# 30 - 30
* * *
The Grand Duchy of Fraser occupies a third of the Brianj Empire.
However, since the Briang Empire itself was originally vast in area, the distance to the imperial capital was extremely far.
“Anyway, we will arrive in less than a week by carriage.”
“My trading condition is that you go ahead with your original plan, Master.”
"…What do you mean?"
“Why is the youngest Benyoma sent to the Grand Duchy of Fraser, which doesn’t even have good relations with the White Tower?”
When a top talent from an organization is suddenly hired in a remote area, it is due to the promise of greater compensation afterwards.
“Master, you are going to the Imperial Palace next, right?”
“…Does learning much of the ancient language also give you knowledge of the natural order of the world?”
“I learned a lot from my grandfather.”
“Indeed, His Highness the Grand Duke seems to cherish you very much.”
Grand Duke?
“I don't know what kind of misunderstanding this is.”
Anyway, that day the deal was sealed between Schultz-Schmidt and me.
Just like in the original game, Schultz-Schmidt will go to the Imperial Palace as a spirit.
“I was surprised when he told my grandfather that he would settle in the Grand Duchy to teach me.”
I want to see the Crown Prince through you!
However, Schultz-Schmidt was certainly a skilled, or rather, an intelligent, researcher.
He has obtained permission from Grand Duke Fraser's aide to visit me at the Imperial Palace.
What did he tell him to convince him? It's really impressive.
I looked out from inside the moving car.
Thanks to a very good stroller ride with multiple layers of high-quality cushioning, the week-long trip wasn't too difficult.
Thanks to this, the imperial capital came to the fore.
'But…'
I glanced up and looked at Grand Duke Fraser's assistant who was sitting in front of me and checking the documents.
“Why does the Grand Duke go to the Imperial Palace with me?”
I tilted my head but couldn't figure out the answer.
* * *
“Grand Duke Fraser will arrive soon.”
Alessandro, Emperor of the Briang Empire, muttered as he entered the central reception hall prepared in advance.
Even for Alessandro, the current Emperor, Grand Duke Fraser was an old man.
Emperor Alessandro was in fact similar in age to Marquis Aster Fraser, i.e. Tullia's biological father.
“Your Majesty.”
Then a gentle voice was heard. A beautiful woman appeared leading a number of bridesmaids, and she was wearing elegant clothes.
“Empress.”
Empress Karme.
Her reddish-brown hair was shining brightly. Above Empress Karmi's head, an exquisitely crafted crown of pure emeralds and rubies shone brilliantly.
Your Majesty, I have come to pay my respects before escorting the Crown Prince and the Second Prince to the White Tower.
"millimeter."
“A soul with deep learning and wise insight will be appointed Crown Prince and Second Prince.”
Originally, the White Tower was supposed to send several souls to the Imperial Palace. That was the custom.
However, when Empress Carme heard the news that Grand Duke Fraser would personally visit the Imperial Family, she changed her plans.
Grand Duke Fraser hated Empress Carmi. Rather, he despised her.
A woman who trampled her honor as a noblewoman through the mud.
She didn't want to face Grand Duke Fraser, who was looking at her with eyes full of such connotations.
Isn't the Second Prince still immature? He is not qualified to face Grand Duke Fraser.
Empress Karme's voice as she made excuses about her son was elegant and humble.
Normally, the phrase “He's just a lower noble of the imperial family” was supposed to come out of Emperor Alessandro's lips, but not now.
Grand Duke Fraser was old enough to be the father of the current Emperor Alessandro.
Moreover, the power of the Grand Duke Fraser family had never declined since its initial prosperity.
A giant dragon castle built on solid rock.
This expression was accurate.
The taxes that the Grand Ducal House was paying to the Empire annually were enormous, and on top of that, Marquis Aster Fraser, the eldest son of Grand Duke Fraser, had been making tremendous achievements on the frontier for over a decade.
Although Marquis Aster Fraser had certainly not left for the borders out of burning patriotism, it was an undeniable fact that the prestige of the House of Grand Duke Fraser had risen to a higher level as a result.
There was no noble who did not know that the Marquis's twin sons were outstanding in the academy.
“If you think about it, didn't he have a daughter under them?”
They said that she was accompanying the Grand Duke today, the Marquis Aster's daughter.
