“But…… the memorial speech will be broadcast to the streets through loudspeakers anyway. What’s the use of stopping me now?”

“The memorial speech will not be broadcast outside the cathedral.”

“What? Why suddenly……”

“It’s His Majesty the king’s order.”

Minister Hinler answered coldly.

“It seems he still has the mental capacity to give orders despite his illness. If Your Highness is here, His Highness’s struggle in front of the mourners won’t be recorded in the novel, will it?”

“But Minister, I understand that His Highness’s dialogues are smoothly polished in the novel……”

Peter, who had been standing a step back, carefully interjected. Hinler cut him off as if there was no need to listen.

“Of course, the dialogue is ‘slightly’ modified. But, because of His Highness’s diminished appearance and the mess of a speech……”

“A mess?!”

This time, Phenelity interrupted the minister with great anger.

“You’re going too far!”

“We must prevent the description in Your Highness’s novel of the mourners’ embarrassed faces due to His Highness’s speech, and the resulting solemn atmosphere.”

Hinler continued with an expressionless face and looked down at the angrily huffing Phenelity with a solemn gaze.

“The content of the speech will be published separately as an extra edition, so you don’t need to worry about that part.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about. Viett is in an extremely nervous state right now. If I’m not by his side at a time like this……”

“Even if Your Highness were by his side, the reality that Viett is severely stuttering wouldn’t change, would it?”

Minister Hinler coldly countered. Phenelity’s lips trembled, but unable to find a rebuttal, she made a tearful face.

“Now that Viett has become the king’s proxy, days like this will be repeated many times in the future.”

Phenelity’s expression became even more dejected at Hinler’s additional comment.

“The weight of duty and public expectation pressing down on the shoulders of a second son once overshadowed by his brother versus the heir to the throne acting as the king’s proxy are inevitably different. Moreover, we’re at war now, and with His Majesty in critical condition, it’s a time when both of you must be especially careful.”

An awkward silence followed his final warning. Second Lieutenant Peter glanced at Phenelity’s expression while watching Minister Hinler.

Though he knew he shouldn’t, he felt uneasy seeing her dejected face. Hinler glared at Peter with displeasure and issued another threat.

“From now on, the novel might proceed according to a script created by the government cabinet and the royal family.”

“A script?”

Phenelity raised her slightly bowed head in surprise. Hinler took out his pocket watch and checked the time with an indifferent face.

“There’s no need to be surprised. Many Little Lords throughout history have lived according to scripts provided by the government.”

“Live according to a script? What does that……”

“Stay here.”

Hinler left the basement without listening to her question to the end. Phenelity stared at the door he had closed behind him with an incredulous face, then leaned weakly against the wall.

After staring blankly at the phonograph while leaning against the wall for a while, Phenelity murmured in a dejected voice.

“Lieutenant…… Do you also think it’s right for me to hide here?”

Second Lieutenant Peter carefully nodded, thinking that while Hinler had been harsh, he agreed with his assertion.

“All I can say is that you must endure for Viett and Westenia.”

“Endure…… Fortunately, that’s what I do best. Holding it in and bearing it.”

Phenelity listened to the piano performance with a gloomy face. All Second Lieutenant Peter could do was stay by her side with a bitter expression.

Phenelity left the basement long after that. Second Lieutenant Peter escorted her up to the cathedral.

The funeral had already ended, and the high-ranking mourners who had filled the second-floor seats were no longer visible, having left the cathedral.

Members of the Hartmann family, nobles with close ties to the royal family, and members of the Prime Minister’s cabinet remained, filling the seats with grief-stricken faces.

The cathedral was quiet. The gloomy and unsettled atmosphere made it easy to guess how Viett’s speech had gone.

Viett sat in the spot closest to Minute’s coffin. He held the crumpled speech paper in one hand, staring at the stained glass with his arms loosely folded.

His eyes were calm, and his expression was as gruff as usual. But his characteristic sharp atmosphere prevented anyone from approaching him. Even his younger sister, Princess Rosemary, awkwardly hovered around him with a troubled face.

