Chapter 44: The Imperial Crown Prince’s Visit
TEN in the morning, three luxurious carriages not bearing any family crests came to a halt in front of Bertine’s shop, the Flower of Krusula. The guards in the leading and rear carriages stepped out then inspected the surroundings, after which one of them opened the door to the middle carriage. His Imperial Highness Ehrenfried, the emperor’s younger brother, disembarked slowly. He would be forty years old this year.
The neighborhood’s residents watched the spectacle from a distance. Bertine and her servants welcomed him respectfully. He spoke to her, his expression calm.
“I’m sorry for all this trouble, Lady Bertine du Jeanne.”
“Not at all, Your Imperial Highness. Thank you for gracing us with your presence.”
She gestured for him to enter the shop and take a seat in one of the chairs. The chairs and the table were locally made and had been reasonably priced when she bought them, but now the furniture appeared entirely unsuitable for an imperial prince.
Ehrenfried was a slim, tall man. She estimated his height to be approximately six feet and three inches. His golden hair streaked with white strands and pale blue eyes were characteristic features of the cool, refreshing beauty embodied by the people of his cold country.
“I wish to speak with you frankly and without haste,” he said. “Please send your servants away.”
Diego, Dorothée, and Isabella promptly left the room. Once the prince’s soldiers confirmed their exits, they too followed suit, but remained at attention just outside the door.
Ehrenfried then calmly turned to face Bertine. “Allow me to get to the heart of the matter. The truth is, Claudio came to me and asked if I would covertly slip a letter to you by way of the Rose Hotel. When I asked him what the letter was about, he said he wrote about how he wanted to live his life. Intrigued, I asked him to tell me more about it and you. It didn’t take me long to learn that Claudio greatly admires you.”
“I…am humbled to hear that,” Bertine responded.
At this point, Ehrenfried extended his hand to pick up the teacup Dorothée had left behind. But he paused when he saw the pink jam in lieu of sugar on the table.
“What is this?” he asked.
“It’s a jam made out of a fruit called the wax apple, which grows here in the Southern Federation. The flavor is marvelous when used as a substitute for sugar.”
“Oh? Let me try it.”
I guess I don’t need to taste-test it for poison? While that errant thought ran through Bertine’s mind, Ehrenfried scooped up a dollop of jam on his spoon without hesitation and dropped it into his cup. He stirred, mixing the jam into his tea. Raising the cup to his nose, he sniffed at the aroma before taking a sip.
“Well, well. Isn’t this delightful?” His face relaxed as he swallowed. “I hear the imperial palace has been keeping ample supplies of Federation goods lately. Stingers and jams and such. When my brother, His Majesty, investigated the source of these products, he was surprised to learn they were all your doing. The fabric for which Lady Dalila is acting as intermediary. That was you too, wasn’t it? You’re a clever young woman in many ways.”
How much does he know about me? Why is he here? Surely, he doesn’t think I’m trying to use the second prince as a pawn for the Federation? Good lord, I hope not.
“Relax. There’s no need for you to be so nervous,” he assured her. “I don’t consider you an enemy.”
“…Thank you.”
“San Luenne’s royal family is so focused only on what’s in front of them that they can’t see the forest for the trees. I was disgusted when I learned they had traded you to Cecilio instead of paying the reparations. They should have known better than to treat the Alchemist’s daughter so poorly. They’ll certainly reap what they sowed for their foolishness.”
Bertine remained silent. There was no way she could agree with his sentiments out loud, not at this point. Instead, she let the remark pass by as she kept her expression neutral and her gaze on the prince’s chest.
“Before I allow you and Claudio to become penfriends, there are a few questions I would ask of you. May I?”
“Yes, of course.”
“What’s the relationship between you and His Excellency Cecilio?”
“He appointed me to the role of Special Envoy for the Sale of Local Specialties under his direct supervision. He is my superior and I, his subordinate. It’s a working relationship,” she said.
“Even though you were sent here to the Federation as his intended bride?”
“Yes, but my work now keeps me financially independent.”
“I know you’ve developed a fondness for this country, so I’d like to know your thoughts on the relations between the Empire and the Federation.”
Keep calm, Bertine. Don’t say anything that can be used against you.
“From the Southern Federation’s perspective, the Empire of Centaur is an important neighbor and trading partner,” she said. “I believe the Empire views the Federation as a necessary existence as well. I hope that the two countries’ relationship remains cordial and mutually beneficial for a long time.”
“Hm. A polished response, one I would expect from a model student.”
Ehrenfried cut a small, round butter cake Dorothee had meticulously baked into two pieces with a fork and popped one half into his mouth. He seemed to enjoy the taste because soon after he ate the remaining half too. His table manners were impeccably refined.
“If I were to say that Claudio may become San Luenne’s king, how would you respond?” he asked.
Bertine’s gaze involuntarily jerked from his chest to his face. Is this a trap? But I can’t think of a reason for a powerful man like him to make the journey all the way here just to trap me.
“I believe I know a bit about Prince Claudio’s troubles and the reality of the situation facing San Luenne’s royal family. Should His Highness wish for that once he comes of age, I will of course support his decision wholeheartedly,” she responded.
“Interesting. So you don’t support the idea now?”
“People change. To say nothing of the fact that His Highness is only twelve years old, so it’s only natural for his thinking to evolve constantly. As wise and intelligent as he is, the second prince is still a child. Should an adult act on a twelve-year-old’s words, it would be a tragedy if he changes his mind after. I’m sure it would haunt him for the rest of his life. So as an adult, wouldn’t it be the responsible thing to avoid such a fate?”
“I see.”
Then, complete and utter silence. It dominated the room.
God, this feels so suffocating. Just as the thought floated in Bertine’s mind, Ehrenfried finally spoke again.
“I’ll allow you and Claudio to write to each other. And you make an excellent point.”
“Your Imperial Highness, I need to know. Did he actually say he wants to become the king of San Luenne?” she asked.
Ehrenfried shook his head.
“No. He said he wants to leave the Empire with his mother and head to the Federation. I think you’re the reason for his determination, Lady Bertine. But our country cannot allow Claudio to leave because it would pose a problem for us were he to be used by another. Yet the boy himself is unbending on the issue. He always did have a strong will. So I thought it might be easier to have him become the king of San Luenne rather than complicate matters by defecting to another country once he comes of age. I doubt your father will object either. Though the marquess and I only have a passing acquaintance, I know well enough that he’s a man of foresight.”
Bertine remained silent because she couldn’t think of a response, so Ehrenfried took pity on her and changed the subject, asking her various questions about her life here in the Federation. She answered him honestly. He also probed her on Cecilio’s personal details, but she feigned complete ignorance.
Then he finally stood up.
“Right, then, that should do it. Both the jam and cake were delicious. Thank you.”
And departed with those final words.
The emperor’s brother came here, suspecting that I would most likely tell Cecilio and my father about his visit. No, if anything, I wonder if he wanted me to do exactly that. Since he’s well aware I have no obligation to him or a reason to keep this secret from them. If that’s the case, then why didn’t he just come right out and ask me to help him with his plan?
It had been exhausting to carry on such a fraught conversation with a member of the imperial family while trying to fathom his true intentions.