Episode 134. The Results of the Competition
I kept my mouth shut. It was a story I couldn't understand at all.
I didn't think his guess was wrong, but I had a hard time coming up with a reason Her Majesty would do so.
Prince Kydel said,
"I know. It's a far-fetched theory. But that Ryuel clearly acted as if he were not a spectator, but someone who could influence this situation. That really bothers me."
I sighed at the night sky. The cold air had the power to awaken and refresh the spirit.
As I silently gazed at the sky, mentally synthesizing Ryuel and Prince Kydel's words, he spoke first.
"So, I'm going to try to take what Ryuel wants. Then, the truth of this matter might be revealed."
"..."
Prince Kydel was smiling, but I sensed danger in his face. It was clear he was hatching a grand plan.
"Take what Ryuel wants?"
“I will also restore the joy of life to Her Highness Miliora.”
15. The result of the contest
I often thought that the views of His Highness Grayon, who often called Prince Kydel a madman, were excellent.
It was true that His Highness Grayon was quite dependent on Prince Kydel.
But aside from that, it was clear that His Highness Grayon would have needed considerable patience to endure someone like Prince Kydel.
Just look at the incident he caused.
The Princess's runaway ended up in the newspapers. More precisely, her "love escapades."
Princess Miliora Tagar was found in a cabin in the woods outside the capital. She was scantily clad, accompanied by her knight-errant lover...
The imperial guards who tracked them down surrounded the cabin for hours, waiting for the maid-in-waiting to dress and dress her up and bring her out.
Of course, the newspaper articles didn't mention the number of clothes she had.
Targan made the incident into a tragic choice made by the Princess who fell in love with her knight-errant. The empire, recently in an uproar over the Kydel family scandal, was captivated by this dramatic love affair.
Isn't the elopement of lovers pushed to the limits of their social standing a timeless and popular tale?
Newspapers reported that letters were piling up, hoping for the marriage of Lord Rond-Amoe and Her Royal Highness Princess Miliora.
The Princess was then dragged to the palace and confined to her room, while Lord Rond was imprisoned in a dungeon.
I was terrified, wondering if Her Majesty the Empress would leave Her Royal Highness alone, and if Lord Rond's head would be spared.
Prince Kydel had masterminded this, but in reality, I was an accomplice, almost a mastermind.
But the man sipping tea in front of me, the mastermind behind this, seemed anything but.
"Don't worry, Prince!"
"Love is always accompanied by trials. Look at us."
Love? What kind of love existed between us? Unless it was a conspiracy or a scheme.
"Ha... I wish I had the nerve to be as strong-willed as yours, Prince."
“Don’t worry. Your nerves are the thickest and strongest of any woman I know.”
Talking to him certainly helped me forget my anxiety. Anger, of course, made me forget my anxiety.
I suppressed my anger at his casual reply and continued,
“I’ve been banned from the Princess’s Palace. I heard from Eria secretly that Kalin is so arrogant that she thinks the Palace is hers.”
“Like that.”
Like that? Just like that?
“Ugh.”
Watching him calmly sip his tea, my anger seemed meaningless.
In fact, Her Highness might actually be happier now. Having confirmed her ‘love’ with Lord Rond.
And wasn’t the Empire’s most talented person secretly working for them both?
I watched Prince Kydel’s expression and asked,
“What about Lord Ryuel?”
“He’s stopped all his outside activities. He must be flustered, seeing the bride he was supposed to marry run off with another man.”
"But I still don't see how this can work out in His Highness Grayon's favor."
"I don't know either. But now Ryuel will give me something, whether he wants it or not."
From then on, Prince Kydel became busy again, and as a result, the House of Nobles convened in private.
The House of Nobles formally inquired of His Majesty the Emperor about the handling of the Princess's illness. They could not ignore the turmoil in the royal family before her state wedding.
Unlike when Prince Kydel and I were brought before the House of Nobles, the situation turned out favorably for us.
Not only were we two messengers, but even the Empress's faction was reluctant to participate in the effort to overthrow Tagar. This matter was a separate matter from the extent to which Her Majesty the Empress held Her Highness the Princess.
