In the end, the interrogation in the great hall came to nothing, and it became clear that Father simply couldn't get the hang of addressing us sons formally in official settings. I'll let that slide as him being a doting parent, but as for traction on the allergy issue, it felt like we didn't even get halfway there.
"They didn't really believe me, did they?"
Actually, my close retainers had been present in that great hall. They were positioned farther away than I was, near the walls in an area where documents weren't even distributed, so we could only talk after returning to the room like this.
"As a gut feeling, if even a third of Your Highness's claims were accepted, that would be doing well."
"I was surprised that Duke Lucaios was so stubborn. I had heard he was a fair man."
Wearel looked somewhat disappointed as Helkov described the realistic state of affairs in the great hall.
"When there's someone you can call the culprit, you end up seeing only that. Perhaps he narrowed his sights too much and couldn't see anything else? Or perhaps the culprit didn't matter at all, and removing Prince Asha was the main objective."
Icto began saying unsettling things.
"What kind of person is Duke Lucaios?"
The retainers exchanged glances, but before the three could answer, another voice spoke up.
"He actively worked for the current Emperor's centralization and authority. Positive toward administrative reforms, detests outdated waste and extravagance. In his youth, he led troops to surround and force the surrender of rebels barricaded in a fortress, demonstrating military talent. Built diplomatic relations emphasizing external balance, earning a reputation for fairness. Passionate about education, using personal funds to establish boarding schools—"
"Wait, wait. Sephira, is there nothing but praise, and such detailed praise at that?"
She stopped the list, her light flickering.
"Anyway, be good today. Marquis Strateg will be coming shortly."
(As criticism, he is slandered for being inconsistent, making enemies into allies according to the times...)
She's still going? Not done talking yet?
Then came various things about conspiracies, surviving political upheavals, being removed from important posts once yet blooming again. Duke Lucaios led a more tumultuous life than I thought. Having survived with solid achievements, the overall assessment was that he was an excellent and wise minister. However, Sephira also noted that he was assessed as overly rational and cold-blooded toward anyone outside his family circle.
In that case, I'm an obstacle who doesn't fall within the family circle, and this time he took advantage of the situation to plan my expulsion. If the solution is found and Terry is safe, I'm nothing but an obstacle who uses money and manpower just by receiving princely treatment—expulsion is the only option. Indeed, that's rational.
How irritating!
"How can you be so calm?"
When Marquis Strateg arrived and I conveyed my impression that my claims hadn't been taken very seriously, he somehow let out a sigh. His stated purpose was to conduct another hearing, and as usual, Levan accompanied him.
"It's frustrating how well Duke Lucaios succeeded in steering the impression of me toward the negative."
"They say seeing through such things is uncharming."
Icto quietly jabbed his elbow into Levan, who was as rude as ever. If Marquis Strateg pretends not to see, I'll follow suit. Levan won't be discouraged by just this much, after all.
"Just to confirm, you were acting spineless in the great hall on purpose, correct?"
"Ah, did it look like that? Good. Duke Eurasion still thinks I'm dull and hasn't made contact, so I didn't want to break that impression."
"On the contrary, that made the credibility of those documents appear weaker."
After answering Marquis Strateg's confirmation, Levan revived and sneered.
"It sounded like something thought up by close retainers or twisted out of them."
"...So Marquis Strateg believes that was my idea. And despite that, you felt it was so impossible?"
"Difficult to believe suddenly, is how I would put it. However, knowing your extraordinary ideas and comprehension, I thought it might not be impossible."
So it seems the impression changes based on the degree of trust in me as a person.
"Hmm, I think the Consort believed me because she was reading so desperately."
"You were pretending to be spaced out while watching that? Wha—!?"
After Levan let out a strange cry, he was somehow rubbing his back. Did Icto twist his behind this time?
"By broadening my field of vision and avoiding concentration on one thing, I tried to balance observing reactions with appearing harmless."
