CH 281

After They Left

Prince Edward’s POV

“He doesn’t mince his words, does he, Your Highness.”

Arthur and I saw the three siblings off until they got on the carriage parked at the academy’s back gate. After returning to the Royal Castle, Arthur spoke to me with an awkward face.

“…mmhm.”

I remembered what Joshua said when I wanted to follow them to the Stuart mansion as I was also worried about the pale and trembling Emma.

“Your Highness, the Royal Family should have done a little more investigation on Joanna-sama. If she were said to be the King’s illegitimate child because of her hair and eye color, we, as the King’s subjects, would not be in a position to say anything. We never knew the concrete reason why the Church suddenly recognized her as the Holy Maiden, nor have we been given any explanation for why the Empire’s chief delegate did not take her with him to the Empire despite her having received the title officially. This is obviously an unusual situation.”

“Has the Royal Family not been reluctant to take the effort to look into this, even though the Royal Family is the only one who can press the King for an answer?”

He had touched on a sore spot.

I didn’t want to meddle aggressively with the infidelity allegations within my family, so I, too, had done nothing about it other than glaring at the king coldly.

It was just as Joshua said. Subjects could only assume a stance as that of a subject. No one could make strong insinuations on this matter.

“I have got nothing to counter his words. I wonder why I also didn’t look into Lady Joanna’s background in detail when she first appeared… Now that I think about it calmly, I can’t help but find it strange.”

I had indeed thought that things had turned troublesome because of her. It was negligent of me to take no action even though those thoughts had crossed my mind.

Without doing any proper investigation, the Royal Family protected Lady Joanna and even went as far as to arrange her enrollment in the academy.

Things had developed this far without anyone ever speaking up about how there was something wrong with the Royal Family’s actions… We left the matter as it was until Emma was hurt by the terrible rumors and collapsed.

To think I still had the nerve to ask what happened to the frail and delicate Emma…

“Arthur.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Go investigate Lady Joanna thoroughly and send one of our men to Skyte Barony, where she lived before coming to the Royal Capital. Assign another one to monitor the Church too. Also, attach some knights to observe Lady Joanna. Be careful, don’t let her notice that she’s under surveillance.”

Maybe it was already too late.

Still, actions should be taken later than never.

A part of me felt like acting against what Joshua advised me to do, but I swallowed that rebellious feeling.

That feeling was unnecessary if I wanted to protect Emma. It would only serve as a hindrance.

End of Prince Edward’s POV

“At your command, Your Highness.”

Arthur responded readily to the prince by bowing in salute, then withdrew from the room. He pretended not to have noticed the sour face of his childhood friend he grew up together with.

Arthur was also the same as the prince when it came to not realizing the error of this situation until Joshua had voiced them out loud.

No, it wasn’t just him, but everyone.

Each and every one of the excellent figures who run this country committed this oversight.

This kind of thing should have been impossible to happen.

‘It’s as if we are all being manipulated,’ was the only conclusion Arthur could think of.

♠♠♠

Author’s corner:

Mr. Serious: The prince is our only hope.

Sir Comedy: I have the prince wrapped around my finger.

Mr. Crisis: Seems like we’re going to get busy from now on☆