Chapter 137
Several days after Sebas's report.
Father summoned me. I was the only one called. Leo wasn't.
"Arnold, why do you think I summoned you today?"
"Who knows? I wonder why. I believe I've been following your orders."
I hadn't violated Father's instruction to maintain decorum. In other words, this wasn't about that.
The only possibility was something related to the Gull Pact Sebas had mentioned—or, more specifically, Marquis Weitling.
"I have nothing to say to you about that. I summoned you today because of Fiene."
"Fiene? Is there a problem?"
"Do you know why so many nobles in the Imperial Capital haven't proposed marriage to Fiene?"
"Because Fiene is Father's favorite. Is that why they're holding back?"
"That is probably part of it, but the nobles had formed a nonaggression pact among themselves. However, it collapsed the other day."
"We've already received more than twenty marriage proposals."
Franz's report made me frown. That meant more than twenty idiots had suddenly proposed marriage to her.
Were all the nobles in the Imperial Capital idiots?
"Wouldn't it solve the problem if Father said he had no intention of marrying Fiene off?"
"Fiene is like a daughter to me, certainly, but I cannot go so far as to dictate that."
"Control her? If Fiene doesn't want it, wouldn't refusing on her behalf be for her sake?"
"That is true, but..."
Father looked at Franz with an expression that suggested he was having trouble saying the next part.
Franz, who had been asked for help, let out a small sigh before looking straight at me.
"As Your Highness says, we've already turned them down. In response, they asked what we intend to do about Fiene-sama's marriage. In other words, do we intend to marry her to one of the princes?"
"Why not just tell them we'll leave it to her?"
"The Azure Gull Princess is one of the Empire's symbols. They say that a marriage to someone who would diminish that symbolism could harm the Empire."
Father wore an expression as if he had bitten into something bitter. With so many nobles involved, he couldn't simply tell them to shut up.
The Emperor had a duty to listen to his subjects, especially when the Empire's interests were involved.
"They're saying it would be a major problem if the Azure Gull Princess married the Dull Prince?"
"To put it bluntly, yes."
"Sigh... Fiene and I aren't in that sort of relationship."
"But you are the man closest to her. You must be closer to her than Leonart."
"We just happen to spend a lot of time together."
"The nobles complaining don't like that."
"Then what am I supposed to do?"
The nobles had no right to interfere with our actions merely because they were complaining.
If those complainers were willing to take Fiene's place, I wouldn't object. But even if they all joined together, they could never replace her.
"We would like Your Highness to refrain from spending time with Fiene-sama for a while."
"...And the nobles will quietly withdraw if I do? Does the Chancellor seriously think that?"
"..."
"They just want to remove the man at Fiene's side. Once that obstacle is gone, they'll surely try to approach Fiene. If Fiene were all right with that, I would keep my distance, but given her personality, that is impossible."
"You mean I'm the breakwater?"
"There's no denying that I'm an obstacle. If you have Fiene's interests in mind, I think you'd be better off keeping me by her side."
When I advised Father this way, he wore a sour expression for some time.
With the twenty-fifth anniversary of his accession approaching, he probably didn't want to quarrel with the nobles. But if I retreated here, the situation would only get worse.
They were the sort to propose marriage without delay. I couldn't imagine them approaching her while observing proper manners and acting like gentlemen.
"And... are you all right with that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. If you remain at Fiene's side, you'll earn the hatred of many nobles. You will undoubtedly be the one who suffers for it."
"That's nothing new."
"Being looked down on and being targeted are different things. Problems involving women are troublesome."
"Is that fatherly advice?"
"Yes, it is. Fiene could be called the object of admiration throughout the Empire. Until now, no one complained about you staying at her side because they thought you and Fiene could never possibly be a match. But I raised your standing. This is the downside."
"Yes. This is almost entirely your fault, Father."
"That's why I'm giving you this valuable advice! If this continues, you'll make enemies of every unmarried nobleman in the Empire. Many influential nobles are among them. It would hardly be wise to make them your enemies."
"With all due respect... You were the one who told me to maintain decorum, Father. If I act as they wish because I'm afraid of pressure from my subjects, they'll only look down on me. Besides... I personally dislike what they're doing."
"Oh?"
Father narrowed his eyes, looking surprised. It was unusual for me to charge headlong into trouble. But in this case, it couldn't be helped.
If I retreated, things would go exactly as they wanted. Let them see me as an enemy. If I left Fiene's side, her peaceful days would fall apart. I had to prevent that.
"After seeing Duke Rheinfeldt, the actions of the nobles who want Fiene look childish. They'll surely say they love her, but from my perspective, it isn't love. Letting them talk about love as they please would be an insult to Duke Rheinfeldt."
"Compared to him, almost anyone would look that way..."
"If they want her, they should challenge me by any means necessary. Do people who can't even eliminate the Dull Prince deserve to claim the Azure Gull Princess?"
Fiene was the Azure Gull Princess, one of the Empire's symbols.
Her partner had to be worthy of her. In that respect, I was a suitable partner. If they couldn't even do something about me, it was fair to declare them unqualified.
"Saying things like that will put a burden on Your Highness."
"That would be better than putting a burden on Fiene. As long as the nobles are busy trying to eliminate me, Fiene can remain at peace."
"You don't know what they might do."
"If they go too far, wouldn't that be convenient? It would give Father grounds to punish them."
"...Are you deliberately provoking them?"
"If they eliminate me without crossing the line that warrants punishment, so be it. Anyone who can't manage even that is unfit to be Fiene's partner."
How many people possessed that kind of sense of balance?
Probably almost none. And even if there were any, they would likely lose their composure because Fiene was involved.
"Your Highness will be putting yourself in danger."
"Sebas is at my side, so I'll be fine."
"What do you intend to do if they put you in a position where Sebas cannot intervene?"
"Then I'll deal with it when it happens. I'll do whatever I can."
A situation where Sebas couldn't intervene. I could think of several ways they might make that happen. If they tried one, I would face them head-on.
...You're unusually fired up."
"Is it strange for me to be motivated?"
"No, it isn't, but... Do you really not consider Fiene a potential marriage partner?"
"I don't. I don't flatter myself that I'm a fine enough person to marry anyone. But... Fiene has brought many things to us—to me and Leo, and to the Empire. Considering all she has done, I have no intention of allowing someone inferior to me to remain at her side."
"Even if your opponent is every unmarried nobleman in the Empire?"
"That's exactly what I want. Do the people who first played it safe, joined hands, and decided to wait and see really deserve to claim one of the Empire's symbols? I'll be the one to judge that."
Having said that, I bowed and left.
From behind me, Franz murmured.
"Perhaps the nobles who joined the Gull Pact mistook you for a frail bird and are now trying to attack a hawk."
I chuckled wryly at that.
It was obviously better to be underestimated. That made it easier to act.
But if it involved someone who shares my secret, I couldn't simply stand by.
I had no mercy for anyone who tried to destroy my world.
If they wanted to attack me, they could bring it on. I would turn their attacks back on every one of them.
With that resolve, I headed toward a new battle.