The Royal Couple (Part 2)
My life as the author Milene now hung entirely on the tip of my tongue.
“Is Sophia really that bad?”
“How could I speak ill of my own younger sister? However, that child was originally an illegitimate daughter who lived outside until she entered the Holpert family. Even after being formally adopted, she did nothing but follow Prince Schwald around like a shadow. Having grown up in poverty without knowing her true birth, she seems to enjoy luxury and has received quite a few gifts from Prince Schwald, as far as I know.”
“So everything has to be taught from scratch. No, he isn’t the crown prince yet. Perhaps it would be better to keep some distance and observe the second or third prince instead.”
Would the snowball effect reach all the way to the second and third princes? Indeed, both the second and third princes had appeared in the original story—as rivals competing with Schwald for the throne. But thanks to the heroine Sophia’s schemes, they were both eliminated. Those two had actual competence, unlike Schwald, who had none. They had been deeply displeased by the idea of someone as useless as Schwald ascending the throne. It was simply that Sophia and Schwald had moved too quickly. If they’d had a little more time, perhaps those two princes might have made a real bid for the crown themselves. Of course, that hack of an author had written the plot that way on purpose. A king who cared only for love—that was exactly what he wanted.
“Then what do you intend to do?”
Since Portmus Publishing had ties to the royal family, there was no point hiding the fact that I wrote novels. In that case, it would be better to tell them outright and ease the king’s burden by showing that I had my own path to survival. The only problem was that I wasn’t completely clueless. Would this royal couple really discard a capable woman like Milene so easily? If they chose the second or third prince as heir, they might try to attach me to one of them. If I drifted toward being a novelist, it would conveniently eliminate any future engagement issues as well. In any case, that publishing house had already given me quite a few gifts.
“I plan to sign a contract with Portmus Publishing.”
“With Portmus? What sort of contract?”
“The president there highly praised the work I wrote while imprisoned.”
In truth, I still couldn’t believe it had turned out this way.
“Is it a novel?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. So that’s why that fellow Jerry came rushing to us to get you out of prison as quickly as possible.”
“Would you like to see it?”
Well, it was only a submission draft. What should I do? Still, if it was a royal command, I supposed I had to obey. If I refused to show it here, they could accuse me of defying a royal order. Actually… maybe this was a good opportunity. Showing it once might not be a bad idea. If what Hugo had said was true, perhaps it would work on the king as well. After all, the hero was chosen within the palace, so the king would naturally have some influence.
“It’s only a copy of the contract, but please take a quick look.”
I wondered how the king would react. The king and queen read the manuscript together. How would King Adolf view the very work that President Hugo Frandel had praised so highly?
“Hmm, let’s see… I see. It’s a hero story, is it?”
“Yes. Romance has been dominating the market lately, so I decided to try something different.”
Adolf, who had begun reading with a neutral expression, gradually grew more intense. He gripped my manuscript tightly with both hands. The queen beside him showed no less reaction.
“What? So what happens next? What is it? Why does it end here?”
“What does the hero do after this? What happened to the saintess who was kidnapped by the succubus?”
The king and queen’s reactions were rather passionate. If things went well, this might actually turn out in my favor.
“Ah, this is only the submission draft. It hasn’t been officially published yet, so that’s all there is for now.”
“So you have no particular desire to return to Holpert and simply wish to write?”
“Yes.”
The king and queen held a serious discussion between themselves. When I strained my ears slightly, it seemed they had been planning to attach me to the second or third prince. I caught mentions of Heintz, so apparently they had intended to pair me with one of them.
“Then let’s do that.”
“Pardon?”
“Ahem. If she herself wishes it, what can we do? What do you think, my queen? The successor has not been decided yet anyway, and as for the Holpert family, it doesn’t matter what happens to that girl Sophia, does it? If Schwald is unfit, then perhaps it would be better to weaken the Holpert family’s power while we have the chance.”
Suddenly the conversation had taken a strange turn that excluded me. Weaken the Holpert family’s power. If I couldn’t become their daughter-in-law, they might as well use this opportunity to keep Holpert in check. That was none of my business. The high and mighty could fight among themselves as they pleased.
“Since Schwald won’t be ascending the throne anyway, it doesn’t matter, does it? The Holpert family’s influence growing too strong would also be a problem.”
“Then we shall proceed that way. Milene, would it be possible to send your books to the palace in the future?”
A sudden worry crossed my mind. Even if Adolf and the queen approved, remaining connected to the royal family would ultimately mean gaining a new patron.
“That would be fine with me.”
It seemed everything had resolved rather nicely. I had already been expelled from Holpert, and thanks to that Schwald—Schwald the idiot—I was now completely unrelated to them. It was no longer my concern. The two of them could beat Schwald to a pulp for all I cared. For now, I could breathe easy. There was no longer any immediate risk of death. As long as I didn’t encounter those two, I would be safe.
Ah, but there was one thing I needed to do first.
“However?”
“I apologize, but… I’m rather hungry. Could I possibly have something to eat?”
Gurgle.
