Read Novel Full Chapter 90
Chapter 90
An Invitation from Fredrik!?!
“Rudolf.”
Upon leaving Queen Alicia’s room, I heard a voice call out to me.
There were very few who could call my name so informally like that, even within the Imperial Palace.
I slowly turned around to look.
“Brother Fredrik……….”
“Do you have a moment to spare?”
That hyper rationalist…….no, egoist, had business with me of all people?
Even when we met during the new year’s eve party, he didn’t actually directly talk with me even once.
Just what does he want……….
“I don’t want to waste time. Are you free? Or not?”
“……….Very well.”
“Hmm.”
Saying that, Fredrik began to walk, I started following him.
But, seriously, who says [I don’t want to waste time] when they’re the ones inviting me? Seriously, it’s because of this kind of attitude that a bunch of nobles in Fredrik’s faction were leaving to join Oscar’s faction instead.
While I was pondering such things, we reached the Sagittarius palace, the one under Fredrik’s direct control.
“Come, sit down.”
“Pardon the intrusion.”
Upon his signal, the servants prepared tea for us.
I didn’t pick the cup and simply stared at Fredrik.
“So, why did you bring me here?”
Straight to the point, I asked him.
“Well, it’s nothing serious……..no, that’s not true. I feel it was necessary for me to talk with you Rudolf. Which is why I brought you here.”
“……………”
Fredrik took a sip from his tea.
But still……….just what was this man thinking. I really could never tell.
“Say, Rudolf.”
“……….Yes?”
“I’ll ask this directly. Do you think I am fit to be the next Emperor?”
“Excuse me?”
The question was so out of left field that I couldn’t help but exclaim loudly.
What the hell was he asking me now?
“Rudolf, you don’t need to be considerate or polite with me. Those things are worthless to me.”
“uh, okay………”
Eeeh………..how the hell do I even answer this?
Honestly speaking, no matter how excellent he was, a man like Fredrik that was always too rational and always prioritized himself over the rest and left others behind, was not fit to be an Emperor.
In that sense, among my brothers, perhaps Oscar might really seem like the best fit but, he too had his own darkness hanging over him, and not to mention, now that he had joined hands with Wilhelm, I would never approve of him as Emperor.
………..for now, I should just speak the truth.
“Forgive my impudence brother, but you are not very well suited to be the Emperor.”
“I see…………”
Fredrik turned to gaze outside the window.
“I too think, that I’m not fit to be the Emperor. Not even a little bit.”
“Eh………..?”
Wh-what’s this now?
Didn’t Fredrik build his own faction, asking Queen Alicia for help, and fighting Oscar, all because he wanted to become the Emperor??
“Was it that surprising?”
“I-I mean, yeah, of course it is……..”
Hearing my reply, Fredrik lifted the corner of his lips, as if he expected my reaction as well.
Wait wait wait, even though this guy was always so arrogant that he could give Liz a run for her money, and now he’s showing this kind of expression?
“I, am not trying to become the Emperor because I really want to you know?”
“Then, why………..”
“It’s because everyone expects me to do so.“
“Ah…………”
Hearing his surprisingly true feelings in an unexpected manner, I was a bit lost for words.
But……..from Fredrik’s stand point, it really might be that way.
His mother Queen Alicia, the first Queen and the Empress, wanted him to do so. As well as all the nobles within the Empire who had attached themselves to him to improve their status and power as well did the same.
Fredrik was now bearing their hopes and expectations on his shoulders now.
While covering up his own true feelings on the matter.
“Brother Fredrik………..why are you telling me, all this?”
I think, I am the first one with whom Fredrik has had a conversation like this.
But I didn’t understand. Why me specifically?
“Rudolf……….ever since that failed poisoning attempt, you seem like a completely different person. The you before that was always finding fault with your servants, as if craving for attention, accepted all of Robin’s abuse quietly, and had this servile look on your face.”
When he put it that way, I felt so embarrassed I wanted to dig up a hole and hide in it.
Before I recalled my previous life’s memories, I was but a child, wallowing in despair, desperate for someone, anyone to just look at me, notice me, acknowledge my existence.
But………the way Fredrik talked about me, it was as if he had been looking at me all this time.
“But from then on, you first revealed the widespread fraud occurring within the Scorpio palace, and after getting engaged with Lady Lizbeth, you also achieved the backing of the Fahlcrantz house, who had famously refused to pick any side until then.”
“……………………………….”
“For now, because of your bloodline, your past deeds, as well as your mother, Beatrice’s actions, your reputation within the empire is still low. But…..”
Fredrik looked at me straight with his amber coloured eyes.And then.
“Rudolf……..I, truly believe that it is you who are the one, the one fit to be the next Emperor.”