HowDeadTL: Extra Story 6 Until You Call Me 'Friend'... (1)

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The Duke's Daughter Goes Her Own Way

[Until You Call Me 'Friend'... (1)]

Translated by: ME

The king is a solitary being.

Whose line was that? It's a phrase I often hear.

It was also a phrase I was told by my instructor in the studies of kingship when I was the Crown Prince.

"You must steer the overly large ship that is the 'nation,' listen to the opinions of others but not be overly swayed by them, make judgments with your own head, and if that ship should run aground, you must bear the responsibility entirely on your own shoulders."

Being a 'solitary being' probably means, in other words, 'be solitary.'

So as not to be manipulated by those who attend the king. So as not to allow the ship to be hijacked.

However, a king is still human.

If one were truly solitary, their heart would probably die.

Wouldn't it be alright to have at least one friend?

When I voiced this question, the instructor nodded.

「Of course, you may have friends. Not necessarily just one, but any number. However, if you find yourself being swayed by the opinions of those around you, then those friends are not worthy of being called 'friends.' If you are swayed, there is likely a problem with you, Your Highness, and also with those who try to sweep you along for their own convenience. And the courtiers would judge that neither you nor your companions have 'the qualification to bear the nation.'」

Well, I suppose that's true.

I can understand it, but it feels suffocating.

But there's no help for it.

Because I was born as the king's legitimate child and must become the next king.

I've lived my life telling myself that.

＊＊＊

When my son was nine, he decided on his own fiancée.

Let me be perfectly clear; my wife and I were not involved in this selection at all.

I can swear by heaven and earth. Truly, not even a single hair's breadth of involvement.

Somehow, my all-too-capable son made the judgment entirely on his own, and even at just nine years old, he convinced the parliament with his own words and easily wrested their approval.

Dependable... He is dependable, but it also makes me slightly anxious about his future.

The approval of my son's fiancée required the seals of myself, as the current king, and my wife. Upon seeing the name of the young lady in question on the submitted documents, I immediately gave my approving signature without a second thought. Beside me, my wife was saying, 「Please write more carefully, so we cannot be made to reverse this later!」

The young lady's name is Elizabeth Macnagan.

She is from one of the five ducal houses of our kingdom, a house that tends to be looked down upon by the major nobles within the country.

I handed the signed document to my wife.

With the most serious expression imaginable, she firmly grasped her right hand, which held the pen, with her left hand to keep it from shaking, and carefully signed.

I understood my wife's feelings so keenly that I couldn't help but laugh.

If there were even the slightest imperfection in the signature here (not that it would be a real flaw, just a slight smudge of ink or such), if anything were to happen, the Macnagan ducal house would absolutely use it as a shield to demand the annulment of the engagement.

「Like I'd let them!」 – This made her more careful than when signing any other document.

The Macnagan ducal house tends to be scorned by other nobles.

But the people of the Macnagan ducal house themselves don't seem to pay it any mind.

In fact, they laugh, saying, 「Let them scorn us if they want.」

There's no house more troublesome to have as an enemy.

The official collected the signed documents, and after seeing him off, my wife laughed.

「I wonder what sort of faces El and Far will make when they hear about this?」

「Probably their usual, unreadable smiles, don't you think?」 I replied.

My wife nodded, laughing, 「You might be right.」

The girl who became my son's fiancée, Elizabeth Macnagan, was indeed 'a daughter of the Macnagan ducal house'...

She is extremely intelligent, flexible in her thinking, and exceptionally beautiful in appearance.

The Macnagan ducal house has produced generations of lovely-looking individuals.

...Well, since it's a house granted the privilege of 'exemption from all social engagements,' peerless beauties and radiantly handsome young men remain unknown to other nobles and fade into obscurity.

As a young child, she was a very cute girl who bore resemblances to both her parents.

My wife, in her position as the current Queen Consort responsible for educating the next Queen Consort, became excessively enthusiastic, which was quite a situation.

