Chapter 24

Since the tea party to announce Mother's remarriage was the next day, I stayed at the Marquess Malcocias' townhouse, but I wondered if that was really okay. After all, while expeditions and distant inspections might be allowed, overnight stays for royalty are generally not permitted.

Surely, Grandfather must have used his influence to get permission for the overnight stay.

This tea party at the Marquess Malcocias' house is mainly about Mother. Officially, Mother's remarriage is a reward granted to a distinguished warrior. On one hand, some nobles think this grant is a good pretext for the king to divorce his concubine, while on the other hand, some nobles are apprehensive, thinking that the Malcocias family has finally made its move. This tea party is attended only by nobles who are close to the Malcocias family, and once Mother returns to her territory, they are supposed to spread the word that she is happy and willing to remarry. Nobles are such a hassle.

Watching Mother and Krieger surrounded by many people from a distance, I realized that Mother actually got along well with the noblewomen of her generation. Among them was the former duchess's daughter, now the Countess of the Northern Border, whose mother was the late king's elder sister. This lady, like Mother, was once a candidate to be the king's fiancée when he was still a prince, but she was quickly removed from the list because they were too closely related. If this had happened two centuries ago, she might have become the fiancée, but by Grandfather's generation, it was already known that marriages between close relatives were not advisable, as verified by the Magic Tower. The king's fiancée was ultimately decided to be Mother. There was another candidate from a marquis family who could have balanced things out, but she was frail, and the possibility that she might not be able to produce an heir led to her not being considered. However, she did get married and had children. Wow, she escaped.

"Please forgive me for speaking out of turn, His Highness, the First Prince of Ryugen. It is my first time meeting you. I am Brunhild Granie Württemberg. I have come to greet you."

A girl of my age with chestnut hair and golden eyes curtsied and spoke, while beside her, a boy of the same age with black hair and green eyes looked surprised, comparing the girl and me. Both were beautiful. Hmm, good looks usually mean they are from high-ranking noble families.

"What? First Prince? For real?"

"Nebel!"

The girl hit the boy on the head with her fan.

It made a very satisfying sound.

"Ow! What are you doing?"

"Be quiet, you fool. This is in front of His Highness. Can't you even greet His Highness?"

The boy glared at the girl, then turned to me and bowed.

"I have been extremely rude. I am Nebel Berg. Please remember me... or not."

Wow, so honest. No, not honest, but rather twisted.

"No matter how much your parents force you to be friends with me, if you don't want to, you shouldn't come to such places. You're not that stupid, right? Find an excuse to avoid it. If you're a fool, the ones who brought you here, your parents, will also be punished. Or was that your goal?"

Nebel's eyes widened and he froze.

Did you think I would call you impolite or disrespectful? Yes, I am still royalty, and Nebel's attitude is problematic. But I think Nebel was prepared for the repercussions to affect his family.

Sure enough, this time, he bowed deeply and apologized.

"...I am very sorry. I did it to be disliked."

"I understand. That's how it felt. So, can I call you Nebel?"

"Yes."

"I prefer to be called Albert, not Ryugen. Miss Württemberg, you too."

"Understood. Please call me Brunhild or Hilt."

"Okay. I have a bad tongue, so I'll call you Hilt."

"Thank you for your kindness."

"Silto, Lanzo. Two teas."

I instructed the twins, who were probably nearby, to bring tea and asked them to sit at my table.

"Prince Albert, I am truly sorry."

Nebel, who bowed again, had lost his earlier arrogance and looked like a borrowed cat. Boring. The earlier attitude was better.

"I've accepted your apology, so it's fine. I want you to talk more freely. No one is around, after all."

At my words, Hilt and Nebel looked at each other.

"More freely..."

"Exactly, like how you usually talk."

Hilt had a difficult expression, and Nebel crossed his arms, closed his eyes tightly, then opened them and looked at me.

"I'll do that without reservation."

That's the spirit.

"The royal family is tough, but your family is also pretty bad, huh?"

"Cut the formalities. The difference between the eldest and the rest is common among nobles. Especially for me, as a bastard."

Nebel, it seems, is a child that the head of the Berg family had outside of marriage. He has two older brothers, one of whom is the same age as my twins, and the other is a couple of years older than us.

"I was taken in right after birth, probably because I was the same age as the princes. About five years ago, I was made to attend a tea party to select the second prince's attendants. I went with my second brother."

Their parents' goal was to secure an attendant position, and bringing two children was a way to increase their chances. This time, only Nebel attended, so perhaps his brother was chosen as an attendant for Prince Ignatz.

And Nebel was sent to befriend the failed first prince, regardless of which faction gained power.

What a typical noble family.

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