Chapter 3

Slipping out of the bunk and sitting on the couch, I took a breath before quenching my throat with the fragrant tea Clara had prepared.

“Besides, the engagement ceremony is tomorrow. It would be too late to scramble at a time like this.”

I remember the handmaid’s words from earlier and laugh, deliberately showing a vivacious pose.

It was a hard decision for Clara to make, even if it was just for free. He had to show his stoutness so as not to make her even more anxious.

”After the engagement ceremony tomorrow, we’ll move from this guest’s detached palace to the royal palace. In a month’s time, we’ll have the marriage ceremony.”

“Yeah, that’s why I have to go to bed early today.”

“Come to think of it, I didn’t get a chance to see the prince until now.”

Hearing Clara’s words, Karena chuckles.

“I wonder if she thinks that she doesn’t need to greet the princess of Ravina. It’s just a political marriage after all. I’ve heard that he doesn’t even have a side room right now, but I don’t know how that will work out in the future.”

In the ten days or so that I have been in this country, I have never seen my betrothed, Prince Franz, appear in this remote palace-not even once. The king was ill and was brought to the palace without even a formal greeting at the palace.

Even for a weak nation, this was too much for a royal marriage. Without any prior knowledge of what the marriage partner would be like, they would be meeting at the ball tomorrow.

It was generally known that only one prince lived in Burgmueller, but There are only a few who have seen him. Not only the emissaries of other countries but even their own citizens. It is said that he is never seen at any of the evenings and events held by the royal family. It is secretly whispered among the people that even its existence is an illusion because Karena is still I heard the story from a merchant who frequented the royal palace while I was in Ravina.

However, the merchant laughed and dispelled the rumor immediately after he told the story. A fellow merchant had seen Prince Franz at the Royal Palace in Burgmueller. He said that the only thing he could see was the rear of the prince, which was far away from the royal gardens, near a window on the top floor of the majestic royal palace. I doubt very much if you can tell that he is a prince by his back view.

”To tell you the truth, Karena-sama, I’ve been asked by the handmaiden of this detached palace to…”

I was confused at Clara’s unusually rude manner and slowly put the cup back in. She looked at Clara to urge her to go ahead.

”Um, I’ve only heard the rumor from the maidservant of this detached palace, so I don’t know if it’s true or not. But the prince seems to be a bit of a strange person…”

“Strange?”

“Yes, he’s not very strong in swordsmanship. Not to mention that he dislike studies, which were mandatory as a child. So it was said that no one had ever seen him train. It seems that in this country he can’t participate in political affairs until after the engagement ceremony. Of course, he has to do that. Prince Franz, who hasn’t done anything, isn’t involved in state politics either.”

“So what did he do every day?”

“Come on, stop it. I understand that he spent most of his time in his room.”

“All-day?”

“Yes, I’m told that he has a prince’s entourage and guards with him, but…”

From what Clara had told me, apparently, he wasn’t a decent person.

“And then…”

”

”

“Is there more?”

“Yes, I mean…”

Karena sighed lightly to Clara, who went silent again.

“Tell me. I don’t want to be hidden from the truth.”

Is it because of these circumstances that the information about the other party did not come at all? But even if it is hidden here, we will inevitably learn about it later. In that case, I want to prepare my mind. It’s good to know what to do especially if it’s a matter that would make Clara’s brow wrinkle.

”Actually, it is widely rumored among the maidservants that the prince may be intellectually challenged…”

[TLNote: Intellectually challenged were used when they don’t want to use a much more direct or rather vulgar word like had a mental illness or mentally impaired.]

“…intellectually challenged? Are you sure about that?”

“It’s only a rumor. It is said that he rarely leaves his room. Even the handmaiden rarely gets a chance to see him. I’ve heard that they have a full-time attendant and two maidservants, and they do almost everything. So I have no proof that this is true.”

It’s kind of like the day before a lot of things are starting to come out the day before this.

“I don’t know if it’s true yet, but…”

“Yes, I suppose so. But there must be some reason for such a rumor to start because there must be some reason to think so.”

I understand that there are some members of the highest echelons of state government who have an objection to the prince’s succession to the throne.

I’m starting to get a headache.

“I’m sorry, Karena-sama.”

“Of course. Thank you for telling me, Clara.”

Karena said calmly, trying her best, and got up from the couch to finish her cooled tea.

“Come on, I’ve got an early start tomorrow, so I’m going to get some rest. Clara can step back too.”

“Very well. Karena-sama, I’ve put your nightgown in the basket over there.”

“Thank you. Good night, Clara.”

“Okay, I’ll leave you to it.”

Staring at the door as Clara bowed lightly and then walked out. Karena thought back to their earlier conversation.

Intellectually Challenged.

Such a rumor even started. There must be something about the prince that makes her think so.

If you think about it, a prince of a great country doesn’t have a consort or a side room until the age of twenty-two. It’s unlikely, even by the common sense of the world. Even Karena’s three older brothers, the First Prince of Ravina, was only eighteen when they got married.

In a military power as great as Burgmueller’s, even if the queen were vacant, a princess from the defeated country would come in a side room. I’m sure they would have at least welcome it. But for the side rooms to remain empty…

Ravina is a country far away from Burgmueller. Moreover, before the discovery of the Sorolite mine, commercial trade and cultural exchange with other countries was small.

The main reason for this was that it’s far away from the main roads that connect the countries of the continent. The number of merchants coming and going was extremely small compared to other countries. It’s rare for gossip about other countries to flow into such a country.

No-, but, did my father-king know about this? Did he know and didn’t dare to tell Karena about it?

A prince with an intellectual disability.

If that is true, then it is understandable that both the Queen and her side room are vacant.

However, there’s no way that this marriage can be annulled at this point. There’s no other way but to accept it.

Karena sank deep into the terrifyingly comfortable couch again, sighing loudly.