It's fine to dote on that child who resembles Far, but don't dote on her so much that she runs away, alright?

My wife has a tendency to smother those she likes.

The cat we kept was smothered by my wife and developed bald spots from stress. The cat is currently being cared for by the head maid. My wife is allowed to see it once a month.

My wife seems to have taken that regret to heart and is desperately holding back her urge to smother Elizabeth.

She's holding back so much that she's actually become a bit strict, but fortunately, Miss Elizabeth appears to be the type who doesn't mind strictness at all.

It seems my wife is not very good at 'moderation'...

Why don't you try learning a bit from your beloved Far?

＊＊＊

I really wanted to be present when Leon met her for the first time.

I wanted to, but Leon himself was reluctant.

「If Your Majesty were to attend, she would feel intimidated. That is not what I wish.」

...Hmm.

My son is so dependable...

「Moreover, she is still a five-year-old girl. It wouldn't be strange if she were to commit some rudeness towards Your Majesty. ...That would be inexcusable towards the ducal house that accepted our proposal.」

Hmm.

Really... should I say he's dependable, or overly so...

Well, Leon's concern is reasonable.

Normally, a five-year-old is around the age where they are just beginning to understand how things work.

If I were to go there and a third party were to witness and call out some unintentional rudeness from a young child... that would truly be inexcusable to them.

But, you know, Leon.

You probably don't know this, but your counterpart is 'a daughter of Macnagan.'

I suspect she is probably not 'an ordinary five-year-old girl.'

Because that house does no socializing at all, not only you but also other nobles are largely unaware of them.

＊＊＊

The connection between our Belkraine Royal Family and the Macnagan ducal house is very old.

After all, the Macnagan ducal house was founded by the elder brother of the first king of the Belkraine Royal Family.

Our Belkraine Royal Family are relatives of the previous royal family.

The last king of the former dynasty pursued his own selfish desires, neglected the people, and sought to open hostilities with a neighboring country.

Driven by indignation, a faction of nobles led a coup d'état.

The standard-bearer for this was the first king of the Belkraine Royal Family.

Though the blood of nobles and soldiers was shed, it's said that the innocent citizens were almost entirely unharmed. Furthermore, they succeeded in a bloodless surrender of the castle, and the throne was not stained with blood.

Though not recorded in history, the one who actually planned and executed this on the front lines was the first Duke Macnagan.

In essence, if it weren't for him, I would not be sitting on this throne.

There are almost no historical anecdotes remaining about the first Duke Macnagan.

The reason is that the first Duke himself said, 「Who needs stories about me?」 and had all his achievements recorded as the achievements of his younger brother and other knights.

Incidentally, the Duke's words mentioned above were written in what seems to be a personal journal or miscellany of his younger brother, the first King.

That journal is stored in a hidden room deep within the national archives.

It's a room for which only the King holds the key.

I'll show it to Leon one day.

Originally, during the coup, it seems the nobles tried to place the Duke Macnagan on the throne. And the first King also thought that was appropriate.

But, it seems the Duke himself flatly refused, saying 「Too much hassle.」

...I mean, 「Too much hassle」!? With the fate of the nation at stake, 「Too much hassle」!

However, the first King's journal writes, with a tone of half-resignation, 「It's just so like him...」

It seems our Belkraine family were Marquesses at the time.

And it appears that the elder brother had abandoned that title of 'Marquess Belkraine' quite early on.

According to the first King's journal, he said 「Not my style.」 And also 「A damn pain.」 ...I wonder why the first Duke's manner of speaking is so surprisingly rough...

Despite such an overly unrestrained personality, he seems to have been a person who strangely possessed the power to attract people.

The first King wrote that there were always many people around him.

A volunteer army of a few elite, and the regular national army led by royalty and nobility.

Normally, it wouldn't even be a contest.

However, within the military, there were not a few who held resentment against the then King and feudal lords.

These switched sides easily.

