Problematic Prince - Chapter 132

132. Dniester's Game


It was funny to see him whining as if he had reverted to being a whining child, but Bjorn continued speaking in a calm tone.

“I see.”

Mrs. Fitz's response, after catching her breath, was very typical of her. Bjorn smiled and leaned back in his chair.

"She looked much better than when she was here. Healthy. Lively. She seemed to have no lingering attachment to the position of Grand Duchess."

“So, what did the Prince say?”

“That’s what I said.”

Bjorn placed the teacup he was holding loosely on the table.

“Let's quit.”

Although it was said in a joking and nonchalant manner, Mrs. Fitz instinctively knew that it was not a joke.

While Mrs. Fitz was lost in thought, Bjorn rose from his seat and approached the window. The sunlight streaming down on the Prince, who stood still, his hands behind his back, was dazzling.

The Prince loves his wife.

Mrs. Fitz knew better than anyone that the story the whole Letzen was telling was absolutely true. She couldn't pinpoint the exact moment, but it had felt that way for some time. That belief had only grown stronger since the Grand Duchess's departure.

Even during the turbulent times following his divorce from Princess Gladys and his abdication as Crown Prince, Bjorn remained unshaken. His life was turned upside down overnight, and he faced a barrage of criticism from the entire nation. He simply carried on with his daily life. It was a product of his innate temperament and the years he spent nurturing himself as a potential King.

A crack appeared in Bjorn's life.

The Prince, who had endured the scandal and the tumultuous divorce from Princess Gladys without batting an eyelid, was shaken. His wife had abandoned him. Because of that one little lady. It was something that could not be explained by any other reason than love.

“Do you really want a divorce, Prince?”

Mrs. Fitz walked quietly toward Bjorn. Bjorn, who had been staring at the distant sky with narrowed eyes, slowly turned to face her.

“Erase everything else and just think about the Prince’s feelings.”

In contrast to her soft, almost teasing voice, Mrs. Fitz's gaze as she looked straight at Bjorn was solemn.

"...No."

Bjorn's gaze, which had been frozen in a point of meaningless space for a long time, turned back to Madame Fitz.

“I’m not.”

Bjorn once again gave a more confident answer. It was also the answer to the nagging question that had been lingering since the train back from Burford.

He thought and thought again. Without a single cigarette or sip of alcohol. With the clearest consciousness, with the utmost intensity.

If he considers utility value, it was right to follow Erna's will.

A wife who abandons her husband and demands a divorce in this way is no longer harmless. Now that Gladys's truth has been revealed, the idea that the Grand Duchess, who serves as a shield, is no longer needed is also true.

If it's useless, throw it away.

Following that clear standard would have been too easy. Yet, he found himself going around in circles, ultimately arriving at a conclusion completely different from what he expected.

“Do you worry that you might get a reputation for getting a second divorce within a year of marriage?”

Mrs. Fitz's question, which she asked after much deliberation, made Bjorn laugh.

“That doesn’t really matter.”

“Then what is the reason?”

Mrs. Fitz continued her questioning with unusual persistence today. Bjorn's gaze settled into deep thought again.

It was a marriage he had undertaken with the intention of finding a woman who would quietly stay by his side and bring him peace, but looking back, they had lived through some rather tumultuous days together. It was a time that felt like a colorful bouquet, woven from the tacky colors Erna loved.

Looking back, it was a marriage he had no expectations for from the start. His wife. The days he spent with her. The price he paid to protect those days. Everything was like that.

“Erna is my wife.”

A reply came out softly, mixed with a sigh.

“I want Erna to be my wife.”

Bjorn looked at Mrs. Fitz with cold, hard eyes.

Right and wrong were both good. Utility was equally important. Even if it was the worst choice, he didn't want to lose her.

Erna is Erna.

Bjorn Dneister's wife. The woman who should rightfully have been his. The end of their love didn't change that fact.

“Get ready, Prince.”

Mrs. Fitz checked the time and calmly reported. Bjorn furrowed his eyebrows slightly as if questioning.

“Go to Buford and get what you want.”

The pale winter sunlight enveloped the old woman, who stood still. Her gaze, as she gazed at the Prince, became even more stern.

The Prince had his first love with his second wife.

Mrs. Fitz could be certain that another love would never come into his life. After all, wasn't this marriage and love itself nothing short of a miracle? Another divorce would surely leave the position of Grand Duchess vacant forever. This meant Erna was his only hope.

“I believe you will do well.”

Mrs. Fitz straightened the Prince's shirt collar as he stood there dazed, then took a step back.

"Because Dniesters don't play losing games. Isn't that right, Your Highness?"

***

The atmosphere in the Grand Duke's residence was lively and chaotic. It was a completely different scene from what Leonid had expected.

“What is going on?”

He entered the Grand Duke's room and asked a question without even greeting him.

Bjorn approached with perfect formality and took a seat across from him at the reception table. He didn't remove his gloves or coat, as if to signal his unwillingness to spend any time with him.

"It doesn't seem like a simple outing. Are you planning a trip or something?"

“Well, first, Your Highness, please explain the reason for your visit.”

