Chapter 32

32. The Innocent Prince

“It’s a simple story.”

Adelaide stirred the tea skillfully. Callion looked at the woman who handed him the teacup with a serious gaze.

After moistening her mouth with tea, Adelaide set the cup down and spoke.

“The class system in Helenia is much stricter than in the Empire. In the Empire, you can buy status with money, but in the Kingdom, a commoner is a commoner, no matter how much money you have.”

“…….”

Would a few commoners being kidnapped really lead to war in a country where even servants can’t talk to nobles without permission? It’s absurd.”

“…….”

“Wouldn’t a more plausible explanation be that someone who shouldn’t be known to be missing has gone missing, and they’ve decided to go to war to retaliate?”

Adelaide laughed softly as she finished.

A case that would turn the Hellenian royal family upside down. A visit from the Second Prince, not the Fifth Prince, who had been in charge of the tribute exchange until last year.

It was understandable if the knowledge of the slave auction and the excessive rudeness to Callion stemmed from a misunderstanding that the Empire had kidnapped the prince.

Callion sighed.

“Did you know that someone important was that kid?”

“I didn’t know that from the start, just that Zeke’s identity was different from everyone else’s, as you said.”

“So that’s why you’ve been favoring him.”

Callion said, realizing why she had favored Zeke all this time.

Adelaide nodded slightly.

“At first, I brought him along to help me prepare for the banquet, but as we talked, I realized he knew far too much for a common nobleman.”

“I heard that the notes you passed on to me through Lucid were all given to you by that boy.”

“Yes. It’s hard for a boy of his age, no matter how well educated, to be that well versed in etiquette. So, I had my suspicions.”

In retrospect, there was definitely something fishy about that.

Not revealing his status, not cowering even in front of the sword-wielding knights, and not being afraid but rather rebellious at the slave auction.

“I was a fool.”

Callion muttered to himself. Adelaide shook her head hastily.

“Like I said, I only just realized that Zeke was the prince of Helenia, not that I was sure.”

“In any case, if you hadn’t noticed, we would have lost the boy.”

When Lucid spotted Zeke, he was about to take advantage of a lapse in guard to escape.

He would have been lost if Adelaide hadn’t pointed him out.

“He’s too conspicuous to have gotten away.”

With his exotic appearance and clumsy Imperial language, even if he had tried to escape, he wouldn’t have gotten far.

“He doesn’t look like the Second Prince, so I didn’t think anything of it.”

“They had similar smiling faces. If I had recognized him a little sooner, I wouldn’t have been so flustered in the carriage.”

Callion’s eyes softened as he lowered his gaze, embarrassed that he’d blurted out his words so bluntly at the Second Prince’s provocation.

“Were you afraid I would be taken to the kingdom?”

“…Yes.”

The answer fell out with difficulty. After speaking, she realized there might be room for misunderstanding.

“If you were to be taken to the kingdom…….”

“Don’t tell me why; that’s enough.”

He didn’t let her correct the misunderstanding.

Not wanting to show her blushing face, Adelaide lowered her head.

“My lord, the Second Prince is here.”

Just then, Jensen entered the study. Wanting to escape this awkward atmosphere as soon as possible, Adelaide sprang to her feet.

Callion followed her to her feet ruefully.

“Show him to the parlor. We’ll follow you there.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

When they arrived at the parlor, the Second Prince and Zeke were waiting for them. When Prince Klaus saw them enter, he was the first to rise from his seat and help Zeke to his feet.

Zeke was dressed in royal garb and looked like a man from Helenia.

Perhaps from being scolded severely, his usual bright eyes were now dull, and his eye bags were swollen.

“Formally greet them.”

Prince Klaus pressed down hard on Zeke’s head.

[I, I am……..]

“In the Imperial language.”

Zeke’s lips pouted, and he stared at Adelaide in humiliation. She averted her eyes, feeling like she was about to burst out laughing.

“Siegfried von Ribentrop, Eighth Prince of Helenia, greets the Duke and Duchess.”

So she was right.

The Eighth Prince is the youngest son of the King and Queen and half-brother of the Second Prince. The king was said to be especially fond of him because he was born in his old age.

“We’re grateful for everything you’ve done for us so far.”

“Again.”

“I apologize for deceiving you about my status.”

“And.”

“Thank you for saving my life.”

Did he really speak Imperial so well?

The stuttering about not knowing the language was all an act, but Siegfried’s Imperial language was flawless.

Callion quickly glanced at Siegfried’s wrist and spoke.

“I didn’t realize you were a prince, and I apologize for my rudeness.”

“No, it’s not. This boy here was the one who acted rudely towards you.”

