Chapter Thirteen: One Thing After Another

Three days had passed since Zeke’s kidnapping and Queen Catherine’s visit.

“Alice, what in the world did you do?”

Alice’s father, who had been shut away in the royal palace due to business for three days, asked her right away when he returned home.

Um…

“Nothing much…”

“Don’t lie. Queen Catherine bowed her head to me. That Queen Catherine! ‘Your daughter was very nice to us,’ she said. With a smile on her face to boot. What in the world did you do to have that Queen Catherine smile?”

“Is it strange for Queen Catherine to smile?”

“She’s not known as the Ice Beauty for nothing.”

“……”

Ice Beauty is a bit much… The Little Beauty or the Diligent Beauty come to mind, but the Ice Beauty is just…

“You’re thinking of something improper, aren’t you Alice?”

“Of course I am not. I just thought that Queen Catherine was beautiful, that’s all.”

That’s right. I didn’t lie. I didn’t!

“Well I’ll leave it at that. His Highness appeared to be in a great mood as well. With this one of the pending concerns has been addressed. I don’t know exactly what you did, but you did great, Alice.”

With a smile on his face, Alice’s father said. Um…

“What do you mean by pending concerns?”

“It’s nothing you should worry about. Just be happy that everything has been resolved.”

Urgh… When you put it like that, it makes me even more curious.

“But I’m curious. Aren’t I His Highness’ fiancée? I’d like to know what’s going on with His Highness.”

“……”

“I’m also interested in what you intended to do, Father.”

Alice’s father was both a noble with a territory and the kingdom’s Minister of Infernal Affairs who worked within the royal palace. In Japanese terminology, he could be compared to a Daimyou, those who worked for the Bakufu during the Edo period Because Alice was to marry His Highness, the royal palace would almost certainly become her workplace. That’s why she didn’t see any harm in learning more about the inner palace, her future workplace. In addition, she needed to know what was going on inside the royal palace if she was to be able to live in peace.

“Hmph…”

“Faaather, I’m really curious about your work!”

Alice said, her puppy eyes fixed on her father. It was the same as a child asking their father what he did for work. When her father heard Alice say that, he crossed his arms and focused his gaze somewhere mid-air.

“Well I guess it won’t harm telling you. You’re involved in it as well, after all. However, I’m not sure I’ll be able to explain it in a way that a seven-year-old will grasp. So, if you don’t understand much, don’t complain, okay?”

“Okay!”

Fufufu! Don’t underestimate me Father. I might look like a kid but I have the mind of an adult. I’m just like that elementary school detective that always finds the bad guys at the end. I’ll understand everything you say, Father!

Her father cleared his throat and began speaking as Alice was thinking about those things.

“Let’s begin with the royal palace’s factions.”

“Father!”

“What is it? Oh, you don’t know the word faction, correct?”

“That’s not it…”

He surprised me. It’s not that I don’t understand the word but how could he start with something so complicated. He realizes I’m still seven right? True, I was the one who asked him, but what other father would respond to a question about his work with anything like “Let’s start with the royal palace’s factions”?!

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t complain?”

“No, it’s not that it’s just… I apologize. I’m not going to interrupt anymore.”

Father, you’re not backing down at all. Well, it’s me who agreed to it, so I’ll let it go. I’m not sure what’s up with the adults in this world.  They’re all so weird. That’s Waku Academy for you, I guess.

“There are two opposing factions. One is in support of Sir Zeke, the first prince, while the other is in favor of Sir Alen, the second prince. Sir Alen is still only three years old, whereas Sir Zeke is seven, thus there isn’t much of a faction behind Sir Alen.

“I see…”

“In terms of influence, the faction supporting Sir Zeke is more powerful. Despite the fact that the faction supporting Sir Zeke is more powerful, the faction backing Sir Alen is gaining traction.”

“Why is that?”

Despite the fact that Sir Zeke’s mother is no longer alive, she was the king’s first wife, and Sir is the first prince.

“This is because Ma’am Catherine, the woman who stole the king‘s affection, is still alive. His Majesty and Ma’am Catherine would not look down on Ma’am Liliana, but the dead’s words have no power.”

“Father!”

Language!!!

“I’m sorry. That, Alice, is also one of the reasons you were chosen as His Highness’s wife. Even among the nobles, our family is very high up, and it’s not like His Majesty doesn’t love His Highness Zeke. His Majesty most likely expected us to serve as a powerful shield for His Highness.”

“But, isn’t that a good thing?”

“You’re quite clever, Alice. It is, of course. Prince Alen’s faction was also weakened as a result of it. The other nobles would have been opposed to the royal family establishing strong ties with us if it hadn’t been for the marriage. To be honest, I was at first opposed to the marriage as well, but Ma’am Catherine…”

“What did Queen Catherine do?”

“‘I want His Highness Zeke to marry a girl who cares about him,’ she said… You may argue that it was because of this that you were picked.”

“I see… Then Queen Catherine…”

“She’s not one to show her emotions… I had been concerned for a few days, but when I saw Ma’am Catherine and His Highness in excellent spirits, I knew everything had gone smoothly.”

Alice’s father said. After that he looked at Alice.

W-What is it?

“Did you understand the gist?”

“You could say that.”

“……”

“Father?”

“You know, that wasn’t something a child could easily comprehend. Is there something you’re hiding from me, Alice?”

Oh, no!!! He has an odd look on his face!!!

“O-Of course there isn’t! I didn’t understand some difficult parts, but I understood that in the end everyone lived happily ever after!!!”

Alice stated in a manner befitting a seven-year-old. Despite the fact that her father was not entirely convinced, he decided to drop the case.

“At the very least, it’s great that you’re clever. It’s better than being stupid.”

“T-That’s right! Everything is fine! His Highness and Queen Catherine are also getting along great!”

That’s right! Everything is fine! There isn’t a single problem to be fou…

“That’s not necessarily the case.”

Huh?

“Our family was chosen as a shield for His Highness Zeke. The influence of Prince Alen’s side was weakened as a result… or to be more accurate, the marriage prevented them from obtaining even more power… You did say, though, that His Highness Zeke and Ma’am Catherine were getting along, didn’t you?”

“……”

Oh, I see. Prince Alen’s faction must be panicking right now. Huh? Father? What’s up with that face? It’s almost as if you’re pitying me…

“You see, it appears that the Imperial Guards’ Captain’s son is the same age as you and His Highness Zeke.”

“Is that so…”

“And the Captain of the Imperial Guards is a renowned noble from Prince Alen’s faction.”

“……”

Why do I feel like something bad is going to happen…

“Alice, if my memory serves me correctly, you said you would educate His Highness, correct?

“Yes…”

“You see, the Imperial Guards’ Captain said, “My kid is the same age as His Highness and Lady Alice.  So why don’t we have him study with them?””

So that’s what this is about…

“In short, they switched sides?”

“Earl Raul Batter, the Imperial Guards’ Captain, likewise wants to get along with everyone…”

Alice’s father said, quickly averting his gaze.

Wait… This is going to be a real pain…

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