The hand of the clock hanging on the wall of the assembly hall, which started at noon, suddenly pointed to the number 3.
The tedious discussion of the ministers in support of arranged marriage continued for a long time.
Above all, Marquis Garsol, who chaired the conference, was continuing the proceedings without giving the right to speak to the young princess.
“Next time, I will ask the opinion of Count Daven.”
“This is a great opportunity to work amicably with Maynard……”
Count Daven, like a parrot, expressed the same opinion that has been told over and over again. Marquis Garsol tried to call another person, but now most of the opinions were spoken out loud.
Claudia quietly raised her hand, as if reminding everyone in the hall of her existence.
“Now, I’d like to express my opinion on this topic.”
The Marquis looked at her as if he couldn’t help it.
“……I will listen to the words of Her Highness, Princess Claudia.”
“I want to go forward and speak.”
“Your Highness the Princess, it is customary to speak on the spot.
As Marquis Garsol emphasized manners while stroking his goatee’s beard, Emperor Neuschwan raised his hand to restrain him.
“It is not against custom to speak in front of everyone. Go on, Princess.”
He was also paying attention to what Princess Claudia would say. Reynold also stood in his place with shining eyes.
Claudia greeted the Emperor with perfect etiquette.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The princess stepped onto the podium.
Dressed in a pure white neck collar and a purple dress embroidered with gold thread, Claudia had purposely chosen a mature look for the meeting.
“For the future of the Tyra Empire, with infinite glory and the protection of the goddess. Thank you, Your Majesty, and all of you, for giving me the right to speak.”
The elderly ministers also responded to the imperial court’s ancient greetings by lightly laying their hands on the spot.
“National marriage is definitely a transaction that brings benefits to the country. If the marriage to Maynard is an opportunity for the Tyra Empire to grow one step further, I will gladly agree to the marriage.”
Claudia, who had once stopped talking, looked around the audience. Most of them nodded at her words.
“But only if it is a promise that will be kept. Maynard’s ownership of the Maple Estate and the exclusive trading rights of Mukas lead are clearly conditions that are beneficial to the Empire. But there is no guarantee that they will keep their promises seeing as no official papers have arrived.”
The princess’s words were definitely true. However, the backlash came immediately.
“……But, Your Highness the Princess. How can you openly question Maynard of their intentions to not follow throw their promises?”
“Then they will become uncomfortable and the marriage proposal may be taken back, isn’t it?”
“How can we do such a thing when we have to uphold the honor of the country?”
The reaction of the ministers who were making a fuss was well expected. The Princess’s maternal uncle, the Marquis of Hills who was silent, added his words.
“I’ve been watching as quietly as possible, but I will add one word. If you believe in their words and proceed with the marriage and get nothing in return, who will bear the responsibility? I think it’s a matter of careful consideration and decision.”
The Emperor Neuschwan, who was watching, said.
“That’s right. So, should I even write a marriage contract?”
“Rather than a paper contract, why not reflect on the long tradition of the Tyra Empire?”
“If it’s a long tradition…….”
“Isn’t there a white laurel oath that was made during the time of the first emperor in the past? It is an unbreakable pact that puts each other’s lives as collateral. If you use tradition as a justification, you will be able to understand Maynard’s motives without losing honor.”
“Oh, yes. There was such a tradition. I can gently pressure the opponent.”
The Emperor clapped his knees in admiration, and the ministers nodded their heads to see if it was something they could agree with.
“It seems like a wise opinion.”
The ministers who supported the prince glanced at him. Reynold just watched the meeting without a change in expression.
‘You rolled your head quite a bit. Did you catch on Maynard’s intention of not giving up on the Maple estate? However, since they have agreed to hand over the trading rights of Mukas…… The ministers will be satisfied with that.’
But the next moment, when Claudia firmly spoke, Prince Reynold made a stern impression.
“However, this is limited to the condition of receiving the ownership of Maple State. There is no need for Mukas trading right.”
Everyone in the hall was surprised by Princess Claudia’s words.
“What do you mean, Mukas leaves will help many patients with depression.”
Claudia recalled Luciel’s letter.
[Mukas tea leaves will be found to be toxic in the future. But that’s very far in the future. There’s no way to prove it right now, so we’ll have to come up with another way. Isn’t it the best way for people who are depressed to talk to someone about their story?
So this is the way I was thinking.
Zerda’s Magic Toy Shop.
It’s originally only open to VVIP customers, regardless of status, but if you bring an introduction from the Duke of Bellstein, he’ll open the door for you.
Dolls that listen to your concerns and hug you are sold there.
