#372
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372
“… … “I wouldn’t mean anything else to Charlotte.”
When Magritte opened his mouth as if to console, Michael asked nervously.
“How can your mother guarantee that? “It’s been a long time since your mother had a conversation with Charlotte.”
“Because people don’t change that easily. “That kid isn’t good enough to calculate something like that.”
Magritte answered calmly.
It is natural for a mother to know about her child. Especially if she is someone in the same position as her.
She knew that Michael was anxious these days, as if he was being chased by something.
Grand Duke Rinosa has not yet confirmed his successor.
If he had survived the danger of death, he would have thought seriously about a successor, but he kept putting off the decision.
Perhaps he was thinking about the time after Charlotte graduated from Greta Academy.
Charlotte’s graduation, which felt so far away, is now getting closer.
Although it was a situation where he had to be even more wary of her, Charlotte, whom Michael had always been aware of, suddenly showed unexpected behavior.
He skips classes during the semester and is now involved with the imperial family.
In that nervousness, Michael had to maintain the temple’s support at an appropriate level.
That’s what called this action.
If nothing happened, it wouldn’t even be called a mistake. But the incident happened, and because of it, Renosa’s position was in trouble.
What is there to say since this is the result of one’s own actions?
On that fundamental question, Magritte remained silent.
‘I cannot get involved in the issue of the Archduke’s successor.’
That is also the duty of the Grand Duchess. Magritte had to make a choice for Linosa, and the Archduke would have had more insight than Magritte.
The Archduke was the monarch of Linosa, but he was also Magritte’s husband. In any case, the Archduke’s will is more important to her than Michael.
Moreover, it was not that Magritte did not love Charlotte, nor did he absolutely believe that Michael should succeed to the throne.
Of course, she supported Michael. However, it is also because Michael has proven himself to be a worthy candidate for becoming an archduke, rather than a bastard.
Moreover, she had an instinctive calculation that it would be advantageous for her to have a child with whom she had a good relationship become the Grand Duke.
‘More than anything, Michael… … .’
Unlike Charlotte, he is too greedy and will not be able to bear the fact that he does not become a grand duke.
That will bring about Michael’s destruction.
She could not help but think that Michael becoming Grand Duke of Rinosa would be the way to protect both of her children.
Michael pressed his eyebrows together. After calming down his agitation, he asked in a calm voice.
“Couldn’t they be trying to take hostages? “If you go there, Charlotte could be in danger.”
Subtle love and hate. If Charlotte had no abilities and was a much weaker relative than him, Michael would have been willing to spare her.
But Charlotte had talents that Michael did not have. Swordsmanship talent!
Moreover, she is the head of the swordsmanship department at Greta Academy. She also has a close relationship with the Black Wing Knight Commander.
Michael couldn’t help but be conscious of the results she would bring to Linosa after graduating.
Because that is an area that Michael can never achieve.
“Rinosa is also of imperial lineage. “If they were going to ask for a hostage from Linosa, they would ask for you, not Charlotte.”
The Grand Duchess pointed out gently. There is no way the Empire could not be aware of the relationship between Michael and Charlotte.
Michael made a mistake, but if he empowered his rival, he would give it to him and not take that rival hostage.
Michael looked at his mother with bright blue eyes.
Although she is on her side more powerfully than anyone else, she is sometimes unable to move as she wants. Because the Grand Duchess of Linosa was not a doll.
It wasn’t okay to throw a tantrum like a child just because you didn’t get your way.
Michael, who suddenly had an angelic expression again, narrowed his eyes at his mother.
“all right. I’m worried, but I can’t help it if the Archduke has made a decision. “I’m tired.”
“Okay, take a break.”
widely. The sound of the door closing was heard, and the room fell into silence. Michael was lost in thought.
As he always does, he assumes cases that are advantageous and disadvantageous to him.
‘If Charlotte ends up with him.’
If Charlotte becomes involved with the heir of Archduke Farnese, it will be a powerful force for her. Because Charlotte will be carrying her empire on her back.
However, although that fact was threatening, it could not necessarily be seen as having a negative effect on Michael.
The Prince of Rinosa, who has maintained a close relationship with the Empire but has been wary of it, will be mindful of the possibility that the Empire will devour Rinosa.
Rinosa is a country that was almost separated from the empire a long time ago.
Although of imperial lineage, Rinosa had long since secured an independent status.
Prince Rinosa would not want to be threatened by that fact.
‘But when considering the position of successor, it is true that the Empire is a more helpful force than the Temple. However, Charlotte… … .’
Michael frowned. He still wasn’t sure if what he knew about her was valid.
This incident is so unexpected that it is shocking.
