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“AH, I think I know what he was getting at.”
After the three of us changed clothes and finished breakfast, I gave Prince Adelberd the latest updates and passed on the messages from Prince Rutherford over tea. Something seemed to click when I repeated his younger brother’s final question for me.
“What would that be?” I asked.
“I had to stop spending time with Rutherford once I got engaged to Estellise.”
“…What? That’s all?”
“Yes, that’s all.”
His tone made it sound like something more serious.
I cocked my head, unconvinced, so Prince Adelberd began to recount memories with his younger brother.
“Rutherford’s mother was married off to Elzeria because Sanctoria wanted to get rid of her. I’ve heard all sorts of things, like that she called off her first engagement without a good reason and framed an innocent noblewoman for some sort of crime. As a princess, she was a constant source of trouble. I won’t confirm any rumors, as this is the business of a foreign country, but my father’s second queen consort was as violent, greedy, and prideful as the rumors suggested. She became hated throughout the castle almost as soon as she set foot within its walls, so I’m sure you don’t have to imagine how her son was treated once he was born in that same castle. He was the second-born prince, thus I’m sure he wasn’t harassed to the extent you were, Siraiya, but it was more than enough to leave lasting scars on a young boy’s heart.”
“His Highness was born into a difficult position…” I sympathized.
I realized that, when I found myself unable to walk away from that pained-looking Prince Rutherford the night before, it was probably because I was reminded of Siraiya. I seemed to have a soft spot for people who were suffering.
“I made a point to approach Rutherford whenever I saw him looking down,” Prince Adelberd said. “I was more interested in goofing off than studying back then, and he was the perfect person to goof off with. But then I got engaged to Estellise and had to take being a proper crown prince seriously. Instead of hobbies, I focused my time on studying and mastering etiquette. Rutherford looked so hurt when I suddenly stopped playing with him. He even cried when I broke the news.”
“That’s kind of cu— sad…” I just barely stopped myself from calling the prince’s reaction cute.
Prince Adelberd spoke as if he were disinterested, though. Surely he sympathizes with his brother at least a little, right? …No, this is just who he is.
Siraiya suddenly took my hand from the seat next to me. I looked at him curiously, only to find him staring at me with some mixture of shock and bewilderment.
“Siraiya? Is something wrong?”
“…No… It’s nothing.” Despite that answer, he didn’t let go of my hand, even as he turned back to face the prince. “His Highness isn’t engaged to anyone yet, is he? That’s a little late for a member of royalty. If you find him a fiancée, he probably won’t be as lonely.”
“Rutherford’s engagements keep falling through,” Prince Adelberd sighed. “We finally get something arranged, only for his mother to run her mouth and ruin everything.”
“Oh dear…! Can’t His Majesty force her to stay out of it?” I asked.
“The will of the engaged parties is usually respected unless it’s a deeply political marriage arranged by the Crown,” Prince Adelberd explained. “Unless Rutherford rejects his mother’s meddling and seeks out an engagement of his own volition, he’ll never get anywhere with it. What’s the matter, Siraiya? You look like you’re getting worked up over there.”
“…No… it’s nothing…”
But it was something. Even I could tell Siraiya seemed unusually worked up and tense. He probably empathized with the second-born prince’s poor treatment.
I felt compassion for the young man, too, and since Siraiya seemed so affected, he probably wanted to do something to help the prince as well. We didn’t have many options, but if we could improve his situation at all—
“You’re going to see your brother, aren’t you, Prince Adelberd?” I asked.
“That’s the plan.”
“I had the opportunity to speak with His Highness last night, and he seemed deeply concerned for your health.”
“Last night?!”
“Yes. I called out to him when I found him gazing at the courtyard garden,” I replied, since Siraiya had interjected. Then I turned back toward Prince Adelberd. “I’m sure the issue of succession weighs on your mind as well, but I think you should set that aside for now and express your honest appreciation for your younger brother. Please don’t sneer at him or use indirect insults like you usually do, okay?”
“What exactly do you think of me, Lady Cynthia? …But that means I can’t tease him either, then?”
“No, you cannot.”
He really is exactly who I think he is. Muttering that retort in my mind, I composed myself before continuing.
“It could also be beneficial to turn this political foe into your ally, Your Royal Highness. Please open up to him now that he’s trying to get closer to you.”
“…Very well. Your advice has certainly helped me before, so I may as well give it a try. It will be a fun exercise to step into the role of the caring big brother.”
Frankly, I wanted him to actually express love for his brother—not turn this into some sort of stage performance. But I didn’t dare ask that much of Prince Adelberd. My goal would be accomplished if he brought some comfort to the anxious second-born prince. Maybe, if everything went really well, their relationship as brothers would even improve.
Praying that Prince Rutherford’s loneliness could be eased even slightly, I squeezed Siraiya’s hand. For some reason, he still refused to let go of mine.