The long face of the Marchioness of Fiddlers turned pale.
When Plat, who had sent Marchioness Fiddler out, returned, Arkan said with his eyes closed.
“Don’t say anything right now. Got it?”
Plat looked around in bewilderment as if there was someone else besides him... But of course, Arkan and Plat were the only two people in the study.
Plat said.
“I haven’t told you anything yet.”
“That’s what I’m saying. Just don’t say anything.”
Arkan, who had been tilting his head back, straightened his posture and straightened his upper body.
When the sight of Marchioness Fiddler’s apology came to mind again, he frowned and shut his eyes tightly.
Arkan muttered.
“Should I have scolded her more? I suddenly feel absurd after sending her away."
Plat, who had been observing his complexion, tilted his shoulder slightly and asked.
“Did Marquis Fiddler really lie to Her Highness the Princess... and make her youngest daughter the Princess confidant?”
“Then would I have made such a fuss over something that didn’t exist? She said that I gave permission for Sophia Fiddler to be the Princess’ confidant. It’s ridiculous.”
Chamberlain Plat remained silent for a moment, lost in thought.
It had been two or three years since the Marchioness Fiddlers had been secretly or openly appealing to Arkan to take her youngest daughter as Queen.
But if she had wanted to keep her by the side of Erdene, who would become Queen...
Plat said.
“This is my personal opinion.”
Arkan glanced at him, still frowning as if he had a headache.
Plat, who had been biting his lips for a moment like a child who had secretly eaten candy, continued.
“Perhaps she wanted to draw His Majesty’s attention to Sophia Fiddlers? That is what Marchioness Fiddlers intended.”
Plat was also very conservative among the nobles and officials of Vetor.
“It is true that Sophia of the Fiddler family is a flawless lady, Your Majesty. No noble of Vetor would deny that fact...”
“Plat!”
Plat’s shoulders flinched at Arkan’s second snarl that suddenly burst out.
There was no change in his expression, but Plat lowered his head and took a step back. Arkan glared at him with an extremely angry expression before saying.
“Never mention such words in front of me again. An engagement is the most important and sacred promise, and I have no intention of breaking it.”
She opened her eyes wide as if she couldn’t believe that the one who had just yelled was Arkan, and then suddenly covered her mouth with both hands, with tears welling up in her eyes.
Arkan stared at her with expressionless, almost cold eyes as if he felt no sympathy for the Marchioness of Fiddlers.
“As the Princess wishes, I will arrange for your daughter, Sophia, to remain in the palace as her confidant. However, you cannot stay here. Go to the provinces and quietly reflect until I call you again.”
The Marchioness of Fiddlers bowed her head and lowered her body as low as possible to beg.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me! I will never... do this again. I will never dare... do this again.”
“Enough. And you have absolutely no talent for lying, so know that and never think of lying again.”
The Marchioness’s eyes seemed to have grown twice as large as usual.
However, the area around her eyelids was sunken, making her already thin face look almost like a skeleton.
“Your Majesty, t-what do you mean...”
“Yes, then, you’ll leave.”
When Arkan made a nod, Chamberlain Plat helped the staggering Marchioness out and led her out.
The sound of sobbing could be heard outside the door for a moment before fading away.
Arkan sighed, pounding his forehead with his clenched right hand.
Arkan stared at her with expressionless, almost cold eyes as if he felt no sympathy for the Marchioness of Fiddlers.
“As the Princess wishes, I will arrange for your daughter, Sophia, to remain in the palace as her confidant. However, you cannot stay here. Go to the provinces and quietly reflect until I call you again.”
The Marchioness of Fiddlers bowed her head and lowered her body as low as possible to beg.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me! I will never... do this again. I will never dare... do this again.”
“Enough. And you have absolutely no talent for lying, so know that and never think of lying again.”
The Marchioness’s eyes seemed to have grown twice as large as usual.
However, the area around her eyelids was sunken, making her already thin face look almost like a skeleton.
