“T-thank you, Father, I-I am honored to become a crown prince candidate!” Simon said, facing King Morel.

“But what about brother Largo?” he asked rather innocently, which gained him a poisonous glare from his older brother.

“He has already vacated from the palace assigned to him,” said the King. “You can move to the 2nd prince’s residence this afternoon.”

“I-is that so?” Simon cautiously looked at his two brothers.

They didn’t seem to mind the news.

Probably because their father had already talked it over with them.

“I thank you too, father, Your Highness, for putting your trust and believing in me!”

“That is right!” Juno said rather cheerfully. “But Father, don’t you think that our younger sibling still has a lot to prove?”

“Exactly,” Largos piped in.

“That is why I would like to suggest something to you, Father,” Juno continued.

“And what might that be?” the king asked.

“A royal summons had just arrived from the empire,” Juno informed them.

“A letter from the Emperor himself?” the King looked surprised.

Juno took a scroll from underneath his cloak and handed it to the king.

“News of our heroic brother’s deeds have reached as far as the Emperor’s ears,” Juno told King Morel, even before he could unroll the parchment. “They have requested for the ‘Hero’ to come to the capital to visit as soon as he is able.”

“T-the r-royal c-capital?!” Simon stuttered even more.

“But it would take a month at least to journey to the capital...” the king said thoughtfully, “and your brother’s injuries have not fully recovered yet...”

“T-that’s right!” Simon quickly agreed.

“Father, haven’t you noticed, Simon did not bring his walking stick today,” Largos pointed out, “also, he doesn’t seem to be limping anymore. Besides,” he added with a smirk, “doesn’t he have that healer that the Stone Temple priests lent him?”

“You do have a point there...” The king frowned and rubbed his bearded chin. “Simon, how is your leg? Do you think you can make the journey if your healer is with you?”

Simon couldn’t help but confess the truth.

“Y-yes, Father,” he replied, “i-in fact, I hardly feel any pain anymore. Nell is an excellent healer, but...” he quickly added, “what if I never get to use the power i used back then?”

“That may be true,” said the king. “There had been cases where people suddenly acquire great power, and just as suddenly lose them, in other cases, they never get to manifest this power again,” he said, nodding his head. “But that does not change the fact that you are a hero who saved our kingdom.”

King Morel reached out to touch his son’s hand.

“That is why I have decided to send you to the Royal Maralict Imperial University to study and be a capable leader in the future,” the King proclaimed. “You shall leave for the empire’s capital tomorrow!”

“What?” Juno and Largos asked in unison.

“I heard from the royal tutors that your brother here is quite capable in his studies,” King Morel explained, “thus, I have decided to send him to University with you, Juno,” he went on. “I want you to help your brother be a more capable leader in the future.”

News of going to University made Simon very excited, gave Simon slight indigestion.

He went straight to his room and asked his attendants to ready his things for their journey until Rode fetched him at 3.

“Where should we head to for now, Rode?” he asked the butler as soon as the luncheon was over.

“We are to meet Duke Fann, Earl Summers, and Countess Ruby in the North Garden with their daughters, since you failed to meet them earlier,” replied Rode who ushered a guilty looking Simon to the Garden.

This particular location was usually used to entertain guests.

There is a large pergola in the middle, surrounded by flowering bushes, with the main path leading to it, covered in climbing roses.

The sweet scent of the delicate flowers surrounded Simon as he made his way to the pergola.

“This place is so enchanting!” he couldn’t help himself from saying, his upset tummy slightly getting better. “This is the first time I’ve been here, or anywhere else in the main palace,” he added.

Rode kept silent, as a butler was supposed to.

He stepped aside when they reached the covered sitting area and announced Simon’s arrival.

“His highness, Prince Simon, has arrived.”

Simon looked at the people gathered around a circular marble table in the middle.

They stood as he entered and lowered their heads.

“These are Duke Fann and the Duchess Desal, with their children, Princess Tina and Princess Fay,” he said, addressing two young princesses who stood at either side of their bulky middle-aged father.

“Earl Summers, with his daughter Lady June.” Rode continued, pointing at a sharp looking man and his companion, “and Countess Ruby and her daughter Lady Rose.” A plump lady in red bowed low at Simon, accompanied by a very young girl.

Compared to the elderly Duke, the slim looking Earl Summers looked quite the academic with his silver spectacles and sleek black hair, so did his daughter who wore a simple moss green dress with her black hair tied in a neat bun.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, your highness, Prince Simon,” they all greeted him.

“T-the pleasure is all mine,” said Simon with a curt bow.

