who reigns.]

[Someone who reigns…]

Dante murmured in a small voice. A blue flame briefly flared up beyond Dante’s eyes.

[Yes, you believe in the Supreme God, right?]

[Yes…]

[It’s your mission to surpass the other imperial family members. Remember that.]

At those words, Dante’s gaze slowly began to change. He remained silent for a moment as if thinking about something, then nodded and replied.

[Yes, I’ll remember that…]

[Good, then let’s keep practicing from now on.]

* * *

[I succeeded!]

The next day, these were the words Dante said as he ran to Liv with a bright face.

Today was the day of the political affairs meeting attended by the princes and princesses. Seeing his face, it was obvious what Dante had succeeded in.

[All the ministers said my opinion was the best. I’m so relieved…]

[Is that so?]

Sipping tea, Liv listened to Dante’s explanation about the political affairs meeting. There, Dante had put forward a good opinion about diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Reboer, and it seemed he had succeeded in making an impression on the ministers.

[By the way, the tea in the Merna Empire is really good. At first, I didn’t know the taste of tea well, but now I understand.]

[You’re not surprised…?]

When Liv didn’t seem surprised at the news of Dante’s achievement, Dante asked cautiously.

[No, because I believed in you, Your Highness.]

[Ah…]

[And this isn’t enough to be happy about. I’ll help you become Crown Prince as soon as possible.]

[Th-Then what should I do?]

[Continue to offer good opinions in the political affairs meetings like you’re doing now. Until other nobles approach you first. And… now it would be good to build recognition among the people.]

Liv knew just the right person for that job.

[How can I build recognition?]

[That’s simple. You just need to follow what the other princes and princesses do. Oh, don’t they do it in the Merna Empire?]

[Do what…]

[Volunteer work.]

At those words, Dante’s mouth fell open.

[Volunteer work? Do imperial family members in the Holy Hilysid Empire normally do volunteer work?]

[It seems the current imperial family doesn’t do it much, but I heard it used to be common. Especially for nobles, it’s essential.]

Judging by Dante’s reaction, it was clear that volunteering wasn’t a common thing in the Merna Empire. Sure enough, Dante gave the expected answer.

[We don’t do such lowly things as volunteer work. Instead, we make donations.]

Well, it seemed that countries where nobles directly do volunteer work might be hard to find except for the Holy Hilysid Empire, which was strongly influenced by the Holy Church.

[Then this will be an even more innovative method. It can leave a deep impression on the people.]

[Won’t I be cri-criticized for lacking imperial dignity?]

[That’s why you need to keep doing well in the political affairs meetings too. It’s not easy to win the hearts of both sides.]

At those words, Dante seemed nervous, but soon nodded as if he had made up his mind.

[Yes, I’ll give it a try. But how do I do volunteer work…]

[Hmm, unfortunately, I can’t help you with this.]

Liv had to avoid going to dangerous and crowded places as much as possible.

[Let’s ask my younger sister.]

* * *

“Sister…”

The next day, Hildegard returned to Count Lester’s house with an exhausted face.

“My goodness, I never thought I’d be doing volunteer work in the Merna Empire too…”

“Were there many people?”

“Yes, at first there were few, but when they heard the rumors, a lot of people rushed in.”

“I’m sorry, it’s because of my suggestion. I’ve drawn a hot bath for you.”

At those words, Hildegard started taking off her dress as if she had forgotten Liv was there. She looked like she needed to get into hot water right away.

“So, did the volunteer work seem appropriate?”

“Yes, food distribution is perfect for raising awareness.”

They had done volunteer work distributing food in the slums. While loudly announcing that the 5th Prince Dante was also participating in the food distribution.

Liv felt sorry for making Hildegard work even after coming all the way here. So before leaving the room, she said in a small voice to her:

“Hilda, when we return to the Holy Hilysid Empire, I’ll definitely help you reclaim your position.”

“…My position?”

“No, when I become Emperor, I’ll make the temple’s status higher, so I’ll make the position of Saintess more important too.”

“Haha!”

For some reason, Hildegard laughed out loud.

“Sister, you don’t need to feel so burdened.”

“Hmm?”

“You don’t need to feel sorry for me. It’s not your fault that I had to flee all the way here.”

Liv felt a pang of guilt as it seemed Hildegard had read her mind accurately. Liv had been thinking that it was entirely her fault that Hildegard had fallen from the position of Saintess to the status of a fugitive.

“Hilda…”

“Well, actually, the fact that I became a Saintess was because of incredibly good luck. I’m satisfied with this much. It’s much better living like this than as an orphan in the slums.”

Looking at Hildegard smiling gently as she said this, Liv felt a strange feeling. Yes, it was exactly like…

‘Like my past self.’

The appearance of not knowing how unfair her situation was, it was exactly the same as Liv.

Because Hildegard didn’t resent her, Liv felt an even deeper sense of guilt. The more this happened, the stronger Liv’s determination to repay Hildegard grew. No, not just Hildegard. Emmett, Walter, Hayden…

Recalling their names, Liv bid Hildegard to rest well and left the room. And Liv could see Walter standing in the corridor.

“Brother?”

“Liv.”

Walter approached Liv with a gentle smile.

“It seems things are going well with the 5th Prince.”

“Ah, yes…”

“The nobles have started to take interest in the 5th Prince. Even Leopold is considering which side to switch to.”

It seemed that Dante had done much better in the political affairs meeting than Liv had asked.

“By the way, Liv, there’s something I want to ask you.”

“Yes?”

Walter took a step closer to Liv and opened his mouth with a serious face.

“When we return, how do you plan to take revenge on the Emperor?”

Liv couldn’t easily open her mouth to this direct question. It was a problem Liv still hadn’t been able to answer. While wanting to imprison him in Abgrund just like herself, she also wanted to pay him back even more than that, and sometimes she thought she shouldn’t punish him harshly according to the love she had learned from the gods.

But there was one thing for certain.

Liv smiled innocently at Walter.

“I don’t know much about human ways. It hasn’t been many years since I came out into human society.”

“That means…”

“So I will treat August in the way of the gods.”

As Liv said this, her pupils glowed red.