It was spring when Hildebrandt, though nervous, completed his debut at the Lord's Conference. The unveiling of a royal who had finished the
"Hildebrandt, the musical offering."
"Yes, Father."
He let out a quiet breath at the feschspiel performance having gone well, allowing himself to relax just a little. He had heard that every child of the nobility did this, but playing before a vast audience that scrutinized your every note was far more nerve-wracking than he had imagined.
"Now, we shall make a major announcement."
At the same moment he felt a wave of relief, his betrothal to Retizia, an
...So if I become an Aub's spouse, I will no longer be a royal.
Hildebrandt understood that he was being raised to become a subordinate. But he had assumed he would remain in the central territory, marry a royal wife, and serve as a royal just like his half-brother
Once he reached adulthood he would cease to be a royal entirely, and his entire circumstances would change completely. He could not imagine what that would be like. And precisely because he could not, it felt all the more eerie and frightening.
"Congratulations on your engagement."
"Ahrensbach will be secure now as well."
The Aubs offered their congratulations one after another, but Hildebrandt had no idea what there was to celebrate. He had been told not to let his composure crack under any circumstances, so he bottled up his dissatisfaction inside and accepted the well-wishes with a smile.
...I wish I could have chosen my own marriage partner.
At present, in the central territory, everyone was speaking of the passionate courtship between Anastasius and
While listening to the many new songs composed from the love story of Anastasius and Eglantine, Hildebrandt's mother also told him, in an entertaining manner, what she had done to obtain the marriage she desired. Hearing such stories, he could not help but think that if only he had even the slightest margin of choice, rather than having his life partner unilaterally decided by his father's command...
...If only I could choose...
When that thought crossed his mind, what surfaced in Hildebrandt's mind was: long lashes lowered to follow characters against night-sky hair that fell in soft cascades, and white fingertips slowly turning pages. It was
...Rozemyne, whose fiancé was chosen for her by her parents, must feel the same way.
Hildebrandt knew that he could not defy a royal decree. He had never been educated to do so. Still, the heaviness settling in his heart was something he could not control.
Maintaining his smile all the way to his own chambers, he changed from the magnificent outfit required for social functions into his everyday clothes, and his tension naturally eased. In its place, the smile he had been wearing faded, and a look of dissatisfaction surfaced.
"You seem quite down, Prince Hildebrandt. But it is a royal decree, after all."
He did not want to hear such obvious words. Hildebrandt glared at his Attendant, Artur, with a discontented look. He had been told countless times to behave like a royal, and he had answered everyone's congratulations with a smile—now he wished to be left alone.
"Artur, I will be sequestering myself in the hidden room for a while."
"Understood. I shall call you for dinner."
A few days later, a request for an audience came from
"Congratulations on your engagement."
"I am honored, Raublut."
"...That expression does not suggest this is particularly joyous news."
When Raublut smiled wryly, the scar on his cheek moved slightly. They had known each other since childhood, and apparently his mood had been written all over his face because he was alone in his chambers. Hildebrandt straightened his back and composed his expression. Watching the young prince try so hard to look royal, Raublut smiled and held out a small box.
"Then, for the prince who is feeling gloomy—please take this. It should lift your spirits a little."
The toys Raublut brought were entertaining things: opening the box would make something pop out, or it had to be operated in the correct sequence or it would not open. Hildebrandt broke into a smile and turned to Artur, who was standing behind him. His Attendant took the box Raublut had offered, checked that it contained nothing dangerous, and then handed it over.
"Thank you, Knight Commander."
"No—I simply don't care to see the prince with such a long face."
Raublut laughed while looking at Hildebrandt, and Artur gave a small nod in agreement.
"Then, shall we get to the matter at hand, Prince?"
Raublut began conveying the king's words.
The request was to obtain information about the
"Rozemyne is an archduke candidate who seized control of a royal Magical Tool, and the mastermind operating behind her was Ferdinand."
"Rozemyne simply stumbled into the role of the magical tool's caretaker by chance. She is providing Magic Power to Schwartz and the others purely out of goodwill, Raublut."
Rozemyne loved books, considered time spent in the library to be the happiest of all, and was very much adored by Schwartz and the others. She had said that if the library's magical tools did not function,
"...No one provides Magic Power purely out of goodwill. Even if Lady Rozemyne's intentions are genuine, it is hardly uncommon for the person pulling the strings behind her to have ulterior motives. Ferdinand requires careful scrutiny."
Hildebrandt nodded at Raublut's words. He could vouch for Rozemyne's goodwill, but he had no understanding of the people behind her. Children who were not yet perceptive were often used by others. That was precisely why royals and archduke candidates always had retainers at their side.
"A request came from Ahrensbach as well, and we succeeded in separating Ferdinand from Ehrenfest. Whether Rozemyne's provision of Magic Power is truly goodwill will become clear now."
"I see. That is good to hear."
