Crossword Genius

Agent and setter returning alternative ruler (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

emperor

'ruler' is the definition.
(emperor is a kind of ruler)

'agent and setter returning alternative' is the wordplay.
'agent' becomes 'rep' (short for representative).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'setter' becomes 'me' (the setter of the clue).
'returning' is a reversal indicator.
'alternative' becomes 'or'.
'rep'+'me'='repme'
'repme' reversed gives 'emper'.
'emper'+'or'='EMPEROR'

(Other definitions for emperor that I've seen before include "Eg, Caesar" , "Beethoven piano concerto, Op. 73" , "Monarch" , "Purple --; -- penguin" , "Sovereign and richly-colored butterfly" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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