Chapter 7:
Ambition
T HE LARGE BLACK AUTOMOBILE had a high-class quality. The rear
seats were spacious, and the interior was luxurious. The driver was
separated by a partition, so those in front and those in back didn't have to
interact with each other.
The automobile drove not on the ground but in the air, flying
through the sky with its wheels retracted. Of course, its tires were just an
auxiliary feature anyway, since it was primarily meant for sky travel. They
simply allowed for the option of ground travel if one wished.
Marion sat in the back of this luxury vehicle.
"I never thought Lady Annabelle would wish to meet with me."
Across from Marion sat Randy. The two seemed utterly relaxed with
each other.
"She would very much like to speak with you."
"I just wasn't expecting it. I didn't think I was anything more than a
pawn to spy on Liam."
"Please, you're nothing of the sort. Once our plan succeeds, House
Algren will receive nothing less than our full support. That goes for you
individually as well, of course."
Randy smiled knowingly. Marion grinned as well.
"Well, I'm praying for the success of this plan, whatever it may be."
Marion was working for Randy. He'd only gotten close to Liam in
order to spy on him. He was reporting everything he learned about Liam
back to Randy, which was enough for Randy to promise to support House
Algren. It was supposedly all for his family, which was "suffering" in the
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war with the Autocracy.
Randy looked into Marion's eyes and asked what he'd like in the
way of "individual support." "So will a viscounty do for your reward? Or I
could set you up with a pretty cushy position on the Capital Planet."
Offered the choice between a cushy job on the Capital Planet or
ruling a rural planet as a viscount, Marion seemed to struggle a bit to keep
the smile on his face.
"I've always been in a weak position in my family, and because of
that, my brothers were all treated better than me. But I'll steal leadership
of the family from all of them. That would be the perfect revenge, don't
you think?"
Though he'd been born the son of a viscount, Marion had never
been in a position to go after the headship himself. He'd always been
treated as lesser than his older brothers.
Randy frowned. "You're going to waste your life on revenge?"
To Randy, proximity to the capital correlated directly with one's
happiness. Marion almost burst out laughing at the thought. Struggling not
to do so, he explained how he felt.
"To be honest, I wasn't treated all that badly. I envied my brothers
for the special treatment they received, but I don't have a grudge against
them personally. It's just that if there's a mountain in front of me, I want to
climb it, you know? But the title of viscount is only a stepping stone to me.
What I'm really after is—"
"The seat of the margrave," Randy finished.
Viscount Algren served the main family under Margrave Algren,
and Marion's ultimate goal was leadership of the main family.
"Correct. And you're going to help me get there."
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"It's not advisable to be too greedy, you know."
"I'm spying on Liam. I deserve that much as a reward. I'll be
satisfied as long as you promise to put me in charge of my own family."
"That I can do. Well...it looks like we're here."
The luxury vehicle set down and the door opened, so the two of
them got out.
***
In a meeting room, Marion laid eyes on Lady Annabelle.
Randy introduced him. "I've brought him, Aunt Annabelle."
Lady Annabelle looked up at Marion from where she remained
seated. That was probably a message: "You're not important enough for
me to stand to greet you." She was a concubine of the emperor, one of his
wives, so Marion understood and wasn't bothered in the slightest. In fact,
he was delighted that he'd even been invited here.
"I am Marion Sera Algren. It's a pleasure to make your
acquaintance."
Lady Annabelle took more interest in Marion as he bowed deeply
and gracefully. "You seem cleverer than I expected. Could we speak
alone?"
Randy wasn't sure what to say to that. He didn't think it was right to
leave her alone with a man who wasn't family. There was nothing to
record what went on in this room so that secret discussions could be held
here. Not even guards or servants were allowed inside, so he didn't feel
comfortable leaving the two of them alone.
"Aunt Annabelle, I don't think I can leave you alone with—"
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"Randy?" Annabelle glared at him, and Randy reluctantly backed
down.
Before he left the room, however, he warned Marion, "Don't do
anything stupid. My aunt is one of the emperor's wives, you know."
"I'm aware."
Randy departed, and Marion sat down in the chair Lady Annabelle
offered him.
