"Hello~ Special delivery~"
"Shouldn't you endeavor to conduct yourself with more appropriate decorum?"
The navy-haired wet nurse glaring at me seems to have taken a dislike to me after I provoked her earlier.
That's fine and all, but if she reacts too much, the First Prince might do something, which honestly scares me.
"Harty, just leave Revan to Ikt. More importantly, show me the letter from Diora."
The First Prince, eight years old, says something outrageous with a smile on his face.
I handed the letter from the Princess of Rukiusaria to the wet nurse and obediently retreated to the wall.
This is the response that minimizes damage.
Ikt Totos can incapacitate me with pain using minimal attacks.
It's gone way beyond just being bad at dealing with him; to protect myself, I don't want to get near him.
"Hmm... Hey, Werel. Do you know about this medicinal herb?"
"That is used in the production of magic recovery potions. Generally, the mass-produced herbs have stronger addictive properties than this one; drinking more than three bottles a day can cause blood to rush from your head and make you collapse."
Having read the letter, the First Prince calls over his tutor and discusses common knowledge that most people know.
What in the world is that princess writing about?
If she's going to say she's in love or wants to get married, she should just send some flirtatious lines instead.
Well, if she had written that, I'd have to redact it here before handing it to the First Prince.
"Huh, magic recovery potions can do that? Then is this rare herb more effective, or does it have weaker addictive properties?"
"Yes, exactly. It grows naturally in Rukiusaria, but as it's a natural product, the quantity is limited. Even so, considering safety, there is demand for potions using this herb."
I also looked through the letter's contents.
So I understand that what they're talking about now is regarding the rare herb being cultivated experimentally at the academy in Rukiusaria.
I understand, but I'm not interested.
Reading the letter beforehand, researching what I don't understand, and redacting it if there's a problem.
Is this what palace guard work is supposed to be like?
Also, it might be my imagination, but I feel like he knows about the parts I've been redacting.
No, I once suspected and retrieved a letter I'd handed over, but there were no signs of anything being done to it. Am I overthinking?
"Hm? Oh, the delivery came."
"Hello."
A red-furred bear appeared in the room.
Actually, this guy understands the superiority of beastman strength better than Ikt Totos, so he holds back more.
Probably because he was a soldier, he has some self-control.
"You're quiet. Did you already mess up?"
When the bear asks, Ikt Totos responds.
"No, earlier His Highness Asha told me to keep an eye on him, so he's probably restraining himself."
How snide, but that's exactly right.
The Marquis has also told me not to push myself too hard.
Observing the First Prince's behavior is fine, and drawing out information if there's none is also acceptable.
He's just concerned because I'm constantly getting fresh wounds.
"I'll leave once I collect the letter, so don't mind me."
"I think I'll research a bit before writing a reply today."
The First Prince says something troublesome while looking at the letter.
"Wow, that sounds tough~ But that should be fine, right?"
The moment I said a casual reply would be fine, Ikt Totos took a step closer.
Scary!
"They say the herb isn't growing well. I was thinking that if there were papers by predecessors who researched what kind of natural growing conditions it has, that would help. It wouldn't do to write something off the mark."
"Wow, you're so serious~ I don't really care, but that means I'll have to make another round trip to the end of this palace, right?"
When I appeal to my hardships while keeping an eye on Ikt Totos, the First Prince looks this way.
And he declared with a smile:
"Then you can just wait in the Blue Room. Together with Ikt and Helkov."
"I'm sorry, I spoke out of turn. Please stop with both of them."
What an outrageous child!
He definitely said that knowing I would hate it!?
"You really are a bad influence on Lord Asha's education. Can't you do this with someone else?"
"Harty, bad examples are also things we can observe objectively to avoid becoming like them, so they aren't necessarily all bad."
What a terrible way to be described.
I have no intention of reforming! I might as well push through like this!
"Anyway, Rukiusaria has been working on that problem for years; there's nothing new to say at this point. Even the princess just mentioned it as an aside from her herb-viewing trip."
"Yes, yes. If you hate making the round trip here so much, I'll arrange things so I can go directly to Marquis Stratege's place, so wait until then."
Something terrifying again!?
And so I was dismissed before I could come up with any reply.
"So, today I have no injuries, but no noteworthy information either."
After reporting to Marquis Stratege, I spread my hands beside my face.
"Having an active desire to learn is not something to blame. However, was there truly no difference from usual?"
"None. Despite the successful removal of the wet nurse for her remarriage, he didn't show any signs of being depressed."
This time, Duke Eurasion moved in response to the movement to entrust imperial territory to the First Prince.
The only success among these efforts was the removal through the wet nurse's remarriage.
Perhaps because the viscount family the wet nurse came from was on Duke Eurasion's side, they selected someone she didn't hate, and the remarriage was successfully decided.
Though this resulted in removing people from the already small circle around the First Prince, the parties involved maintained innocent expressions despite knowing there were ulterior motives.
"The wet nurse was a blood relative from the start. Her devoted behavior was also conspicuous. Since she was practically a mother figure, I thought he would act out, but..."
The Marquis tilts his head.
"If I may speak as someone who only had a mother, being separated from even a mother figure due to remarriage would feel like being abandoned."
"...I see. However, the First Prince shows no such signs."
"Well, maybe comparing him to me is the problem."
When I was a child, I was a brat who looked down on adults and made peers cry.
Honestly, compared to me, the First Prince is an upright, well-behaved good child.
"Ah, or maybe he's acting too much like a good child so he won't be abandoned, to the point where he can't even ask her to stay."
"If he could do that without showing any hint of it, it would no longer be an act of a good child, but rather he has acquired emotional suppression techniques rivaling an adult's."
The Marquis looks unconvinced.
So, are noble children like that?
I was born in Rukiusaria, and my mother worked as a live-in servant at the castle.
Rukiusaria also gathers widows and families whose husbands have gone to work away from home, providing them employment at the castle.
So there were many peers around me, but my mother was the only unmarried one.
Now I understand that I became aggressive because I hated being mocked and looked down upon by those around me.
I apologize to my dead mother, belatedly though it is.
But among them were also those who acted like good children.
Suppressing their feelings of dislike, deceiving themselves that they were doing the right thing.
Even they don't know their true feelings, yet it's not easy for others to tell either.
"Revan, from your perspective, does the First Prince have ulterior motives for continuing the correspondence?"
The Marquis changes the subject.
"He says it's fun. But honestly, I have no idea what the First Prince is thinking."
"I share that sentiment."
Even so, what concerns me is ensuring that Rukiusaria, my beloved homeland, doesn't suffer collateral damage from the First Prince.
Without that concern, I would probably ignore it.
"How did I end up getting so deeply involved in this?"
"...Don't say it."
We both sigh together.
My first impression of the First Prince was creepy.
Though it has faded somewhat through various interactions, I still occasionally feel that creepiness.
What is this presence that feels like a completely different creature?
Perhaps it's the way he fundamentally looks down on the things we find meaning and significance in, creating a sense of incompatibility and rejection?
"Sorry, but I'll continue to rely on you."
"If it is your command."
I shake off my pointless thoughts and perform an exaggerated bow.
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