Chapter 33: Warning to the Crown Prince
It was a few days after the garden party. I was summoned by my father and headed towards the White Lotus chamber.
My father, His Majesty Vainamo III and I sat facing each other. The servant poured tea and my father dismissed them, ordering that no one enter the room.
“Elias.”
“Yes.”
My father spoke to me without touching the tea.
I straightened my back and listened attentively.
“What did you say was the name of your fiancé?”
“Ina Roine Madetoya.”
Tsk, he’s making a show of not remembering. It’s as if he’s saying there’s no worth to remember.
“It seems her education has not gone well.”
…Oh, that’s what this is about.
“But she has just started her education… I would be grateful if you could give her more time for education.”
“Do you remember? When I told you that if you two were judged to be unfit to be the next king and queen, it would bring ruin?”
“Y-Yes, I remember.”
“If you two were still children under the age of ten, and had five or ten years before the wedding, I might consider giving you time for education. What should I do? Should I give you ten years starting now?”
“No, even that much is not possible.”
The father sighed. He went through the stack of high-quality paper on the desk next to him, which was probably a report about Ina.
“Not only is she lacking in manners, but also has a poor sense of art and fashion. That may be natural for someone from the Baron family, but she is also not able to move as a hostess. You guys made quite a fool of yourself at the garden party.”
That’s ridiculous. What kind of stupid report is that?
“No…that’s not the case. Even if there are some mistakes, it’s just a lively gathering of young people, led by the Head’s sons and daughters. It shouldn’t become a problem…”
Father chuckled and cut off my words with a snort.
“Elias, I’ll praise you for one thing, at least. You didn’t bring out a woman like Ina in a high-class gathering. If it were a dinner party, I would have kicked her out on the spot. However, even in that gathering, the behavior was unacceptable.”
Father talked about the big problems with Ina’s dress, the problems with decorations, and the fact that I first approached Vilhelmina. He also gave me a written report on the many other minor mistakes she had made.
“…take a look later. But as for clothing and such, it’s up to you to follow through properly. Ultimately, it seems she has exposed that she does not have such a sense either.”
“Well, you failed this time, but you’ve never done anything like that before.”
I’ve never been scolded for something like this, so why only now…!
“It’s probably because Miss Vilhelmina understood better. You didn’t know anything, you didn’t even know what you didn’t know. I’ll give you one piece of advice. Listen to the voices of servants and maidservants, listen carefully.”
He must have seen the look of discontent on my face.
My father said, “You have a stubborn streak in you. “He muttered to no one in particular.
After a brief silence, he continued to speak.
“I’m also thinking about moving up Parvallis’ inheritance rights.”
“What!”
Parvallis is my younger brother and second in line for the throne. Does that mean he would replace me as Crown Prince?”
I stood up involuntarily.
Father took his tea there for the first time.
I should calm down. I took a deep breath, sat back down and moistened my lips with tea.
“It’s not surprising. Of course, we don’t recognize a low-status marriage.”
“Y-Yes. That’s why I am sending Ina to be raised by the Periknen family.”
In royalty, it’s a rule that only royalty from other countries or from the Duke/Marquis family can be married. If you want to marry someone of a lower rank, they have to renounce their royalty status.
However, I have negotiated with the Duke Periknen family and made Ina their foster child so she will be considered the Duke’s daughter. If she is with the Duke family, nobody will object to her being accepted as royalty.
“I know your scheme. But she will still be a foster child. You young people may dislike this kind of talk, but it is not because of noble blood. It will be looked down upon by the nobles or other countries.”
“That’s an old-fashioned idea, Your Majesty. The more of us that are united, the less opposition there will be.”
“Your idea is too progressive, but it is not bad. However, for your idea to be widely accepted by the common people, nobles, and other countries, it depends on you both being a wonderful king and queen. The King, the Church, the nobles, and the people. Everyone knows she is the former Baron’s daughter. You wanted Miss Ina, who is far from being a suitable queen, to become the queen by eliminating Miss Vilhelmina, who would be a suitable queen. If she is not even as good as Miss Vilhelmina, what then? Everyone will laugh at your foolishness and say that she is just the Baron’s daughter after all.”
“Uh…”
While I was thinking about what to say in response, my father stood up.
“That’s enough. You should remember that you have little time left.”
𝕆𝕟𝕘𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕘
𝕋𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕤𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕖𝕥𝕖𝕕
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