They faced each other, and as Annabelle eyed the door Randy had
left through, she said, "It's cute that he's so obedient, but I wish he was a
little more capable. He doesn't even look into the people he associates
with."
Lady Annabelle gave Marion a knowing look, but Marion remained
cool under her gaze.
"You'd be surprised how few people realize."
"Well, you must be capable enough to spy on Liam. Now, I've
heard a few things from Randy already. Taking over your family is a rather
paltry wish, wouldn't you say?"
Apparently, Lady Annabelle didn't see the point in becoming a mere
viscount. Realizing she shared Randy's initial confusion, Marion told her
what he really wanted.
"To be precise, I'm aiming for control of the main family: the seat
of the margrave. The position of viscount is just a stepping stone to get
there."
Lady Annabelle gave Marion an interested look. "I like greedy
people. It's especially easy for me to get along with those who are clear
about what it is they want."
It appeared she'd judged him worthy of joining hands with. Marion
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had been expecting her to see him as disposable, so it was an unexpected
stroke of luck that she had taken a liking to him.
"I've looked into your background," she told him. "Pretty
impressive. Randy could learn a thing or two from you. He could stand to
take things a bit more seriously. I can't believe he really waited until he's
almost two hundred to complete his training. I wish he'd taken care of it
sooner."
"If he had, he wouldn't have met me. Things worked out in the end,
wouldn't you say?"
"Well, I wouldn't have had to work so hard if he were a bit more
capable... In any case, I think that's enough small talk." The look in
Annabelle's eyes changed. "I want to reduce Liam's authority. Do you
have any ideas on how to accomplish that?" she asked Marion.
Marion grinned and revealed his plan. "Let's get him involved in the
war with the Autocracy."
This suggestion disappointed Annabelle. "I see, so you just want to
use House Banfield to save your own territory. Well, it would be difficult
to get him involved in the war. Calvin's faction is on guard about him."
House Banfield had dealt Calvin's faction a terrible blow in the
recent war with the United Kingdom, winning a victory for his own faction
at the same time. Calvin's faction still remembered the fear he'd instilled
in them then, which was why House Banfield wasn't already fighting in
the war despite their reliability in combat.
Marion was well aware of all this, however.
"I know a bit about what's going on at the border with the
Autocracy, since that's where my family's territory is."
Annabelle closed her mouth and gestured for him to continue,
though her expression said she wasn't expecting much.
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Marion explained what was happening in that region. "There's a
baron's planet a little way from the border that's in the perfect location to
provide logistical support to the army, but this planet has a small issue,
you see." Marion showed her a document on his tablet, and Annabelle
frowned.
"I can see why they can't rely on this planet for aid," she said
sourly.
The planet in question was in the perfect location to provide support
to the Imperial Army, and they had actually applied for aid from them, but
the baron had rejected their request. Marion pictured the man's face and
felt disgust well up inside him.
"The baron has a bad reputation in that area for his rather vulgar
tastes. What do you say to getting rid of him for failing to do his part for
the Empire?"
"And after we get rid of him?" Annabelle was finally taking interest.
"The Empire will seize his planet, so they'll need to send a
magistrate to rule over it while it's ungoverned," Marion went on. "At any
other time, it could be left alone for a while, but we're at war with the
Autocracy right now. This is the perfect time to transform the planet into a
base to support the army."
Though it would only be providing support, the planet was still close
to the border with the Autocracy, so there was no guarantee it would
remain untouched by the war. Depending on how things went, it could be
invaded just as easily as any of the other territories nearby. No one would
volunteer to serve as magistrate of such a place. If the Empire simply
appointed someone, it was unlikely they would be able to fulfill the
assignment.
Lady Annabelle had caught on to Marion's idea. "That's where
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Liam comes in."
"Yes. This is a problem only Liam Sera Banfield can take care of for
us. The only question is whether or not we can send him there while he's
still finishing up his training."
Their idea was dead in the water if Liam declined the appointment
because he was still in training.
Annabelle smirked. "Marion, was it? I want you to meet with Cleo."
"Is there an opening? I thought he was booked for the next few
years."
