Chapter 28…
The Crown Prince ordered the man who was originally in charge of this room to accompany us as a secretary.
This man was the superior officer of the one who had greeted us earlier in the department handling matters of title succession.
He had not uttered a single word, simply listening the entire time as we spoke with the Crown Prince.
Even when he was suddenly ordered to join us, he did not seem particularly surprised.
It struck me that he—and perhaps all the department heads—were quite accustomed to the Crown Prince’s impulsive behavior.
“Your Highness, surely you don’t mean to go to the Carmine estate now?”
“They say good deeds should be done swiftly, don’t they?”
“It only looks like you’re enjoying yourself, Your Highness.
Allow me to introduce myself properly—I’m Philip Keisel. Indeed, it makes sense that I should accompany you since I’ve heard the entire story.
If everything proceeds as intended, then Lord Kevin’s succession from the current Count should be recognized without issue.”
It seemed we might avoid the disgraceful lineage of inheritance from my mother to my grandfather, and from my grandfather to Kevin.
If this matter could be settled without leaving such a stain for future generations, that would be for the best.
“Ah, we’ll need a paternity test kit as well.”
Right—
They had to confirm whether Marianna was truly Father’s child.
And so, Kevin rode in a carriage with his grandfather, while the Crown Prince rode with Keisel, all headed toward the Carmine estate.
When they arrived, the sudden return threw the butler, the servants, and even Kevin’s mother into a panic as they rushed to greet them.
Seeing the Crown Prince and her father-in-law with Kevin, Mother seemed to immediately sense that something serious was happening.
“Mother, where is Father?”
“That man… I suppose he’s in Catherine’s room.”
Ever since Kevin had left for the territory, Father had likely been spending all his time with Catherine.
Kevin had simply never noticed—Father must have been careful to hide it from him.
“Excellent. Let’s go confirm the scene ourselves.”
The Crown Prince was clearly enjoying himself.
Still, confirming the scene would make the divorce much easier.
They made their way to Catherine’s room. Kevin knocked on the door, but there was no answer.
Could they not hear it from the bedroom?
Thinking as much, he opened the outer door, then quietly opened the bedroom door after listening for sounds inside—
and found his father and Catherine, completely naked, sleeping in each other’s arms.
Perhaps he should be glad they weren’t in the middle of the act.
Even so, the air was thick with the scent of what had just happened.
Seeing his own father and—technically still—his wife like that didn’t stir any emotion in him.
If anything, he merely thought that it would feel refreshing if the two of them and the bed they lay on would simply vanish together.
“Eh…!? What—kyaaa! Get out!!”
Sensing people in the room, Catherine awoke with a start. Whether she realized it was Kevin, his mother, grandfather, and the Crown Prince was unclear.
She frantically looked for something to cover herself with, found a blanket that had fallen to the floor, and wrapped herself in it completely.
“Your Highness, I have confirmed the adultery between my wife and my father.”
“Yes, indeed. Astonishing, really. Perhaps both the Count and Kevin should get divorced?”
The Crown Prince said it in an exaggeratedly casual tone.
“Of course. Mother, you’ll do the same, won’t you?”
“Eh…? Oh, yes. We can… divorce, can’t we?”
Having always obeyed her husband, Kevin’s mother answered hesitantly—
perhaps she had never believed divorce was even possible.
