Chapter 16

By Antoinette Vanessa December 17, 2022

“I hereby appoint Jake as the crown prince.”

Upon hearing my father’s words, I was in disbelief.

However, the same couldn’t be said about everyone else. Neither my mother, Jake, nor even Blake batted an eye.

“As for Freddie, you shall marry your fiancée—the saint—right after graduation. Then, the saint shall embark on a journey around the country to heal incurable diseases—including the Tiarz plague. Therefore, Freddie—I command you to accompany her.”

…Father, what are you talking about?

…I, the first prince, will have to travel around the kingdom with Lula to aid the sick? But why? Why would that be necessary?

“—Hold on! Jake still isn’t engaged. How does he meet the requirements for becoming the crown prince when even I, myself, don’t?”

My desperate plea was silenced by my mother’s frigid voice.

“Jake fulfilled all the necessary conditions to be the crown prince by himself.”

“Moreover, Eliza—the daughter of Duke Sommerset—has already been appointed Jake’s fiancée.”

“…The Duke of Somerset… Ryan’s younger sister…”

With the Duke of Somerset supporting him, the parliament would likely approve the appointment of the second prince—Jake—as the crown prince.

“…But… T-that’s right! Lula is a saint! As a saint, isn’t she more eligible as a queen?”

Somehow, anyhow, I had to explain to my father and mother that I was a more worthy crown prince than Jake. Yet in the end, instead of appealing about myself, I could only highlight the value of my fiancée, the saint…

“The saint is the hope of this country. Therefore, rather than letting her waste her time in the royal palace as a queen; worrying about what dress to wear, or how to dispose of a concubine, we decided that this mission would be more fitting for her.”

However, my mother flatly denied my words.

One day, I was suddenly ravaged by extreme pain, and my body was almost torn asunder by the hellish fever. Amidst my fleeting consciousness, without fail, there was an ever present hint of warmth.

That warmth was my one and only salvation.

All of a sudden, my entire body was enveloped in a nurturing warmth—one words could not describe, and I instantly felt at peace. Liberated from the everlasting torment, my eyes fluttered open—

—and in that moment, I beheld Lula’s face as she looked at me in concern.

Upon hearing that she had saved me, I immediately knew she was the legendary saint.

Thus, I began to believe that I should dedicate my most sincere feelings to Lula.

After all, someone so full of wonders was worthy to stand beside the crown prince.

Hence why I loved Lula and vowed to protect her forever.

…But if by marrying her, I wouldn’t be able to become the crown prince, and would have to instead embark on such a tedious journey—

—If the warmth I felt throughout my suffering wasn’t from Lula, but instead of Daisy—

—Then, my true love is…

“…I shall grant Lula to Jake.”

I’d never been more determined in my life than when I conveyed my resolve to my father. Nevertheless, not a single soul lifted an eyebrow. Then, my mother’s ruthless voice put an end to the silence.

“May I ask what you mean by that?”

“Like I said, I’m willing to grant Lula—the saint—to Jake, so please make me the crown prince.”

“For what reason?”

“…For what reason, you ask. Of course it is so that I may become the crown prince. As originally planned, I shall marry Daisy and become the crown prince. Jake may accompany Lula on her journey. With this, there won’t be any problems, correct?”

The atmosphere stagnated.

…For some reason, my family was gazing at me coldly—

—but surely, I was just seeing things…

“Freddie, are you unable to even understand the question? Say, ‘for what reason’ do you need to be made the crown prince? Someone else is already qualified for the position. Not only that, he’s been assuming your duties as the first prince. Hence the question for what reason do you need to be made the crown prince? You, who couldn’t even perform his role properly without his fiancée.  It’s even more telling when you’re compared to the responsible Jake.”

For what reason?

…Because I’m the first prince?

As such, isn’t it natural for me to become the crown prince?

In fact, it should be natural for me to take precedence over Jake.

As for the reason why I’m more suitable to become the crown prince rather than Jake, that’s…

…While being exposed to the cold gazes of my family, again, I brought up someone else—

“—Don’t you feel sorry for her? For Daisy? As she has worked so hard for my sake, I wish for her to be my queen…”

“…Brother Freddie, you’re hopeless.”

Blake—my youngest sibling—uttered in exasperation.

Neither my father nor my mother scolded him.

Jake, who hadn’t said a word until then, spoke with the same smile he always showed me.

“But Brother, didn’t you say that you chose Saint Lula as your fiancée for the sake of this country, rather than for your own sake? Therefore, to mention Lady Daisy now, it’s very contradictory.”

“T-that’s, it was on the premise that I’d become the king…”

“Also, Lady Daisy isn’t so pitiful that you need to worry about her.”

“…She always adored me and did her best for my sake! Isn’t it a pity if she can’t be with me!?”

“As someone who gleefully annulled his engagement with Lady Daisy the moment the saint appeared, my brother, you have no right.”

I couldn’t argue against Jake’s words.

But… If I spoke to Daisy directly—if I sincerely apologized to her, then she’d probably forgive and marry me.

…To roam around the country for the weak, I was undeserving of such a fate. At the very least, I should marry Daisy and succeed the marquis house…

“Brother, after speaking to Eliza, I believe she and I can develop this country together. It won’t be a codependent relationship, but one where we can rely on each other. Do you see the difference? My brother, you’re too reliance on Lady Daisy’s kindness and efforts. Even to this day, I still wonder how she fell for someone like you.”

Except, even after listening to Jake, I still couldn’t envision a future where Daisy would give up on me.