0&1 Ch 9.3

I remembered the people who would clap whenever Joffrey did anything. I raised both hands and clapped. The girl who had been bowing her head looked up at me.

The Queen smiled and followed my lead. Soon, the salon was transformed into a concert hall.

The girl’s cheeks turned red. Receiving applause could really make one feel shy.

The children recited poems like, “Thanks to our sponsors, we spent a warm winter and ate cake on our birthdays…” The last line ended with a plea to continue their support because they were truly grateful.

Was that a poem?

It was obvious that someone had instructed the children to add that phrase. Was it the director who told them to say that? In any case, the nobles who attended the charity event seemed satisfied.

“Thank you for creating such a lovely occasion.”
“They seem to have received an excellent education.”
Some even praised the children.

Relieved, the children munched on finger food. 

The girl spotted me and started to call out, “Your Highness–” but the Queen took hold of my arm.

“Shall we go back, Prince? You’ll be late for your evening class.”
“Yes, Mother.”

The Queen remembered the class schedule better than I did.

On the way back in the carriage, the Queen asked me, “Did you enjoy the event today?”

“Yes, Mother.”
“It seems you’ve become quite friendly with Lord Grey Cracker.”
“More than before.”

I didn’t know how Grey and Joffrey had gotten along before, but I knew the Queen would like to hear that.

She smiled softly and said, “My Prince never disappoints me.”

It seemed strange to say that to her son, who had just made a friend.

But it wouldn’t be the first time the Queen had acted strangely. I just nodded and said, “Yes, Mother.”

I was already certain that I would never win Grey’s affection.

Grey Cracker watched from afar as the Prince smiled at the children from the orphanage. The Queen, who had been watching the Prince expressionlessly, said, “Shall we go back, Prince? You’ll be late for your evening class.”

The Prince paused, then smiled and replied, “Yes, Mother.”

Once the Prince left, the charity event became dull. The nobles began calling for their carriages one by one. The Duchess also approached Grey. “Shall we go?”

“Yes, Mother.”

The Duchess gave Grey a smile full of trust.

In the rattling carriage, Grey was lost in thought. The carriage was passing through the square. He saw the poles holding the necks of the condemned prisoners.

Grey knew that Count Baumkuchen was involved in the matter. His father, the Prime Minister, never hid anything from Grey. Grey was to be the Prime Minister’s successor.

For a long time, the Prime Minister and his wife had no children. Grey was a miraculous heir. When he was a newborn, he had an illness that caused him to stop breathing, and he was often sick. His relatives thought that Grey would not live long. They said that another heir was needed.

But Grey proved that no other relative’s child could be more fitting as a successor than he was. He was intelligent, had his parents’ hopes and expectations, and lived up to those expectations.

His parents trusted Grey. His father, the Prime Minister, believed that Grey would do well in the royal court.

Grey intended to do just that. He planned to observe the two Princes and decide which side to take.

Emotionally, he was inclined toward Edward, but he tried not to let his sympathy for Edward or his dislike of Joffrey influence his judgment.

Grey had been observing Edward and Prince Joffrey for the past year. He thought a year was enough time to get to know someone.

Wasn’t it?

Recently, Grey couldn’t trust his own judgment.

“You’ll do well. Don’t be nervous. Everyone is here to help you.” 

Joffrey looked like a good prince when he said that.

But what about what happened before?

A year ago, what about the series of events that silenced Edward and turned him into a ghost in the royal palace?

Wasn’t that also the doing of Prince Joffrey?

The old Grey would have been certain. Now, he couldn’t be sure.

It was rare for Grey to change his mind. But Prince Joffrey, however…