After discussing it with Bertia, I decided to decline Prince Ramtak’s dinner invitation the next day and promptly sent him a letter. Naturally, the letter was a polite refusal of his invitation. The reason I gave, borrowing Bertia’s name, was that my wife was too busy and had no free time. This was intended to leverage Prince Ramtak’s less-than-favorable impression of Bertia, who was close to Princess Lysonna, and to further instigate his desire to stay away from Bertia.
Of course, the claim of having no free time was a lie; we could have made time if we wanted to. Such a fact could easily be uncovered with a little investigation, given our residence within the palace grounds, even if it was a detached palace. However, questioning why it was impossible and probing for an explanation was considered tactless among royalty and nobility. This ensured that he couldn’t press Bertia for an invitation.
Even though he might not be able to question it openly, he would likely realize that we actually had the time. Thus, Bertia would be perceived as unwilling to make time for him, which would definitely tarnish her image in his eyes—just as I intended.
If he were to spread any strange rumors, it could damage Bertia’s reputation, but given the disparity in our nations’ power, it was unlikely he would openly confront us.
Although Prince Ramtak was respected as the future crown prince and king of his country, his reputation was not particularly good. Even if he spoke ill of Bertia, who generally had an exceptionally good reputation, others would likely see it as him simply disliking and badmouthing her. While some might outwardly agree with him, they probably wouldn’t believe it deep down, so it posed no real problem.
More importantly, it was crucial that Prince Ramtak did not bother Bertia with any unwelcome advances.
“So, after rejecting the dinner, you were asked to join him for drinks post-supper, correct?”
This came from a letter by Prince Ramtak, shortly after I sent my refusal.
Once I finished the letter, I threw it onto my desk and said, “Feel free to read it if you want.” Zeno picked it up, skimmed through quickly, and smiled wryly.
To be frank, it’s irritating. It’s inconvenient but expected.
“To receive a personal invitation from Prince Ramtak for private time at night, you must have developed a close relationship,” he stated.
“I’m just as surprised as you are. Who would have thought we’d become so friendly?”
Evening hours were primarily intended for family time or personal pursuits. If there was a close relationship, inviting the other person for relaxed conversations over drinks or to play games was common; however, using this time for social commitments was uncommon. In essence, extending an invitation to someone not well-known during these hours could be risky, as it might be viewed as impolite if misunderstood.
“Due to his excessively elevated status in his own nation, Prince Ramtak likely doesn’t think about others often. He has grown too used to having his invitations take precedence, losing sight of the fact that these expectations do not hold true beyond his borders.”
Even if someone learned that it was impolite, an environment where everyone tolerated their behavior might slowly diminish that understanding. With time, they might come to see their actions as normal.
To individuals used to allowances, boundaries can be slowly expanded until they no longer realize when their actions become inconvenient, often remaining oblivious until they cross into unacceptable territory.
In Seahealby, Prince Ramtak wasn’t anticipated to take on crown prince duties until he turned twenty. Although he held responsibilities as the first prince, Crown Prince Aleis managed most interactions with foreigners, limiting Ramtak’s chances to engage with those he needed to be mindful of. This explained why such a mistake had occurred, and he probably wasn’t even cognizant of it.
“He often invites his favored companions for drinks late at night. Those who cannot decline these invitations believe he enjoys their presence. Now he’s extended the same invitation to me.”
If only someone close to him could let him know what a nuisance it was. Unfortunately, those around the irritable prince were mostly sycophants. Naturally, they wouldn’t suggest otherwise.
“So, what will you do?” asked Bertia.
“Of course, I’ll join. I’m curious about his current thoughts. Reflecting on it, this invitation to have a drink is perfect. With a few drinks, he’s probably going to open up more.”
I rarely got drunk, making this an ideal opportunity to collect information. Additionally, the timing couldn’t have been better. Accepting his invitation now would likely open the door to more invitations later. He likely believed befriending the Crown Prince of the influential Alphasta could gain him an advantage over Crown Prince Aleis, especially while Aleis and Princess Lysonna were occupied with wedding arrangements and entertaining guests.
