Let’s go back a little in time, before the revolutionary army rose up.
Julius von Roitel, the eldest son and head of the Roitel family, had a life that was exceedingly ordinary and modest.
“Going to the capital to work as a civil servant? Well, go ahead. It’s good to gain experience at a young age.”
“The fief will be well managed by your mother and me, so don’t worry. If possible, make sure to build good connections with the important people there.”
“Thank you, Father. I’ll send letters regularly!”
Born into a noble family with a long, albeit modest, history, he inherited his family’s title according to tradition once he came of age.
In front of his retainers, he received the family seal and held the official succession ceremony.
Before turning twenty, he became the lord of a territory inhabited by thousands of people.
However, he couldn’t afford to live extravagantly or indulge in pleasures. His family’s finances were not in a comfortable state.
There was no room for grand feasts, let alone even purchasing a ceremonial robe that would match the current fashion.
So, Julius made the same choice as other nobles in a similar situation: he decided to seek a job in the government.
“Being a soldier is too dangerous, and if I take a job among the common folk, my honor will be tarnished. It’s clear that public office is the best choice.”
His younger sibling, who had entered the military academy early on, was walking the path of an officer, but that was a path Julius, as the head of the family, could not afford to take.
There was still no heir, and if he were to go off to the battlefield and die, the family line would be cut off.
On the other hand, joining a trade company or a guild wasn’t an option either, given his noble status.
If a noble were to act as a merchant, it would ruin the family’s prestige and send it plummeting.
With no other options available, the only remaining path was public service.
It was essentially a forced decision, but surprisingly… it wasn’t that bad. Public office suited him well enough.
“Julius! Is the data I requested yesterday ready yet?!”
“I’m on my way with it right now! I’ll just bring what Manager Halden asked for and deliver it!”
“That new recruit is doing well. He’s quick and efficient.”
“Exactly. It’s rare to see such talent these days.”
Since he had been educated from a young age to become the head of the family, Julius was already familiar with administrative work.
Furthermore, having dealt with numerous high-ranking nobles at banquets and balls, he excelled in hospitality skills.
Recognized for his abilities not long after joining, Julius quickly rose through the ranks.
He steadily advanced, receiving promotions and being assigned to key positions, following the elite bureaucratic career path step by step.
Compared to his peers, and even some senior officials a few years ahead of him, his rapid rise stood out.
It was a pace made possible not only by his own abilities but also by the added prestige brought by his younger brother.
Although it was somewhat embarrassing as an older brother, the younger sibling, who had joined the military to make a living, had somehow become far more remarkable than Julius over time.
“Huh? Secretary Royten, your surname is the same as Lieutenant General Carolus. Are you two related by any chance?”
“Well… he’s my younger brother. I haven’t seen him since he entered the military academy a few years ago.”
“Really?! Who would’ve thought the hero of the North has an older brother! What an interesting connection.”
In the harsh Northern region, where even veteran soldiers often perished, Julius’ younger brother relentlessly built a remarkable record of achievements.
While others took years or even decades to build their careers, he accomplished it in just a few months, earning national recognition before the age of thirty.
Even from the perspective of someone unacquainted with military affairs, his accomplishments were nothing short of extraordinary.
Thanks to this, even the small trickle-down benefits Julius received were of great help to him.
During promotion reviews, having the label of being the “hero’s older brother” made a noticeable difference in how the examiners viewed him.
He had become more self-assured over time.
“Thank you, little brother! Your incompetent older brother is succeeding thanks to you!”
Carolus, the rising star of the military.
Julius, the promising talent of the Ministry of Finance.
At this rate, it didn’t seem impossible for the brothers to one day stand side by side, commanding both the military and the administration.
That is, if everything continued to go smoothly.
…But that was precisely the problem—it didn’t.
“E- Emergency! Lieutenant General Carolus has started a rebellion!!”
“They’re leading the Northern Army south and crushing every unit they encounter along the way!!”
The retreat order, triggered by the king and queen’s reckless overspending, had enraged the Northern Army.
Fueled by this anger, they rallied around Carolus, forming a rebel force and began their march south.
The great hero had become a traitor, and the glory Julius had once enjoyed because of him vanished. Instead, he found himself subjected to ideological scrutiny.
“Speak clearly. Are you saying you had absolutely no collusion with Carolus von Royten?”
“Yes!! Truly! I haven’t even properly seen him in over ten years—how could I conspire with him? I’m completely innocent!! Long live the House of Riodolph! Long live His Majesty the King!!! The traitors will surely be defeated!!!”
As much as it pained him, Julius had no choice but to cut ties with his brother.
He had to survive, didn’t he? If he made a single misstep here, the entire family would be wiped out.
By fervently praising the king, he managed to avoid summary execution, but there was no escaping being placed under strict surveillance.
As for the elite career path he had worked so hard to climb? That was now gone forever.
