Francis
–
“That’s what the princess’s doctor said.
He said she would never have sex.
It would shorten your life.
Furthermore, pregnancy is not possible even if she has sexual intercourse.
Even though I heard this three months ago, I don't think there would have been much change in the interim.”
“But why did the Duke kill the doctor?
He barely told us about the princess's health.
However, it wouldn't be a big problem.
It disturbs my mind.”
Marius nodded to Francis' doubts.
“You have improved a lot.
I'm happy that my education seems to be becoming more effective.
You always have to be constantly suspicious.
Your suspicious attitude in everything will make you emperor.”
“You are about to become prime minister.”
“That’s right, Your Highness.
To answer your reasonable doubts, I will have to re-examine the condition of Duke Kiellini and his daughter.”
“I can bear everything, but I can't bear her lying in bed.
If anything is different from what we know about the princess's condition, you will have to kill her immediately.
If it’s a question about a lady with the highest status in the Empire, we can use her.”
When Francis gave the order, Marquis Marius nodded as if he understood and replied:
“If you like Lady Anais, I will make her the highest status lady in the Empire once we have dealt with Prince Haint easily.”
Francis scoffed at Marius' words.
“Marquis, it was your teaching not to fall in love with a woman.
Do you think I'm going to do this kind of task just because of a woman I like?
Of course Christine is attractive.
But the reason I chose Christine is that her true character is quite suitable for me.”
“I understand.
Everything is as Your Highness wishes…”
Marius lowered his head for a moment, paid homage to Francis, and then opened his mouth again.
“Your Highness, go straight to Lady Anais.
I will go to His Highness Killian and say hi to him.”
Francis smiled, feeling better about the respect of his closest aide and mentor.
“Yes.
To celebrate my younger brother's hunting competition, I myself came running the long way here and I think it should be your duty to come first and thank you for coming to visit.
Tell Killian that we will drink among brothers after a long time.
Because of an urgent message from my maternal grandfather, Duke Dudley, I will find Marquis Anais first, and will see him in an hour.”
Francis unilaterally set the time, gave a satisfied look, and ordered the carriage to be turned around.
* * * * *
Marquis Anais and Christine, who were waiting for Francis to enter the castle of Rezen, received him cordially.
“Your Highness, have you had any particular problems on your way?”
“No, and I'm right in front of you,” Francis replied, looking disapprovingly at the marquis who had brought Christine to Bertino.
Christine greeted Francis, who approached her.
“Welcome, Your Highness.”
“Marquis, I need to speak to Christine, can you leave?”
Francis said as he approached Christine, who was bowing slightly.
“Yes your Highness.”
When Marquis Anais left, Francis grabbed Christine's chin, who was lowering her head, and forced it upwards.
“Are you having fun?” Christine said, barely smiling, at Francis, who looked intimidatingly at her face, which was raised as if it had been crooked.
“It’s amazing because it’s a place I visited for the first time.” Francis sat on the living room couch, face dropping at Christine's demure response.
“Did you see Killian as often as you wanted?”
“I saw him every time we had dinner.”
“You saw each other a lot.
If you saw him that much, it would be enough, wouldn’t it?” Francis smiled softly at Christine, who was still standing.
“Are you with Princess Haint?”
Francis laughed at Christine's attempt to avoid a response.
“I guess you didn't hear the rumor because you were stuck in this small town.
Just now, Princess Haint has turned Austern upside down.”
Christine raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"What happened?"
“Princess Haint is pregnant with Count Derio.” When Christine's face went white with the surprising comment, Francis actually flashed a toothy smile.
“Do you know why I came here in such a hurry?
Christine, you are now the highest-ranking single woman in Austern.So this is no time for you to lose your temper here for Killian because you have to marry me.”
Christine shook her head at his way of saying 'you're mine', as if the best thing was to agree with him while he put away his toys like a child.
“Did you forget?
I'm not the highest-ranking single woman, Your Highness.
How can I be the highest when there is Princess Kiellini?”
Francis smiled at Christine's words.
“I know you don't want to marry me, but it's too much for you to put a walking corpse on me.
No, is she still alive?” Seeing Christine go on to the same story as Marius, Francis burst into laughter, sounding as if he had heard the funniest story in the world.
He had ordered an investigation into Duke Kiellini while he was suspicious, but his intention to burden Marquis Marius was included to a certain extent, so he really didn't think there would be any significant change in the princess's health.
Christine opened her mouth cautiously, studying Francis, who smiled slowly at the thought.
“You know that Duke Kiellini came to Bertino, don't you?”
"Yes.
It seems that Duke Martin made an effort to attract Duke Kiellini and then led him to Bertino.
However, there is no way the cold-blooded man hastily intervened in the battle for the crown.
But why is Duke Kiellini’s story coming up here?”
“I heard there will be a premiere party for Princess Kiellini this fall.
I'm sure it came from Duke Kiellini himself.
He said he will announce his successor after the debut party.
Therefore, Princess Kiellini is not a living corpse at this moment, and I am not the first in her order of brides.”
Christine's words lifted Francis off the couch.
“I heard she's going to die sooner or later, but will her coming out party be that soon?
He said they couldn’t heal her with holy power, was that a lie?”
“I don't know if she was healed by the holy power, or if she wasn't in such bad health.
But the duke said he was happy to have the premiere party safely because the princess's health has improved so much.”
“If so…” Francis’s eyes lit up.
Three months ago, the doctor said she was so weak she couldn't have sex.
However, she would have a coming out party…
‘Did the doctor deceive me?
And the duke killed the doctor to hide this?
Why?
If it's healthy, did he think Viscount Raven would do anything?'
Christine nodded to Francis, who was busy calculating the new information.
“Yes.
If you marry Princess Kiellini, you will be able to bring the Kiellini family.”
Francis sat back on the couch again, frowning.
“Do you think Duke Kiellini will give me his daughter?
He hates being associated with the royal family more than anyone else.”
Christine laughed at his words, as if she didn't care.
“She is a woman who fell ill and without a friend her age in the territory.
Unlike other noble ladies, she has never had a relationship with others since childhood.
No matter how big Kiellini's family is, the social world is not so easy.”
Francis looked at Christine silently telling her to continue.
“If she has just made her debut in the social world, but if she doesn't know anyone, how lonely will she feel?
That's when I'll be her first friend.
Then I will introduce Your Highness to her.
If a handsome man like you treats a lonely and hungry woman well, she will probably fall in love with you.
If his daughter is in love with you and is willing to marry you, the Duke will not object as his love for his daughter is great.
No, he will do his best to give you the crown, let alone the opposite.
It’s about making your daughter the Empress.”
Sa-chan
Sa-chan
Thanks for reading.
^-^