Chapter 131

It wasn't a kind thing to say about Anne, but Harold didn't put much stock in the city watch.

It must have shown. Anne's face went past apologetic all the way to contrite, and she apologized straight off. He hadn't said it looking for an apology, and he didn't want Anne taking it that way.

For all that, she was a junior he'd known for years. Trusted enough that when his nephew had gone into a coughing fit, he'd run straight to her for help with the boy in his arms.

"No, it's just……. You said it yourself before. That the city watch, um, can't really move on political matters."

Anne nodded, hesitant.

"I know I'm not sharp on this kind of thing, but I'm not stupid either……. The Renard business at the gambling den is clearly a problem. Even if she's the Second Prince's fiancée — getting tangled up with the royal family, is that going to be all right?"

"……"

"And you're on protection duty on top of everything — do you have time for other cases?"

Harold ran a hand along his jaw.

"Since the gambling den, we can't really move the investigation forward as it is, but——"

"That…… I'm sorry."

"No. I told you, it isn't something you need to apologize for."

His words might have come out curt, but Harold didn't bother softening them.

He was frustrated — no getting around that. If he hadn't already been caught up in a more complicated game, he'd have drawn his sword on the spot.

……No. When had a thing like that ever held Harold back? The only reason he'd let the First Prince walk out of that room in one piece was the nephews. With his brother gone, one stunt like that from Harold and the boys would be dragged in with no one left to shield them.

"I know Intelligence is on the case too, but you're on it as well, so I'm asking. When it comes to the investigation, I trust your instincts more."

"That…… thank you."

"I'm not your superior officer, you know? What are you saluting for?"

"Force of habit. I've been talking to a lot of higher-ups lately."

Anne gave a sheepish laugh and used the raised arm to scratch her head instead. The hair she'd put such effort into styling came undone. Realizing what she'd done a beat too late, Anne pursed her lips.

It wasn't even afternoon yet, which meant she'd have to head back to the palace. Watching her salvage her hair, Harold made no effort to hide his smirk.

"Ugh, honestly!"

"So how's it going? Have you completely dropped Adrien Renard?"

"It's not that."

"But it was the city watch that turned a blind eye on Carlisle."

"……"

Harold's words came out sharp. Anne's face darkened at them, but Harold went on:

"I know you're trying. I know the city watch's position too. But that doesn't mean I'm going to let it slide."

"……I know that too."

"Still, I've known you a long time, and you've been a help to me. That's why I'm giving you a heads-up."

What mattered to Harold above everything else was his nephews' safety. Grisha, who had a young sister of about the same age, understood — which was why, before Harold had even brought it up, he'd told him to put the nephews first.

That this was also a kind of atonement toward Albrecht — Harold was only now realizing it. He still hadn't figured out whether it had been an accident, but Albrecht had certainly gotten caught up in Grisha's business. Maybe it was Grisha's own way of repaying his teacher.

"I'm going to make Grisha king."

"……"

"I'm not asking you to help me. But I'm fond of you, so I want you to think it over carefully."

"……Is that a threat?"

"No."

Harold shrugged.

"Caring about you is one thing — work is another. What you do is up to you, but at least give it some thought."

"That's a threat, though."

"I told you it isn't. I know you're not the type to bury an investigation. I'm bringing it up on purpose because you're on protection detail for the Second Prince's fiancée."

"……"

"The city watch can keep neutral on paper, but you can't."

A rising talent in the city watch, and a noble on top of it. Close junior to Harold Bertholdt — Grisha Lambert's right hand — and now assigned to protect a member of the royal family.

Every side would want to claim her, and no side could really trust her.

"I really hate this."

Anne let her shoulders drop.

"I didn't want any part of it, so I barely spoke to those people. We're not that close, really, but they've invited me a few times. Tea parties and the like."

Harold raised an eyebrow. He'd thought she meant she hated the whole complicated situation — but she meant something else.

"Head of the noble faction inside the city watch — my late father would be over the moon to hear it. Saying 'finally you've come to your senses' or something."

"……"

"Marquis Roys, I don't really know. Being close to you doesn't mean I have to like him, does it?"

"Fair."

"But I hate Prince Carlisle. I want to put that man behind bars with my own hands."

"Mm."

"I mean it. I keep a file on the messes he's made, on the side. So if a chance ever comes I can bring it out as key evidence. And I'm not the only one — I know of at least three others who do the same."

He didn't doubt her hatred for Carlisle. Besides Anne, plenty of people in Harold's circle ground their teeth at the mere mention of the First Prince — the northern commander was one of them.

Harold nodded. He waited for Anne to catch her breath, then asked:

"And Prince Gerald?"

---

It was nearly noon by the time Claudia Reichnek woke.

With a daughter who came bounding onto her bed like a young colt the moment the sun was up, she couldn't remember the last time she'd woken this peacefully.

