Chapter 73 – That’s Not the Prince We Know (1)
“We’re going to deliberately treat the delegation from the eke Principality poorly.”
Duke Herman told this on a sudden visit.
“All of a sudden?”
“I heard about the things that Prince Enzi did to you and Her Highness.”
“Are you saying you’re going to take revenge for us?”
“Revenge…… Haha. I suppose it could be seen that way. In any case, whether you call it revenge or not, this puts quite a burden on . The position demands it.”
Duke Herman was the one in charge of hosting the distinguished guests attending the king’s coronation. Since the task was of great importance, he bore the responsibility that ca with it.
Such was the nature of the position.
“From their perspective, it will seem petty, to the point of being disgraceful.”
“I see. But why are you telling this?”
I received a reply that I hadn’t expected.
“Just to take a bit of credit.”
“Pardon?”
“If I didn’t say anything, you wouldn’t know, would you?”
A bewildered smile crept onto my lips. I’d already known, but Duke Herman was a very straightforward man.
‘Personally, I don’t hate it.’
In fact, I quite liked it. People like him were easier to deal with. Rather than those narrow-minded bastards who, without saying a word, expect sothing in return and then make a big fuss when they don’t get what they think they deserve.
Looking back, people like Duke Herman didn’t hold grudges either.
“The mistreatnt isn’t entirely on my behalf, is it?”
“Well, half of it is because of Her Highness.”
“Half, you say? That’s unexpected. To think that soone like would hold the sa weight as soone who’s like a daughter to you.”
“How irreverent, saying that Her Highness is ‘like a daughter’.”
“Are you saying she’s not?”
“……”
Duke Herman stared at for a mont.
“……I can see it.”
“See what?”
“Her Highness is drawn to you.”
“……?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
“Is this so sort of proxy confession?”
“If you’re harboring such insolent thoughts, know that I’ll personally see to your swift death.”
“Please maintain so dignity. A duke of all people, saying things like ‘you’ll be dead.’ Really, ‘you’ll be dead.’”
“I’m serious.”
“So, what’s this reason that she’s drawn to ?”
“……”
Once again, Duke Herman fell silent. After a while, he spoke again.
“To Her Highness, you are a dream. You are the future she must move towards, the hope she holds. That’s why I want to protect that dream.”
After hearing that, I grew curious too.
“As her fiancé, I think it’s ti you told the truth.”
“The truth?”
“The real situation the princess is in, and the story behind it that involves you.”
I’d heard bits and pieces from Narakas, but only the people involved would know the full story. Of course, I didn’t have high hopes when I asked.
Surprisingly, however, Duke Herman answered readily.
“As you might already know, I was once in a romantic relationship with the late Third Queen. She was Princess Winley’s mother. I swore at her grave that I would protect her child to the end.”
“It’s hard for soone like , who’s not smart, to fully understand what you said.”
Because she was the child of a woman you once loved, you’ve taken care of her this much? I couldn’t quite wrap my head around that.
“……I practically killed her.”
Finally, the story I wanted to hear began to unfold.
“I’ve always wondered— did the king of this country forcefully take your lover away?”
Let’s say he couldn’t let go of the resentnt from that ti and participated in the coup against the throne. Then it would make so sense.
The idea that one beautiful woman could bring down an entire nation is a story that’s been told countless tis in history.
“Do I look like soone so petty that I can’t separate public and private matters?”
“People who are serious about love are the scariest creatures.”
Duke Herman flinched for a mont, then gave a bitter smile.
“I’ve felt this way before, but you have a way of sugarcoating your words.”
“It’s not like I could just ask if you lost your mind and caused chaos because of a woman.”
“Hahaha!”
Duke Herman burst out laughing at my words.
“At the ti, the royal faction was imnsely powerful, far more so than now. His Majesty was in his pri and was praised as an honorable ruler.”
“I doubt that soone of the king’s stature wouldn’t have known about your relationship with the Third Queen.”
In any case, I found the king to be rather unpleasant. What kind of ‘honorable’ ruler would steal his subject’s lover?
Honorable? More like horny.
“The Third Queen ca from a fallen noble family. The restoration of her family’s honor and reclaiming the head’s title were her lifelong aspirations. Unlike , His Majesty had the power to make that dream a reality. After all, granting titles and lands is the king’s authority.”
“So she sacrificed her life for the sake of her family’s ambitions.”
“No. That was the Queen’s dream as well.”
“And you’re sure you’re not just presuming that was her dream?”
“Is there any child who doesn’t wish for their parents’ happiness and well-being?”
“And is there any parent who doesn’t wish for their child’s happiness and well-being?”
“Marriage isn’t just a union of individuals. Love is a fleeting emotion for the young, but the status of ‘queen’ would keep her shining forever. At least, that’s how I thought that way at the ti.”
To give up love for the sake of the other’s true happiness?
I don’t know. It didn’t really resonate with , but I couldn’t say it was wrong, either. I had no right to comnt as a third party.
It’s sothing that has already happened, and Duke Herman simply made that decision at the ti.
“Haha, do you think I’m a fool too?”
“‘Fool’ is a bit harsh.”
“Huh?”
“In my experience, there aren’t many truly evil-hearted people among those who are as gullible as you.”
“G-Gullible?”
Duke Herman stuttered as he questioned .
“More importantly, you regret that decision now, don’t you?”
“……!”
