HowDeadTL: 2. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s Confusion and Surprise

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The Duke's Daughter Goes Her Own Way

[His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s Confusion and Surprise]

Translated by: ME

I became Crown Prince in the spring of the year I turned seven. This was in accordance with custom if one is the legitimate child of the royal family and their aptitude is approved by the council they are made Crown Prince at the age of seven. I have two younger sisters. If something were to happen to me one of my sisters would become queen. I must be careful to prevent that from happening. I won't let my sisters bear such a heavy burden.

Once the investiture as Crown Prince is complete a future partner must be selected. Currently the domestic situation is stable. Neighboring countries have some degree of tension but it's within the normal range. In other words a marriage for major political strategy is not necessary. After discussions with the King Queen and courtiers I decided on an engagement with the daughter of Duke Macnagan.

The Macnagan ducal house is third in the order of the five dukedoms. They have a certain amount of influence but they don't make significant statements in the first place. They are sometimes called opportunistic but they are more of a moderate peace-at-any-price family. They don't lead or belong to any major factions. However many nobles admire the house. Neutrality among neutrals.

The daughter of the Macnagan ducal house is four years younger than me. The age difference isn't too extreme. There were too many people pushing their own daughters and it took time to silence them. During that time the Macnagan ducal house at the center of the storm made no statements whatsoever. No sign of pushing no sign of pulling back. I felt that it was a strange family.

If there is a problem it is that there is no particular information about the girl named Elizabeth Macnagan.

I obtained a portrait from the Duke. It is a portrait of a very lovely girl. Light golden hair that waves softly bright green eyes like young leaves. Plump lips and a small nose. She is sitting neatly on a chair in the portrait and she looks like a doll. Well I wouldn't believe it completely.

I somehow silenced the noisy ones and arranged the engagement. I created documents to be submitted to the shrine documents to be submitted to the arbitration office of the House of Lords and documents to be kept in the royal palace and obtained the Duke's approval. The Duke followed all the royal commands and acted quietly but after signing all the documents he looked at me and said with a wry smile.

[If my daughter does not please you I will agree to a complete cancellation at any time.]

I couldn't help but be amazed at the Duke's lack of ambition. With a head of the family like this I wondered if the ducal house would be alright. However I would learn the meaning of the Duke's words at my first meeting with her. It wasn't that he lacked ambition. It was a concern because his daughter was too eccentric.

I had thought beforehand about what to talk about when meeting the four-year-old girl. My three-year-old sister is absorbed in the doll she received from our father for her birthday. The young ladies who pretend to approach me by chance in the castle seem to love dresses jewels beautiful flowers and picture stories. All of which I have absolutely no interest in. Still I thought I would make an effort to match the conversation a little so I tried reading plant encyclopedias and popular stories. Little did I know that it would be a completely wasted effort.

On the day the venue I designated was a large garden where roses were particularly beautifully arranged. It was a choice based on the rough preconception that [women usually like roses.] On the way to the venue I observed the prepared area from a distance. It was to observe what attitude the young lady and her parents were taking in this situation. The two of them didn't seem to be talking in particular. The Duke was leisurely looking at the garden and the young lady was also looking at the garden. I borrowed opera glasses from the guard and observed the young lady. She is looking at the garden. She is looking but the height of her line of sight seems to be looking at a place higher than the shrubs such as roses. What is she looking at?

I try to follow her line of sight but only the Hebel wing of the royal palace is protruding at the end of her line of sight. If she is interested in architecture the structure of the Hebel wing might be interesting. But a five-year-old girl? When I follow her line of sight further she is looking at nothing in the distance beyond the garden and nodding. There are only mysteries. Was that young lady really the right choice? Feeling a little uneasy I returned the opera glasses to the guard and headed to the venue.

The two of them noticing my arrival bow deeply in vassalage. I tell them to raise their heads then urge them to take their seats. When I look at Miss Elizabeth who is seated I am surprised to see that she looks even lovelier than in the portrait. There are so many minor differences that it's impossible to list them all such as the smoky pale golden hair and the sparkling bright eyes that cannot be fully expressed in the painting. It is not uncommon for people (especially women) to falsify their appearance in an upward direction but this is the first time I have seen someone falsify it in a downward direction. No perhaps she doesn't intend to falsify it. Maybe the painter just couldn't capture it.

Miss Elizabeth is watching the maid who is preparing the tea and stepping back with admiration. What is she so impressed with? Furthermore she looks at the guard knights who are waiting in a distant place and nods with a [hmm hmm.] The guard knights who expose themselves in front of nobles are especially chosen for their good looks. If I were to bring along someone with a fierce face it would make the other person wary. She is probably satisfied with their good looks.

For now the purpose of today is to learn as much as possible about Miss Elizabeth Macnagan about whom I have no prior information. Based on that I have to consider the content of her education as Crown Princess. In fact my tutor Nathaniel Vallen is also among the servants. It will be a trivial conversation but it is to have him assess the level of education from her responses.

As I was about to start I called out to her. Then she said [My name is Elizabeth Macnagan. I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to meet you] and bowed her head. Was she taught to say that? Isn't her choice of words too stiff for a five-year-old? I wondered if she was having a hard time too and a smile naturally leaked out. If it was a taught greeting I wondered what would happen if I replied like this and a little mischief welled up inside me.

[I already know your name. I have to investigate.]

I wondered what kind of reaction she would have if I told her that I already knew. The young ladies I had met so far usually blushed and rejoiced. Some were surprised. However.

