Euclid stared at Barlos. His green eyes, exactly like the Emperor's, gleamed with desire.
'It is about time I was appointed Crown Prince.'
There were two Princes and one Princess in the imperial family. They were Prince Barlos and Princess Selvarena, born to the Empress, and Prince Grasis, born to the Imperial Consort.
It has been quite a while since the two Princes and Princess became adults.
Nobles and high-ranking officials continued to denounce the need to quickly appoint a Crown Prince.
However, the Emperor consistently ignored the issue of appointing a Crown Prince whenever it was brought up.
This was a rare occurrence in the history of the Xenos Empire, as it involved building a solid imperial family to pursue an unwavering succession of power.
Barlos, the eldest son, felt a sense of crisis, and Grasis was slowly expanding his power in the shadows, as if releasing the resentment he had suffered as the second son born to the Imperial consort.
Under these circumstances, Euclid was a person whom both Barlos's side and Grasis's side were bound to covet.
The courtship of the two Princes toward Euclid continued ceaselessly. However, Euclid had so far managed to weather the storm without taking sides.
If possible, he did not want to take anyone's side until the Emperor designated someone as the Crown Prince.
His family was loyal to the Emperor, not to the Prince or Crown Prince.
"I'm not asking for much from you. I'm just asking you to attend my birthday party. Is even that difficult?"
Euclid could not bring himself to refuse Barlos's earnest plea.
***
Euclid was in a bad mood the entire time after returning from his audience with Barlos. He did not say a single word on the way back to the mansion.
Only Frederick, who was riding in the carriage with him, was sitting on a bed of thorns.
Frederick wondered why Euclid was in a bad mood, but he didn't ask.
It was obvious that he wouldn't get anything good even if he tried to strike up a conversation.
The reason Euclid was in a bad mood could only be heard after the carriage arrived at the mansion.
The horse slowly slowed down. As the carriage slowly came to a stop, Euclid opened his mouth.
"I'm going to the Prince's birthday banquet. Get ready."
Where is our master going?
"Yes?"
Frederick was so surprised that he asked back blankly.
"Didn't you hear? That I'm attending the Prince's birthday banquet."
This is it!
Judging by the way he is frowning and speaking, he certainly isn't going because he wants to; it must be that Barlos is putting pressure on him.
"Have you made up your mind?"
Frederick asked. Euclid stared at Frederick silently, then closed his mouth.
The imperial family appeared peaceful on the surface, but beneath the surface, a fierce battle was raging to make the Prince they supported the Crown Prince.
It was a natural progression for Barlos, the eldest son of the legitimate Empress, to become the Crown Prince, but the Emperor had the power to shake that flow.
And actually exercised that power.
The Emperor declared around the time Barlos began to acquire some political insight.
- The position of Crown Prince will be held by a child worthy of being Emperor.
It meant he would only look at ability.
In any case, the best education received in the imperial family was the same for both the sons of the Empress and the Imperial Consort. Their abilities were roughly equal. The only capability the Princes could demonstrate was the power base supporting them.
The nobility of the Xenos Empire was divided into two factions: the side of Prince Barlos and the side of Prince Grasis. The nobles with a long tradition supported Barlos, while the young nobles known as the emerging forces, as well as merchants who were wealthy and enjoyed the same lifestyle as the nobles but could not become nobles, supported Grasis.
Meanwhile, some families remained neutral. Gredelus was one of those families.
"We'll have to wait and see a little longer."
Eventually, the time for a choice will come. But not now.
"You will be busy."
"Why?"
"Well, you have to get the clothes fitted and find a partner."
"Partner?"
Come to think of it, you need a partner for a banquet.
If you don't have a partner, troublesome things happen.
There is a high probability that you will be held captive until the end of the boring banquet, spending the entire time greeting and dancing with the young ladies introduced by the older nobles.
A fine wrinkle formed between Euclid's eyebrows.
His wish was to just say hello and come back.
Euclid concluded that he needed to find a partner for a very reasonable reason.
"Isn't there anyone suitable?"
At Euclid's question, someone's face immediately came to mind. However, Frederick shrugged his shoulders.
“Think about it.”
"All right."
Frederick replied loudly, "My master is attending a banquet, so I must go the extra mile."
The carriage door opened.
Frederick got off first and stood holding the carriage door.
As soon as Euclid bent down, another aide, Barclay, approached.
"Master, have you returned? A letter has arrived."