She'd come home for a rare vacation, and being up before dawn hadn't been part of the plan. This was one of the few windows she had to step out of a Duchess Lambert's duties.

And whose doing was that?

Her daughter's, of course. She loved the girl, but her energy could be more than a mother could handle. Which was exactly why a sudden pang of unease hit her.

Adelheid hasn't come to wake me by now?

If something had gone wrong, the servants would have come to wake her. Claudia forced the unease down.

She was about to call someone in to check that Adelheid and the other children were all right when a burst of loud laughter came from outside.

It sounded like birdsong. Sparrows on a branch, waking to the morning sun and chattering.

Claudia climbed out of bed and walked to the window. In the garden below, she could see the children throwing a wooden disc for the sheepdog. Adelheid's throw carried a good distance, and Nabi snatched the disc out of midair. Edgar and Edwin clapped in delight.

Claudia smiled fondly.

Inviting Harold's nephews had been a good call. Various political reasons had gone into the decision, sure, but the children's laughter — that, at least, had none of those complications behind it, did it?

Right. Not like those letters waiting for her to read them.

"Good heavens. Why are there so many again today?"

While she was away, her son was to handle the family's affairs in her stead. Some of the letters would be her husband's, checking in on her; the rest……

Looking at the letter on top of the stack, Claudia felt gladness and fatigue in the same breath. The crest of Alharn and the crest of House Adler sat side by side. Only four people at present could use that crest.

And of the four, only one would ever send Claudia a personal letter. Without so much as checking the signature on the envelope, Claudia broke the seal. The pages carried a faint floral scent and were covered in small, round, endearing handwriting. It looked less like a letter from a 'Queen' with two grown sons and more like a friendship note from a girl fond of gardening.

Which was probably closer to Gloria's actual state of mind. Decades on, Gloria's letters still followed none of the royal conventions.

Claudia, are you well?

A greeting like something sent to a childhood friend.

Claudia liked Gloria. If she'd disliked her the way so many nobles whispered they did, she wouldn't have stayed at her side all these long years.

If she'd disliked her from the start, she wouldn't have stayed on in the early days of Ryan's reign to teach Gloria the work of being queen. She'd have taken newborn Grisha and gone home, or something of the sort.

I hear Reichnek territory is very beautiful. As I've told you before, when I was young it was one of the places Ryan and I meant to visit together.

Born to the central nobility and raised as the Crown Prince's fiancée, Claudia had accepted her duty from an early age.

Gloria hadn't. For a woman who — by pure luck — had found a husband who thought the same way she did, who had made up her mind to give up her noble status and spend her life doing the work she loved, the duties of royalty had proved too much. In the early days of the reign Gloria had wept every night, and her pregnancy with Gerald had been nothing short of a nightmare.

Having seen all that, Claudia had never wanted to say anything harsh. Nor did she regret her own choice to help Gloria settle in. Her parents had disapproved — she didn't need to do that, they'd said — but she'd have regretted not doing it more.

Still, sometimes, coming up against this kind of naive gesture unprepared, the exhaustion rolled in.

After all, she'd been in this seat for over thirty years now. At least Ryan was aware of what he was doing. He was the worst as a king, as a father, and even as an uncle, but he never lost sight of his own position.

If only you were in the capital……

If she truly wanted it, she could simply order it as queen.

But Gloria couldn't. She didn't seem aware that this was even in her power. And even if she did know, given how utterly timid she was, she couldn't have brought herself to it.

Setting aside the trivial pleasantries, the only news in the letter that interested Claudia was the bit about Gerald's fiancée.

It had been a while, but Maya is as full of energy as ever. I did as you suggested and gave her some companions, but it seems she likes Count Archibald best of all. Count Archibald isn't strictly a companion, but……

Thank you for recommending Count Archibald, Claudia. I would never have thought of her without you. Who would have guessed such a talent was in the city watch?

The letter ran a full six pages. The one from a week ago had been eight. How someone who never went out could find so much to write about, Claudia couldn't fathom.

"……"

Once she'd read the letter through, a little guilt crept in. Gloria's only friend was Claudia, and her childlike side — well…. Right. It wasn't only her fault.

Still, it really would be nice if she were a bit more aware of her position as queen.

No — if it had gone this long the way it had, it was too late now to start being aware.

With a rueful expression Claudia set the letter down on the table. She wasn't in the mood to write back just now. Instead she opened her husband's letter.

My love, Claudia. Your husband writes this letter in loneliness from the eastern base.

Without a beautiful wife, a son as skittish as a rabbit, and a daughter who bounds about like a colt, this place is far too quiet.

Claudia caught herself smiling.

Hendrick's letters had always made her happy.

Since Grisha received his title, days when the whole family gathers have grown rare. So this time I'm looking forward to the holiday all the more.

Claudia, my flower. Once Founding Day is over, I'll come to you with Grisha.