[As you say.]

As she said without any surprise Miss Elizabeth nodded as if she was convinced. What is this girl? A family that is neutral and has no desire for power. It is not surprising that the daughter has no desire for power. Before that there is a possibility that the five-year-old girl does not understand what a Crown Princess is. But this girl is probably not like that. She understands such things and she understands at first sight that [since the engagement has been arranged it is only natural that he knows my name.]

What is it? I couldn't help but ask the Duke [Is your daughter really five years old?] Next to the Duke who smiled wryly Miss Elizabeth was smiling and looking at me with eyes as if she were looking at something heartwarming. That's right this is that. It's the way my grandmother looks at me. No wait a minute. I'm four years older than her aren't I? She is only five years old right now isn't she?

[Since you introduced yourself I will follow suit. Leonardo Francis Belklein. You can call me Leon.]

When I said that she smiled ambiguously as if she wanted to say [What should I do?] What is this girl? I can't help but feel out of sorts.

After that I somehow tried to have a conversation... and brought up topics such as popular dresses and favorite flowers. As a result everything missed the mark perfectly. This is the first time I have met a young lady who is so unresponsive. Moreover she is ashamed of not being interested in them and her cheeks are slightly flushed as she looks down. No it's not that I want her to be interested in them so she doesn't have to be so ashamed. None of the topics I prepared for today seem to be usable.

Then I only have the topics in my own repertoire.

[Do you read books?]

I have also checked out the popular love stories. If it's a standard picture book it's a piece of cake. Come on! As I waited Miss Elizabeth answered in a small voice [I do] as if she was a little reluctant to say so. I was curious as to why she seemed so reluctant to say so but I decided to continue the conversation.

[Can you tell me about a book you've read recently?]

[Recently...]

She seems very reluctant to say so. She looked down and made a difficult face. Could it be that reading books is a lie and she hasn't read any books recently?

[Ellie tell me honestly.]

The Duke urged Miss Elizabeth who seemed to be hesitating a lot as if he was exasperated. To that she looked at the Duke as if asking if it was really okay and then opened her mouth timidly.

[Recently I've been reading the lower volume of 'The Rise and Fall of the Dimaine Empire' by Harald Boehm...]

...Huh? ...What!?

I've read that book by Dr. Boehm. It was recommended to me by Nathaniel-sensei. When I move my gaze slightly Nathaniel-sensei who is wearing servant's clothes is opening his eyes wide as if he is very surprised. I want to express my surprise as honestly as that. I'm envious. When I look at the Duke with surprise the Duke nods with a bitter face. In other words it's not that an infant wants to act like an adult and is just flipping through a book that adults read and claiming that they have [read] it. Even so isn't it too difficult for a five-year-old to read? There are many quotations from the Dimaine language which is the language used by the now-defunct Dimaine Empire and it was difficult to read through without a supplementary book... Before that it is rare for a five-year-old girl to be interested in a defunct country.

When I ask her why she decided to read it an even more surprising answer comes.

[Before that I read 'The Eternal Agathia'...]

[No wait a minute.]

No really wait a minute! Before I apologize for interrupting her I don't understand what she's saying. No I understand but I can't comprehend it.

[You read? 'The Eternal Agathia'?]

When I ask she nods as if it's obvious. Nathaniel-sensei has finally squatted down with his head in his hands. I'm envious. I want to take that posture too.

The Eternal Agathia is also known as The Bludgeon. It is required reading in the history department of the Royal Academy but it is a thick history book that causes many people to give up. I haven't finished reading it all yet. There is about a third of it left but that third is about twice the amount of a normal book. Certainly the rise and fall of the Dimaine Empire occupies a considerable weight in that book. In the civilization of the Agathia River basin the Dimaine Empire is said to be the founder of the revival.

[...You read 'The Eternal Agathia' and became interested in the Dimaine Empire.]

In other words is that what it is? It makes sense. It's not a child's vanity but the path that a person who truly studies history takes.

[As you say. I was interested so I first read Nelson Kokius's 'The Light and Shadow of the Dimaine Empire' then Aurelius Watts's 'The Dimaine Empire - Two Hundred Years of Glory' and then the Rise and Fall...]

No really please stop. She is properly following the correct path to learn about the defunct country of the Dimaine Empire. A five-year-old girl is. The Light and Shadow of the Dimaine Empire is a book that focuses on the imperial family of that country. It examines the reign of each emperor in detail. And The Dimaine Empire - Two Hundred Years of Glory is a four-volume book that focuses on the culture and customs of that country. After reading those the Rise and Fall which is said to be a new theory...

Nathaniel-sensei who is squatting down with his head in his hands doesn't even show any signs of getting up. This is the first time I have felt so much empathy for my usually strict teacher.

What should I do anymore? ...For now let's poke at it.

[Do you want to be a historian?]

To that she answers as a matter of course [No.]

[I just read it because I was interested. It's like one of my hobbies.]

Hobbies... A book that is called a bludgeon and even causes people to give up. Even I can't call those hobbies. I shouldn't be like this but I'm starting to get a little tired...

After that we exchanged a few more words and decided to end the meeting this time. When I told her that I would prepare something that she would like next time we met she showed a childlike and lovely smile and replied [I'm looking forward to it.]

Two weeks later at the second tea party she was so happy with the bracelet (replica) excavated from the ruins of the Dimaine Empire that I had prepared for her that she almost jumped up.

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