The royal couple’s faces twisted in utter dismay.
Schwald was summoned to the palace that very night.
What the hell is going on?
He had been certain he had fooled them perfectly. How had his father and mother returned to Glacia so quickly? Because of that, everything had fallen apart. That arrogant Milene, who possessed the dark attribute and had tormented Sophia with every wicked act imaginable without hesitation, had been released from prison. Not only that, but she seemed to have taken care of everything on her own. After that, no one knew where she had gone.
No, Milene herself didn’t matter.
“Schwald. You have truly outdone yourself this time.”
“Father, I only—”
“Father? I am the king of this nation. Can you not distinguish between public and private matters?”
Facing his father, who looked ready to strike him at any moment, Schwald felt as if his lower half might grow damp with fear.
“Why does Your Majesty only take Milene’s side?”
“Because I believed her to be a capable woman who would lead this country alongside the next king. Yet because of what you have done, that is no longer possible!”
Schwald, who had been silently enduring the king’s fury, suddenly flared up.
Why was it always that woman? Why was it always Milene?
Milene was a fake. Everything she did—her feminine behavior, her refinement—was only for show. She had never once acted as a proper partner for a prince. As his fiancée and future queen, instead of elevating her husband, she had always acted as if she were superior. Compared to her, Sophia was like a heavenly goddess.
“It’s not only her, is it? Sophia also—!”
“A prostitute’s daughter, an uneducated illegitimate child who only knows how to indulge in luxury—does that girl have any qualifications to become the queen mother? Don’t make me laugh.”
The queen shook her head. Had the bean pod gotten stuck in his eyes that badly? She recalled the girl named Sophia she had once seen. The girl had no refinement, no knowledge, and a terrible personality. Moreover, with that flat chest of hers, could she even bear children properly?
“Mother, your words are too harsh!”
“The harsh one is you, my son. Do you think love will feed the people when ruling a country? And yet you’re completely blinded by infatuation.”
The queen let out a deep sigh. Yes, love was wonderful. Love was great. But if one stood in the position of a nation’s leader, love could very well ruin the country. After all, the current royal couple’s marriage had been a political one. Yet their son, who was aiming for the throne, now wanted to be engaged to an uneducated woman who would need to be taught everything from the beginning.
“That… that Milene possesses the dark attribute! How could such a woman—”
“The world does not consist of Glacia alone. There are other countries. A king must pay attention to diplomacy with other nations. If they hear that you condemned your own fiancée simply because she wields dark attribute magic, they will simply scoff at you.”
To think he had planned to hand the position of crown prince to such an ignorant fool. Perhaps he had placed too much faith in him simply because he was the eldest. Adolf smiled bitterly. Indeed, this could not be left alone.
“Father! Then are you telling me to get engaged to Milene again?”
That would be the best outcome. Looking at it now, Milene was far too good for this pathetic son of his. Honestly, he still harbored some lingering desire to keep her as a daughter-in-law. But the ending of the novel Milene had written kept bothering him. Moreover, she seemed to have made up her mind. Although it was a shame to give up, at least through Portmus Publishing they would maintain some connection to her.
“Milene herself stepped down. She said that reversing it now would only bring shame to the country and declared she would leave the family of her own accord.”
“Then…”
What was there to like about this? So it had been exactly as Milene said. It seemed that spending time with that Sophia had robbed his son of all sense.
“Silence! You are not yet the crown prince! After this incident, I must reconsider your position.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It means I will summon Heintz and Leon. I cannot entrust the throne to someone as immature as you!”
“Father, will you not even grant your son’s wish?”
At Schwald’s brazen and childish remark, Adolf was utterly dumbfounded. What kind of nonsense was this? Did the boy think a prince’s position was the same as some commoner’s? If that wish would ruin the country, it could not be forgiven.
“You manipulated witnesses and evidence to condemn and expel your own fiancée, causing trouble for everyone, and you expect me to overlook it?”
“She admitted to everything herself!”
Just where had this boy gone so wrong? From Adolf’s perspective, Milene could have fought back. She could have reclaimed everything that was rightfully hers. For a man to be so pathetic that a woman would willingly yield—how embarrassing.
“What nonsense! Even if that were true, don’t you think you went too far? Turning a childish quarrel into something this big? Do you know what people are saying? Those who know the truth only remain silent because you are a prince, but behind your back they are all laughing at you!”
“!!”
The queen, now also furious, harshly scolded Schwald. The way she clenched her fists made it clear she was truly enraged. Schwald could not even offer a rebuttal and simply lowered his head.
“Because everyone at the academy cheered for your so-called love, you ran wild like a colt without reins? You might not care, but the world is mocking you. This is a matter of the nation’s dignity!”
“Father…”
“Be quiet! You are not yet the crown prince! I will have Sophia receive the same palace education as my other children, but if there is no improvement, you will immediately relinquish your title as prince!”
In the original story, he should have faced Milene’s tragic death. Yet thanks to a Korean person’s possession and a complex web of interests, dark clouds now loomed over Schwald’s future.