Chapter: 93
There was a small incident that showcased the peculiar courage of the 4th Manager, but with his arrival, I felt at ease. As for the servants, aside from the butler, they were quite inexperienced in combat.
If the 4th Manager is inside the mansion and the Masked Unit is stationed outside, then trying to commit acts of terrorism would be laughably futile. If only we had this level of manpower back at the Academy, it would have made life a whole lot easier.
— That’s an interesting opinion.
“Thank you for your attention.”
— Nothing to speak of. After all, it’s the Executive Manager who manages the scene.
So, while discussing protocol, I casually threw a line to the Minister of the Imperial Household, and he chuckled lightly, calling it an interesting remark. Of course, everyone in this line of work knew that “interesting” really meant, “Stop babbling nonsense and get back to the grind.”
As expected, that approach flopped. Last time, the Masked Unit showed up at the Academy because of the Third Honor; keeping such elite forces on campus was a waste.
The support I was receiving now was an exception because I got my mansion snatched away. It would be trouble if I started treating this sweet setup as the norm just because I got lucky once. Time to let go of that foolishness quickly.
— How are the VIPs doing?
“They took a quick stroll around the square. They seemed to enjoy it.”
— Haha, the Governor will certainly be pleased to hear that.
I nodded at the Minister of the Imperial Household’s words. The Governor, usually quiet due to his age, oddly turned passionate when it came to managing the square, insisting that it represented the face of the Capital.
You could kind of understand that if you thought of old folks tending to their flower beds or veggie gardens, though on a much larger scale.
Anyway, since the square managed by him looked good in the eyes of royalty, he’d be absolutely thrilled. I wouldn’t be surprised if he burst into extreme happiness upon hearing that.
— It’s good that they’ve seen it already. Isn’t it better to hold the welcoming ceremony in a familiar place?
“You have a point.”
I confirmed that we would have the ceremony in the square. Really, I didn’t care where the event was held. After all the trouble I’d gone through with these guys, being in the square or the imperial palace made little difference. It would have been nice if we could have done it before lunch.
— Soon the Crown Prince will be done with his duties, so get the Executive Manager ready too.
“Yes, understood.”
My reluctance to head out bubbled up slightly, but I forced myself to rise. Ignoring the Crown Prince could lead to unforeseen troubles later, and I wasn’t keen on facing that.
Despite a minor and unfortunate disturbance when Ainter’s pupils started shifting drastically, we all decided to go to the square in the end. It was better to meet the Crown Prince than to leave him hanging, as he would probably haunt my dreams otherwise.
“Ainter, are you alright? Shouldn’t you be resting?”
“I’m fine, Lady Louise. The motion sickness seems to have hit me late.”
Seeing him muster a forced smile tugged at my heartstrings. This time, Ainter was just another unfortunate victim of our band’s antics, just like me.
“Don’t worry, it will be over soon. The Crown Prince is busy with other matters, anyway.”
Hearing that, Ainter’s expression softened a bit. At least I had assured him that the Crown Prince wouldn’t be pestering him during the ceremony. Meeting him was still nerve-wracking, but at least it wouldn’t be a personal grilling session.
“It’s not an official visit, so we’ll wrap it up quickly. You should take a good rest when we return.”
Lather comforted Ainter by giving him a light pat on the shoulder. It seemed they had formed a solid friendship during their time together in the semester. To outsiders, it probably looked like a warm sight.
‘You can thank your lucky stars it’s me.’
If those three clueless fools hadn’t blurted out their idea of coming to the Capital, this mess might have never happened. Ainter seemed to be thinking the same way, giving Lather a look that mixed gratitude with an urge to strangle him. This really was a classic case of “giving them the cure and the disease simultaneously.”
“Thanks for your consideration.”
Despite the situation, Ainter still managed to express his thanks with a smile, which was incredibly admirable. Maintaining such calmness would surely help him survive the Crown Prince’s often reckless behavior.
It appeared that the mental resilience meant for the 2nd Prince had instead transferred over to Ainter. Those who are weak-minded really don’t deserve to survive. I realized I might have stumbled upon one of the reasons for the 2nd Prince’s downfall.
With that epiphany, I shifted my gaze only to see Irina fidgeting nervously.
“Irina.”
“Eek!”
A simple tap on her shoulder made her jump like a startled cat! I didn’t think she’d be so easily spooked.
“Ah, brother.”
“You don’t need to be so anxious. The Crown Prince said it’s okay.”
I could understand why Irina was acting like a meerkat, darting her eyes around. She was probably worried about her standing amidst royalty as a mere count’s daughter.
I had originally planned to bring only the three of them, but the Crown Prince insisted on everyone tagging along, so here we were. That guy had a knack for dragging everyone into his affairs.