“I understand that the situation was what it was, so I understand why you hide your status.”

Callion replied in a generous tone. Prince Klaus once again pressed Siegfried’s head, urging him to greet him.

“Thank you for taking care of Siegfried all this time. I’ve heard that he would have died if it weren’t for you two.”

Prince Klaus’s demeanor was uncharacteristically polite for someone who had been in the carriage. Callion held out his hand.

“It’s what we should have done, and since the 8th prince is also a victim, the greetings are sufficient.”

“No. I must also apologize for my rudeness in the carriage, and I sincerely regret that I may have offended His Grace with my insolence.”

The Second Prince bowed deeply.

It wasn’t pleasant, but it was to be expected if his brother’s disappearance had made him sensitive, Callion concluded.

“I will return to the kingdom and tell them that the Duke was the one who saved Siegfried’s life, and I’m sure my father will be very grateful.”

“I’m glad we’ve cleared up the misunderstanding.”

There was a pleasant exchange. Adelaide listened to the conversation and kept her eyes on the dejected Zeke.

How the hell did he end up at a slave auction……?

“Why don’t we save the rest of this conversation for after we eat?”

“Oh, I’ll have them get ready now.”

She put the question on hold.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“Hmm.”

Back in her room after dinner, Adelaide flopped down on her bed.

As much as she wanted to lie down right away, she couldn’t fall asleep at first because Callion and Prince Klaus were still talking about tribute negotiations.

Adelaide rubbed her sleepy eyes, hoping that the banquet would go well.

Maybe she should get some air.

The tension in the room made her drowsy. She went out onto the terrace, hoping to get some fresh air, and found a figure standing in the moonlight below.

“Siegfried?

Siegfried was pacing the garden, his face full of concern. Two of his attendants followed closely behind.

“What is he doing at this hour?”

The unanswered question of the day crept up on her. Adelaide wrapped her shawl around herself and stepped outside.

“Runaway prince. What are you doing there?”

“Oh, you startled me. You surprised me!”

“You should be courteous to the Duchess, prince.”

“Don’t call me Prince!”

“Okay, Zeke.”

Adelaide snorted and changed her tone. His reddened cheeks were cute, as if he were embarrassed to be called ‘Prince’.

“What brings you out here so late?”

“I’ve been thinking about something. What about you?”

“I think I ate too much dinner, so I thought I’d take a walk. Would you like to walk with me?”

At her suggestion, Siegfried glanced back at his entourage.

“I have business to discuss with the Duchess, and you will stay away!”

He shooed them away and held out his hand like a gentleman. Adelaide laughed heartily and took Siegfried’s hand, leading him into the garden.

“Sit down.”

Adelaide sat down on a bench in the center of the garden and gestured to the seat beside her. Siegfried grunted and stuck his butt in the chair. Up close, she could see his puffy eyes better.

“Did you get scolded a lot?”

“I don’t know.”

“You seemed like you got scolded a lot earlier.”

“Don’t ask me that!”

He’s still alive after all that scolding.

Adelaide, not wanting to upset him, whispered gently.

“Thank you for being so nice to the Second Prince.”

“I just said what was true, you don’t need to thank me.”

“Still. Gratitude is gratitude.”

Siegfried grinned and wiped his mouth. He kicks the sand with his toes, embarrassed.

“You’re not in any trouble because of me, right? ”

“Nope. I think we’re good.”

“Okay, then.”

She looked at Siegfried with affectionate eyes, then asked.

“Why did you run away, anyway?”

“…….”

Prince Klaus didn’t seem to know why Siegfried had come to the Empire.

As a child traveling with an entourage, it’s impossible to explain the process without crossing the border on your own.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke with difficulty.

“They say my brother can’t be king if I’m there.”

“Why?”

“My father wanted to make my brother his successor, but my mother and maternal uncle wanted me to be king and opposed it, so…… he named my eldest brother as his successor because he was afraid that there would be a fight between the siblings.”

“I don’t quite understand… what do you mean?”

“If I’m not there, my mother, who is my brother’s only mother, will side with him.”

Did he run away because he was afraid of the trouble he would cause? It was an understandable reason.

“What were you planning to do alone when you don’t know anyone? ”

“I brought a lot of money, though I got robbed by pickpockets along the way.”

Siegfried muttered grimly.

This is absurd.

No matter how much the Queen favors her youngest son, she cannot fail to see how risky it is to put a fifteen-year-old on the throne when she has eight brothers and an equipped second prince.

Who could possibly be responsible for luring an innocent child out of the palace?

“Who told you about that?”

“My older brother…”

“The crown prince?”

“Yes.”

Roughly, the picture was painted.