Chapter 14
“…If you couldn’t speak, that would be better. Ahem! I understand your intentions well enough.”
Hendrik let out an awkward cough. The face of Queen Elizabeth, sitting beside him, also turned red.
“Very well. I won’t press you any further.”
As Franz slipped away under the guise of a polite excuse, Elizabeth, too, had no choice but to let it go.
Having obtained the answer he wanted, Franz quietly took a sip of his tea. Behind the teacup, the corners of his lips curled up ever so slightly.
“Now that the meal is over, I’ll step out with Franz. There’s something important we brothers need to discuss. Let’s go.”
Frederick placed a hand on Franz’s shoulder and gave him a meaningful look. It was a signal: time to get out of here.
‘What are you waiting for? Do you want to sit here and listen to more lectures from the elders?’
‘As expected, you’re the best, brother.’
Catching Frederick’s cue, Franz rose from the armchair.
“I’ll take my leave.”
He bowed briefly, and the royal couple nodded in response—permission granted.
Just then, someone called out to stop him.
“Franz. A word with you.”
It was Aunt Sylvia.
“It won’t take long.”
“Yes, of course.”
Sylvia stood and headed toward the tearoom terrace. Though Franz didn’t know why, he followed her without a word.
“Franz, once you’re done, come up to my office.”
Frederick spoke as he left.
“Got it.”
Everyone exchanged puzzled looks, but since Sylvia adored Franz, they assumed she simply had something personal to say.
Facing him now, Sylvia studied Franz in silence.
“Franz, nothing troubling you these days?”
“What would trouble me? The business is going well, and there’s nothing unusual. But you look rather grim, Aunt. Has something happened?”
Meeting his eyes briefly, Sylvia lowered her head and let out a deep sigh.
“You don’t need to rush into marriage right away, but it’s time you at least hint to society that you’re looking for a bride.”
The gravity in her tone struck Franz as odd.
Talk of marriage… shouldn’t they have given up by now? Why does it feel like she’s set on this more than ever?
“Franz.”
When Sylvia spoke his name hesitantly, he immediately replied.
“Yes?”
“The thing is… the King of Altria is bedridden and can barely move. According to the Marquis on the frontier, the palace atmosphere suggests his passing may not be far off.”
The smile lingering on Franz’s face vanished slowly at the unexpected news.
“If you heard this from the Marquis, it must not be a baseless rumor.”
Avoiding her gaze, Franz lowered his eyes and spoke quietly.
“You… haven’t forgotten Chloe, have you?”
She searched his face cautiously. Surely not—but still, she couldn’t help worrying.
The matter of Chloe, who had betrayed Franz three years ago and married the King of Altria, had faded enough that nobles no longer whispered behind his back. Even so, her name remained practically taboo within the royal family.
At Sylvia’s careful words, Franz let out a soft chuckle.
It’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.
Which meant, damnably, he still remembered it.
The stronger the resentment, the sharper the memory of the past—but letting the past rule the present was something he’d long since discarded.
“Meeting Chloe was the worst thing that ever happened to me. Nothing like that will happen again, so don’t worry.”
Franz looked at Sylvia calmly, his eyes devoid of even a trace of emotion.
His composed demeanor reassured her. Sylvia finally relaxed, allowing a faint smile to grace her lips.
“I suppose I worried for nothing. Still, I thought you should know.”
She trusted there wasn’t a shred of falsehood in Franz’s words. Her real concern was Chloe.
Chloe had borne a daughter during her brief three-year marriage to the Altrian king. Though she had produced an heir, the situation was precarious—she was still young, and no one knew how Altria’s politics might shift. Whatever happened in that neighboring kingdom, nothing forbade a widowed queen from remarrying. That was Sylvia’s greatest concern. Chloe’s greed made her unpredictable. But if Franz was this resolute, there was little to fear.
No way would Sylvia allow Chloe to stain Franz’s name with filth ever again—and Hendrik and Elizabeth felt the same. Perhaps it was an overreaction, but she prayed her fears were baseless.
