Prince Elias couldn’t believe what Genius was telling him, and he didn’t want to believe it either. He thought that Genius was too pessimistic.
He couldn’t fathom that the likes of Scarlet would get in his way of obtaining the crown, and believed that breaking off the engagement had mostly hurt Scarlet’s reputation.
Women willing to become my queen, like Primrose, exist as many as stars in the sky. Ever since I was a small boy, women had swarmed towards me, a prince, trying to get on my good side.
Scarlet becoming my fiancée was something our parents had decided. She didn’t flatter me and since she didn’t try to get close to me in the first place, our first meeting took place at the palace. Her etiquette looked prim and proper, but she was too naggy and too straightforward in so many things.
In public I listened to her with a smile, but since she pissed me off to no end, I gave her my real opinion as soon as no one was looking. Together with Genius, I laughed about her crying behind my back.
But even so, I didn’t hate her so much until I met Primrose. Getting to know her changed me. After experiencing love, I began to loathe Scarlet’s cheekiness.
＊
…Because of that incident, Primrose left and the one remaining behind was Scarlet. In the end, Primrose was another of those gathering around royals, seeking their authority and power.
I was taught the hard way that only the things given to me stay with me.
…But I’m fine with that. I’ve got Genius, and he’s all I need. I’ll have a loveless marriage. Let’s only think about taking the throne.
Just when Prince Elias tried to fully devote himself to his scholar studies after making such a vow to himself, he came across Scarlet. Since she had a fairly interesting golem with her, he told her to hand it over to him as his fiancée, resulting in her mother appearing and calling off their engagement.
He couldn’t understand why things had gone this way.
But! What do I care!? I just need to marry another woman! There’s lots of women vying for the royal family anyway, so I’ll be able to freely choose whichever I like. Next time, I’m definitely getting engaged to a submissive woman.
As he walked around after having made such a decision, he ran into Scarlet. She was surrounded by other students, looking like she was having fun.
“Don’t bluff. In reality, you’re crying in secret over having your engagement with me revoked,” he spat out under his breath, but upon closer inspection, he found men among those around her.
…What a bitch. As soon as our engagement is called off, you have men serve you, eh? But, maybe that’s her way of spiting me.
Interpreting it like that, Prince Elias passed while pretending to not see her.
――Neither did Scarlet call out to him, nor did she cast a single glance at the prince.
Several days later, Genius’s parents visited, just as he had predicted, and summoned their son. Prince Elias didn’t know anything about that.
When he asked some students where he could find Genius as he didn’t see him anywhere, they told him that he had gone to meet his parents.
Prince Elias hurried over as soon as he heard of that. Just as he arrived at the visiting room, Genius’s parents, both wearing grim expressions, and Genius himself came out.
“Genius!”
Genius reacted with a start. His eyes looked at the prince as if appealing something to him, but…
“Genius.”
…once his father called Genius’s name, the boy averted his eyes and lowered his face. For a moment, he stopped while acting like that, but then he started to walk away again.
I won’t accept this. I don’t want to accept this.
As if anyone would approve of things developing just as Genius had said!
“Genius, did you finish the talk with your parents? Then, come with me,” the prince demanded.
But, Genius bowed his head, and replied, “……I am terribly sorry,” without looking at Prince Elias even once.
“…Why are you apologizing? I told you to come with me.”
Prince Elias tried to forcibly grab Genius’s arm, but Genius’s father prevented that.
“Even impolite behavior has its limits, Lord Elias.”
The prince’s face cramped up with a twitch.
“…Move aside.”
And yet he managed to calmly order the duke.
“…No wonder the young Lady Scarlet gave up on someone who is as conceited as to order one standing above him. Hahaha, I suppose it’s only understandable that my son was unable to rein you in.”
“What was that!?”
Under normal circumstances, Prince Elias would have never acted like that. But, precisely because he unconsciously comprehended that he couldn’t keep up with the quickly changing state of affairs, he made obvious blunders out of fretfulness.
Genius was painfully aware of that, but he also knew that he’d only invite an even worse outcome if he spoke up here.
“My son has been removed as your valet.”
That verdict followed Genius’s previous forecast, but now that he’d heard it happen, it caused all blood to drain from Prince Elias’s face.
“…Don’t decide things as you please!”
“Right back at you. I would prefer if you would abstain from treating my son as your possession. He is the son of our ducal family, you know, Young Earl Elias Springcoat?”
＊
Elias froze due to those words.
“What…did you say…just now?”
“Oh, you didn’t know yet? Forgive me then. …Well, I heard that the famous Earl Springcoat voiced his interest, when the Kingdom was discussing about granting out a 『certain prince』 who had made mistake after mistake. The earl generously said he’d welcome you, adding, 『I shall take him in as son-in-law, as long as it allows me to acquire a dowry』. Isn’t that wonderful? You became siblings with the extraordinary, former commoner 『Primrose Springcoat』 ― oh wait, she married a commoner, so she’s gone back to being a commoner herself ― who tricked even my son with her schemes!”
Elias felt dizzy.
Just what the hell is going on? Even though I vowed to brave all hardships and make Primrose my queen, that didn’t come true as she ran away when I resolved myself to become a commoner for her. Then, when I made up my mind to work hard at succeeding the crown, I was expelled from the royal succession line, and forced to become the brother of the woman for whom I’d have even become a commoner.
Is it really okay for something like that to happen!?
Unable to keep standing, Elias fell on his knees.
＊
Genius, on the other hand, frantically suppressed his desire to run up to his former lord and help him up. His father was watching him.
He was being tested.
His own ineptitude of being swayed by momentary emotions had led to this situation. For this reason, he had promised his father and mother that he’d never allow himself to get influenced by his emotions.
“Let us go, dear,” his mother said frostily.
She hadn’t said much, but his mother was furious, too. Even though her son should have become a close aide of the king, they were now facing such a mess.
＊
All of it is my fault for being unable to remonstrate Prince Elias, no, for relying on my emotions, hating Scarlet, falling in love with Primrose, and sentimentally thinking that I should support Prince Elias in his love of Primrose.
In such a case, it’d have been much better if I had stolen Primrose from Prince Elias, persuaded Scarlet and Prince Elias to be kinder to each other as they couldn’t afford to slight the engagement forged by their parents, and thus fostered their love.
I’ll never allow myself to be swayed by my emotions ever again! I’ll use the advisor of the current king as a role model, suppress all my emotions, and only move while considering the benefits and losses.
Genius firmly vowed to himself.
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