Bjorn looked at his watch and made a sly reply.

“As short and simple as possible.”

You could tell just by looking at his cold gaze that what he added wasn't a joke.

"Coordination with Lars's side has been finalized. The last remaining delegation also departed for their homeland yesterday."

Leonid first gave a brief summary of the main point.

Lars's claims were rejected. The person who exposed the incident was Catherine Owen. The fact that the book was published here could not be used as evidence that the Letzen royal family had broken the secret pact.

It was Leonid who was tasked with examining each clause of international law and the negotiation agreement to refute Lars's claims. Had Bjorn not abdicated the crown, he would have been pursuing a career as a jurist by now, a task that would not have been difficult.

When Lars appealed to the court, Letzen countered with the law.

Prince Alexander would always invite her out for drinks whenever he was in a tight spot. Since Bjorn had decided not to interfere, the burden of dealing with the crybaby Prince, with his not-so-great drinking habits, fell entirely to Leonid.

Although it was awkward, Leonid accepted. Of course, a cup of tea was always placed before the Crown Prince of Letzen. Prince Alexander sometimes showed open displeasure, but that was none of Leonid's business.

Quietly mad dog.

From some point on, he was being called that nickname. It was a rather vulgar expression, but he didn't really care.

“The matter was settled without the Royal Family of Letzen expressing an official position or statement of facts regarding the matter.”

Leonid glanced at Bjorn's face and delivered his proposal.

“I thought that line was reasonable. What you mean is...”

“Leonid.”

His twin brother, who was not very patient, suddenly stood up.

"You are not my agent. You make your own decisions and take responsibility for them, that's all."

Bjorn smiled, one corner of his lips slightly tugging upward. Leonid, who had been watching him silently, slowly rose from his seat. The bright winter afternoon sunlight fell upon the two brothers standing face to face.

“I’m not going back.”

Bjorn took a big step forward, closing the gap between him and Leonid.

"You are the Crown Prince of Letzen. That will never change, Leo, not now, not in the future."

The smile on his lips remained, but Bjorn's eyes were more serious than ever.

"That position suits you better. You're boring, old-fashioned, and not a snobby person, so you're the perfect King."

“Are you insulting your father right now?”

“If you want to tell him, then do so. Surely he wouldn’t spank his married son’s butt.”

The two brothers, who had been exchanging idle jokes, smiled similarly without saying who would start.

When they were about seven, twin Princes snuck into the King's office and wreaked havoc there. It was a prank perpetrated by children unable to overcome their curiosity about forbidden places.

That day, the two Princes, each brought to their respective nannies, were severely scolded in their father's office for the mess they had made. For the first time in their lives, they received a beating from their father. Leonid received two lashes, Bjorn three. The one lash was said to be the price for failing to fulfill his duties as Crown Prince.

Bjorn gazed calmly at the face that looked just like his own. Leonid's signature thin, gold-rimmed glasses sparkled, reflecting the sunlight.

Leonid began wearing glasses around the age of ten, to make it clear to those who couldn't tell the difference between the twins that he was Leonid Dneister.

The royal family tolerated the Prince, who possessed excellent eyesight, forcing him to wear glasses without prescriptions. This decision was made on the basis that it would be more beneficial to clearly distinguish the twins. If one of them had to suffer, it would be Leonid, not the Crown Prince.

It was that kind of time.

Two Princes were born on the same day and at the same time, but the Crown Prince position was shared. Bjorn ascended to that position, and for that very reason, he enjoyed more than Leonid.

Therefore, he has been even more faithful to his duties as Crown Prince.

There were times when the crown he was given felt like a burden, but he didn't dwell on it. Perhaps that's why he was able to cover up Gladys's affair and make the decision to relinquish the Crown Prince's position.

Having gained immense national benefit from the divorce, which treated him as a pawn on a chessboard, he decided he could now relinquish the crown without a sense of guilt. This was a conclusion reached after deep, careful reflection, following Leonid's advice.

Bjorn, closing the gap with his last step, took off Leonid's glasses. It happened before he even had time to realize it.

“Stop wearing unnecessary glasses.”

Bjorn put the glasses down on the table and stood upright again, facing Leonid.

“Now live as the full owner of that place.”

“Bjorn.”

“Congratulations on getting another slap on the butt, Your Highness.”

Bjorn greeted him playfully, his face still a bit bewildered.

“You are the King that Letzen needs now, Leo.”

“Then you?”

"Well, I'm just going to pursue my own selfish desires like I do now. I like this side. Erna would probably prefer a cookie jar with interest over the Queen's position."

Just as Bjorn checked his watch again, a knock came from the servant. Then came the news that preparations for departure were complete.

“I don’t think I’ll have time to play with His Highness the Crown Prince anymore.”

"Where on earth are you going? You have to tell me."

“To find my wife.”

After that brief reply, Bjorn turned away. Leonid, watching him leave his guest behind, couldn't help but laugh.

“Isn’t it just a matter of getting a divorce?”

Bjorn turned his head at the teasing question.

“Shut up, Your Highness.”

The answer given by the smiling Grand Duke was truly disloyal.

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