Not only did no noble suffer damage from this incident, but it would have been detrimental to the Empire, which had been prospering day by day since its victory.
So the outcome was as we had hoped: Miliora Tagar became Miliora Amoe.
Of course, the process wasn't as peaceful as a fairytale.
Miliora was simply expelled from the imperial lineage and added to the genealogy of the Southern Amoe Counts. There was no grand wedding or parade, as expected for a Princess.
The two left the palace at dawn and boarded a carriage heading south. We were the only ones to see them off.
This solitary scene was probably the exact opposite of the marriage she had dreamed of her entire life.
But so what? If only she could live without a mother who hated her or a brother who treated her like an insect, receiving only the love of a man as solid as a mountain.
I saw her off, clutching Eria and sobbing.
“Eria, you must serve Her Highness well, right? Send a letter as soon as you arrive in the south, and contact me immediately if anything happens. Understood?”
“Of course, Lady Kydel. I will definitely contact you!”
“Sob, Her Highness Milliola...!”
But I choked back tears and looked into the carriage, then sniffed and stopped crying.
Her Highness was curled up in Sir Rond’s arms, draped under his armpits. She looked like a happy kitten. Sir Rond didn’t even want to look at her.
The man, whose body seemed to fill the carriage, blushed brightly and laughed, raising his arms awkwardly as if he was afraid Her Highness would burst in his arms.
I wiped my eyes without realizing it.
Perhaps sensing my betrayed gaze, Lord Rond very carefully pushed Her Highness away from him and stepped out of the carriage.
“Lady Kydel. Thank you.”
“Oh, you are not welcome...”
Anyway, I decided not to worry about Lord Rond anymore. And Her Highness Milliora.
Lord Rond extended his hand to Prince Kydel. Prince Kydel gladly shook his hand. It was a truly belated reconciliation.
“I know I was stubborn, Your Excellency.”
“I forgot, Lord Rond.”
That was the end of their conversation.
“Lord Rond, what are you doing? I feel empty!”
When Her Highness complained, Lord Rond hurried back to the carriage. Then Her Highness leaned out through the carriage window.
“Lorisha, Prince Locard. I will never forget what you did for me! Come visit us in the south. Promise me, yes?”
“Oh my... Your Highness!”
I burst into tears again and reached out to her, but she glared at me and pulled herself into the carriage.
“Oh, dear. I’m Madame Amoe now!”
Her laughter faded, drowned out by the sound of the carriage wheels pulling away.
“...”
“...”
In the sudden desolation and silence, we both fell silent for a moment.
“Your Excellency?”
“Lorisha.”
“Thank you.”
Prince Kydel looked down at me and smiled. He then wrapped his arm around my shoulder and led me into the palace.
I followed him silently, then suddenly felt a pang of regret and asked,
“I thought His Highness Grayon would come see her off.”
“...I think he was jealous.”
As we walked in silence, my heart became complicated.
In the past, I would have thought he was joking, but as time passed, it didn’t feel that way.
I wondered if His Highness Grayon had also become disillusioned with the palace, and perhaps envied Her Highness Miliora for leaving everything behind.
Looking back, his life had not been easy. Perhaps his situation, having to risk his life on the battlefield in place of his grown brother, was the same as that of Her Highness Miliora, albeit in a different way.
'Why is no one happy in the palace?'
I thought for a moment, then shook my head. I remembered the happy image of Her Royal Miliora.
The image of the Princess, who was like a cicada clinging to a rock or a chick in her mother's arms, was the first time she had fallen head over heels in unconditional, pure love.
'I guess that's what love is...'
"Shall we go home too?"
I was suddenly brought back to my senses by Prince Kydel's question.
"Yes, Your Excellency. I'm tired of being so anxious. You must have been tired too. Let's rest."
But we didn't go much further.
In the palace exit corridor, the interpreter for the Smilean messenger was waiting for us.
We followed him to a secluded corner of the palace, where Ryuel greeted us with a smile.
Prince Kydel said,
"What is it, Lord Ryuel?"
"Your Excellency, did you have a good time?"
He spoke calmly in Imperial dialect, seemingly ready to end the play.
"I came to say hello before I leave. Lady Kydel, would you mind reconsidering my proposal one last time?"