Hildebrandt knew that her golden eyes reflected nothing but books. When she was in the library, her golden gaze was fixed solely on books, constantly following the text without ever looking up—not even acknowledging the presence of Hildebrandt himself, a royal. With the person who might have been manipulating her from behind removed, suspicion toward her should dissipate.
"This year, a senior-noble Librarian will be dispatched. If Rozemyne willingly transfers her rights as caretaker to that person, any suspicion against her should be cleared. If she is a genuine collaborator, she should not cling to the position of caretaker."
"I suppose it would be best if that senior noble were a woman."
The circumstances behind why he had become a collaborator included one reason: he disliked being called "Princess." Having the "Princess" address fixed upon him by royal decree was a bit pitiful. Raublut blinked in surprise at Hildebrandt's muttered remark.
"Due to Anastasius's strong request, a woman will be dispatched. Does Prince Hildebrandt also prefer a woman?"
"I thought it would be a shame for a man to be called 'Princess' by Schwartz and the others..."
Tilting his head in puzzlement at not understanding why Anastasius wanted a woman for the Noble Academy librarian position, Hildebrandt listened as Raublut lowered his voice as if sharing a secret.
"It is simply that he wants to surround Lady Eglantine with women as much as possible. In truth, Lady Eglantine has been dispatched to the Noble Academy as a lecturer for the archduke candidate course, and she will be assisting with intelligence-gathering from Rozemyne. Prince Hildebrandt, you are also on good terms with Rozemyne, correct? We would appreciate your cooperation in gathering information about the royal library's relationship with royals and about the forbidden archives."
"Rozemyne doesn't know anything beyond that—that's why she came to question me. Besides, I can only move freely within the Noble Academy until the students' social season begins, so I don't think there will be much opportunity for contact."
Starting this year, Rozemyne would be a third-year student, and specialized lectures would begin as well. Artur had told him that things would not proceed the same as last year, and he had hung his head in disappointment only recently.
"She may not have known anything last year, but she may have learned something this year. Besides, Prince Hildebrandt's range of activity and the period in which you can act have increased. Your engagement has been decided."
Because his future had been decided, he could now move about within the Noble Academy without much issue. Hearing such a reason, Hildebrandt felt no joy whatsoever at the expanded period and scope of his freedom.
...What is the point of being told now that I will have more time with Rozemyne? It only feels hollow.
Raublut, who had been watching him silently as he held back a sigh of disappointment, held out a magical tool.
"Prince Hildebrandt, please listen to this alone after entering the hidden room. It is said to be classified royal intelligence. It is a magical tool that can only be played once—once you close the lid, you will never be able to listen again. Please be careful not to miss anything."
"Is this also from Father?"
Raublut gave a gentle smile, set the magical tool down, and left the room.
Hildebrandt looked back and forth between the magical tool Raublut had left and the toys, and suppressing his desire to reach for the toys, he picked up the magical tool.
"Then, Artur. I am going to listen to this classified royal intelligence."
"Understood. Please be careful not to miss anything."
Hildebrandt entered the hidden room, sat down on the sofa, opened the lid of the magical tool, and placed his hand on the yellow magic stone portion. His Magic Power was drained, and a voice began to play.
"This is advice for a prince who is feeling disheartened by his engagement."
The voice coming from the magical tool was not that of his father the king, but Raublut's. Surprised, he pulled his hand away. The voice stopped.
After considering whether he should continue listening, Hildebrandt reached for the magic stone once more.
"If you wish to proceed down a path that will spare you from going to Ahrensbach, then please continue listening. If you wish to quietly accept the royal decree, then close the lid."
Hildebrandt withdrew his hand from the magic stone again and could not help but look around for someone to consult. Naturally, in a hidden room that held only one person, there was no one to be found. Above all, there was no one he could discuss defying a royal decree with.
His heart began to pound loudly.
He could hear a voice somewhere in his mind telling him it would be better to simply close the lid now, but he asked himself once more.
...Will I accept the royal decree and go to Ahrensbach, or will I listen to the rest of Raublut's advice and search for a path that will spare me from going?
"I... don't want to go."
Speaking aloud as if convincing himself, Hildebrandt touched the magic stone once more.
"The only thing that can overrule a royal decree is another royal decree, and if one becomes king, one cannot be an Aub. You understand that, correct? Therefore, if you do not wish to go to Ahrensbach, Prince Hildebrandt, you yourself must become king."
"I... become king?"
Ignoring his stunned silence, Raublut's low voice continued to speak. "Become king," it whispered. Over and over.
"Search for the Grutrissheit—the proof of the true king—which the current king does not possess. The one who holds it will become an unquestioned legitimate king. It will also save the king from the endless difficulties caused by the absence of the Grutrissheit."
His father had told him that by the time of his father's half-brother—the second prince who had been recognized as the next king and entrusted with the Grutrissheit but met a suspicious death, and the first and third princes began fighting—it had already been lost. Had the Grutrissheit existed, such a conflict would never have happened.
