Chapter 5.1
Lately, each day has not been bad.
However, even though a month had already flashed by, Adela’s body was not recovering.
It seemed Adela’s constitution was much weaker than I had thought.
So, although she could not visit the House of Hates as promised, we still exchanged letters often.
She said so in her letters.
That since I was the first friend she had ever made in her life, I was incredibly precious to her.
And so, she said she never wanted to let go of the string of our connection.
My father seemed to view my staying in contact with someone from the House of Bayon with displeasure.
However, on the day I returned from the Bayon Ducal residence, my father spoke only one last word to me and said nothing further about it since then.
– I trust you will conduct yourself well, but do not stay too close to the people of the Bayon family.
It was a word that was both an entreaty and a warning.
While I kept those words in mind the whole time, my heart would soften whenever I received Adela’s affectionate letters.
Since I am only human, it was unavoidable that I would gradually develop feelings for someone who says they like me.
In Adela’s letters, there was also news of Eden, stating that he had not yet returned to the capital.
‘He hasn’t come yet.’
As Eden had said, Adela mentioned that once he leaves the capital, he does not return quickly.
I asked how long it would take this time, but she said he couldn’t tell her exactly.
However, for some reason, he had said he would return soon this time, so she wrote that she was very happy because it seemed Eden would arrive shortly.
Aside from that, I was gradually establishing myself as a member of the Ducal house by assisting my father with his work.
Today, as part of that, I went out to run an errand for my father.
The destination was the Imperial Palace.
Among the new businesses our family was starting this time, there were parts that required the permission of the Imperial Family.
Since the Emperor has been delegating quite a lot of work to the Crown Prince lately, I had to go meet the Crown Prince today.
As I felt during the banquet last time, the Crown Prince was of a somewhat different fiber than the Emperor.
This is just my intuition, but he seemed to have different thoughts from the Emperor, who conforms to the current power structure—namely, the three Ducal families possessing greater power than the Imperial Family.
I haven’t actually shared words with him about it, but there were times when one could sense thoughts through the feeling a person exuded.
Crown Prince Edial Winston Baltheus possessed a sharp gaze and a strong momentum.
So, for some reason, it was hard for me to shake the thought that the Crown Prince might cause a major incident someday.
At any rate, since no signs were visible yet, it was nothing more than my own speculation.
Though it was merely speculation, to stand against the current structure meant standing against our family as well.
Therefore, there was a necessity to watch the Crown Prince carefully.
While lost in various thoughts, the carriage entered the Imperial Palace and soon arrived at the Crown Prince’s Palace where he resides.
I stepped down from the carriage, passed through a long corridor, and stood before the Crown Prince’s office.
An attendant guarding the office bowed and greeted me.
“Please wait for a moment.”
“I understand.”
The attendant went inside the office.
I looked around the surroundings until he returned.
Given the banquet he hosted last time and the attire he wore, I thought he liked quite flashy things, but the place where he stayed felt calm and static.
Just then, the office door opened.
“His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince says for you to enter.”
As the attendant made way, I slowly stepped inside.
Once I was completely inside, the door closed behind me.
As soon as I entered the Crown Prince’s office, what entered my field of vision was the large desk where he conducted his business.
The Crown Prince, seated at that desk, was looking at me.
Lowering my gaze slightly, I involuntarily looked toward the top of the desk.
Various documents were piled high in layers on the desk.
“Welcome, Lady Hates.”
“I greet His Imperial Highness Edial Winston Baltheus, the shining little sun of Baltheus and the noble one.”
I bowed my head and showed courtesy to the Crown Prince.
“Please rise. Sit over here.”
“Thank you, Your Imperial Highness.”
The Crown Prince sat at a table even larger than the desk on the right side of the office.
I took a seat facing him.
“Thank you for sparing your precious time, Your Imperial Highness.”
“Not at all. If it is a matter of the House of Hates, I must willingly spare time even if there is none.”
Is it my imagination that there seems to be a thorn in his words?
Perhaps because I had already judged him myself, it was difficult to listen to his words lightly.
“I will not take much of your precious time, Your Highness. This is the business proposal my father mentioned previously.”
I handed him the documents I was holding.
“I did not know Duke Hates was interested in children. An orphanage—it is quite
unexpected.”
“My father is someone who is always ready to do anything for the Empire. And this business is something I suggested to my father.”
“Hmm, the Lady did?”
