I Am Being Mistaken for a Genius Strategist

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Minister of Education. Minister of Internal Affairs. Minister of Justice. Lastly, the Minister of Relief.

On my way back after meeting all the heads of the Imperial administrative bureaucrats in just one day.

Normally, with such a murderous schedule, I would have muttered “I want to give up” countless times.

I should retire quickly to avoid such circumstances. When will I ever be able to escape, I would wonder.

Just meeting one minister leaves me drained, and now I have an appointment to meet four in a single day.

At this rate, only an emperor in wartime could handle such a burden.

But today is different. And it seems it’s going to be like this for a while.

I’m not tired, nor am I desperate to retire. Instead, I’m brimming with passion and desire.

I just want tomorrow to arrive so I can discuss the next matters with the relevant parties.

“Looking at the ministers’ expressions, it was clear that they thought I was overreacting. Yeah, I get it. I can understand.”

Even I sometimes think, with my position as Chief of Staff, what the heck I’m doing.

But! But! Right now, I’m just doing my best as a father of two daughters. Yes, that’s all!

For me, what matters more than my own life is my family and my house.

To protect that, the Empire falls under my obligation to safeguard.

But if there’s even a hint of trouble regarding that family?

If I were to ignore or let that slide, I could very well choke on my own neck!

It doesn’t matter if it’s remnants of the past or something that’s nearly faded away.

What matters is that such things once existed and still have lingering aspects.

Bel was worried, you know. She was cautious that strange words might come out since they’re twins.

Therefore, as a husband and a father, it’s right to eradicate the source of all this.

I have the authority and strength to do so, and above all, I have the reasons and justification.

If I don’t act despite this, I wouldn’t be qualified as a husband or a father.

“I’m not satisfied with merely watching the negative perceptions of twins fade away or disappear. I will overhaul it completely. Absolutely.”

They are my children. My daughters. The precious embodiment of Bel and me.

I will shatter anything that threatens to mar their beauty.

This relates directly to my family. Even if my father-in-law disapproves, I will enforce my will.

To be honest, my father-in-law wouldn’t mind me taking action since he wouldn’t dare confront the emperor directly.

When I return home, I find Bel happily smiling while cradling the twins.

On the left is Alice. On the right is Leah. A single gift would have been enough, yet I have been blessed with two at once.

I want my children to only hear good words and see beautiful things.

Yes, indeed. That’s why this is a task I absolutely must undertake. A duty that must be fulfilled.

“Oh, Kael. You’re back?”

“I’m a bit late. But is it okay to already be moving?”

“Hmm. I think my stamina is slightly down, but I can’t help it when I see our twins. Ah, what should I do? I feel like I might cry every time I look at our children.”

In the midst of it all, perhaps having heard our voices, Alice moves her tiny hand slightly.

Although she’s still too small to properly control her fingers, could it be she’s instinctively responding to the voice she heard since being in her mother’s womb?

As Alice moves, Leah wriggles alongside her. She can’t be seeing anything yet, so did she notice Alice moving?

“By the way, Kael. Didn’t you say you’d rest for about a week? My sister and brother told me that His Majesty commanded you to stay at home.”

“I have some work to do.”

“Is it urgent?”

“Yes. Very urgent.”

Upon hearing this, Bel’s expression turns worried. She wonders if there’s some problem.

It’s understandable that the Chief of Staff would appear anxious, but it’s not like that at all.

“Bel. You told me before, right? That there were some negative comments about the twins.”

“That’s true? …Wait a second. You’re not doing this because of that, right? Kael, that was just my unnecessary worry. At the time, I was really concerned after giving birth to the twins, but it’s not a significant issue in the Empire right now.”

“But it could become a small problem. I don’t even want to let that slide. I’m going to overhaul everything.”

Next week, there’s a celebration to commemorate the birth of the twins.

It will involve not just dignitaries from within the Empire but also foreign envoys.

I’ve already settled the details with the Holy Kingdom side, requesting them to come and bless us once more at the banquet.

This time, it’s not just about my children, but also regarding all the twins across the continent.

I will eradicate any perception that might still linger in the Empire and other places on the continent.

Since the power of religion is still strong, if I come forth in that name, they won’t even be able to mention any flames of opposition.

“Uh, Kael. That glance just now. It was more terrifying than when you faced Dedorant, you know?”

“To me, Bel and our Alice, Leah, are more precious than anything in the world.”

Gingerly, I touched the little hands of the twins and swore.

For the sake of these children, I’ll do anything I can.

*

“Sister. Shouldn’t we stop my brother-in-law?”

