Chapter 18: Unexpected Appointments

“Please, feel free to call me by my name, as I’ll soon be Evening Winb. While I’m still a touch shy to address you as ‘Mother,’ I promise to endeavor to do so very soon.”

“Oh.” The Empress Dowager’s face took on a look of discomfort.

“There’s no need for that. Prom and I will be departing for a separate palace as soon as your wedding ceremony concludes. It would undoubtedly be best for all parties involved if we were to leave promptly.”

As she spoke, the Empress Dowager’s hand tightened around that of her second son, who sat beside her.

“Yes, Mother. Though it pains me to be separated from my elder brother, I shall endure it for the sake of the realm.”

Prom, the late Emperor’s second son and Erich’s younger brother, chirped with the bright enthusiasm of a lark.

Though he possessed the same white hair and piercing blue eyes as Erich, Prom’s demeanor was a stark contrast. His features were soft and rounded, as if all traces of severity had been meticulously removed from his elder brother’s visage. Uncharacteristically for one of Western descent, a youthful plumpness still clung to his cheeks.

Prom, reportedly fourteen this year, exuded an undeniable charm and appeared even younger than his stated age.

“Even if I go far away, I’ll come to visit sometimes. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sister.”

Such a boy prattled on with guileless innocence. And ‘Sister,’ not ‘Sister-in-law’?

Evening pressed a hand to her chest, striving to quell the overwhelming surge of emotion within her.

“He’s simply too adorable! Why must you leave? You and your son could live together. Isn’t it true that families thrive when they reside together?”

Her final words were a direct plea to Erich.

“Didn’t you just say you were still too shy to call her ‘Mother’?”

“Her kind smile has already opened my heart.”

“Eve, a word of advice for you: never trust others indiscriminately within the Imperial Palace. Blood relations, after all, do not always guarantee loyalty.”

Having finished his soup, Erich let out a derisive scoff, as if he’d just heard the most preposterous statement imaginable.

The Empress Dowager, who had once given birth to her second son and championed him for the throne when Erich’s prospects seemed dim, now searched desperately for a place to rest her gaze, her face contorted as if she had been struck. Before her eldest son, she appeared utterly unable to assert herself.

“Indeed. One must exercise caution even with blood relatives. Now that the late Emperor has passed, it is best for Prom and me, who might otherwise become entangled in political affairs, to depart.”

Until Erich sired an heir, Prom remained the first in line to the Wittern throne.

Despite Erich’s undeniable status as Crown Prince, Prom, having unwittingly been considered a potential imperial candidate, remained a pawn in political machinations.

As if to underscore this very fact, both the Minister of Finance and the Speaker of the Assembly intervened, attempting to dissuade the Empress Dowager.

“No, Your Majesty. Our young Emperor, who has yet to secure an heir, requires family members to offer counsel.”

“His Highness Prom is a cherished member of Wittern’s imperial family. It would be most unfortunate if any harm were to befall him after he departed to a distant place.”

“Do you truly believe I’m about to perish?”

As the discussion veered towards Erich’s safety, he paused, chewing his meat with unseemly voracity, and cast a glance around the table.

Arranged around the circular table were an empty seat, followed by Erich, Evening, the Chancellor, the Minister of Finance, the Speaker, the Empress Dowager, Prom, the Court Secretary, and Adler, the Captain of the Royal Guard.

This very assembly of individuals was sufficient to convene a state council meeting.

At his blatant provocation, the high officials collectively scowled. The Chancellor’s expression, in particular, was decidedly grim.

“…Of course, that won’t happen. However, it presents a considerable difficulty if Your Majesty is the sole member of the imperial family residing in the palace. Your Majesty’s person, after all, cannot be in multiple places at once.”

Numerous duties necessitate the presence of an imperial family member. It would be utterly preposterous to receive a state guest without one, and even the most casual entertaining is greatly facilitated by their involvement.

“Evening will be here, certainly. However, I am not suggesting that I wish for Prom to depart. On the contrary, I find his presence beneficial. There are times, when guiding the affairs of the nation, that one deeply yearns for the companionship of a younger brother.”