“Viett.”

Only Phenelity approached and sat beside Viett without hesitation. Seeing this, Rosemary sighed with relief and clutched her chest.

She shook her head and walked to the altar where Minute’s coffin lay. Then she kissed Minute’s forehead with a sad face.

Starting with Princess Rosemary, other important figures remaining in the cathedral approached the coffin one by one to kiss Minute’s forehead. Phenelity watched quietly, then gently took Viett’s large hand.

Second Lieutenant Peter bitterly watched as Viett tightly gripped his wife’s hand.

* * *

「<Pepe: 77XX Days Since Birth……>

※ This regime propaganda novel may contain scenes inappropriate for children.

※ Names of characters other than the Little Lord and family will be marked as XX.

※ Detailed descriptions of the state funeral process and palace structure have been omitted for security reasons. Please note this.

The Selaron Palace has been a place I’ve wanted to visit since I was very young. Not just me. All students who studied architecture at the academy have a romantic notion about this palace. (No one can suppress curiosity about historical ancient sites!)

Despite longing for this palace entry so much, it wasn’t enjoyable at all. Normally, I would have been amazed by the splendid garden and Great Hall, but given the circumstances, it was impossible to freely look around and explore the palace.

First, as soon as we entered the palace, people rushed out to greet us. They were the chief chamberlain, employees, and retired officers.

I wasn’t crazy enough to admire the interior decorations with dozens of pairs of eyes watching. (To be honest, I barely heard what the chief chamberlain was saying because I was busy admiring the magnificent ceiling paintings.)

— I greet Westenia’s new crown prince.

The white-haired old man who introduced himself as General XX said, looking directly at Viett.

— I can hardly say I’m glad you’ve returned.

General XX grumbled in a meaningful tone and added coldly.

— The grief of losing His Highness Minute hasn’t subsided yet.

— ……

— Please consider this old man’s tired mind and body.

I thought it was rather unseemly for an elderly person to grumble to Viett, who could be his grandchild. But that thought didn’t last long.

I pinched my cheek while scolding myself, ‘Eek, I should be careful about such thoughts now.’ The general looked at me as if I were a strange animal.

— Nice to meet you.

General XX gave me a perfunctory greeting and turned away abruptly.

— Let’s go. His Majesty is waiting.

Finally, the moment I had dreaded most arrived. The time for Viett’s private audience with His Majesty the king. Viett swallowed dryly and clenched his hand. I patted his visibly tense shoulders.

— See you later.

— Will you be okay alone? I could still call Rose……

— I’m fine. It’s not like I’m a child!

Viett looked back at me several times before trudging after the general. As I waved to him climbing the stairs to His Majesty’s bedroom, the chief chamberlain approached me and bowed.

— I am XX, chief chamberlain who has served the Hartmann royal family for over 40 years.

— Nice to meet you. I’m Pepe Hartmann. I look forward to working with you!

— The pleasure is mine.

I hurriedly followed the chief chamberlain who offered to guide me to my room. Throughout the complex corridors and staircases, I internally exclaimed in admiration several times.

Historical artifacts and masterpieces were placed everywhere I looked. (I even saw the actual portrait of the founding king!)

But that didn’t last long. Suddenly realizing I shouldn’t behave so frivolously during mourning, I quickly composed myself. Then, exhausted from self-censoring, I slumped my shoulders.

Of course, my life had always been a continuous cycle of censorship, oppression, and control, but…… As a prince’s wife, no, now a crown princess. Anyway, since returning as the crown princess, I felt the intensity had increased, which made me a little sad.

— This is the room His Highness used when he was young.

The chief chamberlain took me to Viett’s room. I looked around blankly with disbelieving eyes.

— Really? This was…… Viett’s room?

— Yes. But he has hardly used it since entering the military academy.

I walked around the room carefully while listening to the chief chamberlain’s explanation. An old piano with a thin layer of dust. Furniture that was elaborate and elegant but somehow unused, giving off a strangely dull feeling like hotel room items. After examining an old, small glass aquarium, my gaze fixed on a frame on the desk.