kscans

Chapter 18 - Deprivation and the Finale

"My son, Tagi."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"You said you would accept any punishment." Tagi swallowed hard.

"Yes." The King nodded.

"Sumika of the Viscount Scott family."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Her blue eyes, which hinted at a strong will, met the King’s purple ones.

"Do you love Tagi?"

"Yes." The Queen smiled faintly.

The King rephrased his question.

"Do you love the Second Prince of Fulmia?"

"No," Sumika answered clearly.

Viscount Scott’s face paled.

"Sumika! Such disrespect!" The King silenced the Viscount with a gesture.

"It is fine. This has told me what I need to know." He rose from his throne and made his proclamation.

"Tagi Fulmia, Second Prince. I hereby strip you of your rank!" Tagi’s expression went blank.

"Furthermore, I revoke your right of succession to the throne. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"

"…I do not." He knelt on the spot. Tagi bowed his head, showing his obedience.

"Very well. I command you further." Tagi looked up, his face clouded. Was another punishment to be handed down?

"You shall become Tagi Scott, and you will take responsibility for overseeing the renovation of the Summer Palace."

"What?!"

Tagi cried out in surprise. Those words were more than an engagement; they were an order to marry.

"Viscount Scott, you agree to this as well."

"Y-Yes, sir!" The Viscount’s voice cracked. In an instant, it was decided that Tagi would marry into the Scott family.

Tagi and the Viscount’s eyes met. Though stripped of his rank, he still possessed the golden hair and purple eyes that marked him as royalty. The noblest bloodline was about to enter a viscount family with no backing, wealth, or power.

Tagi stood and moved to stand before Viscount Scott.

"Not with the power of the Royal Family, but with my own power, I will make Sumika happy." Viscount Scott’s face crumpled. A tear traced a path down his cheek.

"…Please, take care of my daughter."

"Yes, Father!"

The two men embraced. When the Viscount released him, Tagi rushed to Sumika, who was crying with joy. He lifted her up and they shared a kiss.

"What a nice story," Litt said, clapping slowly.

"However, Your Majesty, the Viscount Scott family does not have the funds to cover the palace renovations." At Litt’s words, the King sat back down and rested his cheek on his hand.

"My, how unusual. To see Your Majesty sulking. Hehe."

"I am not sulking, my Queen. I merely have a headache at the thought of the dreadful chirping I will have to endure from the Philbard Ducal family."

"Oh? So you intend to have the Ducal family bear the cost?"

"It is punishment for intercepting a letter from the Royal Palace—an invitation written by a Court Secretary, no less. Besides, we have the assets of the Marquis Furas family."

"My, how frightening. Will they be stripped of their title?"

"The original sentence was death," the King stated. The Queen smiled.

"You are a kind king, Your Majesty. Don’t you agree, Raoul?"

"The most frightening one here is Mother, who can smile while watching this drama of intrigue unfold."

"Oh, my." Everyone silently agreed.

"Is that so? As a mother, I am more concerned that even at this stage, Raoul is not the Crown Prince." The King’s eyebrow shot up.

"Is that a threat, my Queen?"

"No, Your Majesty. I was only joking. This night party has been so full of schemes and plots, I thought I might lighten the mood a little."

"It is having the opposite effect, Mother." At Raoul’s stern voice, the Queen opened her Crim.

"Hehe. Then I shall remain silent and be a mere ornament in my chair."

Her lips curved into an arc, like a crescent moon in the night sky.