Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 127

<127>

“Haha. Your Majesty, turns out you have a firm preference for older women.”

I chuckled at Alfonso’s words.

With my mental age, even imagining welcoming a younger woman as queen feels like committing an unforgivable sin.

In fact, the same goes for someone my age up to ten years older, but since there’s my physical age… I gave myself a pardon.

“Let’s see, so to summarize, we need to find a lady who is the same age as His Majesty or up to ten years older, with outstanding abilities but a humble family background. …This is difficult. A really difficult condition… Huh?”

“Why? Did someone come to mind?”

Alfonso quickly turned his head back.

I followed his gaze. Reina, her face slightly flushed, lowered her head.

“Well… I fit perfectly into the conditions Your Majesty has mentioned so far, so I’m a little embarrassed.”

Thwack! It felt like I was hit in the head with a hammer.

I now realized that the conditions I had uttered without much thought in response to Alfonso’s question matched Reina’s background.

‘Reina as queen?’

I couldn’t quite imagine it.

Since awakening to my past life after my head was cracked by the Fourth Prince’s wooden sword, I had never thought of anyone as a romantic interest. Especially after regaining the memories of the ‘future’ through the [Barisada] trial (a trial to see the future).

How could I ever think of her romantically, when in the ‘future’ she was my swordsmanship teacher, and we had faced numerous life-threatening situations together at the Berington Fortress in the North?

A moment of awkward silence lingered around us.

“Hahaha. Your Majesty, you used the vague term ‘ability,’ so isn’t Baron Reina a bit embarrassed? You were clearly talking about the administrative skills a queen should have, right?”

Alfonso came up with a clever plan to escape this awkward atmosphere.

“Oh, yes… That’s right! Well, I have a lot of work to do, so shall we head back?”

I inadvertently agreed with his words and hurriedly moved towards the office.

“Ah… Administrative skills…”

I heard Reina’s small murmur from behind.

***

Akasha Palace.

The residence of the Third Princess, Annette Lionel.

A secret meeting was held there. The attendees were Annette, Ayra, Miloa, and… the only man, Alfonso.

‘Why am I here?’

He had been enjoying a warm sunbath in the Emerald Palace garden during a rare vacation when Ayra grabbed him and dragged him here.

“Hehe, everyone’s here.”

At Annette’s words, Alfonso decided to calm his confused mind and listen to her.

“It seems Chief Secretary Alfonso has no idea why he was called to this meeting.”

“Umm… that’s right.”

“Recently! His Majesty seriously considered Earl Miloa’s suggestion to hurry up with the marriage. You heard about it, right?”

“I heard it on the same day.”

“That’s exactly why we’re here.”

“Huh?”

“Shouldn’t we step up and find someone who will be our Evan’s, no, His Majesty the King’s partner?”

Annette showed excessive enthusiasm.

Alfonso scratched his head.

“Then shouldn’t there be more people gathered? Like Councilor Bert, a senior member of the royal family, or Earl Clian…?”

“Women need to look at it from a woman’s perspective to be accurate.”

“I’m a man, though?”

“There are things we definitely want to confirm with Chief Secretary Alfonso.”

“Things you want to confirm?”

“Look me straight in the eye and answer. His Majesty and Chief Secretary Alfonso, are you two having a forbidden love affair, as the rumors say?”

Alfonso’s expression froze at the unexpected question.

“W-What nonsense are you talking about! I can swear to all the gods registered in the Pantheon that it’s not true!”

Annette, who had been staring intently into his flustered eyes, nodded.

“That’s a relief. I didn’t think so either, but I asked to confirm. It’s that important of an issue.”

“You said it’s a rumor going around? Since when have such absurd rumors been circulating!”

Ayra answered Alfonso’s question.

“Such rumors have been circulating secretly among women since His Majesty proved Chief Secretary Alfonso’s innocence at the hearing.”

He was shocked that it had been going on for so long.

He had no idea.

Miloa chuckled and added.

“It’s only natural. His Majesty is at an age when he’s full of energy, but he treats women like stones, and the two of you are always together. Who wouldn’t be suspicious?”

“That’s…”

Even Alfonso thought it was a bit incomprehensible.

Even if Evan was mentally mature, he was only 17 years old. It was impossible for him not to have any curiosity about the opposite sex.

