130 2-12

The festival begins today. His Royal Highness Ricardo was busy with his time, and he was supposed to tell me only one hour in the morning.

- I can't thank His Highness Ricardo enough. Not only is that kind, but for me it's all Lord Ricardo can teach me now.

Besides, I got a little trick from what you taught me yesterday. That's why I appreciate you telling me even for a short time.

On the way to the same room as yesterday, His Highness Ricardo and Lord Theodore found a man walking with many knights in front of him and stopped.

"This is the Virgin of Darkness. I was looking forward to seeing you."

--He is the First Prince of Faust....

Because they are twins, they resemble His Highness Ricardo. The difference is that His Highness Faust has his hair cut all over his chin and his eyes are slightly hanging. And I guess that look looks like some kind of insidious smile.

His Highness Faust snorted as he looked out for His Highness Ricardo.

"Ricardo, were you there? It seems that the Virgin has been very close to my brother."

"Lord Ricardo was kind enough to tell me about this country during my first visit."

Really? I'm sorry if my brother had troubled the Virgin. "

"... niisama, isn't it time? Is your mother expecting you?

His Highness Ricardo gave way with a smile on his face as usual.

In contrast, His Highness Faust murmured angrily and passed by. But as soon as I stopped my foot, I turned to my face.

"Whatever you need, Virgin, please feel free to ask me. I am the one who knows this country best. I'll always be there for you."

When I smiled back, Lord Faust scratched his hair satisfactorily and walked away with a light foot. Ricardo threw a cold gaze at Faust and then proceeded without looking back and saying, "Come on, let's go, too."

In the same room as yesterday, as yesterday, I put magic into the magical instrument, and it looks like His Highness Ricardo, who was sitting on the chair in front of me, put his hand on the desk, put his jaw on the palm of his hand, and just stared at the distance.

"What's wrong?

"Oh, I'm sorry. No... ahh. My brother is sorry about the other day.... I'm ashamed to expose my family, but that's my brother Faust. Arrogance is on your face, isn't it?

"No... no."

Having succeeded in changing the magic instrument of the third size from red to blue, I put the magic instrument in front of me at the edge of the table and waited for His Highness Ricardo's words.

"Because I'm about to kick him down with my twin brother. I'm arrogant too."

"But you think about the future of your country, don't you?"

His Royal Highness Ricardo, who smiled at himself, sighed a little.

"I haven't been like that for a long time. When I was young... until I was 10, I was really close to my three brothers. My mother hated me, but she always comforted me that Faust said," I will be king in the future, and I will protect this country and all of you. "We always encouraged them to study together as a competitor."

That's right.

I was a little surprised by the words of His Highness Ricardo, who smiled while looking at his hand as he nostalgized it. Based on the appearance of Lord Faust and Lord Ricardo earlier, I thought the execution was from a young age, but was there a good time? Then....

- How hard it must be for each other and for my brother, His Highness Isaac.

"But at some point... it was easier to study, magic and swords than Faust to win. Faust tried hard to fill the gap at first, but the difference just opened up. Someday I stopped trying. I was a nasty child, and in that state I felt more sorry for Faust than responsible for my own royalty... first of all, I felt bad for my parents."

"Why?

"Of my brothers, I was more neglectful than anyone else, and I was the best. Is it because of my mother? Your beloved son lost to the superiority you hated. So, I was thinking of putting more effort into studying and seeing my mother's regrettable face.... that's how I kept hurting my understanding, Faust, with my own hands."

I don't understand either feeling. Still, I can imagine.

His Highness Faust did not benefit from talent, even though he was expected by his surroundings and strived to become the next prince.

On the contrary, His Highness Ricardo, blessed with talent, was reluctant and unexpected by his relatives.

They didn't both want to hurt each other, but maybe they couldn't protect themselves otherwise.

"When I realized it, it became irreparable to Faust, who was always next to me. Avoided, hated... obviously. I screwed up his self-esteem."

"That's why Faust insists on the throne?

"Yeah, he was always expected by his mother to be the next king. As a result of abandoning your efforts and trying them out on your own, you don't think about anything other than a future where that happens.... no one gets happy. If Faust becomes the Crown Prince, the country will collapse. If I am to be the Crown Prince, I must remove the disturbed Faust from the front lines. Then he and his mother will continue to hate him."

"If neither path makes you happy, does it mean that more people choose a future that makes them happy..."

In response to my question, His Highness Ricardo lowered his eyebrows and smiled. I didn't reply, but I can easily understand that silence and expression mean affirmation.

"Without me, my mother would not have been blamed by the nobles. Faust did not suffer from inferiority. It's like I'm a plague god."

--I can't believe it's a plague god....

How should I respond? His Highness Ricardo's feelings make his chest ache and he doesn't speak well.

But then...

"That's not true."

Ringing voices echoed in the quiet room. Turning to that voice, there was a figure of Louis approaching us, snapping his shoes.

Louis lined up next to me and gave me a soft smile. He looked straight at His Highness Ricardo with his powerful eyes.

His Highness Ricardo was also surprised at the sudden appearance of Louis, and rarely forgot to smile and made a poke-like expression. But without worrying about His Highness Ricardo, Louis opened his mouth.

"If you do nothing, this country will slowly decline, as you fear. There is no one who feels a sense of crisis, and it is twitching. Or even if you're feeling threatened, you'll have to bite your lips with your teeth."

The longer we continue to develop and have a peaceful era, the longer we will not think of a future that will not last. But when I realize it, it's too late for the ground to collapse and everything to collapse.

... you notice that? Fifty years later, and another 100 years later, the country will change depending on whether or not it can be managed in the right direction.

- That's why His Highness Ricardo managed to get closer to us with more allies.

"It has nothing to do with royalty or nobility for the people. Can we just protect the country and do our part for the people? It's all about protecting our lives."

"... no matter how ugly and filthy your mind is, you only need to illuminate your people with real politics."

"Yeah, I don't even have a complimentary personality."

Louis added his index finger to his lips to make a joke and tell a secret so as to change the intense air until then.

I noticed the intent and relaxed my shoulders as well. Like Louis, I also told him, like a private story, "... so am I."

Then, His Highness Ricardo looked at us with his eyes rounded for a moment. But as soon as you squeeze your shoulders, you'll giggle and laugh.

"Haha, I see."

As if he had thought of something, Lord Ricardo smiled with a smile.

So, you're going to help me?

"How about that?"

Louis laughed at the provocative words of His Highness Ricardo with a similarly unreadable expression.