I’m a Bastard But You’re Worse!

POV: Duke Rosais

In a private room of the royal palace

Nonsense!! I, the crown prince, have to marry into a barons family!? Do you realize how stupid it sounds!?

Before me, a fool was shouting and gesticulating.

The fools name was, naturally, Sullivan Lamperouge the kingdoms former crown prince.

Unfortunately, His Majesty the King decided thus. We must ask for Your Highness acceptance.

I carefully picked my words. Dealing with the aftermath of the events was exhausting enough: I was already sick of dealing with prattling fools.

(Why do I have to do this in the first place)

So I cursed under my breath.

Normally, it was His Majestys duty to deliver royal edicts and announce such decisions. But this time I, the chancellor, was sent to act in His Majestys place.

His Majesty the King loathed the idea of announcing such a thing to his beloved son, so the troublesome task was laid upon my shouldersneedless to say.

(Not only did he fail to uphold his responsibility as king, but as a father too)

How many times has the royal family disappointed me in the last month?

I was not a man of extreme ambitions, but the recent events caused the word rebellion to flicker in my mind.

There has to be some mistake!! Ill talk with my father!!

Sullivan roughly curled up the royal edict into a ball and threw it on the floor.

..

I felt my facial muscles tense up.

A royal edict is not only signed by the king in person but also bears the royal seal of the Lamperouge kingdom. Treating a royal edict in such a way was a barbarous act, tantamount to treason.

Even if this man still had the rank of the crown prince, if such an act occurred in public, his execution would be inevitable.

(I might as well use this to have him executedbut if I did, His Majesty would die of grief.)

I kept my composure as I repeated the facts.

Unfortunately, this has already been decided. Could you please confirm the contents one more time? You can see the royal seal has been stamped, yes?

Uuh..

Sullivan finally realized what he had done and picked up the royal edict at his feet, an awkward expression on his face. He spread the high-quality parchment, carefully stretched out the wrinkles, and read it again.

Y-yes, there is the royal sealbut I cannot believe this, I cannot believe my father would abandon meI thought I would just be demoted until things boiled overto marry into a barons family? W-what did I do to deserve this?

What did I doyou say?

Could it possibly be that this man has not yet grasped the extent of his actions?

Margrave Maxwell was the guardian of the eastern provinces and the biggest single military force in the kingdom.

The house of Rosais was the leader of the central nobles and the pivot of the kingdoms political world.

This man turned both of these major noble families into his enemies and created an unmendable fissure between them and the royal family, yet he still acts like hes the victim?

(I should maybe consider myself lucky that the engagement was broken. At least my precious daughter doesnt have to marry this buffoon anymore.)

While mentally sighing in relief, I started explaining again, as patiently as I could.

Lord Sullivan, as I believe you are aware, in this kingdom, there are four margrave houses, the so-called Four Houses, who possess vast power. The royal family and duke families have higher official rank and greater political authority, but as these houses are charged with defending the borders, their military power is something even His Majesty the King cant ignore.

Hm, hmm

You have snatched the fiancee of the heir to one of such margraves and enraged them. Without proper punishment, a rift would open between the royal family and the margraves. Please understand that His Majesty the King took this decision with a heavy heart.

N-noI cant

Sullivan turned pale and started trembling. Apparently, he finally understood the gravity of his actions.

II just fell in love with Selena, andwas I in the wrong? Is it wrong to pursue true love?

Sullivan weakly collapsed on the ground, mumbling such words with a lifeless look on his face.

True love, sir? So very beautiful.

My lips twisted, and I slowly shook my head.

It is truly unfortunate, Lord Sullivan, but beautiful and righteous are two different things. If you truly simply wished to uphold your love with Selena Nommes, you should have made proper preparations. At the very least, if you had first apologized to Maxwell, then talked properly with Marianne, your punishment would not have been so harsh.

N-no.noaaaahhhhhhh!!!

Sullivan, his palms on the ground, screamed in desperation.

(How pitiful)

Had Sullivan not made this mistake, he would have become my son in law.

If I had kept a closer eye on him, I could have prevented him from falling so low, couldnt I?

(I suppose I shall give him my support to not further offend Maxwell. That is my responsibility.)

So I was thinking when, as a final gesture of good conscience, I got on one knee and stretched a hand to Sullivan.

However

.I know.

What?

I know, I know!! I just need to fix the mistake!! Just need to make it as nothing happened!!

Sir Sullivan?

Overwhelmed by Sullivans sudden momentum as he stood back up, I moved two steps backward. I could not tell why, but I had a terrible feeling about it.

Chancellor!

Yes, sir?

I take back breaking the engagement with your daughter!!

Haah!?

My body bent backward and my eyes opened wide.

Did this man really say that?

If I get engaged with Marianne again I dont have to marry into Baron Nommes family! And since I have a duke family as support, I can be the crown prince again too! Then I can just use the Rosais finances to pay Maxwell a recompensation! Selenawell, I can take her as a concubine, and its all settled!

(How low will this man stoop to?)

I could tell that all signs of emotion had left my face.

How selfish can one be? To force the people around him to move for his sake, with no regards at all for their own circumstances

Good, good, its decided! Go call Marianne!! Tell her that Ill let our engagement be mended and

Silence.

Gwah!?

Before I realized it, my right hand grabbed Sullivans neck.

He surely never expected something like that to happen: there was nothing but shock and surprise in his eyes.

Chancellor?

Did you seriously think that my dear daughters life, that the future of the noble house of Rosais, is for you to decide on a whim? Who do you think you are?

Iam.crownprin

The *former* crown prince, yes?

Sullivans face lost color, turning a shade of purple, so I finally released him.

He collapsed on the floor again, coughing several times.

Be thankful that we are in the royal palaceif we had met outside, Id have strangled you.

Kaahhaahhaahdont thinkyoull getaway with this

Oh?

He still hadnt spouted all of his nonsense, apparently.

I raised a foot and pressed the heel on Sullivans right hand.

Gheh!?

I wont get away with this? What will you do, then? You, the adopted son of a baron, without a shred of power or authority? What can you do to the head of house Rosais? Say it.

F-father will see to it!!

The same father said that he will not meet you. He probably doesnt want to even see the face of his idiot of a son.

Y-youre lying!! Father would never abandon me!

Go confirm that yourself then. Not that you even have the right to request an audience, as you are now.

I turned my back to Sullivan.

I had no more words for the man. As they say, there is no cure for stupidity.