Chapter 115

I was in the nursery, reviewing how my younger brothers had fared in my absence. Yes, the fireplace was lit, and while I couldn’t exactly call it warm, it certainly wasn’t cold. The nursery is just a bit too spacious.

“While you were at the Academy, Sister, Lord Salyers and Lord Percival came by,” Nasius said. “I was thrilled to receive swordsmanship guidance from them… but is it truly alright for us to accept it?”

The arrangements for our equestrian teacher were due to our cousin, Racine, who was desperate to make Angela either Princess Jane’s classmate or lady-in-waiting; it was essentially a trade-off for information about Angela’s love for riding, coupled with financial aid from our relatives. The same pattern likely applied to Lord Salyers’s swordsmanship guidance. However, Nasius seemed to feel a bit hesitant when it came to Percival.

“Lord Percival is our great-aunt’s grandson, which makes him our second cousin. You don’t need to be reserved around him, Nasius. Still, they must have known I wouldn’t be here when they visited. I wonder if they had business with Father?”

Nasius tilted his head in thought.

“After the swordsmanship guidance, I was studying in the nursery, so I’m not entirely sure.”

“Ah, Lord Salyers and Lord Percival spoke with Father in the drawing room for a very long time,” Henry interjected. “I was busy practicing the sword techniques they taught me on my own, but it was quite a while before they finally left.”

Henry is truly obsessed with swordsmanship. What a good boy. I’ll give him a kiss. Even so, I can’t see a single thing in common between our father, Lord Salyers, and Percival. What on earth were they discussing? Well, it doesn’t matter to me. Just as I was thinking this, Mary came rushing into the nursery.

“My Lady, please change your clothes immediately! If only the Viscount had informed us sooner… No, this is no time for leisurely complaints!”

I was forcefully evicted from the nursery.

“Mary, calm down. Who is coming?”

“The Viscount merely told me that an important guest was arriving, which is why I displayed roses at the entrance, but please, hurry and change your clothes now!”

Mary was far too panicked to have any room to answer questions. I quickly changed into my formal visiting dress.

As Mary was tidying my hair, I questioned her once more.

“So, who exactly is coming?”

“It is Prince Richard. If only they had truly told us sooner… Oh, that’s right! My Lady, please cast lifestyle magic on the entrance and the drawing room. Right this instant!”

Wait, why is Prince Richard coming to our house? Could it be my father’s reinstatement? No, that can’t be it. For a split second, I had allowed myself to hope, so I felt a sudden, deflating wave of disappointment. Prince Richard is still a university student. He wouldn’t get involved in matters like that.

“My Lady, hurry!” Urged on by Mary, I ran downstairs and cast lifestyle magic across the entrance, the drawing room, and even the front courtyard. Yes, everything is absolutely sparkling.

“I am glad we made it in time. Please wait in your room until the Viscount calls for you.”

“Should I not go out to greet him?”

When the Queen stopped by the Laforet ducal estate, the entire family had lined up to receive her.

“No, he is supposedly arriving incognito… I shall go verify with Wyatt.”

Mary is remarkably stressed out.

“As I thought, you are requested to wait in your room. Oh dear, this is dreadful. The tea leaves… it would be terribly rude to serve such cheap tea leaves to royalty.”

Before going up to my room, I do my best to soothe Mary.

“Mary, Prince Richard is not coming here simply to drink tea. He must have something important he wishes to discuss. Please calm down. He is well aware that our family is poor.”

I manage to calm Mary, who had been on the verge of hyperventilating. Once her breathing finally returns to normal, I wait in my room. The waiting time feels incredibly long, so I open a law book. Yes, it’s tedious, but I must memorize it.

“It seems he has arrived. What on earth could his business be? I can only think of the Knight Club, but Prince Richard should already know several members of the club without needing to consult me.”

Mary came to inform me, “The Viscount calls for you.” She looks highly tense.

“Understood. Mary, it is undoubtedly about the Knight Club. Though I have absolutely nothing to do with it, so I wonder why.”

Inside the drawing room were Prince Richard and Percival. Percival must have spoken to his cousin at Romano University, who then got in touch with Prince Richard. But why come here?

“Patience, offer your greetings to Prince Richard.”

I would have greeted him even without my father telling me to. Ah, look at that, even my father has a look on his face that clearly says, ‘Why is he here?’

“Prince Richard, Lord Percival, you are most welcome.”

Prince Richard flashes a gentle smile and gestures for me to take a seat. I sit down gracefully right beside my father. Just then, Wyatt brings in the black tea, sets it down with a smooth, elegant motion, and exits. Wait, this tea has been brewed with high-grade leaves. It has a wonderful aroma.

“Please, help yourself. It must have been quite cold outside.”

Since I am the only one here capable of acting as the hostess, I do my best to entertain them with utmost elegance. My completion certificate in Manners isn’t just for show. Everyone takes a sip and lowers their teacups. Now, it’s time for the core of the matter. If this were a gathering of noble ladies, there would be a long string of seasonal greetings and social niceties from here, but since he is a young prince, he will likely skip them.

