“You really are a pervert…”
Unconsciously, Diana slapped Kayden’s chest a few times before pushing him out of the room. She had to sit on the bed for quite a while afterward to cool down her flushed cheeks. Just as she was about to get off the bed, she remembered the forgotten promise as soon as her feet touched the ground.
“Ah, right. Antar…”
“If you’re worried about Sir Antar, don’t be. Your Highness seemed to be sleeping soundly, so I explained on your behalf. But first, Your Highness should wash your face.” Belladova, who had just entered the room carrying a basin of water, responded to Diana’s muttering.
Diana let out a sigh of relief and sat back down on the bed. After washing her face with the water Belladova brought, she shook her head. “I’m glad to hear that, but I’ll have to apologize to him later. How did it go?”
“He said he’s not confident in seduction and doesn’t want to do it, but he’s fine with becoming friends.”
“Really?”
“Yes. But he did have one request.”
Diana tilted her head at Belladova’s words. “What is it?”
“He asked to be appointed as Your Highness’s personal knight.”
“Personal knight…”
Diana fell silent in thought. After weighing the matter for a moment, she furrowed her brow and spoke. “On the surface, having a personal knight wouldn’t be a bad idea, but wouldn’t it be too inefficient? I don’t really need a personal knight.”
Diana is a high-level dark attribute elementalist. The likelihood of her facing a life-threatening situation was extremely low. Besides, it feels like my mana has been increasing lately.
When she checked her mana, it had indeed increased noticeably since the previous day.
Why is that? I haven’t done anything special… She looked at her palm with a puzzled expression but soon dismissed the thought since she couldn’t think of any particular reason, and it wasn’t harming her.
Unlike Diana, who was skeptical about appointing Antar as her personal knight, Belladova shook her head. “Until now, Your Highness has been preoccupied with mock battles and had no official duties outside the imperial palace… But now it’s the social season, and you’ll likely need to attend more parties outside the imperial palace. It would be better to decide in advance.”
“Hmm…”
“Besides, if that’s the case, Sir Antar would naturally have more opportunities to encounter Lady Yelling.”
“Ah, that’s true.”
Diana recalled the part she had forgotten after hearing Belladova’s words. Indeed, appointing Antar as her personal knight would increase the chances of him encountering Fiona Yelling at parties. Also, considering that Rebecca targeted me during the defensive battle, there’s a possibility I could be threatened when I can’t respond…
Recalling that time, her heart, which had been fluttering because of Kayden, calmed down again. Finally, Diana nodded, regaining her usual composure. “Alright, I’ll talk to Kayden about it today. I’m sure he’ll agree without any objections.”
“Understood. By the way, the investments we’ve made are gradually becoming profitable, and some of the funds have been returned. What should we do with them?”
“That’s great. Reinvest about half of it and with the remaining half—”
* * *
[Please work towards making our empire a better place.
—D. Obscure]
“…”
Kayden alternated between looking at the note signed by D. Obscure, the box full of gold coins, and the stack of documents detailing various charitable organizations. His black eyes narrowed. He tapped the desk with his free hand.
D. Obscure, huh. His gaze flicked to the side, where a report from Patrasche about the benefactor’s identity was placed.
[Dane Obscure.
Male, 54 years old.
A wanderer from the Kingdom of Arlas, currently presumed to be the head of the Wings information guild.
No specific details about his appearance are known. Further investigation is ongoing.]
Kayden took his eyes off Patrasche’s report and returned his gaze to the note from D. Obscure.
“‘Work towards making our empire a better place’…” Kayden muttered, almost in disbelief, as he read the note. “For someone with that kind of wealth and information to pass this message to me… no matter how I think about it…”
It seems like they want to support him to claim the throne.
Under normal circumstances, this would have been a cause for joy. Although the heir to the throne is chosen by the council of nobles, ultimately, the foundation of imperial power is public opinion. An emperor without public support cannot be considered a true emperor, so he would have gladly supported the organizations listed in the documents. The organizations listed by D. Obscure were among the most reputable charities, known for their integrity and lack of financial leakage.
Having such a capable supporter is undoubtedly a good thing, but…
“Why does it feel so unsettling?”
It wasn’t a bad feeling, but something felt off. It was as if he was missing something.
“…”
After wrestling with this inexplicable unease and practicality for a long time, Kayden let out a deep sigh and called for Patrasche.
“Support the organizations listed in these documents. And continue investigating D. Obscure.”
“Understood.”
* * *
Ah, this feels good. Late at night, Ferand sighed contentedly as he leaned his head against the window inside the carriage returning to the imperial palace.
“Yes, this is what living feels like…” He muttered dreamily, intoxicated. Whether from the alcohol or not, he felt a strange sense of liberation, as if his body was floating.
Meeting people by my own will is such an enjoyable thing…
Ferand has been unusually happy these days. In the past, he had forced himself to mingle with people chosen by Rebecca, exhausting himself and retreating to his quarters without thinking of socializing further. But now, meeting people he chose to, people he needed, made him feel alive.
“Your Highness the Second Prince.”
“Your Highness, please attend the exhibition held by my family this time…”
Since he distanced himself from Rebecca, people started seeking ‘Ferand’ instead of ‘Rebecca.’
Feeling that his life was finally his own, Ferand returned to the imperial palace. He shared a palace with the Second Concubine Adella and the Second Princess Carlotta.
The carriage carrying Ferand stopped in front of the palace, conveniently called Second Concubine’s Palace. As he stumbled out of the carriage, he saw Adella standing by the front gate, silhouetted against the light. Beside her stood Carlotta, looking slightly anxious.
“…She didn’t sleep. Why is she out here too?”
Ferand clicked his tongue in annoyance and stepped out of the carriage. As soon as he set foot on the ground, Adella strode over to him and slapped him hard.
Slap! Ferand’s head snapped to the side, and he tasted blood in his mouth. His intoxication fled instantly. Ferand gritted his teeth, feeling his mood plummet.
Adella glared at her son with a hint of contempt.
“Have you truly lost your mind?”
“…”
“Answer me. Didn’t I tell you not to act rashly?! In this time when the third prince is strutting around cluelessly, we shouldn’t be a hindrance to the first pri—!”
“—Please, stop talking about that damned first princess already!”
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