# 380
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380
“Who is losing?”
“Then I guess there’s nothing more to say. “Go.”
The crown prince’s neat and simple attitude was enough to make Asuka uneasy.
For a person of the crown prince’s level, this is not unfounded confidence. It was difficult to guarantee that Charlotte would not be tempted by Iza.
If you’re the crown prince, wouldn’t you be good at putting yourself out there and seducing women?
“…Do you remember the promise you made before?”
“promise?”
“I saved your highness. At that time, at the library. So you decided to take my side.”
The crown prince nodded slowly.
“It did. At that time, I clearly said that it was the imperial knight’s duty to protect me, the crown prince. Nevertheless, I am willing to give some compensation to my cousin.”
“If it’s compensation or it’s too much, then give it up.”
“give up?”
Asuka raised her finger at him. It was an incredibly irreverent move.
“Don’t mess with Charlotte for no reason.”
“You are saying something foolish.”
The crown prince clicked his tongue.
“I am the crown prince, and it is not often you have the opportunity to ask me for something. “Is it okay to waste it away so thoughtlessly?”
“Who has no idea…”
He blocks his powerful enemy for now and watches.
After all, unless it’s the crown prince or a prince whose face you don’t know yet, there’s no one better than you in terms of social status.
It was the result of Asuka’s head turning in an instant.
“For example, a story like this.”
The crown prince leisurely gave advice to his cousin.
“This means that you should carefully save the opportunity for a time when you will need my help in the future. “If you need my help, I am willing to help you, even if what you are doing is against the will of Archduke Farnese.”
Asuka has not yet decided whether to become Archduke Farnese’s successor.
This is a grace period that I volunteered for. What Asuka and the Crown Prince both agree on is that Archduke Farnese will not let Asuka just leave her position.
Even though Asuka had the skills of a knight commander, it would be difficult to keep her by force, but it was unlikely that the stubborn yet thorough Archduke would accept the decision to let her go.
“Would it be okay to blow that opportunity like this?”
Asuka was speechless for a moment at the crown prince’s question.
In fact, whether it contained sincerity or not, the prince’s mind was slowly being captivated by the plausible logic.
The crown prince spoke as if driving a wedge.
“And didn’t you say that? The choice is hers. The idea is to compete fairly without resorting to any tricks. Strictly speaking, this is a marriage ceremony, meaning the combination of Rinosa and the Empire. It’s a national issue. Even if you don’t think so, she will think so. “Grand Duchess Rinosa is a good choice for me as a companion, and if I really want to, I can change the subject of marriage talks.”
That was a possible story. It would be enough for Linosa to reject the marriage talks, but Michael has already made a mistake once, so if the crown prince pushes for it very strongly, it will be difficult to simply refuse.
The crown prince spoke in a soft tone, as if admonishing.
“But I won’t do that. This means that as long as she chooses you, I will respect her wishes and obediently step back without thinking about my position as the crown prince. So it’s fair competition.”
He said it as if he thought very much of Asuka.
In fact, if Grand Duchess Linosa wasn’t to his taste, he wouldn’t have even paid attention to her, and he spoke cleverly about the subject he had interjected due to his personal feelings.
However, Asuka did not know what the crown prince’s true intentions were.
“Fair competition.”
Wow. Asuka’s teeth gritted together fiercely.
“Okay, let’s do that.”
What can I do? The other person is the heir to this empire.
A smile of victory appeared on the crown prince’s lips.
“Then I guess there’s nothing more to say.”
“I hope you avoid embarrassment.”
Asuka spat out a curse and immediately turned her back.
‘I guess I should meet her. as soon as possible.’
At least it had to be faster than Asuka. The crown prince moved vigorously.
It was a few hours later that the crown prince, who had defeated the typhoon, began to move.
*
The meeting between Grand Duchess Linosa and the crown prince took place at a short interval of time simply by sending notice that the crown prince would visit her residence.
Charlotte greeted him in formal attire as a grand duchess.
Although she was aware that the other person was the crown prince, it was an ornament that did not seem to indicate her desire to look good to him as a woman.
“I see you, His Majesty the Crown Prince.”
“Thank you for your hard work in coming this far. “I came by just to have a quick chat, so please don’t feel pressured.”
Charlotte looked at the crown prince and made a subtle but surprised expression. It was a common reaction.
The crown prince was a man with the looks that one would not normally expect from a man with both ability and status.
He is also a handsome man with an incredibly outstanding appearance.
“I vaguely remember seeing you once when I was young. My memories of that time are blurry and unclear, but I remember her as a very small and lovely girl. “I was surprised at how beautifully it grew.”
“I grew up as a prosecutor, so I understand that this is an expression that sounds unfamiliar or is meant as a compliment.”
“Of course it’s a compliment. “It seems like a familiar compliment to the Grand Duchess.”
