Ch.167The Fourth Flower (2)
by fnovelpia
“Tsk… Really, what am I supposed to do if I lose track of brother?”
She lost him because he left through the back door of the restaurant instead of the main entrance? Is that even an excuse?
Of course, he would be hard to spot since he was wearing a cloak as a disguise to go outside the palace and took only minimal attendants, but still, she should have found a way to handle it…!
Should I increase the personnel…? No, let’s put that on hold for now.
Before, when the administrative system was terrible, I could have increased the personnel as much as I wanted, but that’s no longer possible in Dijon, which has grown strong under my brother’s rule.
“…”
‘I’d like to say nothing will happen, but…’
I’m too anxious.
Of all times for his security to be compromised, he had to go to the university, and to meet that woman, no less.
Even though I already have two rivals, which should have dulled my emotions somewhat… I still find it unbearable when a new woman attaches herself to my brother.
Especially this time, it’s a complete stranger, a woman I’ve never even spoken to.
All I did was see her briefly at the palace a few years ago.
‘Of course, the other two started that way too, but at least they lived together in the palace.’
Ines and Jeanne were also unfamiliar and even unpleasant at first, but at least they lived together in the palace long enough to develop a grudging familiarity.
But that woman, Ellen, even if she does end up with my brother, she won’t come to this palace.
From my background check, I recall she’s been interested in my brother for some time, but judging by the fact that she hasn’t sought him out until now and from what the palace servants who remember Ellen have told me about her personality, that’s exactly how she would act.
Of course, my kind brother would try to bring Ellen to the palace, but if she firmly refuses, he would reluctantly give up.
A woman I don’t know, who has no connection to me, getting close to my brother.
…I don’t like it.
“Are you going yourself, my lady?”
“Yes, I have a bad feeling about this.”
“Very well, Lady Chloe. Everything is prepared.”
“…Thank you.”
Losing track of my brother is still absolutely unforgivable even now that I think about it, but I’ll let it slide for now, considering your dedication.
Above all, being too harsh doesn’t suit my disposition anyway.
……….
The university, converted from the palace once used by House Bourgogne, has walls made entirely of stone, which reflect the sunset light, making everything glow red.
It’s quiet since I arrived late. Just like when I came here for a walk with my brother.
‘A walk… huh.’
If my brother and Ellen end up together, it would be difficult to use the university’s walking paths again.
Normally, one shouldn’t care about the eyes of political rivals, but even so, there’s no way I could walk around defenseless in this university, which could be considered the enemy’s main base.
It’s a bit strange to use terms like “main base” for just one professor, but what can I do when that’s the reality?
‘…She’s talented too. Why do these kinds of women always gather around my brother?’
I’m not sure if it’s by her own choice, but from the information I’ve gathered so far, she wields enormous influence in social circles.
Whether it’s due to her friendly personality, her fairly pretty appearance (though not as good as mine), or a combination of both, she’s become close with numerous servants, soldiers, and children of powerful noble families. There’s a very high possibility that she knows about everything happening at the university, and even some matters outside it.
…To have such an information network yet not make a single move for four years until my brother approached her—she truly has remarkable patience.
“There’s… no one around. Good.”
Anyway, for these reasons, the last time I walked with my brother at the university, we chose the late afternoon when everyone was gone.
I don’t think Ellen would have a strange personality like Ines or Jeanne, but it’s better to be cautious.
If things go well with Ellen, I wanted to try walking in the bright daylight next time… Tsk, what a shame.
Tap—
“…”
Chloe sneaks into the building where Ellen’s office is located, avoiding the eyes of the guards.
This kind of stealthy movement is her first since she retired from the front lines after having children, but her skills haven’t rusted at all.
However, Chloe doesn’t take time to admire her undiminished abilities. The feeling she has is too unsettling.
‘…There are too few people, even guards.’
She had fully expected fewer people in the late afternoon. But the absence of guards makes her tilt her head in confusion.
There were only guards at the entrance.
With sunset approaching and night falling, they should be checking if anyone remained inside, but the guards were just standing blankly at the entrance.
Even though it’s a university, the duties of guards shouldn’t be different from elsewhere, so why…?
‘…Come to think of it, it was like this with Jeanne too.’
That woman Jeanne had dismissed all the servants around to avoid interruptions during her time with my brother.
If Ellen has dismissed the guards for the same reason… Grr.
‘I need to hurry.’
Even if such a thing were happening, Ellen is a latecomer, and I’m already in the position of a victor with two children, so there’s no real need to worry this much.
Still… I can’t bear the thought of him being with a woman I don’t know.