“That is simply unbelievable.”

Erich turned, his gaze falling upon the source of the voice that had interjected at such an improbable moment.

He had scarcely imagined that Evening, who had been so obsequious since morning, would voice a dissenting opinion at this juncture.

Evening, drawing all eyes at the round table, offered a soft smile as she glanced between Erich and Prom.

“It’s almost beyond belief how well you two brothers get along. Your Mother has certainly raised her sons admirably.”

This was an unexpected, almost ambush-like, display of adulation.

Everyone at the table wore an expression of utter bewilderment, unsure how to respond. Even the Empress Dowager and Erich, the recipients of the praise, subtly narrowed their eyes.

Observing the lack of smiles in response to her words, Evening instantly understood.

These were mere novices in the intricate dance of social interaction.

They possessed absolutely no immunity to unexpected praise and adulation.

Had it been her family from her previous life, they would have surely chimed in with a wistful, ‘Oh, if only we had raised our own children that way…’

“Naturally, we get along well. We are brothers, after all.”

Only Prom, who had once threatened Erich’s imperial authority and continued to do so, remained utterly cheerful and unburdened by worry.

Evening gazed at him with a warm, contented smile.

“Oh no. Siblings, you see, typically grow up squabbling like beasts on the savanna. You’re truly fortunate to get along so well with your elder brother.”

“I’m simply a lucky person by nature.”

“Oh, really~? That’s true, you are handsome, and you get along so well with your brother! What do you usually do for fun?”

In true romance fantasy fashion, her response to the pure-hearted, energetic words of the fourteen-year-old boy was instinctively informal.

Despite having undergone a month-long crash course in aristocratic etiquette, maintaining formal speech with a fourteen-year-old boy proved to be a considerable challenge.

Fortunately, the only individuals at this gathering who possessed the authority to rebuke Evening were members of the imperial family, and Prom, for his part, seemed quite taken with her unreserved demeanor.

Prom, his spirits lifted by Evening’s smile, was on the verge of launching into conversation, perhaps asking about the meal’s taste or inquiring about the border regions.

“We can discuss such matters later.”

Erich, who had been observing the two of them throughout the meal, abruptly cut off their conversation.

The ever-polite Prom instantly fell silent the moment Erich interrupted. Evening, perceptive as she was, likewise retracted the hand she had extended across the table.

“Evening, quite admirably, has already expressed her willingness to assist with state affairs. Once breakfast concludes, please instruct her on the duties expected of an imperial family member and the strict rules governing the palace.”

“It would be more appropriate for Your Majesty to instruct her yourself.”

The Empress Dowager retreated once more.

“Since this was a task you undertook, Mother, during my late father’s illness, it is only fitting that you should instruct her.”

“However…”

“Do it.”

The hierarchy between mother and son was unmistakably clear. The Empress Dowager seemed on the verge of an outburst at Erich’s command, but then visibly reined in her fury. The flush slowly receded from her face.

“…Very well. What duties will Evening be undertaking? Secretary to the Southern Governor? Or perhaps guest reception?”

While no explicit regulations governed such roles, the most frequent duties for imperial family members typically involved receiving high-ranking domestic and foreign dignitaries at public functions, engaging in private social interactions with their families, and representing the Emperor at various ceremonial events.

These were generally simple tasks, concluding after a brief greeting and applause. As the daughter of a Margrave, Evening would undoubtedly have performed such duties countless times, as if they were second nature.

“Minister of the Imperial Household, Imperial Household Treasurer, Head of the Imperial Household Collections and Capital Beautification, I would also like her to serve as the Imperial Foreign Minister, and didn’t you mention a need for a Grand Justice?”

“…”

“…”

Yet, the list of titles that tumbled from Erich’s lips was unexpectedly extensive.

Even Evening, for all her composure, found it impossible to maintain her flippant demeanor the moment she was appointed to hold multiple posts concurrently: Minister of the Imperial Household, Imperial Household Treasurer, Head of Imperial Household Collections and Capital Beautification, Foreign Minister, *and* Grand Justice.

