Chapter 28

His Majesty the King averted his eyes from me and showed no intention of answering my question.

"Hey, what the hell do you really want? Back then, four years ago, before my line was connected, you rarely came to see Mother. Even when we did meet, you mostly ignored me, and occasionally, you would speak to me from a position of superiority, telling me to study properly or not to cause trouble for the servants."

"Use that same tone and attitude, and say something."

The silence that followed was broken by a cough from the Chancellor, who then took control of the situation.

"Let's set aside Prince Albert's question and His Majesty's motives for now. It doesn't seem like we can move forward otherwise. First, let's confirm the situation."

"Excuse me," said Duke Einhorn, raising his hand to interject.

"What is it?" the Chancellor prompted.

"Why is Prince Ryugen here?"

What are you going to do if he's not here himself?

"Because it's me," I replied, implying that it was obvious.

Duke Einhorn's face, which somewhat resembled the King's, tensed, and he swallowed hard.

"Is that so? Then, should my daughter have been present as well?"

"That's for Duke Einhorn to decide. I was informed about this matter in advance by Her Majesty the Queen and the Chancellor. I had expressed my desire to attend if this meeting were to take place."

Besides, I had sensed the King's misstep beforehand.

"If Duke Einhorn thought your daughter's presence was necessary, you could have brought her. Or should we call her now?"

I suggested, but doing so would take time.

The Chancellor, perhaps thinking the same thing, gently rejected the idea.

"Calling her now would take time, and this discussion would have to be postponed. Duke Einhorn, I apologize, but can we proceed without the Princess? I believe... no, I think this discussion with Duke Einhorn can be concluded today. There's no need to involve the Princess directly, and you can explain it to her later."

Just as we were about to move on to the main topic, Duke Einhorn let slip an ill-considered remark.

"Prince Ryugen seems quite different from what I had heard."

Do you really need to say that now? Or are you trying to say that the stupid prince wouldn't understand this discussion and should leave?

The nobility's way of speaking can sometimes be hard to understand.

However, Duke Einhorn's words seemed to have struck a nerve with the old man.

"Duke Einhorn," the old man's voice resonated deeply, causing everyone to straighten their backs involuntarily.

"I apologize, but I would like you to refrain from addressing the First Prince by that name."

The moment he said this, a tense atmosphere emanated from the old man, causing not only Duke Einhorn but also the King and Queen to turn pale.

"Lord Marcossias, please calm down," the Chancellor alone managed to withstand the old man's pressure. The Chancellor, despite being a bureaucrat, was impressive for being able to handle the old man's pressure.

"Duke Einhorn, I understand what you want to say, but please refrain from making careless remarks. I have already explained to everyone who participated in the national council what happened around Prince Albert four years ago. I will not repeat myself."

Hmm? Is that it? Did the King's former merry companions, not the King himself, do something to make the Second Prince the Crown Prince?

"We're getting off track. Duke Einhorn, do you have anything else to say?"

The Chancellor seemed a bit irritated by the lack of progress.

"N-no, I apologize. Please proceed."

He clearly didn't want to make the already tense Chancellor any more unhappy.

"Then, I will proceed. The other day, His Majesty the King summoned Duke Einhorn and proposed a betrothal between the Duke's daughter and a member of the royal family. The intended match was the First Prince, correct?"

No one interrupted the Chancellor's words, and they all nodded in agreement.

"First, as I mentioned the other day, His Majesty has no right to decide anything regarding the First Prince."

"Wait," the King interrupted.

"What is it?" the Chancellor narrowed his eyes and turned his gaze to the King. The King, intimidated by the Chancellor's quiet pressure, stammered but then said something that seemed like a dream to me, the old man, and the Chancellor.

"I... no, I am a father."

Yes, you are the father of the Second Prince.

"So what?"

"So, what's wrong with me deciding my child's betrothal?"

"There is nothing wrong with it."

Yes, there's nothing wrong with it.

"Then—"

"What do you mean by 'then'? Your child is the Second Prince alone. When I said there's nothing wrong, I meant there's nothing wrong with you deciding the Second Prince's betrothal."

Do you understand what I'm saying? Four years ago, you signed the engagement contract. At that point, I was still part of the royal family, but I was also a member of the Marcossias family.

However, the King doesn't seem to understand this.

"How did it come to this? The First Prince is also my child."

Ah, you said it. That's not good. Why did you say that now?

The old man next to me kept his eyes closed and remained silent. He probably knew that if he spoke, he wouldn't be able to control himself.

Truly, he excels at doing unnecessary things.

How are we going to wrap this up?

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