The Young Duchess, Brigitte Crown (2)
“Why?”
Edwin echoed the girl’s words under his breath.
“I told you my name!”
When he cried out in protest, the girl let out a soft laugh.
“Ah, so that means I have to tell you mine?”
She took a step toward him. Edwin, flustered, backed away with each step she took.
“Uh, that’s a little too close……”
“I, you see, am destined to become empress.”
“E-Empress?”
Edwin’s mouth fell open.
“That’s right. I was born to be empress.”
The girl lifted her chin with haughty pride.
“Therefore, a mere knight who has yet to earn a title has no right to ask my name.”
It was the sort of remark that could easily have sounded insufferable. Yet on her lips, it seemed perfectly natural. Even as a child, she carried herself with such nobility and dignity that the title of empress suited her perfectly.
“So,” she continued, pressing her index finger firmly against the center of Edwin’s chest as he stared at her in a daze, “come find me again once you’ve grown strong enough to earn a title.”
She smiled radiantly, like the summer sun.
“Then I’ll allow you to speak my name.”
With those final words, she turned away without a trace of hesitation.
“W-Wait!”
“You should feel honored! There are precious few people in the entire empire permitted to speak my name!”
And with that, the girl vanished.
Edwin slowly lowered the hand he had unconsciously stretched out. The young prince clutched at his own chest.
“What the…… I didn’t even run, but……”
His heart was beating faster than usual.
* * *
Today was the day of the imperial hunting competition hosted by the Emperor. Edwin’s complexion was poor.
“Your Highness, are you all right?”
It was understandable. The hunting grounds were packed with what seemed to be every noble in the empire. Edwin averted his gaze whenever he made eye contact with the nobles who had arrived earlier.
“Hey, does it feel like everyone’s staring at me, or is it just my imagination?”
“I don’t believe it’s entirely your imagination.”
In truth, a considerable number of eyes were fixed on them. Some glared openly with hostility, while others stole curious glances. Third Prince Edwin was the center of attention here.
‘They must have heard the rumor that the Emperor summoned him personally.’
Rumors traveled faster than galloping horses, especially in noble society. Word that Edwin had caught the Emperor’s interest had surely already reached their ears.
‘It wouldn’t have been welcome news to them.’
Most imperial nobles had already aligned themselves with either the First Prince’s faction or the Second Prince’s faction. The emergence of a third power was nothing but trouble for both sides.
Second Empress Helena seemed to share that sentiment. She stood at the front with her son Lloyd, shooting them a murderous glare.
‘Don’t tell me those two were also sent by her.’
I recalled the men who had already become fertilizer in Sage’s garden.
‘The human-hunting Gilbert Brothers.’
Still, they seemed far too crude for a refined noblewoman like the Second Empress.
‘I should have extracted the truth from them before finishing the job.’
Perhaps facing opponents of a similar kind after so long had dulled my judgment. If I had known, I would have at least forced a confession out of them. But they were already excellent nourishment for Sage’s poisonous plants, so regret was pointless.
While I was reflecting on my own carelessness, someone approached us.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
“Sir Philip!”
Edwin’s face lit up at the sight of Vice-Commander Philip.
He had been praising the man endlessly, saying Philip had helped him from the very first day of training. It was obvious how much he adored him.
‘That man really is peculiar.’
Philip walked straight up to Edwin without a care for the other royals who had yet to arrive. He seemed rigid at times, yet free of prejudice in moments like this. It was hard not to call him unusual.
“You’re participating as well?”
“I may be a count now, so I had no choice. The Commander threatened that if I skipped this time, he wouldn’t let it slide.”
Philip glanced around with a displeased expression.
“I detest events like this.”
“Still, I’m glad I ran into you here. I was incredibly nervous until just now.”
At the young prince’s words, Philip’s eyes widened slightly before returning to normal.
“……It is an honor.”
As he turned his head after the greeting, his gaze met mine.
“It has been a while, Lady Brown.”
“Yes, I suppose.”
“I was quite surprised to hear you would be accompanying him as an attendant.”
“I see.”
Perhaps my curt reply had irritated him. A hint of sharpness crept into Philip’s tone.
“Well, it must be a difficult position for a governess, but I hope you will serve His Highness well.”
“I have been serving him well from the beginning, so there is no need to concern yourself.”
