How About a Refill? ~The Elegant Tea Party of the Grand Witches~ - Chapter 28

Second Prince Ivan

“So? Did you find out who the lady with my brother was?”

This room was Prince Ivan’s bedroom, one of the rooms in the Diamond Palace where the Royal Family resided.

Ivan had summoned his aide to his room to hear about the investigation he had carried out about the young lady who had accompanied Emilio a few days ago.

“Her name is Miriam, I presume she is the youngest daughter of the Caparoni household. I asked around and found it is indeed true that Prince Emilio has been escorting Marquess Caparoni’s daughter back home from the palace, in his carriage, these past few days.” 

“I’ve already heard about that in the interim meeting. At any rate, the lady looked pretty as she was, but she doesn’t look like someone from the Caparoni family.”

Ivan thought back to Miriam’s appearance. He had only seen her for a moment, but when he compared her to the members of the Caparoni family he couldn’t help but think she didn’t resemble any of them.

His aide hadn’t been present at that time so he had only heard the name from Ivan. He’d then looked for it in the almanac holding the records of all noble families, and had also asked around for his own investigation. In the end, he had deduced she must be the youngest daughter from the Caparoni family.

“Ah, well I didn’t really get to see her in person.”

“Oi, you’re speaking too informally.”

“Sorry. I humbly beg for your pardon, Your Highness, Prince Ivan.”

“Seriously, as soon as you get distracted you slip into informal speech.”

Ivan’s aide, Dino Janic Basco Zlatanov was, like Leonardo, the heir to a Count who had been frequently visiting the palace since a young age to play with the prince.

He was capable at his job, but he tended to lose focus easily, and once he did, his natural personality started showing. 

However, for Ivan he was the only person in the castle Ivan could let his guard down around.

“But, the only person around that age named ‘Miriam’, who can also hang out with First Prince Emilio, is Marquess Caparoni’s youngest daughter, isn’t it? Unless you heard wrong? Or maybe your eyesight is getting weak?” 

“Don’t be absurd. But …if it’s true then this is a troublesome situation.” 

“Huh?”

Ivan got to his feet and started pacing restlessly around his room.

“Umm, what’s wrong?”

“….surely, I heard it was the daughter of the Caparoni family…”

“Huh? I can’t hear you properly.”

“Like I said! I’d heard he was going to marry the daughter from the Caparoni family! I thought it was the older fairy princess!”

Dino gazed in confusion at Ivan who had suddenly lost his temper. Then he asked, “You thought it was the elder daughter? So? What did you do?”

Perhaps he sensed the change in Dino’s voice, but Ivan confessed what he had done.

“I heard from my uncle that my brother had found a fiance from an influential family… the daughter of the Caparoni family.”

“Ah, and then?”

“If it went on like this brother would definitely get the throne so I… Coincidentally, I found a group who were looking for a beautiful young lady from a noble family. The fairy princess of the Caparoni family fit perfectly in the interests of both parties. So we sent a bunch of rare tea leaves to her close friend and suggested she have a tea party. And then…”

“Then you had the Marquess’ daughter kidnapped. And it turned out you had the wrong person from the start.”

Ivan paled at the anger shooting off his aide’s face; he picked up a cushion from the sofa and threw it at Dino.

“I panicked! I thought he would become the Crown Prince! No matter how hard I try, or what I do it is never enough. The only thing I surpass him in is my mother’s blood! What would you understand!”

“Yes, I don’t understand! I don’t understand how you can be so foolish as to pull off this stunt!” 

“…Damn it!” 

Dino gave a sigh and then patted Ivan’s head as he placed the other on his forehead.

“So? Who did you ask, and where are they based?”

“… it’s a new religious group that has recently been gaining a lot of influence. I talked to a man with silver hair and gold eyes. What are you thinking of doing?”

“Well, first we apologize to the other party, explain the situation and then ask for their cooperation. Anyways, the other party is too unbelievable. Seriously, to lay a hand on the daughter of Marquess Caparoni… how foolish.”

Dino scratched his head in thought. Then he stood up and walked away from Ivan.

“Wait! Where are you going!?”

“I’m gonna go get a hold of Leonardo for the time being.”

When he looked at Dino, he had hidden away his anger and had returned to his usual careless self. He left the room with his hands swinging by his side.

Dino let out a deep sigh as he walked down the corridor in the Diamond Palace.

“Aa, what has that stupid prince done. Why did he just do as he pleased without even talking to me. Leonardo isn’t as bad as the Marquess but I wonder if I’ll be able to come back alive…”

Leonardo and Dino had attended boarding school together.

They used to be playmates with the First Prince, and the Second prince, respectively. They were raised to become close aides of the princes who were politically opposed to each other. However, at boarding school, where their parents’ eyes did not reach, Leonardo and Dino became quite close to each other due to their similar circumstances. But, their secret friendship may come to an end today.

Dino dropped his shoulders in disappointment and headed to the Jade Palace with heavy footsteps.