“I’m more used to praise from the other side.”
Charlotte laughed slightly. The crown prince was momentarily distracted by her smile.
“…I said he was the head of the swordsmanship department at Greta Academy. “It’s worth it.”
He must have received praise for his outstanding swordsmanship skills.
Rather than being arrogant, he seemed confident.
The pride and confidence she displayed was unfamiliar to the crown prince, who had only dealt with noble women who smiled shyly in front of him. Calm yet striking.
‘If Helmut is the king, then this one is the king too.’
The feel is different, but there are some similarities.
However, he was not trying to confirm from Charlotte her eligibility as the Grand Duke of Linosa’s successor.
“Would you mind telling me a story about your life at the academy? “I have never left my empire.”
“I don’t know if it would be an interesting story, but I’m willing.”
The Crown Prince, who was talking to Charlotte, soon felt embarrassed.
Charlotte was polite and very polite. And he was treating the crown prince with impeccable sincerity.
But that didn’t mean it rationally.
‘He was speaking as a prosecutor and it seemed like he was talking as if he were about to engage in a duel.’
The crown prince clicked his tongue inwardly.
I could feel Charlotte calming down with just the right amount of tension and looking at me clearly.
“The Grand Duchess is truly humble. “It would be nice if we could talk a little more comfortably.”
“Is it okay if I don’t show courtesy to His Majesty the Crown Prince? “I am comfortable now.”
It felt like a wall between them. It was a sight that would have made Asuka burst into laughter, pointing at her to see it.
The Crown Prince thought that Charlotte was being cautious because the opponent was him.
No matter how talented Charlotte may be as king, she visits the imperial palace to meet the crown prince of the empire, even though she may be dismissed and Rinosa and the empire may fall apart.
There’s no way the burden isn’t great.
‘I guess I’ll have to be a little more proactive.’
The Grand Duchess understands that she visited the empire to discuss marriage with Asuka.
It is natural for him to try to keep his distance from his cousin, the crown prince.
If we reveal our intentions, her attitude will change.
The crown prince exuded the confidence of someone who had never been rejected.
“I heard about the reason the Grand Duchess came here. “You and my cousin had a relationship when you were in the swordsmanship department at Greta Academy, right?”
“We became close friends as seniors and juniors.”
Charlotte answered in a casual tone, but to the Crown Prince’s ears, it sounded like she was emphasizing that ‘they were just seniors and juniors.’
“What did you think when you heard about this marriage talk?”
“I am still a student at the Academy. I was embarrassed because it was completely unexpected, but it was not a direct marriage conversation and the Grand Duke told me to visit the empire without any pressure. “As the Grand Princess of Rinosa, I have come to visit you to say hello to the imperial family of the empire.”
“Then… have you ever considered that the subject of marriage talks may change?”
Charlotte’s mouth did not open easily to this question.
She looked up at the crown prince with black eyes. It was a look in his eyes that made it impossible to know what he was thinking.
“I haven’t heard anything like that.”
“Then it would be good to keep that in mind from now on. “Asuka is not the only unmarried young man in the imperial family.”
And the crown prince was also unmarried. If you are the crown prince, you are bound to be under pressure to ensure a strong heir, so it is not strange if you marry in your teens.
It was strange that he didn’t even have a fiancee until his mid-20s.
There was one reason.
To avoid creating a weak point before driving the temple out of the empire.
This was because he thought it was best in a situation where he could not raise a child in hiding like Archduke Farnese.
Therefore, the Grand Duchess Charlotte of Linosa, who had just appeared, was the perfect match.
He is strong enough to not only protect himself, but also protect the crown prince, and is also at odds with Michael, who is friendly to the temple.
I heard she was helping Helmut, so I’m sure the temple doesn’t feel good either.
She would also sympathize with the empire’s efforts to drive out the temple.
When you become a crown prince, you cannot move based on emotions alone. It wasn’t that great of a feeling.
Not only did I feel like he was rationally attracted to me, but he also matched my status and in many ways met the conditions.
If you think about it carefully, it would have been difficult for the crown prince to find a better partner as a spouse.
The crown prince leisurely waited for Charlotte’s answer.
“I…”
Just as Charlotte was about to say something, the door burst open.
“They said they wouldn’t make a fuss!”
The fierce cry echoed throughout the room.
“Please refrain from saying that it is an adaptation. Asuka. “What are you doing, breaking into the car we were talking in?”
The crown prince frowned and pointed out.
Asuka looked at Charlotte and shouted as if asking why she was listening to her like that.
“Charlotte, come to your senses! That bastard is a playboy! “It’s clear they’re trying to do something by tricking you!”
“Asuka now you are insulting me. Not only is it a baseless fact, but how can I treat Grand Princess Rinosa so lightly?”
The crown prince showed his anger with a serious face.
At that moment, Charlotte’s mouth opened.
