Chloe feigned innocence.
“Yes, Sir.
Because His Highness and I love each other.”
“If speaking casually is difficult for you, let’s just drop ‘Sir’ from the beginning.”
“Understood.
His Highness and I….”
“My uncle was the first person who came to see me the day after he caused that scene at the banquet.
I can roughly guess the circumstances.”
Frederick cut Chloe off with a beaming smile.
Chloe glanced down at Curtis again.
However, the Prince’s gaze, standing there on the terrace, did not leave Chloe.
A sigh threatened to escape.
First, His Majesty the King, and now a test from her nephew-in-law.
But Chloe was a soldier.
No matter how close Curtis and the Prince appeared to be, the contract between the two of them was a form of classified information.
If she leaked secrets to an unauthorized person based on private judgment, her military career would be over.
“Let’s be honest.
Is my uncle the type of person who can share a bed with another human being?”
She found herself in emphatic agreement, though it was not a sentiment she dared give voice to.
“Since he loves me, I assume he would be willing.”
At her brazen answer, Prince Frederick smiled brightly.
“I can fully understand why my uncle made this choice.
My father’s old inferiority complex can sometimes be burdensome even for me, his son.”
“Thank you for trusting such a humble person.”
‘Is this prince insane?
We’re meeting for the first time today, and he’s badmouthing His Majesty the King right to my face?’ Chloe thought.
Nevertheless, Frederick maintained his pleasant demeanor.
“However, the person I do not understand is you, Miss Amboise.”
“Um…”
“Looking only at the events that have transpired so far, my uncle is the only one benefiting unilaterally.”
“That is not necessarily….”
“Then is this current marriage a benefit to you, Miss Amboise?
I do not see it that way.
First of all, you have firmly incurred the wrath of my formidable father.”
It was an overly disrespectful way for a Prince of Ivanes to refer to the King.
However, anyone who knew Prince Frederick even a little would understand completely.
A child raised under insidious and greedy parents, constantly compared to others, tends to turn out one of two ways.
They either grow up to be exactly like their parents, or they grow up to be someone who mocks them.
The Prince was the latter.
It was also the reason he got along well with Curtis.
He had watched the tense war of nerves between his father and his uncle for over ten years.
The now twenty-two-year-old Prince could easily discern Curtis’s inner thoughts based on the series of situations.
However, there was one thing that stuck in his mind.
It was Chloe Amboise.
The Prince had also examined Chloe Amboise’s record.
And he shook his head.
People thought Chloe Amboise joined the military for the sake of hypergamy.
But to the eyes of someone who had lived as the heir to the throne, it was a ridiculous notion.
If she wanted to marry up, there was no way she would have joined the Navy.
As everyone knew, it was difficult to marry for a year after discharge due to superstition.
If he were Miss Amboise and hoped to marry up, given her attractive face and tall, striking stature, she would have entered the marriage market quickly at a young age.
Chloe was currently twenty-six.
Furthermore, she didn’t plan to retire after marriage.
Chloe Amboise had only applied for leave for the wedding; she had not applied for discharge.
Of course, the position of Curtis’s adjutant did have a condition preventing discharge.
However, given the special circumstances, if Chloe Amboise were to apply for discharge, it would likely be granted.
“I reviewed it as well, but it seemed it would be difficult for His Highness to find a new adjutant.”
“I know that.
But usually, someone who becomes a Grand Duchess does not remain in the military for such a reason.”
The Prince cut off Chloe’s words immediately.
“No matter how hard it is to find someone, it is the military.
Ultimately, if there are no volunteers, they can simply draft someone.”
The conclusion was undeniable.
Chloe Amboise intended to continue her military service.
The reason was obvious too.
Aside from Chloe, there was no one in the Amboise family earning money.
The Prince speculated that there must be a price for this marriage.
Marriage was different from being an adjutant; it wasn’t something you could just draft someone into.
And also, the Grand Duke had said something in passing while demanding the use of the temple from the Prince.
“This won’t happen next time, Frederick.”
Next time.
What kind of person assumes a “next time” for a wedding, which typically happens only once in a lifetime?
It meant this marriage would not last very long.
A short marriage, and some kind of compensation.
It was none of his business what deal had been struck.
However, this was clearly a one-sided rescue mission.
What Chloe Amboise would have to bear afterward was a lifelong degradation of her reputation.
She was an ambitious woman who had volunteered to be Curtis Sean Berk’s adjutant first, yet she was willing to bear this?
So, what on earth was the benefit?
