His Royal Highness's cats are very hairy.

The young leafy shoe was given to the Chancellor's daughter by Rutvias as a courtesy.

The girl, who today became Rutvias' official fiancée, is smiling with a delightful view of those shoes she will wear.

-... I turned it green...

Next to the girl, looking sideways at the girl, Rutvias had no emotion whatsoever about her shoes in mind.

The shoes, technically speaking, were not given to her by Rutvias. Rutvias' grandfather Albuquerque ordered the workshop craftsman to make it, and delivered the shoes that his grandfather ordered the messenger to be able to make to the Chancellor's residence, where Rutvias' will did not intervene at all, and Rutvias only lent his name. Today is the first time Rutvias has actually seen a shoe, and I never even knew the color of the shoe before.

But no matter what thoughts Rutvias had, the shoes, made with plenty of luxury beads and elaborate design, would have just looked beautiful in the eyes of a young girl. The girl seems to have liked it badly. During the engagement ceremony, I look at my shoes over and over and over and blow my mouth off.

Rutvias noticed, stealing at her for nothing like that. That she's got a shoe strain on her unfamiliar shoes.

-... I wish I could just take it off...

But no matter how long, the girl won't say it hurts.

Can't even a word of 'pain' be said about this insipid girl?

The little heel seeping through the blood was painful and hard to see.

-... you have no choice...

Rutvias opened his mouth so that he could change his shoes. But on the white side of the girl, I think.

-... no way...

It's easy for Rutvias to take her shoes off here, but if her grandfather Albuquerque finds out, the craftsman who made the shoes will surely be heavily punished.

-... no way, so?

So won't the girl try to take off her shoes?

Maybe the girl is going to keep putting up with the pain until the engagement ceremony is over like this.

-... no, no matter how much anything...

There can't be. I don't think a girl 2 years younger than Rutvias thinks that much.

But whatever her thoughts, the girl kept greeting the guests with those shoes on.

-... somehow, I have to...

Rutvias conceived that he could do something without Albuquerque noticing. But in the end, a good idea doesn't come to mind and I turn to my mother who sat away for help.

"-... what's wrong?

Rutvias whispered and desperately appealed to his mother, who was approaching the gap his grandfather was obsessed with talking to his guests.

"... help this child..."

Showing the girl next door with her eyes, Leena understood everything Rutvias was trying to say.

Leena walked straight out of the great hall, slightly, and then Rutvias' fiancée was taken by a woman.

Now that I think about it, those shoes - the beautiful, luxurious shoes and the little white feet that can be hurt by them - may have alluded to Adeline's future.

To Lady Wang - the future of Adeline, who will suffer from the position of Lady Rutvias.

A disdain from the surroundings for the status of the princess king, who would be a burden even if she were to be disengaged from Rutvias.

Adeline has endured those intolerable pains all along.

I'm sure Rutvias doesn't really understand how much that pain was.

And like when I was a kid, I couldn't do anything to him.

To Adeline's patience, to her strength, sweet to her kindness, she pushed Adeline to the limit.

"... I can't marry you"

It must have been Rutvias, no other, who made her say that.

Despite this, Rutvias couldn't tolerate her leaving, trying to force herself to get it, and then locked her crying Adeline into the room.

-... I don't want you to cry. I don't want to hurt you.

Yet everything Rutvias does always hurts Adeline and makes her cry.

What the hell do I want? Rutvias couldn't explain his actions on his own anymore.

I only know that Adeline is suffering.

All I know is that Rutvias is by her side, and he's going to hurt her.

Really, if you think about Adeline, you should get your hands off her.

You should let her go. From pain, from suffering, from myself (Rutvias) -.

I should have known about that a long time ago, but I wanted to let go of my hand once, but I couldn't. I can't do it anymore.

I can't believe I want her in pain to still be beside me, I can't help but want to tie myself to it.

It sucks.

Arrogant, selfish, I really suck.

