Chapter 27

The old pillar clock ticked away, its pendulum swinging to mark the passage of time.

Currently, I am in His Majesty the King's office, but I am not the only guest here.

First, there is my guardian, an elderly gentleman. Then, there is Her Majesty the Queen. Lastly, there is a man around the same age as the King.

In addition to them, there are His Majesty the King, two secretaries, and the Minister.

An incident has occurred.

Everyone in the room, except for His Majesty the King, is silent with stern expressions.

No one is speaking, not out of concern for the King, but because everyone is aware that once they open their mouths, harsh words will spill out.

No one can remain calm, yet everyone knows they must. This is the dilemma that has led to this tense standoff.

Everyone here thinks, "The King has really messed up this time."

Let me say it again. An incident has occurred.

The incident began about a month after a meeting where Her Majesty the Queen shared information that the King might do something reckless. One day, a certain Duke received a summons from the King to come to the castle.

This Duke is Siegfried Karl Einhorn, the current head of the Einhorn family, into which the late King's elder sister had married.

Perhaps due to his royal blood, Duke Einhorn, with his silver hair and purple eyes, is three years older than the King. He is the King's cousin and had the right to inherit the throne, but he gave it up when he succeeded as Duke.

The King summoned Duke Einhorn and proposed a marriage between his eldest daughter and a member of the royal family.

Currently, there are two princes in the royal family who could marry the Einhorn lady.

One is, of course, the First Prince, me, Ryugen Albert A-Igel Faverbessen Lave.

The other is the Second Prince, Ignatz Stelkst Tz-Igel Faverbessen Lave, who is the same age as the First Prince.

The Einhorn lady attended a debutante tea party when Ignatz was five, where she met potential companions and suitors, but no talk of engagement or companionship had come up.

Then, the King proposed the engagement. Duke Einhorn likely thought it was for the Second Prince, didn't he?

Anyone would think that.

However, the King proposed me, not Ignatz, as the suitor for his daughter.

Duke Einhorn knows what the King did during his time as a prince in a neighboring country, what he did to my mother, his former fiancée, and to the First Prince. He also knows that the Marcocius family is furious, and that I will renounce my right to the throne and leave the royal family when I come of age.

After all, Duke Einhorn is one of the nobles who attend the national council and participate in the government. It would be strange if he didn't know about the council's approval of my renunciation.

It's unclear how much information Duke Einhorn has, but some nobles, influenced by the King's former merry companions, still think of me as a spoiled, temperamental, and foolish prince.

This reputation hasn't faded, and no parent would want their daughter to marry a prince with such a bad reputation.

Moreover, my backer is the current head of the Marcocius family, Duke Fullftball.

The fact that the King proposed the engagement without my guardian being present made Duke Einhorn suspicious.

That's when the Minister appeared.

The incident was discovered, and an incident has occurred.

The Minister told Duke Einhorn that the engagement of the First Prince, regardless of the suitor, cannot be decided by the King alone. In this matter, the King cannot use the 'Royal Decree.'

"I apologize, but we will arrange a meeting to discuss this matter at a later date. It would be most appreciated if Duke Einhorn could come to the castle again. We will contact you."

The Minister said this to Duke Einhorn, which is why all the relevant parties are gathered here today.

We can't keep this silence going for hours. If no one else will speak, I should break the silence.

"I think I've said this before,"

In the silent office, my voice resonated, and only the King flinched. Everyone else just turned their eyes to me.

"What does His Majesty want to do with me, the First Prince who will leave the royal family in the future?"

I said something similar before, right? Four years ago, wasn't it? It's not that long ago, is it?

The Minister and my guardian seemed to recall that time, their eyes distant.

Don't look at me like that. Four years ago, when I asked a similar question, the King didn't say a word, did he?

Only his merry companions, who were my attendants, revealed the motives. The King never said a single word about what he thought of me.

Back then, you abandoned your role as my father. When I said I would renounce my right to the throne and leave the royal family, you didn't try to stop me. You were just leaving me alone, weren't you? Your beloved Queen gave you a lovely son who will be the next king, so you have nothing to worry about, right?

So why are you trying to get involved with the First Prince, who doesn't matter to you, again?

Say something, don't just stay silent.

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