Chapter 17

Even if the servants and attendants of the Queen's palace worked hard to cover it up, Her Majesty the Queen herself sometimes inquired about my mother and me, showing concern.

However, even if they wanted to investigate us, Her Majesty wouldn’t do it herself, right? It would be impossible for Her Majesty to disguise herself and secretly infiltrate the Concubine's palace to investigate. She couldn’t do it even if she wanted to, because Her Majesty is deeply loved by the King and those around her. Moreover, the people around her consider us enemies and prevent Her Majesty from getting close, doing everything they can to stop Her Majesty’s actions.

Her Majesty, unlike my mother, is not a neglected concubine but a beloved queen, receiving the King’s favor and the adoration of those around her.

Besides, Her Majesty has duties as the Queen, so she doesn’t have the leisure to go on secret missions.

In the end, the only method left is to instruct a nearby attendant to investigate, but since that attendant is also part of the information blockade, they naturally report back with lies, saying nothing is happening.

In such a tightly guarded fortress, how did news of us reach Her Majesty’s ears?

It seems it was due to a simple mistake. They got carried away.

From the perspective of those around Her Majesty, my mother’s departure from the palace and my renunciation of the right to succession and departure from the royal family were seen as the expulsion of a hated concubine and the disinheritance of the self-centered first prince. They were overjoyed, exclaiming, "Yay! Now there’s no one to bother Her Majesty anymore!"

Under normal circumstances, they would never discuss such matters where Her Majesty could hear, but they let it slip, thinking it would put Her Majesty at ease.

The entire Queen’s palace was so elated by the good news that Her Majesty naturally noticed something was amiss. At first, she thought it was some kind of celebration. Everywhere there was a celebratory mood, with people saying things like, "Finally, there’s no one to trouble Her Majesty’s heart anymore," or "The King’s burden has been lifted." It turned out they were not celebrating someone else but themselves.

Upon listening closely, it seemed to be about the concubine and the first prince. When she asked her attendants what was going on, they only said, "You’ll know soon enough."

The attendants and servants of the Queen’s palace, who were all acting as if it was good news for Her Majesty, made her feel uneasy and suspicious. She gathered those close to her and demanded to know what they were hiding.

At first, the attendants tried to dodge the question, saying she would find out eventually, but under Her Majesty’s pressure, they revealed that the concubine had been expelled and the first prince disowned.

Her Majesty was shocked and confused, asking why such a thing had happened. She had received no information about the concubine and the first prince. How reliable was the information about their expulsion and disownment?

Filled with suspicion, Her Majesty went to the King and the Chancellor to hear the whole story, where all the facts were revealed.

The King had been neglecting the concubine and the first prince, and his merry companions and the servants had been guiding the first prince to be an unsuitable heir. Meanwhile, they had been ensuring that no information about the concubine and the first prince reached Her Majesty.

The concubine had not been expelled but had requested to leave the palace, and the first prince had not been disowned but had decided to renounce his right to succession and leave the royal family upon adulthood to inherit the House of Marquess Fulftball.

This was roughly the situation I had expected.

After all, I thought Her Majesty’s feelings towards my mother were complicated, and it wasn’t strange that she didn’t take action.

However, even if they weren’t her own children, as the Queen of the Kingdom of Rave, she should have been monitoring and guiding the first prince, who held the first right to succession, to prepare him for his role as the next king. There was no such interference from Her Majesty towards me.

I had suspected that something was happening around Her Majesty, and indeed, it was.

"I am responsible for not being able to manage them, and it is my fault that they were allowed to do such things. I will not make excuses. I am truly sorry."

Her Majesty bowed deeply to me again.

Hmm, I need to say something to end this.

"Your Highness, please raise your head."

As Her Majesty raised her head, I showed a troubled expression.

"Your Highness, you regret not doing anything, but I don’t mind."

On the contrary, I’m thankful you didn’t meddle.

"But—"

"However, I had a vague idea that there were some circumstances. Besides, even if Her Majesty had tried to help, my mother would have become stubborn."

"Prince Ryugen—"

The initial approach was crucial, but the King’s directive to keep Her Majesty out of it worsened my mother’s impression of Her Majesty.

"So, please don’t worry about it. Besides, everything is over now."

I smiled modestly, trying to end the apologies, but Her Majesty didn’t seem to agree.

"Then… is there anything troubling you, Prince Ryugen?"

I can’t say I’m troubled by Her Majesty not backing down. Hmm, I need to make a request to satisfy her.

"Then, there is one thing I would like to ask."

"What is it?! Please tell me anything!"

She’s really eager.

"I will no longer use the name Ryugen, so I would like you to call me Albert."

The Chancellor also used to call me "Ryugen," but after the decision to leave, my mother started calling me "Albert." My mother and grandfather have always called me "Albert," and the servants and my twin, who are close to me, have always called me "Albert."

By renouncing the royal name and becoming "Albert" of the House of Marquess Marcosius, I’m making a statement. It’s a way of drawing a line. Honestly, I don’t want the name given to me by the King.

When I mentioned the name, Her Majesty looked confused.

"Ry—no, Prince Albert, are you really renouncing the throne?"

"Your Highness—"

Interrupting Her Majesty’s words might be considered disrespectful, but the Chancellor strongly called out to Her Majesty, silently shaking his head to stop her from continuing.

I don’t want to know or probe what Her Majesty is thinking.

After that, she said things like, "It must be difficult without your mother, so please come to me if you need anything," and "I hope you will visit the Queen’s palace next time." I gave safe responses to these and dismissed her for the day.

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