It was a good thing that he haven’t forgotten the basic etiquette lessons he was taught as a kid.

Rode pulled out a seat for Simon who sat between Duke Fann’s eldest daughter Tina, and Earl Summers’ daughter June.

Both looked much older than him,while Fay and the much younger Rose, sat in front of him.

“I had no idea his highness looks so handsome up close!” Duchess Desal cooed. “You look so nice sitting next to our lovely Tina!”

Simon looked at the Duchess, then at her daughter who seemed to be in her mid-twenties. She has straight brown hair and green eyes like her father.

“I thank you for the compliment,” he replied with a shy smile. He didn’t really feel like talking much.

“Ah, but don’t you think my June suits you better?” Earl Summers piped in, “She just turned seventeen last month, she would make a good conversation partner since she is closer to your age.”

“Oh, but wouldn’t his highness rather be with someone younger?” said Countess Ruby. “I’m sure he’ll find my precious Rose more charming.”

“Would you like to play with me, Prince Simon?” the child asked. She looked no older than 10 years old.

The Duke harrumphed.

“Well, if he is looking for someone closer to his age, then he might as well choose our little Fay who just turned thirteen this month! She is being educated in the prestigious Convent of the Blue Dove, where the empress mother graduated herself!”

“Well, my June came from the Convent of the Lilac Rose, which is famous for instructing princesses in the ways of art, beauty, and grace!”

Earl Summers bragged.

“Oh, my mother came from that convent as well!” said Simon, glad to be part of the conversation.

“I See, your highness, then it would be best if you choose my June as your future companion!” Earl Summers said triumphantly.

“A companion?” Simon asked with a questioning look on his face. “Well, my father did say that he would send me to University,” he mumbled. “Will they be coming with me to the capital, then?”

Simon looked at the nobles seated around him.

He noticed that they were all looking at him as if they were staring at a fool.

It was only June who stared at him with the slightest hint of interest.

“Ah, your highness,” Earl Summers cleared his throat. “You seem to have misunderstood us...”

“Your highness, when we say companion, we did not mean someone who would merely ‘accompany’ you,” the Countess laughed.

“We meant someone who would stay by your side,” continued Duke Fann. “Both in your work, and in your bed.”

“In my bed?” Simon’s forehead creased. “What kind of work would we need to do in be–”

The Duke’s words finally seeped in.

Simon’s face turned all red.

“M-my goodness!” he muttered, covering his face in embarrassment.

The Countess laughed even more, while the princesses kept their composure, their eyes, low, their lips pursed, except for princess June who kept her deep blue eyes staring at Simon.

“I-I’m afraid I’m still t-too young to think of m-marriage proposals!” he stuttered. “S-shouldn’t you be asking my father about that instead?”

“Your highness, there’s no reason to be flustered,” said Earl Summers, “this is merely a small meeting for you to be acquainted with our daughters!”

“Please don’t mind my husband’s straightforwardness,” said the Duchess. “We just wish to show our appreciation to your heroic deed of ridding our Twin Kingdoms of the threat of the evil behemoth.”

“That is right, your highness,” the Earl smiled at Simon. “We are here to show you that we are ready to support you in any way we can. Thus, we wish that you will consider our daughters in the near future.”

“Yes, your highness,” the duke spoke once again. “But if you wish, we can let you marry our youngest, Fay, right now, you can just consummate your wedding vows when you feel like it!” he said with a loud laugh.

“Ugh, Duke Fann! You and your vulgar words!” Earl Summers said, shaking his head.

“And you, Earl Summers, should keep to your books, I’m sure your daughter would make a fine librarian some day!”

Simon watched as the two fathers bickered with each other.

In his lessons in politics, he learned that Duke Fann was a general in the royal army while Earl Summers was the head of finance in the Eastern Twin Kingdom.

They were both quite influential, that’s why he couldn’t understand why the two were trying to wed their daughters to him.

The two kept bickering until the Butler cleared his throat.

“Your highness, please do think of my June when you choose a companion,” Earl Summers told him.

“Why bother, when he can just take them all as his wives!” Countess Ruby said, laughing haughtily.

“Dear Countess, you know well that only the crown prince has the right to have concubines,” Duches Desal said with a forced smile.

“Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a new crown prince in the near future!” Duke Fann announced with a laugh.

He went to Simon’s side and clapped him on the back so hard, the young prince went off balanced.

“Why don’t you young ones spend some time in this magnificent garden of yours while us old folk stay here to greet each other?”

“Then, I shall do just that,” Simon replied with a nervous laugh, glad to have a reason to leave the bickering nobles.

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Go to Part 34

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