“Please call Mia.”
“Understood.”
When Patricia conveyed this to the Chief Maid, she said nothing and went off to find Mia.
Surely, she had already heard the rumors.
Being someone close, she probably had seen quite a lot herself.
Patricia’s summons would spread quickly, and before long, Alex would find out as well.
How he would react when that time came…
It was a headache she couldn’t afford right now.
***
“Patty? What are you doing here?”
“Prince Clive… it’s been a while.”
“Yeah.”
It was rare to see Clive, who was supposed to be at the Academy, inside the Royal Palace.
Judging by the direction he came from, he must have just spoken with Her Majesty the Empress.
“How is Her Majesty the Empress?”
“She seemed to have some worries. I listened to her complaints… but I’m glad I came. I got to see you, Patty.”
“Say such things again.”
“Well, it’s true… Are you alright?”
She didn’t ask what kind of ‘alright’—such a foolish question was beneath her.
If he had just been with the Empress, he must have heard about what was happening now.
If not, given how much it was being talked about, it was only a matter of time before he found out.
“…Am I really alright? I can’t put it into words properly… I’m sorry.”
Even she didn’t quite understand herself anymore.
If asked whether she was alright, she wanted to smile and say yes.
But she knew she couldn’t do that properly.
And knowing it didn’t help at all.
“What is the right thing for me to do?”
In truth, she wasn’t confident about what she was about to do.
Ideally, she wouldn’t even want to meet Mia.
It only revealed the unpleasant parts of herself, and it was a bad feeling.
But she couldn’t avoid it, so here she was.
That was the pain Patricia felt.
If it were possible, she wanted this to be the last time.
She wanted Mia to understand that this current situation was harmful to her.
Hearing Patricia’s heavy sigh, Clive took her hand.
“It’s alright. Even if you get the answer wrong, that’s okay. Because the answer you give is meaningful.”
“…Even if I hurt someone?”
“Everyone hurts someone at some point. But well… even if you hurt someone, I’m on your side no matter what.”
“…Thank you.”
She never imagined she would receive such encouraging words.
Saying ‘I’m on your side no matter what’ could just be empty words.
But right now, that reality was a comfort.
“Patricia-sama.”
“…Thank you. You’ve worked hard.”
Behind the Chief Maid stood a confused Mia, probably not understanding why she had been summoned.
“Chief Maid, you may step back.”
“Understood. Excuse me, Prince Clive, Patricia-sama.”
After watching the Chief Maid leave, Patricia glanced at Clive beside her.
She felt it would be better for the two of them to talk from here on and silently conveyed that through her gaze.
He was perceptive enough to notice, and for some reason, he only returned a smile.
“…I need to talk to you.”
“…Yes. What is it?”
Apparently, he noticed but had no intention of leaving.
Knowing him, it was probably out of concern for Patricia.
Well, she didn’t particularly enjoy being alone with him either, so she would gratefully accept the offer.
Above all, she needed to find out what she wanted to do from now on.
Did Mia truly not seek status, as Alex had said?
That was the one thing Patricia had to confirm.
No matter how rude the question might be, she could not overlook this misunderstanding.
It was for Patricia’s sake, for Alex’s, and for Mia’s.
She had to harden her heart.
Clenching both hands tightly, she slowly opened her mouth.
“This is about your future.”
“Future…?”
“You will not become Alex-sama’s concubine.”
“――…”
Her wide-open eyes exposed the turmoil inside her heart.
Indeed, Mia and Alex thought differently.
Patricia was relieved to have spoken with her, but that relief was short-lived as tears welled up in front of her, and Mia glared at her.
“Why… would you say such a thing…”
You have to be the one to say it.
She could tell from the expression what she was thinking.
“Alex-sama will not take a concubine.”
“…”
“If that’s what you want, give up right away.”
“…That’s cruel… This… I just want to be with Alex…”
“If it’s just about being together, then it doesn’t have to hurt, right?” Clive, apparently fed up, spoke to the tearful Mia.
Patricia hadn’t expected him to join the conversation and looked at him with surprise.
“The truth is, you want it. To be a concubine… no, maybe the Crown Princess? But it’s impossible. Unless a miracle happens, you will never become part of the Imperial Family.”
“…That’s…”
“No, it won’t happen. Even if you become a concubine and have a child with my brother, and even if that child is a boy, that child will never inherit the throne. My child will have a higher claim to the throne. Bloodline is far more important in this country than you think.”
That was certainly true.
Even if, hypothetically, Patricia and Alex did not have a child, and Mia did, even if it were a boy, that child would not be considered royalty.
The situation might be different if Clive had no children, but even then, the next Emperor would be chosen from distant relatives in the Imperial Family.
Bloodline was that important.
“Well, I don’t think my brother would have a child with you anyway. He fears me and won’t make the same mistake twice.”
That was probably why he wouldn’t take a concubine.
Of course, having seen the suffering and brokenness of his own mother, he likely didn’t want to cause more people to go through that.
“I think his way of thinking is contradictory. What about those who get their hopes up? Being loved but not able to be together… Patty is kind, so that’s why I’m saying this. If it ends now, it will only be a wound to the heart. Understand? If it ends, now is the time.”
“…”
It was harsh.
In a way, Mia was a victim as well.
But for her sake, to avoid further pain, she should step back.
Clive’s words were cold but kind.
He put into words what Patricia couldn’t say properly—strict yet gentle.
That was something she envied, respected, and… a little bit loved.
“…That’s cruel.”
“Huh?”
“It’s cruel. You’ve all decided for Alex-sama like that without even asking what he thinks or feels…”
What was she talking about?
Patricia had come precisely to hear Alex’s opinion and warn Mia.
“Alex-sama is a kind man. Even if you marry in the not-so-distant future, he will never abandon me. And yet, for you to say such things… especially Patricia-sama, it’s cruel!”
Had she not been listening?
Patricia had told her that Alex’s opinion didn’t matter right now.
That the Imperial Family valued bloodline above all.
Even Alex’s mother, though distantly, had Imperial blood.
Though their house had declined, that was why Mia could only hold the status of a concubine.
No matter how much love there was, there was no future beyond that, Patricia had said.
“…Amazing. I’m speechless with disbelief. Why is my brother like this…”
Ignoring Clive’s exasperation, Mia raised her voice even more.
“If you two are happy, I’m willing to support Alex-sama from the shadows no matter how painful it is. This…”
“Patty, it’s useless. No matter what you say, she won’t listen. She thinks she’s the most pitiful and precious person. People like that drown themselves in drink and don’t hear a word you say.”
“…It seems so.”
Clive took Patricia’s hand and led her away.
At this point, it was true—no words would get through.
She had given her warning.
What she did next was up to Mia herself.
It was not Patricia’s responsibility.
“…I won’t give up. I absolutely—”
She heard something shouted from behind but chose to ignore it.
This was the end.
This was supposed to be their last conversation.
From now on, Patricia just had to endure.
Someday, surely…
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