"Then, Father, please excuse me."
My daughter Diora withdrew with an adorable smile, her voice light and her cheeks rosy.
Her beauty was undeniable, but her intellect was also a treasure of our Kingdom of Lukiusaria.
"She's so elated; I only hope she doesn't commit any blunders in the Imperial Capital."
My wife, the Queen, seemed rather worried by Diora's joy, in contrast to her daughter's mood.
"And there is also the matter of the portrait?"
The Queen looked at me, moving only her eyes.
I somehow suppressed my agitation and responded.
"She shows no signs of doubting the story that it was accidentally damaged, does she?"
"Yes, that child does not doubt the goodwill of Count Strategos."
I felt barbs in my wife's words.
Diora had proposed to the First Prince of the Empire.
At the time, I had thought it somewhat endearing, the fixation of a child.
From a political standpoint, the Emperor was then desperately consolidating his position.
Moreover, the First Prince was not the son of the Empress, placing him in a delicate position.
As Emperor, it had not seemed a bad match, but at the time, while there were benefits for us, there were also significant concerns.
"He is facilitating their correspondence. His actions are considerate of our kingdom."
My wife had seen how strongly Count Strategos had opposed the engagement between the First Prince and Diora.
With succession issues at play, if one were to ask whether he feared getting burned by intervening, of course he feared it.
Our Kingdom of Lukiusaria now holds the brand of the Academy Kingdom.
But in truth, the poor quality of the land, which could not establish its own industry, has hindered the kingdom's development throughout history.
Furthermore, as we rely on imports for food, the need to avoid conflict has remained unchanged since the kingdom's founding.
"To me, it seems great personal feelings are involved."
"That is... no, hm. I cannot deny that..."
After all, he is my cousin who had been enamored with my mother since childhood.
Honestly, watching Diora grow to look exactly like her, I had occasionally thought it was good that he was in the Imperial Capital.
I should pity him for not being united with the lover he longed for, yet...
Moreover, I can imagine why he encouraged the correspondence.
That man is absolutely inspecting the contents under the guise of monitoring.
The First Prince likely understands this as well, and probably does not include any sweet words for Diora.
"But surely there have been benefits to the correspondence?"
"Yes. To find common ground with the First Prince, Diora has devoted herself to her studies. She has become proactive, believing it important to understand things through her own observation and listening."
"That was advice possible only because the First Prince lives a constrained life."
In the letters Diora sometimes showed me, there were many things he had heard or read about, but little he had experienced himself.
Nevertheless, the First Prince learned of Diora's life through her letters and praised the freedom she had to see and hear as she pleased.
This became the catalyst for Diora to eagerly accompany me and my wife on inspections, taking more interest in our own country than her brother Adel, who found it troublesome.
"My dear, your expression is stern. ...It is about Adel, is it not?"
"Yes, I understand the feeling of jealousy toward Diora's talents. But what does he gain by belittling her? Why does he not direct himself toward self-improvement? Superiority is not proven by intellect alone. If he does not understand, he need only admit he does not understand, yet..."
"My dear, did we not agree that you must not push Adel too hard?"
We had discussed our son, who is to be the next king.
By the time we realized it, he had left for the Academy and now lives in the dormitories there.
Looking back, our failures in raising him have become glaringly obvious.
When Adel was born, the distant cause was the death of the Imperial Princess's son, who had attended the Academy.
The Princess died from the grief, and furthermore, in the Imperial Capital, the princes died one after another within a few years for various reasons.
Then came the former Emperor's illness and death.
The newly enthroned Emperor was unstable, so weak that even the palace interior was not under proper control.
Surrounding nations and many nobles had moved hastily for about ten years.
This directly hit the Academy, which gathered noble children, and the teachers, if of high birth, were the same.
Problems also arose with off-campus supporters, investors, and various affiliated facilities.
"There is no fault in Adel being born. The times were bad."
"But we gathered the finest wet nurses, tutors, and governesses, and took care that he wanted for nothing. Yet why is he so..."
The regret is endless.
Because I have Diora, a child without such problems, I cannot help but wonder why.
"For now, let us hope that through friends of the same age, he will broaden his horizons and correct his biased thinking."