“Are there any other vacant positions Evening might be suited for?”

His words were akin to pouring oil onto a raging fire.

Erich, still holding a fork to his lips, propped his chin in his hand, his body leaning casually to one side.

More acutely than ever before, she felt the oppressive presence of a tyrant.

****

“This is utterly preposterous…”

As soon as breakfast concluded, Evening found herself simultaneously appointed as the Minister of the Imperial Household, Imperial Household Treasurer, Head of Imperial Household Collections and Capital Beautification, *and* the Imperial Foreign Minister and Grand Justice.

While the fact that the breakfast gathering had essentially transformed into a state council meeting was surprising enough, the even more astonishing truth was that not a single soul had voiced opposition to Evening’s myriad appointments.

‘This is far too much responsibility for a single individual.’

No one uttered such a protest.

‘We cannot entrust matters of state to someone whose expertise cannot be guaranteed!’

Nor did they voice that concern.

Not even…

‘Does that young woman truly possess any knowledge of politics?’

Not even such a disparaging remark was uttered.

Clearly, at least half of those present were staunch opponents of Erich, yet in a single breath, she had become the Minister of the Imperial Household, (omitted) and Grand Justice.

Duties such as managing palace finances or overseeing the beautification of the capital were, she believed, manageable. After all, handling money and aesthetic improvements shouldn’t prove overly challenging.

But Foreign Minister and Grand Justice?

Reaching that point, it became exceedingly difficult to maintain a smiling facade.

However, she couldn’t directly argue with Erich. If she rebelled, her already precarious situation seemed likely to plummet over a cliff in an instant.

“Even so… is it truly acceptable for me, who has never even opened a law book, to become the Grand Justice?”

“That is Erich’s decision.”

Evening, who had been sighing deeply enough to crack the floor, clung to the Empress Dowager as they walked side-by-side. As planned, she had been entrusted to the Empress Dowager to receive instruction on imperial etiquette and a brief handover of duties.

“And your modesty is excessive. Surely, Miss Evening, you are well-versed in legal texts.”

The Empress Dowager walked with a straight posture, gazing directly ahead, as if Evening’s earnest plea were unheard.

She simply continued her steady pace, looking straight ahead.

“I’m well-versed in law?”

“You once worked as a judicial administrator in the Southwest Territory, did you not? While the laws of the Southwest and the capital differ slightly, their fundamental structure is similar.”

“Ha… I was uselessly competent.”

A career as a judicial officer? What on earth was the reason for accumulating such a career? Wouldn’t it have been better if she had just been a resting youth?

“I should have lived like a wastrel, but I lived too diligently.”

If only she had possessed a wastrel, an imbecile, or a villainess, merely eating well would have earned her applause, with exclamations like, ‘Oh, our young lady has reformed!’

Instead, having transmigrated into Evening Flam, who possessed not only exquisite beauty and formidable magic but also keen intellect and a good family background, her life was proving to be nothing short of troublesome.

Furthermore, she couldn’t even voice such complaints freely. To others, the dignified Evening Flam would appear to be speaking utter nonsense.

The Empress Dowager, hearing Evening’s lament, turned to her with a look of pity.

“While it may be difficult for you, think of it as serving the people. Everyone will welcome it.”

“The Grand Justice who suddenly appeared with the Emperor as her backer?”

No matter how one tried to sugarcoat it, she was nothing more than a parachuted appointee. If she were a citizen of the Empire, she would be throwing rotten eggs, accusing them of ridiculing the judicial system.

“Since I’m also taking on the roles of Imperial Household Minister and Imperial Household Treasurer, I’m worried that suspicions of too much power being concentrated in one person will arise. While I appreciate my abilities being highly valued, we mustn’t tarnish Lord Erich’s name.”

“It seems you are unfamiliar with the imperial court’s affairs, having been so far away. Trials and state affairs here are severely backlogged.”

Her veiled attempt to escape, citing Erich’s reputation, proved futile. The Empress Dowager, with a weary expression, let her shoulders slump.