Chapter 66

"Then, I will take my leave, Father."

Diora, her daughter, smiled adorably and left the room.

Her voice was lively, and her cheeks were rosy. Not only was she beautiful, but her intellect was also a treasure of our kingdom of Luciusaria.

"I hope she doesn't make a mistake in the capital while she's so excited."

The queen, my wife, seemed worried about Diora's excitement.

"Considering the matter of the portrait as well?"

The queen only moved her eyes to look at me. I tried to suppress my agitation and responded.

"There doesn't seem to be any suspicion about the story that it was accidentally damaged, right?"

"Yes, that child doesn't doubt the good intentions of the Marquis Strategos."

I sensed a thorn in my wife's words.

Diora proposed to the First Prince of the Empire. At the time, I found it amusing, thinking it was just a childish fancy.

From a political perspective, the emperor is currently focused on consolidating his position. The First Prince, not being the son of the emperor's empress, is in a delicate position. While the emperor didn't seem to mind the proposal, it was a mixed bag for us, with both benefits and risks.

"He will facilitate the correspondence. It's a response out of consideration for us."

The queen has seen that the Marquis Strategos strongly opposed the engagement of the First Prince and Diora. Given the issues with succession, it's understandable to fear getting burned by intervening.

Now, our kingdom of Luciusaria is known for its prestigious academy. However, the land's poor conditions, which prevented the establishment of independent industries, have historically hindered the kingdom's development. Additionally, relying on food imports from other countries means that avoiding conflict has been a constant concern since the kingdom's founding.

"To me, it seems there's a lot of personal emotion involved."

"That's... no, yes. I won't deny that..."

After all, he is my cousin who has been in love with my mother since childhood. Honestly, seeing Diora grow to look so much like her, I sometimes thought it was for the best that he was in the capital. Ideally, I should pity him for not being able to marry the one he loved.

I can also imagine why he pushed for the correspondence. He's definitely monitoring the content under the guise of supervision. The First Prince, aware of this, probably doesn't include any sweet words for Diora.

"But, there are good things about the correspondence, right?"

"Yes, the First Prince is coordinating with Diora, and she is studying diligently. She has become proactive in understanding things by seeing and hearing them herself."

"That's because the First Prince, who lives a restricted life, recommended it."

The letters I see from Diora are mostly about what she has heard or read. She doesn't have many personal experiences. The First Prince, through these letters, learned about Diora's life and praised her environment where she can freely see and hear things. This inspired Diora to enthusiastically accompany me and my wife on inspections, showing more interest in the country than her brother Adel, who is often reluctant.

"You look stern. It's about Adel, isn't it?"

"Yes, I understand his jealousy of Diora's talents. But, what good does it do to belittle her? Why doesn't he focus on improving himself? Intelligence isn't the only measure of excellence. It's enough to admit what he doesn't understand."

"We agreed that you shouldn't push Adel too hard, didn't we?"

We discussed the next king, our son. By the time we realized it, he had already left for the academy and is now living in the dormitory.

Reflecting on this, our shortcomings in raising Adel have become apparent. When Adel was born, the imperial princess's son, who was attending the academy, passed away. The princess, suffering from the loss, also died, and several princes in the capital died within a few years for various reasons. Then came the illness and death of the previous emperor. The new emperor was unstable, and the palace was vulnerable.

Naturally, many nobles and surrounding countries were in turmoil for about a decade. This affected the academy, which gathers noble children, and even the teachers, who were of high birth. Problems also arose with external supporters, investors, and affiliated facilities.

"Adel has done nothing wrong. The times were bad."

"But, we gathered the best nurses, educators, and tutors to ensure he lacked nothing. Why did he turn out like this..."

Regret is endless. Having a child like Diora, who has no issues, makes me wonder why.

"Let's hope that through his peers, Adel will broaden his knowledge and correct his skewed thinking."

My wife, who is more involved in politics than I am, noticed Adel's distorted thinking earlier. She also pointed out that I often compare him to Diora.

As a king, I am ashamed of my words and actions. At the same time, I am grateful to have her as my wife.

Thinking about this, I feel more pity for my cousin, who dreamed of being with the one he loved and serving his duty.

"By the way, in addition to the news from the Marquis Strategos about setting up a meeting between Diora and the First Prince, there is other information. It seems that the rumors about the Second Prince attempting to assassinate the First Prince are malicious and unfounded."

Rumors from the capital often spread here because of the presence of officials from various countries under the empire. The information is limited to the upper echelons, but few have direct access like I do.

"Moreover, the Fourth Prince, who is rumored to be frail, has improved in health and now has the trust of the younger princes."

"Well, then it's as Diora's letters say. That's good... Even in the imperial family, where difficult decisions are required, it's unnatural for letters to not mention anyone's name."

Diora's letters cover a wide range of topics, including academics, interesting stories, alchemy, and answers to Diora's questions. However, one odd point is the extreme lack of mentions of other people.

Upon inquiring with the Marquis Strategos, I learned that the First Prince has only three people around him. The recent assassination attempt, which the emperor, who had been distant, noticed and addressed, led to increased interaction with the younger princes.

"......If you don't want him, I'll take him."

My wife said this in a serious tone, though she was smiling. Her eyes were serious.

"Adel, out of jealousy towards Diora, now despises women of lower status and age. He not only refuses to listen but also insults them. If we were to welcome a man of higher status and excellent talent, regardless of age, it would be beneficial for our country in the future."

"Wait, wait. The Marquis Strategos was also concerned. The upper echelons of the imperial nobility are wary of the First Prince and may even plot to eliminate him."

"That's why. If you don't want him, I'll take him."

She repeated this firmly, clenching her fist. Such a suggestion cannot lead to, "Then, we'll take the prince"!

Hmm? Could Diora's hasty character, which led her to propose immediately after falling in love at first sight, be in her blood?

"Calm down. The Marquis Strategos raised concerns at the proposal stage."

My cousin will eventually return to this country. Despite his personal feelings, his advice is genuinely for the benefit of Luciusaria.

"Even if he's not the heir, he has imperial blood and succession rights. If such a person serves under a king, there will be suspicions of a coup within the country. The First Prince's misfortune is due to his proximity to the throne, regardless of his will. The same problem would arise in our country."

Especially with Adel, who feels inferior to Diora and has developed a twisted mindset. If a prince of equal talent were to appear alongside Diora, Adel would undoubtedly rebel.

Of course, deposing Adel, who has legitimate succession rights, would weaken the monarchy. Moreover, Adel has the legitimacy that most of the domestic nobility trust, and they would support a legitimate successor. Dividing the country would lead to a situation like the current emperor's, where authority is weak and the country is vulnerable.

"Inviting the First Prince would ultimately lead to the same困境 as in the capital."

My wife stared at me without answering. Though she didn't say it out loud, she was indeed encouraging the marriage with Diora. While we welcome his talents with open arms, the issue lies elsewhere.

"......For now, the risks are too high. The First Prince needs to grow more, achieve visible accomplishments on his own, and establish a solid foundation."

First, he needs power—military, political, or even financial. A prince with just a few attendants and no visible achievements cannot be welcomed into our royal family.

My wife, understanding this, nodded once and didn't pursue the matter further. However, her eyes still showed that she hadn't given up.

(1100 Bookmarks Anniversary)