Barclay, Frederick's fraternal twin, was taciturn, unlike Frederick. Their appearances were also completely different.
If Frederick had a slender build and a gentle appearance, Barclay had a fierce look that made him appear just like an angry person when he kept his mouth shut. He was also burly.
He was a man suited to being a knight rather than an aide.
In fact, he was a knight. However, Euclid, who had long taken notice of Barclay, transferred him to the position of aide due to his talents in various fields.
So Euclid was weak against Barclay.
Because he prevented him from living the life of a knight he wanted.
Euclid accepted the letter Barclay handed him. Pink stationery with a heart seal.
'Lady Erencia.'
Euclid's brow furrowed. Euclid thrust his letter forward toward Frederick.
“Read it.”
"Not Barclay, but me?"
Frederick frowned as he looked at the letter held out in front of him....
“It’s your job.”
"It’s also Barclay's business."
“Stop nagging and read.”
Euclid left Frederick, who was opening the letter, and went into the mansion first.
Frederick's expression brightened as he read the letter while grumbling.
"Your Excellency, Your Excellency! The problem is solved!"
Frederick shouted in a happy voice.
Euclid turned around as he listened to the butler talk about recruiting staff to manage the mansion.
Frederick smiled brightly like a flower in spring. Euclid frowned.
Whenever Frederick smiled like that, something not very good happened to him.
“That’s good news.”
Something troublesome has come up. Frederick flutters the letter.
"You have found a partner. Lady Erencia."
As expected, it is not good.
***
Why is there no reply?
Erencia rested her chin on the windowsill and stared blankly outside.
A week has passed since she sent a letter to Euclid asking him to be my partner.
If you don't like it, just say so!
That way, I'll either cling to you or look for another partner, right?
Her heart felt tight.
Should we raid again?
But she was reluctant.
Euclid was a difficult person to deal with. He always reacted differently from Erencia's expectations.
Erencia's heart pounded as she recalled the image of him saying he would think about it when she proposed.
She felt uncomfortable with her heart rattling involuntarily, as if she had heart disease.
The banquet was coming up soon, so she had to settle this quickly.
Erencia shook off useless thoughts.
If Euclid refuses, she has to look for someone else.
Should I wait just one more day?
There are many other things to do.
Erencia fiddled with the heavy gold coin, pondering, and then looked for Agnes.
***
"Miss, we have arrived."
The carriage carrying Erencia stopped in front of a dressmaking shop in the city.
It was the shop of André, a designer whose popularity was soaring these days.
As Erencia stepped out of the carriage, people began to murmur.
For some reason, it seemed they were talking about her.
'Are they talking about me?'
Erencia leisurely walked toward them to listen to their conversation.
"She is truly a genuine noble lady."
"She is beyond excellent. Have you seen Lady Evelyn lately? She was so confident. She was very logical and smart."
A familiar name was heard. Erencia pricked up her ears.
"It’s not just Lady Evelyn. I’m talking about Lady Victorina, who hangs out with her. I heard that lady, who gave up her fiancé, visited the temple recently because she wanted to see how her donation was used. But apparently, a priest pocketed the money while she was there? Lady Victorina told the High Priest right away. How could she be so ignorant?"
It was the tale of the exploits of Evelyn and Victorina, who, acting like villainesses somewhere, hoped to tarnish their reputations.
Yeah, they were good people from birth. It's a shame, but it can't be helped.
But why are people starting to praise Evelyn and Victorina while looking at me?
Erencia tilted her head. Just then, words that would resolve her curiosity were heard.
"I heard she learned it from Lady Erencia. Haa... I want to learn from Lady Erencia too."
Erencia's face stiffened.
What?
Erencia focused on their conversation.
"I told you something was off ever since she was riding her horse last time!"
"Ah. I remember that time too! I heard she bought all the dusty items that day? They even said she threw them away without using them. You mean to say you bought everything just in case they wouldn't sell because of the dust? No matter how much money I had, I don't think I could do that."
"Oh my, throwing them away? You don't know much, do you? She intentionally placed those items in a poor neighborhood. She did it for people who don't have anything to take and use. She has such a kind heart."
"It looks like she is teaching other young ladies now, too."
Erencia blinked her eyes rapidly.
"Agnes, what happened?"
Erencia looked back at Agnes.
“What is it, my lady?”
Agnes answered with a look of complete ignorance.
Rumors spread, and in a direction that Erencia had absolutely not intended.
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