Duke Herman’s eyes widened. The claim that the Queen’s death was partly his fault wasn’t just born out of guilt.
‘I heard that this country’s Third Queen ended her life by hanging herself.’
An unwanted marriage. A queen who couldn’t forget her old lover. A family that cared only about restoring their honor.
If she had chosen to escape from such a suffocating reality, and eventually made an extre decision after a particular incident……
‘……Then Duke Herman probably can’t help but feel guilty.’
I was convinced. Even if the picture I had painted wasn’t the full truth, it was likely close.
“……Anyway.”
Breaking his silence, Duke Herman shifted the topic.
“If the reason on the princess’s side is deeply personal, the reason related to ‘you’ is a more rational and calculated judgnt.”
“What?”
“Marquis Foltaine is one of the most capable businessn I’ve ever seen. He has an especially keen eye. You are the one he chose.”
Duke Herman wore a sly smile.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have such talents. So what can I do? When in doubt, follow those who are good at sothing, and you won’t lose your stake.”
“So, you’re saying you’re also investing in ?”
“That’s one way to look at it. As a result, this mistreatnt will severely damage Prince Enzi’s reputation within the eke Principality. It’s his first official diplomatic mission, and he’s being treated like this as soon as he sets foot in a foreign land. With his recent appointnt as Crown Prince, his leadership will also take a serious hit.”
He may seem light-hearted, but this man is clearly a seasoned politician.
“The longer this situation drags on, the more Duke Beder and the knights from the other side will dig into the details. They’ll want to know why they’re suddenly being treated this way.”
“And what if the diplomatic relations between the two countries deteriorate?”
“Hahaha, that won’t happen. The one who first insulted our princess’s ‘fiancé’ was that prince. They’ll probably bla the foolish Prince Enzi instead.”
Duke Herman spoke with confidence.
“Besides, it’s not like I intend to mistreat them forever. As you said, for the sake of future relations between our countries.”
“What do you an?”
“I plan to improve their treatnt soon. I’ll move them to the best accommodations, serve them lavish als three tis a day, and even provide a training ground exclusively for the knights of the eke Principality.”
Then Duke Herman looked at .
“All at the request of the Seventh Prince of the eke Principality, Andrew von eke.”
I decided to accept Duke Herman’s favor. After all, the more allies I have to stand against that massive Empire, the better.
However, to maximize its effectiveness……
‘I have to show them myself that I’ve changed.’
Duke Herman’s intentions were clear. He wanted to establish a ‘position’ within the eke Principality. But he made one major mistake.
‘He never considered what kind of person the original owner of this body, Andrew von eke, was.’
Duke Herman was only looking at the ‘current ’ and made a bold decision on this sensitive issue that could easily escalate into a diplomatic problem. His warning was sothing along the lines of,
“This great of an individual is showing you rcy, and you idiots still plan on acting like fools?”
‘But things are different from the eke Principality’s perspective.’
Duke Herman doesn’t know, and neither do I.
The original 7th Prince, Andrew von eke. What if he was actually a symbol of contempt within the principality?
In reality, that was quite likely.
The scattered mories of this body. The reactions of that infamous First Prince. They said it all.
‘A worm……’
First impressions are important. I expected it to be bad to so extent, but the image of ‘Andrew’ was worse than I thought.
So if rumors spread that such a pathetic person suddenly started doing well in a foreign country?
‘No one would believe it. They might even think the Kingdom of Hart was using .’
I can already see it.
They’ll probably gossip that a talentless fool used his good looks to seduce a woman and change his fate.
“P-Prince Andrew?”
“What are you doing here……?”
Just look at how those knights guarding the outbuilding are reacting.
I’m a prince, yet they start pointing at as if they’ve seen sothing unsightly, not even bothering to show any respect.
Their eyes keep scanning up and down.
‘……Should I just beat them up?’
I was seriously considering it when,
“You!”
Prince Enzi ca rushing over. Beside him was a rather irritable-looking man.
“You’ve finally lost your mind. Do you have any idea where you are……!”
“I apologize for my actions.”
“……What?”
Was he caught off guard by my sudden apology? Prince Enzi stood there, mouth agape.
“A-Apologize?”
Even his speech stuttered as he let out a dry ‘Ahem!’ Then, with a nacing expression, he glared at .
“……You lunatic. At least you’re not completely brainless. Did you finally realize what you’ve done?”
Before long, a crowd of knights who had heard the commotion began gathering around us.
Even the knights from the Kingdom of Hart, who were staying here, started watching us with interest. Was Enzi aware of their attention?
“And who apologizes like that? Get down on your knees and do it properly, right now!”
His smug expression was easy to read. A smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth. Then I imdiately raised my head, which had been bowed.
“I didn’t an to beat you up, Brother.”
“……?”
For a mont, all eyes were on in confusion.
“What did he just say?”
“I think he said he beat him up.”
“Prince Andrew looks fine.”
“……He said Brother.”
“So, does that an…… Prince Enzi got beaten up? By his younger brother who’s nearly ten years younger?”
As the murmuring continued, I straightened my shoulders confidently.
“I’m sorry, and I swear by it.”
“Wh-What?”
Prince Enzi, now pale, asked in disbelief. The smile on my lips widened.
“I’ll never beat you with a wooden sword again.”
I ant it. Because if I ever have to do that again, I’d be using a real sword next ti.
***
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