With his path to promotion blocked, Julius had been preparing to retire and return to his hometown once the situation settled…
“Starting today, the city of Rahator is under the jurisdiction of the Revolutionary Army! Anyone who disobeys our orders or engages in suspicious activities will face severe punishment!”
“For the time being, the legislative and policy-making authority of the kingdom will be transferred to the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction. We will invite figures from various sectors, including members of the Revolutionary Army, to assist His Majesty in governing the nation.”
The rebels—no, the Revolutionary Army—had won.
And the world had changed.
The so-called traitors had become the nation’s heroes, and the king, once reigning above all, had lost his power.
Julius, who had worked so hard to denounce and distance himself from his brother, now found that very brother had become his superior.
“Shit. I’m screwed.”
Julius felt his mind go blank. He had already betrayed him—what could he possibly do now?
Should he go find his brother, bow his head to the ground, and beg for forgiveness? Or should he simply run away to his hometown?
Time continued to pass as he wrestled with his thoughts.
And then, one day, a summons finally came for him.
“Are you Julius von Royten?”
“Y-Yes, that’s me.”
“I’m from the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction. The Vice Chairman requests to meet with you.”
The officer, accompanied by armed guards, handed him a summons.
The atmosphere made it clear that refusal would result in being forcibly dragged away, so Julius had no choice but to comply.
“So, Carolus is finally going to kill me. He must want to meet one last time before sending me to the execution block. Or maybe he’ll shoot me himself?”
As he was led to his brother’s office, countless thoughts swirled in his mind.
Why would his brother, who undoubtedly harbored resentment toward him, request a meeting?
No matter how much he thought about it, the only conclusion he could reach was that Carolus intended to personally kill him.
If he had been thinking rationally, he might have considered the possibility of another purpose, but Julius’ mind was too overwhelmed to entertain such thoughts.
And so—
“Sir, as requested, we have brought Julius von Royten, Deputy Secretary.”
“Brother!! You can have the head of the family title, the entire estate—whatever you want! Just spare my life, I beg you!!”
Julius, now face-to-face with Carolus, dropped to the ground in a full prostration, begging for his life. It wasn’t exactly an unexpected reaction.
And now, the present.
“I was a fool! I’m the sinner who tried to use my brother’s name to save myself! I’ll never do it again, so please forgive this worthless older brother just this once!!”
Even as his aide tried to stop him, my older brother bawled, tears and snot streaming down his face. I clicked my tongue briefly.
“Cut it out with the pathetic act and get up. Why would I kill you?”
“…R-Really?”
“Have you lived your whole life being deceived? If I wanted to deal with you, I wouldn’t do it so openly.”
If I really wanted to take someone out, I’d have them kidnapped to a quiet alley and taken care of discreetly. Calling someone out in broad daylight like this would attract too much attention.
When I heard that he had pretended to be a staunch royalist during the interrogation after our rebellion, I was a little disappointed. Still, it wasn’t an entirely unreasonable course of action.
“As the head of the family, he probably had to prioritize the survival of the family. I’m practically an outsider now, having declared my independence.”
For a noble family’s heir, ensuring the survival and continuity of their bloodline is a perfectly natural priority. Sometimes, that requires making cold-hearted decisions.
So, while it made me a little sad, I didn’t get angry. If I were in his position, I would have made the same choice.
“If you’re really sorry, can you do me a favor?”
“Y-Yes! Just say the word! I’ll do my best!”
“Can you create a faction for me?”
A brief silence. It took a few seconds before he finally responded.
“…A faction? Are you asking me to form a private organization within the government?”
“Yeah. The royal family and the high-ranking nobles each have at least one, don’t they?”
There are dozens of bureaucratic factions, divided based on which noble house they align with. These factions are further categorized by their inclinations, such as royalist or aristocratic.
And I planned to establish a new faction—the “Royten Faction.” It would serve as the foundation for executing the necessary reforms and policies to reshape the nation.
To secure momentum.
In this medieval fantasy world without the concept of separation of powers, you needed a team of bureaucrats under your command to initiate any political moves.
“I’ll provide as much support as I can. You’re a deputy secretary now, right? I’ll promote you to department head by next week. I’ll also prepare funds and information, so establish a substantial faction as quickly as possible.”
“Then my role is…?”
“A middle manager. Since I’m a soldier, I need someone to act as a bridge between me and the government.”
To put it nicely, he’d be a manager or the backbone of the organization.
To put it bluntly, a figurehead.
It wasn’t an entirely pleasant offer. In fact, it could feel offensive depending on how you looked at it.
No matter the difference in social standing, having to follow the orders of one’s younger sibling wouldn’t sit well with anyone.
It probably wasn’t a particularly pleasant feeling.
But Julius nodded willingly.
“I’ll do my best. After all, without your support, I won’t be able to advance anymore. Family should help each other, right?”
“Good decision.”
And with that, my influence began to extend into the kingdom’s administration.
Then I thought further.
“Should I create a Red Guard…?”
Once again, I started plotting to mess with those so-called high-ranking lords.