“Is it because he resembles Queen Tera?”
“It’s not a matter of legitimacy because none of the birth mothers of the imperial family had a very low status.”
“That’s… come to think of it, that is right. Even Royal Princess Petrasia’s mother was a princess of Kingdom Zwen.”
“After Queen Tera announced that Royal Prince Letorni had died young, she proceeded with her son’s engagement secretly with the eldest daughter of Duke Halloten. Royal Prince Letorni grew up in the state of Duke Halloten, so he not only avoided the battle for the throne but was also able to raise a force against his siblings.”
“I see… I didn’t know much about Royal Prince Letorni’s childhood. And… right after becoming the emperor, he annulled his engagement with the eldest daughter, so there are no records left.”
“That’s the biggest reason Royal Prince Letorni was dethroned. After he annulled his engagement with the eldest daughter of Duke Halloten, he tried to make a commoner as the empress by registering her as the adopted daughter of Baron Levit. Anyway… There is no other woman of his age among the nobles with enough power to be his strength.”
“Ah…”
“Also, there is Grand Duke Innovestin, Lady Opert, and me. It’s unknown whether the strict Senate will give permission, and that boy symbol of the imperial family isn’t perfect enough to overcome them all, right?”
“I was really, really worried. Thank you, little Duchess. In fact, if it were His Majesty Father, he must be weighing who would be more useful and worthy… I was scared because if I didn’t get chosen, my mother and I might not be able to stay alive.”
Royal Princess Veloche dropped her body, which had been in a state of tension. Then she took a deep breath. Her breath seemed heavy, as if it contained many complex emotions and worries.
“I have a question for Your Royal Highness.”
“As long as I can answer, you can ask me anything.”
“I heard that even in the midst of your treatment, you suffered from heart pain, but it was the will of His Majesty not to stop your treatment.”
“…His Majesty Father couldn’t have said it. It must be the imperial doctor who said that.”
Royal Princess Veloche frowned, looking bitter at first glance. She was then forced to laugh.
“Gasp… I’m sorry if Your Royal Highness was offended. It was me who asked the imperial doctor.”
“No, it’s not like that… It just reminded me of the old days.”
“Old… days?”
“I was warned several times before starting the treatment. Even if my seizures can be cured, I have to live with the pain that tightens my heart for the rest of my life due to the side effects of the medicine, so I wonder if I should take the medicine.”
“I see.”
“I didn’t like it. It was scary for me, but… His Majesty said. It was better for me to suffer something like that momentarily than to become the emperor with visible seizures. He said I wouldn’t look dignified…”
Royal Princess Veloche lowered her gaze to the floor. It seemed like she didn’t want to be seen crying.
“That’s how I did it. His Majesty Father regards me as his daughter but never loved me.”
“…”
“My seizures… They only happened once in a while. It didn’t affect my daily life anyway. Falling down with foam in my mouth and eyes rolling back was a bit disturbing to witness, but in a way, it was better back then. Although it was embarrassing, I didn’t feel any pain.”
“Your Royal Highness.”
“When the pain worsens, it’s difficult for me to breathe. Still, I have to take the medicine consistently. That was the order from His Majesty Father.”
What Royal Princess Veloche said came as a real shock. She even had difficulty breathing, so Charelize felt sorry that she had to keep taking medicine purely just because of Harbert IV.
“Actually… I wanted to see the little Duchess because I wanted to stop taking that medicine. The situation was also true about my mother, but… honestly, it was just an excuse.”
“It’s… excuse?”
“Before, I didn’t realize how abnormal it was to live like this, as it was my norm. But now that I know, I realize how strange it is. The opportunity provided by little Duchess made me want to break free, even now.”
Raising her head, Royal Princess Veloche smiled as she looked at Charelize.
“I… haven’t done anything for you, Your Royal Highness.”
“That’s not true. Um… it’s probably the day the little Duchess had your coming-of-age ceremony. The fact that you had worked hard and achieved that milestone through your own efforts, with a clear goal in mind, left a deep impression on me. Perhaps because I had lived like a doll, following His Majesty Father’s will, little Duchess looked cooler.”
Royal Princess Veloche, who took a breath, continued. “Even if being born as the daughter of Duke Marsetta is just luck… It doesn’t mean you will automatically become the successor.”
“…Yes.”
“But the one who became successor in the end at your coming-of-age ceremony was the little Duchess.”
“Perhaps it’s because I’ve been focused on that one thing since I was young… That’s why I keep running towards it.”