‘Could His Majesty really…?’

His expression became serious.

“Hehe. Don’t worry, I didn’t feel that kind of emotion in His Majesty’s gaze towards Chief Secretary Alfonso. As I said before, I was just asking to see if my eyes were wrong.”

“Your Highness’s eyes?”

“How should I explain this… Since some time ago, I’ve been able to vaguely tell who has feelings for whom and whether they could have a good relationship.”

Alfonso, reminded of Adol and his wife who were married through Annette’s connection, suddenly became curious.

“Did you perhaps know about the relationship between Earl Miloa and Earl Clian as well?”

“The two of them getting married…”

“Your Highness!”

Miloa hurriedly covered Annette’s mouth.

“Hehe, Earl Miloa, why are you doing this? I was just going to say that I never knew.”

Alfonso, who had asked the question, and Ayra, who had perked up her ears, both wore disappointed expressions. There was definitely some secret.

They were too curious, but it didn’t seem like Annette would open her mouth.

“What’s important to us now isn’t the two people who have already had a lovely daughter, but His Majesty. Did you notice that there’s one person missing who should be here?”

“If there’s someone who should be here…”

Alfonso glanced at the women sitting at the table.

“Ah! Come to think of it, Baron Reina isn’t here. But isn’t it because it’s her time to guard His Majesty, so you didn’t call her?”

“No. I deliberately set the time now. Now, Alfonso. Has there been anything special between His Majesty and Baron Reina lately?”

Alfonso tilted his head.

“It’s been the same as usual. There’s nothing, though?”

“That can’t be…”

Annette frowned slightly at his answer.

‘Something definitely happened.’

When Reina returned from suppressing pirates in the East, Annette noticed that she was looking at Evan as a ‘romantic interest.’

Then, at some point, she couldn’t read Reina’s emotions anymore. It was because she was a Transcender [someone who has transcended human limitations].

Annette can only grasp the love lines of Transcenders when they are mentally very confused.

At the time, Annette pretended not to notice.

It was because Reina was from a commoner background, had a big age gap with Evan, and didn’t suit him in many ways. She decided to keep it as a secret she only knew.

More than anything, Evan wasn’t looking at Reina as a romantic interest at all. Not just her, Evan had never looked at any woman as a romantic interest.

That’s why there were such bizarre rumors that he liked men or that he and Alfonso were in that kind of relationship.

But…

‘That changed some time ago.’

Evan and Reina, whom she had accidentally encountered during a walk two days ago.

A strange current was flowing between them.

‘It’s different from before.’

Reina became the kingdom’s only fourth 7-star knight. It was only a matter of time before she was promoted to a countess.

“Ah! Come to think of it, something did happen when His Majesty met Earl Miloa.”

“What is it?”

“Tell me quickly.”

“You mean the day he met me?”

The three women sitting at the table leaned their upper bodies towards Alfonso with shining eyes.

“Oh, well, that is…”

Confused, Alfonso stammered and recounted what had happened at the time.

“…That’s how I was able to use my wit to escape the awkward atmosphere. Hahaha.”

The eyes of the three women who had heard his story all sank.

“So.”

“Chief Secretary Alfonso.”

“Deliberately! In that situation.”

“The person who fits the conditions His Majesty mentioned.”

“Is not Baron Reina.”

“You mentioned that, right?”

As the three women spoke in turn, Alfonso realized that he had made a big mistake.

“D-Did I do something wrong?”

“Sigh…”

At his question, the three women simultaneously let out a big sigh.

“That’s why men are…”

“Chief Secretary Alfonso, listen carefully.”

“What mistake did you make…”

***

“Baron Reina, please come here for a moment.”

“What’s the matter, Alfonso?”

“Would you take a look at these documents for a moment?”

“Hmm, these are the portfolios of the sculptors who will be in charge of the sculptures for the Leon Palace.”

“That’s right. His Majesty told me to decide as I please. Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”

I, who had been turning the pen and keeping my ears open, turned my eyes for a moment and nodded.

“I’ve selected three sculptors as candidates here. Would Baron Reina also look at the portfolios and tell me which of these three you like the most?”

“Yes? Is it okay for me to give my opinion?”

“Haha. I wanted to hear Baron Reina’s opinion as well.”

