Chapter 18

Today, I have posted the second chapter. Please be aware.

Gerald looked up from the window with iron bars embedded in it.

“...Why did it come to this?”

Since being brought here a few days ago, Gerald had been constantly questioning himself. As the only prince and crown prince of the Rubelia Kingdom, his days had been smooth and uneventful. His relationship with his fiancée, Elina, was purely out of duty. On occasions like birthdays, he would have the attendant Victor prepare and send gifts. Since Elina felt similarly towards Gerald, he thought it was fine, but he remembered Victor showing anger towards his master, Gerald, saying it was unacceptable. He had no idea what to give to a woman and never even considered what would make her happy. Although such occasions used to make him somewhat anxious when he was young, he couldn’t remember when they became a mere formality.

The change in Gerald’s heart began when he met Lillian at the academy. He had always thought it was natural for the crown prince to be at the top academically, but Lillian was different. She praised Gerald with pure words.

“It’s not something that’s just natural. It’s because you worked hard, isn’t it, Prince Gerald? You really are amazing!”

In reality, Gerald had never struggled with his studies. He could understand everything just by listening to the lessons. He would review before exams, but everyone did that. He didn’t consider it effort. Lillian, however, changed his perspective. While everyone else took it for granted that Gerald would be at the top, Lillian was the only one who praised him. This felt fresh and made him happy.

Before long, being with Lillian became comfortable, and they started spending more time together. Knowing that he could only be a student for so long, he eventually stopped returning to the castle and enjoyed dates with Lillian. Unlike with Elina, where he had Victor choose the gifts, he personally picked out presents for Lillian. They had meals together, and the dress he gave her suited her well.

When he heard that Lillian was being bullied by other young ladies, he was furious. He wanted to find the culprit, but Lillian protected the young lady, so it never became public. That changed when Lillian fell down the stairs and got injured. Seeing her with a swollen, red ankle was painful. He was determined not to forgive the culprit, and Lillian said Elina had pushed her.

Gerald decided to confront Elina with the other young men who were candidates to be his attendants. A party where everyone would be present was approaching, and he decided to condemn Elina in front of many students, thinking she wouldn’t be able to deny it.

When he actually confronted Elina, she only looked at him with her usual emotionless expression and didn’t even argue. Enraged by her attitude, Gerald impulsively declared the end of their engagement. He couldn’t marry someone who had belittled Lillian. The kind-hearted Lillian, who could consider others, was the one fit to be queen. He believed that engaging with Lillian would be for the good of the country.

When he was called by his father, the king, and went to the castle with high spirits, he was met with severe reprimand and a pitying gaze. Even when he explained the ideal world of peace that Lillian had described, his father only frowned. Why? Why couldn’t he understand that it would lead to world peace?

“...The world of equality you speak of. What role do you think that young lady will play in it?”

“What? What are you saying?”

“Do you intend to call yourself a new god?”

“No, that’s not my intention. We just want to propose it—”

“Do you think you will be revered as a pioneer? If that’s your true intention, you are a fool. Only a few people desire such a world. To others, you and that young lady will be nothing but obstacles. You will both be eliminated soon.”

That can’t be true. If everyone is equal, there will be no hunger. Everyone will be able to read and write, and there will be no conflict.

“Foolish thoughts... There will never be a world without conflict.”

“That’s not true! If everyone is on the same level, they can understand each other.”

“If everyone is on the same level, will the country be destroyed?”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

“Then how will the country be governed?”

“With the help of administrators.”

“Will those administrators be on an equal footing?”

“...Father, as the king, you don’t understand! If such a world comes to be, surely—”

“It’s nonsense.”

After that, he was sent to the dungeon. Then, he was transferred to a tower that was called a prison, and that’s where he is now.

When he was still in the castle, he had heard that he had been deposed and was no longer the crown prince, and his cousin Alvis had been made the new crown prince. Alvis, a knight who had quickly risen to the rank of royal guard, was a duke’s son and one of the best swordsmen in the country, as Gerald had heard.

Since Alvis was the closest in age to Gerald, they had played together a lot when they were young. Even though Alvis was a second son, he was used to dealing with younger siblings and often took care of Gerald. Even after returning to his territory, Alvis would occasionally visit Gerald until he entered the academy. To Gerald, Alvis was like a good older brother. Now, Alvis was to become the crown prince and engage with Elina.

In other words, Elina had not been punished. She still held the position of future crown princess. This implied that Lillian was wrong.

“...Am I saying that Lillian was wrong? No, that can’t be...”

A fact he didn’t want to accept. Then, who pushed Lillian? If it wasn’t Elina, who was the real culprit? Lillian wouldn’t lie.

Unable to grasp the truth, Gerald was drawn into a state of confusion.