Of course, I was not the sort to be shaken by the words of some greenhorn.
“……Then that is a relief. Your Highness, if you will excuse me, I shall return to my post.”
Perhaps he had sensed the tension between us. Edwin quickly waved at Philip.
“Yeah, go on ahead!”
“Then.”
Philip offered a light bow and disappeared into the crowd.
Meanwhile, Philip’s appearance had thrown the nobles into even greater confusion.
“Was that not Sir Philip just now?”
“The vice-commander of the Gloria Knights……”
“I heard he is Duke Crown’s right-hand man. I did not expect him to be so young……”
“A commoner who earned a countship solely through merit? Impressive.”
“Do you truly believe it was purely his own ability? The Duke must be supporting him from behind……”
“But why would such a man approach the Third Prince……”
They whispered among themselves, speculating about the relationship between the Third Prince and the vice-commander. Edwin’s shoulders hunched even further.
Just as I was wondering how to comfort the still-cowed boy, a loud cheer erupted not far away.
“Duke Crown, it has been a long time!”
“Your Grace, do you remember me? My son participated in the subjugation of the Erania Mountains……”
“It is an honor to behold the Sword of the Empire!”
The Sword of the Empire, Duke Crown, had arrived.
Whether on the battlefield or in private, Duke Crown’s presence was always commanding. He responded to the nobles’ greetings with a good-natured smile and a slight nod. Even that small gesture made the nobles react as though they had received an enormous favor. I wondered if they realized how much he actually found them bothersome.
“Oh!”
Edwin, who had been silent until now, suddenly let out a gasp.
“What is it, Your Highness?”
“No, it’s just……”
The boy fidgeted restlessly, like a puppy that needed to relieve itself.
‘Why is he acting like that all of a sudden?’
I followed his gaze and turned my head. There stood a young girl.
She was like a spring rose, perfectly suited to the bright weather. The girl sat atop a pure white horse, her chin held high, offering her gaze to no one.
“That must be Duke Crown’s daughter. I wonder why she came to a place like this.”
“She probably came to see her father off. They are known to be quite close as father and daughter.”
“A daughter will no longer be part of the family once she marries, after all. The Duke’s affection for his child is rather unusual.”
“Keep your voice down. If the Duke hears such talk, you may regret it.”
Duke Crown’s daughter.
So that was the daughter Sage had mentioned.
Her fierce, indifferent eyes resembled Jerome’s, as expected of blood relations. Yet the rest of her features bore no resemblance to the Duke. Delicate and finely crafted, she looked as though she would grow into a stunning beauty. It seemed the Duchess’s blood had contributed greatly to the second generation.
“Be that as it may, she is the future empress, so it would be wise to be careful.”
“Nothing has been decided yet. If the First Prince ascends the throne, it will all come to nothing.”
“That remains to be seen.”
At that moment, the conversation of nobles passing by reached my ears.
“In truth, Lady Crown and the First Prince share no blood at all. Therefore, even if the First Prince takes the throne, Lady Crown could still become empress.”
It seemed the fact that Jerome was not the legitimate heir had already become an open secret among the nobles. Still, to speak of it so openly in his presence—whether they had manners or not was debatable. Then again, nobles always excelled at playing at refinement while being utterly base.
‘Well, it has nothing to do with being a noble. Speaking ill when they think no one can hear is simply human nature, regardless of status.’
I merely watched them with pity.
“Even so, how could cousins possibly marry?”
“Well, cousin marriage is not forbidden by law in this country. And since they share no blood……”
“You fool! How long has it been since cousin marriage was condemned as immoral? How could the Duke, who dotes on his daughter so much, ever allow such a thing?”
“One never knows what people will do. Among the noblewomen, there is already a widespread rumor that Lady Crown will become empress no matter who takes the throne.”
“If that is true, then……”
The nobles shot furtive glances toward Jerome, their expressions filled with disgust.
“Duke Crown, I did not expect that from him.”
They were gossiping based on mere rumors.
‘And right in front of the children, no less.’
After watching them with disdain for a moment, I turned back to Edwin. The boy was still fidgeting, his eyes fixed on the Duke’s daughter.
At this point, I could no longer stay silent.
“Your Highness, are you acquainted with Lady Crown?”