Julian Radias, king of the Kingdom of Meigrant.
In this kingdom, where the king was chosen by the Electors, the king's decisions were frequently overturned unless the Electors saw eye to eye.
Not that you'd go so far as to call him a figurehead.
But for the man who should have been the supreme authority to have to walk on eggshells around his subordinates—this was something Julian had always found intolerable.
According to him, "I was born to be king."
The most eyesore of all was the Scarlet Empress Letitia.
Every chance she got, she'd mock him with a dismissive "See, this is why boys are hopeless," belittling him despite the fact that he was king.
A middle-aged woman who only flaunted the false youth and beauty she'd obtained through a skill she'd stumbled upon by chance.
How many times had he thought about wringing her neck with his own hands?
But she
was
announced
to have died
of
illness.
Nobody truly believes a noble died of illness.
When someone of an Elector's stature dies, a state funeral is held, but her coffin was empty.
That was because the Empress who had boasted of her youth and beauty had died a hideously withered and aged death, and there was simply no way they could expose that to the public eye.
I know the truth—she was murdered.
By those who desire my true sovereign authority.
◇◇◇
Two Elector positions had now been left vacant.
The Pope, who had forcibly seized the title of Elector after the Arden Marquisate, remained frozen in ice.
Some of his faithful followers still believed the Pope was alive and were trying desperately to thaw the ice, but common sense dictated he could not possibly still be living.
He had been scheming to place one of his own loyalists in the vacant seat, but with Leticia gone as well, there was no longer any need.
There was still no decision on who would succeed Leticia.
That was only natural — her faction had existed thanks to her charisma and its treasurer.
The two collapsed Elector factions had already been mostly absorbed.
And so, a council was convened.
◇◇◇
"I hereby abolish the obsolete custom of the Electors, effective immediately."
King Julian declared boldly before a gathering of numerous nobles.
"That cannot be allowed, Your Majesty."
The lone dissenter was Kellort, the last remaining Elector and Marquis.
"What's the matter, Kellort? You're the only Elector objecting. The rest have no opposition."
"Had the other Electors still been alive, they would have lodged their objections as well. The entire system of Elector review was born from the reflection upon past kings whose tyranny nearly brought the kingdom to ruin..."
Julian cut him off.
"I am well aware of all that. It is trivial. The king's authority is granted by God — to oppose it is an act of defiance against the divine. Know this, Kellort: you are a great sinner!"
"Your Majesty, it is precisely your actions that are the root of all evil! Do you intend to repeat the mistakes of the past!"
"Hmph — still a fool possessed by the ghosts of the past. Seize Kellort. I shall execute him myself."
The royal guards stationed in the council chamber moved to restrain Kellort.
"There is no other way. Your Majesty — I will not let you repeat the mistakes of the past."
Kellort caught the guard's blade bare-handed, yanked the man toward him, and drove a kick into his stomach.
The remaining guards he felled with his fists, knocking them unconscious.
"As expected of Lord Kellort! Even past his prime, the royal guards are no match for him! Punish the king!"
The nobles of Kellort's faction erupted in cheers.
Kellort was known as a moderate, but the muscles visible even through his clothing told the story of a man who had once been the Saint of Fists.
"Your Majesty, such tyranny cannot be permitted!"
"Fool — God has granted His permission. Very well. I shall show everyone the fate of those who defy me!"
◇◇◇◇◇◇
A commemorative short story for the manga adaptation, "The Prelude to Agriss ③," will be posted at 18:00 on "(Spinoff) Hazzard Skill~."
Julian Radius
Skills: [Brawler] [Arrogance] [Servility] [Delusions of Grandeur] [Solipsism] [Dark Magic] [Royal Spite]
Thank you for reading!