My wife noticed the distortion in Adel's thinking earlier than I, who am preoccupied with state affairs.
She also pointed out that I was comparing him to Diora in my words and actions.
As a king who should be mindful of his words and conduct, I am deeply ashamed.
At the same time, I think it is good that I have this person as my wife.
Thinking so, my pity for my cousin, who dreamed of ending his service and marrying the one he loved, grew stronger.
"Yes. From Count Strategos, besides the news that he would arrange a meeting between Diora and the First Prince, there was other information. It seems the rumor that the younger prince attempted fratricide was indeed nothing but malicious slander."
The rumors reaching here from the Imperial Capital, unable to be suppressed, are because dignitaries from nations under the Empire are present.
Though it leaked from there and only the upper echelons know, there are probably few like me who have direct connections to hear such things.
"Moreover, he has contributed to the improvement of the Fourth Prince's health, who was rumored to be sickly, and now seems to have won the trust of his younger brothers."
"Well, then it is as written in the letters to Diora. That is good... Even for the difficult Imperial family, letters in which no one's name appears were unnatural."
In the letters to Diora, there are endless topics: academics, interesting stories, alchemy, and answers to Diora's questions. However, there was one strange point.
That was the extreme scarcity of others mentioned in the topics.
When I inquired of Count Strategos, I learned that there were only three people around the First Prince.
I hear that in the recent attempted assassination scandal, the distant Emperor noticed the situation and dealt with it.
As a result, exchanges with his younger brothers were also born.
"...If they do not want him, I shall take him."
My wife uttered something outrageous in a tone of worry.
Looking at her, a smile floated on her lips, but her eyes held a serious color.
"Adel now regards Diora as an enemy to the extent that he despises women of lower status and age. He does not listen to them; rather, he unilaterally abuses them. If that is the case, then if there were a man of higher status—and moreover, an excellent talent—would there not be sufficient benefit to welcome him into our country in the future?"
"W-wait, wait. Count Strategos was also concerned, but the upper echelons of the Imperial nobility are wary of the First Prince and are plotting to remove him depending on the situation."
"That is exactly why. If they do not want him, let us take him."
My wife repeated strongly, clenching her fist.
Having heard such things, it is not as if I can simply say, "Yes, let us take the Prince"!
Huh? Could it be that Diora's impulsive nature, falling in love at first sight and immediately proposing, is in her bloodline?
"Calm yourself. Count Strategos raised issues even at the time of the proposal, did he not?"
My cousin will return to this country in the future.
Therefore, though his personal feelings are great, he is certainly giving advice out of consideration for Lukiusaria.
"He is not the legitimate son, but he is of the Emperor's blood. He holds the right to inherit the throne. If such a person were to serve under a king of a single nation, voices would rise from within our country suspecting a takeover of the state. The First Prince's misfortune is due to his proximity to the throne, regardless of his own will. The same problem would arise in our country."
Especially with Adel.
He holds an inferiority complex toward Diora, which has developed into a distortion.
If a prince overflowing with talent to rival Diora were to appear, he would undoubtedly rebel.
Of course, disinheriting Adel, who holds the legitimate right of succession, would be a foolish act that weakens royal authority.
Moreover, Adel bears the banner of legitimacy; the majority of domestic nobles support the Kingdom of Lukiusaria and thus follow the legitimate successor.
If we were to divide the country, we would fall into a situation as unstable and unmanageable as the current Emperor, lacking authority and vulnerable.
"In the end, inviting the First Prince would only place him in the same predicament as in the Imperial Capital."
My wife stared at me silently without answering.
Though she dared not say it, this was certainly urging marriage with Diora.
I would welcome him with open arms in terms of talent, but the problem lies elsewhere.
"...For now, the risks are too great. The First Prince must grow more, achieve meritorious deeds through his own power, and establish a foothold that allows him to stand on his own."
First, power is necessary.
Whether military, political, or even financial power, anything will do.
With only a few close attendants and no visible achievements, even a prince cannot be welcomed into our royal family.
My wife seemed to understand this at last, nodding once and speaking no more of it.
However, her eyes did not seem to have given up.
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