Charelize was embarrassed by the unexpected compliment, but thanks to that, she was able to recall that time. Her life to become the little duchess came from her desire to gain approval from her father. Even if it was futile now, she really tried a lot. Reducing her sleeping time was the basics. She didn’t let her guard down anytime, anywhere, and showed no emotion.
“You were his only daughter… but the former duke isn’t the kind of person who would give his successor position just for that reason, right?”
“Your Royal Highness is right. I was told not to be conceited even on the day of my coming-of-age ceremony.”
After reminiscing, Charelize focused on Royal Princess Veloche’s words again.
“…Except for the cases where they exert power in their family or are forced to continue the lineage due to their parent’s death, minor nobles are essentially powerless. Seeing little Duchess, I found my purpose. Ah… now I can live a bit more like a human.”
“A bit… like a human.”
“Thank you, little Duchess. For giving me a goal. Thanks to that, I don’t want to live like a doll who has no will and only follows His Majesty’s decisions.”
“How does Your Royal Highness want to live in the future?”
“To be able to take responsibility for my choices and move forward based on them… I want that kind of life.”
Royal Princess Veloche moved to Charelize’s side and said those words while holding her hands. The warmth coming from her hand was warm.
Charelize felt what kind of feeling Royal Princess Veloche had lived her whole life. Royal Princess Veloche worked with all her might to earn her value as a tool. That’s the way she could stay alive. And Charelize lived her whole life to be recognized, but she was shunned until the end and eventually died.
Regardless of the outcome, the two had no shared intention in the process. They weren’t really living, nor had a peaceful choice of death. When they reflected on it, it was truly a meaningless time.
She didn’t live or die, but she wasn’t comfortable.
“From now on… I will live for myself. So, little Duchess… please do the same.”
“…I understand.”
“You’ve really worked hard until now.”
They didn’t say anything else. Maybe because they share the same pain, they could understand each other better. The day they had lived tenaciously was conveyed through their gaze.
After leaving Ramiere Palace, Charelize asked for an audience with Harbert IV. She got permission right away.
“I heard you asked for an audience. What is it?”
As expected, Harbert IV’s eyes were dark. He seemed deeply troubled as he was losing what to do with ‘that thing.’
“Since I said that I would help Her Royal Highness to become the crown princess, I must abide by that, so it has become something I have to take responsibility for.”
“Then?”
“What if Your Majesty interrupts before I even get started? I’m talking about the hidden prince.”
“…How did you know?”
“I ran into him on my way to the Florence Palace. Not only did this person suddenly declare himself as a prince, but he also possessed a certain color… How can I not be perplexed by it?”
Harbert IV placed a hand on his forehead and sighed deeply.
“Is Your Majesty planning to make that child the crown prince?”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“I saw his mother wearing Empress Roxana’s ring. Do you intend to overthrow Her Majesty Lireet?”
“You’re arrogant.”
“Please answer me.”
For the sake of Royal Princess Veloche, it was necessary to know which way Harbert IV’s intentions were directed. Charelize tested him by bringing up Empress Roxana’s ring, which was worn by that woman.
“About that ring… I don’t know.”
“Yes?”
“I just picked out a few trinkets for her because she needed something to dress up.”
There were many parts of Harbert IV’s words that Charelize didn’t understand.
“Also, even if I registered that child, his biological mother would be sent away.”
She couldn’t understand that he didn’t recognize Empress Roxana’s ring and let her wear it, but she just found out that he had no special affection for that woman.
When she thought about it again, he must have intentionally sent them to provoke her. It was strange for them to walk through the corridors of the Florence Palace, where only members of the imperial family were allowed to enter. Even when the boy made a fuss, that woman said nothing. She just soothed her son by lifting him up.
Not only was she angry because he used Empress Roxana’s belongings, but Charelize also had no intention of complying with his intention.
“Did something happen with Shuerto?”
Even though Charelize knew that he had ordered that woman on purpose, Harbert IV pretended not to know until the end. His shameless attitude made her want to applaud him.
“He treated me as inferior and belittled me. My first impression of him wasn’t favorable, and I think it will continue to be the same in the future.”
“Shuerto, did something… to you?”
“Didn’t you hear from Countess Rezel that he caused a small commotion by shouting for me to apologize?”
“…Something like that happened.”
Seeing the subtle change in Harbert IV’s expression, Charelize could immediately notice. It was true that he gave the woman that ring and deliberately made that woman pass in front of Charelize, but it was clear that he hadn’t heard the details from Countess Rezel.
Looking at the situation, it was clear that Harbert IV would lose the few people he had left once again.