But Emperor Alessandro soon lost interest.
In this vast Briang Empire, there were thousands and thousands of nobles.
Even if they were the sons of great noble families, there was no reason for the Emperor to remember those who were rumored to have been abandoned by their families.
“By the way, I'm worried about the Crown Prince.”
Upon hearing Empress Carmi's voice, Emperor Alessandro's face immediately transformed.
“What are you talking about?”
Obviously, he would think that he had missed the opportunity to face a powerful figure like Grand Duke Fraser because of the Second Prince. As his mother, I feel very sorry. I don't know what to do, Your Majesty.
Every word of Karmi annoyed the Emperor.
The Emperor who betrayed Empress Olivia and had secret meetings with Carme, who was her lady-in-waiting.
Olivia's body deteriorated rapidly from the shock she felt when she saw that scene while carrying the Crown Prince.
Ultimately, after her death and Carmi's installation as the new Empress, it was Grand Duke Fraser who stood at the forefront of all the nobles to criticize him.
He criticized me under the pretext of advice. How dare Nabil do that?
And when Grand Duke Fraser, who had made him the subject of criticism from people all over the world, became a topic of conversation, his anger could not be contained.
Emperor Alessandro spoke in a voice mixed with anger.
No matter how Ferdinand was the Crown Prince, would he dare to defy an imperial order? If he doesn't listen, tell me immediately! Even if he ignores the Second Prince, report back to me!
“Calm down, Your Majesty.”
Karmi stopped him with a confused voice.
I didn't mean it. I was just worried as a mother... Of course, since I'm not the Crown Prince's real mother, he doesn't listen to me well, but still...
“When I'm his real father?!”
“The Crown Prince is a child who carries great wounds in his heart.”
What a child his age! It only looks like that from the outside!
If Olivia hadn't instilled the Crown Prince's divine power into her womb.
The problem is that the Crown Prince became this way because of the divine power she had injected into the child in her stomach during the shock.
That's why people couldn't forget what happened in the past and kept talking about it.
Emperor Alessandro muttered quietly, something unbecoming of his position.
“That damned divine power.”
But none of the knights and servants present in the reception hall were surprised. As well as the nobles standing below as followers.
It was neither freezing nor calm.
The Emperor's short obscenities happened often but no one could get used to them.
Hatred and condemnation towards his biological son.
In this cold atmosphere, Empress Karmi also remained silent for a while.
After some time had passed, Empress Karme continued to speak in her usual gentle voice.
Then, I will take the Crown Prince and the Second Prince to the White Tower. Your Majesty. It is unfortunate that I cannot personally welcome Assistant Grand Duke Fraser.
* * *
“As we get closer to the imperial capital, we can see more villages.”
Thanks to its position as a prosperous empire, there were many thriving cities along the way.
Unsurprisingly, the flight was comfortable.
Now I was feeling half nervous and half excited at the thought of meeting the first major male candidate, the Crown Prince.
At that moment, I heard words like a thunderbolt from the sky.
Shall we part here? Are we going to the White Tower? Why?
It was because of what Schultz Schmidt said when he came to look for my cart.
I was so surprised that casual speech slipped out naturally.
Schulz-Schmidt, who had officially stepped down from his position as Deputy of the Grand Duke's House, was my subordinate in accordance with Imperial law.
‘Of course, most nobles continue to speak respectfully to Benima even after the lessons are over, out of respect and reverence for their teacher.’
Tullia was originally set up as a villain character who spoke casually and rudely, so she acted that way too, so it didn't matter.
anyway.
The Crown Prince in the palace. The second prince is there too.
Naturally, Schulz-Schmidt would end up teaching the Crown Prince for some reason, and not the Second Prince who was the biological son of the current Empress.
In any case, it was certain that Schulz-Schmidt would have the honor of teaching a member of the current Imperial Family, as befits the youngest member of the family, Pneuma.
“…?”
Suddenly, Schultz-Schmidt had a puzzled expression on his face.
“Miss.”
"Hmm? What?"
“I said I would go to the Imperial Palace, but I never told you that I was scheduled to teach members of the Imperial Family...”
Schultz-Schmidt's sharp eyes flashed.
“How did you manage to identify them and point them out right away?”
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