ADAM
“WHAT A PAIN,” I muttered as I lay on my bed with my shoes on.
This whole business of the extended stay seemed like nothing more than a terrific waste of my time. I was incredibly bored, and I had only one guest at my disposal to indulge in my favorite pastime.
“What the hell were they going on about?” I seethed, raking a hand through my hair. “Peace between our countries? That was always a fairy tale. Do these stupid monsters understand anything?”
Though I’d requested a visit with Pride after breakfast that morning, they weren’t letting anyone see her. I drooled upon imagining how wretched she must look, but unfortunately, it seemed I wouldn’t get to witness it myself. Many people had gathered the Freesian castle, hoping to see the princess, and the guards turned everyone away. Only one carriage was allowed to pass: the one belonging to Pride’s sworn friend, Leon.
I’d heard rumors that the United Hanazuo Kingdom, a country I was certainly familiar with, had extended their stay as well. At first, it annoyed me that they, of all nations, got special treatment, but in the end, I didn’t really care.
“Those no-name little countries must have a lot of free time on their hands. I bet that’s nice. All you have to do is cozy up to a much bigger country to get what you want. Child’s play, isn’t it?”
I snickered at Hanazuo’s antics. They’d only survived because Freesia pitied them. Maybe they’d even become suspects themselves, being the last ones to interact with Pride before her collapse. That would be a delightful little twist to this story. I killed time fantasizing about all the ways I could tear the two countries’ relationship to shreds.
Even as I cackled, I realized I didn’t have any slaves to kick or make scream. I couldn’t bring them into Freesia, since they opposed slavery. All I had was subordinates and guards, as well as a few servants and maids. I wouldn’t mind giving them a beating, but I didn’t want any rumors getting out if someone overheard. I couldn’t afford to make an enemy out of Freesia—not yet, anyway.
“Now the only people who can get in my way are the queen and that prime minister.”
The seneschal and prince consort were stubborn, good for nothing more than furrowing their brows. They were no different from royalty from any other country. Those two merely followed orders, so I had no real use for them. The queen was different, however. A year ago, I’d tried to rattle her by acting like I was the one in charge, but all my attempts failed. She was far more fun when I insulted her daughter, but she still didn’t stray from the course by letting me provoke her. Then there was the prime minister…
“That monster. I can’t believe he really is the prime minister.”
I stretched my legs, kicking the bedside table. Putting my hands behind my neck, I stared up at the ornate ceiling. Gilbert was the only Freesian I could stand, but the prime minister would just get in my way. I wished I could win Gilbert over to my side, but people like him didn’t do as they were told.
If he’d made the request alone, I would have made up a reason to head home. I couldn’t read his true intentions at all, no matter how politely he spoke. Did he like me, see me as a threat, or think nothing of me at all? It was impossible to tell.
“As a country who recently established peace with yours, we insisted you would never do such a thing intentionally, Prince Adam.”
The words had the ring of suspicion, but Gilbert had delivered them like a normal turn in the conversation. It disgusted me either way, like the words were slithering over my skin. But even more than that, they excited me. I wanted to pry Gilbert’s brain out and compare it to a commoner’s.
“Compared to him…that prince is a total fool. Ha ha!”
With a laugh, I climbed out of bed. I didn’t mind this delay in the plan if he would be the next generation’s seneschal. I could wait until the prime minister died of old age and that silly little second-born princess took the crown. At that point, I wouldn’t need to keep Pride alive any longer. Tales of the princess’s deterioration into skin and bones would make for a nice snack alongside my liquor whenever they invited me back to Freesia.
“Stupid idiot!” I spit at the ceiling, directing my rage at no one in particular.
I burst out laughing all over again. Prime minister aside, that prince might become a useful pawn.
“And it was such a large crowd. It’s not surprising they couldn’t find you. After all, many of our allies have never laid eyes on you.”
They might have their suspicions, but they wouldn’t doubt a prince. They would assume my innocence.
“Unfortunately, they struggle to understand our peace treaty with the Rajah Empire.”
As a large country involved in the slave trade, Rajah would be gossiped about as a potential culprit. But we’d gone much further than anyone would believe. If the prince didn’t suspect us, he was either an incredible optimist or a total moron.
“We fear if you leave now, tensions will soar among these foreign countries. They’ll believe Rajah was responsible for what happened to our crown princess, demand we break our peace treaty, and cut ties with the United Hanazuo Kingdom.”
No, he’s an idiot, I decided. Even a child knew you could antagonize a friendly country by repeating rumors and suspicions. The prince didn’t get as far as naming who felt this way, but he was a fool to reveal so much in the first place. He’d even said it like a declaration of his faith in Rajah. If he needed a reminder from the prime minister not to blab about such things, I genuinely wondered if the prince was nothing more than a figurehead.
“Prince Stale has always been grateful to you, Prince Adam. It’s thanks to the Rajah Empire’s assistance that we stopped Copelandii’s recklessness last year.”
Gilbert had praised me for something Rajah had only done to keep up appearances, even bowing his head in a show of humility. This prince was too good to be true. I needed to see the look of despair on his face when he found out he’d been betrayed.
“Once the others find out you’ve extended your stay out of concern for Princess Pride, they’ll understand the nature of the peace treaty between our countries.”
No one would really believe we were on good terms just because I was staying in Freesia a few days longer. Judging by the prime minister’s flattery, that whole display had to be the stupid prince’s idea. Surely Gilbert was only there to chaperone the brat, who somehow believed it would help.
I’d agreed to the firstborn prince’s request anyhow. The official story had changed, but either way I was stuck in Freesia. Now, if I could just use the princess’s hopeless situation to unsettle all these Freesians…
“I’m getting even closer to my prize.”
My lips curled as I howled with laughter, nearly drooling on myself.
I was surrounded by fools. Everything was going my way. I quieted my laughter so they wouldn’t hear me, stomping my feet to make up for it.