“Your Majesty, t-what do you mean...”
“Yes, then, you’ll leave.”
When Arkan made a nod, Chamberlain Plat helped the staggering Marchioness out and led her out.
The sound of sobbing could be heard outside the door for a moment before fading away.
Arkan sighed, pounding his forehead with his clenched right hand.
When Plat, who had sent Marchioness Fiddler out, returned, Arkan said with his eyes closed.
“Don’t say anything right now. Got it?”
Plat looked around in bewilderment as if there was someone else besides him... But of course, Arkan and Plat were the only two people in the study.
Plat said.
“I haven’t told you anything yet.”
“That’s what I’m saying. Just don’t say anything.”
Arkan, who had been tilting his head back, straightened his posture and straightened his upper body.
When the sight of Marchioness Fiddler’s apology came to mind again, he frowned and shut his eyes tightly.
Arkan muttered.
“Should I have scolded her more? I suddenly feel absurd after sending her away."
Plat, who had been observing his complexion, tilted his shoulder slightly and asked.
“Did Marquis Fiddler really lie to Her Highness the Princess... and make her youngest daughter the Princess confidant?”
“Then would I have made such a fuss over something that didn’t exist? She said that I gave permission for Sophia Fiddler to be the Princess’ confidant. It’s ridiculous.”
Chamberlain Plat remained silent for a moment, lost in thought.
It had been two or three years since the Marchioness Fiddlers had been secretly or openly appealing to Arkan to take her youngest daughter as Queen.
But if she had wanted to keep her by the side of Erdene, who would become Queen...
Plat said.
“This is my personal opinion.”
Arkan glanced at him, still frowning as if he had a headache.
Plat, who had been biting his lips for a moment like a child who had secretly eaten candy, continued.
“Perhaps she wanted to draw His Majesty’s attention to Sophia Fiddlers? That is what Marchioness Fiddlers intended.”
Arkan nodded, wiping his face with his palm.
“Yes, that is probably so. That is why it is even more absurd, Plat. Is she trying to solicit a concubine from me? You should have asked the Marchioness if she was in her right mind.”
Arkan scolded in an angry voice. However, Plat’s answer was a little different from what Arkan had expected.
“What... It’s not that bad. Of course, concubinage was banned by the law of the kingdom a long time ago, but isn’t that something that doesn’t work in the royal family? Your Majesty’s grandfather, King Alfior, also had several concubines.”
“Concubines?”
Arkan laughed sarcastically.
“They were just government officials and not a single one of them kept their position as the King’s concubine. And what were my grandfather’s last years like after such a debaucherous life? I heard that my grandmother was in a vacation home when he passed away. I heard that none of those government officials even looked after him, so at most, the chief of staff and the palace doctor kept their positions.”
“That’s true, but... Anyway, what I want to say is...”
“What is it?”
Plat stared at Arkan as if to say, ‘You know, right?’ Arkan, who had been staring at that strange gaze, opened his mouth in astonishment.
“Are you saying that you also think the same as the Marchioness of Fiddler?”
Plat, who was standing upright with his back to the ground, swallowed dryly with a slightly tense expression.
He knew that a thunderbolt would strike, and although he did not like Marchioness Fiddler...
“Yes, that is probably so. That is why it is even more absurd, Plat. Is she trying to solicit a concubine from me? You should have asked the Marchioness if she was in her right mind.”
Arkan scolded in an angry voice. However, Plat’s answer was a little different from what Arkan had expected.
“What... It’s not that bad. Of course, concubinage was banned by the law of the kingdom a long time ago, but isn’t that something that doesn’t work in the royal family? Your Majesty’s grandfather, King Alfior, also had several concubines.”
“Concubines?”
Arkan laughed sarcastically.
“They were just government officials and not a single one of them kept their position as the King’s concubine. And what were my grandfather’s last years like after such a debaucherous life? I heard that my grandmother was in a vacation home when he passed away. I heard that none of those government officials even looked after him, so at most, the chief of staff and the palace doctor kept their positions.”
