The Incompetent Emperor Who Changes the World from the Shadows: Iron, Gunpowder, and the Young Maidens of Favor - Chapter 29: Recruiting a Beautiful Assassin

Chapter 29: Recruiting a Beautiful Assassin

I currently have six personal maids.

Lily, slender but with disproportionately large breasts.

Agnes, red-haired with plump, curvy flesh.

Lala, petite with a sharp-tongued tsundere vibe.

Maria, with a saintly, embracing warmth.

Betty, the newest addition.

And now, Hannelia, serving me.

A quiet girl with short silver hair.

She speaks only the bare minimum—or rather, hardly speaks at all.

It’s as if she can read my mind, doing exactly what I want.

When I think I’m thirsty, she brings tea.

When I’m sweaty, she has a handkerchief ready.

Today, Hannelia enters my room and, as if reading my thoughts, begins without hesitation.

She starts performing oral.

The moment I think I want it, she’s there.

It’s not quite mind-reading, but something else.

I wonder what she thinks of me, but she remains silent.

I had Sopina extract her info.

Apparently, she’s just incredibly intuitive.

She’s also blindly devoted to me, constantly observing my every move, anticipating my desires.

Without Sopina’s insight, I might’ve found her eerie and pushed her away.

In that sense, I’m grateful to Sopina.

“Ugh, Hannelia.”

I release into her mouth.

She seems to expect it, gulping it down with a swallow.

“Your Majesty.”

A knock comes from the door, but the visitor is already inside, tapping from within.

“Gerda?”

“I have a report, now that you’re done.”

Waiting until I finish is considerate, but it’s a strange feeling.

“What is it?”

“The imperial guard has prepared an escort team.

Would you like to stroll the city?”

“Oh, right, I forgot.

I’ll get ready and go.”

“I’ll wait downstairs.

Hannelia, prepare His Majesty for the outing.”

Hannelia nods at Gerda’s words and wipes my member clean with a damp towel.

Her mouth must still have my semen, but she doesn’t rinse.

Is that okay?

As I think this, she smiles and licks her lips, wiping away a stray drop.

The gesture reignites my arousal, making me stir below.

If I didn’t have plans, I’d go another round…

※

“Your Majesty, please don’t act alone.

We can’t guarantee your safety.”

“I know.”

“If you find a girl you like, let me know.

My subordinates will handle negotiations.”

“Got it.”

As emperor, I’m always at risk of assassination.

To avoid recognition, I disguise myself as the guard captain, wearing a helmet and armor, posing as part of a patrol with my men.

With that setup, I explore the capital.

It’s my first time leaving the palace.

Even for the wedding, I only moved to the palace church.

The city isn’t medieval.

Though a fortified city, it’s filled with civilized touches.

Walking the main street, I see stalls crowded together.

One sells steaming sausages, another stacks fragrant bread.

I stop.

The sausage vendor calls out.

“Hot and fresh, sir!”

He pulls a sausage from a large pot, its skin popping, sparking my appetite.

Next to him, a bread stall displays fluffy loaves.

“…Combine these, and it’d be amazing.

Looks like hot dogs haven’t been invented here yet.”

I buy both, slice the bread, and stuff the sausage inside, topping it with mustard and chopped cabbage (sauerkraut) from the sausage stall.

An impromptu hot dog—complete.

I take a bite.

The bread’s sweetness, the sausage’s juices, and the mustard’s tang blend perfectly, shockingly delicious.

But eyes turn to me.

Not just Gerda, but the imperial guards and passersby stare, swallowing hard.

“Um… can I eat what the captain’s having?”

“I want one too!”

The guards look at me enviously.

“You don’t need my permission.

It’s just street food.”

At my words, not only the guards but nearby people line up at the sausage and bread stalls.

Whatever.

Hot dogs were supposed to start in America, but that country doesn’t exist here.

No time paradox to worry about, so I can spread this freely.