That's why this happened.

"Sorry!

With one hand and one knee on the floor, Deo lowered his head deeply. Between the sights, king on the throne, chiefs and ministers of the Knights Below the Chancellor, presidents and clerics of the House of Lords, and the heavy facades of the country gather in secret.

At its center, Deo doesn't try to drool his head up. His uniforms and gloves were stained with blood and discolored black because he carried them in charge of a colleague who had suffered major injuries. If you look at the dirt, you can see how much the injured man was bleeding. This is a life-threatening amount.

"You're sorry! The knight of the escort will be guarded and returned... and I will beat him up on this occasion and apologize to the Chancellor."

The Knight Commander puts his hand on the sword. But Deo was not afraid, he did not flee, he bowed his head even deeper.

"Please, I would like to ask you to save your daughter safely." If you accomplish that task, I apologize with this life!

"Mind your own business! Can you leave such an important task to each of them?"

One of the ministers beside him says, harshly. From behind, another minister sandwiched his mouth.

"Do you think they have a past where they were cautiously disposed of because of the work they did to your lady? Wasn't this kidnapping also threaded by the person behind it?

"Oh no..."

Deo finally raised his head.

"We have devoted our allegiance to the lady! Take that..."

"I don't care what you say with your mouth. Your Majesty, please give me the task of searching for your lady. We have a private army that is stronger than the Knights."

"No, Your Majesty. And my private soldiers..."

The way I pushed myself and my surroundings back and forth was grossly similar to the beast that took my prey from me. I wonder how many of these people are seriously worried about Adeline. Everyone is just thinking about using this situation to strengthen their position.

In that ugly feud, Rutvias was just standing up without saying a word.

"Your Highness."

Aurio whispers behind his back.

"Your Highness, I'm not even saying laugh, but do something about that bright blue face. How many political opponents do you think are in this? Don't give them the crevices to cling to."

I know. I know that. But I can't move. It's like being lost in the dark, I don't know where to go.

Arb, Rutvias' samurai, was the guide to turning Adeline.

It also seemed arb to have poisoned water spills and Adeline's diet for Rutvias. In his position, mixing poison would not have been so difficult. I doubted it once, but I kept putting it aside because there was no evidence and the person just worked pale.

I'm sure Arb, in his plan to poison Rutvias, came up with the sight of Rutvias, who tastes like Adeline's meal, or Adeline intervening with Rutvias, who fell into poison. You don't have to struggle to kill Rutvias, how to make Rutvias throw away his inheritance rights.

The poison has stopped serving since Rutvias was officially poisoned by the poisonous taster, perhaps not because he gave up the Rutvias assassination by poison, but because "Adeline's value as a hostage" could be ascertained. The predictions that Aurio had made before were not far off. The poison was not mixed with the purpose of killing Rutvias.

Aurio had a slightly harsh breeze.

"Please hold on. At a time like this, it's your waste of hairy cats, isn't it?

……

The last time I saw Adeline's crying face glimpsed in front of me and I can't really switch emotions.

-... the punishment... hit me...

Could this be the punishment the goddess has inflicted on Rutvias?

Nor does Rutvias believe that a beautiful, loving goddess, like the one that appears in mythology, really exists. I've never prayed properly in a cathedral.

But Rutvias knew that there was power in the world beyond people's knowledge. Human beings (one) call it "fate", "destiny" - "goddess (heaven)", in various ways, its power like an irresistible turbulence.

Because Rutvias tried to force Adeline to bind herself, Adeline was taken up by a goddess angry at it...

It never seemed that way to Rutvias.

It was a mistake to dream about the luxury of being loved and loved by people in the first place. Didn't Adeline say? "We're not politically married," he said.

-... I didn't deserve to want more than that...

"The killer's demands are a renunciation of His Royal Highness's right to inherit the throne."

The Grand Duke raised his voice.

"Isn't it a lot to blame for His Highness Rutvias that this happened?

