The Unattractive Princess' Marriage - Episode 10

“…Scholarship?” “Yes. Princess Sophina has requested that a portion of the items received from His Highness be allocated to it.”

An early summer breeze blew into the morning office through the open window.

Feldric frowned at the words of his aide, Folsun, who had come to visit. Various questions surfaced and disappeared. But what he found most perplexing was why she hadn’t told him directly. He had been in the same room, in the same bed, with her just moments ago.

Of course, it wasn’t that he was displeased that Sophina had spoken to another man, Folsun, instead of him. (Now, what is she planning…?) He harbored doubts about the thoughts of Sophina, who had been personally raised by the Wise Queen of Hydeland.

Sophina, the Second Princess of the Kingdom of Hydeland, whom Feldric had chosen as his empress, was as intelligent and strong-willed a woman as he had expected. However, on the very night of their marriage, she said something completely unexpected to Feldric: she wanted to work, but not to produce an heir. It was an unexpectedly strange offer from her, who, as he had initially observed, was plain and clever. Feldric decided to accept it merely as a way to relieve his boredom.

It was perhaps two months after he began to select and give her tasks from his own workload that were externally insignificant, unrelated to domestic interests, and could even be classified as trivial, that Folsun reported, “Princess Sophina wishes to inspect the Royal Orphanage.” Instantly recalling that he had given her the orphanage’s financial report the day before, Feldric chuckled sardonically, “So, she wants to probe the dark side of Kazalena, of Kazac.”

His own country, Kazac, was significantly wealthier than Sophina’s homeland, Hydeland. Its land area was overwhelmingly larger, and the productivity of its land differed. Thanks to stability backed by military power, economic activity was also vigorous, and the number of merchants, their industries, and their scale were overwhelming. Thanks to maintaining a favorable international position, there was also a large inflow of wealth from abroad. There had been no major wars or disasters recently, and the continued peace had allowed people to accumulate wealth, which in turn led to a vibrant economy. It was incomparable to Hydeland, where they had to live in fear of cool summers every year.

Thinking that he should inform her of these things in advance, and that Sophina would surely understand his intentions precisely, Feldric had, after their marriage, daily sent Sophina things that would be difficult for a country with Hydeland’s financial resources to acquire. (I see, my wise and benevolent Empress suspects that this isn’t at the expense of the weak.) That must have been why she suggested inspecting the orphanage. He remembered smiling, recalling her dull blue eyes on their “first night,” when she had clearly stated, “There are countless examples where such fruitlessness has impoverished the people and even destroyed nations. I absolutely refuse to let that happen.”

“Let her go as she pleases. Oh, if anything, she should visit informally. That way, she’ll get a clearer picture of the internal affairs.” Just as he thought that she would need guards if she were to go out, he remembered that the discussion about her guards hadn’t progressed, and Feldric’s displeasure showed. To Folsun, whose face had contorted, Feldric said, “Call Potmac. Immediately.”

“…” So, he recalled, it was also through Folsun that he heard Sophina had walked down to Kazarena when she visited the orphanage with the two knights assigned as her guards afterward, and that she had been given money and bought things herself in the town. Feldric gazed at Folsun’s black eyes. “…Do I just imagine that I’m being glared at?” “If you know it’s your imagination, don’t bother saying it.” This time, Feldric visibly furrowed his brows and, setting his pen into the inkpot, said, “So.”

“About the scholarship, what’s the reason?” “She said she spoke with the children at the orphanage. And then, their hopes for the future—to become knights, or officials, or to start a business—personally, I absolutely wouldn’t recommend being an official, especially working in the royal palace—but anyway!” Feldric glared at Folsun, who, despite possessing a mind comparable to his cousin Alexander Rod Felderik, always added an unnecessary comment unlike him, silencing him while urging him to continue. Another source of his displeasure was the thought of someone else with green eyes who, similarly without reservation, constantly added unnecessary comments. (Did he put something into Sophina’s head…? No, he’s not the type to come up with such schemes…) “A-anyway, she listened to the children’s hopes, and she thought. No matter how much they wish, they have very limited means to achieve it. So, she thought, why not prepare scholarships to give them more opportunities?”

When Feldric’s grandfather, the founding king Adriott, established this country, he made elementary schools free, opening the doors to all children. However, anything beyond that became exclusive to children from reasonably wealthy families. Come to think of it, Folsun was also from that orphanage. In his case, he was discovered by a famous scholar who was also one of Feldric’s teachers and adopted, so he should have had no trouble with educational opportunities… Feldric looked at Folsun’s somewhat nervous, delicate face standing before him. It was probably not his imagination that he looked pleased.

“I don’t mind the scholarship. But that’s that. We can provide it separately from the gifts to her.” (Well, it won’t do any harm, so she can do as she pleases.) Feldric picked up his pen again. He turned the next document with his other hand. “Ah, well, Her Highness didn’t say it clearly, but it seems she doesn’t want them.” “…” At those words, Feldric stopped moving again. “Folsun, you have some nerve, speaking so clearly about something my wife, the Crown Princess, would deliberately not state…?” “N-no, no, no, I made a mistake…!” Folsun frantically shook his head as Feldric glared at him.

“H-Her Highness said that if you compare the things she received with the opportunities to use them, she already has enough…!” “…………Even if there were many, it wouldn’t be a problem, would it?” Feldric, stunned for a moment in exasperation, then sighed. He had casually asked and been evaded each time, but Sophina must have been quite involved in Hydeland’s finances after all. The result was this regrettable frugality.

(Her older sister, on the other hand, wore considerable dresses and jewels…) Recalling Auserin and Sophina’s older sister, whom he had met in Hydeland, Feldric chuckled sardonically and again lowered his gaze to the documents. (What one should have isn’t someone like her, but a “competent empress.” I suppose I’ll prod her a bit more and make her reveal Hydeland’s financial situation…) He thought of the dull blue eyes that glared at him at every turn. Although she did act unexpectedly at times, she was proving to be very useful, just as he had expected.

“She’s a modest person in everything, so if someone were to decline every invitation she received, it would be even more so. I understand the circumstances, but invitations from Duchess Foldelic or Lady Nashuana… oh, wait, I can’t take her for a different reason, can I?” He looked at Folsun, still facing the documents, and Folsun seemed to be smiling—or at least, it didn’t look like he wasn’t. “—Folsun, the provisional budget for the eastern part of Domskus, finish it by tomorrow.” “Geh. W-wait a minute, yesterday you said it would still take time to coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the Knights…” “Then all the more reason to start immediately—now get out.” The fact that his face was pale as he hurriedly left was his own doing, he supposed.

Feldric again looked down at the documents, writing instructions for corrections. Apart from the content, what spontaneously came to mind was the scene from last night—the small, round face moving a piece on the Meskel board placed on the bed, furrowing its brows, and earnestly explaining the rules.

(I truly dislike it…) He regained his composure and picked up the next document, which was a private letter from his mother, the Queen of Kazac, asking him to send a personal letter to the King of Hydeland informing him of Sophina’s recent activities. Growing even more displeased at the bad timing, Feldric took out a sheet of stationery and began to write formal phrases to the incompetent and foolish king of the neighboring country. (Ridiculous, that man has no interest in this. It’s clear from the items she brought for the marriage.) Just as that thought occurred to him, he tightened his grip on the pen. The pen caught on the paper, tearing it. “…” Feldric narrowed his eyes, crumpled the torn stationery, and tossed it into the wastebasket beside him.