IGMU 15

Chapter  15

Franz let out a sigh as he looked over the knights filling the stands, along with Queen Elisabeth, Aunt Sylvia, Crown Princess Diane, and the noble ladies seated in the royal box.

“The more spectators there are, the more fun it gets.”

For Franz, who disliked strenuous exercise, the sudden polo match was not particularly welcome—but at the same time, his body itched with the anticipation of finally getting some proper movement after a long time.

“I won’t go easy on you just because you’re my older brother, so be prepared.”

Franz mounted his horse with practiced ease and agility.

“That’s exactly what I want.”

Knights in uniform lined up on the field. Among them, Franz and Frederick stood out the most.

The crowd in the stands erupted into cheers and thunderous applause. Most spectators were eager to see which side would claim victory.

“Please take care of me, Sir Adolf.”

Before the match began, Franz greeted Adolf, the captain of the royal guard. Adolf smiled modestly in response.

“The honor is mine.”

Adolf’s skill was widely recognized by Franz, who had seen him train in swordsmanship and firearms since childhood alongside Frederick. His skill level was comparable to the commander of the First Order of Knights.

“Let’s have a fair match!”

Frederick declared, and at the whistle, the game began.

No one doubted either side’s strength, and as expected, the two teams were evenly matched.

The score remained close throughout, neither side gaining a significant lead. Then, just before the final whistle, Franz’s attack succeeded, and the royal guard secured victory with a score of 14 to 13.

Adolf had led the tactics and maintained high speed, charging into enemy territory before passing the ball precisely to Franz, who converted it into the winning goal—earning him the spotlight of the match. The stands erupted with applause and cheers.

“Good work!”

“Good work!”

As the next match was anticipated, the knights from both teams shook hands.

Frederick patted Franz’s shoulder with pride and smiled.

“I thought it would go into overtime, but we got properly reversed at the end.”

“Unlike you, with your endless stamina, I had no plans for overtime.”

After a long time, even though it was exercise in name only, Franz felt refreshed from sweating.

“Thanks to you, I got a proper workout.”

“Let’s do this more often.”

Though Franz understood the implication, he teased him lightly, finding it uncharacteristic of a crown prince.

“That sounds a bit childish.”

“What? Hahaha.”

Frederick burst into laughter, and Franz followed suit. The two brothers shared bright smiles warmer than the morning sun.

Breakfast proceeded in a warm and cheerful atmosphere.

“I heard from Sir Adolf. Even though His Majesty does not hold back when competing against me, I’m told he showed no restraint against Frederick either. That’s commendable.”

“You should have seen the match. It was so intense it had us all on edge.”

“Frederick and Franz were both outstanding,” Elisabeth said, prompting nods and smiles from the others.

“I just happened to tag along at the right moment. Everyone was amazing—no one seemed to run out of stamina, which made it hard to keep up appearances. If it had gone into overtime, I think we would have lost.”

Franz downplayed his role while praising Frederick. He shook his head slightly, recalling Frederick’s tireless stamina.

Even though he was modest about himself, everyone knew he was being far too humble.

After breakfast, Franz left the palace.

Aunt Sylvia had invited him to a tea party in the afternoon, but he declined—he wasn’t confident he could remain composed in a gathering of only noble ladies.

She did not press him for a reason, simply understanding. She was someone who always understood him, no matter the situation.

“Shall I take you to Grenville?”

“No. Let’s stop by a jeweler first.”

“If you need anything, we can have the jeweler come to the palace.”

“No. It’s a gift for Aunt Sylvia. I should pick it out myself.”

Franz always chose at least a small gift whenever Aunt Sylvia visited each year.

“Understood.”

Hans relayed the destination to the coachman, and the carriage set off.

They headed toward Covent Garden, a commercial district in the southern part of the capital, Ville.

Covent Garden contained several specialized streets: “Vanessa,” the fashion district; “Lapora,” the jewelry and accessories street; “Mariage,” the grocery street; “Manches,” the art district where painters from across the land gathered; and “Dandelion,” the flower market.

