Kapitel 377: Succession to the Throne
"Accept punishment from your sister? Not happening!" Kaguya flicked the young emperor on her smooth forehead with a playful snap of her fingers, sounding a bit annoyed.
"Ouch!" The young emperor cried out in pain, clutching her head and crouching down, her face scrunched up in discomfort. It seemed Kaguya hadn't held back with that flick.
"Sorry," Kaguya smiled faintly as she turned and walked away. "While I agree that she should be punished, I can't accept any harsh or cruel methods."
"Are you trying to shield her?" Najenda asked, her tone sharp. "I didn't expect a strong person like you to do something like this."
"I'm sorry about that," Kaguya said, "but she's my wayward little sister, and I can't just stand by and watch her die."
"Sister?" Najenda's eyes widened in surprise as she turned to look at the young emperor, who had delicate features, fair skin, and a slim figure. Indeed, she did look quite like a girl—perhaps because of her age, there was no obvious sign of a masculine appearance. But surely, she wasn't a girl with… well, male parts.
This secret had only been something Kaguya discovered unintentionally earlier. To her surprise, the legendary emperor was actually a young girl. Initially, Kaguya hadn't understood the situation, but she eventually figured it out.
For Minister Honest, it didn't matter whether the emperor was male or female, or even real or fake. All that mattered was having a puppet who would follow his orders. In fact, having a little girl was advantageous—she would naturally be more passive, and even if she grew up, her status as a woman would prevent her from posing a threat to Honest's ambitions for the throne.
"Even so, we can't just let her go unpunished," Najenda said, though her tone softened slightly.
"So, how do you intend to punish her?" Kaguya asked.
Najenda folded her arms, thinking for a moment before replying, "Even though she's still a child, she has to face consequences for her actions. Let's do this—she'll be confined for one year. For that entire year, she can't leave her room. No tricks, no attempts to escape—I'll personally see to it."
Kaguya blinked, a bit taken aback. "Is that even considered a punishment?"
Then, understanding dawned on her, and she laughed. "Are you worried that if she remains emperor, she might repeat the mistakes of the past?"
With Honest dead and the empire in ruins, the country desperately needed leadership. If the little girl emperor was imprisoned, a new emperor would have to be selected to stabilize the nation. That was exactly what Najenda was aiming for.
"Exactly," Najenda said, without a hint of embarrassment at having her intentions exposed. "The empire has already suffered enough under the cruel minister. I don't want a repeat of the same mistakes, or more suffering for the people."
"You don't need to worry about that," Kaguya said with a gentle smile. "She won't continue being emperor."
"What?" Najenda looked confused.
The young emperor, too, looked at Kaguya with a puzzled expression, not understanding what she meant.
"I mean she won't inherit the throne any longer," Kaguya explained. "Because I will take the throne."
"You?" Najenda stared at Kaguya in shock.
"Why? Is that a problem?" Kaguya asked with a smile. "I think I'm qualified for the position."
"You're qualified, but..." Najenda narrowed her eyes at Kaguya. "Can you promise you won't turn into someone like Honest?"
Kaguya smirked, her tone playful. "And what if I can't make that promise? What will you do?"
"I'll kill you myself," Najenda said seriously. "Maybe you're stronger than me now, but I won't give up."
"How heartbreaking," Kaguya said, pretending to be sad. "Is that really what you think of me? That I'm some cruel tyrant?"
"Aren't you?" Najenda blinked innocently.
"Alright, alright," Kaguya said with a sigh of defeat.
"I'm leaving now," Najenda said, turning away.
"Not staying for a cup of tea?" Kaguya asked. "I have a lot more to talk to you about. And that night…"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she noticed Najenda glaring at her with embarrassment, and Kaguya promptly shut her mouth.
But seeing Najenda's blushing face brought Kaguya's thoughts back to that night—the tender moments, the soft whispers—and for a brief moment, her mind wandered.
"Alright, I'm going," Najenda said, walking away into the distance. "I hope next time we meet, it won't be with our swords drawn. Honestly, I quite admire you."
Just as Najenda was leaving, Kaguya called out, her voice light but teasing, "I'm still short a general. Interested in joining me? You could help me out."
"Sorry, I'm not interested in that," Najenda turned back, gently shaking her head.
"Aren't you afraid I'll become a tyrant like Honest?" Kaguya laughed.
"I trust that you won't," Najenda replied, gazing at Kaguya.
"You can't be sure. You said yourself that people change," Kaguya said.
"Are you planning to go back on your word?" Najenda asked, a little annoyed.
"No," Kaguya smiled, "but aren't you curious to see how I'll rebuild this broken empire?"
Najenda didn't respond immediately. She left without fully agreeing or refusing, only saying that she needed to think it over—and that Night Raid still needed her leadership.
Watching Najenda's departing figure, Kaguya couldn't help but feel a bit of regret. Capable, strong, and intelligent women like Najenda were rare, and she was also quite beautiful with a great figure.
Looks like my persuasion skills still need some work, Kaguya thought to herself.
"Sister."
"Hmm? What's wrong?" Kaguya looked down at the little loli standing beside her, a full two heads shorter.
"I missed you," the young emperor said, her beautiful eyes welling up with tears. She gently hugged Kaguya's waist and sobbed, "I thought I'd never see you again."
"But we're together now, aren't we?" Kaguya patted her head softly and spoke in a soothing voice.
A sense of guilt stirred in Kaguya's heart. She realized that she had never truly cared for the young emperor, and when she first heard the news that the emperor might have been killed by Honest, her initial concern wasn't for the girl herself but for the empire's political situation.
"We'll never be apart again, okay?" Kaguya found herself saying, moved by the sight of the loli's tear-streaked face.
"Okay." The young emperor wiped her tears away, her pink cheeks lighting up with a radiant smile.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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