Hildebrandt remembered his father saying, with an expression of utter exhaustion, that if only the Grutrissheit had existed, he would never have been thrust into kingship despite receiving none of the education required and being utterly incapable of fulfilling his royal duties.
"...If I obtain the Grutrissheit and become the true king, Father will be saved, and I won't have to go to Ahrensbach?"
"If Prince Hildebrandt were to become king, you could overrule the current decree and unite with the woman of your choosing."
It was an incredibly sweet temptation.
He could save his father, who lacked the Grutrissheit. He could overrule the command his father had issued. And he would not only save himself—he could rescue Rozemyne from an unwanted engagement as well.
Isn't that something everyone would celebrate? he thought, even as another voice in his heart tried to hold him back. Was it not far too ambitious for someone raised as a subordinate to aspire to the throne? One voice admonished him that he must not desire it, while another goaded him that this was a golden opportunity to obtain what he wanted. The two voices clashed inside Hildebrandt.
"...Is it permissible for a third prince like me to desire the throne?"
To that question, the magical tool, its purpose fulfilled, gave no answer.
"You look rather pale, Hildebrandt. Is something troubling you?"
"Mother."
It had been some time since he had last seen his mother face-to-face. Since the Baptism Ceremony, he had been given his own separate residence, and opportunities to meet had grown scarce. He apparently wore a somber expression at this reunion dinner—the first in a long while. Would she scold him for unroyal behavior? Hildebrandt tensed slightly.
But his mother, usually strict, softened her expression. The same woman who had told him not to be spoiled after the Baptism Ceremony now met his gaze and gently stroked his hair and cheek.
"If there is something troubling you, confide in me, your mother. We may live apart now and see each other less often, but no one worries about you more than I do."
Simply hearing those words made him feel as though he were being indulged just as he had been in the past. He looked up at his mother. Her bangs, the same shade as his own, swayed slightly, and her red eyes quietly waited for him to speak.
...Even if I cannot share everything, perhaps I could confide just a little.
He felt that his mother would support him. After all, she was someone who had cast aside the arranged marriage her family had secured through various means—all to enter the royal family—and had won the match she truly desired.
...She should understand how I feel about wanting to choose my own marriage partner.
Still looking up at his mother, Hildebrandt opened his mouth.
"...Mother, there is something I want right now. I know it may not be something I can obtain, and I am fully aware that it is nothing but selfishness. Everyone around me will tell me not to desire it. Even so... is it permissible for me to wish for what I want?"
Hearing his words, her red eyes widened, and she let out a delighted giggle.
"My, I always thought you took more after that person, but it seems you are a
She had Hildebrandt sit on her lap and spoke to him in a gentle, soothing voice as she slowly and tenderly combed through his hair with her fingers.
"A Dunkelfelger man works hard to build up his strength, strives to obtain what he wants, and challenges himself again and again."
"Prince Hildebrandt is not a Dunkelfelger man. He is a royal."
Artur's sigh-laced objection was brushed aside with a single smile. She continued speaking to her son in a voice as soft as a lullaby.
"Hildebrandt, getting your way is no simple thing."
"Yes."
"First, you must provide great benefit to those around you. If what you desire to obtain also serves the interests of those around you, they will gladly help you have your way."
She told him that to silence opposition, a situation was needed in which both he and those around him stood to gain. She taught him that he must use every means available to achieve this.
"Think carefully about how to turn those around you into allies. Study hard. And acquire the power necessary to seize what you want. Never give up—change your approach, change your methods, and keep challenging. If you are truly a Dunkelfelger man, you should be able to do it."
With an encouraging tap, she lightly slapped both of his cheeks. Drawn by the fierce grin his mother wore—the look of someone pushing him forward from behind—he nodded with equal determination.
"I will do everything in my power."
...I will obtain the Grutrissheit. And then I will break off both engagements and propose to Rozemyne.
And with that grand resolve, Hildebrandt arrived at the Noble Academy.
It was a reunion at the get-together party, approximately one year since they had last met. Rozemyne, slightly taller than before, came to greet him at his seat at the far end of the small reception hall, flanked by Wilfried and
...What is that sparkle all about?
Her beautiful night-sky hair was as he remembered, but there was something new he did not recall. With every step Rozemyne took, it caught the light and asserted its presence—a hair ornament adorned with no fewer than five rainbow-colored magic stones. It had been added to the flower hair ornament trend that had originated in Ehrenfest. She had not been wearing it last year, so it could not have been a gift from her guardian.
...Could Wilfried have given her that?
The instant that thought crossed his mind, a stinging, burning feeling rose deep in his chest. If he were to propose to Rozemyne, then he would need to give her a magic stone even more magnificent than that. Otherwise, Rozemyne would not spare him a single glance.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Wilfried took Rozemyne's hand, finished his greeting, and walked away. Someday, that would be his place to stand.
...The Grutrissheit and a rainbow-colored magic stone...
Fixing his gaze on these lofty goals, Hildebrandt clenched his fists tightly beneath the table.