Chapter 45

It was ten in the morning.

Three fine carriages, unadorned with any coat of arms, stopped in front of Ursula's shop, Bertine's store.

Soldiers from the front and rear carriages got down and, after checking the surroundings, opened the door of the middle carriage. The one who slowly descended was His Highness Erenfreet, the Prince of the Empire, who was forty this year.

Under the watchful eyes of the nearby residents, Erenfreet greeted Bertine and the others with a calm expression.

"Sorry to cause a commotion, Miss Bertine de Juan."

"Welcome, Your Highness."

After inviting him inside and offering him a chair, it was clear that the affordable chairs and tables from this area were quite mismatched with the Prince's presence.

His Highness was slender and tall, probably around 190 centimeters. His golden hair, streaked with white, and his light blue eyes exuded the cool beauty common to people from cold countries.

"I want to have a serious conversation with you. I've asked the others to step out."

After Diego, Dorothe, and Isabelle left, the guards also exited the room, but they were likely waiting outside the door, ready to enter at any moment.

Erenfreet turned his calm face toward Bertine.

"Let's get straight to the point. Actually, Prince Claudius asked me to secretly deliver a letter to you at the Rose Hotel. When I asked what the letter contained, he said it was about discussing his way of life with you. I asked him various questions out of interest, and it seems that Prince Claudius is quite infatuated with you."

"That... is a great honor."

At this point, His Highness Erenfreet picked up the teacup that Dorothe had left and looked at the pink jam that was used as a sugar substitute.

"What is this?"

"It's a jam made from the fruit called Rambutan, which grows in the Southern Union. It adds a nice flavor when used as a sugar substitute."

"Let me see."

While wondering if it was safe to taste without a poison test, the Prince unhesitantly scooped up the jam with a spoon, mixed it into the tea, and took a sip. He relaxed his face and said, "Oh, this is good."

"I hear that the palace has recently started stocking syrup and candied fruits from the Union. When His Majesty investigated, he was surprised to find out that both were your work. The fabric that Mrs. Dalila is promoting is also your work, isn't it? It's a very clever approach."

(How much does this person know about me? What is his purpose today? Could he think I'm a Union agent trying to influence the Second Prince?)

"You don't have to be so tense. I don't consider you an enemy."

"...Yes."

"The current royal family of Sanlouan is preoccupied with immediate concerns and can't see the bigger picture. When I heard that they had offered you, a thousand gold coins, to Celsio, I was flabbergasted. Treating the alchemist's daughter so poorly would not lead to a good outcome. It was a foolish decision."

(There's no way I can agree with that. It's not right to say, 'You're right, it's foolish.') Bertine put on an ambiguous face and averted her gaze to the Prince's chest to avoid the conversation.

"Before I allow the correspondence between you and Prince Claudius, I have a few questions for you. Is that okay?"

"Yes, anything."

"What is your relationship with Celsio?"

"I am serving as a special envoy for the sale of local products under his command, so we are in a superior-subordinate relationship."

"You were sent to the Union as a bride, right?"

"Yes, but now I am living independently and working to support myself."

"You seem to like the Union. What do you think about the relationship between the Empire and the Union?"

(Calm down. Don't say anything that could be used against you.)

"To the Southern Union, the Centaur Empire is an important neighbor and trading partner. I also believe that the Union is a necessary existence for the Centaur Empire. I hope that both countries can maintain a friendly relationship in the future."

"Hmm, a model answer."

Erenfreet cut a small, round butter cake that Dorothe had baked with great care into two pieces with a fork and put it in his mouth. He seemed to like it and ate the remaining half as well. His eating manner was very elegant.

"What would you do if I told you that Prince Claudius might become the King of Sanlouan?"

Bertine, who had been looking at the Prince's chest, involuntarily turned her gaze to his face.

Is this some kind of trap?

But I can't think of a reason why this person would go to such lengths just to set a trap for someone like me.

