I’m a Bastard But You’re Worse!

POV: Cerros Baal

On the easternmost regions of the Baal Empire was the town of Xinania, a fortress city on the border with the Huang Dynasty and my home base.

Xinania was originally part of the Huang territories, until the late emperor took it by force. Because of this, oriental culture and customs were still very much alive, and most of its citizens had skin color closer to the typical Huang yellow instead of the classic Imperial white.

In the center of Xinania stood a building much larger than the others: the Eastern Governor Palace, where I lived.

That day, a banquet was held at the palace. High functionaries and notable personalities from the city gathered to eat, drink and generally be merry.

In contrast with the banquets mood, however, I was sitting in a corner, frowning at a letter recently delivered to me.

We require the Third Imperial Armys assistance in the rescue of Princess Rosselliahuh. My brothers are stirring up another mess in the wrong place, again, I see

I scanned the letter sent from the imperial capital and whispered to myself, annoyed.

The letter was signed with the name Snowe Halphas one of my brother Lars retainers. Im supposed to be part of the imperial family too, but the letter was sent not by my brother as custom dictated but by a mere knight.

Theyre very comfortable looking down on me, thats for sure. Im not asking for respect from the bottom of your hearts, heaven forbid, but you could at least keep up appearances

What will you do? Cerros? She is your little sister, yes?

Xiao Mao, my personal aide, tilted her head as she inquired about my intentions. I folded the letter, gave it to her, then replied with a sarcastic grin.

Oh yes, the little sister of little ol me, the court outcast! They barely ever let me even see Rosselliato be honest, I dont really think of her as a sister.

I was part of the imperial family, on paper, but I was born from a servant that the emperor laid his hands on. At court I was a pariah, so they kept me as far away as possible from Rossellia, fathers most precious treasure.

I could count the times I met her on one hand. I didnt hate her or anything, but I couldnt see her as family either.

Snowe Halphasthe younger brother of Eis Halphas, Lars Wise General. They already have the Imperial Knights and the Second Imperial Army on their side, but he petitions me for reinforcements too? Whats the point of amassing all this military, do they hate Maxwell that much?

Snowe Halphas, the sender of the letter, had lost his brother in a battle against Maxwell. In my eyes, this request of assistance was fueled by a personal grudge, rather than loyalty or a sense of duty.

Messing up my party with this downer of a storyIm sick of these people, I tell you.

I gulped the contents of my glass and lay down, using her lap as a pillow, rolling my head on her not very plump thighs.

This called sexual harassment, yes? Dont touch, pay first!

Yes, yes, Ill pay, so humor me just a little more, will you? Aw, crap, theyre always snubbing over there, but when things like this happen, they come with their requests and stuffwoe is me, the unfortunate soul

Unfortunate souls dont drink and rub womens thighs, Cerros.

I let Xiao Maos snide remarks slide and reviewed the events developing in the west in my mind.

(Rossellia is being held prisoner by House Maxwell. In order to rescue her, an allied army has formed, with Lars at the center: the First Army, the Second, and the Imperial Knights. A war campaign to the west, larger than ever beforebut are those two really going to cooperate in earnest?)

Well, not my problemanyway, the old mans condition to become emperor will be fulfilled, I guess.

The late emperors declaration, the spark that ignited the succession conflict Whoever conquers an enemy country will become the next emperor concealed a surefire method to win.

And that was to join hands with the other heirs and conquer the enemy country. But it seemed like I was the only one to notice, as Lars and Grett clearly didnt.

(I bet the old man didnt want it to happen like this, though.)

He probably expected Lars or Grett, the two heirs most likely to succeed the throne, to gain the support of the Third Imperial Army and me, thus forming the empires greatest military force and use it to inherit the throne.

That way, Id have obtained a nice and stable position, as the new emperors ally, so I could finally ditch this outcast life

(I bet the old man never thought wed get on such bad terms. Lars and Grett never even considered cooperating with me, looks like they only see me as an obstacle on their path to the throne)

Though the process was different than what the old man expected, in the end two of the heirs did form an alliance. The world works in mysterious ways, indeed.

Anywaytell the guys at court that we cant send reinforcements. That were under attack by Huang and dont have any troops to spare. Something like that.

Got it, my lord. Ill sign for you too, yes?

Nooo problem. Ill be too hungover to work tomorrow anyway.

Hey, Cerros, whats this about being under attack? Since when did we invade again?

Someone was apparently listening in on my conversation with Xiao: suddenly, a large, dark-skinned man butted in.

Cmon Ragoh, old friend, you really need to ask?

Oh sure, when it fits you Im an old friend, huh? Man, youre too much

Ragoh laughed heartily and downed his drink.

He was a general invited from the neighboring country, Huang. One of the achievements in the 10 years since I was appointed governor was building a relationship amicable enough to invite Huangs generals over to my banquets.

Just pretend to invade, as usual. You can swindle more military expenses that way, so it works for you too, right?

Gahaha! You got me there!

My Third Imperial Army and Ragous Western Force have been involved in repeated skirmishes the past few years all fake. Weve been able to suck up funds from our respective central governments this way.

Ragoh too was demoted to his current position: in a way, we were both rejects, so we had common ground.

I lifted my head from Xiaos lap and sat up, to discuss the money-making scheme more in detail with Ragoh. Xiao Mao looked at us grinning as we plotted and rubbed our hands togethercertainly not with admiration in her eyes.

(Come to think of itwhat happens if the allied forces lose against Maxwell or Lamperouge?)

The First Imperial Army, the Second Imperial Army, the Imperial Knightsa force supposed to be the empires greatest, but on the off chance they fail?

(The empire is going to turn upside down, thats for sureand in the resulting chaos, I might have the chance to sweep it all up.)

I pictured such a far-fetched vision of the future, chuckling to myself.