Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 381 (Part 1):

“It’s been a while since we last met, and I apologize for having to say this first. However, you needn’t worry on my account. What you said just now was clearly disrespectful to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Charlotte’s calm, dark eyes stared directly at Asuka.

Her habit of pointing out Asuka’s mistakes was the same as ever, whether in the past or now.

But Asuka interpreted this remark in the current situation as her taking the other side—siding against him.

“You…!”

Feeling betrayed, Asuka grit his teeth. Charlotte’s voice continued firmly.

“And I, as the Duchess of Renosa, have come here to convey the Grand Duke of Renosa’s wishes to the Imperial Family and to pay my respects. I have no other intention.”

A composed voice flowed from her.

“I am still young and intend to assist my father. My father respects this desire of mine.”

Her words were a roundabout refusal—to both the Crown Prince and Asuka. The Crown Prince and Asuka exchanged glances.

The Crown Prince simply lifted his eyebrows slightly. Surprisingly, he didn’t seem much affected.

Asuka, on the other hand, grew anxious. After all, wasn’t the reason Grand Duke Farnese had pushed for this marriage talk in the first place to keep Asuka from leaving?

Asuka asked urgently, “S-So… you came to turn down the marriage proposal?”

“No. I only wish to take my time and think it over carefully. It’s not the right time for me—or for Renosa—to consider such matters. Since it carries no binding promise, if you so desire, you may withdraw the proposal.”

For now, she wasn’t even considering marriage; she wanted to think about it in the future. Wait until she feels inclined, or otherwise withdraw.

Put more bluntly, that was what she meant. She sounded so dispassionate that there seemed to be no lingering attachment to the notion of marriage at all.

The Crown Prince spoke.

“So in other words, you’re putting it on hold.”

“I had intended to pay a visit to Grand Duke Farnese and explain this to him in person, but given the circumstances, I thought it best to clarify it here.”

Charlotte had come here not dressed as a swordswoman, but as the Duchess of Renosa—clearly signaling that she was fulfilling her obligations. Once again, it was evident that her first priority was Renosa.

Agreeing to this marriage at this point would do nothing for Renosa. Marrying into the Imperial family would give Michael a good reason to argue that Renosa’s independence would be compromised if she ascended to the position of Grand Duchess.

Charlotte had no intention of giving up her position as heir to Renosa—at least not yet.

Because for now, that would mean handing over Renosa’s heirship to Michael.

She was a rival who had to remain in place so that Michael couldn’t take it. The Grand Duke of Renosa, who hadn’t chosen Michael, would want the same.

Though Asuka interpreted her words simply as It’s not the right time to discuss marriage now, the Crown Prince thought a little more deeply about it.

He was curious whether Charlotte intended to become the next Grand Duke of Renosa. It was true that she also had the qualifications to inherit. Even if she was helping Helmut out of principle, there was no telling whether she intended to yield her claim to him.

He asked directly, “When you say you intend to assist the Grand Duke of Renosa…”

“I mean with all the ability I possess. After graduating from Greta Academy as a swordswoman, I plan to remain by my father’s side.”

A steely resolve flashed in her determined gaze. She seemed ready to stand up to Michael without running away.

Yet that alone didn’t necessarily prove she was ambitious.

The Crown Prince had one more question.

“So does that mean you have decided never to leave Renosa?”

“As for the future… I truly don’t know. For the moment, the duties placed upon me are quite heavy, and I’d like to focus on those first.”

Charlotte smiled faintly. Hearing her answer, Asuka suddenly felt hopeful, while the Crown Prince sank into more complicated thoughts.

Yes, the Grand Duke of Renosa had sent Charlotte, but also respected her wishes. In other words, he wasn’t prepared to use his only daughter purely as a tool in some political arrangement.

That meant that even if the Crown Prince tried to force the marriage through, it wouldn’t happen. It wasn’t merely that the Grand Duke doted on his daughter—he was also clearly considering her as a potential heir to Renosa.

In other words, Michael was not officially confirmed as Renosa’s successor in the eyes of the Empire, and someone else could still take that position. It was also, indirectly, Renosa’s way of responding to the mistake Michael had made by siding with the Temple—when he tried to stop the Temple’s eviction—an event that ultimately triggered the Crown Prince’s assassination attempt.

They were indicating that this was Michael’s unilateral move, not the will of the Grand Duke of Renosa.

‘But the simplest and most complete way to mend the rift is still the marriage.

The fact that they haven’t outright refused it, even while keeping Charlotte in mind as the possible heir, doesn’t stem from fear of souring relations with the Empire. Are they implying that someone other than Michael or Charlotte could become Renosa’s heir?’

The Crown Prince followed that train of thought all the way through. Both the Empire and Renosa tended to speak in a similar manner—every small, meaningful nuance added up to one overarching intent. The Crown Prince turned those ideas over in his mind.

‘It seems I cannot push the marriage any further.’

He wasn’t the type of Crown Prince to force a marriage proposal that ran contrary to both parties’ interests. Imperial family weddings were always this way—complex and tangled in alliances.

‘Michael has visited the Empire quite often. In the Imperial Capital’s social circles, they believe he’s certain to be Renosa’s successor. Perhaps this is Charlotte’s chance—her way of making her presence known here.’

Otaku_Tensei

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