Chapter 12

Third Person Perspective

"Forgive me!"

As Iktos Totus left and I returned to my office, Reiven immediately bowed his head.

Last year, there were rumors that the First Prince had harmed the Second Prince.

That area was indeed under my jurisdiction, and the failure of the security was my responsibility.

What was strange, however, was that the First Prince made no significant moves and showed no signs of dispelling the rumors.

Amidst this, an offer for reassignment to the First Prince's entourage came from the Duke of Eulathion, who was connected to the royal family.

When everyone declined, the Duke of Eulathion seemed to have identified them all as enemies.

On that basis, he requested the separation of Iktos Totus, who was clearly not part of my direct subordinates, from me, who had marital ties to the royal family.

"No, as I said, it was my mistake in personnel selection. I acted too hastily. Sending you, who understood my thoughts, was itself a bad move."

Reading the intentions of superiors is not a bad thing, and a subordinate who understands the internal situation and reads the direction is capable.

However, it can also lead to a cessation of independent thinking.

This time, Reiven, who understood my intentions and probed, ended up ignoring the First Prince and targeting the nurse.

However, the troublemaker turned out to be the First Prince.

His unusual appearance in just a shirt and my underestimation of his actions were my faults.

Additionally, there was a narrow-mindedness due to the temptation of creating a favor with the influential Duke of Eulathion.

"May I confirm one thing?"

The doctor who examined the First Prince asked Reiven.

"Those hand injuries, were they indeed self-inflicted?"

"Yes. He took a stone out of a glass containing liquid and smashed it against the fireplace."

I confirmed the stone with Iktos. I don't know the details, but it was from an alchemy experiment and is said to be non-toxic.

"Injuries of that severity, and the lack of hesitation in self-harm, suggest a person of considerable courage, even at the age of six."

The doctor, with a grim face, shared his observations with me.

"In some cases, it could be a violent impulse due to severe psychological stress."

I couldn't help but look at Reiven.

"Ah, well, I did confront him, but to that extent?"

"Given his pre-existing mental state, the appearance of an unknown man, especially one who came to drastically change the situation, could have worsened his condition."

The doctor seemed concerned about Reiven's overreaction and the First Prince's mental health.

However, the First Prince did not appear that way at all.

He was only slightly surprised when apologizing, and for a child of his age, he was unusually calm.

"Could it be that he had everything planned out?"

It was what I thought when I first saw the injury.

"Those cuts, didn't they look like he was defending himself against a sword?"

"Y-You can't be serious... If it was said that he was attacked by a sword, I would be sentenced to death..."

Reiven's face twitched as he said it.

The doctor, not denying it, seemed to think the injuries were plausible enough to be from a sword attack.

If he had refused to apologize, the matter would have reached the Emperor.

The First Prince's ability to meet the Emperor directly and the Emperor's willingness to listen were already known.

"Reiven, did you get a sense of the First Prince's character?"

"He hardly spoke, but he seemed quick-witted. And, well, creepy?"

I prompted him to continue with his unusual evaluation.

"Children of that age usually speak their emotions, right? He didn't speak at all. He didn't show any emotion. Especially, to calmly look down at the blood and even laugh while I was pinned to the floor was too creepy."

He had said the same thing when he was brought back by the former military tutor.

The First Prince had threatened and instructed the doctor to be arranged by us.

"Did he seem to be receiving advice at that time?"

"No way. It was entirely the First Prince's decision. It was creepy, and the room was uncomfortable, so...?"

Reiven ran his hand through his blond hair, as if remembering something.

"...The room was completely empty, and the built-in shelves were empty. I thought he had hurriedly cleaned up when I came."

"Come to think of it, the room I was led to was also simple."

"Yes, but... Do you need to clean up a carpet?"

Indeed, there was no carpet.

Moreover, the room seemed to have no decorations at all.

"He must have broken a container of water and cleaned it up."

"No, that was in a different room. The one with golden decorations. The room with white and blue decorations that the teacher entered was the same when I stormed in."

The doctor suggested a reason for the lack of carpet, but Reiven pointed out that it was a different room.

The room I went to had no carpet or paintings from the beginning.

"So, he only lives in that room. He probably hasn't touched the unused rooms."

Surely, there must be items in the bedroom or other rooms.

It's impossible to live without a carpet in every room.

Alright, I shouldn't waste my thoughts on something that brings no benefit.

"The current problem is Totus. It's troublesome to have his authority stripped."

"Well, there's no real harm since there's no guard who will follow him, right?"

"The problem is that it was stripped. If I'm seen as easy to control, I don't know what I'll be asked to do in return for this favor."

"I'm sorry. Though it's not my place to say, we should strike back before they dictate the terms."

Reiven is right; we should take the initiative and cut ties before the relationship of favors becomes a burden.

Whether he is intelligent or mentally ill, it won't be pleasant to be involved.

"Should I go and check on his injuries?"

The doctor offered to go himself.

As a doctor responsible for the treatment of the guards, he is trained and has experience with injuries.

He is gentle, avoids conflict, and is discreet.

He has no ties to any factions and is unbiased in his views, making him a good person.

That's why he is dangerous.

As a son of the Emperor, yet relegated to a corner of the palace, the First Prince, who has lost his mother and cannot even properly decorate his given room, evokes sympathy from the doctor, which is not hard to imagine.

"Check on Totus, and if he's in bad shape, go see him. But avoid getting more involved."

"What about the Duke of Eulathion?"

Reiven, sensing my concern about the practical harm, asks me.

This result came from the Duke of Eulathion's efforts, who still covets the throne.

With the Emperor's authority waning, it makes sense to stabilize the future by making the First Prince's entourage more manageable.

The Duke of Eulathion, while dreaming of the throne, does not oppose weakening to eliminate succession disputes.

However, I don't think it's worth taking such risks.

"I accepted the request after making it clear that Totus was not originally compliant. There's no particular problem."

There's no need to mention that we owe the First Prince a favor.

I responded to the Duke of Eulathion's request, ensuring an equal position, and that's all that matters.

My role is to hold the position of Duke of Stratege until I can pass it to my son.

"Ah, I want to retire as soon as possible."

Thinking of my young son, who was born late and is just an adult, I let out a complaint.

"You're thinking too far ahead. Still, it's understandable to be disillusioned with politics when you think of a pitiful child."

The doctor, older than me and more emotional, misunderstands my complaint.

I, a son-in-law, was sought through a political marriage to be the heir of the ducal family.

The title of Duke of Stratege is only borrowed.

I am a placeholder until my son, guaranteed by the late duke and his daughter, my wife, can claim the title.

Once my duty is done, I will retire to my hometown and live quietly.

"Well, as long as the current political and authority status is maintained, that's fine... Pitiful, you say?"

I have never thought of the First Prince as pitiful.

As a prince, he has certain obligations, and if he dislikes them, he can choose to renounce them.

It should be a better future than being thrown out of a palanquin or dragged down and executed.

Eventually, he will have to accept the responsibilities of leadership, but that's none of my concern.

I have no intention of getting deeply involved with the First Prince.

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