Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 454: The Upper Echelons’ Intentions
Marquis Donaissun, the senior noble leading the Luwan delegation accompanying the Saint, was deeply troubled by the recent rumors.
At first, he had dismissed the suggestion of a romance between Matilda and a prince of the Kingdom of Sart as baseless gossip. Further investigation, however, revealed that the story had originated among the young nobles closest to Matilda.
He summoned them at once.
“What do you think you’re doing, spreading such an irresponsible rumor?”
“But the Saint herself told us about it…”
“She was angry because she believed the marquis’s daughter she considered a friend had set her sights on Prince Fleue, even though Matilda believes she already has a special relationship with him.”
“The Saint ordered us to spread the truth as she understood it.”
The young nobles offered one excuse after another.
“Fools! Why would you spread a scandal that diminishes the Saint’s dignity at such an important time? You represent the Kingdom of Luwan. You should have restrained her, not encouraged her!”
Donaissun regretted that so many members of the delegation were young nobles who idolized Matilda and obeyed her every whim.
The arrangement had been made according to the Luwan royal family’s wishes, however, so even the delegation’s official leader had limited authority to change it.
“From this moment onward, encourage the Saint to behave with restraint and concentrate on her duties. The people involved belong to this kingdom’s royal family and one of its most powerful noble houses. Sart is our ally. Don’t create a diplomatic incident here.”
After dismissing them with another severe warning, Marquis Donaissun released a long sigh.
The Luwan royal family wanted to use the Saint as a diplomatic trump card. The count’s family that had hurried to adopt Matilda had also indulged her in exchange for prestige and financial rewards. Together, they had helped nurture her arrogance.
Donaissun could hardly criticize his own royal family aloud. He wondered whether he would have to confront Matilda personally, and his stomach ached at the thought of the diplomacy still ahead.
“The provincial tour begins in only a few days, yet these rumors refuse to die…”
Tauro had continued denying the love-triangle story throughout the Royal Capital. Unfortunately, accurate explanations from the people involved couldn’t compete with scandalous gossip.
The story had grown into a supposed contest between Saint Matilda and Marquis Van Dyne’s daughter for the Fifth Prince’s affection. People had even begun wagering on the outcome.
“Why do the odds favor Matilda seven to three?” Ankh asked, examining a betting notice he had acquired somewhere. “Aeris is the daughter of a prestigious marquis, and even Matilda’s admirers admit Aeris is beautiful.”
“They believe Prince Fleue is already in love with the Saint,” Ragune replied. “But Aeris is clearly superior in appearance, talent, and personality.”
“I agree. Lady Aeris is much prettier,” Zion said.
“The betting odds don’t matter,” Aeris protested. “There’s no contest in the first place. Tauro, we did ask Prince Fleue to remove us from the Saint’s entourage, correct?”
“Yes. The Crown Prince is responsible for our side of the tour, so Fleue couldn’t promise anything. Still, with a scandal this obvious, I assumed they would remove us.”
Tauro’s expectation seemed reasonable, but neither kingdom made such a decision.
The Sart Crown Prince didn’t dismiss Aeris, Tauro, or Zion. Luwan’s representatives also refused to request their removal. Both governments appeared to have decided that changing the entourage would look like an admission that the rumor mattered.
“A messenger from the Crown Prince came to my residence,” Aeris said when she arrived at the Graunewald mansion. “He advised me to keep my distance from the Saint.”
She looked thoroughly exasperated.
“A messenger brought the same instruction here. The Luwan side will permit us to accompany the tour, but they don’t want us interfering with Matilda’s activities,” Tauro said sympathetically.
“That’s strange,” Ankh said. “Would it not be safer to leave all of you behind, exactly as the leader expected?”
“I agree. Bringing them creates trouble without any obvious benefit,” Ragune added.
“Are both kingdoms truly that afraid of appearing to believe the rumor?” Zion asked.
“That’s the important question,” Tauro said. “For Luwan, the scandal primarily affects the reputation of its Saint. For Sart, it also harms Prince Fleue and House Van Dyne. I believed the Crown Prince would protect both by removing us.”
He paused before voicing a far more troubling possibility.
“What if the Crown Prince doesn’t mind damaging Prince Fleue’s reputation, House Van Dyne’s reputation, or both?”
“Leader, that’s a dangerous theory,” Ankh warned.
“Prince Fleue has been receiving considerable praise in the Royal Capital,” Aeris said. “His success with Reversi first attracted attention, and recently he’s begun demonstrating political ability as well. More nobles are recognizing him.”
“Then the Crown Prince may be allowing the scandal to continue because it weakens a younger brother whose reputation is rising,” Ragune said, following Aeris’s reasoning.
“And the Crown Prince is supported by Marquis Halagoura’s faction,” Tauro added.
“That makes the situation worse,” Ankh muttered.
“House Van Dyne remains neutral,” Tauro continued, “and House Graunewald isn’t formally part of the Prime Minister’s faction either. Even so, both houses have recently been viewed as increasingly friendly with Duke Barriera’s side. The Halagoura faction may see this scandal as a convenient warning to House Van Dyne.”
It was only a hypothesis, but the political alignments made it disturbingly plausible.
“Father hasn’t abandoned neutrality,” Aeris said with a frustrated sigh. “But this is how nobles behave…”
Despite belonging to the aristocracy herself, she sounded thoroughly disgusted by it.