28
Valentin's
side
「…………Hugo,
what is that.」
「His
Majesty the Emperor, the ones present over there are Her Highness Candice,
Imperial Princess, and His Highness Arthur.」
「I know
that much. I am asking why they are together.」
「Could
it be that His Majesty the Emperor is deeply interested? I could tell
you the reason why the two of them are together like this, you know~」
「……………」
「I-I'm
just joking! Please lower your sword! The sword will pierce my neck, I tell
you!」
「Only
speak of what is necessary. Hugo.」
「Yes,
yes, I understand. His Majesty the Emperor really can't take a joke,
huh…… getting angry so quickly.」
Although the silver
tip of the sword was pointed at him again, Hugo paid it no mind, picked
up the documents, and returned. Hugo was a trusted confidant who had
been by Valentin's side as a guard since he was young. The only one who
could crack jokes and state their opinions to Valentin was Hugo.
His abilities were
quite something, and he showed great success before Valentin took the
seat of the Emperor. He excelled in assassination techniques and
protected the palace from the shadows. As the leader who led the specially
trained 『Shadows』, Hugo's subordinates worked
disguised as maids and chamberlains in the palace while gathering information
and swiftly smoking out and disposing of traitors.
Saved by Valentin
when he was young, Hugo possessed absolute loyalty. That was exactly why
he kept him by his side like this.
「Is the
one you want to know about Her Highness Candice, Imperial Princess?
Or is it His Highness Arthur?」
「……」
「Yes,
yes. It's both, isn't it. I understand.」
「Hurry
up and say it.」
「The
change in Her Highness Candice, Imperial Princess, started one
month ago. According to rumors, triggered by bumping her head, she developed a
personality the exact opposite of before.」
「The
exact opposite, you say?」
「Yes.
According to the reports, maids who previously never lasted two weeks have been
serving for over a month. It was also around that time that she began taking
meals together with His Highness Arthur, whom she had treated harshly up
until now. I hear they are sharing meals and she is now teaching him manners.」
「Hah……?」
「It
seems she tripped over His Highness Arthur, who was curled up from
hunger, and fell on her face.」
At those words, Valentin
covered his mouth with the palm of his hand, then cleared his throat and asked Hugo.
「Did
she not hate Arthur?」
「That's
right, isn't it. Having tea together would have been out of the question. She
even hated having him in her line of sight. However, such an attitude has
completely turned around; she has become kind to those around her, stopped
being picky with her food, and stopped indulging in luxury. She also only wears
dresses that are already in her closet. It's written that recently, she
negotiated with a merchant to present clothes to His Highness Arthur……」
「I have
not received such a report, you know?」
「Because
you did not ask. His Majesty the Emperor has never taken an interest in
Her Highness Candice, Imperial Princess, has he?」
「…………」
A selfish Imperial
Princess with a bad reputation, arrogant and out of control. Inside the White
Palace, Candice did whatever she pleased, but even knowing that, Valentin
had turned a blind eye to it up until now. He had been thinking he should
probably report it to Duke Radziwill soon, but it seemed that was no
longer necessary.
Perhaps because she
didn't know the circumstances of Arthur's birth, Candice had made
a fool of him calling it 『filthy blood』 and
treated him as a nuisance, but now she appeared to be doting on Arthur.
Building palaces for his children, the successors, was a symbol of power and an
indication of having backing. Therefore, he could not take sides and favor only
Arthur.
「How
old is the Imperial Princess now.」
「She is
currently five years old.」
「Hugo,
how do you see it?」
「How,
you ask…… It is hard to believe that her personality would suddenly change, but
when witnessing that sight right before my eyes, I cannot say anything, can I.」
「I see.」
Hugo was
laughing happily while watching the figures of the two young children. Candice
was a child born between him and Rina, the daughter of an Imperial
noble.
Instead of placing
the precious and sickly only daughter, Rina, in the inner palace ruled
by Maxence's mother, he was protecting Rina by arranging for her
to live in a distant place under the pretext of medical treatment. However, Duke
Radziwill, without listening to the opinions of Rina, who wanted to
see her daughter Candice, seemed intent on making Candice his own
puppet.
Valentin was
letting him swim freely for now, seeing right through the Duke's ulterior
motives. Certainly, with that personality of Rina's, if Candice
said she wanted her by her side, she would try to remain here even if she had
to push herself. And then she would be crushed in the blink of an eye, and that
would be the end of it.
He was watching Candice,
who was eating a cookie and smiling while pressing her cheeks at the
deliciousness, and Arthur, who was gazing at her happily. As for Hugo,
he was receiving a report from one of the Shadows who had arrived at
some point.
「It
seems Her Highness Candice, Imperial Princess, also made contact
with His Highness Luca earlier.」
「…………」
Valentin,
having acknowledged Candice's figure for the first time in a while,
stopped watching the two and entered the room.
「Oh?
Are you already done with the report regarding Her Highness Candice, Imperial
Princess?」
「Today
too, I am packed with tedious meetings since the morning. I am going to
prepare, so get out.」
「Yes,
yes.」
「Hugo,
report to me if there are any further changes.」
「Good
grief, His Majesty the Emperor is quite a slave driver, isn't he.」
「…………Did
you say something?」
「No, I
shall excuse myself first.」
Saying so, Hugo disappeared in an instant. Valentin looked back once more, then sat on the sofa, picked up the glass that was on the table, and carried it to his mouth.
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