Unfortunately for him, I wasn’t looking to form a personal bond. Meeting only when necessary was acceptable, but he wasn’t someone I wanted to befriend. Therefore, the time when wedding guests had just started to arrive worked well for me. Following this invitation, it would be easier to excuse my absence by claiming to be busy with various meetings.
Prince Ramtak likely had others he wished to connect with, making it easier to maintain distance.
“I’ll take Valdo and a few others. Maybe I’ll bring Courtgain along too.”
“Isn’t that a bit much for just a private drink?”
“Increasing the number of guards indicates that I remain vigilant around Prince Ramtak. Additionally, if we discreetly communicate that ‘this was a follow-up suggestion after I had to decline dinner due to scheduling conflicts, making it hard to refuse,’ it would be even more advantageous.”
Understanding my intent, Zeno nodded in agreement and said, “I’ll subtly spread the word.”
Next, by casually arranging a chance to meet with Crown Prince Aleis and weaving the backstory of tonight’s drink into our conversation, we could avoid any awkward misunderstandings. Given his intelligence, and as long as the intention was clear, he would likely respond appropriately to Prince Ramtak’s situation, especially considering their relationship was not exactly cordial.
Sigh… I won’t be able to enjoy my usual chat time with Tia before bed tonight. It’s regrettable, but it can’t be helped. Ah, to ensure Tia doesn’t feel lonely, maybe I’ll ask Kuro and Miss Cynthia to stay with her until she falls asleep. They wouldn’t mind, right?
Considering Cynthia’s position as Bertia’s lady-in-waiting and their strong friendship, which included sleepovers in their dormitory prior to our marriage, it was fitting to request her assistance. Unlike my connection with Prince Ramtak, they would definitely appreciate the opportunity to recall their school days.
“You clearly have affection for Lady Bertia, Your Highness.”
“And who else should I show affection for, if not my wife?” I replied with a smile.
Zeno nodded in agreement. “That’s right.”
“I’ll compose a reply to the letter; could you handle the other arrangements, Zeno?”
“Of course.”
It was unsettling, but it’s wise to tackle unpleasant tasks swiftly. Prince Ramtak’s letter had also proposed, “How about tonight?” which aligned perfectly.
Grasping the pen, which seemed unusually weighty, I composed my response.
That evening, following a pleasant dinner with Bertia, I decided to forgo the usual routine of going straight to the bath and then our bedroom. Instead, I ventured to a part of the palace specifically reserved for Prince Ramtak, accompanied by Valdo, Courtgain, Zeno, and several other guards.
Royalty typically had various rooms allocated to them in addition to their private quarters within the royal residence. These included offices and reception areas, separated by family. Crown Prince Aleis mainly utilized his space for work, while Prince Ramtak appeared to use his not only for work but also regularly for socializing with friends. Consequently, the rooms designated for meetings surpassed those intended for work.
Though he often criticizes Crown Prince Aleis, I question what he is actually achieving. Doesn’t he see that by avoiding responsibilities, especially with Aleis being capable, he’s only inviting greater challenges for himself down the line? Yet, it’s precisely his lack of understanding that leads him to act so carelessly.
“At last, you’re here. I’ve eagerly awaited your arrival, Prince Cecil,” Prince Ramtak said, smiling, as a valet announced my presence.
As I stepped inside, the overpowering scent of alcohol and cigars nearly made me recoil. While our castle has specific rooms meant for post-dinner drinks, none carried an odor like this. It was hard to tell if the room was inadequately cleaned or if it had been so mistreated that no cleaning could remove the stench.
It was evident that this room was hardly appropriate for entertaining foreign royalty with whom one had little familiarity.
Observing my slight frown, Zeno subtly offered me a handkerchief, gently scented with peppermint, likely implying I could use it to disguise the smell. Although I was tempted to take it, I raised my hand in a quiet gesture of refusal. We needed to maintain an amiable appearance during this visit.