Lord: My Shop Connects to Modern Times

The night is dark.

Inside the royal palace, in the prince's sleeping quarters.

Alex stood by the window, quietly watching the night outside.

His father's series of unusual behaviors left him somewhat bewildered. Even as the eldest son, he was at a loss as this was the first time he had encountered such a situation.

Let's go and meet those noble ministers.

Although Alex probably knew what they wanted to do.

He sighed. It was almost time to go. He closed the window, grabbed a casual shirt, put it on, and went out.

Alex walked out of the palace through a side gate alone, followed a quiet alley for about fifteen minutes, and stopped in front of an inconspicuous wooden door.

He knocked three times, paused, and then knocked twice more.

The door opened from the inside.

"Your Highness." The old servant who opened the door bowed and stepped aside to let him in.

This is an ordinary residence in the West District. On the surface, it is the property of a certain businessman, but in reality, it is a place where the nobles who support him hold private gatherings.

Alex crossed the yard and entered the main house.

There were already five people sitting inside.

The one furthest inside is Earl Sutherland, the representative of the Duke of the West. He is in his fifties, with gray hair and shrewd eyes.

He was the Duke of the West's confidant, and when the Duke was unable to appear in person, he represented the Duke in handling various "matters that could not be made public".

Sitting next to him was the Chancellor of the Exchequer's deputy, a civil servant in his forties.

He was in charge of the capital's tax accounts. Although his official rank was not high, he knew a lot.

The other three are minor nobles who usually keep a low profile, but each has dozens of capable private soldiers under their command.

"Your Highness." The group rose and bowed.

Alex nodded and sat down in the head seat.

"You all know the news." He got straight to the point: "Father will officially announce his abdication to the people tomorrow, and my fourth brother will ascend the throne three days later."

Sutherland sighed, "It's so sudden. His Majesty was perfectly fine yesterday, and today suddenly..."

"I'm afraid it's not sudden," the finance deputy said in a low voice.

"I've checked the palace's entry and exit records for the past few months. Every three days, Maurice would bring a group of people in, ostensibly to 'purchase medicinal herbs.' Once those people went in, they never came out again."

The room was quiet for a few seconds.

"Everyone knows that Maurice has been in charge of His Majesty's daily life during this period..."

He didn't say anything more, as if he had some concerns.

Alex tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the chair.

"You mean...?"

"I dare not draw any conclusions," Wells said. "But in the past few months, the palace guards have been replaced, the eunuchs have been replaced, and even the kitchen staff have been replaced. Now, the palace is filled with Maurice's men, inside and out."

A middle-aged nobleman couldn't help but speak up: "Then His Majesty..."

"I don't know," Alex interrupted him. "I saw my father yesterday, and he seemed... normal. Just like before."

He paused.

"But it's not quite the same."

Count Sutherland narrowed his eyes: "How so?"

Alex was silent for a few seconds, recalling every detail of their meeting yesterday.

"My father remembers things from the past. He remembers when I fell off a horse when I was ten, and he remembers my little sister scraping her knee. But he asks... too few questions. He hardly asks anything, he just listens to me. And—"

"When I mentioned my younger sister, he neither seemed happy nor did he seem to recall anything."

"It's just a very ordinary 'I understand' feeling."

Alex frowned. "This isn't like my father."

The room fell silent again.

Everyone knows that Charles VI doted on his youngest daughter, Ella.

We used to hug each other every time we met, and I would get extremely worried every time I heard she was injured.

There's no response; something's definitely wrong.

"Your Highness," Sutherland leaned forward, "now is not the time to pursue the truth. The question now is... what to do?"

He lowered his voice: "The Fourth Prince's ascension to the throne is a done deal. His Majesty's decree was announced in front of all the nobles. If we try to force it..."

"I know," Alex said.

"But we can't just stand by and watch," another nobleman exclaimed anxiously. "Your Highness, you are the eldest son; according to the rules, the throne should be yours! That fourth prince, that bookworm, what does he know about governing a country?"

"Exactly!" someone echoed. "His Majesty is definitely being controlled! At a time like this, Your Highness should..."

"Should what?" Alex looked at him. "Should we raise an army? Should we turn the capital into a battlefield?"

The man opened his mouth, but no words came out.

“My father is still there,” Alex said. “Whether he’s sick or…whatever the situation, he’s my father. I can’t watch him get taken hostage and then lead the troops in.”

Silence fell in the room once again.

Alex leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the flickering candlelight on the wall.

Doesn't he want to be king?

It's impossible for him not to want to, but he knows he's not really cut out for it.

Putting everything else aside, just considering what it means to be a king, the biggest taboo he has already committed is being too weak and too concerned about family ties.

An emperor should be decisive and ruthless in such matters.

Compared to him, his second younger brother was much more suitable.

If it weren't for his status as the eldest son, he might not even have had the support of the nobles.

Because of this identity, from the time he could remember, his mother told him that he would inherit the throne and govern the country like his father.

He learned horsemanship, swordsmanship, politics, and history—all in preparation for that day.

But now, that day has been stolen away.

He was by his fourth brother.

If his father had died of natural causes and abdicated, he could have fought for the throne. If he had won, he wouldn't have killed all his younger brothers.

But now, this is the father's order, the father's will.

Unless the father or the fourth brother is killed, it is a foregone conclusion that the fourth brother will take over.