“Hmm… I like the works of this second sculptor.”

“Good. Then let’s go with this sculptor.”

“Huh? Can you decide so quickly?”

“Haha. It’s okay since His Majesty told me to decide as I please. Ah! Would you like to see this too? This is…”

Some of the queen’s duties that I had passed on to Alfonso. He showed them to Reina and asked for advice.

It bothered me.

It bothered me so much that I couldn’t concentrate on my work.

“Haha, you’ve already finished it. Even the youngest maid who came to the palace yesterday could do it quickly if she tried it for a week. You don’t need great administrative skills.”

I opened my mouth towards Alfonso, who was belittling the queen’s work.

“Alfonso, it’s only because you’re passing on things that are simple enough for you to handle.”

“Haha, that’s what I mean. That’s what I mean. Oh my! Now that I think about it, I remembered something extremely urgent. Your Majesty! I’ve finished all the work you ordered, so can I go out?”

“Go.”

I thought I could concentrate on my work better without him.

“Haha! Then I’ll be on my way. Have a pleasant time together.”

Alfonso disappeared like the wind.

I had a headache.

I’m not an idiot, so there’s no way I wouldn’t notice that he was trying to leave me and Reina alone.

‘It’s not just Alfonso.’

The day before yesterday, I went to my sister’s tea time, and everyone had some reason why they couldn’t stay, so I ended up drinking tea alone with Reina.

Sometimes, when Reina and I pass by, I can see the maids whispering behind us, so it seems like there are strange rumors going around that I don’t know about…

For some reason, I’m too afraid to check in the [Library] (a place where he can access information).

‘Tsk, let’s take care of this first.’

I continued to review the ‘List of Supporters of Culture and Arts’ that I was looking at.

Supporting artists and art groups to promote the kingdom’s cultural development is very important.

The problem is that it’s originally not my job, but the queen’s job. It was a task that I didn’t entrust to Alfonso because it involved spending a huge budget.

Rustle, rustle.

After reviewing all the documents, I finished signing the approval and raised my head slightly.

I met Reina’s eyes. She blushed slightly and quickly turned her gaze away.

It’s awkward.

It’s crazy awkward.

Why did it suddenly become like this?

‘Why else? It’s because of the conditions I mentioned.’

I regretted for a moment that I had blurted out the conditions of the ideal queen that I was thinking of without much thought when Alfonso asked.

It’s not that I regret the content of the conditions. Those are still the same now. The problem is that Reina was there.

I wanted to get some fresh air.

“Reina, let’s go for a walk for a bit.”

“Yes? I understand!”

I felt a little more relaxed when I came outside.

I smelled the perfect scent of spring while listening to Reina’s footsteps following one step behind.

Chirp, chirp.

A friendly pair of birds on a garden branch were chirping, touching each other’s beaks. They were birds that were said to stay together for life once they got married.

‘They suddenly appeared after not being seen for a while.’

I started walking again.

If I look closely, there are a few other young ladies who roughly meet the conditions I was thinking of besides Reina.

But… I don’t know if they can withstand the difficult path that the kingdom will have to overcome in the future.

The faces of the women I married in the ‘future,’ who lived strangely unhappy lives, were about to come to mind one by one.

“Your Majesty.”

Reina called me.

“Yes? What is it, Reina?”

“I don’t intend to get married.”

Her sudden declaration of non-marriage erased the memories of my ex-wives that were about to surface.

“Why?”

“I am Your Majesty’s escort knight. The moment I get married, everything surrounding me will interfere with my duties.”

“No, but you don’t have to go as far as to not get married…”

Reina didn’t listen to my words, as if she had finished saying everything she wanted to say, and turned her head towards the pair of birds grooming each other’s feathers.

….

…

Ah! Could this be… a confession?

I walked straight towards Reina.

Before she could make eye contact with me, she lowered her head deeply. I bent my knees and looked up at her face. It was bright red, like a carrot.

A chuckle came out.

I wonder whose head that confession line just came from.

My sister? Miloa? Ayra?

Well, whatever.

For some reason, I felt like Reina could cut down all the misfortunes that would come with walking with me.

“…That’s a shame. I was thinking that Reina could stay by my side as queen for the rest of my life.”

“Ah! Ah! Th-That…”