Chapter .17
"It is the crest symbolizing the holand of Your Highness's mother. It is truly beautiful."
If I have an audience with the Emperor wearing these clothes, it will provoke the Armatia nobles, who are already on bad terms with Roncer.
'Even though Roncer is my maternal family, unlike my brother, I am receiving absolutely no support.'
The First Prince has received the support of Duke Grimiati, the Roncer ambassador. The Duke even openly claid that Maximilian had succession rights to the Roncer throne.
Although it is a disadvantageous claim for Roncer, he was not dismissed as ambassador because his territory is important to Roncer as well.
'If they did, he would beco a loose cannon like his family history. He might even side entirely with Armatia.'
In other words, the Duke is more loyal to Maximilian than to Roncer, and Maximilian emphasized the legitimacy that both his parents are of imperial blood. Whereas Desmond inherited the blood of a family that rose suddenly to power.
'So people do not see Maximilian as part of the Roncer faction, and even the Empress cannot brand him as such.'
-What do you think is the reason Roncer still keeps Grimiati as ambassador? There must be a backroom deal assuming Prince Maximilian becos Emperor.
The claim of Duke Lauderdale, the Empress's brother.
It's a very credible deduction, but it's a pity it doesn't work.
'But I am different.'
Since I had no backing, I was an easy target for suspicion that I would bring in Roncer's forces.
So whenever there was occasional righteous talk that the treatnt towards
was too harsh, there was a counterargunt that it was already too late so I should be left as is.
-Because of the humiliation he suffered in childhood, he might join hands with Roncer at any ti, so we must monitor him more thoroughly.
Duke Lauderdale's nonsense.
However, if I refuse these clothes now, my pretense of madness until now will be exposed.
Surveillance intensified ahead of the audience, so even Michelon couldn't visit.
"Your Highness?"
"I was so surprised by Her Majesty the Empress's consideration that I lost my words for a mont."
"Of course you would be. Then, will you follow Her Majesty's will?"
"I will do so."
I answered readily, and Cecile nodded with a satisfied face.
"Then I will also teach you the etiquette befitting those clothes."
Saying that, she taught
this and that. Education that I, as a royal, should rightfully receive but never had.
But it was Roncer style.
"You step back with one foot like this, bend one knee slightly, and bow."
Armatia style is putting two feet together, placing one hand on the chest, and bowing at the waist.
It was like this before the regression too. The only difference was that back then, the Empress arranged the eting between
and the Emperor first, saying it was pitiful that the treatnt was so terrible for a nominal Prince.
'This is Rhiannon's hidden intention.'
Rhiannon, like Maximilian, was demanding my submission. That to escape Duke Grimiati's grasp and officially debut in the court, I must beco her person.
It ant she would give
that opportunity only if I cut off the possibility of connecting with anyone other than her.
'A politician who doesn't let her guard down until the end even after causing such a commotion.'
That politician tried to use the chain called enemy clothes on
as a safety device.
Perhaps she suspected
regarding the incident where I fed water to Maximilian's knights. Of course, I acted as if I had gone crazy and beco bold, but if a seasoned politician's intuition was triggered...
"Her Majesty the Empress highly valued Your Highness's zeal."
Once I learned obediently as the maid instructed, she replaced the furniture Maximilian had smashed with new, good ones. She even gave
a few more chairs.
'Showing what I will gain if I follow her, but she really just gives a tiny taste.'
She was a truly generous Empress. To the point where I looked forward to the audience day even more.
***
The doors of the magnificent and luxurious audience chamber, which had been firmly shut for a while, opened wide.
Court officials stood in long lines between the rows of marble pillars. The brilliance of their splendid clothes and jewelry reflected in the wall mirrors under the light of crystal chandeliers.
The atmosphere was as if a foreign envoy had arrived.
'The Empress's faction did well this ti, but the First Prince's faction also contributed greatly.'
Two factions that took the lead in spreading rumors that my madness could be fully witnessed at this audience, and helped from the side. We beca close thanks to .
As I stepped onto the red carpet stretching from the audience chamber door to the platform where the throne was, people began to whisper all at once.
"Prince Leontes is shorter than Prince Desmond. Prince Desmond is younger but looks more like a Prince."
Right now, I was taller than Desmond, the youngest. I was just the thinnest among the brothers. There were more than one or two people blind with flattery.
"But clothes embroidered with the crest of Roncer. His attachnt to Roncer is deep."
"Indeed, missing his late mother, it is natural to have deep attachnt. Or perhaps Roncer secretly reached out. Who knows?"
"Even if he has a heartbreaking past of losing his mother, it is sothing that cannot be overlooked. Roncer is becoming more arrogant day by day, yet a Prince of Armatia wears such clothes."
"Still, for soone who grew up neglected, he is overflowing with elegance. Indeed, his bloodline alone is outstanding."
The First Prince's faction, which had been badmouthing
together, slowly changed their attitude and attacked Desmond using .
Pretending that the First Prince is on a different level to be compared together.
"Oh, indeed, being noble as befits his bloodline, he enjoys adultery already. It reminds
of his late mother."
"Indeed, Duke Grimiati, who was the subject of widespread rumors back then, saving the Prince this ti is a beautiful story."
Rumors that Duke Grimiati was my Mother's lover and I was the product of that affair always followed . Even though the Duke, suspected of being my biological father, treated
poorly, they claid he did so deliberately to hide the truth.
It was one of the reasons my brother hated , due to rumors spread by the Empress's faction even before my Mother's death, before I was born.
'Then he should hate the Duke as well.'