The carriage stopped in front of a shop with a sparkling sign that read Blanmer.

Blanmer, which specialized in rare and expensive gemstones, was famous among nobles—especially noblewomen—for its meticulous craftsmanship.

Its owner, Gabriel, was also a royal court jeweler. The pieces he created were so expensive that only the wealthiest nobles could afford them—some costing more than entire buildings.

When the royal crest-marked carriage stopped, Gabriel hurried out and greeted Franz respectfully.

“Welcome, Your Highness.”

“It’s been a while, Gabriel.”

Franz responded comfortably.

“I will escort you inside.”

Gabriel also bowed respectfully to Hans. The three of them entered the shop under his guidance.

The interior was luxurious and refined. Glass cases displayed dazzling jewels that shimmered brilliantly.

“Is there anything you are looking for in particular?”

“I’d like to find a brooch suitable for my aunt.”

There were not many ordinary items on display. The most valuable pieces were kept in a separate vault storing gold bars and precious gems.

“I will show you our finest pieces. Please wait a moment.”

Gabriel went behind the counter and opened the vault.

Shortly after, he returned with three brooches emitting a radiant glow.

“What do you think? These are among the finest pieces in our shop. This one, in particular, is my own masterpiece. Doesn’t His Highness usually give gifts to Countess Winston around this time of year?”

“I’ll take this one.”

Without hesitation, Franz chose the opal brooch that shimmered with multiple colors. Tiny diamonds were densely set around the opal, creating a mysterious and dazzling brilliance.

“As expected of your eye for quality. Please wait a moment—we will wrap it immediately.”

Gabriel signaled to an employee and prepared the brooch. The staff guided Franz and Hans to a reception room.

Franz sat on the sofa and drank the prepared welcome beverage. Ice floated generously in it, making the fruit punch almost icy cold—exactly to his preference.

Having visited Blanmer for many years, Franz was a VIP customer. Whenever new products arrived, Gabriel would present them to him even before the royal family saw them. Even the staff knew his preferred drinks and provided personalized service.

Pleased with their attentiveness, Franz took out a 100-denar note and handed it to the employee. He always tipped generously, carrying a separate amount in his pocket for that purpose.

“Thank you very much!”

The employee bowed deeply and left.

Franz lifted his glass and looked out the window.

Then he saw a familiar face passing through the busy street.

“…Huh?”

It was Ella Clarence.

Franz narrowed his eyes and watched her. She was wearing a dull gray dress that didn’t fit her properly at the shoulders or waist. The hem was awkwardly short, exposing her ankles in an almost comical way.

He frowned slightly. He even wondered where one could possibly buy a dress like that.

Every time I see her, it’s something new. Should I even call that a dress? It looks like something a commoner would wear.

He couldn’t tell whether the Clarence viscount family was poor or whether Ella simply had strange taste.

He had thought he understood her odd fashion sense over the past week—but perhaps that had been an illusion.

“She’s surprising every time.”

“Pardon?”

“That woman.”

“…Which woman, Your Highness?”

Hans followed Franz’s gaze but could not identify anyone in particular. The street was crowded, and nothing stood out.

Even as Hans looked around in confusion, Franz continued watching Ella. She was walking with a maid, smiling brightly at something amusing.

In contrast, Franz’s expression hardened.

Among all the people he had seen, hers was one of the few smiles that looked genuinely, effortlessly happy. He wasn’t accustomed to that kind of carefree brightness, and it made him frown.

By the time he realized it, she was already walking away into the distance.

And his decision didn’t take long.

Franz stood up and left the shop before Hans could react.

“Huh? Wait! Your Highness! Where are you going?”

“….”

“You must return before the evening banquet!”

Hans called after him anxiously, but Franz did not respond. Only the cheerful chime of the doorbell rang behind him as he stepped outside.