Vol. 3 - Ch. 105.5 - A Quiet Story: The Prime Minister's Dark Dilemma
The Falsely Executed Marquis’ Daughter Wants to Live Peacefully with Fluffy GodThis chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
Translator: Jpkuroneko-chan
Editor: Jpkuroneko-chan
This is the Prime Minister's point of view.
Frankly speaking, I was surprised when His Royal Highness the Crown Prince offered my niece Rio as his fiancée, but considering her happiness, I thought it was a good idea.
I don't have any daughters, so I consider Rio as if she were my own daughter. She is an honest and lovely lass, just like my sister Ellie used to be when she was a child. I want her to be happy more than anyone ever could.
However, I heard that Rio's magic attribute is plant magic, which is an earth attribute. I've heard that His Highness is looking for a daughter with light or dark attributes?
I know that the crown prince's Appraisal Eye assessed Rio's magical attributes according to a letter from Alex.
"It's true ....... I became certain of it when I paid a visit to the Marquisate de Grandeur the other day. I like ...... that ...... Rio. I don't think it'd be necessary to have a lady with a light or dark attribute at this point."
If the crown prince truly loves Rio that much, I would gladly accept the crown prince's offer.
My family, the Dukes of Paulford, is of royal blood. Ellie's son, Rio, also has the same blood, so her lineage is perfect.
She would be a suitable fiancée for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
Two years later, at the age of ten, Rio came to the royal capital to undergo the magic attribute judgment ceremony.
On the day of the ceremony, the royal family was away. It was because Her Royal Highness Princess Christina would be undergoing the magic attribute judgment ceremony this year. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the ceremony because I had to assist the king in his office instead.
Truthfully speaking, I would have liked to see my niece on her big day.
Perhaps I should have left the work in the hands of my excellent aide?
It had been a little over two years since I had seen the Marquis de Grandeur and his family, who had visited me at the Prime Minister's office.
Alex and Ellie are as close as ever. Sieg has grown taller and a little more mature. Rio has also grown taller and is becoming increasingly beautiful and resembling Ellie.
And May, whom I am meeting for the first time, is so cute. She's just adorable.
I couldn't help but put May on my lap with Rio in my arms. Two angels on my lap. What a blissful moment.
On a side note, why can't I have a daughter? The third child I had last year was also a boy. My child is lovely. But I want a daughter. Oh, well. I'll just love my nieces as much as I can.
After Sieg had finished escorting Rio to the tea party, the Crown Prince came to the Prime Minister's office.
"Sieg, you here? I want you to accompany me as I go to check on Chris."
"Sure, Rick. Shall we?"
The Crown Prince and Sieg were such good friends that they called each other by their nicknames. You can say that he is a trusted friend of the crown prince.
"I'll go with you. Alex and Ellie can stay here and relax. Joseph, take care of the two of them."
"Yes, sir."
Joseph replied with a blank expression. Joseph is an excellent man, though his lack of expression is a drawback.
The Crown Prince and Sieg first made their way to the seat where the Princess was seated. Rio is also at the same table as the princess. I don't want to get in the way of these young people, so I decided to watch from the shade of a nearby tree.
The Crown Prince's gaze toward Rio is loving. He must seriously care about Rio.
When the Crown Prince spoke to him, Rio's long silver eyelashes were slightly downcast and her cheeks had a hint of red.
Could it be that Rio also likes the crown prince?
The crown prince has a beautiful face, similar to the queen's, and all the young ladies are infatuated with the crown prince. It's no wonder that Rio is also attracted to him.
At the last table, one of the daughters misbehaved and started crying, so the Crown Prince and Sieg seemed to have had to leave early.
Hmm. If the Crown Prince still likes Rio and has not changed his mind even after turning fifteen, then we can proceed with the engagement talk.
Let's surprise her by announcing the engagement.
◇◇◇
I've been very busy this year.
So busy that I could not see my lovely nieces and nephew this year.
My lovely niece and nephew have entered the Magic Academy, and I can't even congratulate them in person.
Joseph! He's always keeping an eye on me with a harisen* in his hand.
Thanks to him, I can't even sneak out.
My assistant, Joseph Marcus Wright, is excellent, but he's too serious.
I'm the Prime Minister, and I'm not the one who needs to be hit by a harisen!
But if I punish Joseph, I will get in trouble.
These days, Her Royal Highness Princess Christina often came to visit. Since I couldn't see Rio, her highness served as a source of solace.
But now that she's off to the summer palace, she's been staring at Joseph every day. It's no fun.
Since the diplomatic relations with Hinoshima started, I've been even busier. At some point, I'll have to visit them.
Although there are many problems, this is a critical juncture! I must endure.
Everything was for this year's Royal Ball.
One fine day after summer vacation, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince came to visit me in my office.
"Prime Minister Paulford. How are the plans going?"
"Your Highness, sir. Everything is ready for the announcement of the engagement. But are you sure you don't want to inform Rio's parents beforehand?
Normally, the parents of both families would discuss the engagement, but since it was a surprise, they would have to agree after the fact.
"Mother and the Marquise de Grandeur are good friends. It's not a problem. I want to prepare the documents for the engagement ceremony. Can you do that for me?"
This is to ensure my niece's happiness. I have to live up to the Crown Prince's high expectations by any means necessary!
"Yes, of course."
In the meantime, I think I'll pass on the untimely work to Joseph.
Mmm! He is glaring at me with a harisen in hand.
Now the social season is upon us. It's time.
"Joseph, have you hidden the engagement papers so that Her Highness won't see them?"
"They're in the safe."
"And the key to the safe?"
Joseph pulls out a key from his pocket. As long as it's in his pocket, it's safe.
The Crown Prince's engagement is now ready.
All we have to do is to wait for the big day.
Fumu. Now, how to surprise her.
TL Note: A harisen: The harisen is a giant paper fan, usually made in a closed fashion. It is most traditionally used as part of a manzai act, in which the straight man smacks the funny man in response to their jokes or idiocy.
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