“Yes. While traveling, I saw countless children wandering the streets without homes. Therefore, the thought occurred to me that places to protect such children are needed even more, which is why we are pursuing this business.”
It was the truth.
During my travels, not only the children rescued from the circus including Lian, but everywhere on the streets was overflowing with children who had lost their way.
That was bound to be the case, as this place where I live was a world where magic beasts frequently attacked.
They would invade regardless of the time and devastate the villages where people lived.
Due to that, many children lost their parents and ended up wandering the streets.
I knew better than anyone the sorrow of having no one to look after me and not even having a home.
Every time I saw children begging in hunger on the streets while traveling, my heart ached and I felt pity.
So, I wanted to build orphanages throughout the Empire or provide sponsorship for such children first if there was anything I could do upon returning to the Ducal house.
When I spoke of these thoughts to my parents, they readily joined in my opinion.
They were truly warm and grateful people, my parents.
“But there are sufficient orphanages in the Empire. I wonder if building more here would be a waste.”
The Crown Prince must have grasped the actual state of affairs only through the documents brought up to him.
If one actually traveled around, truly many children were exposed to danger.
“I thought so as well, but it was not the case. Everything required for this business will be handled by the House of Hates.”
“I heard the Lady took over Grence from
the House of Maxius recently.”
Why is he suddenly asking about my land?
Is it because he is curious if I have
sufficient funds?
The Crown Prince’s curious eyes made me feel quite unpleasant.
However, the opponent was the Crown Prince.
And at a point where I couldn’t accurately judge the intent of his words, it was not good to reveal my emotions.
“Yes, that is correct. I received it as alimony for the broken engagement. As you know, there is a massive diamond mine in Grence. Therefore, you do not need to worry about the finances of this business.”
Even if it weren’t for that, the assets of the House of Hates were sufficient for the orphanage-related business.
It was a bit strange, but since the Crown Prince seemed curious, I mentioned the diamond mine to emphasize once more that the business could proceed without a problem.
“I suppose so. But, you see.”
“Yes?”
“Are diamonds truly so abundant they get kicked by one’s feet?”
“Ah, yes. I also visited Grence for the first time during my trip, and it was truly immense.”
“Hmm, I see.”
“Therefore, I hope Your Highness will review this business in a positive direction.”
Even if it were a Ducal house standing at the pinnacle of the Empire, one could not ignore the procedures.
Regarding matters related to public facilities, rather than a small private business selling goods, the permission of the Imperial Family was necessary, even if they were a puppet Imperial Family.
However, that didn’t mean the Imperial Family could openly obstruct matters conducted by a Ducal house.
Since my father also said it was merely a procedural formality, I wasn’t particularly worried.
“I understand. I will review it and contact you.”
“Thank you.”
I had received an answer, and all that remained was to wait for the permission.
Since the talk was finished, there was no reason to stay here any longer.
I stood up from my seat after giving my reply.
“Then, I shall be going now.”
“Go safely, Lady.”
However, a meaningful smile was hanging on the lips of the Crown Prince as he bid me farewell.
I tried to pretend I hadn’t seen that smile and left the office.
It was while I was walking toward the carriage after leaving the office.
‘Ah, what the.’
Why on earth is that man here?
Seeing the person I didn’t even want to face standing on the path to the carriage, I didn’t even want to go near him and stopped for a moment.
However, perhaps he heard the sound of my footsteps, as he turned his head toward the direction where I was.
“Lady Hates.”
As soon as he saw me, he approached me rapidly.
“Duke Maxius.”
‘So that’s why he was smiling at me.’
Since last time, I had a suspicion that there might be some kind of deal between Kane and the Crown Prince…
Seeing him here today, that suspicion turned into a conviction.
“What business brings the Lady to the Palace of His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince?”
What, isn’t his acting too clumsy?
His expression was awkward, truly awkward.
It was obvious he came here knowing I was here, yet his pretending not to know was incredibly loathsome.
“I came because I had something to say to His Highness for a moment.”
Leaving my unpleasant feelings behind, I replied half-heartedly while thinking of escaping from here as soon as possible.
“Is that so. It has been quite a while for us.”
“Yes, but I am a bit busy. I shall be going first.”
“Lady, wait a moment!”
I walked toward the carriage at the fastest
speed I could muster, but Kane chased after me from behind.
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
What is it with this human always wanting to talk?
“I have nothing to say to the Duke, though.”
I replied while continuing to walk, looking only straight ahead.
“I have something to say to the Lady.”
That damn ‘something to say’, ‘something to say’.
