The Archduke’s Flower is in Jeopardy - Chapter 149



Only Krnovel

Episode 149 Side story: A new friend
2024.03.03.

　
The campus of Imperial University was filled with the freshness of early summer.

‘It’s been about three years… … .’

A man who was walking around the campus for a while got lost in thought. The antique building with over hundreds of years of history was still there, but the atmosphere seemed to have changed somewhat from before.

It was because of the cheerful laughter of the women filling the campus.

“The semester is finally over!”

“Why don’t you go downtown? “We stop by the bookstore, buy new books, and have lunch together.”

“Good! “Let’s go quickly.”

Female students who had finished their last class of the semester were gathered in groups of twos and threes and walking with bright expressions. Like the richly colored greenery on tree branches, the faces of students walking around the campus were also overflowing with vitality.

Eidel, the former Grand Duchess and current Empress, has continuously worked to promote women’s human rights as well as foster female talent. After ascending the throne as empress, she began a scholarship program to enable women to receive higher education at universities regardless of their status, and thanks to this, the number of female students at imperial universities increased significantly compared to before.

“Look over there!”

“oh!”

A man who caught the attention of those female students at a glance was walking around the campus with his long legs. The man must have felt the gaze focused on him, so he pressed the fedora he was wearing more deeply and began to walk quickly.

Although his eyes were hidden under a hat, the lines of his face that were revealed underneath and the strong, tall body wrapped under the suit could not be hidden.

“Who could it be?”

“I don’t know who he is, but he’s a cool guy!”

“Shall we go and have a chat?”

When the sound of female students talking came from behind him, the embarrassed man walked faster and disappeared into a building.

“phew… … .”

A man who entered the building where the dean’s office was located took off the hat he was wearing with a light sigh. As he swept his fine, soft light brown hair over his forehead, his pale azure eyes, hidden beneath his hat, were fully revealed.

Although he deliberately did not bring any attendants with him to avoid being noticed, he unintentionally attracted the attention of women and was at the moment when he looked embarrassed.

“Your Majesty Raynion! No, Rainion! “Are you here?”

When Rainian turned his head at the voice calling him, he saw Dean Jefferson running hurriedly from the end of the corridor.

“Provost Jefferson.”

“I was about to go out to meet you when I heard you were coming… … “You arrived first.”

“The road to the Jupiter Empire is faster than before. “Arrived ahead of schedule.”

“Thanks to the newly extended train line, right? “I heard that this is a project that His Majesty the Emperor and Lady Rainian have pursued together.”

“If the connection between the two countries is to become closer, it is important to first reduce the physical distance.”

“sure. “I couldn’t be happier that not only are we connected, but our relationship is also close.”

Raynian’s mouth, which had been smiling slightly, hardened slightly at Jefferson’s words. He consulted with Caeron and proceeded with the project to extend the railway between the two countries, but as Jefferson expressed it, his relationship with him cannot be said to be as close… … .

Raynian’s eyes, which contained an ambiguous temperature, immediately changed due to Dean Jefferson’s next words.

“Besides, aren’t you close friends with Her Majesty the Empress? “Her Majesty the Empress, who just happened to graduate at the top of her class, is visiting today to prepare for her representative speech.”

“Is that really true?”

Rainion’s lake-colored eyes sparkled hotly, like sunbeams containing the light of the summer sun. It seemed like he was looking forward to an unscheduled meeting with Idel.

“yes. You are probably discussing this with Professor Nitzen. It seems like only yesterday that you two entered the Department of Public Administration, but you have already graduated… … “Time really flies.”

Eidel, who returned to school immediately after giving birth to Prince Lillian, quickly devoted herself to her bachelor’s degree, making it worthless that she had taken a semester off from school. She aced every semester of her exams and ended up skipping half a grade for her entire semester.

Meanwhile, in the case of Raynian, he had no choice but to stay in the Lysandro Empire to receive education as a crown prince. Although he was unable to complete his bachelor’s degree at the Imperial University as he had planned, he would also be awarded an honorary degree in recognition of his diplomatic contributions in fostering friendly relations between the Empire of Jupiter and the Empire of Lysandro.

“Then I’ll see you at the graduation ceremony. For your information, Her Majesty the Empress will be in the lounge of the Faculty of Public Administration building.”

“Thank you.”

Looking at Raynian, who clearly looked like he wanted to meet Idel right away, Jefferson said goodbye. After thanking him for his words, Raynion headed straight toward the Public Administration building.

As he walked along the lined corridor, the smile on his face grew stronger. His eyes filled with distant memories began to bring back memories of when she first met Idel on campus.

At that time, he was walking around the campus of Imperial University after finishing his meeting with Jefferson. Then, he stopped in his tracks when he heard Idel’s voice talking with Professor Nitzen in the lounge.

Like right now.

“… … “The establishment of this Imperial Council will not be an opportunity for conflict between social classes, but an opportunity for stability.”

“Of course, it would be nice if Her Majesty, or rather, Eidel, do as she says… … Don’t you know this just by looking at the articles that are reported every day? “There is a big difference in opinion between the House of Nobles and the House of Commons that make up the Imperial Parliament Cabinet.”

