“Then she asked me, as someone she trusts, ‘Is Maribelle or Isabella more suitable to be queen?’ I answered confidently that the diligent and modest Isabella is. Maribelle...tried to use her charms on me, too, to be honest. Of course, I only have eyes for Serephione, so it didn’t work. In the end, her feelings shifted toward Prince Schneider. She’s a fickle person... Just as I had feared. When I said this to Serephione, she nodded deeply and then whispered something like, ‘Time to get ready.’ She predicted that there would be a rift in the kingdom all the way back then!”
“The conversation from before you kicked him in the head?! I’m impressed at how well he can pervert—ahem, invert himself...” Lou muttered. His jaw and mine were both dropped.
“Then she thought of the kingdom even while she was wounded, and she was concerned that she might become a source of conflict for you and the kingdom. All she wants is for Judore to have peace! Please understand Serephione’s feelings when all she can do is watch from outside the country!”
The curtain finally closed on Cecil’s grand delusional spectacle. Why did you have to bring this pervert as one of your four attendants, prince?! The imperial palace was filled with bewilderment.
Drip, drip. A sound like small raindrops reached my ears. The floor in front of Prince Gardner was wet.
“P-Prince Gardner?”
He’s c-crying!
“I’m...ashamed...”
“Huh?”
“While you were thinking about the fate of the country, training, getting hurt, and dealing with all these concerns, I was just playing the game of love without a care... I thought I should enjoy my time as a student to the fullest that way...”
So, he was playing the game of love... Everyone from Galé had cold eyes.
“As for the future of Judore, I thought that if I became king, things would just naturally fall into place and we would be happy. I thought it was just expected that Isabella would study hard...”
How optimistic... I was jealous of his mindset.
“I came to take your power that my brother wanted for myself. Quite honestly, I didn’t grasp just how strong you are. My mom just told me that I could become king if I allied with you and Galé. I never thought about how I would lead the country if I became king...”
He was living in a world where things would be happily ever after once he became king. Was he reincarnated too?
“You were deeply wounded by my brother, and even knowing that I planned to use you, you still worried about Judore and dared to give me a harsh warning...”
“I see... She hardened her heart and put it harshly for the sake of her home nation...” Arthur said pensively.
Hey, Arthur! That’s not how it is! What’s with these earnest guys? And why is even Cecil crying?!
“I shall return to my country to think about the future of our country and improve myself. I will listen to my brother’s ideas, and if they are incompatible with my own, I will have to fight...but I hope you will help me then.”
He was actually taking it to heart. He had always been an earnest person, even in the book. He was kind, genuine, and never looked back once he thought something was in the right. He had probably been swayed by Maribelle’s pacifism and never considered anything else after that.
Gillain finally opened his mouth.
“What is in it for us to intervene in your war? No monarch would stick his neck out in a conflict where there is no gain. It will only cause unnecessary suffering to the people. I recommend that you act with caution for the sake of the people.”
“I will take your advice to heart, Your Imperial Majesty.”
“Also, the only person who will ever escort Serephione is me. I am extremely busy at the moment, so I can’t go to Judore, and thus, neither can Serephione. And if you ever attack her or Galé, I won’t hesitate to invade and conquer your kingdom. Understood?”
“Yes.”
Prince Gardner’s group left, and the remaining Galé side took a break in a private room next to the audience chamber.
“I felt like I’d wandered into some parallel world during that.” I collapsed onto the desk.
“Parallel? You really attract the strangest people, Sere.” Lou patted my head with his toe beans.
“What will happen to Judore?” I wondered.
“The emperor did a good job of inciting things. The prince is going to act; he’ll be cautious, but he’ll definitely make a move. The good-natured Prince Gardner has gone to discuss the matter, and I’m sure we’ll see a skirmish break out soon. Ha ha!” Regueid crossed his feet elegantly as he drank his tea.
“Did I awaken a sense of justice in the puppet?” I asked.
“What Schneider has is a personal grudge. It’s not about justice. Now that Gardner has the ideal of making the country better, he’ll accept the challenge...for the greater good.” Asu smiled.
I made a big stir at that meeting... Was that the right thing to do? I stole a glance at Gillain, who was already looking at what appeared to be documents for his next task. Gillain nodded when he noticed my gaze.
For now, I’d just have to contact my father, brother, and the Trundles to inform them that the mountain had moved. The pervert had moved as well.
“Ahh, Judore produces such wonderful people! That should give me enough laughs to last the rest of my life! I never expected things to go so much like I thought! It almost makes me nervous, ha ha ha!”
I couldn’t find any words to respond to Regueid with... I felt like crying!
Somehow, we ended up deciding that I would train Prince Gardner before he and his companions went back to Judore. Naturally, the one who suggested it was his outrageous attendant Cecil.