CH 4

Chapter 4/77│Read translated stories and daily updates at: Awebstories.com

“Now then…”

Looking out the window of my deserted room after breakfast, I consider the future.

I’ll first confirm Marguerite’s intentions, as I thought about it before breakfast.

Next, I wonder if the sequence of events until I wake up is accurate or if it was all a dream…

“…I can’t seem to come up with an answer to all of these questions in my head, can I?”

I shook my head and muttered to myself.

Nonetheless, I can’t just leave it there without knowing what’s going on.

I’ll have to look through the literature to see if anyone else has had similar experiences…

The rest is about avoiding the same fate…

In my opinion, the first thing that should be done is to keep the King from dying too soon.

There would have been no messy struggle for the throne, no subsequent domestic political collapse, and no Oscar’s rise if it hadn’t been for it.

The first question is, “Who assassinated His Majesty the King?”

There were far too many red flags about His Majesty’s death in his (my) previous life.

His Majesty, who had previously been in good health, died unexpectedly.

Then, given how he was killed, poison was the most likely cause of death.

This is due to the fact that no external injuries were discovered on the King’s body.

“…Then it’s either Oscar or the First Queen…”

It’s possible that His Majesty the King is impeding progress.

Both are equally likely, so I must be cautious of both…

But I’ll need extra pairs of eyes and ears to keep an eye on them.

This royal palace… Except for my mother, the First Queen’s servants, I can’t think of anyone who would support the (my) First Prince’s faction.

“…there is no such person…”

Although I am the first prince, I am only 13 years old.

So far, I’ve only obeyed the First Queen’s orders and acted like a puppet. Then there is no one to rely on.

“Haa… I’ve got a lot of work…”

I let out a sigh and held my forehead in spite of myself.

But if I ignore this, I will face the same fate again.

And I can’t keep whining like this if I want Marguerite to be happy, whether or not she becomes my fiancée.

This time, I’ll need all of my strength to make her happy.

Then…

—Knock, knock, knock.

“The tutor has arrived, Your Highness.”

“All right, I’ll be there.”

“Sir, yes.”

Hmm… There’s no point in going to the tutor’s class now, but I’ll go today just to avoid arousing suspicion on either side.

I walked into the room where the tutor was waiting, exhaling deeply.

—○█○—

“…”

I walk around the room with my arms crossed after finishing my tutor’s lesson and lunch.

Of course, I’m anticipating a call from the chamberlain.

“Meeting Marguerite is as expected…”

The Marquis, Friedenreich, will soon bring Marguerite to the palace.

That’s when Marguerite and I got together to plan our engagement.

But… I’m not sure I’m seeing her correctly… No, it’s more that I don’t have the right expression for her.

Because… I’m the man who let her down….

Knock, knock, knock.

“Please excuse me, Your Highness Dietrich, the king wishes to see you.”

“…I understand.”

Finally, the moment has arrived, with no preparation or determination in mind.

The chamberlain leads me to the reception room, which His Majesty uses for personal visits.

In addition to His Majesty the King, the Marquis of Friedenreich and Marguerite will be present.

“Please come in.”

“Yes…”

I take a deep breath as the royal guard guarding the entrance opens the door.

“Your Majesty, Dietrich, arrives.”

“Yes.”

I bowed reverently and raised my head.

Behind Marquis Friedenreich stood a young lady.

Of course, I can’t confuse her for anyone else.

Her gleaming silver hair, amber eyes, well-defined nose, red lips against her pale skin…

She prayed for me until the moment I died.

Marguerite…

“This is your fiancee, Dietrich.”

“I greet His Highness Dietrich, the kingdom’s shining star…w-what’s the problem, Your Highness?!”

Marguerite is about to say the same words as she bows reverently, but her expression changes in an instant.

Because

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaa…!”

Now that I’d met Marguerite, I was crying.

…with the joy of being alive and seeing her again!

I had never cried when my mother, the First Queen, whipped me on the back, nor since the death of His Majesty the King, nor since Oscar, the proud winner, had sentenced me to death…

“What’s the matter, Dietrich?”

“Please accept my apologies… It appears that I was so moved by the beauty of the person in front of me that I cried.”

I quickly regained my composure, wiped my tears away with my sleeve, and tried to make amends with myself.

Of course, I put on my usual expression of inexpressibility.

“W-Well, I understand…but if you saw that much potential in her, we’ll get to the point. As I previously stated, Marguerite will be your fiancée.”

“My… My name is Marguerite…”

Marguerite, who had become perplexed as a result of my tears, rushed to tell me her name.

I’m sorry for what I’ve done…

Nevertheless,

“Marguerite-dono, it’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Dietrich, the first prince.”

Unlike in my previous life, I greeted her with the utmost politeness.

But I can’t tell her that I met her when I was younger, let alone the second time.

“Well… Dietrich rarely expresses his emotions…”

“Your Majesty, if you don’t mind, could you please leave my daughter alone with His Highness Dietrich so she can get to know him better?”

“Oh, that’s a good idea, Dietrich. Why don’t you show Marguerite around.”

“Yes, sir.”

I bowed in response to his Majesty’s words.

“Please, Marguerite-dono…”

“Eh?!”

I knelt in front of her and extended my hand.

Royalties

For me to kneel down in front of the daughter of a vassal in this way isn’t normal.

But I have a responsibility to do so.

It’s not so bad for the sake of Marguerite, who prayed for me, a fool like me.

“Ah… Y-Yes…”

Marguerite looked apologetic and took my hand in hers.

“We’ll be right back.”

“Of course, take your time.”

His Majesty the King and Marquis Friedenreich saw us off as we exited the reception room.