“I know. However, because they confront each other from different positions, balance will be maintained, and that balance will eventually lead to stable social order and governance.”

When Eidel’s voice was heard emphasizing the necessity of establishing the Imperial Council, Rainion stopped in front of the lounge entrance and quietly listened to her voice.

“Members of the Common People’s House with reformist tendencies will represent the common people and come up with radical policies. On the other hand, members of the House of Nobles, which has been the ruling force for a long time, will control and monitor the pace of reform with a conservative attitude. This will allow you to make the most balanced decision.”

“indeed… … ! “You are saying that conflict arising from different positions adds to the balance.”

“that’s right. In today’s era, one side’s biased decisions and unilateral rule cannot receive the support of the people of the empire. “The establishment of the current Imperial Council was an essential change in order to reconcile different interests and restore order.”

“It has been more than two years since the establishment of the Imperial Diet was proclaimed and the cabinet was established… … Some still doubt the existence of the Imperial Diet. However, if what you just said becomes known to the world through Eidel’s graduation thesis, those skeptical views will change to understanding.”

“The Imperial Diet is only in its infancy. “There may be growing pains, but it will definitely grow into a central organization that enriches the lives of the people of the empire.”

Rainian, who was listening to Idel’s clear voice filled with confidence, also nodded. He, too, was surprised to hear the plan to establish a new parliament announced when the new emperor and empress ascended the throne. This was because it was a political reform that was not easily imagined in the conservative Empire of Jupiter.

As this news spread, it had a big or small impact on the countries surrounding the Jupiter Empire. The same was true for the Lysandro Empire.

Although the Lysandro Empire was still conducting politics centered around the aristocracy, Raynion also thought that, seeing the rapidly changing society, it should change to a politics in which commoners participate. The Jupiter Empire’s decision to take one step ahead was to become a milestone.

It was time for Raynian, who would now return to Lisandro to prepare for his full-fledged enthronement as emperor, to be lost in thought for a moment.

‘Tuk.’

A slight pressure was felt at the back of his pants.

“Abya?”

“… … ?”

Raynian’s questioning gaze turned back and headed downward. I could see the small back of the child’s head reaching up to his knees. Soon, his child raised his lowered head, and round dark blue eyes met his gaze.

“… … !”

Raynian’s pupils dilated for a moment as if he was surprised when he saw the child’s face. Except that his facial features were still young, he looked like a miniature version of someone he knew well.

“Umm… … Abya, no.”

The child looked at Rainian’s face, shook his head slightly and said to himself: Then, he smiled at Raynian, who was clearly surprised, as if he had excused him.

“ah… … .”

Seeing the child’s smile, Rainion was now even more certain who this child was. Because the gentle atmosphere that surrounded the child when he smiled so closely resembled someone he had longed for.

Before I knew it, Laney kneeled down to eye level with the child.

“Oh my, Your Highness Lillian!”

Rainion, who was facing the child as if in a trance, heard the urgent voice and footsteps of a woman following the child.

“If you run first like that… … oh? “His Majesty Raynion?”

Lillian’s steps became faster as her growth progressed day by day. Vienne, who had been diligently following the steps of the prince, who was busy moving according to his will even for a moment, spotted Rainian with Lillian and opened her eyes wide.

“Lady Vienne. “It’s been a while since I saw you.”

“It’s been a while, Your Highness Raynion! How do we get here… … . ah! “Your Highness also had ties to Imperial University!”

Vienne was unable to hide her surprise when she unexpectedly ran into Raynion at the Imperial University, and then clapped her hands as if she finally understood why he was here.

“yes. I was just visiting briefly ahead of the graduation ceremony. But, this child… … .”

“you’re right. “This is Prince Lillian, the first child of His Majesty the Emperor and Empress.”

“also… … “I see.”

Raynion muttered blankly in response to Bien’s answer. Although she had expected it, the identity of her child, which closely resembled Caeron’s face and Idel’s smile, turned out to be their child. The child opened her mouth, pointing towards Rainian towards Bien, who followed behind.

“Abya, no. (Dad, no.)”

Perhaps Lillian saw the back of Rainion, who was similar in height to Caeron and wearing a suit, and mistook him for his father and followed him.

“Yes, that’s right. This is not His Majesty the Emperor. This is His Majesty Raynian, the crown prince of the Lysandro Empire. “You are also close friends with Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Chinu? (A close friend?)”

Lillian, whose pronunciation was not yet correct, understood the word “close friend” and asked back.

“is it so. It means that we are close friends. “Your Majesty, His Excellency Shade, and Chamberlain Gregory.”

“aha! Ara, Cheenu. (Aha! I know, dear friend.)”

Since their first audience, Shade and Gregory have been coming and going in the Prince’s Palace as if they were their own home, and they have become indispensable friends with Lillian. As Vienne explained using them as an example, Lillian smiled brighter and looked at Raynion as if she understood.

If it’s your mother’s friend… … She was a close friend to him too. With a quite dignified expression, Lillian straightened his waist and raised her chubby right hand.

“It’s Lilian Immi. (This is Lillian.)”

With a puzzled expression, Rainion held the fern-like hand out in front of me.