Chapter 37
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Inspection Tour
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I'm fourteen years old.
It's still too early to be thinking about marriage.
I don't care what anyone else thinks. That's how I feel.
To begin with, there's no one I even like.
Of course, I'm well aware of my own situation.
For royalty, marriage regardless of one's own wishes is par for the course, in a way.
So I figured I'd just go along with a suitable betrothal as long as it wasn't someone I truly hated...
"No, you won't."
"Mother?"
My mother turned out to be even more stubborn than I'd expected.
"If it's someone Theo truly loves, that might be different. But otherwise, I have no intention of marrying you off until a woman I approve of comes along."
"..."
No. This might actually be better.
Thinking that, I met my mother's eyes.
How has she not changed a bit?
"M-Mother..."
"Yes, Theo?"
"Are you... not getting any older, by any chance?"
It was a silly question, but I was genuinely curious.
"..."
My mother stared at me quietly after hearing my question,
"Theo...!"
then pulled me straight into a hug.
"Ub."
"My Theo really knows how to capture his mother's heart!"
More like shameless flattery, isn't it?
Suddenly, I recalled how one of the ministers had once tried buttering her up and gotten an earful of abuse.
His flattery had seemed more elaborate and polished than mine.
People's hearts are unpredictable.
"In any case, my thoughts on the matter..."
My mother cleared her throat and continued.
"I think you need to get a bit older first."
That's true enough...
"And you have to meet the conditions I've set."
"What conditions are those?"
Let's hear them out.
"As it happens, I've already discussed them with your sisters."
When did you do that?
"First, Lily's condition is that she has to be better at magic than Lily."
Not easy from the start.
"Next, Ravire's is that she has to be better at fighting than her."
The second one's tough too.
"Finally, I think she needs to surpass me in every way."
Am I supposed to live alone forever?
Just moments ago, I was worried about marrying too soon, but now I'm suddenly fretting about lifelong bachelorhood.
"Isn't that... a bit too much?"
"Too much?"
My mother's eyes widened at my words.
"No matter what, shouldn't there be someone who can support you through anything?"
Is that how it works?
I can manage just fine on my own.
"In any case, I'll respect your opinion."
"Yes... Mother."
At my mother's beaming words, I could only smile back without another word.
"How have things been lately, Theo?"
Seemingly taking my smile as agreement, she smiled and met my eyes.
"I heard you put on quite the show in the Rig territory this time."
"Ah..."
When did she hear about that?
Wait, does she know I looked at the ledgers too?
"When did you start studying account books?"
"Uh... I just kind of did..."
My mother nodded at my response.
"Impressive."
"..."
Well, praise never hurts.
"And..."
My mother cleared her throat again.
"Theo, do you have a lot of free time?"
"Uh..."
A lot of free time?
I do.
Everyone insists on helping with everything I try to do anyway.
Clue handles all the cleaning, Lily sticks by my side like a personal tutor for magic, and now Ravire's glued to me for swordsmanship lessons.
I'm grateful, but I'm worried my independence might vanish at this rate.
In any case.
"Plenty."
"Would you like to go on a trip?"
"Pardon?"
A trip? Out of nowhere?
I blinked at her, and my mother smiled softly.
"As you know, the Empire periodically tours the kingdoms."
Ah, the kingdom tour.
I knew about it from history books and common knowledge.
In simple terms, it's like an inspection and a show of authority.
"Lily and Ravire have usually gone until now, but..."
"Yes."
"It's about time you learned to handle outside affairs too. Of course, if you don't want to go, you don't have to—"
"I'll go."
No way I'd pass up a chance like this.
I've never been outside the Empire, and I figured Mother would never let me go, but if she's offering, I'm nothing but thankful.
I nodded vigorously, and my mother looked at me, sniffling.
"You've grown so much, Theo."
"Pardon?"
"Out in the world on your own now..."
She sniffled again and spread her arms wide.
"Come here to Mother."
"..."
I slowly stepped into her embrace, and as she stroked my hair, she whispered,
"Don't worry. The people of the kingdom aren't bad sorts."
"Ah, yes..."
Isn't it all political relations anyway?
That thought lasted only a moment.
"If anyone so much as harms a hair on your head, I've already declared I'll wipe the kingdom off the map."
"..."
I don't think it had to go quite that far.
*
"I've looked into the kingdom as you asked."
Thud. Clue set down a few books with a bang.
"First off, the kingdom you're visiting is Cassius, right?"
"Yes."
Cassius Kingdom.
The closest neighbor to the Empire, main industry gold mines, I think.
"Anything to watch out for?"
"Her Majesty must be really worried about you... but honestly, nothing much."
Nothing much—what does that mean?
I looked at Clue, who cleared her throat and continued.
"Relations are good, and being neighbors probably helps. Nothing noteworthy."
"I see."
"If there's a feature, it's that they have a princess?"
"A princess?"
Having a princess isn't exactly a feature.
"Around your age, and renowned for her beauty."
"Is that so?"
"Master, don't go losing your head just because she's pretty, okay?"
"Would I?"
I guarantee you, it'll be hard to find anyone prettier than Lily or Ravire.
Not that I have feelings for them or anything...
"My standards are too high now."
After seeing those two, no one else measures up.
"...What about me?"
"Hm?"
"I'm not exactly lacking in looks either."
Clue looked at me and cleared her throat.
Probably...
"Doll-like."
"I'm a homunculus—"
"That's why—please don't make this harder for me."
I cut her off and pressed on.
"Anyway. And?"
"Being next to the Empire with good relations..."
"Yes."
"I don't think there'll be any issues. Not that I should say that lightly."
Clue nodded.
"So, can't I just go with you?"
"They'll probably assign escorts anyway."
Given my position.
They wouldn't just send me off lightly—who knows what disaster might strike.
"True. But you don't have many factions supporting you as a personal aide..."
Clue trailed off, and I gave her a gentle smile.
You have no idea, Clue.
"I've got it all prepared."
"Pardon?"
I smiled at her bewildered expression.
I've been working hard too, you know.
*
"Everyone heard?"
Rig territory.
A small social gathering was underway.
Maybe "social gathering" isn't quite the right term.
"Prince Theodor is heading out on his first inspection to Cassius Kingdom."
Lucy Rig stated matter-of-factly as she brushed back her hair, and the others looking at her chimed in.
"In that case, we'll provide the private guards."
Ripi, the timid son of a rising military family, nodded.
"Th-then I'll handle the carriages and mounts."
Gio, the daughter of a merchant house who stutters but speaks her mind, nodded too.
"I'll accompany him directly."
Lucy brushed back her hair again, and the others stared at her silently.
"...What?"
"Fine, do that."
Someone sighed and nodded, and Lucy's cheeks flushed slightly.
"I-I mean, without me, who would assist the Prince..."
"There's the homunculus."
"That's a doll...!"
Lucy stomped her foot, but the others just chuckled without responding.
Everyone knew what feelings Lucy harbored for Theodor.
"Anyway, it's the Prince's first inspection. We have to put in the effort befitting his faction."
Lucy muttered, and the others nodded.
In the garden, where there were too many for tea time but too few for a proper salon, Lucy declared confidently.
"We're Prince Theodor's faction, so we'll support him accordingly."
"We'll flatten the noses of the other princesses' factions."
Ripi glared fiercely, and Gio chimed in.
"Y-yeah. Make them... regret being alive..."
"Not that far."
Before long, Theodor's inspection had turned into an arms race with his siblings' factions.
Of course, Theodor himself had no idea.