Chapter 71

"Nice to meet you, Prince Ryugen. My name is Theodor Gebhard Hindenburg."

He had a friendly smile and a clear, crisp tone. Yeah, he’s the perfect embodiment of a protagonist. But I have no intention of getting along with him. It’s nice and clear, isn’t it?

"Nice to meet you. I’d like you to call me Albert. Ryugen is a name I won’t be using much longer."

I don’t know how much he knows about me, but since Matilde-sama calls me Albert, and he still uses the name Ryugen, he must have heard something from my cousin, the Einhorn duchess, or perhaps from the duke or the princes. Either way, I’m pretty sure I’m hated by the Einhorn ducal family.

I don’t want to get involved in any trouble.

And, Theodor, I’m sorry, but you should really observe your mother more carefully.

"The honey from Fulftball is delicious. Please try some."

I smiled as brightly as Theodor and quickly ended the conversation.

"Mother, I’m sorry, but I have to go."

Sorry! I’ll take a proper scolding later! I’ll also get a proper scolding from Grandfather! But, I can’t do it anymore. I give up!

"Matilde-sama, Lord Hindenburg, please make yourselves comfortable."

I said my goodbyes to them and left the room.

"Hey! Wait..."

I can’t hear you! I rushed through the guest room, which is connected to the terrace where Mother was, and called out to Neber, who was waiting in the hallway.

"Neber, I’m done, let’s go."

Neber had a look like he wanted to say something, but I don’t care. I need to get out of here right now. My ghost is whispering that it’s dangerous!

As soon as I stepped into the hallway, I walked quickly away from the guest room, turned the corner of the long hallway, and started running.

"Al?!"

"Lookout tower! Let’s go!"

I ran and ran until I reached the highest lookout tower in Fulftball Castle, and I plopped down, panting.

Phew, that was close.

"What’s wrong, Al?"

Neber, also panting, asked about my strange behavior.

"Sorry. It’s Matilde-sama..."

"Matilde-sama?"

"Yeah, the guest there, Mother’s best friend, the Countess of the Northern Border. She’s the Einhorn duchess’s aunt. She came for Mother’s wedding."

That woman is scary.

"What did you do to anger her?"

His tone suggested that I must have done something, but I didn’t.

"It wasn’t me, it was her son."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, her son’s attitude... it wasn’t good. I think he didn’t meet Matilde-sama’s standards. I also felt a negative vibe from her."

I think Matilde-sama noticed. Theodor seemed to make a good impression, but it was far from what Matilde-sama expected.

"Her magic... it was already seeping out from her feet."

"Wait, you mean the Countess’s magic?"

"Yeah. It was water, maybe ice? The cold was like lightning, crackling."

Neber turned pale, imagining the scene.

With Mother there, I don’t think I would have been frozen, but if I had stayed, my feet would have definitely been frozen to the floor.

That aura and the amount of magic... she’s a true royal. Why did she become a countess? If she had overthrown the current queen, it would have been better.

"Ah, I might get more snide comments later. But I don’t care! I don’t want to know anymore."

I might get scolded for being lazy, but leaning on the railing of the lookout tower and stretching out, someone opened the door and came in.

"Running away so quickly, that’s cowardly!"

Sure enough, it was Theodor, and a young attendant was with him.

"Is it my fault?"

When I asked, Theodor hesitated, ran his hand through his hair, and sat down next to me.

"Ah, I’m sorry. I wanted to test or confirm something. I didn’t expect you to leave so quickly. I thought you’d be more confrontational."

Why did you think I’d do something so troublesome? You must have been influenced by someone from the Einhorn ducal family.

"Let me make it clear, I’m not a fan of princesses."

Oh, you’re being so casual now. So, Theodor calls the Einhorn duchess ‘princess.’

"I’d rather not be involved with her."

"Why? You’re cousins, aren’t you on good terms?"

"If you put it that way, Albert, you’re a second cousin to the prince. If you want to be close, it’s better to be close to a relative of the same gender."

So, you did want to be close.

"I don’t need the title of prince. We’re not in the palace, and I won’t be a prince much longer."

"Are you really giving up your right to the throne?"

"I caused a big commotion in the palace for that. If you want it... Ah, that’s right, you have the right to it too."

Since you’re the child of Matilde-sama, who once had the right to the throne.

Theodor’s face suddenly turned sour, as if he understood my unspoken words.

"That’s only if all the children of the Einhorn family die. In the Kingdom of Rave, women can become kings or heads of families, but only if they are the firstborn. My mother is the duke’s sister and married into another family. At this point, my mother’s children don’t have the right to the throne."

Yeah, if the right to the throne was given to everyone, it would cause a big commotion. Mainly because of usurpation, so there are strict conditions for the right to the throne.

"Right, if all the duke’s children are gone, the right to the throne would go to you."

At my words, Theodor’s face twisted.

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