Debuff Master

“Pardon me…? What did you just say, sire?” Michele asked, doubting his ears.

“I said he wants me to get married,” Siegfried replied.

“What? Who does the emperor want you to marry?”

“Apparently, the emperor has a half-sister, and he wants me to marry her.”

This was the third reward that Emperor Stuttgart had bestowed upon Siegfried. He gave him the opportunity to have an alliance with the imperial family of the Marchioni Empire, the most powerful nation in the world.

Of course, this seemed like a fitting reward for a hero like Siegfried, who had saved the world.

Why?

It was all because marrying into the Marchioni Empire was the pinnacle of political marriages, and this was something that other people would die for yet could never attain.

The opportunity had fallen on Siegfried’s lap just like that.

“I-I see…” Michele muttered, sweating from the bombshell revelation. Then, he finally nodded and said, “So that was why all those gifts were coming from different countries since this morning.”

“Gifts? What gifts?”

“I found it strange that they send our kingdom gifts as if they were tributes.”

“Oh, I see…”

“Anyway,” Michele said with a shrug. Then, he tightly shut his eyes and rummaged through his coat before pulling out a white envelope and handing it to Siegfried. “Here, please take this, sire.”

“What’s this? Did you already prepare a wedding gift?”

“No, this is my resignation letter, sire.”

“Huh? Why are you giving me a resignation letter? Have you been carrying it around with you this whole time?” Siegfried asked, his eyes widened from surprise.

“Most people keep a resignation letter with them, just in case. Well, most keep them in their hearts.”

“...”

“Anyway, thank you for everything. It has been an honor to serve Your Majesty. I wish you a long and prosperous life,” Michele said. Then, he started clearing out his desk.

“Hey! What are you doing? Why are you packing up?”

“Well, I handed in my resignation, so I am clearing out my office.”

“No! Why are you doing this?”

Siegfried was genuinely flustered by Michele’s sudden actions. Michele had half-jokingly thrown around his resignation letter plenty of times before, but this was the first time he had actually started clearing his desk. The way he was clearing his desk and gathering his desk made it seem as if he really intended to quit this time.

“Hey, your resignation isn’t accepted! Stop!”

“Please make sure my severance pay is deposited on time.”

“No! Why are you doing this?!”

“Does Your Majesty really have no idea?”

“Huh?”

“Sigh…” Michele let out a deep heavy sigh. Then, he said, “I know Your Majesty does not wish to get married again.”

“That’s right, I don’t.”

“And Your Majesty wishes to keep living happily the way you are now.”

“Of course…”

“But…” Michele muttered. Then, he paused for a moment before shaking his head and saying, “No, that is not the issue here.”

“Then what’s the issue?”

“Does Your Majesty know anything about Emperor Stuttgart’s half-sister?”

“No? Do I have to?”

“Oh my god…” Michele muttered and slapped his forehead in disbelief. Then, he looked Siegfried straight in the eyes and said, “Your Majesty.”

“Yeah?”

“Emperor Stuttgart’s half-sister is… the most notorious…”

“...?”

“Troublemaker.”

“A troublemaker?!”

“Yes, sire. There are plenty of troublemakers on this continent who are from influential households. Rascals from counts, marquis, dukes, affluent merchants, and even some princes. You can probably fill at least one hundred dump trucks if you gather all of them in one place.”

“What? Are you telling me there are that many rascals? Is it a trend to be a troublemaker among young nobles these days?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Right, I figured.”

“Anyway, among all of those troublemakers, Emperor Stuttgart’s half-sister stands head and shoulders above the rest. In fact, she’s at the very top of the pyramid of troublemakers. If a regular noble troublemaker is like coffee, then she’s T.O.P. There is a reason she is called the strongest and worst troublemaker.”

“W-What?” Siegfried stammered, trying to process how Michele knew there was a South Korean coffee brand called T.O.P and used it in a joke, but he soon realized just how horrible his soon-to-be bride was.

“If you marry her…”

“If I marry her…?”

“The royal family will be ruined…” Michele muttered in despair.

***

The history of the great Marchioni Empire was one written in blood, which made it not an exaggeration to call it a saga of carnage.

For hundreds of years, the Marchioni Empire had been ruling as the world’s most powerful nation, and the power struggles for the throne were just as brutal as a war between major kingdoms on the continent.

The ascension of Emperor Stuttgart to the throne was no exception. He was born as the illegitimate son of the previous emperor, making his claim to the throne weak—no, it was more like he had little connection to the throne.

However, he somehow became entangled in the power struggle for the throne, causing him to lose both his mother and sister. Then, he himself became a fugitive who was hunted down mercilessly by those after him.

Against all odds, however, Emperor Stuttgart survived and returned to the Marchioni Empire, starting a ruthless purge within the imperial family.

He slaughtered all of his relatives, including his own father, the former emperor, and effectively put an end to the power struggle.

In doing so, he became the sole survivor of the Posteriore Family and cemented his own legitimacy.

Only two people survived the bloody purge. His half-sister, Irene von Posteriore, and her mother, one of the late emperor’s concubines.

“So… He spared her because she looked like his long-deceased biological sister?” Siegfried muttered after hearing about his soon-to-be bride, Irene von Posteriore, from Michele.

“That is what the rumors say.”

“I see…”

“As for her mother, she's a stepmother, but she raised the emperor like her own child from a young age.”

“Oh?”

“But Irene von Posteriore…” Michele added. Then, he shook his head in horror, as if just thinking about her was too much, before saying, “She started becoming rebellious as she grew up and soon turned into a complete troublemaker. Some say she showed signs of being a troublemaker even as a child, but that is only hearsay.”

“...”

