Garrett – after escorting Rebecca – came straight back to me. And quickly, by the look of his breath. He’d clearly rushed.
I don’t drop my formal tone in front of anyone but a few trusted confidants and family. Even then, I generally use “I” as my first-person pronoun; only around family do I let my guard down. And yet, with Rebecca – a woman I’d met for the first time – I’d used “this guy” to refer to myself. Garrett found that suspicious.
It was unfortunate for Garrett, who’d just gotten himself a beautiful fiancée. But I wasn’t giving Rebecca to anyone. In exchange…
If it meant having her, there was no price I wouldn’t pay.
For me to be with Rebecca, there was another issue beyond dissolving my engagement with Princess Aliya and Garrett’s engagement with her: the will of Marquis Howard, Rebecca’s father.
The Marquis didn’t want his daughter to become Crown Princess – probably because of that absurd mistress system. No matter how many times I swore I’d never cheat or take a mistress, I had no way to prove it now. Expecting ordinary persuasion to work would be naïve.
Of course, I could use royal authority to steamroll the Marquis and take Rebecca by force.
But she’d grieve if I trampled her family. I wanted to avoid that.
There was a better solution – one far cleaner than brute force. Remove the Marquis’s reason to oppose our marriage entirely. That way, Rebecca wouldn’t have to carry any unnecessary burdens either.
”Garrett. You take the throne,” I said.
”…Huh?” Garrett stood there blankly, his mouth hanging open. “Is that a joke, Your Highness?”
I spoke to Garrett, who stood frozen in place.
”I fell for Rebecca the moment I saw her. I’ll break off the engagement with Princess Aliya within four years – that’s set in stone. And the moment I do, I’ll renounce my claim to the succession, step down from royalty, and tell Rebecca how I feel. She’ll be my wife, and only her. Even if I have to take her from you, I won’t give up. You’ll succeed the throne.”
Serving the country and its people doesn’t require sitting on the throne.
As a vassal supporting my younger brother, the king, there’s plenty I can do – both in the public eye and behind the scenes. Even if I cast aside my title and became a commoner, whether as a traveling merchant or a monster hunter, as long as I contributed to the people’s peace, that would be service enough.
One of the reasons I’d trained my mind and body since childhood was that I always intended to journey to find her someday.
Of course, a Crown Prince can’t just do as he pleases. So I’d kept Garrett in mind as the successor, overseeing his studies and sword training, using the opportunity to drill the fundamentals of royal education into him. Now Garrett was fourteen. He could be spoiled at times, but with the right guidance from here on, he’d grow into a kind and capable king.
”Brother! What are you saying!” Garrett’s voice cracked with panic. “There’s no way I could ever be king! And besides, who else could rule this kingdom but you?! I’m not – I can’t do it!”
”No, you’ll be a good king. If I can have her, I’ll gladly abdicate.”
I tousled his hair like I was soothing a fussy child.
”It’s impossible!” He clawed at his already mussed hair. “I know you’ll scold me for this, brother, but – being king, even being Rebecca’s husband, it’s all too much for me! And why does falling in love with her mean you have to give up the throne?!”
”Marquis Howard agreed to your engagement with Rebecca because you’re not the Crown Prince. You know how hard Father and Mother fought to secure that engagement, don’t you?” I met his panicked gaze evenly. “No matter how powerful the royal family is, we’d rather not make an enemy of the court’s shadow ruler. It wouldn’t be impossible to seize Rebecca by force – but if we marry, Marquis Howard becomes my father-in-law. A strained relationship between father and husband would only make Rebecca miserable.”
I said it with a clear conscience, and Garrett visibly shuddered.
”S-so you’re saying if you weren’t Crown Prince, everything would be solved?!” His voice climbed an octave. “Just how gone on Rebecca are you?! I see it – I get the message!” He threw his hands up. “I never had any romantic feelings for her to begin with – ours was a political engagement. And she’s, well… a bit much for me to handle. No, she’s beyond me. So I’ll gladly support your cause! But please – reconsider stepping down!”