“B-but still, being in the presence of royalty…”
Even though I assured her the Crown Prince had permitted it, Irina still trembled uncontrollably.
Honestly, her nerves were understandable. Louise had built up an immunity from spending so much time with our club members, Erich only felt safe when he was with Louise, and Marghetta was from a noble family close to the royal one. Poor Irina was the only one stuck in a tough spot.
“It’s not about royal status; we came here for a journey, so it wouldn’t be strange for others to be present.”
“Is that so…?”
Irina nodded, but to be honest, I was lying through my teeth. Even with a travel purpose, it didn’t warrant bringing the whole gang along. The real deal was that the Crown Prince’s suspicion had activated his passive skill.
There was a close tie between domestic nobles and foreign royalty. Plus, he had a half-sibling who had renounced the throne tagging along—clearly, our dear Crown Prince took this chance to check everyone out.
Of course, if I expressed that bluntly, I’d probably make Irina cry again, so I had to sugarcoat it. The truth was, the Crown Prince did say it was alright for her to attend. So, technically, I didn’t lie.
‘Sorry.’
I mouthed an apology she wouldn’t hear. Still, as long as I was only checking faces, things should be fine.
The welcoming ceremony went off without a hitch. With all the ministers gathered, there was less chance of anything going awry. Besides, my only job was to sit, clap, or salute as needed, so nothing could possibly go wrong.
‘Ah, he’s here too.’
As I looked around, I spotted a middle-aged man commanding the escort troops. He was the commander of the 1st Army Corps, responsible for guarding the Capital. He’d been working hard since his appointment three years ago, and apparently, he was still at it.
Ah, our eyes met. Just a quick nod as acknowledgment, then we both looked away. After all, we weren’t meeting for any pleasant reason.
“Do you know him?”
“It’s harder to find someone I don’t know in the Capital than someone I do.”
I answered Erich’s curious question with a bitter smile. It was impossible not to know the prominent civil servants in the Capital. They were all potential targets for inspection, and I had to remember at least their basic details. Plus, from their end, I was the unpredictable guest who could swing by at any moment!
“Amazing.”
I glanced over at Erich, who marveled at my response. Was he even slightly interested in civil service because he found my job remarkable?
‘Should definitely pen him a recommendation.’
If he didn’t have any plans post-graduation, I should have a recommendation letter ready for the Ministry of Finance, Justice, or Defense. I bet Erich would be thrilled. It was a rite of passage for a true Krasius man.
“Today’s small gathering could blossom into robust friendships among nations. How could that not be joyous?”
While I was basking in thoughts about my brother’s promising future, an annoying voice interrupted. Turning to the source, I found the Crown Prince delivering his welcome address from the stage.
Since the Crown Prince, who usually avoided long-winded speeches, was now talking, the event was likely reaching its conclusion.
I was casually listening to his speech when suddenly, the mundane content started to go off the rails.
“An unexpected visit is often more delightful than a familiar face.”
Huh?
“There are instances when light footsteps come as a more welcome surprise than heavy ones.”
What?
“The Empire exists as a gathering place for all, and everyone is welcomed with open arms. This is the Empire that opens its heart to all visitors.”
You sneaky Crown Prince!
‘So you’ve lost it too!’
I subtly bit my lip, overwhelmed by the depth of emotion welling up inside me, desperately trying to hold it in. If I didn’t, I’d probably jump up, give a standing ovation, and cheer him on.
That’s right, this is my country! This is how a proper welcome should be delivered!
‘Indeed, status really is everything!’
A mere successor like me wouldn’t dare to say any of this. But for someone of the Crown Prince’s stature, he had the power to throw shade at other royal heirs or even future saints without breaking a sweat. The Crown Prince dwarfed any regular prince in terms of importance.
Delighted by an unexpected visit? Light footsteps more cherished? Open-heartedly welcoming everyone? Sure, on the surface, it seemed like a standard greeting. But beneath it lay a sharp undercurrent. Being too blunt could stir up diplomatic turmoil.
Those in lofty positions often spoke with dual meanings—a classic etiquette maneuver. This was practically aimed at those royal brats sneaking personal visits without prior notice. Simultaneously, it was a show of the Empire’s grace and willingness to welcome even such uninvited guests.
‘Thank you…’
The Crown Prince had just expressed what I couldn’t. I had never dreamed I would have such joy in a moment like this.
Choked up, I stared at the Crown Prince after he wrapped up his welcome speech. Our eyes met, and he gave a slight nod before smoothly stepping down from the platform.
Truthfully, I wasn’t just a supporter of the Crown Prince. Our relationship ran deeper than that; it was a bond of unity. From now on, any challenge against the Crown Prince would feel like a challenge against me as well.
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