Swish—! Ludwig pulled the curtains without hesitation, blocking Rebecca’s view.
Rebecca frowned and looked up at him. “What is the meaning of this…”
“You can’t let yourself be worn out by just this.”
“…What?”
“Your Highness is the one who said that there’s nothing more foolish than being knocked down by a storm that will soon pass.” Ludwig finished speaking calmly, his face devoid of any smile.
Ludwig Kadmond, the current Marquis Kadmond. He was originally the second son of the Kadmond family.
“How could such a thing come from our family…”
The Kadmond family, apart from the imperial family and the four ducal families, produced the most outstanding elementalists. Because of this, Ludwig was treated as an anomaly in the Kadmond family. He could handle magic, but only a minuscule amount, not even enough to properly contract with a low-level spirit.
Perhaps because he grew up being looked down upon, Ludwig was very perceptive and incredibly intelligent from a young age. However, in the Valhanas Empire, the most important value was ‘spirits.’ Since he couldn’t contract with a spirit, he was treated as if he didn’t exist and was neglected by his family.
Ludwig’s father, the previous Marquis Kadmond, was busy flattering Duke Findlay, and his older brother often mocked and belittled the pale and frail Ludwig.
At first, Ludwig tried to get along with his family. Though he couldn’t handle spirits, he was clever and hoped to be useful to them in some way.
“Brother, there’s a spelling mistake here.”
“…What?”
“It’s spelled wrong. You shouldn’t write it like that. You should write it like this…”
“Y-You, with your pitiful magic, dare to act smart…?! Do you think you’re my teacher? Huh?”
But the foolish members of his family couldn’t even accept that.
After being slapped while trying to help his brother with homework, Ludwig abandoned the idea of getting along with them. The world was much more foolish than he had imagined.
After that slap incident, Ludwig used his sharp mind to provoke his family deliberately. Despite the verbal and physical abuse he endured, he did not back down.
By the time Ludwig had become a rather cynical and hardened child, Marquis Kadmond’s desperate efforts bore fruit. He excitedly called his sons together.
“The first princess has asked for you two to be her companions! Flan, I trust you’ll do well. And as for you…”
The marquis looked at Ludwig with disapproval and clicked his tongue. He waved his hand dismissively.
“I was going to bring along only Flan, but the first princess insisted on bringing you as well. So, just keep your mouth shut. Understand?”
“I have neither the talent nor the desire to flatter insincerely like you do, Marquis. Why should I waste my time and words on the first princess? I’m not going.”
“Do you think you have a choice? Just follow and keep quiet!”
Ludwig genuinely had no interest in playing the parrot for the first princess. But the marquis couldn’t defy the first princess, so he had Flan hold Ludwig down and drag them both to her palace.
“Flan Kadmond greets the First Princess. Y-Your Highness is! Even more beautiful! Than I’ve heard!”
“…”
Standing before the First Princess Rebecca, Flan immediately began flattering her, much like their father. Ludwig, however, remained stubbornly silent even in front of the imperial family.
Rebecca listened to Flan’s babbling with one ear and then abruptly questioned Ludwig.
“Why are you silent?”
“…”
“Are you mute?”
“…”
Rebecca asked several times, but Ludwig, feeling disgusted with her and the marquis, turned his head away. Seeing this, Flan panicked and kicked Ludwig out of habit.
“You crazy fool…! How dare you keep your mouth shut when Her Highness speaks! Are you trying to ruin our family, huh?!”
Flan kicked Ludwig a few more times and then turned back to Rebecca with a servile smile.
“Ahaha. I apologize, Your Highness. This boy was born with almost no mana, so he has some personality issues. I’ll educate him properly, so please forgive him.”
Flan nudged Ludwig with his foot, signaling him to get up and apologize to Rebecca, but Ludwig ignored the pathetic threat and curled up on the floor. Seeing this, Flan, his eyes wide with rage, moved to kick him again, but Rebecca spoke coldly.
“That’s presumptuous.”
“…Pardon?”
“The one he disrespected was me. Therefore, the right to punish him also lies with me. And yet, you, without my permission, dare to take matters into your own hands.”
“I-I’m sorry! Please forgive me, Your Highness!”
Realizing his mistake too late, Flan pleaded, but Rebecca dismissed him with a wave of her hand, sending him out of the parlor.
Ludwig raised himself from the floor and watched the scene with a bit of curiosity. To him, Flan was an annoying presence he had to deal with whether he liked it or not. But seeing Flan disappear without resistance at Rebecca’s mere gesture was a fresh shock. Only then did Ludwig stand up straight and turn to look at Rebecca.
Rebecca, leaning on the armrest of her chair, smiled slightly.
“I’ve heard that the second son of Marquis Kadmond is so intelligent that even scholars are amazed. It seems you’re indeed useful.”
Ludwig frowned, not understanding her words.
Rebecca, with a hint of arrogance, raised her chin and made an offer.
“Work for me.”
“…I refuse.”
“Would you rather collapse and live doing nothing in the face of a passing storm? How is that different from being dead?”
Ludwig’s eyes widened at her words. Rebecca then continued.
“Do you hate those who try to control you? Do you feel disgusted by a life where you are only controlled by those in power?”
“…”
“If so, become someone great enough to overthrow that power. If that’s impossible for now, then standing with someone who has great power to overthrow them is also a way.”
“…”
“And that person is me, standing right in front of you.”
Rebecca was extremely arrogant as she said this. And as arrogant as she was, she shone brightly.
Ludwig decided to trust in that light he saw. After taking Rebecca’s hand, he succeeded rapidly with her support, eventually poisoning the marquis and his brother, winning over the elders of the family, and inheriting the marquisate. But now, seeing Rebecca helplessly watching the founding festival parade, he was displeased.
Ludwig pressed the issue. “Are you going to live a life that’s no different from being dead?”
“…”
Rebecca was silent for a moment, then slowly stood up. She swung her hand. Slap—
Ludwig’s head snapped to the side. Rebecca, brushing off her hand, turned away.
“No.”
“…”
“I can’t do that. That slap was for the insolence of blocking my path.”
Rebecca brushed her hair back and sat down in her chair. Her posture was as arrogant just like the first day they met.
“So, what is it you want to say?”
Seeing Rebecca return to her usual self, Ludwig sat down opposite her with a satisfied look.
“Since Duke Yelling has switched to the third prince’s side, it’s time to prepare to balance things out again.”
Giving one thing, taking another. Ludwig laughed, citing this simple principle.
“There’s no longer any reason to keep the first prince alive, is there?”
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