I kept my mouth shut. It was a story I couldn't understand at all.
I didn't think his guess was wrong, but I had a hard time coming up with a reason Her Majesty would do so.
Prince Kydel said,
"I know. It's a far-fetched theory. But that Ryuel clearly acted as if he were not a spectator, but someone who could influence this situation. That really bothers me."
I sighed at the night sky. The cold air had the power to awaken and refresh the spirit.
As I silently gazed at the sky, mentally synthesizing Ryuel and Prince Kydel's words, he spoke first.
"So, I'm going to try to take what Ryuel wants. Then, the truth of this matter might be revealed."
"..."
Prince Kydel was smiling, but I sensed danger in his face. It was clear he was hatching a grand plan.
"Take what Ryuel wants?"
“I will also restore the joy of life to Her Highness Miliora.”
***
15. The result of the contest
I often thought that the views of His Highness Grayon, who often called Prince Kydel a madman, were excellent.
It was true that His Highness Grayon was quite dependent on Prince Kydel.
But aside from that, it was clear that His Highness Grayon would have needed considerable patience to endure someone like Prince Kydel.
Just look at the incident he caused.
The Princess's runaway ended up in the newspapers. More precisely, her "love escapades."
Princess Miliora Tagar was found in a cabin in the woods outside the capital. She was scantily clad, accompanied by her knight-errant lover...
The imperial guards who tracked them down surrounded the cabin for hours, waiting for the maid-in-waiting to dress and dress her up and bring her out.
Of course, the newspaper articles didn't mention the number of clothes she had.
Targan made the incident into a tragic choice made by the Princess who fell in love with her knight-errant. The empire, recently in an uproar over the Kydel family scandal, was captivated by this dramatic love affair.
Isn't the elopement of lovers pushed to the limits of their social standing a timeless and popular tale?
Newspapers reported that letters were piling up, hoping for the marriage of Lord Rond-Amoe and Her Royal Highness Princess Miliora.
The Princess was then dragged to the palace and confined to her room, while Lord Rond was imprisoned in a dungeon.
I was terrified, wondering if Her Majesty the Empress would leave Her Royal Highness alone, and if Lord Rond's head would be spared.
Prince Kydel had masterminded this, but in reality, I was an accomplice, almost a mastermind.
But the man sipping tea in front of me, the mastermind behind this, seemed anything but.
"Don't worry, Prince!"
"Love is always accompanied by trials. Look at us."
Love? What kind of love existed between us? Unless it was a conspiracy or a scheme.
"Ha... I wish I had the nerve to be as strong-willed as yours, Prince."
“Don’t worry. Your nerves are the thickest and strongest of any woman I know.”
Talking to him certainly helped me forget my anxiety. Anger, of course, made me forget my anxiety.
I suppressed my anger at his casual reply and continued,
“I’ve been banned from the Princess’s Palace. I heard from Eria secretly that Kalin is so arrogant that she thinks the Palace is hers.”
“Like that.”
Like that? Just like that?
“Ugh.”
Watching him calmly sip his tea, my anger seemed meaningless.
In fact, Her Highness might actually be happier now. Having confirmed her ‘love’ with Lord Rond.
And wasn’t the Empire’s most talented person secretly working for them both?
I watched Prince Kydel’s expression and asked,
“What about Lord Ryuel?”
“He’s stopped all his outside activities. He must be flustered, seeing the bride he was supposed to marry run off with another man.”
"But I still don't see how this can work out in His Highness Grayon's favor."
"I don't know either. But now Ryuel will give me something, whether he wants it or not."
From then on, Prince Kydel became busy again, and as a result, the House of Nobles convened in private.
The House of Nobles formally inquired of His Majesty the Emperor about the handling of the Princess's illness. They could not ignore the turmoil in the royal family before her state wedding.
Unlike when Prince Kydel and I were brought before the House of Nobles, the situation turned out favorably for us.
Not only were we two messengers, but even the Empress's faction was reluctant to participate in the effort to overthrow Tagar. This matter was a separate matter from the extent to which Her Majesty the Empress held Her Highness the Princess.
Not only did no noble suffer damage from this incident, but it would have been detrimental to the Empire, which had been prospering day by day since its victory.
