CH 20

“Well, what are you up to, Your Highness Nagi? And also Chardin. You certainly do not come here only to have some tea, do you?”

“…Eh?”

“…..”

“What? …Your Highness came here only to have some tea? You too, Chardin??”

As we sat facing each other in the sunroom with a view of the beautiful garden, Tillois’ emerald eyes widened.

Because Mika was coming with me, he also looked like an idiot, and the light had disappeared from his jade-green eyes.

As I apologized to him in my heart, I still think it wasn’t a bad idea to be able to have some talk like this. I ended up thinking about it so carefreely.

It was a rest day the week after I approached Tillois of the Dukes of Ackerson, from the second prince faction. Mika and I had received an invitation from Tillois to visit the Dukes of Ackerson.

However, I wonder what in the world I should talk about with him. Anyway, I thought that the only thing I could do was to play dumb (I was just simply dumb, though), and make small talk. Then I open my mouth while feeling a bit nervous.

“Well, we’ve never talked before, so I thought it might be a good idea to try talking to you. Have you decided what your choice will be for the next semester, Tillois?”

“Sigh….. Then, let us just say that, externally, we needed to discuss a research project of Law class. It is not that I personally have any grudge against Your Highness Nagi, after all.”

That’s right, I did remember that Tillois was in my law class.

I appreciate that excuse very much. And I’m a little relieved to hear that he has nothing against me as an individual.

That’s right. The Dukes of Ackerson are in collusion with the Dukes of Tyndall, the birth family of the second queen. Therefore, the Dukes of Tyndall are usually hostile toward Brother Seth as well.

But, —What about this Tillois?

“Your Highness Nagi, you must have known, have you not? I am the son of a prostitute with whom the Duke had an affair, and I have only been a nobleman for six years. I am not a political person. Also, I have applied to take the taxation class next semester.”

As I was feeling surprised, Tillois gave me a further explanation.

A cold stare. I was in no position to speak for others, but I had never seen him smile. However, I had heard that he was a very strict, but fair man who was in charge of half of the management of the family territory at his age.

I had heard rumors that they had taken in a concubine’s child, but I felt bad that I made him talk about it in that way.

“Tillois, I’m sorry that I made you say it like that. I also don’t have any grudge against you personally, and I just wanted to try talking to you. Taxation class, huh? As expected of you. How is the Ackerson territory these days? There’s a mine there, isn’t it?”

“………Yes, indeed. The mine is going well, but it is too far from the capital to visit the site. It’s hard for me not being able to go there much.”

Hearing those words from Tillois, I was startled.

And immediately, a twinge ran through me.

The Taurus Mine Massacre.

Those words came to mind.

Yes, that was the Ackerson family mine. The Ackerson territory is located in the southwestern corner of the Kingdom of Pluvia.

Although the country’s main source of energy is the magic stone that can be extracted from monsters, nearly half of the country’s magic ore, which is necessary for processing the magic stone into magical tools, is produced in the Taurus mines. Thanks to this, the Ackerson family holds an unshakable position as one of the four great dukes. However, —when did that incident happen, again…? I think it was a little later.

If I remember right, it was this year’s winter.

In the cold weather of this year, a riot breaks out when a man entrusted with the management of the Ackerson territory forces the workers to work under harsh conditions. And when the Ackersons tried to forcefully suppress it, tragedy ensued.

Because of the massacre, the amount of magic ore in the country will drastically decrease, the price will skyrocket as a matter of course, and the common people will suffer. But there’s still time— it shouldn’t be too late.

“S-shall we go visit there? During the summer break.”

“…What?” “…What?”

“Well, umm… I’m very interested in magic ore. I wonder if we could somehow make an excuse to go there and see it together.”

When I saw Mika and Tillois both surprised, it made me realize that… I’ve said a ridiculous thing myself.

Whether it’s with Machina or Tillois, I wonder why I suddenly invite them to all sorts of places like someone who’s looking forward to the summer break… a feeling of embarrassment welled up in me.

But, —the lives of the people can’t be replaced.

Clenching my fists tightly, I waited for Tillois’ response.

“Well… With all due respect, Your Highness, that is a little…”

As Tillois was about to give the response that I had expected, —that’s when it happened.

Suddenly, a woman wearing a straw hat appeared with footsteps that sounded appropriate.

She held a shovel in her right hand and an empty basket in her left hand. Then, she fully opened the sunroom window and walked past us as we were drinking tea, as if she hadn’t noticed us at all.

Tillois was frozen still as if he had turned to ice. I wasn’t sure what was going on, so I approached her and tried to talk to her, thinking that a commoner woman shouldn’t be allowed to join the tea party anyway.

But— the unidentifiable woman squatting in front of me, wearing a straw hat over the cloth on her head, turned around and opened her mouth when she saw my face.

“…E-evil prince.”

“Huh?”

“Nagi, stand back.”

She must have been about to do some gardening. I think she’s a servant, but she has a beautiful face.

Mika stood in front of me with an incredibly scary look on his face, his usual fresh smile has disappeared somewhere.

Even though the opponent was a woman, he drew the sword at his waist and his jade eyes glinted sharply.

“You know that this person is His Highness Nagi, and you say such an insult?”

“Gasp… I-it was a lie! It was just a lie! I’m very sorry!”

“You’re Vivienne Ackerson, the Duchess. What do you mean by this?”

The face of the woman was white as a sheet, the color drained from her face, as if she had been startled by Mika’s sword or realized her mistake.

But then again, what in the world did she say? Didn’t this woman just say “evil prince” earlier?

It was certainly the name I would be called five years later, but I didn’t remember doing anything evil yet.

Rather than that, I can understand a gloomy impression of myself like the recluse prince or slug prince. But evil? It made me confused. And then, Mika’s words that I heard made me feel even more surprised.

What did he say…?

(Duchess Vivienne Ackerson?! Then this woman is Brother Vincent’s… fiancée?)

She has crimson eyes and long, wavy platinum blonde hair. If she didn’t have a smile on her face, there was no doubt that she was a stern type of beauty.

But, —what in the world does this mean?

For some reason, something seems wrong with Miss Vivienne.

I could tell that she was sweating heavily because of the sword Mika pointed at her. However, she kept staring at my face, not at Mika’s sword.

With the “evil prince” remark earlier and this strange behavior, I felt like there was something wrong.

I commanded Mika’s hand.

“Mika, that’s enough. It seems like she has some circumstances. Miss Vivienne, I’m sorry that I frightened you.”

Normally, Mika, who is of lower status than her, wouldn’t have pointed his sword at the duchess. He must have decided that the person he was supposed to protect was under a threat.

But, I also don’t want to make a scene right off the bat in the heart of the second prince faction.

I reached out my hand to Miss Vivienne.

However—

She suddenly grabbed my arm, I was surprised at the strength she put into it.

“—Huh?”

“Please. Please listen to me.”