Chapter 98

Chapter 98

My motto is to add functionalities to dresses! They shouldnt simply act as a piece of clothing.

An amusing designer has arrived.

Once again, were ordering new dresses for the parties.

Having one or two designers didnt prove to be enough, so I had to reach out to a lot of others.

This man happens to be one of them, and hes the type of person that wants to add functionalities to dresses that will be thrown away after being worn once.

What a fool.

Please take a look at all these accessories! Normally, dresses will only have disposable energy-shield generators on them, but this dress has a proper one attached to it. Granted, its a bit heavier because of that, but it shouldnt be too burdensome for aristocratic ladies such as yourselves.

Aristocrats tend to attach trinkets to their dresses in fear of events such as assassination attempts.

However, most of these trinkets are for one-time use.

This is because the well-made ones are so expensive that they arent worth the price.

Its wrong to assume that the same accessory can be worn on different dresses.

After all, dresses and their corresponding accessories are meant to be sets.

Theres nothing wrong with reusing things per say, but the idea that saving money is good disgusts villains like me to their core.

Rosetta and Ciel are listening to this mans rant with blank expressions.

Functionality over usability!

Its clear that they dont agree with this foolish designers ideology.

My request had been for disposable dresses, yet this mans trying to shape them into combat suits.

But then again, idiots like him are just my cup of tea.

The rich and the wealthy exist to waste money after all.

No, thats not right.

I should be saying that evil lords exist to live luxurious lives using the tax that they had wrung out from their citizens.

This logic, of course, applies to these disposable dresses as well.

I applaud the mans speech.

Excellent! I like it very much.

T-thank you, my Lord!

I have an additional request for you. Amagi.

Yes, Master.

Amagi walks up to me from where she has been silently spectating, and I introduce her to the designer.

Shes my Amagi, and Im troubled by the fact that shes always wearing her maid uniform. Dont you think she needs dresses as well?

The designer makes a troubled face.

The knights around us are ready to pull out their swords depending on how the designer responds.

If he ridicules Amagi, his life will be forfeit.

Fortunately, he seems to know this already.

I-I dont have any experience tailoring dresses for androids. That said, as long as Im provided adequate time and instruction, Im sure I could make do somehow.

Previously, there had been a designer who said in disdain that his shop doesnt deal with doll apparels.

We had this conversation through a call, and I swore never to place an order from his shop again.

I was ready to butcher that man, but I gave up after Amagi convinced me otherwise.

She told me that he was a favorite of some aristocrat, so killing him would cause unnecessary trouble.

Even so, she never said anything about taking revenge.

Ill make sure to have my revenge after all the bothersome things have been taken care of.

Ill just have to be discreet about it so that Amagi doesnt notice.

For the time being, however, I should address the man in front of me.

You dont have to worry about the cost.

Amagi stares at me disapprovingly.

Master, I have no need for dresses.

This is an order.

But

Rosetta joins in to persuade Amagi whos making a difficult face.

YouYoure better than I thought.

Amagi, isnt it fine to wear a dress from time to time?

Understood. However, a disposable dress is too wasteful, so I will take it upon myself to store it somewhere else.

It worked!

Amagi agreed!

Of course! You, you only have one chance. Make it count. Spend as much money as you need. I want the best possible masterpiece. Oh, but I wont accept anything thats overly flashy.

Y-yes, my Lord!

A communication request arrives just as Im watching the designer rush to his workstation.

Its from Brian.

Liam-zamaaaaaaa!!

How unpleasant. It sounds like he said serves you right! at point blank. [1]

Brian, if anyone else had said that, I wouldve had that person tortured.

Whats wrong?

The demothe demo has grown bigger!

Haah!? Didnt I assign some people to deal with that!? Right, what happened to Eulisia!? I thought she was supposed to be capable!?

Is she incapable of suppressing a single demo!?

-At the Banfields territory-

Even today, demonstrations were being held on each planet.

Does anyone want takoyaki~?

We have yakisoba here~

Take some fliers from us~

Stalls were lined up at the sides to provide service to the large number of people present at the scene.

Soldiers were controlling traffic, and doctors were on standby.

Thats not part of the course. You should return using the route you just took.

Normally, people would expect such recruits to end up as the lords lovers or concubines.

Eulisia trembled when she heard the citizens shouts.

Y-YA THINK I DIDNT TRY!?

She was meant to step forward and stop the demo.

However, instead, Eulisia began screaming at the top of her lung. It was a scream that came from the innermost depth of her soul.

I TRIED MY BEST, YOU KNOW!? I TRIED SO HARD TO HAVE HIM FALL FOR MY CHARMSBUT LORD LIAM SIMPLY ISNT INTERESTED!

The demonstrators became silent until one person cautiously asked, D-does he hate women?

Tears welled up in Eulisias eyes.

