Chapter 45

"Ah, so the wet nurse is praying to God. It’s not as simple as just letting it be, is it? After all, the crucial milk brother is still around."

"How is the milk brother doing?"

"What do you mean by ‘how’?"

Being asked in return, I’m at a loss for how to explain. After all, I can’t imagine that Her Majesty the Queen doesn’t know about Ignatius coming to me.

"As Ignatius’s servant, is he still around? And the close aides... are they still candidates? It seems they’re not around Ignatius either. What’s going on?"

"Ah, that young baron’s son. It seems he was too young to interact with the royal family. We decided to wait until he has more education."

Even though he’s two years older than Nebel, he’s considered young. It’s just a polite way of saying no.

What did Nebel’s half-brother do? For Her Majesty to say this, it must have been quite excessive.

"I plan to hold another tea party soon. I would like to invite His Highness Albert as well."

Oh, I don’t want to attend. I avoid giving a clear answer and smile at Her Majesty.

"…What about the milk brother?"

"It’s a difficult situation."

If we send him back to the baron’s house, it’s clear he’ll be kicked out. After all, the baron has changed, and it’s unlikely they would keep a child whose lineage is uncertain.

Then, an orphanage? But orphanages have age limits, right? And what about entering an orphanage at that age?

"If he’s capable, he could continue as Ignatius’s servant, but we need to consider this."

"By the way, did the milk brother report to Ignatius about the series of events at the Sturmwind Palace?"

Her Majesty shakes her head silently.

He didn’t report! Does he lack the awareness of a servant? Or, I’m starting to imagine something unpleasant. We might need to investigate how his wet nurse mother raised him.

"Let’s discuss this with the Palace Minister as well."

Her Majesty nods at the suggestion from the Chancellor.

That makes sense. Since this is a personnel matter within the palace, it won’t be left unattended if it’s discussed with the Palace Minister and the Chancellor.

I’ll leave it to them.

"By the way, there’s one more thing I’m concerned about."

"What is it?"

"How much does Ignatius know?"

Four years ago.

It seems the details haven’t reached Ignatius.

Even if I become king, I think it’s fine. I could tell him the truth when he comes of age. But since I’m no longer on the path to becoming king, and Ignatius’s future has already changed, he needs to know why. However, it seems he only knows vaguely.

How much does Ignatius know about the details?

With a pleasant smile, Her Majesty said:

"I told him that His Majesty’s wish was fulfilled by His Highness Albert."

Oh, I see. That’s not entirely wrong, but it’s too vague, isn’t it?

"I told him to investigate little by little why it happened and what His Majesty’s wish was."

Ah, so this is a task Her Majesty has given to Ignatius.

"If His Highness Albert hears the details from Ignatius, please tell him everything about the events four years ago."

The stock price of the King might plummet, but Her Majesty must be aware of that.

"Is that okay?"

"It’s fine. It was His Majesty’s doing. I’m sure His Majesty understands."

No, I don’t think he understood. He tried to make a move on my father despite the engagement contract. After being hit hard by the old man and Her Majesty, he finally seemed to understand.

According to the story of the Einhorn duchess, in the light novel, I was born as the crown prince, and the story progressed with me becoming king and ending up with the heroine.

What about the king in the light novel?

In this real world, the king seems to be setting the stage for the Einhorn duchess to become the protagonist who says ‘serves you right.’

For example, he tried to make me a foolish prince and arranged an engagement with the Einhorn duchess, as if setting up the stage for the Einhorn duchess to say ‘serves you right.’

In reality, the king’s motive was that if the legitimate successor lacked the necessary qualities, Ignatius, the son of the queen, could become king. The engagement between me and the Einhorn duchess was out of goodwill, to give me a strong backing since I couldn’t become king.

If the king’s misdeeds hadn’t been discovered, the story would have ended with the Einhorn duchess saying ‘serves you right’ to the foolish fiancé.

However, after that, Fulftball would likely annihilate Einhorn, but in a novel with the Einhorn duchess as the protagonist, it wouldn’t be written that far.

It’s really creepy.

Maybe someday a deus ex machina will appear and explain why things turned out this way.

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