CHAPTER 1: THE SUPPORTING ROLE IS ALSO QUITE DIFFICULT (XI)
Part 012
The mysterious man’s words, ‘I’m sure’, linger in her ears. What were they checking? It was frustrating because she couldn’t figure out what they were trying to check. At Ailene’s request, she checked her back, but there was no sign that the dress had come off. What were they trying to see?
Hair? Scalp? ? ?
They said it was in her body. It must have been that Ailene had in mind that she would connect with the crown prince or lower Dozern. Were they a royal official? A galleon duke?
In broad daylight, they were drugged and collapsed, falling into a situation where they would not know what was done to them, and she could not even figure out who did it or why. Even if she tried to come to her senses, that was too great a fear. Her hands were shaking and she couldn’t get them out. She, who was part of her bridesmaid, was at this level, but Ailene, who became her target, was shocked.
What really pissed her off and resented her was that she couldn’t do anything. Something’s going on, and it’s not even her business. If one decided to be a bridesmaid, they couldn’t get caught up in it. But she went through drowning and being revived together, and she went through the same thing when she collapsed after taking medicine. The end of that story would flow regardless of her.
‘Are you kidding me?’
It was very funny, right?
Whether it’s drowning or what happened today, she would definitely find out. She would catch whoever it was, put them on their knees, accept her share of apologies, and make them pay for their share of sins. As soon as she got back, she took out the invitation to Lady Laurel’s tea party that she had been trying to decline and wrote a letter of acceptance. It was easy to get information because the situation she conveyed was centered on facts that were not inhabited by people. It would serve as a good window to let her know how Ailene’s romance was spreading in the world.
* * *
And the next day, she greeted the kingdom history teacher’s son who eagerly entered the study. He was puzzled at first as she sat there without opening the book, but as he answered a few of my questions he caught on to my intentions.
“You must be curious about the current situation, Lady Damian.”
“Yes, sir, please tell me what you know.”
“That kind of thing won’t come out on the test, right?”
“Because living in this world requires answers that do not appear in the exam.”
“That’s a great answer. I’ll answer whatever I know, so ask me. Instead, I’ll double the assignment until next time.”
“Yes, I was determined to know.”
As the second son of a foreign Viscount family, he was unable to inherit the title and the inherited inheritance, so he had to work as a private tutor, but Adol was a smart person. He was a talented person who was not only knowledgeable in history, but also had an eye to see events and read the whole situation. He was the one who taught her how to see the forest after she had been struggling to memorize the tree, and thanks to that, she was taking out the kingdom picture more easily than expected. He did not have a position worthy of belonging to a faction, and he had a sense of criticism against the aristocratic society, which had limited gains compared to his ability, so there was no person like him to point out the current problems.
“This is the last question, but I’ll do it first. I thought it would be easier to understand if I went in reverse order.”
“Sure. It’s a good approach to put the effect and figure out the cause.”
“Will the crown prince become king?”
Adol made a gasping sound.
“Are you okay?”
“Why are you saying such scary things, young lady? What kind of test is this? Like an ideological check?”
“It can’t be. It’s the curiosity of a young lady who doesn’t know how to look, so feel free to answer.”
“I am a small nobleman who is in trouble when the food supply is cut off, young lady.”
“That won’t happen. I promise you.”
When she smiled brightly, he scratched his chin a few times with a puzzled face, then pulled out a chair in front of her and sat down.
“I would have told you last year that it would be difficult for him to ascend the throne, but now all I can say is that I don’t know.”
“Why?”
“It’s because of Duke Bigor.”
“Duke Bigor?”
“The former Duke Bigor had connections with the aristocratic faction. He didn’t declare his support for either side, but he was an ambitious man himself, so it would have been difficult for the crown prince to ascend the throne. Because he didn’t show any movement. Now that the new Duke has become the commander of the Capital Army, it’s not easy to know what would happen from now on.”
“If the crown prince does not become king, will the lower prince ascend the throne? Is there a possibility that the two of them would fight for the throne in a violent way? In such a way that someone gets killed and injured?”
“Haha, young lady. Haven’t you watched countless times while learning the history of the Kingdom with me? What caused so many tragedies?”
“It’s because it’s hard to feel. All around is peace.”
“It looks like that now, but I feel like it’s just before the storm. It feels like something that should have exploded four years ago is still bubbling and boiling.”
“Four years ago?”
“This is an unofficial story, but there are many circumstances that a civil war almost broke out four years ago. How can we know the exact inside story now, but it is difficult to just let go of the greed once harbored. Since then, the aristocrats and the royal family The factions are also in sharper confrontation.”
“Will the situation change greatly depending on who becomes the Crown Princess?”
“Young lady? You’re not aiming for the position of crown princess, are you?”
“Eh? No way! I absolutely hate it.”
She thought of Tyreleus’ grubby behavior and involuntarily trembled.
“It’s good then. It’s a very dangerous position, leaving everything else. Now, I’m sure I’ll understand the reason for these questions. Are you worried about your friend?”
“That’s a big reason. Since you guessed it, I’m going to ask you directly. Even if the young lady of the aristocratic faction is connected with the other faction, is there any possibility of reconciliation between the two forces?”
“Yes, there is none. Not at all. Duke Nodovan is not like our Count. It should be considered that there is almost no possibility of a relationship in the first place. As for Dozern’s recent actions, well, actually, I am also wondering. He looks friendly, but he’s actually a scary person.”