“Viscount Granger, please forgive this unannounced visit. As you may have surmised, there was an urgent matter I needed to discuss with Lady Patience.”

In other words, he is asking my father to leave the room. And he brought along our second cousin, Percival, as his escort.

“I see. I have matters to attend to in my study, so please, take your time and speak freely.”

By “matters to attend to,” he undoubtedly means reading. Good grief, I wonder what Prince Richard has come to say?

“Patience, I assume you are aware of the commotion within the Knight Club. I was shocked when I heard the details from Percival. What on earth is Director Hammond thinking! Furthermore, Rufus, the student council president, is dreadful for simply leaving it unaddressed!”

Prince Richard is clearly quite angry.

“However, I heard that at the directors’ meeting, the Riding Club and the Magic Club declared they would no longer obey orders from the Knight Club, and all the other directors supported them. Is the matter not resolved with that?”

Beside him, Percival tightly clenches his fist. He seems to be struggling to suppress his rage.

“If it had been resolved with that, I would not be here. Director Hammond has dragged Keith into this. Because of that, the problem is only growing larger by the day.”

Wait, Prince Keith? That is troublesome, but it seems to me that Prince Richard simply needs to admonish Prince Keith himself. He used to scold him even for leaving his vegetables behind, after all. He seems perfectly used to lecturing him.

“I wish to protect Keith as well. Because of that, I tried reasoning with him, but our discussion ran on parallel lines. That fellow completely idolizes Director Hammond and is entirely blind to his surroundings.”

Director Albert completely trashes Director Hammond whenever he talks about him, but I wonder if Hammond is actually an excellent director from the perspective of his club members?

Even after hearing Prince Richard’s explanation up to this point, it still has absolutely nothing to do with me, and I fail to understand why he came to see me.

“Prince Richard, before coming here, perhaps it would have been best to speak with Lord Ralph or Lord Hugo. I am Princess Margaret’s lady-in-waiting, but I am not Prince Keith’s classmate. Furthermore, I know nothing about the Knight Club.”

At my words, Prince Richard furrows his brow.

“Those two claim they are utterly incapable of offering an opinion to Keith. Can they truly be called genuine classmates with an attitude like that? However, Keith holds Patience in high regard. I want you to tell him how the Knight Club is viewed by others. I believe it will serve to snap him out of it.”

Uh-oh, I would very much like to avoid that.

“If Prince Richard, whom Prince Keith respects so deeply, cannot persuade him, then it is entirely impossible for someone like me.”

Prince Richard smiles. Wow, I can feel a distinct wave of intimidation washing over me, but I cannot afford to lose here. I shall put the delicate vulnerability of a young noble lady on full display to resist his pressure.

“Furthermore, I know absolutely nothing about the Knight Club,” I add, since I harbor zero interest in it anyway.

Percival, who had remained silent until now, can no longer contain himself and speaks up.

“Director Hammond is manipulating Prince Keith with sweet words, promising to let him participate in the matches at the Aoba Festival. On top of that, he is putting Prince Keith at the very forefront to force his way with the Riding Club and the Magic Club.”

So despite backing down once, he is trying to stage a comeback by utilizing Prince Keith. This Director Hammond is remarkably persistent. However, using Prince Keith in such a manner is completely unacceptable. If he wishes to expand his own sphere of influence, he ought to have the resolve to stand in the line of fire himself. Ah, I am starting to feel genuinely angry. Prince Keith has plenty of flaws, but he also possesses a gentle side. I cannot forgive someone trampling over that.

“I knew Patience would understand,” Prince Richard said, watching my reaction. “Even though they are his classmates, they have been strictly instructed by their parents to curry favor with Keith. On top of that, because they witnessed Margaret’s classmate get cut loose so effortlessly right before their eyes, they are hesitant to step forward. That in itself is a problem, though.”

Ah, I can certainly understand that perspective. It truly is remarkably easy for royalty to abandon someone. It had sent a shiver down my spine back then. At any rate, even though I haven’t spoken a single word of my thoughts, is my mind truly reflecting that clearly on my face?

“Prince Richard, it is impossible for me to offer an opinion to Prince Keith. However, I shall try speaking with Lord Ralph and Lord Hugo. Unlike before, those two are currently in the middle of mending their relationship with Prince Keith. They simply need to muster a bit of courage.”

Having said that, since they are always attached firmly to Prince Keith’s side, I have no idea if I will actually get a proper chance to speak with the two of them alone. The foolish one who entertained such carefree thoughts completely failed to realize just how serious Prince Richard was.

“Excellent. In that case, let us head to the Earl of Angus’s estate right away. I have already summoned Ralph to meet us there.”

Wait, so my acceptance of the task was moving exactly according to your blueprint? Furthermore, did you fully anticipate that I would claim it was impossible to speak to Prince Keith directly?

“I shared meals with you for an entire year, Patience. I understand exactly how your mind works. On top of that, I know you genuinely worry about Keith as well.”

As expected, Prince Richard is a remarkably capable prince. It’s almost exasperating.