Many of those who remained possessed only a level of loyalty and morale sufficient to flee once they realized the disadvantage.

And only a very small fraction, those who, like the King and lords, had lived by sucking sweet benefits, fought to the end.

But they were easily crushed before the volunteer army.

It's said the first Duke was always at the vanguard, commanding the volunteer army unaccustomed to battle, making those who seemed capable of fighting into his own limbs, and carving a path for his younger brother.

「I'll handle the dirty work. You absolutely must not stain your hands.」

It's said the first King was told this and was only allowed to grip a single, unreliable, slender sword for self-defense.

「You ain't gonna become no blood-stained King. If your hands get dirty, everyone will see you as an object of fear. Don't rule the people through fear.」

Alright? He was told this with the most serious expression the first King had ever seen on him.

The first King recorded that he could only nod.

To the nodding first King, the Duke apparently laughed teasingly, 「Gooood boy. It's a promise with your big bro, okay?」

And so, the first King ascended the throne without ever staining his hands with blood, taking his seat on a throne that remained pristine.

It's said the first Duke thoroughly took all the dirty work upon himself and never allowed the first King to lay a hand on any of it.

As a result, it was the first Duke himself who became the object of 'terror' and 'awe' for the surviving nobles.

In contrast, the first King was called the 'Merciful King.'

「I can't accept this,」 was scrawled in messy handwriting in the journal.

The first King respected and loved his elder brother from the bottom of his heart.

He believed that his brother was truly the one worthy of being 'King.'

That he himself should not sit on this throne.

But, it's said the first Duke laughed cheerfully.

「A hard, uncomfortable-seeming chair like this? Must be cramped as hell, right.」

And then he decided to retire in seclusion himself, saying, 「If I stay here in the royal castle, folks who see me behind you will start showin' up. You finally became a pretty King. Your blood-stained big brother will duck out somewhere and live quiet-like.」

The first King apparently tried desperately to stop him.

Surely, if he let his brother leave by his own will, he would never return to this country.

It was from that feeling.

To the desperately pleading younger brother, the Duke apparently said, laughing merrily,

「You're way too desperate, it's hilarious.」

Duke... Couldn't you be a little more considerate of your little brother's feelings...?

How to put it... sometimes he's a bit devilish, I'd say... Or rather, cruel...

Apparently, the first King finally snapped at this line.

「Is being desperate so bad!? That I alone, who did nothing, get elevated to King! That my elder brother, the one with the greatest merit, gets spoken of as if he were a criminal! Is it so bad to desperately try to stop such a heartless person who tries to leave me alone in such unreasonable circumstances!?」

The first King's journal says, 『As I was saying this, I felt so pathetic that I started to cry.』

And, as expected, the Duke laughed at his tearful younger brother.

「Cryin'? Hilarious.」

First King... What happened with this big brother of yours...?

I think even for an 'unrestrained personality,' there should be limits...

As the first King glared at the Duke through his tears, the Duke apparently let out a sigh after a moment and smiled a resigned-looking smile.

「Well then... I guess I'll take some random title and some random territory or somethin'.」

Fearing his brother might change his mind, or leave on his own before he could act... the first King hurriedly prepared a peerage and territory for his brother.

It was a change of dynasty due to political upheaval.

The peerages from before were of no use.

There was no inconvenience in granting a new peerage.

「Then, let this area of Macnagan and its surroundings be your territory, Elder Brother.」

Originally, 'Macnagan' was the name of a place referring to the central area of what is now the capital of the Macnagan duchy. Now, that capital has developed and grown too much, and it's unclear exactly where the land called 'Macnagan' was back then.

「From today, it would be good for you to take the name 'Duke Macnagan'.」

When the first King told him this, the Duke apparently grumbled, 「Duke...? For real? Don't want it.」

「Then I also have one condition. I absolutely will NOT do any social stuff! And also, I won't serve at court even if I die!」

「...Isn't that two...?」

「Details! Shut up!」

It is written that this was the last time they conversed as 'brothers.'

