The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

“It does turn out like this after all, sir.”

“It was as expected but I wonder what I should do.”

Inside the room are only Sebas and me.

By this time, Father should be talking with Marianne.

Even if I use the word ‘talking’, Marianne has no say in this matter though.

It seems that Trau-niisan is with her so it will not be that one sided but it doesn’t change that Marianne is a princess who doesn’t have any backing.

She has no choice but to do what the Empire tells her to.

She can’t say nor do anything about it.

The problem comes after that.

“If Marianne and I become the co-sovereigns of the Dominion, the Empire will have an absolute ally in the north. If either the Kingdom or the Sokal empire invades us, we have no need to worry about the north. That way, the Empire’s sovereign on the central part of the continent will be even more dominant.

“Besides, in case something happens to the Imperial Family, you can continue the bloodline, sir.”

“That might be one of the reasons. I feel like they are trying to push me out of the Empire. Father is probably trying to be considerate in his own way.”

“The No.2 that did too much is only a threat to the No.1 after all.”

I nod to Sebas.

Albeit inevitable, I made too many achievements.

For those who support Leo, I who obtained the Silver Cross even before him is a possible rival for the throne.

My intention on the matter is irrelevant. Even Leo wasn’t willing to participate in the succession war but he only did because the circumstances did not allow him not to.

Leaving the country is an effective way to avoid me colliding with Leo.

I myself don’t wish for a future where I have to fight Leo either.

“As long as I have my position as a prince, others can rally under me. It would be nice if I can announce my intention of not participating like Lize-aneue but after I have been involved so much in it, no one will believe me.”

“That would be correct. Moreover, Lizelotte-sama has the position of a marshal. Arnold-sama doesn’t possess such a position that would bind your loyalty to the throne.”

“That’s right. That’s why Father prepared the position as King of the Dominion for me.”

If I become the King of the Dominion, everything will fit into place.

There is a demerit since it will be difficult for me to support Leo from outside the Empire but Leo will gain a powerful ally outside the Empire in exchange.

That is certainly a great advantage.

“However, I think that it will depend on Arnold-sama’s feeling.”

“My feeling huh…..”

“This is a political marriage, sir. Still, I think that it should be Arnold-sama who decides what to do in the end.”

“Right. Let me think about it for a while.”

I put the matter on hold.

Still, no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t get the answer.

The next day.

An unusual guest visited my room.

“What kind of business do you have with me today? Anna-san. Or should I call you Lady Amsberg today?”

“You can call me however you like. This matter is very personal after all.”

“Is that so, then Anna-san. Can you tell me what kind of personal business you have with me? Unfortunately, I have a lot of plans today.”

“The nobles here at the Imperial Capital sure are desperate to approach you now aren’t they? For them to put on a smile for you after all this time is like admitting that they have no eye to judge people themselves. I wonder if they realize that?”

Anna-san gracefully drinks her tea while saying ‘in that regard, my house is different from theirs’.

I have no objection to that statement.

The Brave house has always been on my side. Well, the problem lies with me who despite having the Brave house on my side from the start was unable to achieve anything.

It is hard to be the ally of the Dull Prince. It is only possible for the Brave house due to their absolute position in the Empire.

They have no need to fight for power so they do not worry about who they want to associate with.

It is said that conflicts can only occur between people of the same level and in truth, the Imperial Capital also works the same way. Although they are bound by their status as aristocrat, the Brave house is an exception.

“Even so, I can not afford not to meet them.”

“How dutiful. Is it for Leo’s sake?”

“Yes.”

“Does someone like you really need an ally who can’t even appreciate your true self?”

“The succession war is a battle for power after all. At least now, we still need more allies.”

“Perhaps. Then what about the Brave house? I think that we would make a powerful ally you know?”

“Please don’t tell such a joke. It is a tacit understanding that the Brave house does not involve itself in politics.”

“That is correct. That is exactly why we reserve the right to get involved whenever we feel like it. For your sake, the Brave house is willing to support Leo, you know that right?”

“…..but that won’t be unconditional, correct?”

“Yes. Become my son-in-law. I am asking you to marry Elna. Doing so should be able to solve all the problems surrounding your new status, no?”

I have known Anna-san since I was a child.

This person does not joke about a matter like marriage.

Even if people around her brought up the topic of me and Elna, she would never give her opinion on it.

She understands the position of the Brave house and my position as a prince.

That Anna-san is now bringing up the topic herself.

This means she is serious.

“What did the Brave say?”

“It appears he left this matter entirely to me.”

“I see.”

His opinion is probably close to that of Anna-san.

Besides, Anna-san has the highest authority in the Brave house’s internal affairs.

This means that the Brave has no say in this.

“Thank you for bringing this up to me but……please give me some time to think.”

“This is an important matter. You should think about it carefully. But, rather than going out of your way to the Dominion, I think it would be better if you join my house instead.”

Saying so, Anna-san stood up from her seat and left the room.

I used to think of her as someone who is hard to deal with but after I grew up, I find it multiple times harder to go against her.

She probably moved because she heard that I am the first candidate to be Marianne’s husband but this is still too early.

The Brave house is the guardian of the Empire. Anna-san can not make a move like this on her own.

She must have laid the groundwork before she came talking to me.

In other words, she was already preparing even before Marianne sought asylum with us.

Or it could be even earlier than that.

In anticipation of this situation, she came to give me a way out.

“Good grief…..she really is a troublesome person.”

“It seems that everyone is thinking the same thing, sir.”

Saying so, Sebas shows me the letter that is on my desk.

It arrived early this morning.

The sender is Duke Kleinert, Finne’s father.

The content of the letter is similar to what Anna-san just said.

He said that if I have to go to the Dominion then I should just become his son-in-law.

There’s no way that a letter like that can be sent within one day.

The duke probably expected this development and sent the letter in advance.

“What do you think? Sebas. It seems that I have a lot of choices you know?”

“If other men hear of this then I think that they would start shedding tears of blood, sir.”

“Seriously…..Haa……”

With a long sigh, I flopped down on my desk.

In the end, all of them are just marriages of convenience.

What changed is simply the other party.

I can’t think of a good solution for this at all.

Moreover, when big players bring the matter up themselves like this, it is impossible to laugh it off or cheat my way through.

“This is hard……”

“It certainly is, sir.”

Unable to make any comeback, I kept lying down on my desk.

TLN: Well, considering the fact that the damage would spread to the house he marries in with his inevitable debut as Silver, I understand the hesitation.

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