Chapter 56

In my room at the palace, as usual, the impudent Levain had come again today.

"Can't you stop making the princess feel that way already?"

"Eh, is Diora still in that mood?"

"Wow, I want to tell the princess that she's being toyed with."

Levain raised his voice as if sighing, watching my reaction.

I ignored him and tried to focus on the letter from Diora that had been opened.

"Oh, I thought you were unusually clingy for a reason. Diora is coming here again, huh? Hmm, the research results are out."

The reason Diora is coming is to accompany the King of Lucisaria on official business.

The official business is to report on the successful stabilization of the cultivation of a magical power recovery herb that the Lucisaria Academy has been working on for a long time.

It seems that the emperor will also present an award, and they are coming to the capital for that.

This is because the results have been so highly anticipated and awaited by the people.

"If it's getting that much attention, I probably can't attend."

"Why don't you just ask His Majesty to force you to go?"

"That wouldn't be a good idea. I don't want to be glared at even more than I already am."

"Indeed. If I can contribute to dampening the prince's enthusiasm, then the nobles' harassment will have been worth it, huh...!"

Levain, who had been talking non-stop, suddenly exhaled and fell silent.

When I looked up from the letter, I saw that Helcof, with a fierce expression, had grabbed Levain by the collar from behind.

But it seemed that Ict had punched Levain in the stomach.

"I'll throw this trash out, Your Highness."

"We should wait until he can walk, since we need to return him to the Strateg Marquis properly."

Because I don't reprimand him, Levain slips up about once every three times and gets a punch for saying too much.

Levain, who can't fall, hangs there, held by Helcof.

"But I am curious about the herb. Since magical power recovery potions can be made through alchemy, maybe I can ask Diora to supply them once production stabilizes?"

I reread the letter with a bit of excitement.

Then I looked at the person by the wall whom Levain's arrival had interrupted.

"Well, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. Shall we continue, Wald?"

The person I addressed was an elf with brown skin.

There are no dark elves in this world, but Wald is a half-elf, half-human with a strong human bloodline, dark skin, and no magic ability.

Humans can use all attributes, but whether or not they can use magic depends on individual aptitude.

Wald had no aptitude.

"Wald?"

"Y-Yes."

His black hair swayed, and his orange eyes finally moved.

But his gaze was directed at Levain, who was groaning, not at me.

Wald, who had been assigned to me as a financial officer this year, had been working calmly and without expression, but now his agitation was clearly visible.

"Huh? Aren't you pretending to be stupid, Your Highness?"

You recovered quickly, Levain.

"It's troublesome to pretend with someone I see frequently. Since being assigned to me is considered a demotion and has cut off my interactions with others in the palace, I thought it was fine."

This time, Wald's eyes widened as he looked at me.

"Oh, don't resign for a year. Otherwise, you won't get a severance package. And if you can teach me about finance, I'll pay you separately as a tutor. Just think of it as a place to earn money."

"How will you remember that? Are you planning to aim for a government position after being kicked out of the imperial family?"

Though he pretends to be casual, Levain seems to be on guard.

"No, I won't. When I leave, I'll leave. But until then, I don't want to have any more financial issues."

Apparently, I've had an allowance since I was four.

My father had directly ordered it to be paid, and it was indeed being spent.

However, the financial officer in charge never came to me and deliberately did not inform anyone that I had an allowance as a form of harassment.

In my previous life, unused budgets were reviewed and reduced.

Since I didn't know about it, I never used it, and it was continuously reduced.

By last year, when I was nine, it had been reduced to almost nothing.

It hadn't completely disappeared because the financial officer could take some of the funds as necessary expenses.

The financial officer, in name only, had taken the funds without doing any necessary work.

"Problems, huh? You need expenses to work, right? Some people even use carriages to come to the palace."

"That's not something someone who doesn't even greet me and doesn't know my name or face should say. If it's necessary, you should consult me and get my approval. Isn't that normal?"

Levain was taken aback by my response about not knowing his name or face.

Then Wearrel nodded vigorously.

"Of course, what Asha-sama says is normal. That's why His Majesty, upon learning the truth, has started to reform the financial department."

Indeed, my situation gave my father, the emperor, a pretext to reform the important financial department, which is crucial for the functioning of a large organization.

Apparently, one of the important figures in the department was the second son of the Niftas Marquis, and he was dealt with quite harshly.

During this process, the Niftas Marquis apparently said things like not to do foolish things and that getting rid of an unnecessary eldest son is part of the emperor's duty.

My father, even if it was the result of getting rid of an unnecessary third son, sent the Niftas Marquis away.

A letter came from him recently, but I didn't read it and passed it to my father, who got even angrier. It was probably some nonsense.

A letter of complaint also came from my maternal grandfather, a viscount, but after explaining the Niftas Marquis's misconduct and the financial department's negligence in a letter, I received a very humble apology in return.

"I want you to come back to reality, Wald."

"Huh!?"

Wald, whose thoughts couldn't keep up, froze.

When I called out to him, he rebooted and finally looked at me.

"First Prince, what are you—"

"Just remember that you're a prince born into a marquis family. The support of that marquis family is gone. If you want to continue working in the palace, I'll consider asking His Majesty, so do your best."

"Ask His Majesty?"

Why are you getting hung up on that?

Of course, I and my attendants are confused, but Levain seems to understand.

"Ah, Your Highness. His Majesty is known for being a devoted husband and doting father."

"Yes, I know. From personal experience."

"Well, um, the princes, whom His Majesty hardly sees, are treated as exceptions."

"Wait, are you saying you have more intimate contact with them? That might make Terry and the others dislike you when they grow up."

I worry about my father, who, despite rarely seeing me, shows me love as a parent.

"No, no, no. Attempting to assassinate the beloved princes, aiming for the throne despite being unworthy, and being enthusiastic only about alchemy, a vulgar hobby, and being not only talentless but also slow and dull—"

"I get that that's the general evaluation, but if you don't close your mouth soon, it'll be dangerous."

"Ugh..."

Levain immediately closed his mouth and straightened his back at my warning.

Ict, who was about to deliver a palm strike, stopped at the same time.

"His Majesty, because of the short time he has spent with Asha-sama, treats him with the deepest affection."

"Thanks, Ict. Well, let's put aside the fact that an adult is now paranoid and overreacting."

Wald leaned forward and asked.

"Why don't you correct it?"

"Because I have no interest in the throne. More importantly, it's better for Terry to ascend than for me to force myself. It's good for the empire and the people. I don't want to make others unhappy for my own satisfaction."

Hearing my answer, Wald was confused again.

"So, just think of me as a colleague and continue as usual. Come on time, leave on time, and manage and record my allowance properly, and I won't treat you badly."

"You're so cute."

Levain interjected with another unnecessary comment.

Is he not leaving soon?

I received the letter, and I won't write a reply immediately.

When I looked back, Levain had a serious expression for a moment.

"......On the contrary, Your Highness, won't you serve under the Strateg Marquis?"

"There you go again with your strange ideas. I'm a prince. Since I've been given a position, I'll do what's appropriate. I won't serve under a subject. Well, as long as I'm a prince."

I answered as a prince and smiled.

"Maybe it would have been better if you were truly dull."

Levain sighed, saying that.

Regular update

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