So the outcome was as we had hoped: Miliora Tagar became Miliora Amoe.
Of course, the process wasn't as peaceful as a fairytale.
Miliora was simply expelled from the imperial lineage and added to the genealogy of the Southern Amoe Counts. There was no grand wedding or parade, as expected for a Princess.
The two left the palace at dawn and boarded a carriage heading south. We were the only ones to see them off.
This solitary scene was probably the exact opposite of the marriage she had dreamed of her entire life.
But so what? If only she could live without a mother who hated her or a brother who treated her like an insect, receiving only the love of a man as solid as a mountain.
I saw her off, clutching Eria and sobbing.
“Eria, you must serve Her Highness well, right? Send a letter as soon as you arrive in the south, and contact me immediately if anything happens. Understood?”
“Of course, Lady Kydel. I will definitely contact you!”
“Sob, Her Highness Milliola...!”
But I choked back tears and looked into the carriage, then sniffed and stopped crying.
Her Highness was curled up in Sir Rond’s arms, draped under his armpits. She looked like a happy kitten. Sir Rond didn’t even want to look at her.
The man, whose body seemed to fill the carriage, blushed brightly and laughed, raising his arms awkwardly as if he was afraid Her Highness would burst in his arms.
I wiped my eyes without realizing it.
Perhaps sensing my betrayed gaze, Lord Rond very carefully pushed Her Highness away from him and stepped out of the carriage.
“Lady Kydel. Thank you.”
“Oh, you are not welcome...”
Anyway, I decided not to worry about Lord Rond anymore. And Her Highness Milliora.
Lord Rond extended his hand to Prince Kydel. Prince Kydel gladly shook his hand. It was a truly belated reconciliation.
“I know I was stubborn, Your Excellency.”
“I forgot, Lord Rond.”
That was the end of their conversation.
“Lord Rond, what are you doing? I feel empty!”
When Her Highness complained, Lord Rond hurried back to the carriage. Then Her Highness leaned out through the carriage window.
“Lorisha, Prince Locard. I will never forget what you did for me! Come visit us in the south. Promise me, yes?”
“Oh my... Your Highness!”
I burst into tears again and reached out to her, but she glared at me and pulled herself into the carriage.
“Oh, dear. I’m Madame Amoe now!”
Her laughter faded, drowned out by the sound of the carriage wheels pulling away.
“...”
“...”
In the sudden desolation and silence, we both fell silent for a moment.
“Your Excellency?”
“Lorisha.”
“Thank you.”
Prince Kydel looked down at me and smiled. He then wrapped his arm around my shoulder and led me into the palace.
I followed him silently, then suddenly felt a pang of regret and asked,
“I thought His Highness Grayon would come see her off.”
“...I think he was jealous.”
As we walked in silence, my heart became complicated.
In the past, I would have thought he was joking, but as time passed, it didn’t feel that way.
I wondered if His Highness Grayon had also become disillusioned with the palace, and perhaps envied Her Highness Miliora for leaving everything behind.
Looking back, his life had not been easy. Perhaps his situation, having to risk his life on the battlefield in place of his grown brother, was the same as that of Her Highness Miliora, albeit in a different way.
'Why is no one happy in the palace?'
I thought for a moment, then shook my head. I remembered the happy image of Her Royal Miliora.
The image of the Princess, who was like a cicada clinging to a rock or a chick in her mother's arms, was the first time she had fallen head over heels in unconditional, pure love.
'I guess that's what love is...'
"Shall we go home too?"
I was suddenly brought back to my senses by Prince Kydel's question.
"Yes, Your Excellency. I'm tired of being so anxious. You must have been tired too. Let's rest."
But we didn't go much further.
In the palace exit corridor, the interpreter for the Smilean messenger was waiting for us.
We followed him to a secluded corner of the palace, where Ryuel greeted us with a smile.
Prince Kydel said,
"What is it, Lord Ryuel?"
"Your Excellency, did you have a good time?"
He spoke calmly in Imperial dialect, seemingly ready to end the play.
"I came to say hello before I leave. Lady Kydel, would you mind reconsidering my proposal one last time?"
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