"I believe I understand some of Prince Claudius's concerns and the current state of the Sanlouan royal family. If His Highness decides to do so when he comes of age, I would like to support him."

"Support, huh. Not now, though?"

"People change. Especially a twelve-year-old's thoughts are likely to change. No matter how wise the Second Prince is, if adults act on his words at twelve and he changes his mind later, it would be a tragedy. It would be a lifelong scar for the Prince. Such a situation should be avoided, shouldn't it?"

"Indeed."

After that, silence. The room was dominated by silence.

Just as Bertine began to feel suffocated, His Highness Erenfreet finally spoke.

"I will allow the correspondence between you and Prince Claudius. Your arguments are reasonable."

"Your Highness, did Prince Claudius say he wants to be the King of Sanlouan?"

Erenfreet shook his head.

"No. He said he wants to leave the country with his mother and go to the Union. I believe it was you, Miss Bertine, who influenced him to make this decision. Our country cannot allow Prince Claudius to leave the country, as we cannot afford to be used. However, his resolve is very strong. I thought it would be better to make him the King of Sanlouan rather than have him run away after coming of age. I believe your father would not object. I have some acquaintance with the Marquis, and your father is a person who can see the future."

Unable to respond, Bertine remained silent. The Prince then asked about her current life, and she answered honestly. He also asked about Celsio's personal matters, but she maintained that she knew nothing.

Eventually, the Prince stood up.

"Then I will take my leave. The jam and cake were delicious."

With that, His Highness left.

(I think the Prince probably expected me to tell Celsio and my father about this conversation. No, he might even want me to tell them. I have no reason to keep it a secret from them. If that's the case, he could have just clearly said, 'I want you to cooperate with this plan.')

Talking to a royal and trying to read his intentions was exhausting.

In the carriage on the way back, Erenfreet was reflecting on everything that had happened.

A while ago, a maid from the secondary palace reported that "Prince Claudius is researching the Union every day." The one who informed him was the youngest daughter of a noble he was close to. Feeling uneasy, he met with Prince Claudius alone and had a conversation.

At first, the Prince insisted, "I'm just studying," but there was a significant age gap between a forty-year-old and a twelve-year-old. After some time, he skillfully drew out the Prince's true feelings.

He was speechless when he heard, "I intend to renounce my status and leave this country for the Union."

He knew that Bertine and Celsio had visited the secondary palace not long ago. Immediately after that, Prince Claudius started researching the Union. It was likely that something they said had influenced him. Mrs. Dalila and Bertine's mother were close, and Lady Diana, the concubine, and Bertine were childhood friends. The Prince would have found it easier to open up to them.

Half of his words about wanting to leave the country were true, and the other half was his desire to change his and his mother's current situation. And there was Bertine in the Union.

He had seen the Prince grow up, witnessing his mother's difficult life. Despite this, they had lived without causing any trouble until recently. But Bertine had given the young boy hope.

He did not outright reject the idea of leaving the country and instead showed understanding, saying, "I understand your feelings." It was a mistake to be too harsh at that age. His approach seemed to work, and eventually, Prince Claudius asked, "I want to correspond with Miss Bertine. Can you help me?"

Before meeting her in person, he thought, "She's a woman under Celsio's influence. Celsio might be manipulating her skillfully." However, after hearing her opinion that "His Highness should wait until he comes of age," he changed his mind. If she intended to use the Prince, it would be easier to do so while he was young.

Celsio, the hawk among doves, and Bertine, the alchemist's daughter, were a dangerous combination. Caution was necessary, but from today's conversation, it seemed that she had not intentionally influenced or incited the Prince.

However, the idea of taking over Sanlouan that he had conceived from Prince Claudius's words was not bad.

The Kingdom of Sanlouan was a country that lived off the cream of the Empire's prosperity. There would be no problem if it became a vassal state of the Empire. The nobles and commoners of Sanlouan would likely welcome Prince Claudius.

He had become so involved because he knew very well what it meant to be born and live as the Second Prince.