Several ministers nod in tune to the Grand Duke like he is patient laughing out.

I wish I had to say something back, but Rutvias' throat was thirsty for karakara and he wasn't going to be able to create a sound.

Step forward, as Aurio got a little angry.

"What does it mean to be held accountable by His Highness the Grand Duke? What do you want me to do with His Royal Highness Rutvias?

"You can think of that for yourself. But I was wondering if I might have something to do if I wanted to make sure your lady's safe..."

"Is that about letting His Highness Rutvias relinquish his right of inheritance!?

"Aurio!"

It was the sharp voice of the Chancellor who controlled the rhetoric and contention. But Aurio doesn't seem convinced, and he also raises a protest against his uncle.

"But my lord! His Highness the Grand Duke said too much..."

"What are you going to do? Apologize for your disrespect, Grand Duke."

"But..."

"Aurio"

"... Too Much Mouth... Sorry"

"May I forgive my unforgivable nephew, Grand Duke?"

With Aurio bowing his head, the Chancellor also bowed his head. The Grand Duke looks down at it satisfactorily.

"Good. Never mind, Prime Minister"

"… but His Royal Highness also does not pay attention to your mouth"

"... what?

The Prime Minister's eyes, raised in his face, are burning quietly with anger.

"In the unlikely event that His Highness Rutvias renounces his right to inheritance, there is no stranger to whom the throne will belong. May they not destroy you in inadvertent words."

The Grand Duke blued halfway.

"Wow, you're trying to tell me that I wanted the throne... but I did it this way!?

"Some people think so."

"Rude! I refuse to do that…"

"Whatever!

When the Chancellor vandalized his voice, the spot quieted back as if he had struck water. Looking around at it, the Chancellor starts talking calmly again.

"Whatever you do, you can't drink the killer's demands. There must be no such thing as a state becoming a thief.

"Yes, you're right."

The Grand Duke nodded loudly and spoken of his surroundings as “ indeed ” and “ that ’ s the Chancellor ’ s Excellency. The Chancellor turned to the throne.

"Your Majesty. It would be a disgrace to our country if other countries knew that the new King Princess had been stripped, etc. I will keep the investigation of this matter confidential, okay?

Richield, who was silently staring at what had become of him, distorted his expression.

"I can't do it. I'll leave you to it, Marcelio."

"I'm afraid so."

"And then, Rutvias"

Called to the Father King, Rutvias raised his face.

"... Yes. Father."

Stand back and rest.

Rutvias opened his eyes.

"No, Father. I..."

"You look pale. I guess I'm tired of that happening during the day. Just rest."

Rutvias shook his head. I can't even tell where Adeline is, but I can't rest alone.

"I appreciate your concern. But Father..."

"Just rest."

To the voice of a quiet but stern father king, Rutvias lost his word.

"I still have official business tomorrow. Are you gonna get out in front of the guests with that face? The new king, Prince, said he seemed sick and weak like his father, that he could be stuck in another country?

"No. No..."

"Explain to the guests that Miss Adeline is suddenly ill. It must never be conceited that she was stripped. Like?"

"... Yes, sir."

"If you understand, go"

"... Yes..."

Rutvias bowed his head and took a few steps backwards. Then turn your heels back and start walking early enough. I felt Aurio's prickly gaze, but I can't afford to stare back. Rutvias tried to escape, after a glance.

He told me to rest, but my legs didn't go to my room. Looking for the appearance of Adeline, who wasn't supposed to be there, Rutvias searched all over the royal palace.

"… Your Highness. Um... can't you take the day off?

Rutvias did not answer, even though the samurai asked worryingly. I just lay down on the bunk, and I don't think I can rest. Rutvias realized that he could no longer rest without Adeline.

In the darkness of the night, there was a pounding and raining noise.

"... rain..."

I wonder how Adeline is abusing this rain. It's an important hostage. I wouldn't have been treated so badly, but I still couldn't help but worry.

