“P-Prince Harold!?”
“What is it? Is there something on my face?”
As soon as we arrived at the Royal Palace, the guards widened their eyes at the sight of me.
How rude. I’m still the Third Prince, you know.
“N-No, I apologize…”
“Then, allow us to pass.”
Ignoring the guards with complicated expressions, we entered the Royal Palace.
Then.
“Is it true that P-Prince Harold has arrived!?”
“Huh? Minister Olson?”
Running through the corridors of the Royal Palace with a desperate look on his face was Marquis Olson, the peculiar minister who supports me.
Come to think of it, since entering the Royal Academy, it might be the first time I’ve met him outside the throne room.
“Good day, Minister Olson.”
“! Oh! Prince Harold! We can talk later! First, this way!”
“Whoa!?”
My arm was pulled forcefully, and I was led to a room inside the Royal Palace.
W-What’s going on…?
“Haa… Haa… Haaaaaa…”
“A-Are you alright…?”
Minister Olson, who seemed to be very flustered, finally began to calm down.
Still, he’s sweating quite a bit.
“Whew… well, I’m glad I could meet you at this timing. I’ll get straight to the point… actually, another one of His Majesty’s illegitimate children has been found…”
“Ah, I see…”
I thought it would be something like that.
How many illegitimate children is he planning to bring out?
“However…”
“Is there something wrong?”
“Yes. To avoid any mistakes, I investigated their background, but no matter how I look at it, they are not His Majesty’s child. In other words…”
“You’re saying… he’s trying to give the Right of Succession to a complete stranger…?”
Minister Olson nodded at my words.
As for Owen, the Prime Minister and Minister Olson accepted his existence, so there was no doubt that he was an illegitimate child.
But this time, it’s different. If the two of them are denying it, then it’s just someone prepared as a replacement for me.
King Aival, you’re finally desperate and throwing caution to the wind.
“So, what are your thoughts on this, Minister Olson?”
“Of course, I have absolutely no intention of accepting it. This is the consensus of all the ministers, including the Prime Minister… no, of all the nobles.”
Now… if King Aival stubbornly insists that this complete stranger is his child, then the kingdom will be split in two.
If things go badly, a coup d’état could be staged, and the current dynasty could fall… or so.
“This…”
Thinking that far, I shuddered.
“Prince Harold… as you know, I believe that you are the most suitable person to be the king of this country. With Lord Bradley on your side, and with you in control of the military, including the Royal Guard…”
“Minister Olson, that’s enough.”
I hurriedly interrupted Minister Olson’s words.
Since I met him, I’ve always thought of Minister Olson as a loyal retainer who serves the kingdom. The Prime Minister and Lord Bradley think the same.
Is he in such a desperate situation that he’s actually recommending a coup d’état to me…?
“…I’ve said too much. Please forget what I just said.”
“No… anyway, let’s start by investigating why His Majesty the King is claiming that someone whose background is completely unknown is his child.”
“Understood. I will share this with the Prime Minister as well.”
“Yes.”
Minister Olson lowered his shoulders and left the room.
“Lord Hal…”
“Yeah…”
Sandra placed her small hand on mine, looking at my face with a worried expression.
Before I knew it, Monica had also placed her hand on my back, and Caz licked my cheek, too.
…If everyone wasn’t by my side, I might have been too distraught to remain calm.
Because that’s right, isn’t it? In other words, this was like a stepping stone for me to start a coup d’état.
–For me to face the same bad ending as in “EnHaza.”
“…To be honest, I, too, believe that Lord Hal is the most suitable person to be the king of this country. But Lord Hal doesn’t desire such a thing.”
“………………….”
“Hey… Lord Hal. Why don’t we just run away as we are…?”
“Eh!?”
Sandra wrapped her arms around my neck and whispered softly.
Run away…? Me, from this kingdom…?
No, from this world of “Engage Hazard”…?
“To me, Lord Hal is more Precious Thing than this world. As long as you are by my side, I don’t want anything else. That alone makes me incredibly happy.”
Saying that, Sandra smiled sweetly.
“I, too, will only serve Prince Harold and Young Lady. This Monica Ashton will be by your side forever.”
“Me too! My partner is… only Hal…”
“Monica… Caz…”
Monica pressed her cheek against my back, and Caz, perched on my shoulder, appealed with her golden eyes.
That’s right… there was no need to go along with this world from the beginning.
Originally, I just wanted to abandon my status as the Third Prince and everything else, and spend my time quietly with my favorite fiancée… no, my beloved woman, and my ‘Precious Thing.’
But.
“…I refuse to accept it.”
“Prince Harold…?”
“I won’t allow something like this to be my fate!”
I hugged Sandra, Monica, and Caz tightly and shouted loudly.
Don’t screw with me! I’ve been doing my best to change the Scenario so that I don’t end up with an ending like in “EnHaza”… to save my favorite fiancée!
And yet, are those guys trying to make me a stepping stone no matter what!
Do they want to belittle me… belittle us…!
Then.
“I’ll change that fate! This time… this time, I’ll ruin that kind of ending!”
I shouted with all my heart and glared in the direction of the throne room, where King Aival was likely to be.
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