It was a choice the Prince could not understand at all.
The Prince was well aware that the position of Grand Duke Berk’s adjutant was a role people avoided.
But by that same token, if one completed the term and left, it would be a significant career boost within the military.
However, if she married the Grand Duke now, forget her career—her reputation would plummet to the absolute worst.
Moreover, for the rest of her life, she would likely continue to be hated by the King.
She couldn’t possibly be unaware of that.
Thus, the Prince became curious about Chloe Amboise’s inner thoughts.
“I am curious as to why you, Miss Amboise, saved my uncle even while taking a unilateral loss.”
However, there was something the Prince had overlooked.
The Prince was also a ruler from birth.
And he was, by all accounts, an exceptionally normal man.
It meant he was not the kind of person who could conclude that an adjutant, who had worked overtime for three long months under his formidable uncle, had sacrificed her reputation in marriage solely to witness her uncle’s defeat.
Naturally, she couldn’t answer the Prince with…
‘I was a little crazy.’
Chloe smiled brightly and answered.
“It may be presumptuous, but I have long held a singular admiration for His Highness.”
Prince Frederick’s smiling face frowned slightly.
“I believe I suggested we be honest, Miss Amboise.”
“That is why I am telling you honestly.”
Chloe brought her palms to her cheeks, acting shy.
It was unrequited love.
So when the recruitment for His Highness’s adjutant opened up to the Navy, I thought, ‘This is it!’ and applied.”
“Huh….”
“I never imagined he would actually select me, though.
I intended to be satisfied with just seeing His Highness’s face up close every day, but to think His Highness would come to love me.”
Silence flowed between the two.
‘Was I a bit awkward just now?’ Chloe rolled her eyes slightly while still holding her cheeks.
Eventually, Frederick smoothed out his furrowed brow.
Then, he spoke calmly.
“Indeed, Miss Amboise is a person who fits the position of Grand Duchess Berk very well.
I understand.”
“…Thank you?”
It was then.
“That means you’re good at lying.”
Chloe turned around hurriedly.
Curtis was approaching them; she hadn’t noticed when he had come up.
He lightly placed his hand on Chloe’s shoulder and spoke.
“My dear nephew, aren’t you tormenting your future aunt a bit too much?”
“Tormenting?
Hardly.
I was merely checking if my uncle might be tormenting an innocent citizen of Ivanes.”
Frederick shrugged.
“In my entire life, I have never heard anything as astonishing as the notion of my uncle loving someone.
Isn’t he someone for whom disliking someone is the easiest thing in the world?”
Curtis scoffed.
“I’m starting to dislike my nephew, too.”
“I am honored, Uncle.”
Chloe was on edge, but it seemed this kind of banter between the two was nothing new.
Curtis continued indifferently.
“The priest was looking for you.
It seems he has something to say regarding the preparation for the Blood Oath.
Miss Amboise needs to go to the prayer room now as well.”
“Understood.
Then I will see you at the Blood Oath shortly.
You as well, Miss Amboise.”
“Yes.
Thank you, Your Highness.”
But it seemed the Prince wasn’t finished speaking yet.
“Miss Amboise.
Although it ended up looking like an interrogation, I truly hope and trust more than anything that what you said is the truth.”
“Pardon?”
“I mean that I hope my uncle, with his notoriously difficult temperament, has finally found someone he loves so much he cannot help himself.”
“Frederick.”
Unable to watch any longer, Curtis curtly dismissed him.
Frederick winked one eye and disappeared.
As soon as the Prince was gone, Curtis removed his hand from Chloe’s shoulder and brushed it off.
Chloe glanced at Curtis to gauge his reaction.
“Um, how much did you….”
“Pretty much everything.”
“So….”
“This is a prayer sanctuary exclusively for the royal family.
Even if you try to have a secret conversation on the second floor, the sound travels down the pillars and can be heard clearly on the first floor.”
Chloe’s eyes widened.
That meant Prince Frederick had initiated the conversation assuming the Grand Duke would be listening.
‘If I had slipped up and misspoken, I would have been in big trouble.’
Whether he knew her inner thoughts or not, Curtis spoke indifferently.
“Good job.
But do not speak like that in the future.”
“Like that?
…Ah.”
She recalled her earlier blathering about “unilaterally admiring His Highness for a long time.” A dry laugh escaped her.
Did he mean not to spout nonsense that hadn’t been agreed upon?
But Curtis’s thoughts seemed to be a bit different.
The answer that popped out of his mouth was unexpected.