Another Perspective
"I sincerely apologize!"
After Ictu Totos departed and I returned to my office, Levan immediately bowed his head.
Last year, rumors had spread that the First Crown Prince had harmed the Second Crown Prince.
That matter had indeed been a failure of the security detail under my jurisdiction.
What was strange, however, was that the First Crown Prince had shown no significant movements, nor any indication of dispelling the rumors.
Amidst this, through the maneuvering of Duke Eurasion—who also had ties to the imperial family—transfer offers were made to those surrounding the First Crown Prince.
Since everyone had refused, Duke Eurasion appeared to have designated them all as enemies.
Furthermore, to me—as a relative by marriage—he had first made a request to separate Ictu Totos, whose affiliation was clearly different.
"No, as I said, it was my mistake in personnel selection. I moved too hastily. Sending you, who tried to accommodate my intentions, was itself a poor move."
Speculation is not inherently bad, and subordinates who understand their superiors' internal circumstances and read the direction of affairs can be called competent.
However, there was a risk that this could lead to suspended thinking.
This time, because of that, Levan—who had tried to read my intentions and probe the situation—ended up targeting the wet nurse while neglecting the First Crown Prince.
However, the tricky one turned out to be the First Crown Prince himself.
It was my failing to underestimate his peculiarity in appearing wearing only a shirt, and his decisiveness.
There was also the narrowness of vision caused by greed—the desire to create a debt with Duke Eurasion, a powerful figure in the Empire.
"May I confirm one thing?"
The physician who had examined the First Crown Prince spoke to Levan.
"Those hand wounds—were they certainly inflicted by the young man himself?"
"Yes. He took a stone out of a glass filled with liquid and smashed it straight into the fireplace—crash."
Regarding the stone Levan mentioned, I had confirmed with Ictu.
I did not know the details, but I had heard it was for an alchemical experiment and non-toxic.
"Wounds of that severity, and self-injury without hesitation. For a six-year-old, one could say he possesses considerable nerve."
The physician relayed his observations to me with a bitter expression.
"Depending on the case, it may be considered a violent impulse caused by severe mental burden."
I couldn't help but look at Levan.
"Eh, no, I certainly confronted him, but to that extent?"
"If he was already unstable, and then an unknown man appeared—moreover one who came to significantly change the situation—it would not be strange for his condition to worsen."
The physician seemed concerned about both Levan's excessive actions and the First Crown Prince's mental illness.
However, the First Crown Prince's demeanor had not appeared that way at all.
During the apology, he had merely seemed slightly surprised, quiet to a degree unusual for a child of that age.
"Could it be that he saw through everything?"
This was what I had thought when I first saw the wounds.
"Those cuts—did they not resemble wounds sustained when defending oneself against a sword?"
"N-no way... If he had claimed he was attacked with a sword, wouldn't I be facing execution..."
Having said it himself, Levan's face contorted.
Since the physician also widened his eyes and didn't deny it, from the physician's perspective as well, the wounds had been plausible enough to serve as an excuse.
If the Prince had refused to apologize and resisted there, word would have reached the Emperor.
The fact that the First Crown Prince could meet directly with the Emperor, and that the Emperor would listen to him, was already evident.
"Levan, did you grasp anything about the First Crown Prince's personality?"
"He hardly spoke, but he seemed resourceful. Also... eerie?"
At this strange character assessment, I prompted him to continue.
"Kids that age usually speak according to their emotions, right? He didn't whisper anything at all. He didn't get emotional either. Moreover, despite bleeding that much, he looked down calmly, and had the composure to laugh while looking at me pinned to the floor—it's too eerie."
He had also mentioned this when he first returned with the military tutor who had brought him.
That the First Crown Prince had mixed threats with instructions to arrange the physician on this side.
"Did he appear to be coached at that time?"
"Impossible. It was completely the First Crown Prince's own judgment. It's creepy, and the room was uncomfortable too, ah...?"
Levan brushed back his golden hair as if remembering something.
"...There was hardly anything there. The built-in shelves were empty too, so I thought they had hurriedly cleaned up because an outsider like me was coming."