“That’s true, but... Anyway, what I want to say is...”
“What is it?”
Plat stared at Arkan as if to say, ‘You know, right?’ Arkan, who had been staring at that strange gaze, opened his mouth in astonishment.
“Are you saying that you also think the same as the Marchioness of Fiddler?”
Plat, who was standing upright with his back to the ground, swallowed dryly with a slightly tense expression.
He knew that a thunderbolt would strike, and although he did not like Marchioness Fiddler...
Plat was also very conservative among the nobles and officials of Vetor.
“It is true that Sophia of the Fiddler family is a flawless lady, Your Majesty. No noble of Vetor would deny that fact...”
“Plat!”
Plat’s shoulders flinched at Arkan’s second snarl that suddenly burst out.
There was no change in his expression, but Plat lowered his head and took a step back. Arkan glared at him with an extremely angry expression before saying.
“Never mention such words in front of me again. An engagement is the most important and sacred promise, and I have no intention of breaking it.”
As Arkan drove the wedge in, even the most sane Plat could no longer mention Sophia Fiddler.
However, it was also true that it was regrettable.
Not as foolish or blatant as Marchioness Fiddler, but Plat also thought that Sophia was a much more suitable match for Arkan.
She was as strict and stubborn as Plat and could not find weaknesses.
Educated and elegant, with a calm and cautious personality...
'If the Marchioness was just a little bit smarter, His Majesty would have considered Sophia Fiddler as a Queen candidate long ago.'
Plat clicked his tongue inwardly.
"Your Majesty."
Arkan, who had barely turned his gaze back to his book, looked up at Plat as if asking for something.
"What's going on now?"
Plat said.
"As far as I know, in the Hirschsten Empire, it is not a problem for married people to have concubines or mistresses. Men, of course, and women, too."
Arkan's eyebrows furrowed.
"So, what's the big deal? An empire is an empire, and Vetor has its own laws."
"You are right. I fully understand Your Majesty’s nobility in emphasizing the sacredness of engagement... but the question is whether Her Highness thinks the same as Your Majesty.”
Arkan narrowed his eyes, not understanding Flat’s words at first.
His handsome face, which made anyone passing by look back once more, was filled with both doubt and concern.
“What are you trying to say?”
Flat’s wrinkled eyes flinched slightly.
His eyes, which had always seemed indifferent, were filled with a strange and impudent curiosity as well as a touchy concern.
“If Her Highness...the person who will become Her Majesty tomorrow has a government, what will Your Majesty do?”
At that moment, the book in Arkan’s hand tilted down as if it was about to slip.
“The people of this country do not have governments?”
Erdene looked at Sophia with eyes of disbelief.
It was as if she had said to herself, ‘If you dig under your feet right now, you’ll find treasure.’
“You don’t have a concubine, is that true?”
Sophia nodded to her continued question.
“That’s right, Your Highness.”
Sophia quickly filled Erdene’s empty teacup with freshly brewed tea.
The other maids were still afraid to even make eye contact with Erdene, so they were all working in places out of sight.
Only Sophia seemed to have known Erdene for a long time as if nothing had happened.
When Erdene raised her hand and gestured for her to stop pouring tea, Sophia immediately put the teapot away and continued.
“Concubinage itself has been prohibited by law for quite some time. Not only ordinary citizens, but even nobles with titles cannot have concubines. Well, I heard that His Majesty’s grandfather, His Majesty the King, wasn’t like that... At least His Majesty the previous King didn’t have a single mistress.”
“Does that mean everyone follows that law?”
“Of course, there are people who break the law. For example, there is a law in every country that says, ‘You must not kill people,’ but there is no country in the world that does not have a single murderer.”
Erdene, who had been drinking half of the steaming tea as if it were a cold beverage, narrowed her brows with a puzzled expression.