Even after Mother died, the rumors didn't disappear because I resembled her. Even if I had black hair like the Father Emperor, it's a hair color that occasionally appears in the Roncer Imperial Family or the Grimiati Ducal Family.
Duke Grimiati only looked at my face regardless of such talk. Ignoring even the phoenix crest, he watched every change in my expression. If I showed even a little emotion, it would be read imdiately.
'My bastard brother Alexander has also co.'
Eyes breathing fire in contrast to the Duke.
But Desmond and Maximilian were nowhere to be seen. Surely not...
"But unfortunately, they say his mind is not sound; I wonder if it is true."
"Well, it must be either due to his unfortunate environnt or because he inherited it."
Whispers implying the Father Emperor's madness were occasionally heard.
This talk didn't disappear since Ilaves' death, without the First Prince's faction dreaming of early succession or the Empress's faction dreaming of regency even needing to spread it. Although rare, there were Emperors who went mad after losing their dragons.
But fundantally, while people revered the dragon's contractor, sowhere in their hearts, they regarded them as beings for whom going mad wouldn't be strange.
"His Imperial Majesty Emperor Lombroso IV enters."
When the Royal Chamberlain announced, everyone turned in that direction. Then the Emperor appeared. My father.
The tall and sturdy Father Emperor had a physique no less than his eldest son, a Sword Master. Yet it wasn't a thoroughly refined body like a Sword Master's, but rather looked sowhat rough. As if he would suit wielding a hamr or a butcher knife in a smithy or butcher shop better than sitting on a throne.
Indifferent to appearance, he didn't adorn himself with silk like other monarchs or grow his hair like knights. After the dragon Ilaves died, he wore only black clothes and never kept the sword Juratio away from his body even for a mont.
-His Majesty seems to mourn the dragon's death more than the late Empress's.
A remark I also empathize with.
But walking wearing only unadorned black clothes, a crown, the treasured sword, and the Emperor's necklace, he overflowed with dignity. With jet-black hair and deeply blue eyes needing no other decoration, this man was the Emperor. Those who talked about madness looking at him were the mad ones.
I used to resent my father a lot.
But now I felt nothing. Whatever feeling it was, I had already experienced it to the bottom.
"Greetings to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor."
When the Chamberlain spoke as a representative, everyone bowed in unison. The Father Emperor received the greetings and went to sit on the throne. His gaze touched
for a mont, but turned to empty air without a single word. As always.
"Her Imperial Majesty Empress Rhiannon and His Imperial Highness Prince Desmond enter."
At that mont, the Chamberlain announced again.
Empress Rhiannon appeared escorted by my half-brother Desmond. No wonder I didn't see them.
Desmond was shorter than
but had a sturdier build. Cheeky little brother. Blond hair and green eyes like the Empress, but his facial features resembled the Father Emperor the most.
'A grown Prince walking hand in hand with his mother.'
No matter how close the parent and child were, the hierarchy within the court was strict.
The only person who enters with the Emperor upon announcent and shares the greetings of the subjects at an official event is the Empress. Even when presenting a baby Prince for the first ti, the head maid brings him holding him from behind.
However, the court officials had no choice but to bow again to the Empress who gave up the honor of entering side by side with the Emperor and appeared with her own child. Complaints arose imdiately.
"As expected... befitting a family of sudden rise..."
"I am not even surprised. I vividly rember the previous Emperor being so angry at the unauthorized morganatic marriage that he imposed a huge fine on their grandfather and imprisoned him."
Rhiannon's grandmother was a widow from a historic family, but her grandfather was just a common knight, not a hereditary noble. Since no Emperor would have allowed it, they even had a secret marriage.
"Oh, Prince Desmond is truly dignified even at a young age."
"How good it looks for the two to co hand in hand. Honestly, our Armatia is a bit authoritative. Changing the atmosphere to a friendly Imperial Family, as expected of Her Majesty the Empress."
The Empress's faction stepped up not to be outdone.
Unless the Emperor spoke, the subjects could voice their opinions freely. Originally, it was a ti to flatter openly. Gossip is the essence of culture and the the of literature.
While the opinions of the court officials were divided in two like this, there was no voice from the Emperor's faction. The Bastard Prince's faction was also observing.
"His Imperial Highness First Prince Maximilian enters!"
This ti, Maximilian appeared with an arrogant face as if asking when he ever lost prestige in front of people. Again, an act against etiquette.
Originally, only the Emperor and Empress enter separately and receive greetings from the subjects. All royals below them must enter beforehand and greet the Emperor and Empress together with the subjects. Since a Prince is also a subject.
Entering like a party like this and being announced and receiving greetings one by one.
'It's not a noisy social ball like a market street.'
As a forr Emperor, the way the court was running was pathetic.
However, the current Emperor had an indifferent face as if it were soone else's business. Even though it ant his Chamberlain had fallen for the conciliation of the Empress's faction and the First Prince's faction.
Seeming too lofty to care about such things.
"As expected of Prince Maximilian! The most outstanding person!"
"Indeed! The future of Armatia is bright!"
"Oh, how dignified the First Prince is, surpassing most adults. So I hope he does not follow Her Majesty the Empress around next ti."
"Indeed. Since he does not walk hand in hand with his mother like soone else, he is truly mature."
Amidst the tight confrontation of flattery and sarcasm, the Empress, Prince Desmond, and First Prince Maximilian surrounded the Emperor.
'Oh, surely an assassination?'
Since they all surrounded the Emperor anyway? Watching interestingly though it was hopeless, I could guess their hidden intentions.
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