“Franz, if you’re okay with it, the Queen and I were thinking of selecting a few candidates for you to consider. What do you think?”
“I’ll handle it myself.”
That wasn’t the answer she’d hoped for, but judging by his expression, something seemed to be going on. Sylvia’s lips curved in a knowing smile.
“So… there’s a young lady in your heart.”
“Who knows?”
Franz neither confirmed nor denied it.
Even his evasive reply pleased Sylvia. She smiled and nodded.
“Very well. You must have your own thoughts. I’ll trust you.”
Franz bowed to Sylvia, then stepped out onto the terrace.
The office door opened, and when Franz entered, Frederick set aside the papers he’d been reading and removed his glasses.
“You’re quick.”
“It wasn’t anything serious.”
Franz dropped onto the sofa and closed his eyes, rubbing at his tired eyelids with a weary hand.
“Why is everyone so desperate to marry me off?”
Frederick ignored the complaint, chuckling softly.
“Mother worries about you a lot. She keeps lamenting, saying she doesn’t understand why you’ve turned down so many fine young ladies since ‘that one.’ Speaking of which…”
“Enough.”
Franz opened his eyes and met Frederick’s gaze.
“That’s as far as we go, brother. I just finished listening to Aunt Sylvia bring it up for the second round. I’ll take care of it myself.”
“What did she say?”
“That the King of Altria is at death’s door—and she’s using that as an excuse to find me a bride.”
“Ah, so she told you.”
Frederick nodded knowingly.
“So you knew too.”
“Only recently. The Altrian court is moving very cautiously, but it looks like they’ll make an announcement soon. For now, only Father, me, and a few ministers know.”
“I see.”
Franz gave only a perfunctory nod, as though the news didn’t faze him in the slightest. Frederick, however, eyed him with concern.
“You okay?”
“What would make me not okay?”
There was no lingering attachment from that old affair. At first, yes—rage and betrayal had shaken him. But he had given his heart without regret, and once she left for greater power, his feelings were burned away clean. What remained was an unshakable distrust of women—a scar left by experience.
“Honestly, I thought you hadn’t gotten over her. That’s why I figured you couldn’t start a proper relationship or consider marriage.”
Franz laughed, as though hearing a ridiculous joke.
“Talking about Chloe is hardly pleasant, but really—why would I pine for a woman who stabbed me in the back and left?”
His nonchalant tone startled Frederick more than anything.
“When you spoke earlier about love, did you mean it?”
“Why does that surprise you so much? Yes, I meant it. I’ll only marry someone I truly love. And it’s true I’m not thinking about marriage right now. Anyway, sorry for making you worry too.”
“It’s fine, Franz. I just want you to live your life fully.”
Franz nodded and stood. Frederick asked,
“You’re staying the night, right?”
Franz nodded without hesitation.
The Crown Prince’s day began with early morning physical training. Frederick either practiced swordsmanship or played polo with his knights every morning, working up a sweat.
Lapland had royal guard units, royal household knights, and the army. The King’s Royal Guard was composed of the best of the best, though the Crown Prince’s Guard was nearly as skilled.
Frederick believed polo was the ideal exercise: mounted combat sharpened combat skills, physical strength, and teamwork through a group sport.
Once a week, the King’s Guard and the Crown Prince’s Guard faced off in a polo match. Today, Franz would join the King’s Guard team.
Dressed in crisp white uniforms, the Crown Prince’s Guard filled the field, warming up. Sunlight streamed across the pitch as Franz appeared behind Frederick, walking leisurely with an attendant leading his polo pony.
Franz wore a sharp blue uniform, exuding more authority than usual.
“How do you feel?”
Though it was early, the arena was bathed in brilliant morning sunlight—not the cool blue of dawn, but a dazzling golden glow unseen for quite some time.
“Your Highness seems to be in unusually good spirits this morning.”
“Of course. I’m glad to exercise with my brother again—it’s been too long.”
“Exercise? You said we’d just go for a simple ride.”
And how is this just riding…?