Garrett, looking like he might cry, pressed his case desperately. He went on and on about how I was the one truly suited to be king, how nobles respected me, how the military admired me, how the people loved me. As for me, watching my brother act as if his life depended on it, I couldn’t help but let out a wry smile.
Truth be told, this conversation was the kind that could – in other circumstances – get someone killed. When succession is on the line, raising this topic puts the listener in a no-win position. If my brother were foolish enough to agree, he’d be judged as having designs on usurping the throne – and purged accordingly. There was only one safe answer: refusal. It was a rather insidious trap disguised as brotherly candor.
In a strained sibling relationship – or a normal one – that’s how it would go. Fortunately, Garrett and I were close. We never played such mind games. I genuinely intended to abdicate, and Garrett genuinely wanted me to stay.
He was practically in hysterics: “I can only handle being a prince because I’m the little brother!” “I absolutely refuse to be king!” And finally, in a moment of delirium: “If I go bald from stress, I’ll curse you for it, brother!”
”Garrett, your real thoughts are showing.” I shook my head, amused despite myself. “I’d sacrifice anything to make Rebecca my wife. I do feel bad for you, though. I thought the throne might be enough compensation for giving up Rebecca…”
”Don’t worry about me!” He waved his hands frantically. “Like I said, Rebecca is… too much woman for a boy like me. If anything, think of it as helping me – win her over. If it’s to make her Crown Princess, I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
”I see…” I studied him for a long moment.
”Then, if you’re serious – I have one request. I know it’s shameless, but until I dissolve my engagement with Princess Aliya, could you keep her occupied? A woman like that – left unattended – the men will swarm her in no time.”
”Understood.” Garrett straightened, a flicker of resolve crossing his features. “I’ll play the part of her temporary fiancé as best I can. And since you’re determined, do it right – make her your queen!”
I appreciated his enthusiasm – truly. But I also made a mental note: I should recommend to Father that Garrett receive a proper Crown Prince’s education, just to be safe. Watching him flail like that, I thought it prudent.
Garrett took my statement – that I wouldn’t confess my feelings to Rebecca until the engagement was dissolved – as something weighty. He seemed to think I was holding back to protect her from the dishonor of being called a mistress, to shield her from sordid schemes.
He declared with resolve: he would never let anyone – especially Rebecca – suspect the engagement was a sham. I even sensed in him the spirit of a young man rising to a great challenge.
That spirit didn’t quite survive the reality of having to stand beside his future sister-in-law as her fiancé. Garrett apparently found it awkward – he didn’t know how to act around her and ended up being rather formal. But Rebecca didn’t seem to care much either. The two of them settled into the role of a pre-political marriage couple without incident.
Summary:
Ethan reveals to Garrett his intention to abdicate the throne in favor of pursuing Rebecca, shocking his younger brother into a state of panic. Garrett protests vehemently, insisting he is unfit to rule and that Ethan is the only one capable of leading the kingdom. Despite Garrett’s resistance, Ethan calmly explains his reasoning, and Garrett eventually agrees to support the sham engagement with Rebecca, though the political implications of the succession discussion hang over the conversation.
Trivia:
- Ethan uses “this guy” as a casual first-person pronoun only with family – but used it with Rebecca on first meeting.
- Marquis Howard opposes Rebecca becoming Crown Princess specifically because of the royal mistress system.
- Ethan has been training since childhood for a journey to find his future wife, not for kingship.
- Garrett is only fourteen years old and has been receiving royal education as Ethan’s backup plan.
- The conversation about succession is politically dangerous – if Garrett had agreed outright, he could have been executed for treason.
- Ethan’s plan requires dissolving two engagements: his own with Princess Aliya, and Garrett’s with Rebecca.
- Garrett initially fears Rebecca is “too much woman for him” and is relieved to hand her off to Ethan.
- The sham engagement between Garrett and Rebecca must remain hidden from everyone, including Rebecca herself.