“Even if the people do, I don’t understand why they enforce that law on the royal family and noble families. Why on earth?”
Erdene blinked intently and added.
“Isn’t it so inefficient?”
Sophia’s lips twitched unnaturally.
She was quite an intelligent person, as rumored, but she had naturally become accustomed to the society and institutions of Vetor, where she was born and raised.
Therefore, it was not easy to understand Erdene’s intentions in evaluating the ban on concubinage as ‘inefficient.’
“In what way do you mean it’s inefficient...?”
Sophia trailed off.
Erdene looked at her blankly as if she was saying something obvious.
However, it was also true that it was regrettable.
Not as foolish or blatant as Marchioness Fiddler, but Plat also thought that Sophia was a much more suitable match for Arkan.
She was as strict and stubborn as Plat and could not find weaknesses.
Educated and elegant, with a calm and cautious personality...
'If the Marchioness was just a little bit smarter, His Majesty would have considered Sophia Fiddler as a Queen candidate long ago.'
Plat clicked his tongue inwardly.
"Your Majesty."
Arkan, who had barely turned his gaze back to his book, looked up at Plat as if asking for something.
"What's going on now?"
Plat said.
"As far as I know, in the Hirschsten Empire, it is not a problem for married people to have concubines or mistresses. Men, of course, and women, too."
Arkan's eyebrows furrowed.
"So, what's the big deal? An empire is an empire, and Vetor has its own laws."
"You are right. I fully understand Your Majesty’s nobility in emphasizing the sacredness of engagement... but the question is whether Her Highness thinks the same as Your Majesty.”
Arkan narrowed his eyes, not understanding Flat’s words at first.
His handsome face, which made anyone passing by look back once more, was filled with both doubt and concern.
“What are you trying to say?”
Flat’s wrinkled eyes flinched slightly.
His eyes, which had always seemed indifferent, were filled with a strange and impudent curiosity as well as a touchy concern.
“If Her Highness...the person who will become Her Majesty tomorrow has a government, what will Your Majesty do?”
At that moment, the book in Arkan’s hand tilted down as if it was about to slip.
***
“The people of this country do not have governments?”
Erdene looked at Sophia with eyes of disbelief.
It was as if she had said to herself, ‘If you dig under your feet right now, you’ll find treasure.’
“You don’t have a concubine, is that true?”
Sophia nodded to her continued question.
“That’s right, Your Highness.”
Sophia quickly filled Erdene’s empty teacup with freshly brewed tea.
The other maids were still afraid to even make eye contact with Erdene, so they were all working in places out of sight.
Only Sophia seemed to have known Erdene for a long time as if nothing had happened.
When Erdene raised her hand and gestured for her to stop pouring tea, Sophia immediately put the teapot away and continued.
“Concubinage itself has been prohibited by law for quite some time. Not only ordinary citizens, but even nobles with titles cannot have concubines. Well, I heard that His Majesty’s grandfather, His Majesty the King, wasn’t like that... At least His Majesty the previous King didn’t have a single mistress.”
“Does that mean everyone follows that law?”
“Of course, there are people who break the law. For example, there is a law in every country that says, ‘You must not kill people,’ but there is no country in the world that does not have a single murderer.”
Erdene, who had been drinking half of the steaming tea as if it were a cold beverage, narrowed her brows with a puzzled expression.
“Even if the people do, I don’t understand why they enforce that law on the royal family and noble families. Why on earth?”
Erdene blinked intently and added.
“Isn’t it so inefficient?”
Sophia’s lips twitched unnaturally.
She was quite an intelligent person, as rumored, but she had naturally become accustomed to the society and institutions of Vetor, where she was born and raised.
Therefore, it was not easy to understand Erdene’s intentions in evaluating the ban on concubinage as ‘inefficient.’
“In what way do you mean it’s inefficient...?”
Sophia trailed off.
Erdene looked at her blankly as if she was saying something obvious.
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