"Now that you mention it, the room I was shown to was also simple."
"No, that's the thing... Is there any need to put away carpets?"
Now that he mentioned it, indeed, there hadn't even been carpets.
Or rather, not just items—it seemed there were no decorations in the room at all.
"He broke a vessel containing water, did he not? Perhaps they cleaned up because of that?"
"No, that was a different room. One with golden decorations on the walls. The room with white and blue decorations that you entered, sir, was exactly as it was when I rushed in."
The physician suggested reasons for the lack of carpets, but Levan said the rooms were different in the first place.
And the room I had gone to also had neither carpets nor a single painting from the beginning.
In that case, it was practically an empty room.
"I see—only the First Crown Prince lives there. They probably haven't touched the unused rooms."
Surely if it were a bedroom or another room, there would be things there.
Since it would be impossible to live without even a single carpet in every room.
Very well, I shall stop devoting thought to unprofitable matters.
"The immediate problem is Totos. It's troublesome that discretionary authority was wrested away."
"But even so, no guards will follow that man, so there's no real harm, right?"
"The fact that it was wrested away is the problem. If I'm underestimated as easy to control, who knows what will be demanded in return for this debt."
"I'm sorry. It's not my place to say, but I think you should strike back before they specify how to return the favor."
As Levan says, I should take the initiative and sever this relationship of debts and favors.
Whether he is intelligent or unstable, either way, getting involved will not lead to anything pleasant.
"Shall I go check on his condition to see how the wounds are healing?"
The physician volunteered himself.
As the guards have training and injuries, he is the physician in charge of treating them.
Gentle, averse to conflict, and tight-lipped.
A good person with no factional ties or biased ideologies.
Precisely because of this, he is dangerous.
It is not difficult to imagine that this physician, witnessing with his own eyes the misfortune of a prince banished to a corner of the palace despite being the Emperor's son—his mother deceased, unable to even properly decorate his assigned rooms—would be unable to suppress his sympathy.
"Ask Totos about the situation, and if it seems bad, go. But avoid involvement beyond that."
"What will you do about Duke Eurasion?"
Levan asks, reading that I am concerned about real harm despite his apologetic demeanor.
This time, this result came about through maneuvering from Duke Eurasion, who still eyes the imperial throne.
Now that the Emperor's authority wavers, it makes sense to change those around the First Crown Prince to more controllable people for the sake of future stability.
Duke Eurasion, while dreaming of the throne himself, does not oppose weakening the succession to eliminate inheritance disputes.
However, my honest feeling is that it's not worth risking danger.
"I accepted the request after making it clear that Totos was not originally obedient. There are no particular problems."
Of course, there is no need to mention that I incurred a debt to the First Crown Prince.
This time, I acted in response to Duke Eurasion's request while ensuring an equal position.
Only that achievement matters.
My role is merely a bridge until I hand over this position of Marquis Strateg to my son.
"Sigh, I want to retire quickly."
Thinking of my son who was born late and has only recently come of age, complaints slip out.
"You're being hasty. That said, I understand growing tired of politics when thinking of a pitiful child."
The physician, older than me and thick with emotion, misunderstands my complaint.
What was demanded of me as an adopted son in a political marriage was an heir to the marquisate.
The name Marquis Strateg is merely borrowed.
I am merely an acting head until my predecessor and his daughter—my wife—guarantee my son permission to bear the marquis title.
When my service ends, I will return to my homeland under the guise of retirement and live quietly.
"Well, as long as politics and authority can maintain the status quo... pitiful, was it?"
I have never thought of the First Crown Prince that way.
Since he became a prince, he has corresponding obligations, and if he dislikes those obligations, there is the option to abandon them.
It should be a better future than being lifted up on a divine palanquin only to be thrown off, or being dragged down and executed.
Those who stand above others must eventually come to terms with this—the First Crown Prince will learn this too, though I don't really care.
I had absolutely no intention of getting deeply involved with the First Crown Prince.
[200 Bookmarks Commemoration]