Chapter 30

In the office of the Marquis Strategos, an unfamiliar frame sat prominently.

Decorating a room with paintings is a common thing for nobles.

Looking back, I should have realized that the first prince's room, which was spacious but had no paintings, was odd.

Well, I didn't notice because I don't put any furniture other than practical items in my room.

And I guess I suspected there was something I wasn't supposed to see, so I cleaned it up.

The painting placed in the Marquis Strategos's office was problematic because of what it depicted.

"Isn't it bad if the first prince complains about the confiscation, my lord?"

"Ugh......"

At my remark, my superior groaned in front of the painting.

The painting depicted a girl with orange hair gently swaying.

Her fair skin was rosy, her intelligent eyes were clear, and her well-formed lips were lovely.

The painting depicted Princess Diora of Luciusaria.

And the one who messed up was the Marquis Strategos, who didn't hand over the portrait to the first prince.

"Really, let's stop this, shall we?"

"Don't say that. I didn't expect it to go this far......"

"You're making a mess of things, aren't you?"

"Don't say that!"

The Marquis Strategos is infatuated with Princess Diora, who reminds him of his first love.

He doesn't want to hand over a portrait that resembles his first love to another man.

I didn't think he would be like this when I first met him.

I thought he would be more strict and unapproachable, someone who has no interest in anything other than work.

But thinking about it, the person standing there is someone who has messed up his first love and is now troubled by his conscience, hindering the love life of his aunt's granddaughter.

"I've already warned the other side."

The painting was originally intended for the first prince, and the Marquis Strategos had no right to take it.

He doesn't, but there are some unavoidable aspects.

"Does the first prince even know the meaning of exchanging portraits?"

"Of course he should know, right?"

At my question, the Marquis finally turned away from the portrait.

As the Marquis said, it's common knowledge among nobles.

"But did the prince grow up knowing the common knowledge of the nobility?"

At my remark, the Marquis fell silent.

The first prince was born into a baron's family and moved to the palace as the emperor's son at the age of three.

Since then, he has lived in a corner of the palace with only four attendants.

Among those attendants, the nurse who was of noble birth and taught him manners left to remarry a few years ago.

It's unclear what he was taught by the time he was eight.

"He might have been taught just in time? He has been proposed to by Princess Diora, after all?"

"Even if he knew that exchanging portraits is a preliminary step to a formal engagement, what was his reaction?"

The first prince has already been told that the portrait will not be handed over.

Until now, I had only checked the gifts beforehand, but I had never taken them.

At first, he looked puzzled.

Probably he didn't know, or even if he did, he couldn't imagine it happening to himself.

Moreover, the three attendants of the first prince also showed no particular resistance.

One of them holds a noble title, but Ikt Totos is originally a commoner.

It's understandable that he might not know.

"His reaction? Well...... he looked like he was wondering what an adult was doing."

"Ugh......! No, no, that's not it......"

From the first prince's perspective, it might be a matter of whether Princess Diora is that cute.

Or maybe it's a matter of whether he wants to interfere that much.

In any case, he seemed to find the immature approach amusing, but he didn't seem angry.

Actually, I think it's immature too?

"Ah, and by the way. We should explain to Princess Diora why the portrait is not in our possession."

"......We should say it got dirty during transportation?"

"Is that the best way? But......"

"Or we could say the packaging broke?"

Before I could say anything, the Marquis came up with an excuse.

The portrait that was given was carefully wrapped in multiple layers.

It was wrapped in oil paper to keep water out, wrapped in cloth to prevent shock, and packed in a wooden box to prevent damage.

"How bad are the roads in the capital?"

It seems a bit far-fetched.

Certainly, it can only be transported by carriage, but the roads from the capital to the capital are well-maintained.

There's no way the carriage sent by the royal family would have any problems, and if there was an accident, it would be a major event and reported.

"We can only say that there was a problem with the storage method here."

It seems the Marquis Strategos is willing to take the blame.

He doesn't need to, but he must really not want to hand it over.

"Really, if the princess finds out, she'll hate you."

"Ugh..."

He clutched his chest and groaned.

How much does he dislike her, and how much does he love his aunt?

This isn't fun at all.

"You...... aren't you being a bit too harsh today?"

Caught.

But I pretend not to notice.

"The atmosphere when I said I have the portrait but can't hand it over, and I won't bring it or show it. Do you understand?"

"I'm sorry, that was my fault."

I play the victim to deflect, but the atmosphere was indeed uncomfortable.

But that's usually the case.

I'm an outsider there.

Moreover, I'm rude to the prince, whom the attendants cherish.

The prince, who tolerates my rudeness, is questionable, but is that tolerance?

Maybe it's because he's not interested in me?

Or is it because he's not interested in the position of prince?

"What's wrong? You seem deep in thought. Is something bothering you?"

"Ah, no. I was just wondering how long the first prince will remain a prince."

"How long, huh?"

At my vague question, the Marquis also pondered.

"Before the late emperor, princes would be sent out as lords of the emperor's territories or would establish a duchy after achieving some merit. In either case, they would eventually leave the imperial family. The age would depend on the situation at the time."

"Speaking of duchies, what about the Duke of Eulasion?"

"That's the duke who inherited the house established by the late emperor's younger brother. Ah, I see. The house was established in his forties, and the current Duke of Eulasion is already born."

His realization means he has hit upon the root of why the Duke of Eulasion has imperial ambitions.

Probably because of his experience growing up in the imperial family, he sees meaning in ascending to the throne and living in the palace again.

According to the Marquis, the previous Duke of Eulasion, due to his close bloodline to the emperor, was entrusted with work in the imperial family for a long time.

Then, a duchy without a male heir became extinct, and the House of Eulasion was newly established to fill the gap.

"Therefore, the son of the Duke of Eulasion is engaged to the daughter of the extinct duchy."

"Wow, being a noble is tough, huh?"

"......You're of noble blood too, you know."

"Yes, yes, I'm enjoying the freedom of not being told to marry for the family."

At my flippant remark, the Marquis only smiled wryly.

But I feel I went too far.

"Ah, right. I also heard recently that the prince has been quiet, so I asked what he's been up to."

I'll change the topic with an interesting story.

"He said he's been studying and doing alchemy, but when I asked if there was anything more exciting, he said he's been playing hide-and-seek with his three attendants, who have various nicknames."

The Marquis made an indescribable face at my report.

The first prince said he was good at hiding, but I thought it was impossible.

That's what they call entertaining guests.

I considered saying it but didn't.

I'm an adult.

Thinking about it, the first prince, who looked so happy, seemed like a child his age for the first time.