-... I... what are you doing?

At this moment, why doesn't Adeline run out when she might be looking for help? What are you hesitating about?

-... what can I do?

If the goddess had taken up Adeline, it seemed impossible to get her back no matter how Rutvias raised her.

There are things in the world that people can't do with their hands.

Before that powerless and mighty power, man can do nothing.

Sometimes its power to strip ferocious fangs, flirt and hurt people, even take their lives, until they feel better, they just have to kill their breath and endure it. - - Rutvias, that's how he's lived all his life.

It's supposed to be my own, but I've spent too much of my life wearing cats, pretending to be dear, smiling, and doing it that way. Like waiting for a storm to pass.

That's the only way I know how to live. I don't know.

To live with your heart, the shackles embedded in Rutvias are too heavy, so intertwined and difficult to move around.

Soon his legs went through the path he was accustomed to walking on and reached in front of Adeline's room. Noticing the light leaking out of the door gap, Rutvias puts his hand on the handle.

"-... adeline!?

It was still not Adeline who was beyond the door that opened momentum.

"Your Highness?"

"... Millet..."

Rutvias can't hide his disappointment, mocking himself that it is. Millet, who sensed how it was, bowed his head.

"Also, I'm sorry.... His Excellency the Chancellor has instructed you to dress up so that you have a lady to light and eat... Um... where's the lady?

Rutvias shook his head at Millet, who had asked him a favor.

"... I don't know"

"... Really..."

Millet drops his shoulders snugly. During the day, locking Adeline in her room, Millet soon followed Rutvias. At that time, Rutvias regrets even more if he had let Adeline out of the room, as Millet said. That way, I might have worried about whether Adeline was wet in the rain or not.

Rutvias went through the side of Millet and opened the door leading to Adeline's bedroom. The room is lighted blurry and lightly stained with red orange on a lighthouse fire placed right next to the bedside.

……

On a sleeping table with no one, Rutvias sits down.

Yesterday morning, I felt as if this place was hell.

The weight and warmth of Adeline on her arm is comforting, and the inability to hug it as much as she wants is teething... Adeline smiling like a light, I loved her spectacularly. Tomorrow night... even though Adeline smiled happily at me for promising to meet her tonight.

Make your hands crawl to that place where Adeline was. I felt shivering at the cold feeling. Is this sleeping area really the same as yesterday? Long cold, wide, lonely -.

Secondly, beside the lighthouse, Rutvias noticed even though he had one book. The book in red is a famous collection of poems, commonly used as a reading and writing book for the children of the Good House. Rutvias takes it gently. Millet, who was watching Rutvias at the door, reluctantly said.

"Um... I was falling in front of the room after I lost sight of the lady.... because they were so cherished... maybe they tried to take it"

"... this book?

Though the textbooks are thick, heavy and hard to carry around, and even if you love reading, the content is already out of date.

Whatever, turn the cover and play the page with a perky thumb.

-... what? This.

Between the pages, dried and faded flowers were pinched. Not one bottle. A dozen flowers, one at a time, are carefully pressed. On the last one, the letter was also pinched. 'It was blooming in the garden' there, just one word. It's a Rutvian word.

Finally, realizing what they were, Rutvias dropped a dry laugh.

"... did you take it..."

This is Kim Young-hwa I gave to Adeline.

"... something like this..."

The back of my chest felt tight.

Rutvias pressed his mouth against the whimper from behind his throat.

-... flowers, etc., would have shriveled in a few days even if I changed the water.

He seems to be a disciplined Adeline, such as keeping that so important for the rest of his life.

Close your eyes and Adeline will come back to her eyelids, laughing happily.

"Thank you for the flowers"

I wanted to see that face. I wanted to see that smile, and Rutvias gave her flowers without even a pattern.

Whether embarrassed or not, if Adeline would laugh at me, it was as easy as going beyond myself until then.

-... Adeline......