Clicking her tongue inwardly, Chloe heads toward Ellen’s office, which she had researched in advance.
She’s so anxious that her previously light, undetectable footsteps have changed to audible clicks, but fortunately, with no guards inside the building, she remains undetected.
‘Good, there—’
“…”
Despite finding her destination, Ellen’s office, Chloe doesn’t approach it closely.
Or rather, there’s no need to approach.
Without having to get close or press her ear to the door, sounds that resolve all her curiosity are flowing from beyond that door.
……….
“Ugh, ah…”
“Don’t move, just wait. I’ll get something to clean up.”
“Yes…”
…So that makes four women now.
Objectively speaking, there’s no worse trash than this.
Sigh… What am I going to tell the children…
Creeeeak—
‘The lounge was at the end of the corridor, right?’
As I recall, when they converted the palace into a university, they gathered all the necessary supplies in the lounge. Everything from simple cleaning tools to towels and water.
Of course, the water isn’t drawn through pumps or pipes, but is carried daily in buckets by servants or attendants.
Ugh… Shouldn’t this be solved with magic, like poof! I mean, in the various comics and movies I saw in my previous life, water would gush out with just a snap of the fingers.
What good is magic if it’s too weak to even do this? A pump would seem more magical at this point.
‘A pump… The mechanism is relatively simple for a machine, but is it impossible here on the third floor?’
I remember that due to pressure issues, water can’t be raised more than 10 meters no matter how hard you try.
Hmm… Still, I should have one made, right? I vividly remember the elders telling stories about how wonderful it was to have pumps.
Why am I only thinking of this now? The structure is simple, so I should give them the blueprints later when the time is right. No, to advance scholarship, maybe I should just give hints to the researchers and encourage them to study it?
Creeeeak—
“…”
With his thoughts completely scattered, Claude, walking while lost in thought, fails to notice the office door opening again.
……….
“Hehe… hehehehe…”
Even to my own ears, my laughter sounds incredibly vulgar, but I can’t help it.
It would be strange to hold back when I’m this happy, right?
Of course, I would restrain myself in front of His Majesty… but he’s not here now, so it doesn’t matter!
Creeeeak—
“—Gasp!?”
What, what is this… He came back too quickly…
No, I shouldn’t just stand here, I should quickly get up and… stand…?
“Who are—Oh.”
“Nice to meet you.”
…Chloe.
His Majesty’s younger sister and a woman who, like me, had an unblessed marriage.
The woman who tainted my precious memories.
Why… is she here?
“You look surprised. And you seem to know who I am. I like that.”
“What brings you here?”
“Before that, why don’t you fix your appearance? It’s… all showing.”
“Ah, aah… I’m sorry.”
No, I shouldn’t be apologizing…
Ellen, who until just moments ago had ambivalent feelings toward Chloe, finds those emotions instantly buried under a wave of shame.
Her current appearance is something she couldn’t show to anyone except His Majesty.
Moreover, the person seeing her is a woman she considers a rival, multiplying her shame several times over. This shame unconsciously made her apologize, preventing her from thinking clearly.
“…Anyway, I don’t have much time, so I’ll get straight to the point. Come to the palace.”
“What?”
“Move your residence to the palace. His Majesty—ahem, my brother will probably invite you to the palace, so don’t refuse and accept it.”
“…Why are you telling me this?”
“Doesn’t what you just did with His Majesty speak for itself?”
“…”
Ellen answers Chloe’s question, momentarily forgetting to cover herself.
It’s good. An incredibly good proposal. What mother in the world would enjoy raising a child alone?
‘But… if I do that, it would harm His Majesty.’
What I’ve learned while working at the university is that His Majesty is plagued by many false and malicious rumors. Even my efforts to dispel these rumors have been futile.
What would happen if another woman were to be associated with His Majesty? Wouldn’t it further damage his reputation?
Above all, rumors are not completely false but are created by mixing truth with lies.
His Majesty’s relationship with me, a man known for his fondness of women, would be seen by others as sexual coercion based on hierarchy.
No matter how hard I try to explain that it’s not like that, others will never listen to me.
To prevent such a future… I must distance myself from His Majesty.
“You understand, right? You’ll have many servants, fine clothes, bedding, meals—”
“…I refuse.”
“…What?”
“I cannot do anything that would harm His Majesty.”
Chloe’s eyes widen in disbelief.
Did she not expect me to reject her proposal?
No, that’s not it. It’s an expression of not understanding my judgment.
So Chloe is questioning not the rejection itself but why I made such a decision.
…All the nobles I’ve seen at the university so far think and act like the former, but Chloe seems to have a decent character.
Still, I can’t forgive her for ruining my memories.
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