After a snack break, I resume exploring.

The city blends old traditions with modern touches.

Glass windows adorn nearly every building, and the downtown lights are electric arc lamps, not gas.

To a 21st-century human, it feels ancient, but compared to a medieval fantasy world, it’s remarkably advanced.

(Sopina.)

I call the fairy in my mind.

Yo, what’s up?

(You can touch people nearby to extract info, right?)

Sure can.

What kind of girl do you like?

(If I were really woman-hunting, I’d specify, but this is a ploy to fool Gerda for prep work.)

I know, just kidding.

(I want… someone tight-lipped and curious.

Or a noble tied to an upper senator, preferably civilian faction.

Even someone resentful of the Empire works.)

Tricky order, but I’ll find someone.

After walking a bit, Sopina whispers back.

Found a good one.

She’s smitten with the anti-Empire group ‘Blue Wind.’

Name’s Ernesta Barieux.

That girl over there.

She points to a flaxen-haired girl, maybe 16 or 17, exuding a sensual allure that stirs me.

(Quite a rare find.

What else do you know about her?)

You might be disappointed, but she’s not a virgin.

I’m not obsessed with virginity, so that’s fine.

(Doesn’t matter.

Anything else?)

‘Blue Wind’s’ action team attacked a civilian senator in Sarol.

She aided them.

To her, the Empire is evil, the emperor worse—someone to kill.

The emperor’s not popular.

It’s about me, but since I’m not the original, it feels distant.

(Why does she think that way?)

Her mother died in the Sodachi famine three years ago—Empire aid was cut.

Her father was conscripted and died in war.

(Aid was cut by parliament, not just civilians, but by unanimous vote.

The famine was actually caused by a lord hoarding crops.)

She and her sister were sent to relatives, so she doesn’t know the details.

She believes ‘starvation’ was the cause, but it’s unconfirmed.

(To commoners, the emperor’s just a pompous ruler.

Few have voting rights or know about parliament.

It’s misguided resentment.)

That’s why she’s being used by the imperialist anti-Empire group.

(Wait, used by them?

How do you know?)

See that blonde man next to her?

He’s a ‘Blue Wind’ leader, Lufrant Estarreich, linked to Colonel MacDall of the imperialist faction.

I’ll deal with the leader later.

(How’s her reasoning?

Can she handle logical arguments?)

She’ll accept evidence if presented clearly.

Not stubborn about being right.

More likely to feel down if she’s wrong.

(Interesting.

What if I invite her to the palace?)

Obviously, she’d try to kill you.

(And if I show her logical evidence?)

She’d doubt ‘Blue Wind’ and her parents’ deaths.

(Good.

Where’s her sister?)

In the slums outside the city walls.

She’s about 10.

You’re not targeting her too, are you, you lolicon?

(Hey, you think I’m actually woman-hunting out here?)

Hehe, kidding.

You want to secure her sister too, to make her betray the group, right?

(Not just her—I want to flip a few from the organization.

If they truly want to change the Empire, they’ll join my cause.)

That’s your style…

Hehe, fun.

I end my talk with Sopina and whisper to Gerda, “I want that flaxen-haired girl in the gray dress with the red scarf,” framing it as “womanizing.”

But it’s a move for the Empire’s future.

Gerda sighs, says, “Understood,” and gathers the guards to relay instructions.

Negotiations probably just involve flashing money.

If she’s a noble’s daughter, they’d dangle a concubine or maid position.

※

Days later, the capital’s street stalls buzz with a new hit: “Guard Sand,” bread stuffed with sausage.

It’s not named after the Earl of Sandwich.

In the capital’s old dialect, “sand” means “to wrap” or “stuff.”

Soon, stalls boast signs: “The Guard Captain’s New Favorite!”

Kids to laborers devour sausage-stuffed bread.

My little whim became a city trend.

I wanted to call it a hot dog, though!