Chapter 17.5

Selection: Cermiane’s Point of View. (5)

After putting the worried Ralphine to bed, I read and pondered over the letter repeatedly. My father apologized in the letter for this situation and wrote that he fully understood our feelings. If possible, he intended to abide by my wishes and not let me return to the imperial family for the rest of my life. However, now that the Crown Prince had become like that, there is no other prince left but me. He desperately wanted his own child to succeed the imperial family. The Empress also said that if the child was Ferriane’s, who is her close aide, it would be equal to her own child. They earnestly wrote that they wanted me to return to the imperial family and become Crown Prince, as they would fully support me.

If I do not return to the imperial family, one of the two ducal families from the collateral branch will be chosen as the next crown prince. In that case, the legitimacy of the imperial family will be lost, and the emperor will be stigmatized as the one who allowed the imperial lineage to end by future generations. This is something I didn’t want to happen. Moreover, the two ducal families were at odds with each other, and if either of them were chosen as the crown prince, it would inevitably lead to conflict. There is a possibility that it could even lead to civil war, which is something I definitely didn’t want.

To avoid this, it would be better for me to become the crown prince. My father said that it is fortunate that my wife, Ralphine, is the daughter of the Marquis of Caliente. The former Marquis had a little disagreement with my father when he ascended the throne and currently does not hold any position in the imperial court. If I become the Crown Prince, Rarifucine’s family would become the Crown Princess’s family and could be expected to strongly support the Crown Prince and the Emperor. With their support, even someone like me who has some weaknesses in my bloodline could become the Crown Prince without any problems.

I held my head in my hands. Crown princess. Yes, if I become the crown prince, Ralphine would automatically become the Crown princess. That Ralphine. The one who loves hunting, walking through forests and towns, enjoys exercise, but hates aristocratic social gatherings.

It is impossible for me to become the crown prince, but asking Ralphine to become the crown princess would be an even greater demand. I didn’t think she would agree to it. It would clearly violate the promise I made to her when I proposed. It would be an act of clear betrayal. She might even be so angry that she would divorce me and leave.

The letter stated that he planned to announce and officially recognize me as the Prince tomorrow at the Imperial Palace. It also said that Ralphine will also be officially recognized as the prince’s wife. If that happens, neither Ralphine nor I will be able to escape. I would enter the imperial palace as the prince and Ralphine as the Prince consort.

I was troubled. It was only natural. I could never be the crown prince. I was not like my elder brother who was taught imperial studies rigorously from an early age. I have confidence in myself as a knight, but being strong is not enough to be a crown prince.

However, when I thought of my father’s feelings and the regret of Her Majesty the Queen, I couldn’t refuse. And then there was His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, my older brother, who had always looked out for me and encouraged me. It was His Highness who fell ill in the middle of his ambition. How regretful and remorseful I was. My brother had repeatedly told me that I would be his successor. Perhaps he had a premonition about this situation.

I did not want to betray my brother’s expectations. I wanted to live up to my father’s and brother’s wishes. I was torn between the feeling of impossibility and the desire to do so. In the end, it was the sight of Ralphine that prompted me to make a decision.

Ralphine has never run away from something she is not good at, as long as it is for me. She said, “You are my husband. Isn’t that the way a husband and wife, a family, should be? She would face any difficulty for the sake of her husband and family. Come to think of it, Baron Kix, Ralphine’s foster father and mother, sent Ralphine away with a smile on their faces, pushing aside their own loneliness.

After all, I could not betray Their Majesties the Emperor and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who had cared for me and listened to my wishes for so many years. Even if it might betray Ralphine, enrage her, and lead to her separation from me.

But of course, there was also the naive belief that Ralphine would understand. Ralphine, who cherishes both her own family and her in-laws, would understand how I felt about my family.

At dawn, I made up my mind that I would become the Crown Prince of the Empire.

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