Softly closing the book, Rutvias lays his forehead on its back cover.

-... I...

I thought this flower deserved it.

That time I heard the flower words...

"Do you know the flower language?

"Flower words?"

The gardener laughed and taught Rutvias to ask back.

'Yes. What are the flower words of Kim Young-hwa...'

Rutvias whispered the words.

"... 'indelible thoughts'"

Even if Adeline only sees Rutvias as the counterpart of an intriguing political marriage, even if the goddess took Adeline from Rutvias saying 'it's too much luxury for you', still... her thoughts on Adeline still don't disappear. It doesn't change.

-... I love you.

Rutvias opened his lid.

A boring life.

An invisible stream to too mighty an eye.

I wonder why they keep flirting with me.

Why didn't you fight it before?

Kill your breath, wait for it to pass? What are you going to do if you don't pass by? What if we lose Adeline before it passes?

"... don't be ridiculous..."

Rutvias stood up, trying to tear off the chains of the shackles that had been fitted there.

Anger overshadows Rutvias' heart.

Anger deprived of Adeline. Anger at something that gave Rutvias such a life. And most importantly, anger at myself for continuing to spoil and receive such a life.

-... if they took it, you can take it back.

Placing the book where it was based, Rutvias started walking.

"Your Highness?"

"Your Highness!? What to do… where to go!?

A samurai or knight leaps out of the room and chases Rutvias, who runs out, far behind him.

-... that's enough.

To the crowd, stop pretending to be decent.

In the first place, Rutvias is not a man of patience.

Selfish, arrogant and short-tempered, that's what Rutvias is all about.

I want what I want.

Yet I keep thinking that I should let go of my hand or that it's for Adeline, because it doesn't seem to be the case, so I became nervous and I couldn't move.

Stop killing yourself now. Do what you want.

-... even if I don't deserve to take Adeline's hand...

If you want that, you will never imitate what you beg for in heaven.

-... the credentials beg Adeline.

Even if she says she really wants to dissolve the engagement, she just worships it down: 'I love you, love me'. Until Adeline takes root and deposits that hand with Rutvias.

Opening the door between the sights, there was still Richield, the Chancellor, and the ministers, and he turned to Rutvias, who had suddenly come in, in unison surprised.

"Your Highness...!

Aurio comes running over.

"I got a letter from the killer."

"... show it"

On the round table indicated by Aurio, a room was placed with white paper with a request and… chestnut hair. Guess whose hair it belongs, and a cold war runs on Rutvias' spine.

"... excuse me"

In order to be able to push the Grand Duke away, Rutvias took the letter. The letter states that Rutvias will forfeit his right to inherit the throne if he wants Adeline back. The due date shall be the date of the Rikoko. Notifying the public of the waiver of the right of inheritance, etc., was noted in bullets.

"Rutvias! I told you to rest!

Richard rises from the throne. Proceeding to its feet, Rutvias knelt. Straight, look up at his father's face. This is the first time I've faced Richard from the front in this way since he returned home. Behind Richard's eyes, Rutvias had been turning away from his father because he was afraid to find the light of contempt and hatred for himself.

Richield frowns at how his son is bewildered.

"Rutvias?"

"... Father"

Stinging, throat ringing. My father, who kept himself, day by day in the shadows, desperately protected me. Instead of rewarding his father, betraying himself, he will surely go to hell. Still...

"Forgive me for relinquishing my right to inherit the throne."

Richield's eyes open to Rutvias, who has said it clearly.

"Your Highness!?

"What will they say!

Aurio and the Chancellor shouted in surprise. The Chancellor kneels right next to Rutvias.

"I appreciate you thinking of my daughter. But, Your Highness..."

"I'm not the only one with inheritance rights. I have my great-uncle and cousins."

"That is not the problem, Your Highness."

"But Adeline... your daughter is one. Marcelio."

The Chancellor holds his mouth. The scene was quiet.