After withdrawing to his territory, the Duke apparently never tried to take a single step outside of it.

That was probably out of consideration, to avoid unnecessarily agitating those who feared him taking the public stage.

When the Duke went to his territory, a considerable number of those who had followed him in the coup apparently went with him.

Centered around those people, the Macnagan territory would go on to develop.

Looking at the extent of that development, one might think, wouldn't it have been fine if he had become King?

But there is a line from the Duke on the eve of the coup's success in the first King's journal.

「A King don't need to be some 'perfect person who can do everything by himself.' It's fine if he's unreliable, or pathetic. ...When he's in trouble, someone will naturally lend a hand. I think a country probably turns out better when someone like that becomes King.」

These were the Duke's words to his younger brother, who had expressed his anxiety about becoming King.

Supported by these words, the first King remained a gentle, fair, selfless, and desireless king.

The first King's journal was hidden away deep in the national archives, and all the achievements of the first Duke Macnagan were attributed to others...

And so, time passed, and only a handful know the truth.

It's unclear if it has been correctly passed down even within the Macnagan ducal house.

...Although, however it's been passed down, the people of that ducal house probably wouldn't care.

I was informed of the existence of this journal when I was Crown Prince.

It was before I took a wife, still in my teens. How old was I... Fifteen... or around that time, I think?

My father handed it to me with a rather light tone, saying, 「I'll lend you an interesting read.」

At that time, I was troubled over whether I was truly fit to stand as the next king.

It was the same worry the first King had.

I didn't have any particularly outstanding talents, nor any intense charisma...

Since all five ducal houses in the country are branch families of the royal house, they are also in the line of succession, albeit in the double-digit order of precedence.

I even thought that perhaps we could have someone suitable from among them inherit instead...

My father lending me the journal was probably because he couldn't bear to see me like that.

And I, like the first King, was saved by the words of the first Duke Macnagan.

The first King was lucky.

He had someone right beside him who understood, accepted, and supported him.

I thought that.

＊＊＊

Naturally, after reading such a journal, one becomes curious about the existence of the 'Macnagan ducal house.'

My father told me, 「Don't lay any careless hands on that house, got it? The Macnagan folks are still just as troublesome now.」

'Troublesome'?

It felt somewhat ominous, but my father's tone and expression as he said it seemed to be teasing me.

This was probably just him driving home the point, 'Don't interfere with the Macnagan ducal house.'

I understand, Father. I won't break the promise made between the first King and the first Duke.

Besides, even if I were interested, the truth is that I had laughably few points of contact with that ducal house.

Since I am of the royal family, it would be possible to summon them using that authority.

But, even if possible, it is something that 'must not be done.'

Thanks to the journal, I had completely synchronized with the first King's feelings, so something like 'making unreasonable demands of the Macnagan ducal house' seemed impossible.

As part of my education, I was taught the general overviews of all noble houses in the kingdom as a matter of course.

Lower nobles were covered briefly, upper nobles thoroughly. The highest-ranking ducal houses were covered in considerable detail.

In those lectures, the time allotted to the 'Macnagan ducal house' was shorter compared to the other four ducal houses.

They do not socialize, do not serve at court, do not lead factions, and do not belong to any.

They only interact with a few houses that admire them, and otherwise spend almost all their time in their territory.

Being such a house, the lecturer probably didn't have much of particular note to say about them.

Moreover, the truth of the ducal house's origins is concealed.

Considering what the first Duke did, 'obliteration' might be more accurate.

The role played by Duke Macnagan in the coup that changed the regime remains nowhere in history.

Only the fact that he was the first King's elder brother remains.

I wonder if that's alright.

Originally, he was a person who could rightly be called a hero, as a key figure who built the foundation of the country we have now.

...Well, judging by that journal, the Duke would probably hate being called a 'hero' from the bottom of his heart.

