“Your Highness...” Marquess Prynan muttered in frustration, surprised at the unexpected interruption.
If someone were to poll all the people here on who’d seen Eleanora’s face more than anyone else, there was only one name people would be likely to answer: Edward Valschein, the second prince. He had spent a great deal of his time with Eleanora throughout the years—or more accurately, he had been forced to do so.
“I also know of the lady Countess Dolkness is looking after,” the prince continued in a confident tone. “Though her name is Eleanora, she is a completely different person than Eleanora Hillrose. There can be no doubt about it, since I am making this claim. I declare it with certainty as the second prince.”
Surely there had been moments in his life during which the prince had noticed that Eleanora, the daughter of the leader of the radical faction, had feelings for him. While at the Academy, I’d seen Eleanora throw herself in front of the prince countless times, only to be treated coldly in response. But even so—even if they had spent their childhood in an awkward manner that had led them to settle into such a relationship—what they had built over the years was real.
It was clear that the prince was worried about Eleanora now that she was a fallen aristocrat. And for her part, Eleanora had scolded the prince when he’d been down on himself. Their relationship wasn’t something that could be described as a simple unrequited romance—there was something there of which I had been previously unaware, and perhaps they were the only two who could see it.
Still, saying that the Eleanora staying with me is undoubtedly a different person is a huge lie, Prince Edwin... I guess when all’s said and done, though, I’m still the biggest liar here. But thanks to the prince’s fib, the current in the room had shifted. The marquess had fallen silent, and the king was about to give his decision.
“If you insist to such a degree, then I’ll believe you, Edwin,” the king announced. “The woman that Countess Dolkness is looking after is clearly not related to Eleanora Hillrose. However, if any evidence to the contrary comes to light in the future, then there will have to be some punishment meted out to Edwin, considering that his statement was the most taken into account.”
Eleanora’s vague status had now been publicly sanctioned by the king. This was perhaps the first time I had ever felt gratitude toward Prince Edwin. He’d even put his own position in jeopardy to protect her, and I was touched.
Thanks to the prince’s help, I was able to dodge Marquess Prynan’s ridiculous act of spite. However, the marquess wasn’t finished. He changed gears remarkably quickly.
“How impressive, Your Majesty. It was an excellent decision. Since His Highness, who is a childhood friend of Eleanora’s, says that these two women are indeed different people, that surely must be the case... And so now that this matter is settled, let’s circle back to the former—do you have someone in mind to take over the position of the Lord of National Affairs, now that Count Archiam has stepped down?”
“If there is someone who is appropriate for the position, they must be appointed.” the king explained.
“If that is the case, I would like to recommend Viscount Alton. He is a good man with an impressive territory in the north. I believe he is an appropriate candidate for the Lord of National Affairs, which is a position that aims to encourage the people of this nation, including aristocrats, to protect this kingdom from both external and internal forces.” Every time the marquess opened his mouth, my heart raced wondering what bomb he was going to drop next.
Oh, I get it. I understand why he’s recommending one of his minions. So his original plan was to take the position from Count Archiam and pass it on to that guy. He gets to weaken his enemy while gaining an ally.
I didn’t really care who became the next Lord of Doing Nothing. It was frustrating that Marquess Prynan would end up benefiting from this whole affair in the long run, but there was nothing else for me to do other than watch silently.
As the topic switched from something that might have ended unpleasantly to a question with an obvious answer, the tension in the room relaxed. I heard several people let out sighs of relief, and I exhaled in a similar manner. I was really worried for a bit.
The king and the marquess continued to go back and forth about the position. The king seemed less inclined to maintain a pointless title, but I could tell that he was probably going to give in so that he didn’t end up antagonizing Marquess Prynan too much. They went back and forth, bringing up different points to provide a foundation for this decision, probably so that in the end it would seem that the king had made a reasonable judgment on the matter.
What even is the Lord of National Affairs? Encouraging people to protect the kingdom from external and internal forces... That’s impossible without an army. Just like Count Archiam, that viscount or whatever won’t be able to fulfill his duties. Even I’m more useful to the protection of this kingdom, as someone who’s been an actual, proven deterrent to external forces. That viscount probably doesn’t have that high of a level either, nor would he do something helpful like launching a campaign to get everyone in the kingdom to level up... Hm? Wait, does that mean...
As I experienced the revelation, I couldn’t help the words slipping out of my mouth. “In other words, the Lord of National Affairs is...” My synapses were firing off spectacularly as I examined the available information and arrived at the obvious conclusion. I was certain that I was in this moment the sharpest I’d ever been in my entire life. My IQ was at its peak. “So that’s what it is...”
Those around me turned to look my way. Only those who were closest to me had heard my muttering, and the king and the marquess had almost settled on the viscount as the man to take over the position. This is bad. I can’t let them destroy the will of those who came before us, and what they wanted from the position of the Lord of National Affairs. It’s me! I’m the only one who can do it. I’m the one who truly understands what our forefathers intended, and so I am the one they’d want to pass it down to!