“The problem is that the emperor dotes on her so much that no one dares to rein her in.”

“So you’re saying that he has decided to dump the problem he has created on me?”

“Yes, sire,” Michele replied with a nod. Then, he said, “The emperor probably thinks that this is a gesture of goodwill, but he basically gave you a pile of trouble.”

“No, no…” Siegfried muttered, shaking his head. Then, he said firmly, “I don’t want this marriage—no, I don’t need it. I have Brunhilde, and she’s the only one I love.”

“Then reject it,” Michele sneered. Then, he flashed a mischievous smirk and added, “I’m sure Emperor Stuttgart will be thrilled to hear that.”

“But…”

“You know what it means to refuse a political marriage offer from the most powerful person in the world, right? Especially when it involves his beloved sister he dotes on.”

“Ah…”

“That is probably why Your Majesty did not outright reject the so-called reward on the spot.”

“Yeah, that’s true…”

“Anyway, congratulations, sire.”

“Congratulations for what?!” Siegfried shouted. His frustrated voice echoed throughout the corridor outside the office.

***

One silver lining for Siegfried was that Irene von Posteriore was currently training in seclusion at the Magic Tower. In other words, he still had time to ruminate until her training ended.

“We need to find a good reason to refuse the marriage while making sure the emperor will not be upset. That way, Emperor Stuttgart will respect your decision and rescind the offer,” Michele advised.

“Yeah, let’s try that,” Siegfried replied. He had no intention of marrying the continent’s biggest troublemaker, so he vowed to score as many points as possible with Emperor Stuttgart before Irene’s training ended.

However, he decided to keep this a secret for the time being.

Why?

It was all because he did not want to see Brunhilde get upset.

Siegfried was planning on quietly rejecting the terrifying political marriage offer without his wife finding out about it.

The next morning, he went straight to Oscar.

“It is an honor, Your Majesty,” Oscar said with a bow, looking much more exhausted than usual. This, of course, was completely Siegfried’s fault. He had not only overworked her, who was already drowning in work, but he also threw another task on her by making Arnayan’s younger brother, Mark, her protege.

“It seems you’re working hard these days, Oscar.”

“How could a mere knight like me rest when Your Majesty is risking your life for the world’s peace?”

“You’re too kind with your words.”

“But what brings you here so early in the morning, sire?”

“Well, actually… Do you remember those prisoners I broke out?” Siegfried said carefully.

“Yes, I do, sire.”

“Could you vet them for me?”

“Pardon me, sire…?”

“I know they’re talented and all, but they’re still criminals. I was hoping you could use your sword to interrogate them. You know, see if they’re willing to make an honest living from now on without committing any more crimes?” Siegfried said, pointing at the Sword of Truth hanging on her waist.

This was a brilliant idea from Siegfried, as the Sword of Truth was like a cheat code for revealing an NPC’s true nature and thoughts. If used correctly, it would allow Oscar to thoroughly vet the prisoners that were brought out from the Fortress of Hell.

Of course, this meant more work for Oscar, but still…

“I understand. As you command, sire,” Oscar replied with a bow. She willingly accepted the task no matter how much work she had. She was a noble knight who served Siegfried and the Proatine Kingdom with absolute loyalty, so she wouldn't hesitate to lay down her life for her lord if ordered to do so.

It went without saying that she wouldn't allow a single one of these ex-criminals to work for the kingdom without thoroughly vetting them.

“Thank you, Oscar. I know you’re really busy, but I’m giving you more work,” Siegfried said, flashing an apologetic smile. He knew very well just how much burden he was placing on her.

Oscar bowed her head respectfully and replied, “Your Majesty has not only been working tirelessly for our kingdom, but you also saved the world from the demon invasion. What I've been doing is insignificant compared to what you have done, sire.”

Oscar was looking at him with intense admiration that her eyes were starting to sparkle, ‘It’s an honor to serve someone like him. I’m grateful to be by his side. Just being his knight already fills me with pride!’

Siegfried was the most important person to her.

“Come on, Oscar. What you do isn’t insignificant at all.”

“I am unworthy of such kind words from you, sire.”

“Please, you know I’m counting on you.”

“I will forever be in Your Majesty’s debt.”

“Good luck, then! I love you, Oscar! Hehehe!”

Siegfried formed a heart with his hands over his head before quickly running out of her office. Of course, he did this after shamelessly dumping another task on her head.

Unbeknownst to Siegfried, Oscar's face was flushed red as she muttered, “Your Majesty…”

***

After entrusting Oscar with the interrogation of the prisoners, Siegfried went to meet Quandt.

Quandt had nowhere else to go after getting kicked out of the Bavarian Workshop, and he was now staying as a guest in the Proatine Kingdom.”

“Hello, King Siegfried.”

“How are you doing?”

“My body’s fine, but my mind… it’s not doing as good…”

“I understand,” Siegfried replied with a voice filled with sympathy. Then, he looked at him and said, “Losing everything must have been tough…”

“King Siegfried…”

“So, what are your plans?”

“I plan to retake the Bavarian Workshop.”

“That makes sense…”

“And that’s why I have a request…” Quandt said, trailing the end of his words out of hesitation. Then, he continued, “Would it be possible to open a new Bavarian Workshop here, in the Proatine Kingdom?”

“What…?”

“I want to start anew. Not as a branch of the Bavarian Workshop, but as the new headquarters.”

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

“Even if I reclaim the Bavarian Workshop, I want it to be under the Proatine Kingdom, not the Bayerische Kingdom.”

It was then.

Ding!

A message popped up in front of Siegfried’s eyes.

[Alert: You have received a new Quest – Onward! Becoming an Economic Superpower!]

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