He'd probably dismiss it with a 「Don't want it.」

But what about the current people of the Macnagan ducal house?

What about the present Macnagan ducal house, which is scorned and looked down upon by other houses because it never interferes or meddles in national politics?

Would they also say 「Don't want it,」 just like the first Duke?

＊＊＊

Since it's a house that doesn't socialize, I had never even seen the faces of the people of the 'Macnagan ducal house.'

...When you think about it, that's quite something, isn't it?

For someone who is to become King to have never seen a member of one of his own country's ducal houses. That's probably not normal.

In our country, noble young ladies and sons make their social debut at the grand ball hosted by the royal castle when they turn sixteen.

Invitations are sent to all noble houses in the country, and fresh debutantes gather from across the land to present their awkward dances.

When I became interested in the ducal house, the young man who was the next Duke was sixteen.

But, as expected, he didn't even show his face at the grand ball.

It is, in principle, an event where absence is permitted.

But there are almost no one who is absent.

Since they enter in order of rank, the absence of a ducal house is known right from the start.

...They truly are a house with no interest in such glamorous occasions...

I asked an internal affairs official to let me see the replies regarding attendance at the grand ball.

While a standard, uniform invitation is sent to everyone, the replies reflect the characteristics of each house.

It's customary for these 'attendance replies' to be written by the sixteen-year-old boys and girls themselves. Everything about it is their 'first debut.'

Although it's just a reply about attendance, it's being sent to the royal castle. Perhaps the King or Queen might see it.

It's a different matter from a tea party with houses of similar status.

Most houses take care with the stationery, use polite language, and send their replies written in very careful handwriting.

But the Macnagan ducal house was different.

On what was probably just some random notepaper they had lying around, it was written, in very beautiful handwriting, 『As per our house's policy, we have no intention of engaging in any social activities now or in the future, and therefore see no need for something like a debut. Thus, we would like to be absent on the day.』

Not a hint of humility.

I couldn't help but laugh at the wording that, with one wrong step, could even be considered rude.

The signatory was 'Elrod Macnagan'. Without a doubt, the name of the next Duke Macnagan.

Despite the potentially insolent content, the handwriting alone was beautiful. That imbalance was somehow amusing.

And in the concise wording of the absence notice, I felt as if I could hear the first Duke Macnagan saying, 「Who'd show up to that, idiots.」

Yeah. Certainly, this person named Elrod Macnagan is a member of the 'Macnagan ducal house.'

I thought I'd like to meet him someday.

Well, it's probably impossible, though.

＊＊＊

The year I turned sixteen, I fell somewhat ill.

At first, it was just a slight feeling of lethargy, but soon a headache set in, then dizziness, and finally it became difficult to even sit up.

A slight fever also persisted for a long time, and I became a resident of my bed for a while.

The court physician who examined me concluded it was likely overwork, both physical and mental.

He said I should not perform any duties for a while and simply rest quietly until I recovered.

It was April, one month before the debut grand ball was scheduled.

I am aware that I had been busy, certainly.

Coordinating with the grand ball, a massive amount of adjustment work wells up in every department of the castle. It happens every year, but even when we try to streamline efficiency to what seems like the absolute limit, the amount of work that must be done is enormous.

On top of that, there were my regular duties.

Furthermore, since I was a participant myself, I had my own preparations.

And added to that was the pressure of 'the growing expectations for the next King,' which increased year by year.

This was the result of stress piling on top of fatigue.

Ah... How pathetic.

My parents decided to send me away for a rest, as I was having trouble getting up.

They told me to leave the castle for a while and rest both body and mind.

However, this came with the added condition that if my health had not recovered by the end of the year, they would have no choice but to depose me as Crown Prince.

I was given a list of the several villas owned by the royal family and told to choose whichever place I liked.

Even if you say 'whichever I like'... I thought, looking over the list, but my eyes stopped on one particular entry.

It was a detached palace named the Golden Lion Palace, located in the Macnagan territory. Though near the capital city of the territory, there were absolutely no private homes or shops in the vicinity because the royal villa was there.

