Night.
I was looking down on the Imperial Capital from the castle.
My problem still remains unsolved.
Leo, who I can consult in a ti like this, is now at the western front.
When he isnt around like this, it makes appreciate how reassuring it is with him by my side.
I dont know what to do, Leo.
I said to the sky.
The situation is gradually getting worse.
The other noble houses noticed the movent of the Brave house and the Kleinert house so they started bringing up the topic of marriage with now.
If I let this go on then the problem will only get bigger and bigger.
And the bigger this problem becos, the more I am losing my calm.
Right now I am quite a hot commodity.
My status is that of Leos direct elder brother, the No.2 who just raised many achievents. If Leo becos an emperor then there is no doubt that I would be a prince who possesses the most authority next to the emperor.
From the nobles point of view, I would be soone with who they want a connection at all costs.
And the one who accelerated that developnt is my father.
Since he brought up the matter of betrothing to Marianne, the nobles perceived this act as his desire to marry off. And that would not be wrong of them to assu so.
To escape an undesirable future, I must vacate this free position of a prince.
What should I do
Whether I marry into the Brave house or the Kleinert house, my right to succeed the throne would disappear once I beco their son-in-law. Thats what it ans to marry into a house.
The sa goes for Mariannes case.
Unless multiple mbers of the Imperial Family were murdered at the sa ti, no one would bring up the topic of succeeding the Empires throne to .
And this is almost impossible to happen.
It is necessary for to have a clean-cut away from the succession war. If the nobles start to rally under as a candidate and put against Leo then only Eric will benefit from it.
After all, there are factions that can act however they want regardless of my will.
Like in Finnes case, the White Seagull Alliance is a pri example.
They wont listen to even if I say that I have no intention to ascend the throne.
Although this is all to make the enemy put up their guard against , it seems that the achievents I made were too excessive.
I succeeded in making them think of as dangerous but it cos at the cost of my freedom.
You will catch a cold if you stay out too long you know?
Its fine right. Let stay here a bit longer.
Ok.
Elna ca up from behind .
She joined and looked up at the sky.
.
.
The silence continues for a while.
And it was Elna who first broke the silence.
Im sorry.
You have nothing to apologize for right.
But it was Okaa-sama who troubled you right..she doesnt an anything bad you know? Im sure.
I know. She has always been on my side. This ti as well, she brought it up for my sake.
.Is it true that Duke Kleinert also brought up the marriage?
Its true. Not just Duke Kleinert. Many nobles of the Imperial Capital also brought up the sa thing. What a complete change of attitude.
If you have a little bit of common sense then you would not apply for a marriage talk with the person that you have been ridiculed so far as the Dull Prince.
But it seems that such common sense is not an obstacle for these nobles.
This is politics. Many of them want to ride a winning horse. After reading the flow, they think that they can protect their houses by putting on a fake smile for .
.what will you do?
Im thinking.
You dont have much ti. It seems that Lizelotte-sama is making good progress on the invasion after all.
As expected of her. It would be fine if she can take a break sotis though.
Aneue who defeated the Dominion Army is now invading their capital.
As she is being considerate of the Dominions people, this is already a slow march for Aneues standard.
However, that is still plenty fast for a normal standard.
It is only a matter of ti before she captures their King.
..its unusual for Al to not be able to co up with an answer huh.
I cant. Im not perfect after all. More importantly, there is no right answer for this problem.
what do you want to do?
Sebas asked the sa question. He said that I should decide it myself. But the reason I am troubled right now is that I dont know what I want to do.
I see..
After that, the silence took over again.
When the night breeze was getting colder, Elna was unable to stand the silence and spoke out.
Do you rember the first ti we t?
I rember. You ca to the castle that day and found being bullied by Gied right. I still rember how you tell how pathetic I am after you beat up Gied and his bully friends.
Co on.why do you rember stuff like that so well. Butthat was not the first ti we t you know?
Is that so?
Thats rightdont you think its weird? Why does the Brave house always stand by your side just because you are on good terms with .
What about it. I dont think that it was weird though?
There is a reason. Eleven years ago..the day that the Sokal Ambassador visited the Empire. The day that Al got imprisoned for breaking that jewel.That day, the person who was crying in the vault because she cut the jewelthat was
It probably took courage for Elna to say that.
Its been a while now since I last saw Elna so nervous.
However.
Well, is that rightI kinda got that feeling from the start though.
You knew?
I didnt. I never talked to anyone about that day. But after I grew up, I noticed that you are the only girl of the sa age who can cut the jewel in the vault.
There was only one answer.
Even an idiot would be able to connect the dots.
Rather, she thought I didnt notice?
Really.
N, No way..
Is it that shocking to you?
OF COURSE! To , that was an important.it was an important matter to ..
I see. For , it is one of the mories I have with you though. And you would be wrong if you think that the Brave house has been my ally only because of that one case you know? The Brave house is not cheap enough to be brought over to your side with only that kind of debt after all. The reason they have been on my side this far was that we have been giving and taking from each otherand our bondthe bond we have between you and . That is only one of the reasons, right? What will change now?
The important thing is not what started it.
It is the process from there.
The childhood we spent together, the bond that led to the trust we have now.
It was built by and Elna.
Back then.I made an oath to Mitsuba-sama..that I will never abandon Al.
So you made that kind of oath huh? It is up to you whether you want to treat that oath as sacred or not but honestly, theres no need for that right? Even without that oath, you will never abandon , and I will never abandon you. Is that not the case?
why do you say that so easily..it made look like an idiot for mulling over how to say it to you for so long right.
The past is the past. Nothing will change now. ButIm glad that you told . Thank you, Elna.
Saying so, I left the balcony.
The important thing is the present.
Thanks to her I found my answer.
I like what I have now so I dont want it to change. I like it now.
Hesitating over it was stupid.
The answer was always within my reach.
If I have the answer then it is only a matter of finding a way to reach it.
Did you get your answer, sir?
Yeah, all thanks to Elna.
Having a childhood friend is great, isnt it? So, what kind of answer have you arrived at?
Im not going to marry anyone. Of course, I will not allow anyone to put against Leo either. That is also an answer right.
Quite a greedy one, sir.
Well, I am also an Adler after all.
While answering him with a smile, I walked the hallway with Sebas.
TLN: Yup, it was Elnas chapter
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