"I think you two will get along. Persuade Cleo to send Liam as
magistrate. Succeed, and I can promise you the seat of viscount to use as
your stepping stone."
Marion hardened his expression. "You can leave it to me. I'll win
Prince Cleo over."
***
Marion got his opportunity to meet with Cleo that very night.
It was at the building that served as Cleo's residence within the
palace. Since it was late, Cleo was wearing a night robe, looking a lot
more vulnerable than he probably should have with a guest.
The first thing he did was apologize for his appearance. "I'm sorry,
but this was the only moment I could find in my schedule. Don't be
disappointed that you had to meet me like this."
Marion, who was wearing a suit, actually felt an odd excitement at
the way Cleo looked.
"I should be the one to apologize for insisting that we meet so
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suddenly."
"I'm glad you feel that way. Now, what's this about sending Count
Banfield to serve as magistrate? You realize he's my greatest supporter at
the moment."
Cleo's stance was that it wouldn't be possible to send Liam away
from the Capital Planet, but Marion explained to him the overt reason for
doing so.
"By providing support from the back lines, Liam will help Prince
Calvin win victory against the Autocracy. That will prevent Prince Calvin
from taking all the credit for achieving victory."
"I see. But is this really worth the risk?"
Cleo wasn't convinced, so Marion shifted to an appeal for House
Algren's sake.
"To tell the truth, this is all to save Viscount Algren and my family's
territory. I know my family will come out of this all right if Liam takes
part in the war. Since it will be your appointment of him that protects us,
all the nobles on the border will swear their loyalty to you, Prince Cleo."
Along with his appeal to the prince's emotions, Marion could surely
provide him a potential benefit, but Cleo still didn't seem interested.
"Do you really think I'd trust someone sent here by my mother?"
"I-I... Huh?"
Marion was aware of the antagonism between Cleo and Lady
Annabelle, of course. While he was debating whether or not to use the
excuse that he had only gone through Annabelle in order to meet with
Cleo, the prince put both his hands on Marion's cheeks.
Cleo pulled Marion close—close enough to kiss. "Marion...why
don't you tell me what you really want? I feel as though I'll be able to get
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along with you better than I do with him."
"B-but Your Highness—" Marion's eyes darted.
"We're a lot alike, the two of us," said Cleo. "Why don't we open
up to each other? Tell me about yourself. What is it that you really want?
What do you stand to gain from sending Liam to serve as magistrate?"
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Marion couldn't pull his eyes away from Cleo, who seemed to
possess strange charm. When their lips were almost about to touch, Cleo
smiled impishly.
"It seems I've put you on the spot, but it's true that I'd like to get
closer to you."
Marion blushed and looked down, his true feelings spilling out
before he could help it.
"What I really want is..."
***
Cleo was as busy as ever with his meetings, but he seemed to be in a
good mood this day. Lysithea frowned as she observed him.
"Seems you enjoyed yet another secret meeting last night," she said
somewhat testily, but Cleo wasn't bothered by her attitude.
"With Marion? I did enjoy it," he admitted, and Lysithea's brow
furrowed even more.
"People are starting to spread rumors about you bringing men into
your room. The more talkative types are embellishing things even further."
"Well, it's not like it's strictly untrue. Let them say whatever they
like."
Lysithea didn't know how to respond to Cleo's complete lack of
concern. She was starting to worry herself that Marion had Cleo wrapped
around his finger somehow.
"I won't tell you not to have any fun, but you should be a bit more
careful about who you have fun with. Our mother was the one who
introduced you to him, wasn't she? They're obviously planning
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something." Lysithea, who didn't trust their mother, was suspicious of
Marion.
Cleo smiled. "Marion and I have a lot in common. It's no wonder
we get along."
Lysithea couldn't argue with that. "I understand," she said after a
short pause. "I'm just telling you to be a bit more prudent. The people
meeting with you bring attractive men along with them now for no reason
because of those rumors, you know."
People had started visiting with attractive men in tow in order to win
as many points with Cleo as they could. Cleo smiled, only just now
realizing the meaning behind this odd recent occurrence.
"It's frightening how easy it is for people to get the wrong idea
about things, isn't it?"
"You're telling me."
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