It is the palace that the first King built for his brother.

Of course, it's said the Duke refused, saying, 「Seriously, don't need it.」

...I mean, First King... I get that you love your big brother, but try to understand his tastes and preferences a bit, please...

Even I, who only read the journal, can tell he'd absolutely refuse it...?

Since the Duke wouldn't accept it, the palace remained royal property.

The fact that it was on the list meant that choosing it wouldn't be a problem, I supposed.

After a little hesitation, I chose the Macnagan duchy as my place of convalescence.

My father laughed and said, 「I thought you would choose that place.」

Arrangements were made immediately, and I soon moved my residence to the Golden Lion Palace.

Though it was within the Macnagan duchy, it was an exclave under the direct control of the royal family, a piece of land containing only the palace and lodgings for stationed knights.

The palace was built in a clearing within a small forest, and a small stream flowed through the palace gardens.

Numerous fountains were installed without obstructing the natural flow of this stream.

The palace itself was not opulent but a small, compact building, yet it was beautifully designed to harmonize with the forest trees and the stream.

It was a white plaster building, without any imposing, luxurious majesty, yet its name was 'Golden Lion.' Even though there wasn't a single golden decoration to be seen anywhere on its exterior.

The origin of that name is the first Duke Macnagan.

To the first King, his elder brother seemed like the king of all beasts who commanded every animal.

It seems that around the Duke, well-behaved sons of nobles, rough men from the self-defense militia, and knights loyal and devoted to righteousness all laughed with the same expression.

The first King apparently watched the Duke at the center of it all, thinking he was 'like a king ruling over beasts.'

The Duke was said to be a handsome man with opulent golden hair, refined and rugged features, who left a vivid impression on those who saw him.

Given that impression from his appearance, the first King said, 「When giving it to my brother, I thought there was no other name.」

...Really, the first King, you like your big brother too much...

And, as expected, the Duke apparently was dismayed, saying, 「What a cringey name...」

I decided to use the master bedroom of that palace.

There were few unnecessary decorations inside the building, and the colors of the walls, floors, fabrics, etc., were all very calming.

Surely this was because the Duke preferred such things.

From the large window of the master bedroom, I had a good view of the forest trees surrounding the palace, the gently meandering stream, and the beautiful garden arranged with fountains.

Surely the view from this room was the most beautiful scenery in this palace...

Given that first King who loved his big brother way too much...

Although I had moved my residence, being still unable to keep my body upright for long periods, I lived a life of reading books while lying in bed.

I spent the greater part of the day sleeping, ate small meals, and read books when I wasn't asleep.

That was all my life consisted of.

There were no visitors, and no work that I had to do.

It was very easy and good, but somewhere in my heart, there was anxiety.

What am I doing? I wondered.

At such times, I immersed myself in books to forget it.

Before leaving the royal capital, my father had given me several books, saying, 「You might read them when you have free time.」 Along with the strict warning to never let anyone else lay hands on them, as they were items stored in that 'hidden room deep in the national archives.'

In my bed, where I couldn't even sit up, I read those books.

They weren't books... strictly speaking, they were journals.

From the first king of the Belkraine Royal Family, all the way to the previous generation – my grandfather.

They were simply blank books bound like diaries, in which each successive king had recorded their thoughts in their own words.

Naturally, they had no titles.

On the first page, in the first King's handwriting, was written:

To those who will succeed me.

To those who doubt their qualification to be King.

I will teach you the words and actions that saved me.

May this, even if only a little, lighten your burden –

This collection of journals was an assembly of encouraging words from the successive kings to those who would become king.

It seemed to be a tradition that started with the first King writing it down, the second King finding it and continuing in the remaining pages, the third King writing in the further remaining pages, and so on.

It was a text that was almost too perfectly suited for me to read now.

And so, I decided to read it leisurely, while listening to the chirping of birds.

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