Chapter 11
Although her son was outstanding, the Empress knew he was a young man who knew all too well how outstanding he was. That was why he also had arrogant and foolish sides.
“If you don’t accept him, he will only grow more desperate and cling harder. I feel deeply apologetic saying this in front of Your Majesties, but…”
Hylian spoke with deliberate confidence.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is shameless and persistent, and when it comes to obtaining what he wants, he does not concern himself with dignity. He is also quick-witted and has a cunning side. On the other hand, according to what I have heard from the servants, Baroness Linier is a kind person with great compassion.”
Persistent and shameless… The Emperor felt a surge of emotion, but since it was true, he had nothing to say. If one were to ask why such a fellow had failed to win Fleur, it was because his interest had only gone that far.
He had merely prodded her with the attitude of, If you cling to me first and say you like me, sure, I’ll consider accepting you. He hadn’t done a single thing that would make her like him. As a result, Fleur had thought, Why on earth is this imperial prince acting like this? and put distance between herself and Kasselard.
“If His Highness the Crown Prince clings and begs, Baroness Linier will eventually accept him. For His Highness, this is a matter of survival. If he changes his attitude and cherishes the Baroness devotedly, I am confident her heart will soften.”
“But allowing her to form a pair with another Transcendent… is that not an excessively dangerous promise?”
Beside the hesitant Emperor, Empress Yekaterina lifted her head with a resolute expression.
“Let us do so. If, even when the Crown Prince turns twenty-seven, he still has not captured the Baroness’s heart, then I will cast aside my dignity and make that promise as though it never existed.”
“Your Majesty, will that truly be all right?”
“Kasselard is a clever child. We must go this far for him to believe it. No matter how much the Baroness tries, if the Crown Prince does not cooperate, even attempting guiding will be difficult. This is what must be done.”
At the Empress’s firm words, it seemed the Emperor’s resolve was swayed as well. Hylian looked at the imperial couple with a subtle gaze and thought,
‘Even when they speak with faces like that, at its core…’
It was a matter of Kasselard’s marriage. Of course, he was the Crown Prince, and his life was at stake in keeping hold of his Guide, but…
‘If the Crown Prince were to go on rampage, it really would be a disaster.’
Having settled his thoughts that way, Hylian spoke with an expression that revealed little of his true feelings.
“Then, please summon Baroness Linier.”
The task of persuasion would fall to the Empress, who was also a Guide.
* * *
Because she had failed to obtain what she wanted in the previous meeting, Ephinia steeled herself and headed to the palace to meet the Empress. She expected that around this time, the Empress would pressure her to at least attempt guiding the Crown Prince.
‘I haven’t heard any rumors that the Crown Prince is on the verge of rampage yet.’
However, she had heard that the Crown Prince had relied on potions such as suppressants and substitutes since childhood. Even for a Transcendent with outstanding regenerative abilities, those were not good for the body, so they would want him to receive guiding.
‘If they tell me to persuade the Crown Prince to receive guiding, that would really be a problem.’
Even in private audiences, not the ballroom, Kasselard had only glared at her with a sulky expression and hadn’t said a single word.
So she had thought, at least, that he didn’t like her very much. The nobles around her had said the nonsensical thing that His Highness the Crown Prince was simply shy, but…
‘Haah… just thinking about being pressured to guide him makes me sigh.’
Guiding the Crown Prince was something she wanted to avoid from her side as well. For guiding to be properly effective, it had to be deep contact guiding, they said.
Some might say that a kiss or two would be fine, but Ephinia hated even having her fingertips touch his.
“I really hate it. I hate it so much.”
Inside the carriage heading for the imperial palace, Meredith was absent for once. She had said she had personal business today and had taken leave.
As a result, the knight assigned to guard her today was someone she didn’t know well, and he wasn’t riding in the same carriage. Because he was a man.
The people assigned by the Lanas ducal household acted as if it were only natural that Ephinia would become the Crown Prince’s fiancée. Because of that, when it came to men, they would never try to be alone with Ephinia in a room or ride in the same carriage with her.
As if she would ever become the Crown Prince’s Guide anyway.
‘As if that could happen.’
The only time she had ever seen the Crown Prince’s face was that day at the ball. After that, she had been summoned by the Empress to drink tea, but she hadn’t seen even a glimpse of the Crown Prince.
If Ephinia herself so much as caught sight of his shadow, she would have run away.
She never wanted to meet him again.
“Haah…”
If only another Guide would appear and pull her out of this guiding hell. Ephinia let out a heavy sigh as she gazed at the approaching view of the imperial palace.
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