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Chapter : 11
“How dare you speak recklessly of Her Highness! Tell me exactly what you heard and from whom, without leaving anything out!”
It was only natural that the aides immediately summoned the servants for questioning.
However, an hour later…
“…….”
The aides sat in stunned silence, their quills moving mechanically across the pages.
[1. Five days ago, Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess sent an invitation letter to Duke Rikesis.
2. The Duke departed immediately upon receiving the letter and arrived at the royal palace.
3. The Duke has been staying in the Crown Princess’s residence for over three days.
4…….]
“…….”
As the aides summarized the report, they exchanged fearful glances.
“Could it be that Her Highness is… setting up a new household in the Crown Princess’s residence?”
“……Because of Lady Khalid? That would make sense.”
“If it’s revenge, that’s one thing. But what if… they’ve already grown fond of each other?”
“W-where do you get such disrespectful ideas!”
“Enough. What good would it do for us to guess Her Highness’s intentions now?”
With that, the aides’ expressions grew somber.
“We’ve also turned a blind eye to Lady Khalid’s matters, so we hardly have the right to criticize Her Highness.”
“In the end, the real issue is how we report this to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
They shook their heads anxiously. Eventually, their gaze fell on…
“I-I can’t do it!”
It was Kawez, the youngest aide in the Crown Prince’s palace, who had been listening pale-faced.
But the youngest aide’s protest was futile.
‘Ugh, it’s always me doing this kind of thing!’
“I-I will make the internal report.”
“Do so.”
The Crown Prince didn’t even look at him, only passing the documents across.
Kawez, standing before the Crown Prince, swallowed hard.
With lips dried by nerves, he began the report.
“Y-Yes! Duke Rikesis, who entered the palace at the invitation of Her Royal Highness, the Crown Princess Letier, has been staying in the Crown Princess’s annex for three days. A-and also…….”
His head spun, and the room seemed to tilt.
Though he faltered more and more, he could manage to read aloud because he was only reading the text.
“……Action required. Th-that is all.”
When he finished the report,
“…….”
‘Eek!’
Kawez was frozen in terror, facing the piercing gaze of the Crown Prince.
Yet, the Crown Prince didn’t relent. His eyes remained locked on Kawez.
Finally, the Crown Prince spoke…
“The Duke is staying in the Crown Princess’s residence? For three whole days?”
The air in the office became unbearably heavy.
“Why… am I only hearing this now?”
‘S-save me, the youngest aide…!’
“Explain properly. Or else……”
As the once statuesque, beautiful face of the Crown Prince gradually contorted, Kawez, stiff with fear, flinched.
‘I have to say something…!’
Stay silent, and you’ll die!
Hearing this primal survival instinct, Kawez scrambled together his explanation.
“W-well… for a distinguished guest like Duke Rikesis to still be staying, it seems Her Highness the Crown Princess has shown exceptional courtesy…….”
“…….”
“However, rumors concerning His Highness the Crown Prince… are not favorable… and if the Duke were to take advantage of this gap with impure intentions, it could cause trouble…….”
“…….”
“Th-this is merely a precautionary report to inform you early…….”
Kawez kept changing the subject of his sentences, carefully avoiding any personal commentary such as, ‘It seems Her Highness intends to set up a new government!’
While Kawez babbled on,
“Pass it here.”
The Crown Prince held out his hand. Kawez jumped nervously and handed over the report he had been clutching.
“Y-yes…? Th-that’s…”
“…….”
“I-I will give it to you.”
Kawez handed over the trembling report, and the Crown Prince opened it at random.
And then…
‘No, that page!’
Kawez recognized the raw, hastily written notes by the servants and reached for them in alarm—but it was too late.
[Late in the evening, the Duke sought an audience with Her Highness.]
“……!”
The Crown Prince had read the first sentence of the page.
Kawez held his breath at the sight of the Crown Prince’s glaring eyes.
‘I’m doomed.’
[However, Her Highness refused the meeting, and the Duke reportedly left disappointed.]
“…….”
The Crown Prince’s gaze scanned down the report.
[Then the Duke removed his coat and, for Her Highness,]
“……!”
[he reportedly began chopping firewood diligently, very diligently.]
“…….”
[It seems such rumors are spreading. I strongly insist that you should not take these events lightly!]
“……?”
[Love, like firewood, can ignite suddenly and burn fiercely! And now that the Duke has such fervor in his heart, shouldn’t ‘that person’ also be somewhat wary?]
“…….”
[Out of concern! I am lending this report as a senior in life……]
“Ha.”
‘No need to read any further.’
Feeling his brain bubbling like oil, he closed the report, which was now crumpled on the right side.
‘It’s all just part of the Crown Princess’s duties.’
He already guessed why Crown Princess Letier of the Leidetan Empire was hosting Duke Rikesis.
‘She must have wanted to propose something about the northern railway project in advance.’
Letier was competent as Crown Princess.
She had a keen eye for distinguishing friend from foe among the nobles.
She invited nobles from all regions to the palace, built rapport, and gathered information useful for expanding her influence. But…
‘No one stayed in the Crown Princess’s annex except the vassals of the Haim family.’
Yet now she had allowed Duke Rikesis to stay for three days.
‘This must relate to the Haim family’s business.’
The northern railway project would be implemented eventually, but the north was a lower priority.
So the Duke’s three-day stay at the Crown Princess’s residence was probably not about the railway project.
‘She can’t forcefully end the visit.’
Letier valued her family’s business.
“…….”
The Crown Prince snorted, then spoke with a cold expression to the aide before him.
“I will burn it.”
“Eh? Shouldn’t the record be preserved… Ah, yes, understood.”
Kawez hurriedly handed over the matchbox, and the Crown Prince lit the papers himself.
Crackle.
“This is my first order.”
“Yes!”
“Bring me the list of the servants who spoke recklessly. Especially the one who dared to advise me……”
“Y-Your Highness! That servant….”
“What is it?”
“From the Haim Duchy, Your Highness.”
“…….”
It was one of the few servants in the Crown Prince’s palace unrelated to the Empress.
Kawez quickly changed the subject.
“Th-then what is the second order…?”
The Crown Prince, as if in deep thought, said:
“Immediately summon five Royal Guards.”
“……Yes?”
Kawez was shocked.
‘Why are the Royal Guards needed here?’
“Your Highness, may I ask why we need to summon the Royal Guards?”
“Because what you said makes sense.”
“Eh?”
‘My words…?’
Kawez was uneasy, even though the Crown Prince had unexpectedly acknowledged him.
While Kawez replayed his own words, the Crown Prince stood up.
‘I trust Letier.’
There had to be a reasonable reason for hosting Duke Rikesis in the Crown Princess’s residence.
But the Duke?
‘He came the very next day after receiving the Crown Princess’s invitation.’
“I must kill him.”
The Crown Prince muttered as he left the office, and Kawez, frozen in shock, hurried after him.
“No! Wait! What are you saying! Why are you taking your sword! Your Highness!”
‘If the Duke harbors impure intentions, it could cause trouble….’
Clank, clank, clank.
Amid the echoing boots of the Royal Guards, Kawez screamed:
‘I just wanted to survive!’
Unable to curse the Crown Prince or the Crown Princess, blaming the Duke had only made things worse!
‘Please, Your Highness, don’t kill the Duke…’
Hii-hin!
As everyone dismounted their horses:
“What did you just say? The Crown Prince came now?!”
A familiar voice.
Turning, someone was running out from the Crown Princess’s residence.
“W-welcome, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince narrowed his brows.
“…….”
The head maid of the Crown Princess’s residence was shaking all over, drenched in cold sweat.
