Chapter 2

――The royal confinement room――

“What is it, Duke? As you can see, I am under house arrest.”

“Your Highness Fritz, may I ask you a question?”

“What is it?”

“What was wrong with my daughter, Alexandra? Even without the bias of a parent, she was the perfect choice for the next queen. I still don’t understand. In what way was my daughter inferior to the Baron’s daughter?”

To be honest, I still can’t understand.

If it’s a matter of preference, that’s one thing, but Your Highness Fritz is royalty, and the next king. Objectively, Alexandra was more suitable to be queen.

“I love Milly.”

“Your Highness Fritz, I am not asking whether you love the Baron’s daughter.”

“I wanted to marry her... as a proper couple...”

“So, you wanted to marry Alexandra even if it meant making her a criminal? Was it not acceptable for her to be a concubine?”

It is unprecedented for a baron’s daughter to become a concubine.

“I only love Milly. I wanted to respond to her love and sincerity. I wanted to give her a secure position...”

“Do you mean the position of queen?”

“Yes... an unshakeable, one-of-a-kind position. I wanted to make her the foremost woman in the country.”

I felt a sense of powerlessness.

Was this prince really this foolish?

He was supposed to be an excellent prince... when did he become so foolish?

“With all due respect, the Baron’s daughter is not fit to be queen. Even without Alexandra, no one would accept her. If you had insisted on making her queen, you would have been stripped of your position as crown prince. Moreover, no one would recognize her as a princess.”

“Why!?”

Perhaps my words were disagreeable, but Prince Fritz stood up from his chair.

The chair fell backward, but neither I nor the prince cared.

“Of course. She has poor bloodlines, low status, and lacks proper education and noble manners. Who would recognize her as queen? She would only bring ridicule and mockery from foreign countries. It would hinder diplomacy and trade, and the hearts of the people would turn away from the royal family.”

“Why do you say that! Such things can’t be known until they are tried!!!”

“Have you not studied history, Your Highness? There are countless examples of countries being destroyed by rulers who were infatuated with women.”

“Milly is different!!! I won’t do such things!!!”

He seems to lack self-awareness.

Love is blind... perhaps historical kings and emperors who were driven mad by beautiful women were like this?

“You don’t seem to realize, but the entire country is spreading rumors about you. A prince deceived by a woman, a crown prince tricked by a wicked woman, a foolish prince who indulged in carnal desires. These are not whispers but openly discussed.”

“What!?”

“It’s not surprising, Your Highness. You publicly accused my daughter of a false crime and declared the end of the engagement. Do you think those who witnessed it would not talk? It was a night party attended by many people from other countries.”

“To spread the actions of a crown prince! Are there such disloyal people!?”

You declared it in front of so many people.

Trying to silence them would be futile.

Moreover, many important figures from other countries were present.

Even if we tried to restrict it within our country, it would be meaningless.

“I just wanted everyone to recognize my relationship with Milly. I wanted her to always be by my side. I just wanted to protect her from being blamed. What’s wrong with that...”

I feel sorry for the prince, who says this with regret, but that is precisely the problem.

“I haven’t done anything to Milly or me.”

...Who are you to say that!

“Why must I be blamed so much?”

After such a major incident, he still doesn’t understand.

“It is only natural that you are blamed. Your unreasonable actions and the way you treated Alexandra. Your Highness, do you need to be told in detail to understand?”

“That’s...”

“It is your responsibility, and the responsibility of your aides who did not stop you.”

“...Duke. They...”

“Yes, I understand. They acted to fulfill your wishes.”

“...”

“In this case, it can be said that ‘everyone’s wishes aligned,’ but it was a very shallow action.”

“...”

Silence.

Well, hearing your defense only makes me angrier.

“Was my daughter so much of a hindrance? To the point of capturing her as a criminal and locking her in the dungeon?”

“What!? Duke Hessen! That’s a misunderstanding!!!”

“A misunderstanding?”

“Yes! I did set a trap for Alexandra, but locking her in the dungeon was never my intention!!! I planned to put her in a noble’s prison!!!”

What nonsense.

No one would believe such a thing.

Not only the nobles of our country but also foreign diplomats do not believe it. Everyone who saw it thought you were planning to send her to the dungeon. Foreigners were even more harsh in their words.

Indeed, it’s understandable why they would think that.

“Did you prepare the lower ranks of the royal guard in advance?”

“Duke Hessen, it might sound like an excuse, but I had no such intention. I admit to preparing the guards, but it was only for show!!!”

“I see, you thought that Alexandra, captured as a criminal in public, would never be able to rise again.”

“Duke Hessen!!! Why do you distort things like that?!”

“Is that not the case?”

“Alexandra is excellent. Even if she doesn’t become queen, she has a bright future in other areas.”

“A criminal has no bright future.”

“...”

“Or did you think you could apologize later and make it all right?”

“...”

“What a foolish thing. Your Highness, I am deeply disappointed in you.”

“...Duke”

“Even if I never see you again, I am glad that a man like you will not become the leader of the country. No matter how excellent Alexandra is, she cannot deal with a foolish king and his ministers!”

Without turning around, I left the room.

I am fully aware that this is a disrespectful attitude toward royalty.