In a Political Marriage, Isn’t It Normal to Treat Your Fiancée Well? - Chapter 27

“Are you truly certain about this, Uncle?”

“Hm? About what?”

“About designating me as your successor…”

“Haha. Is that all? Of course, I am. I have no children of my own, so I need my nephew to inherit my position.”

The prince born between the late king and my sister.

I gently patted his head as I spoke.

“But you’re still young, Uncle. You could still take a wife.”

“Hahaha. That won’t happen.”

When I firmly denied it, my nephew puffed out his cheeks in dissatisfaction.

“I have no intention of remarrying.”

The woman who became my wife was sickly and passed away several years ago without bearing children.

I had loved my wife.

That’s precisely why I wasn’t considering remarriage.

“And besides,”

“Yes?”

“Eric, you are my precious nephew. That’s why I want you to inherit.”

“Uncle…”

“I do feel somewhat sorry to you, Eric.”

“Not at all…”

“Yes, I do. We had to remove you and your brother from the royal lineage. His Majesty probably wanted you both to live as members of the royal family.”

“Do you think so?”

“Probably. Though this is just speculation.”

“…Uncle, both I and my brother are grateful. To you and grandfather. If we hadn’t been removed from the royal lineage, we might have been inevitably dragged into the power struggle for the throne.”

“Eric…”

What my nephew said was correct.

The new king dotes on his half-siblings. The queen consort, his partner, feels the same. My nephew also holds affection for the royal couple.

Even so.

Not everyone around them necessarily shares those feelings.

The king and queen have a good relationship. They’ve been blessed with an heir.

Perhaps it’s precisely because of this.

I didn’t want my nephews to face any danger.

That’s why we removed them from the royal lineage.

I see.

So, my nephews had understood.

My father and I and of course, my sister too, none of us wanted you brothers involved in the throne struggle. I wanted to believe it was unnecessary worry. But I couldn’t say for certain.

“Eric”

“Yes”

“We… care deeply for you and your brother.”

“Uncle…”

“That’s why… we want you to be happy. This is also the wish of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen.”

“…Thank you.”

My nephew smiled.

Seeing that smile, I felt relieved.

I now have two nephews and one niece.

All three are dear to me.

They strongly resemble my sister.

Perhaps that’s why they’re even more precious to me.

Because the twin nephews looked nothing like each other.

Ah, I see.

So that’s why.

That must be why Father cut them off.

Those twins looked exactly like the former Duchess of Regenburg – unbearably so.

No wonder he couldn’t feel affection for them.

I smiled wryly and patted my nephew’s head.

The spring sunlight was warm.

This pleasant warmth seemed to foreshadow the future to come.