"The killer would kill Adeline if I stood tall without making any demands. And let them know nationally and internationally that I abandoned my fiancée. That will raise my voice questioning my qualities as King Prince. In the end, sooner or later, I'm an abandoned prince."

"... it doesn't necessarily mean the killer will kill Adeline. If His Royal Highness stands tall, it is possible that Adeline will have her daughter back because she is not worth the hostage."

"There isn't. Five guards are dead. You can't be hesitant to kill one daughter. You would throw the body into the square in front of the royal palace."

……

You imagined it, the Prime Minister's face faintly blued. Rutvias knows that he is worried about his daughter, although he is trying to deal with it calmly. Even for Rutvias, it is not easy to put it in the mouth with Adeline's body, etc.

"... the idea of... abandoning your daughter... and making other daughters your bridesmaids came out earlier"

Aurio says bitterly. I think I like it around the minister. Sure, not after we've already got married. Adeline's still just a nobleman's warrant. Rutvias also knew that the heaviest towns of the country preferred the term honorable sacrifice for the country.

"The idea is unrealistic."

Rutvias said quietly.

"Adeline's face has been known among the emissaries of other countries over the past few days of interaction. I just turned my other daughter into a shadow fighter at a wedding, and I can get away with someone else right away. Assuming the prime minister quickly let him take his adopted daughter from another house and wed her, the result is the same. Other countries and the people will have mistrust as to why the bride was changed just before the wedding. If the killers are funny and crazy about the truth, it will be true for the rest of the country and the people. I've lost my fiancée, and as the lowest Crown Prince of all time, I'll have a name in history."

"But... that's why the thief's demands... hurt the country's prestige."

One minister spoke differently from Boso. With that in mind, the chancellors and ministers begin to speak up.

"Oh, yeah. Don't let the proud rude succeed become a thief."

"It also deludes people's eyes and so on. Don't take care of your blood muscles directly from St. Saxony's."

"After all, Miss Adeline has made a noble sacrifice for her country, and the Queen has other daughters..."

I'm out, and Rutvias got tired of pounding his tongue. Honorable sacrifice. It would be a sacrificial mistake convenient for us.

The ministers, however, do not notice Rutvias' tongue-beating. Because I'm obsessed with running for a new queen.

"My family had daughters of my age."

"No, no, even to my clan..."

"... jerk off!!!

Rutvias stood up and shouted.

-... Shut up, shut up, shut up!!!

This kind of thing bothered me, and my grandfather probably laid down a dictatorship. I know exactly how that feels. I hate to admit it, but I look a lot like my grandfather. No matter how much you take care of it, you can't deny that you look like your grandfather, and you can't hide it.

Pokan, and the ministers stand up with their mouths open.

"So... Your Highness, below?

The silly side with all its alignment is again stunned. Beyond this period, is it still in your interest to think? What nerves before the Chancellor whose daughter's life is in danger. Anger builds up. He always chewed it down, pressed it with his heart and killed it, and Rutvias exploded it.

"What a national prestige, my fucking father already fell to the bottom when he slaughtered his fucking dick! Proud of you, majesty. Because how important is that!? Is it heavier than life!? Then why are you guys alive! If pride is more important than life, you should have screwed Jijii!

Ten years ago, precisely in this place, Richard took his real father, Albuquerque. The people who burn and exhaust their homes and fields, the knights who no longer have decent equipment or supplies, but still follow the attack orders and go out. The defeat was obvious, but Albuquerque never surrendered. For his own pride, he chose to destroy his country on the road rather than surrender.

"If we abandon our pride, man becomes just a humble creature. You want to live to that, Richard!

'Yeah, I want to live. I want to keep him alive. So I throw away my pride. Let this country live, trying to be an imperial dog to be scolded with cowardice!

The sound of tearing meat. Terminator. A thin arm that named his grandfather's head. And silence. To too many sights, Rutvias couldn't even scream.