However, personality does not change easily, and Charlotte cares for Rinosa very much. That is an unchanging fact.
She is a person who values her duty and honor as the Grand Princess of Rinosa.
Even if he becomes the successor to Archduke Farnese, he will not allow the empire to devour Rinosa.
Because of that, she could have refused marriage talks.
Because the Grand Duke of Linosa will not proceed with marriage talks against Charlotte’s wishes.
That would also be unfair because it would mean that Charlotte would be covering up Michael’s mistakes.
‘It could end with Charlotte becoming Archduchess Farnese.’
If Michael wins the competition for successor, Charlotte’s position at Linosa will become ambiguous, so it would be easier for her to turn her mind to marrying a man of similar status and living a better life.
In any case, it is a decided fact that she has to go to the empire.
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Michael thought of a slightly more unlikely assumption.
‘It’s not like the crown prince accidentally set his sights on Charlotte after going to the empire, right?’
Charlotte is a beauty. She knew that Archduke Farnese’s secret son was also infatuated with her, so she couldn’t guarantee that something unexpected wouldn’t happen again.
It might have been simpler if Charlotte had become empress.
Immediately, the Grand Duke of Linosa will strip Charlotte of the authority she has for Linosa, and she will never be able to hold the position of Grand Duke of Linosa again.
“It’s an empire… … .”
Michael suddenly muttered.
So far, he has solidified his position. As he navigates variables like barriers.
Ahead of Charlotte’s graduation, a new wind is blowing, but Michael will make that wind his own.
If you can’t defeat him, he won’t be worthy of becoming Grand Duke of Rinosa.
*
It was close to vacation. Charlotte’s grades this semester were terrible by her standards.
Even though she was a mess, she was at the top, but she didn’t take the midterm exam.
Although a substitute test was taken, only 80% of the grade is reflected in the written exam.
In the eyes of Charlotte, who was only the top student, it was bound to feel inadequate.
‘Maybe I should have just taken a leave of absence this semester and focused on next semester to graduate early.’
The problem was that it came back ambiguously. But since he saved Helmut as Charlotte, he had nothing left to do but return to the academy.
She had to stick to what she was doing. Because she is a student at Greta Academy.
‘It’s the last semester.’
After next semester, I will graduate from Greta Academy. However, Charlotte herself did not know whether she would be able to return after this vacation.
She was holding in her hands a letter with the seal of the Grand Duke of Rinosa.
It was given to her directly by a member of the Black Wing Knights who was dispatched from Rinosa to Baden.
“This is the order of His Highness the Archduke.”
As soon as the vacation arrives, head straight from Baden to the Reich. There was nothing to prepare here.
On her way from Baden to the Empire, she will join the people of Linosa and head to the Empire.
It was her first official visit as Grand Duchess of Rinosa. Maybe, she might even run into academy students there.
Then, rumors will spread like wildfire about her identity, which seems to be already secretly known.
Even though there was only one semester left, it was something Charlotte wanted to avoid.
But it was also something that had to be endured.
“I guess I should follow suit.”
It was an order from Grand Duke Rinosa, so it was natural. But he was concerned about why the Empire had requested his visit.
“Asuka-senpai… … Is it because of that?”
Charlotte was surprised when she learned about Asuka’s identity from Area, who visited her briefly while staying in Baden.
However, I think I vaguely knew that he was not an ordinary person.
A commoner wouldn’t try so hard to hide his family origins even from his friends.
“Even so, I’m talking about getting married.”
Charlotte looked at the letter with complicated eyes.
Charlotte also knew that Asuka-senpai was interested in her.
Asuka was a guy who couldn’t hide his feelings, and he made it clear to anyone that he was interested in Charlotte. No matter how dull I was, I couldn’t not know.
Charlotte was also a noblewoman. If she wanted, she could hide her true feelings and not reveal them.
She made an unknown expression. Something that had been briefly revealed in that expression disappeared, and Charlotte’s face became calm again.
“We can all meet again there.”
The memory of risking our lives together in the forest of Pahe was quite strong for Charlotte.
I missed them. Helmut and Area, Asuka and Xian. All of them were in the capital of the empire.
Helmut had no contact with Charlotte while in Baden. Since she was being watched by Rinosa, she was prepared just in case.
Area appeared with a changed appearance and only had a brief conversation with Charlotte.
“I should prepare too.”
She gently put the letter in her arms.
As soon as he confirmed the contents of the letter, he had already told the Knights Templar that he would follow the Archduke’s orders.
Although my heart felt heavy at the fact that I had to make an official visit to the empire, I looked forward to the upcoming reunion.
As Charlotte entered the room to pack her things, a subtle excitement was rising in her heart.
