Chapter 26

Some time after the tea party to announce my mother's remarriage, I suddenly received an invitation from Her Majesty the Queen for a tea party, which was actually a meeting to share information.

"Hasn't it been that long since the last one? Isn't this a bit too soon?" I thought, but if nothing had happened, such an early invitation wouldn't have come.

So, I thought something must have happened and attended the meeting.

"The King's behavior is strange," the Queen said with a serious expression as soon as the meeting started.

"Isn't he always strange?" I thought. After hearing my mother's story, I wondered if he had ever been normal before he went to study abroad in a neighboring country. Well, he does his job as king without any issues, so it's hard to say. The only ones who found him unbearable were my mother and I.

"Prince Albert, I understand your feelings, but please stop," the Prime Minister said. He has to say that given his position, but is it okay to say he understands? Shouldn't that be something to hide?

"Sorry, that's not what I meant. It's more like he seems about to do something," the Queen said, and the Prime Minister's expression showed that he understood.

"He just says nothing is wrong when asked. But he seems to be thinking, no, plotting something," she rephrased. She said he was plotting.

"Lord Vurikait, have you heard anything...? It doesn't seem like it, does it?"

"No, I haven't. I'll inform the King's secretary as well."

Since his close aides were all gone, the people around the King are just secretaries.

"What about the matter of the Second Prince's education as Crown Prince?"

After my situation was properly explained to the Queen, she understood my firm resolve not to ascend the throne, and the sworn agreement with the temple, so she explained the situation to Ignatz and had him start his education as Crown Prince.

"Ignatz's education as Crown Prince is under my supervision, so I don't think that's the issue," the Queen said, shaking her head, and the Prime Minister, who had a troubled look, also turned his gaze to me.

"Um... Do you think I'm the target?"

Both of them nodded at the same time.

"Why me?"

"Ever since Prince Albert met Lady Liette, the King's behavior has been strange," the Queen said.

"Mother? But Mother has already returned to the Fulftball territory and completed the remarriage procedures after the divorce from the King, right?"

"The ceremony is still undecided, but if it happens, it will be in the Fulftball territory. Mother won't come to the capital anymore."

"This is just my speculation, but I want you to keep it in mind as a possibility," the Queen said, as if something had occurred to her, and she began to speak slowly.

"Prince Albert, at the tea party to announce Lady Liette's remarriage, you met children of the same age from the nobility for the first time, right? The daughter of the Gyuvich Marquis was also there, wasn't she? I've heard that recently, she has been visiting Prince Albert's palace with the children of the Marquess family."

"Friends are necessary, right?"

I haven't officially appointed any close aides or candidates yet.

"Speaking of the daughter of the Gyuvich Marquis..."

The Prime Minister also seemed to have realized something after hearing the Queen's words.

"Yes, she is from the main branch of the family of Sir Voss, who was once the King's close aide."

"Prince Albert..."

Please don't look at me with such a reproachful gaze. Don't say it like that.

"She says she wants to become a knight of our Fulftball. She approached me directly, saying she wants to be the guard knight of the person who will become my wife."

If Hilda were to marry, it would be with Nebel, not me. She only looked at me as a subject, not with the eyes of a girl in love like Mother.

"I'm not wary of the interaction between the daughter of the Gyuvich Marquis and Prince Albert. After all, she is from the main branch of a family that once had a close aide to the King. In fact, before the matter with Prince Albert, there was a proposal to make her Ignatz's fiancée, but the Gyuvich Marquis declined, so it was dropped."

"Hmm, did they decline at that time? Even before any trouble with us, they declined, probably because they were worried about how Hilda would be treated after seeing how Mother was treated."

"Are they trying to betroth Hilda to me?"

"No, I don't think so. If what Prince Albert says is true, the Gyuvich Marquis would reject it."

Hmm, I'm not sure about the character or conduct of the current head of the Württemberg family. But even if they owe us a favor, I don't think they would readily agree to a proposal from the King. They wouldn't want to cause trouble with us, so they would probably put it on hold and discuss it with the old man.

"Perhaps... they are trying to find a fiancée for Prince Albert after hearing about the daughter of the Gyuvich Marquis?"

The Queen looked uncomfortable as she said this, and the Prime Minister covered his eyes with one hand and looked up at the sky.

Both of them seem to have confirmed the King's suspicious behavior.

If the Queen's concerns are correct, I can feel the truth of what Mother said. This can't be left unresolved.

But...

"Why would they think like that?"

I can't understand what they are thinking or what they want to do.

"It's just my speculation. Setting aside the King's interference with Prince Albert, I think the reason he started thinking about betrothals now is because a noble lady has gotten close to Prince Albert. Even if it were a different noble lady, I think the same thing would happen."

"Are you saying that the King has started considering Prince Albert's betrothal now? Even though he no longer has the right to do so?"

The Prime Minister's words, accompanied by a deep sigh, made the Queen sigh deeply as well, as if she had a headache.

If the Prince renounces his right to succession! The document created for the incident is not a 'contract' but a 'pledge,' so I will change the document to a 'pledge.'

I will gradually change the wording to 'pledge,' so please bear with me.

If you find it interesting, please like, bookmark, and give a ★ rating. It will boost my motivation, so I would appreciate it.