0&1 Ch 8.4

The Prince became affectionate toward her again. He did not avoid her affection and ate dinner with her. He even gave her the test paper he had done well on as a gift

The Queen hung the Prince’s test paper, which had been ironed and coated by the royal alchemist, on the wall. Even when she was in a bad mood, she would smile when she saw the test paper.

Prince Joffrey always made the Queen happy. Only the Prince could perform such a magical feat.

“… That is all, Your Majesty. I have told you everything I know… not a single lie. I swear it. Have I not proven my loyalty?”

The Captain of the Guard rambled on.

The Queen smiled faintly. She wondered how he dared to say such a thing.

The Captain of the Guard was someone who had to accept whatever she gave him. He was not someone who asked for anything in return. No matter what information he brought to the Queen, he should not assume that she would pay him for it.

That would be the same as thinking she was making deals with him. A deal was something done between equals.

Still, it was good that he immediately shrank upon seeing her expression. 

He knew how to conduct himself.

When Count Baumkuchen had interrogated him, the Captain hadn’t run to his patron, the Baron, but had come straight to the Queen. He confessed everything from the moment the Prince first summoned him, to the errands he had carried out for the Prince.

Finally, he added his personal opinion, suggesting that Count Baumkuchen had come to see him at the Prince’s behest.

It was that opinion that moved the Queen to save him from ruin.

Count Baumkuchen was a difficult man to deal with. He had responded rudely to the Queen’s request to help the Prince with his horse riding.

Even the King couldn’t control him, but Prince Joffrey had succeeded in making him do as he wished.

She couldn’t help but rejoice.

It was good that the Prince had become kind again. However, at the same time, the Prince had become more secretive. People are greedy creatures, and the Queen found that disappointing.

When Baumkuchen treated the Prince badly, was it really so difficult for him to say a word to the Queen to tell her how hard it was?

She later learned what the Prince was thinking. In the end, the Prince won Baumkuchen’s heart.

A lady-in-waiting who had followed her from her homeland said the prince was becoming a man. Indeed, the prince had become noticeably more mature. He even attended meals with the King, whom he used to fear, and had volunteered to learn horseback riding.

It was sad that the Prince had a secret from her, but this was also something he had to overcome. The Queen intended to watch over the Prince now, just as she had patiently watched over him when he was entering puberty.

Surely the prince would repay her trust, just as he had this time.

The Queen had kept the Baron as her follower for convenience. The Baron was a convenient tool, and the Queen did not care what he did.

Prince Joffrey wanted to break that tool, using the sword called Baumkuchen.

And so the Queen had handed her tool over to the Prince.

The Captain of the Guard announced Baumkuchen’s visit and emphasized his own usefulness. The Queen wanted to get rid of the Baron without causing any trouble. 

If the Captain of the Guard volunteered to be the cleaner, there would be nothing easier.

The Queen would clear the path for Prince Joffrey.

Scandal did not suit the Prince. He was going to be a good king. It would be better to take a closer look at all the followers who had been kept around for convenience and get rid of them. 

The Queen was already making such plans.

“You want me to honor a promise?” The Queen asked. Sensing something amiss, the Captain bowed his forehead to the ground.

“No, Your Majesty. I spoke rashly…”
“It seems my words were not convincing enough. You are asking for a second promise. Or is your greed greater than your desire to live?”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Your Majesty! It’s because I’m impatient! Please forgive my foolishness.” The Captain banged his forehead on the floor repeatedly. 

The Queen folded her fan.

What a noisy and troublesome man. She was tired of dealing with him. The Queen motioned to her maid, who bowed her head in response.

There was nothing more to hear from the Captain of the Guard. The maid would deal with him.

The Queen left the maid in the room and moved to the one next door. The moment she closed the door, she forgot about the Captain.

She had other things on her mind.

The Prince, who had passed through puberty, was showing good qualities. He was sincere and charming. He had the qualities that attracted people.

The Prince would become a wise King. She had always vaguely believed this, but she had not been able to prepare him for it.

A wise King needed a good reputation.

A breeze flowed through the open terrace. The evening air was cool. 

The square would be dark by now.

The public execution must be over. The Queen recalled the reason for the execution. It had all started when the Prince took pity on an orphan.

My kind Prince.

Charity work would suit him well.

What better way to earn a good reputation?

When she called the Prince last night and broached the subject, he responded favorably to participating in charity events.

What other events are there? She wanted to introduce the Prince to respectable nobles.

The Queen made plans for the Prince. It had been a good day.

When she closed her eyes, she could see the Prince sitting in a high, unshakable position.

The Prince was the Queen’s only hope.