“No, that is not it.”
“Why would you think that?”
Hearing about the throne, the Second Prince stood up from his seat in a panic and waved his hands frantically at Karl.
His movement was so sudden that he nearly knocked over the teacup in front of him.
Seeing his panic, Zona reacted quickly and steadied the cup.
Kainster also realized his actions were a bit rude and quickly sat back down.
But his face had already flushed red.
“Look at me. How could I ever be the Emperor? I am the most cowardly and conflict-averse person there is.”
The Second Prince seemed very aware that he was not highly regarded.
Thus, the moment the throne was mentioned, he began to panic.
Karl watched him quietly, remaining skeptical of his words.
Kainster took a deep breath, seemingly trying to calm himself down.
“I... I just feel that everyone's lives are too hard.”
“But I cannot help them directly.”
“So, when I saw you helping them, I thought...”
At this point, his voice grew slightly softer.
“...if I could ask you to help me do it.”
When speaking of Karl's actions of helping the commoners in the slums, the admiration in Kainster's eyes did not seem fake.
Karl looked at the Second Prince in front of him, then at the gold coins pushed before him.
“Then, what are these gold coins for?”
The bags of gold coins on the table were quite numerous.
It was even enough for a baron to buy a small territory.
Karl's gaze still held a sense of scrutiny toward Kainster.
Hearing this question, the expression on Kainster's face suddenly grew even stiffer.
“Uh, well...”
He looked as if he did not dare to speak further.
Karl narrowed his eyes slightly.
“It is fine. You are a prince, after all.”
“I am already deeply grateful that you would think of the people.”
Karl's tone sounded calm.
But in his heart, he had already made a guess.
As expected, these bags of gold coins were meant to bribe him.
He wanted to use the Holy See to build a reputation in the slums.
Or perhaps use Karl's hands to package this “goodwill” as a royal achievement.
The methods of royalty never strayed far from such schemes.
Just as Karl was thinking this, Kainster scratched his head in embarrassment.
“Um...”
“I feel that just giving everyone some bread is a bit too basic.”
Karl: “...”
“So I thought, maybe the Holy See does not have enough funds to support the commoners.”
“That is why I brought some money for you.”
“This way, the food everyone eats should be able to get a bit better.”
After saying this, Kainster only dared to keep his head down, stealing glances at Karl's expression.
Karl looked at him and fell silent for a moment.
Had he overthought it? Looking at the prince who kept his head lowered, Karl could not tell if he was genuinely naive or just a superb actor.
“I understand your intention.”
“However, you should take this money back.”
With that, Karl pushed the bags of gold coins back.
“But...”
The Second Prince seemed to want to say something more.
He was even on the verge of standing up.
But the moment he made a move, Zona, standing behind him, immediately pressed down on his shoulder to force him back down.
Kainster immediately sat up straight.
“If you are worried that I will not provide proper provisions to the commoners without this money,”
“...then there is absolutely no need.”
Karl looked at him, his tone softening slightly compared to before.
“You are still a bit too naive when it comes to material aid.”
“Do not worry.”
“The Holy See can still afford this much.”
After saying this, Karl stuffed the gold coins back into the prince's hands.
At the same time, he casually slapped away a hand that was creeping toward the pile of gold.
Smack.
Furni's hand was slapped back.
“Ugh...”
Furni sat nearby, her eyes still glued to the bags of gold coins.
Those eyes, which had looked exhausted and surrounded by dark circles, were now filled with an intense desire for gold.
Shiny things.
So many shiny things.
If only this money were given to me...
Before Furni could finish her thought, Karl and Zona's gazes fell upon her simultaneously.
Furni: “...”
She silently withdrew her hand.
Pretending nothing had happened.
Looking at Furni's behavior, a vein seemed to throb on Zona's forehead as well.
However, she did not plan on scolding Furni while discussing official business, as it would be bad etiquette. Seeing that their conversation was drawing to a close, she spoke.
“Your Highness.”
“You have been out for long enough.”
“Let us head back.”
Kainster, still clutching the gold coins Karl had stuffed back to him, looked at Karl with some reluctance.
He seemed to want to say more.
Zona continued:
“Did you not want to try farming? I have cleared a small plot of land for you in the backyard.”
“Do you not want to go back and try it?”
Hearing Zona say that she had cleared a field in the palace backyard, the Second Prince's eyes instantly lit up.
“Really?”
He sprang up from his chair.
“Didn't you say that this isn't something royalty should do?”
“Why the change of heart?”
The Second Prince asked Zona.
Yet, he was already walking toward the door of the reception room.
Zona looked at this prince who was so happy just because he could farm.
For a moment, she did not know whether to be happy or sad.
At the very least, he truly did not resemble a member of the imperial family.
But precisely because he did not act like royalty, he seemed so out of place in the capital.
As Kainster reached the door, he suddenly stopped.
He turned back to look at Karl.
A somewhat awkward yet sincere smile appeared on his face.
“Bishop Karl, if possible...”
“...please do not help the war.”
After saying this, he was dragged away by Zona.
“Your Highness, what you said just now was far too sudden.”
“Eh? Was I not supposed to say that?”
“It is not that you cannot, but you should at least be more composed.”
“But that is really what I think.”
“That is why I said you need to learn how to express yourself.”
The voices of the two gradually faded into the distance.
Silence returned to the reception room.
Karl remained in his seat, staring in the direction the Second Prince had left, silent for a long time.
That prince indeed did not seem like a member of the imperial family.
But...
Karl gently stroked the rim of his teacup.
At least, compared to the First Prince at the border, who was driven by the nobles and rage, and already consumed by a desire for power...
...this Second Prince was far more willing to care about the lives of the nation's people.
Just as Karl was lost in thought, a heavy thud came from beside him.
Thud.
Furni collapsed directly onto the floor.
She stretched out a hand, weakly clawing toward the direction the Second Prince had gone.
“Gone... they're gone...”
“The shiny things...”
“...flew away...”
Furni's heavily dark-ringed eyes were wide open at this moment.
It was as if she had encountered something she absolutely could not accept.
Karl looked at Furni lying on the floor, looking completely dead inside, and was instantly speechless.
“Furni, those gold coins do not belong to you.”
Furni lay sprawled on the floor, her voice weak.
“But they were once so close to me...”
Karl: “...”
This dragon was truly beyond saving.
Rate on N.U.