Alex didn't want to kill his own blood relatives...

He remembered what George was like when he was a child.

That thin, small child always liked to hide in the study and read for a whole day. One time, he went to find George, pushed open the door, and saw George asleep on the table, his face pressed against the open pages of the book, drool dripping everywhere.

He found it funny at the time, but also felt a little sorry for him.

George was never a competitive person.

I don't fight for anything, I don't snatch anything.

While others rode horses and practiced archery, he read books. While others cultivated relationships with the powerful and wealthy, he read books. While others engaged in eloquent discussions at banquets, he was still reading books.

Given his fourth brother's personality and his recent unusual behavior, Alex was almost certain that he had been pushed into this position.

"Your Highness," Earl Sutherland's voice pulled him back to reality, "You must understand that if you do nothing, the throne will forever remain out of your reach."

Alex looked at him.

"And what happens after the Fourth Prince ascends the throne?" Sutherland continued, "Will he be able to hold his position? Will the North submit to him? Will the Ministry of War listen to him? The monsters are still causing trouble in the East, and the new king knows nothing. In the end..."

He lowered his voice: "When that time comes, it won't be as simple as it is now if you want to do something."

Alex understood what he meant.

Once George ascends the throne, once the court is in turmoil, once the various forces begin to vie for power—if we act then, it will no longer be "opposition," but "rebellion."

But what if we act now?

He couldn't think of any way to resolve the issue peacefully.

"Your Highness," another nobleman spoke, his tone urgent, "This is a golden opportunity! The Duke of the North has always been on your side..."

"I know," Alex interrupted him.

Duke Cook Bell of the North has always disliked him.

It wasn't because she disliked him, but because the Duke of the North wanted a strong, warlike king. He was too "gentle" and didn't suit the North's taste.

Alfred is the one they want.

If he takes action now, the North will definitely oppose it. Then it won't just be internal strife, it will be a civil war.

Meanwhile, war is still raging in the east.

The father's most trusted cousin, Grand Duke Rhodes of the East and leader of the Purifying Knights, is leading his men in a desperate fight against monsters at the border.

He had no idea what was happening in the capital, and even if he did, he wouldn't have the energy to care.

Duke Ivan of the Southern Territory?

That old fox always knows how to protect himself.

He doesn't care who is king, as long as it doesn't affect his territory.

So the current situation is: the North is leaning towards Alfred, the West is neutral but leans towards him, the East is too busy to care, and the South remains neutral.

They're a complete mess.

"Your Highness," Sutherland's voice softened, "we don't want you to raise an army now. We just want to ask you, what are your plans? The brothers need some direction."

Alex remained silent for a long time.

Then he spoke, his voice very soft.

"Let's take a look first."

The group exchanged glances.

"Your Highness, this..."

"I said, let's take a look first." Alex looked up.

"George's ascension to the throne was announced by my father himself. In front of all the nobles, no one objected. If I were to jump out now and say it's not right, what would I become?"

He paused.

"And... George might not be a good king."

Even as he said those words, he felt a sense of powerlessness. But it was the only reason he could find to make himself feel less miserable.

"What if he can't hold his position?" he continued. "What if he can't do the job? Then, naturally, ministers will step forward to speak up. At that time..."

He didn't finish speaking.

But everyone present understood.

When the time comes, it will be perfectly legitimate and logical for Alex to step in and clean up the mess.

Sutherland nodded and said nothing more.

The others exchanged glances and didn't try to persuade them further.

"Let's call it a day." Alex stood up. "It's getting late. Everyone go home and don't say anything."

The group bowed and left one after another.

……

At the same time, in another residence in Xicheng District.

Alfred Winster sat in the head seat, holding a glass of wine, but did not drink it.

There were seven or eight people sitting inside.

The most conspicuous was the representative of the Duke of the North, a middle-aged knight with a fierce face, wearing leather armor and a sword hanging at his waist.

Beside him were several minor nobles from the Northern Territory, and two officers from the Ministry of War.

"Your Highness," the northern knight said gruffly, "what are you waiting for? That position should have been yours all along!"

Alfred did not respond.

He knew, of course, that position should have been his.

The eldest brother is too soft, the third brother is too unruly, and the fourth brother is just a bookworm.

Only he had followed the people of the Ministry of War since childhood and was on friendly terms with various generals.

My father had said before that Alfred was the most like his younger self.

But now, the throne has been given to George.

George, who is nobody.

"Your Highness," a Ministry of War officer lowered his voice, "after the Fourth Prince ascends the throne, the Ministry of War will definitely need to replace its leadership. At that time..."

"I know," Alfred finally said.

He placed the wine glass on the table, making a crisp sound.

"Father is suspected of being controlled. There's a group of people stirring things up on my elder brother's side, but he doesn't dare to make a move. The Eastern Territory is in chaos, and Uncle Rhodes can't attend to things here. As for Ivan in the Southern Territory, he doesn't care who's king."

He stood up and walked to the window.

It was pitch black outside the window, with only a few lights in the distance.

"George's coronation will be in three days," he said. "In these three days, deploy your troops, prepare for battle, and obey my orders!"

"Then come with me to meet Father in person."

Those present tensed up upon hearing this.

"clear!"

Alfred turned around and looked towards the palace.

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

There was no warmth in that smile.