Chapter 4

Even though I have royal blood, I can't move to the Marquess Malcosias household on that day.

After all, I am still the first son of His Majesty the King and the first in line to the throne.

If I, a noble prince with legitimate blue blood, were to be casually sent outside, it would cause confusion in the royal succession later on. If something were to happen to me outside the palace without any protection, other countries would look at our country and the royal family with disdain, questioning what they think of royal blood.

Therefore, even if I am treated as an unwanted object, to leave the castle or to be removed from the royal family, various formal arrangements are necessary.

It will take time and effort, but given my current situation, it won't be too difficult.

My biggest advantage is my current situation.

Before coming here, Grandfather sent a notice to His Majesty the King and the Minister of State, requesting an audience regarding the concubine issue. He is going to meet them now.

He plans to bring up the treatment of Mother and take her back under the pretext of a temporary stay outside the palace. If that doesn't work, he will arrange for her to return to her hometown for rest, due to the mental strain of her unfamiliar life in the palace.

Then, he will not return her to the castle and will seek a divorce.

It's natural for a father to be angry about his daughter's situation, and given how they have been treating her, the request to take her back is a reasonable course of action.

Mother's case will likely be approved without any interference.

Not only that, but Grandfather will also mention me and arrange for me to be taken in by the Marquess Malcosias household.

Grandfather's chances of acquiring me are about fifty-fifty, right?

No, Grandfather is a seasoned negotiator, the head of the Marquess Malcosias household, and a capable person who maintains the Marquess Furlftball title. He won't give up so easily.

The problem is what His Majesty the King and his merry companions are thinking and how they will react.

Judging from their past neglect, they might see this as a golden opportunity and accept our demands. But they have been deliberately trying to make a fool of me, haven't they?

It feels like they want to use me as a stepping stone for the second prince, doesn't it?

To show off the second prince's excellence, they might deliberately place me, who is inferior, by his side, so that influential nobles who are unaware of the king's and his companions' schemes will think, "How about it? Which one is more excellent?" "Isn't the second prince, who is virtuous, intelligent, and excellent, more suitable to be king than the first prince, who is a block of vanity and foolishness?"

They might do something like that.

Actually, they probably will. They have been trying to manipulate me to serve their purposes.

So, it's a fifty-fifty chance.

Depending on how the conversation goes, Grandfather's request might be rejected.

However, by giving up my first place in the line of succession and making it easier for the second prince to inherit, there might be a reason to keep me as a stepping stone.

His Majesty the King and his merry companions are a bundle of uncertainties.

Moreover, since it concerns me, I want to know how the discussion will go.

That's why I decided to go with Grandfather.

This time, since the issue is about the concubine and the treatment of his daughter, the meeting will take place in His Majesty the King's office, not the audience room. Grandfather, with a foolishly delighted smile, carried me into the room, which surprised both His Majesty the King and the Minister of State.

I thought he wouldn't carry me, but since he hasn't been able to do anything for his beloved grandson until now, he pleaded for me to let him indulge in some grandfatherly affection.

Apparently, he has been feeling frustrated because he couldn't show off his grandson to his friends and acquaintances.

Since I can't be taken back today, I decided to let him have his way for a while.

"I greet the sun of the kingdom."

A greeting is usually done with respect to the recipient, but since I am being carried, I can't place my hand on my chest or bow. Grandfather's arrogant attitude is intentional.

He has been angry with His Majesty the King and his merry companions for a long time, and this greeting is a way of saying, "I won't bow to you."

Rather, he is full of the sentiment that they should bow and apologize to him.

Mother is Grandfather's beloved daughter, the only princess of the Marquess Malcosias household. He didn't even want to let her get engaged, let alone become a concubine.

Despite this, His Majesty the King and the palace have treated the princess of the Marquess Malcosias household poorly.

While it might be an exaggeration to say they have degraded her, given the circumstances before and after she became a concubine, they should not have neglected her.

However, they have used Mother and then continued to neglect her.

Given this treatment, it's no surprise that Grandfather, as the head of the Marquess Malcosias household and the Marquess Furlftball, would not remain silent.

His Majesty the King and his companions should have anticipated that Grandfather would take such action if they mistreated Mother.

"Today, I have come to report. It seems that my daughter is not suitable as a concubine and has caused you all great inconvenience. I cannot bear to trouble you any further. Therefore, I will take her back to our home today."

This is not just a probing jab but a direct punch to the gut.

Grandfather seems determined to push through Mother's return.

"Also, since my daughter will be returning, there will be no one to take care of the First Prince. I will take care of both of them at our home."

It was the Minister of State who finally regained his composure.

"Wait, Lord Malcosias!"

He tried to stop Grandfather's torrent of words and regain control of the conversation.

"Prince Ryugen is the First Prince, who holds the first place in the line of succession to the throne of the Kingdom of Laave. It is not permissible to take him out of the castle without permission."

"But if my daughter returns, there will be no one to take care of the Prince. What will you do about that?"

Does His Majesty the King and his companions understand the implications?

Grandfather is making a snide remark that, despite the harem, no one will take care of the concubine unless we send servants from our household. He is also pointing out that if I am the First Prince of the Kingdom of Laave, it is strange for me to be in the harem rather than the prince's palace.

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