Chapter 42: 41

“You must have had a hard time because of what happened.”

Three days after Renato stayed overnight at Khalid’s official residence, a tea time was held in the greenhouse belonging to the inner palace at Marquis Medus’ request. The Marquis comforted Renato in a benevolent voice.

“You don’t know how surprised I was when I heard that you were attacked by the gangsters and passed out.”

Marquis Medus made a distressed expression as he recalled hearing the news of Renato a few days ago. He was not surprised by most things, but at that moment, he was greatly taken aback.

“I had to go to the suburbs of the capital that day, so I heard the news late. As your personal doctor, I’m disqualified. My apologies.”

“It is not something you should apologize for, Marquis. I only became unconscious for a moment…… Thanks to the grand prince’s emergency measures, I was able to recover. A military doctor from the Khan Kingdom and a palace doctor said that there was no major problem.”

When the Marquis apologized, Renato smiled to assure the Marquis that he was fine. He deliberately took action knowing that Marquis Medus was leaving the capital for a house call that day.

“I’m glad that nothing serious happened. But just in case, can I do a quick check-up for you after drinking tea?”

“I would be grateful if you could do so.”

As soon as the conversation between the two was finished, Blanche put down the teacup and opened his mouth as if it was his turn.

“You seem to have done useless things ever since becoming the special protocol officer. Why did you visit the dwarf’s workshop in the first place? You could have just left it to your subordinates.”

“My apologies. I had to go there personally to get the order…… I was motivated by the wish to do well.”

Hearing Blanche’s rebuke, Renato bowed his head in a submissive manner. Although he had never expected it in the first place, when facing the face and voice carrying no worries at all, he still couldn’t help but had a bitter smile.

“Hmph, what can you even do? What the hell was the Emperor thinking when he appointed you as the protocol officer?”

Blanche, who had been staring at Renato, shifted his gaze to Maximo who had been sitting there with a sullen expression for a while.

“But your expression is quite bad today, young lord. Do you perhaps feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

“It’s not that I’m feeling uncomfortable, but the more I think about it, the more detestable that grand prince is.”

Maximo replied, perhaps having waited for Blanche’s question. His voice was full of hostility towards Khalid.

“Detestable?”

“We briefly exchanged greetings at the welcome banquet. He was arrogant even back then…… Ha, I thought he was behaving like that because he had good skills, but now he has already caused problems.”

“Hmm.”

“They say he is an excellent knight who has never been defeated, but he couldn’t do his job properly, so I’m honestly disappointed. How careless he was to even miss some gangster remnants, causing His Imperial Highness to be attacked?”

Renato slightly frowned when Maximo suddenly criticized Khalid. Something felt unsettling. While Renato contemplated how to stop him, Maximo continued his words.

“This cannot be overlooked. His Imperial Highness must be compensated for the damage he has suffered.”

“Damage compensation, do you have any good ideas?”

“The best thing is to get consolation money from him, but what kind of money would a poor country living as mercenaries even have? We have to rip him off with something else.”

“Something else? What do you mean?”

“I think we should ask him for free monster subjugation or other military cooperation. Even if we don’t do anything, it seems that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is trying to take action as well.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, I heard that was why the grand prince entered the palace today…… Anyway, I don’t think it’s reasonable for His Imperial Highness to continue his work as the protocol officer.”

When Maximo’s arrow pointed toward him, Renato turned his head to look at the man.

“What do you mean, lord Maximo?”

“It’s just like what I said. I hope you can step down from your duties as the protocol officer right now.”

When their gazes met, Maximo gave an unpleasant smile. In a relaxed manner, he persuaded Renato to step down from his job as the protocol officer.

“It was a command from His Majesty the Emperor. I cannot afford to quit.”

“We have a good excuse, don’t we? We can say that you need medical attention after this attack. Would His Majesty the Emperor force a sick person to work?”

The man’s deep purple eyes sharply gleamed. They were filled with the willingness to somehow bring Renato down from his position as the protocol officer.

“Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”

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Maximo asked for Blanche’s consent, perhaps thinking there was no need to talk to Renato. As long as Blanche and Marquis Medus agreed, there would be no need to care about Renato’s will.