"... Rutvias, come"

Rutvias, who was hiding in the shadows and watching, was so surprised that Richield called him to jump up. Since when did Richard realize that Rutvias was hiding there?

"... Yes, Father"

"I told you to stay in your room."

"... sorry"

Like tired, Richard exhaled heavily.

Are you afraid of your father?

'... no'

"Rutvias"

"Yes."

"Someday... someday you will pick up the pride I have forsaken"

Side wet with return blood and tears.

I've never forgotten that word, and I snorted.

But I choose Adeline. I want to choose Adeline. Will Richard curse himself as a backcutter? What would I be ungrateful and angry that I protected you for?

Rutvias stares at the ministers who stand on his feet.

"At least I don't... have anything more important than Adeline. Proud, inheritance, for Adeline's sake, I'll throw it away."

A minister who told the clan that his daughter-in-law was old pointed at Rutvias with trembling.

"... what a fool... to fool His Majesty the former King..."

"The prince and the prince... what a savage thing to say. Pity..."

"You make a mess of it!! Stay cool, you jizzies!!!!

To the low anger from the bottom of Rutvias' belly, everyone in the room stops with their faces as if thunder had fallen right there.

"Aurio!"

"Yes, sir"

"Who brought this letter!?

"A stray boy in town... said he was asked to pay for it. I'm keeping you waiting at the gate..."

"Deo!"

"Yes, sir"

"Ask me what kind of guy asked you to be! Then get dressed!

"Yes!"

"Knight Commander! Whoever caught him during the day is a dungeon!?

"Yes..."

"I'll interrogate you directly! Drag him out here!

"Ha! Right away"

"Only the mouth there are master jizzy people! If you're willing to send out private soldiers, gather them now!

"Hih."

"Or maybe..."

Rutvias turns back to Richard. And I knelt down again.

"I'm not just going to put up with the thief's demands. Give me three days. In the meantime, I'm going to help Adaline out and show you."

"... if you don't make it, you say you throw away your inheritance rights?

Richard's expression was quiet. I can't tell Rutvias if he's angry or not.

"... Yes"

"Do you think I would allow that?

Rutvias squeezed his hand. Yeah, Richard's still mad.

But the next thing Richard said was something Rutvias didn't even think about.

"I give Rutvias full powers in this matter. Troopers should also use it as they please. Always help Miss Adeline out within 3 days. All right? Sure!

"... Father?

Richield's intentions were unclear and Rutvias was dismayed. Richard looks down at his son and pushes even more cautiously.

"Rutvias, it's the 3rd. If nothing can still be done, then…"

Like Richard was in trouble, I smiled. He scolded Rutvias' prank once, but at the end of the day, he must forgive me, that smile.

"... then, do as you please"

With such a gentle eye, Rutvias was surprised to see his father looking at himself. How long has it been since I've had a decent eye contact with Richard? Did Richield keep an eye on Rutvias with these eyes, even while Rutvias kept turning away?

"... okay?

Even though it was something I told myself, hesitation arose when I had to be forgiven by Richard.

If Rutvias relinquishes his right to inheritance, the next king will be the Grand Duke. Domestic political equilibrium breaks down. How that affects......

Richard laughed again.

"You're not gonna make it, are you? So three days. I'm still a bad father. I'm weak enough for you."

"Father..."

"... I haven't heard of you in a long time. Rut. Whatever you want. Whatever happens, it doesn't matter that you're my son."

"... eh"

The back of my throat got heavy and my eyeballs got hot. Happiness and guilt intersect.

Everything, I wanted to smash it. To Richard, the truth that even Adeline can't say. And I want to apologize that I exist.

But Rutvias desperately swallowed the thought. If my father knows nothing, the truth Rutvias tells is just harsh for Richard.

Rutvias blinked, tears stuck in his eyes, and shook up his father, the king.

"... must. Be sure to help Adeline in 3 days."

Let them live up to their trust.

Outside the window, the rain foot was getting stronger.