Chapter 44

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"Nothing was found on the first floor. ... There are many guest rooms on the second floor, and there are many visiting guests now, so it will be quite a task to check them all."

After closing the door of the small salon, the last room on the east side of the first floor that he had been investigating, Edwar sighed in relief. Silas nodded, facing west, wondering how Olivia and the others were doing.

"Anyway, we have no choice but to check the vacant rooms... I wonder why King Wilson carried the Selection Sword."

"Prince Silas's father acts based on theory, but my father has a troublesome character, acting impulsively on a whim. His way of thinking is so different that I can't understand it at all, so I don't even try to think about it."

"Is that so..."

Edwar seems to have a high opinion of Silas's father, Jules, but Silas thinks Jules has his own careless side. At the very least, Wilson wouldn't use the heir as a bet, nor would he continue a ridiculous argument with the queen for over ten years. If Edwar knew that Jules and Barbara were seriously continuing a silly bet over their third child, what would he think? Of course, it's too embarrassing to ever say out loud.

(I want to tell him that his father acts based on his own feelings, convenience, and desires alone...)

He is not the kind of king that Prince Edwar would praise. Not at all. He is very popular with the people because he is good at putting on a show, but he is a troublesome father to his family.

"Elisabeth, we're going to check the second floor a bit. Why don't you rest for a while? You haven't been feeling well since this morning, right?"

Elisabeth, who has been searching for the Selection Sword with Edwar, doesn't seem to be feeling well today. She has been unwell for a while now and looks pale.

"That's right. Queen Elisabeth should rest. You look like you're about to collapse."

"Thank you for your concern, Prince Silas. But... I can't just rest while everyone else is working..."

"Elisabeth, it would be worse if you collapsed. You tend to overdo things. Take it easy for a while."

"...Yes."

Convinced by her husband, Elisabeth's expression darkened slightly as she returned to her room with a maid called by Edwar's aide. Edwar watched her go until she was out of sight, his face darkening.

"Really... I didn't intend to make her endure so much. Sometimes, being a prince is frustrating. If I were just a man, I wouldn't have to make her go through unnecessary hardships."

"We're the only ones here, but we can't be sure who might be listening. It's not wise to say such things."

Silas chuckled, and Edwar shrugged, "You're right."

Edwar, who is so worried about Elisabeth that he lets it slip, must be deeply concerned.

(She was originally a baron's daughter... The mental strain must be immense.)

A baron's daughter, who is at the lower end of the noble hierarchy, has become the highest-ranking position as the prince's wife. Envy from others will never end, and the scrutiny will be harsh. If she makes even one mistake, people will say, "I told you so."

Even Olivia, a duchess's daughter, was harsh when she pretended to be ignorant on Alan's orders. Many people recognized her excellent abilities, and because of their skillful handling, there wasn't much backlash. Still, the castle servants who knew nothing gossiped about her, and the noble daughters who didn't know her well were particularly harsh. Tiana is a good example.

Olivia, who appears frail, is mentally strong. She could brush off any comments, but that's not something most people can do. Olivia must have been deeply hurt inside.

(Olivia hides her feelings with a smile when she feels hurt. She probably doesn't even realize this habit herself.)

Olivia always smiled because of this. When she feels hurt, she puts on a mask of a smile to keep her emotions from wavering and locks all her feelings deep inside her heart.

After breaking her engagement with Alan and accepting Silas's proposal, Olivia started to show her emotions. She no longer had to hide them, which was very comforting, but seeing her expressive face made him realize how much she had endured.

"Alright, let's search the second floor. We must find the Selection Sword."

As Edwar searched for the Selection Sword, Silas wondered if it was more for Elisabeth's sake than for tradition. Elisabeth, a former baron's daughter, already faces harsh scrutiny. If the tradition of the Selection Sword were to break, even if she had nothing to do with it, the blame might be directed at her. People tend to be more aggressive towards the weak, especially someone in a position like the prince's wife, which is considered inappropriate for her status.

"Really, where did he put it? It's not that small, so why can't we find it?"

Edwar grumbled as they climbed the stairs. Indeed, the Selection Sword, including the hilt, is about twenty-five centimeters long. The replica he bought in the town they visited before coming here was the same size. A short sword of that size should be easy to find.

(Something's not right.)

Edwar doesn't seem to suspect his father's carelessness, probably because it has happened many times before. But perhaps because Silas is an outsider, he can't shake the feeling that something is off.

(The disappearance of the Selection Sword seems too convenient. At least, why did it disappear the day after Olivia said she wanted to see it? Maybe they went to look for it because she said she wanted to see it and realized it was missing, but wouldn't they notice the loss of something so important? ... Ah.)

Silas stopped halfway up the stairs.

A possibility that flashed through his mind gave him an unpleasant feeling.

This might be because Silas has been repeatedly tricked by his father, the king—

(Anyone who takes on the job of king can manipulate people as a matter of course.)

Jules, who can calmly deceive even his own children like a fox, is a good example.

(I need to consult Olivia.)

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