Idle Talk
“What do you think it says?”
Alberto, while taking a sip of water, paused and shifted his gaze toward Reynaldo upon hearing his words.
“Perhaps the prince will never express his feelings for Marie anymore.”
Ting, Reynaldo’s fingers tinkled against the wine glass.
Similar thoughts crossed Alberto’s mind, yet he chose not to voice his agreement and proceeded to empty his glass of water.
The prince’s appearance, spotted on occasion within the castle, had undergone a complete change from before.
Despite his lingering youthful demeanor, the prince underwent a remarkable change, resembling an entirely different person, upon discovering the truth.
The prince, who once had a touch of innocence, has vanished completely.
Standing there was a young man, clothed in the vigor of a ruler.
Having proclaimed before the people his intention to regain the trust lost by the royal family due to his father’s actions, he is now widely anticipated as the future king. Expectations were already high to begin with, but the rumors of his alleged involvement in the rebellion have only fueled them further.
Prince Risel also seized the hearts of both the common people and the nobility by exploiting the deceptive truth.
The kingdom, which was abruptly thrown into turmoil, is poised to experience a period of serene growth once this wave subsides.
The next issue that arises is, once again, the matter of the king’s fiancée.
Various nobles eager to hasten the engagement voiced their opinions, but Prince Risel firmly refused.
“Right now, the priority should be regaining the trust of the people. Without a solid foundation in place, matters such as succession would be meaningless. Therefore, I request that the present young ladies be sent back for the time being.”
No one came forward to oppose these words. It was because they could feel the strong determination coming from Prince Risel.
Even the noble families who had previously been actively promoting marriages with their own relatives obediently complied with it without protest.
Alberto, who had been silently observing the meeting, could perceive a newfound sense of resolution in the prince’s demeanor.
It’s possible that Prince Risel, in his own way, has come to grasp and accept the truth of the situation.
“At this point, it seems that either I or Alberto will be the one to catch Miss Marie.”
“…”
Alberto grew even more silent at Reynaldo’s words.
The flush on his face had faded considerably. It wasn’t a conversation to be had while intoxicated, but it was true that moments like these were the only times when Reynaldo’s true thoughts could be heard.
Alberto was well aware of Reynaldo’s intense possessiveness when it came to Marie.
He knew that while there was a noble justification of seeking revenge behind the decision to confine her in the Rose territory, there was also a desire to keep her within his grasp, intertwining with that sense of justice.
“What? Is it wrong?”
Reynaldo asks teasingly, his face was filled with a mischievous expression.
Freed from revenge, Reynaldo occasionally displays a face that Alberto hadn’t seen before.
“No.”
In comparison, Albert remained steadfast even after being freed from revenge. It was simply his nature, something that couldn’t be changed.
“It’s good to be honest.”
He glared at Reynaldo, who was happily drinking wine.
Reynaldo’s demeanor, freed from the shackles of revenge, seemed to have regained his true self at last.
Alberto, too, was freed from the curse.
Although there are still lingering issues, perhaps due to being freed from the long-held revenge, there is now a certain sense of ease in his heart that wasn’t present before.
Reynaldo is probably feeling the same way, which is why he said what he did earlier.
Reynaldo, with his irresistibly charming demeanor that can easily captivate the attention of even the most refined ladies, even with a fake smile, believes that Alberto is inferior in every aspect, including social standing.
Even in terms of age, Alberto is much older, so he may be seen as incompatible with Marie, who is not yet twenty.
But still.
“I have no intention of giving up.”
Having given up once, he won’t repeat the days of regret again.
With his narrow, chestnut eyes fixed on Reynaldo, Reynaldo let out a smirk and chuckled.
It was only recently that Reynaldo began wearing such a wicked expression on his face.
“Well said. I’ll give you a reward for that.”
The warm smile that spreads across Reynaldo’s face brings back memories of his childhood when he was a charming young boy.
“Reward?”
He holds out a letter in front of Alberto, who inquires about its contents.
As Alberto read through the written document on the desk, he was overcome with shock.
“In recognition of your recent contributions, I have decided to award you a portion of the confiscated Hubert territory. Consequently, the King has granted you the title of Viscount. The formal ceremony for your ennoblement, including the coronation, will take place once everything has settled down. However, I was advised to promptly inform you, so here is the letter.”
“What are you talking about…?”
“As someone who also cares for Marie, I wanted our positions to be somewhat equal, even if only to a small extent. Also, I managed to reclaim the land that was seized during my father’s downfall, as I intend to build a memorial for Sister Rosemary on the Hubert territory. Since I already have the Rose territory, I can’t manage both. But I don’t want to give it to my brother, who has never cared for Sister. That’s why I want to entrust it to you. Please take good care of it. It’s our precious home.”
Alberto remained in a state of rigidity, his eyes fixed on the document, which bore the signature of the next king at the bottom.
Marie returned after finishing reading the letter from Risel and asked, “What’s the matter?”
However, Alberto remained unresponsive for a while, without returning to his senses.
