Rapunzel, DON’T Let Down Your Hair!

A viscounty.

Small though it was, a title was still a title. Moreover, there was nothing in the voting law stating that a viscount could not become a candidate.

Erin confidently asked if that wasn’t the case.

“Princess Erin, have you perhaps checked who currently holds that title?”

“That’s. Rapunzel…”

“Yes. Exactly. It still belongs to the queen who should have died 300 years ago. That’s because it isn’t an ordinary title.”

The teacher explained that when Rapunzel first received the title, there had been a special condition attached to it.

“This land shall remain hers for as long as her power endures.”

The king from 300 years ago had ordered his descendants never to touch that land.

And as far as the teacher knew, the queen’s hair still hadn’t lost its power.

Apparently, if you cut off some of that hair and made a wish, you could make it rain, and you could make the rain stop as well. It was said to grant wishes. No matter how difficult the wish, it was possible as long as there was enough hair.

Because of that, the royal family of Grauden had passed it down through the generations, selling it at high prices or using it for important diplomatic matters.

Though ever since the regency began, they had stopped trading it on the grounds that royal treasures could not be taken out of the kingdom.

“As long as Queen Rapunzel’s hair remains intact, that viscounty will never pass into someone else’s hands.”

With that, the teacher threw up both hands and begged her to please give up already.

Erin still didn’t seem completely convinced, and her face was full of things she wanted to say. Her mouth opened and closed as though she were about to speak. After doing that for quite some time, she cautiously asked.

“Do you think there might someday come a day when a princess can become king in Kalis too, like in Grauden?”

“Perhaps such a day may come someday. No one knows the future.”

“But you mean it won’t happen anytime soon.”

“Realistically speaking, unfortunately, yes. Great change requires the will to make it happen.”

The teacher asked whether His Majesty possessed such a will at present. Changes often happened out of necessity. For instance, if there were no son to inherit the throne.

Prince William was alive and well. If the king went out of his way to change the law and pass the throne to Erin, it would only provoke opposition from those around him. Something with neither justification nor necessity would only create trouble where there had been none.

“Even if you forced your way onto the throne, Princess, the lords wouldn’t support you. A rebellion would break out, and the kingdom would fall into chaos.”

Unable to argue with that, Erin gave a bitter smile.

“Thanks. For making time for me.”

Erin gathered up the book, tucked it under her arm, and said she would be going. The teacher rose from his seat and clasped his hands together to see her off properly.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of any help.”

“No. You were a huge help. If I see William, I’ll tell him to take his lessons a little more seriously.”

Though it wasn’t much of a repayment.

Erin forced a bright smile as she said goodbye and left the room. Once out in the corridor, she leaned her back against the door and let out a deep sigh.

This time, she had truly thought she’d found a good way. But the thought that she’d gotten needlessly excited and poured all that energy into it yet again left her terribly disappointed. All the strength drained from her body.

Dragging her feet, Erin trudged toward her room with heavy steps.

“No. A little more dynamic! I’ve just stabbed a dragon!”

When she was almost back to her room, William’s voice came from somewhere nearby. Erin stopped walking and searched for the source of the sound. It was coming from one of the drawing rooms.

Erin approached the drawing room and slowly opened the door.

“But this is already plenty dynamic.”

“It’s not enough! I don’t look very heroic. I look like some awkward idiot who doesn’t know how to stand!”

William, holding a large spear, was complaining to the painter in front of the portrait. After pointing out every single thing he disliked, he went over and stood by a chair.

“Watch carefully and paint me exactly like this. Right down to my toes!”

After scolding her irritably, he planted one foot on the chair. He twisted his upper body so it could be seen clearly from the side as well, and raised his chin. He fixed the painter with an intense stare, practically threatening her to make absolutely certain his sharp jawline was emphasized.

The poor painter stood before the canvas, her brush frozen as she blinked at him.

“That pose is completely different from the one you were doing just now.”

“Of course it’s different!”