“Have you ever met Lord Dozern?”
“Even so, I took classes at the academy until a few years ago. Princess Remina, Her Highness the Crown Prince, and Lord Dozern, all learned the history of the kingdom from me.”
“I see. Is there a force capable of harming the Duke of Nodovan regardless of the Lord Dozern? Or is it the enemy of the Nodovan dukedom as a whole?”
“Did the young lady’s life be threatened?”
“I’m just concerned as a friend.”
“Hmm. There’s no political value to the Nodovan lady. Did I mention that Dozern’s behavior was suspicious? There’s no way that’s the case, but I was just wondering if he was really in love. He’s not the only one, and I don’t have anything to say to the young lady, but your friend isn’t worth the risk to take your life. If the rogues are the enemy of the whole, externally, the Luther family must be.”
“Luther?”
“It’s the queen’s own family. Dozern’s maternal family. It can be said that it is the most ambitious of the five marquis families. It is also the head of the nobility. The queen is frantic to put Dozern on the throne, but the Vanga and the Galleons are firmly supporting Tyrellius, so the two families must be in the eye. Marquis Lou is the Minister of Finance and Duke Donovan is the Minister of the Interior, so I heard that sparks fly every time there is a general meeting.”
“The minister of each department is an honorary position, isn’t it irrelevant to actual work?”
“They just need something to chew on each other.”
“Okay. Then Marquis Luther…”
“The enemy looks like that, but in fact, the Galleon family is most wary of the Nodovan family.”
“Even though they are the same royal faction?
“It’s worth teaching. That’s right. It’s hard to say that the Gallion family was originally a royal faction. As the queen became the current King’s Majesty’s wife, she was completely different from Duke Bigor. Originally, it was a family representative of the aristocratic faction. They became a maternal relative of the king. It’s understandable that they’re greedy for the position of crown princess since it’s a family that has made a lot of gains. Ah, if the young lady’s friend and Dozern were connected, it would be like blowing their noses without touching them.”
“And you’re saying that Duke Nodovan can’t stand to see it. Even if Duke Nodovan uses Ailene as a discard card and marries Dozern, Luther and the queen won’t tolerate it.”
“That’s it.”
Adol smiled refreshingly and winked at her, but she didn’t feel fresh at all.
“The country manages to keep the peace.”
When she muttered sullenly, he made a proud face and suddenly praised her.
“Young lady will be the smartest administrator in history.”
“What’s the matter? A war is about to happen in the country. I should get rid of everything and prepare to go to the territory and live in seclusion.”
“Ha ha ha, young lady. Don’t worry. War probably won’t happen.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“That’s also because of Duke Bigor.”
“Pardon?”
“There is a story that the civil war of four years ago was stopped by Duke Vigor. I think the key it’s Duke Bigor. If he tried to start a war, Laurentian would already be in flames. About half of the army is under his influence. The side that wants to start a civil war can crush more than half of the army. We need political power to defeat the opposing faction and put the person we want on the throne. At the present time, when the military, pro-royal, and aristocratic forces are divided into three parts, it is a long way off.”
“I hear that word just now, that if you bring in the Duke of Bigor, he will win unconditionally.”
“You’ve seen it well. Young lady is a really good student.”
“If you entice just one person, it looks like a war will break out, so how can you be so carefree?”
“If the Duke of Bigor joins the war, the war is meaningless. It will end with the Duke’s victory in less than a week. Lock the door to the mansion and pretend to sleep for a week, my lady.”
“Oh My God. Teacher, you are not an ordinary person.”
She was a little fed up with Adol’s smiling face. Whether she stuck out her tongue or not, Adol smiled innocently, holding out his index finger.
“There is one blind spot in the story I just told you. What is that, young lady?”
Blind spot? Duke Nodovan didn’t have to venture out, even if he’s willing to abandon his daughter. It’s because the Galleon family was aiming for the back.
Galleons aspire to become maternal relatives of the royal family. However, they were holding their breath because they couldn’t win against Nodovan. And they couldn’t go back to the aristocratic faction because of their relationship with Duke Bigor.
On the side of the former Duke of Bigor, the current king’s subordinates were largely concentrated in the aristocratic faction. They hoped that Dozern, who was not the Crown Prince, would be crowned as the king, that was enough to risk that war.
The key to the civil war was currently held by the Duke of Bigor. He didn’t seem to want war, but what lay ahead was unknown. However, the war he participated in will end with his victory anyway.
Ugh, there must be hordes of wildcats flocking around Duke Bigor. Was there anything? What’s the weak point? Ah!
“Foreign forces!”
“Correct!”
Adol clapped and clapped with joy.
“It’s a pity. If I had been able to teach Young Lady at the academy, I would have given her a perfect score without hesitation.”
“I’m not happy at all.”
“Please be happy. In five years, I’ve only given one student a perfect score.”
He grumbled nonchalantly, so she asked dumbfounded.
“Don’t they know what I’ve come up with? Something might already be happening, but are they really, okay?”
“As you guessed, the answer is that there is no foreign force, Young Lady. Even if you go down to the ground and close the gates, the entire country will become a battlefield anyway. There is so much to lose. Nevertheless, attracting foreign powers and coveting the crown is something only scumbags can do. I’m an intellectual, so I can’t even read the mindsets of scumbags.”
Adol shrugged his shoulders with a clear face.
‘Wow, I think it’s the first time I’ve heard of swearing in the kingdom language. It’s fresh.’