I would have given up if that was the case! But-but he claims that he likes women! I had devoted my youth so that I could become his secretary, yet he was oblivious to the fact that I was sent to the militarys re-education facility! Then, as soon as I returned to the territory, I was told to suppress a demo!In the first place, its only been a few years! How could he forget about me like that!?

Eulisia had a lot of pent up frustration from her daily work, and she had reached the limit of her patience.

With a microphone in hand, she spat out all her complaints.

I want toI want to go on dates as well! Lady Rosetta gets to attend parties every day, but Im stuck here doing my job! Is he so busy that he cant spare me a single day!? Im getting older and older as days pass by. I sometimes feel like crying in the middle of the night because of my worries! Im tormented by them every day!

The demonstrators looked at one another in the face.

Eulisia was sobbing with the microphone turned on.

She was bawling her eyes out, so the demonstrators began comforting her.

H-hope everything goes well~!

Eulisia-nee-chan, Im sure that good days are ahead of you!

I-its okay. Youre still very beautiful!

Eulisia didnt hold back at all and kept complaining with the mic on.

I want him to lay his hands on me, but he isnt doing anything! What can I even do then!? Im willing to do anything, but theres nothing I can do if hesnot interested! None of this is my fault!

And so, those that are participating in the demonstration are advocating for Cherish Lady Rosetta and Please dont forget about Eulisia-san. That said, a lot of people are backing Lady Rosetta. In fact, her popularity is so amazing that this Brians impressed.

My fists threaten to lash out as Brain happily makes a report about how much percent of the people are partaking in the demo.

What in the world is Eulisia doing?

She has ruined my reputation as an evil lord.

Ive spent decades trying to leave an impression of being evil, but now I just look like some irresponsible bastard.

A petty man who isnt feeding the woman he brought back homeIs that how others view me now?

For your information, there have also been voices saying that Lord Liam should take in some new concubines.

Who are they to command their lord!? My harem is mine and mine alone! I wont be entertaining anyones suggestions.

Brian stares at me with cold eyes.

If-if it was anyone else, I wouldve had their head sliced off their neck!

Lord Liamthere are zero people.

Huh? What?

To this day, there are zero people in your harem, Lord Liam.

Huh!? What do you mean!? Theres Amagi! She counts, right!?

That only bumps the number up to one. Lady Rosetta remains untouched, and Lord Liam has been ignoring Lady Eulisia, someone that was recruited from the army.This Brian here is seriously considering whether or not to join the demonstration.

Bullsh*t! I refuse to be swayed by the words of others! I have my own standards when it comes to beauties!

Must I reluctantly build a harem just because others want me to?

Must I lay my hands on women I do not love?

Nay, I say!

Ill only lay my hands on women that I want.

This is something that I wont compromise.

Having your own standards is good, but the issue of leaving behind a descendant is more important.

Theyll have to be ready for when I return to the territory. Ill impose such a heavy tax that theyll never think of demonstrating ever again.

Well, well, thats something to look forward to. On a different note, its fascinating how little the democratization movement has spread. The fire has almost been extinguished.

Democratization, huh. Dont forget to write down the names of all those noisy idiots. Theyre my enemies. Human rights? They just want to be in the position of power.

Lord Liam?

Even if aristocrats were to disappear, others will rise up to replace them. No matter what, some people would hold more authority than others. This will never change.

No matter what kind of political system were looking at, there will always be a side that oppresses others and a side that gets oppressed.

A world without inequality?

Something like that doesnt exist.

Even if we were to throw aristocrats out of the picture, politicians and rich merchants will seize control of the power.

This time, inequality will be based on how rich or poor someone is.

There will always be someone that is in control, and the rest will have to obey that entity.

Well, I wont deny that this feudal system where aristocrats reign supreme isnt flawed.

However, I have no plans on relinquishing my authorities to anyone.

Whats happening to others is none of my concern.

The same could be said about the people that are championing for democratization.

A small minority might be serious about wanting democracy, but the rest of them just want my power.

They may be holding onto their ideals at the moment, but if power is handed to them, they will become corrupt.

I know because I wield it myself.

Power is extremely addictive, and it can easily corrupt peoples heart.

I dont think thats a bad thing, though.

I want to be corrupted and become intoxicated by the power I have.

After all, Im an evil lord.

If they wish to pull me down and replace me, theyll have to prove that theyre stronger than I am. If they can do so, I wont mind accepting their challenge. Otherwise, as the vanquished, they should quietly accept how theyre being treated.

My retainers are trying to overthrow me.

They can do so as they please, but theyll have to prepare themselves for when they are defeated.

Im not someone that treats enemies with mercy.

Ill make sure to crush them thoroughly.

__________

Brian (`; ; ): How frightening. The number of people in Lord Liams harem is zero!

Brian (): Its painful.

[1] This is where calling him Lord Liam backfires. Brian says Liam-zamaaa, and zamaaa sounds like , which means serves you right! or sucks to be you!