"...Shouldn't you be using your talents elsewhere? What are you lot usually teaching him?"
Marquis Strateg cast unfounded suspicion on my retainers. Before I could object, Helkov, with his beast-like face, smiled and shrugged without concern even toward the Marquis.
"How to utilize what is taught is up to His Highness. It's like leading a horse to water—you can't force it to drink."
Marquis Strateg turned to me with a bitter expression, unreadable as to whether he was convinced or not.
"May I ask why you focused on the Consort?"
He seemed bothered that I had named her specifically.
"Because even I, meeting her for the first time, could tell something was wrong. If I showed the reason and cause, I thought a mother might realize something."
In fact, the Consort had been poring over the documents intently. I saw that she left the great hall immediately when it ended.
"If she compares it with the circumstances of her previous collapses, she can surely narrow down the food that triggered it. I think either Father or the Consort will do that. If it reaches them, that's enough."
"So, you appeared there to warn the Consort?"
"Eh, well. Rather than for the Consort's sake, it's for Fer, Warnell, and Terry. The tea party they had prepared so enthusiastically was ruined."
In the end, I made all three of them cry together. Ah, I feel depressed just remembering it. Fer and Warnell had been smiling, but they cried with bright red faces. Also, it was a shock to learn that Terry was afraid of me, and it infuriates me that this was due to arbitrary assumptions by those around us.
"I thought it would be nice if next time we could have a tea party without worry, so I just need them to take precautions so she doesn't collapse again."
I thought I could get along with Terry. When she was three, she was affectionate and didn't know about adult circumstances. But when we met after three years, it was already no good. The gap had already formed, surely not easily bridged, and surely Duke Lucaios wouldn't allow it to be bridged. Perhaps next time we meet, Fer and Warnell might hate me too. Unlike with Terry, this time it is a fact that I made them cry.
"Is that really all? I heard you were thoroughly cursed out by the Second Prince? Aren't you thinking of something more troublesome?"
Levan asked with great suspicion.
"Not particularly. I just want to know why I was so feared, if anything."
"Are you sure you're not just hated?"
Levan shrugged like the rude person he was. Sorry to ruin his tough act, but he's being held down on both sides by Icto and Helkov, his face twitching.
"Levan, would you prioritize your own feelings even knowing it would cause trouble for Marquis Strateg?"
The moment he heard that, Levan, putting himself in that position, fell silent.
"I want to get along with my younger brothers, but even if I forcibly close the distance, it's His Majesty who would be troubled. Whatever I think, when it comes to doing or not doing, I wouldn't do anything to hold back His Majesty."
"I see. Certainly, if you truly desired the throne, you would handle things more skillfully."
"I don't."
Marquis Strateg nodded, but I denied it clearly to avoid being suspected of ulterior motives. Honestly, even if this goes as Duke Lucaios intends and I'm no longer a prince, it would be troublesome but not unpleasant. Plus, it just infuriates me that it's going according to Duke Lucaios's calculations. Come to think of it, I don't care about the Emperor's throne or the imperial name at all...
"Ah."
"What is it this time?"
Levan, who had looked uncomfortable and closed his mouth for a moment, asked after all.
"It's nothing major. I just thought of something I want to do using this situation."
The moment I smiled, Levan and Marquis Strateg put on worried expressions. Then Wearel looked at Levan with half-lidded eyes.
"It's because you stimulated Lord Asha's imagination."
"His Highness is usually so patient. But when he decides to do something, he shows no hesitation."
"Once he thinks of it, he executes it, and he comes up with the means to execute it."
As the retainers spoke, Marquis Strateg also looked at Levan. Immediately, Levan bowed his head to me, then raised only his neck to peer at me.
"I apologize, I'm sorry so please stop?"
"I won't."
When I replied with a smile, both Levan and Marquis Strateg dropped their heads in defeat.
Regular update
Next time: The Curse of the Crab's Disease 4