It’s a store close to the Imperial Capital, so you’ll be able to get there right away.]
“……The Mukas leaf is a herb that only grows in Maynard and was never released to the world, so no stability was guaranteed by outside research. I’m impatient to believe only what they say. Rather, I would like to recommend a more healthy way to treat depression. One of them could be this ‘Worried Teddy Bear’.”
When Princess Claudia gave a signal, the attendant who brought a box opened it and she took out a little pocket.
“What is this?”
Claudia opened the pocket and found a teddy bear the size of a thumb.
“This silly doll……in this place.”
“I confess my frustration to this teddy bear, and when I fall asleep, the doll takes care of it for me. Sometimes it hugs my fingers and comforts me.”
Claudia took out the teddy bear she was using and placed it in the palm of her hand. Then the teddy bear, feeling the warmth, sat down and listened to her with its round ears.
“How was today?”
“I was so nervous today that I couldn’t sleep.”
“Oh, dear…….You’ve had a hard time. Do you have any worries? I will think about it for you.”
“It’s hard to talk in front of a lot of people.”
“Great. I’ll think about it and let you know.”
Then the teddy bear stopped moving and held its chin while thinking.
“Now, take a deep breath and think like this: it’s just you and me here. Talk to people like you would talk to me. You are talking very well now.”
The wriggling teddy bear wrapped around the Princess’ fingers. Claudia only acted in a fictional play, but she put an honest smile on her face.
“…….”
The ministers shrugged at each other at the Imperial Princess’s erratic behavior.
“Are you saying these children’s toys can cure depression?”
“Isn’t this also unproven?”
Claudia responded quickly, whether she had expected a rebuttal.
“Don’t you feel a lot more at ease after sharing your worries that you can’t tell anyone? There are people who heal the body, but why can’t there be people who heal the mind?”
“……There is no need to treat it with such painstaking care.”
“Then you don’t need Mukas leaves, right? Depression is a disease of the mind. So, I plan to set up treatment centers around the country that listen to people’s concerns and find answers, promoting a project to train therapists specialized in depression to work there. Magic dolls will be the first step in that work.”
The more they listened to her opinion, the more plausible the princess’s words were, and the more they nodded their head.
Some of the ministers even applauded and Claudia briefly bowed her head to thank him.
“A doctor who heals the sickness of the heart. It was something I hadn’t thought of.”
“Can I take a look at that teddy bear too?”
“Of course. We brought plenty of teddy bears.”
“But isn’t that a very absurd suggestion!”
A minister jumped around, but the emperor added an opinion in support of the princess.
“I am a little moved that Princess Claudia has prepared so much. I think that suggesting a constructive way rather than relying on untested herbs is truly the way for the country. This Emperor supports the opinion of the Princess. What are the opinions of the lords?”
“I agree with Princess Claudia opinion.”
“It seems like a good way to get things done in our own country rather than relying on Maynards.”
Several ministers supported Princess Claudia’s opinion. The Hills family also quietly sent their gazes of support.
Even the ministers who had promised to push ahead with the arranged marriage remained silent not moving their mouths, but they had already agreed with the princess in their hearts.
“All right. With this, we will negotiate only on the Maple Estate as a condition of proceeding with the Laurel Oath according to Princess Claudia’s opinion. If Maynard does not sign a contract by oath, this arranged marriage will not take place.”
When Emperor Neuschwan spoke so intently, even the ministers could not refute it and bowed their heads. That’s how the meeting ended.
‘Was the Princess this wise?’ (Reynold)
I thought she was just an innocent girl with the dignity and beauty of her mother, Empress Isabelle.
Today she showed qualities that surpassed princesses of the empire, so even the ministers saw her in a new light.
Contrary to the warm atmosphere in the hall, Prince Reynold stood up with a cold face and turned around. As his eyes met Claudia, she felt an unknown hostility in him, but it was a fleeting moment.
“Sister, you worked hard to prepare. Whose help did you get?”
“……Well, these are things that I usually think of. What are your thoughts?”
“I don’t know how useful it is, but it was a cute opinion. I will cheer you on.”
Reynold smirked and left the hall, barely hiding his sullen face.
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“……Whew, I’m glad it turned out well.”
With a sigh of relief, Princess Claudia was deeply grateful to Luciel.
This event also deeply imprinted the presence of Claudia to both the Emperor and ministers.
‘Now I feel like I’ve crossed a mountain. I want to quickly meet Luciel and discuss the following matters.’
She said there was something she wanted to discuss properly if we could finish this matter of arranged marriage safely. It was decided to meet and talk separately, so soon she would be able to see Luciel.