Keith"s perspective.
Today, his worst prediction became reality. The pregnancy of Bellard was made public. The inside of the castle was in a state of upheaval, especially the faction of Marquis Conderna that began to discuss about holding a banquet with great excitement. The little heads of the n.o.bles were thinking about whether the child to be born would be a girl or a boy and started to examine cautiously who they should side with between the current Crown Prince or the Marquis Conderna.
Even worse, being already 6 months pregnant, the child will be born before winter and there was no time for him to prepare. In the case a boy were to be born, for the sake of maintaining the current regime as the Crown Prince, he must have the support of a number of people exceeding the faction of Marquis Conderna. If a conflict were to rise with even force, the dispute would intensify within the country and there is a risk that it would lead to an insurrection. If that happens, it is the people who will suffer the damage.
The pregnancy had been concealed so that this information could not be leaked to Keithfalt"s side, but it had been reported ahead of time by Tinaria, so necessary arrangements had been carried by the n.o.bles. However, because the other countries didn"t have positive proof yet, the current state was that the necessary arrangements could not be fully completed. If backing could be provided by friendly nations, it would be easy to make the n.o.bles change their minds, however…
To be honest, if the boy were to build a decent government for the people, Keithfalt would not hesitate to give the throne to this person. Rather, he thought he would be relieved to no longer need to deal with influential people in this situation. To protect their own interests, he was easily sent as a hostage to an enemy nation when he was a child, and competing with those n.o.bles for political affairs because he came back as the next heir to the throne, was nothing but pain for Keithfalt.
However, as much as he would want to hand over the throne to this child who will be born soon, he presumed he would surely become the puppet of Marquis Conderna, and make the people suffer in the future. Since he was raised as a royalty in this country, Keithfalt could not leave that matter alone.
Suddenly, Keithfalt wondered what the Princess of Lidea would do when he would no longer be the Crown Prince. Even so, would she still be next to him with her gentle smile…?
……Nonsense, if his utility value were to be lost, she would divorce immediately and return to Lidea, or look for a man with good prospects to remarry. Keithfalt shook off his head to get rid of his stupid thoughts and confirmed with Lionel his future plans.
"Keep calling the n.o.bles of this country. I will go to the neighboring countries to seek their approval first."
"Understood. Speaking of which, the invitation from the neighboring country for King Jigguras" birthday party just arrived."
"Right, I can also investigate the enlistment moves of Jigguras at the same time. ———Also, I will take the Crown Princess along."
"What? Why the Princess of Lidea?"
"It should be written in the invitation. For the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess."
"Even if you say so… we can find any excuses like she is feeling unwell."
"There is nothing wrong with bringing her along so don"t make a fuss over such a trifle. I am requesting for their cooperation here, I only want to show them my good faith."
"That"s, … is that so."
Lionel reluctantly agreed with this arrangement while making a displeased expression.
Keithfalt, who was stubborn like his father and particularly concerned when it comes to Tinaria, didn"t know about that fact. Lionel, in charge of the allowance of the Crown Princess, only gave her a small amount of money to cover her expenses. Thus, even this small amount of money was embezzled by the employee who was supposed to hand it over, even Lionel didn"t know that Tinaria didn"t receive a single penny.