“…”

“This is a level of rampage. At this rate, the moment someone says something like ‘there are reasons for the negative perceptions about twins,’ he might raise an army!”

Gnaius’s concern was quite reasonable to consider as a gross exaggeration.

Long gone are the days when the entire village would be unsettled at the birth of twins decades ago.

Even now, in some remote corners, people might mutter, “Twins? Hm,” but it couldn’t be like back then.

In the present, most would simply be grateful for the arrival of new life, whether it’s twins or not.

Yet, Kael has become obsessively fixated on that ‘very small’ something.

Starting with the Ministry of Education, he roamed the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, and even the Ministry of Relief.

Anyone who saw him would think he was scheming something bizarre.

“The truth is, both you and I find it difficult to comprehend a parent’s heart.”

However, the Crown Princess was actually trying to reassure Gnaius.

That fact made Gnaius even more uneasy.

“Is it really okay? What if my brother-in-law goes rampaging?”

“Rampaging? Do you really think that’s possible? My brother-in-law losing his composure?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Don’t forget, Gnaius. My brother-in-law is a person whose thoughts run much deeper than his age would indicate, to the point that the end of his intentions is unfathomable. There may be political motivations hidden behind this exaggerated behavior he’s currently displaying.”

Political motivations? Gnaius halted his wandering footsteps at those words.

He then sat opposite his sister and began to ponder something thoughtfully.

“What is it that my brother-in-law is trying to attain?”

“The twins are both my brother-in-law’s daughters and also Bel’s daughters. And Bel is the direct descendant of this Empire—of the great Heldenberg family. The twins have inherited that glorious bloodline.”

“True.”

“The negative views regarding twins were societal. Even if they were legally prohibited, it was hard to change people’s perceptions. It would take decades to fully eradicate that mindset.”

However, the Empire’s standing has become undoubtedly greater than ever before.

The greatness of this Imperial Family now encompasses the entire continent.

It’s known that no one may act recklessly under the protection of God. That’s the magnificence of this house.

The Crown Princess smiled with satisfaction while fondly stroking her chin.

“Perhaps this is a warning from my brother-in-law against any foul intentions or powers that could challenge the Imperial Family.”

“Such…”

“How good a justification is this? Without needing to point out hostile nations or forces, he can cite the negative views, which are nearly eradicated, as his enemies, showcasing the majesty and nobility of this great Imperial Family. This isn’t just for the twins; it’s also a display of power for the Clausewitz family, which is connected to the Imperial Family.”

Indeed. Could it be that he, my brother-in-law, orchestrated this?

Truly, my father must possess an extraordinary son-in-law. The Crown Princess smiled once more.

What a fortunate thing it is. Perhaps my successor could work alongside my brother-in-law.

If they could learn something from that great man, it would be a truly remarkable thing.

*

A celebration to congratulate the birth of the twins. An event directly organized by the Emperor of the Empire.

All the nobles of the Empire and esteemed guests from foreign lands received formal invitations.

Even though it’s not the case of a successor to the throne being born, this level of banquet is unprecedented.

“First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to His Majesty the Emperor for hosting this banquet. I also extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has come to illuminate this occasion…”

The banquet was attended by the Empire’s highest nobles, senior administrative officials, and various guests from different nations.

Kael made his entrance, carefully choosing his words to maintain etiquette.

But interpreting the underlying meanings of his words would probably go something like this.

“Oh, twins are the best! Really! Even God must have shouted that!”

Are you doubting it now? Oh, they are the Emperor’s granddaughters and my daughters!

Hey you! What are twins? That’s right! They are the truth, justice, and gifts bestowed upon this land!!

“I honestly wish for Lady Alice and Lady Leah to grow up healthily!”

In the meantime, without asking or questioning anything, the legion commanders and the highest officials from the military began to support Kael.

As they took it upon themselves to set the atmosphere, the praise for the twins quickly started to spread.

At the same time, preparations that Kael had arranged were starting outside the banquet hall.

“It’s a festival for the princess twins! For today, everyone is to eat and drink merrily! This is all thanks to His Excellency the Duke of Neomes, so everyone must thank the princess twins!”

“Uwaaaaah!”

If you want to make your opponent praise you, fill them up first, and then make them think.

Kael hadn’t forgotten this and covered the entire Duchy with a festive atmosphere.

That was the extent of Kael’s arrangements. However, there was something else he was unaware of.

“There has been a request from the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs that whenever adult figures are sculpted or painted, the twin children should be included as protectors in some form.”

Though it was called the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs, if one were to not know who ordered this, that would indeed be a problem.

The Holy Kingdom was convinced that this was a maneuver from an individual aiming for the sake of the Emperor’s granddaughters.