“Since His Imperial Highness was injured, there would be many things to be ripped off from the grand prince.”

“I don’t think it’s a bad idea, but……”

Blanche, who had been dissatisfied with Renato’s appointment as the protocol officer, showed interest. However, the final decision belonged to the Marquis.

“What do you think, father?”

“Well.”

Marquis Medus pondered while stroking his beard. Feeling urgent when seeing that, Renato quickly opened his mouth.

“The grand prince already knows that there is nothing wrong with me. If we suddenly say I was injured, he would think it’s strange……”

“We can say that you are suffering from aftereffects.”

Maximo responded, interrupting Renato’s words. He glared at Renato with a gaze saying his attempt was just futile. Renato’s scar throbbed because of the man’s gaze, but he did not give in and reaffirmed his opinion.

“If I suddenly step down from my job as the protocol officer, His Majesty the Emperor will not be pleased. We have yet to know what his intention was when he appointed me as the special protocol officer.”

Trying to ignore Maximo’s gaze stabbing at his cheek, Renato talked to Marquis Medus. After all, it was the Marquis who could decide on Renato’s protocol officer issue at this place. Even if Maximo objected, it would be over if Renato could persuade the Marquis.

“If His Majesty the Emperor takes issue with my resignation or gets angry, things may get even worse.”

“That’s also true.”

Marquis Medus, unaware that Renato had joined hands with Tristan, nodded his head. Among them, Renato was the only one who could grasp the Emperor’s intentions or extract information from him. Things might be different later, but a connection between the Emperor and Renato wouldn’t have started now.

“Above all, grand prince Khalid was very sorry for me. At times like this, I think it would be better for me to show my face more often to provoke his guilty conscience and build an acquaintance……”

If he insisted more strongly now, the Marquis would certainly think it was strange. Renato deliberately slurred his words, pretending to watch Marquis Medus’ reactions. To avoid the Marquis’ suspicion, he should show a timid attitude just like before.

“I don’t think His Imperial Highness needs to resign from his job as the protocol officer. As you just said, Your Imperial Highness, the grand prince owes you a debt…… It will be a big help when we bring him to our side in the future.”

Fortunately, Renato’s trick worked against the Marquis. Marquis Medus sided with Renato, not Maximo. Maximo opened his mouth, intending to protest, but then closed his mouth again. He was not yet strong enough to complain or protest against the Marquis.

“The most important thing is for you to build a close acquaintance with the grand prince as soon as possible, Your Imperial Highness. Is that possible?”

“……I will try my best.”

Renato answered in a small voice. Marquis Medus wriggled one eyebrow, dissatisfied with his lack of confidence, but he still gently smiled.

* * *

“Just what are you thinking?”

As he came out of the greenhouse, Renato stopped when hearing a voice calling him. Maximo, who had been waiting for Renato to come out of the entrance, approached him with a huff.

“That’s what I should be asking.”

Renato gave strength to his toes and raised his head straight. He didn’t want to show a frightened appearance in front of Maximo.

“You told me to stop being the protocol officer, were you out of your mind?”

“Do you think I told you to quit for my sake? It was for you! Do you still want to do that job after passing out on a dirty street because of that bastard?”

“Mind your words. The grand prince helped me. If it wasn’t for him, I might have been seriously injured.”

“Ha!”

Maximo burst into laughter, shocked by Renato’s defense of Khalid. Then, the man pushed his ominous wrinkled face close to Renato.

“You’re defending that grand prince bastard in front of me, right?”

Renato’s shoulders stiffened, startled by the man’s ferocious growl, then he quickly clenched his teeth. It was still tolerable when they were with other people, but whenever he and Maximo faced each other alone, his body stiffened and his heart pounded. Paying attention so that his voice would not tremble, Renato retorted every word with strength.

“I’m not defending him, I’m just stating the facts.”

“Seriously!”

Maximo, shocked by Renato’s refusal to listen to his words, roared in anger. Then, thinking that they were still outside, he took a deep breath and exhaled.

In the future, he would become the Emperor, but not yet. Even if Renato was just a powerless Prince, if people saw that a Duke’s son like him yelled at Renato, they would definitely think of his action as an obvious mutiny. In a place where there were a lot of eyes like this, he had to mind his behavior.

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