The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

Chapter 330: It is important to Doubt

Chapter 330: It is important to Doubt

The night a few days later.

I was thinking of the next move inside my room.

Char still doesnt give me her reply.

We dont have much time. If we keep loitering around the enemy will start moving first

You are making a difficult face again.

Whose fault do you think it is?

I heard a voice.

From the balcony.

When I turned my eyes toward the voice, Char was sitting there on the railing again.

I will say it just in case, its dangerous you know?

Its fine, its fine.

Saying so, Char laughed and started dangling her legs off the railing again.

Such a carefree attitude from someone who could have a seizure at any time.

I went to the balcony and started talking to her.

Haadid you come to give your answer?

Mostly, yes. But I am here to confirm something too.

Confirm what?

Char nods.

She then started talking about her past nostalgically.

My parents died when I was little and Ojii-sama took it upon himself to raise me. I learned a lot from him.

Thats enviable.

Right? So, Ojii-sama also taught me thisit is important to doubt.

that is certainly something Marquis Zweig would say.

Doubt can stem from anywhere.

If you are trapped inside it, you will never be able to build a trusting relationship.

However, doubts are certainly important.

After all, the stronger the doubt, the more you can trust if you can resolve it.

No matter how good someone seems to be, never trust a person that makes you doubt. On the contrary, no matter how bad a person may seem, if that person can clear your doubts, that person is worthy of trust. That was what he taught me.

I see..in other words, you have some doubts about me right?

Yes. Ive been asking my grandfathers aides including the ones that are already retired for the past few days whether they remember any mercenary corps that Ojii-sama used to help.

And their answer is?

No one remembers someone like that at all.

Chars eyes which were fixed on the starry sky turned to me.

I can see the doubts in her eyes.

If I can not clear it up, I will not be able to earn Chars trust.

Who exactly are you? Schwartz.

A former noble from a faraway country.

When I was deprived of my status, I took my vassals and became a mercenary, that was when Marquis Zweig had taken care of us.

That was the setting.

It would be easy to lie here but it will only give raises to new doubts instead.

Whether there is someone like that or not, Char has no way to look it up.

I dont have anything to prove it either. After all, we didnt prepare any proof.

Marquis Zweig left behind some good lessons.

Thats about right for someone who will become a head of a noble house huh.

Doubt everyone and see how the other party responds. Thats how you measure your opponent.

The other party has to be the one who takes the initiative.

If you want my trust then earn it. If you challenge your opponent like that they will have no choice but to do their best to gain your trust.

It is difficult to lie without giving birth to more doubt. Especially when the other party is already suspicious of you.

The troublesome thing is that everything depends on my response.

If you are not going to say anything then I have nothing to say to you either.

.it seems that you properly learned from Marquis Zweig huh.

Of course. I intend to succeed him after all.

Thats right.

This person in front of me is Marquis Zweigs successor.

She is the granddaughter of Duke Lowenstein but before that, she was Marquis Zweigs stepdaughter as well as his successor.

I cant be dishonest with her, no, lying to her will not work.

I also have a teacher. I was often told by him that nothing is as fragile as a lie that you have to force yourself to tell.

What does that mean?

It means you can not lie to yourself. If you realize that your lie will not work, it would be better to just raise the white flag.

My own Jii-san is the man who became Emperor by winning the succession war.

His words have enough convincing power.

People can lie to others all they want but it is not that easy to lie to themselves.

It takes a lot of effort to deceive yourself, if you have your hands full doing that then you wont be able to deceive others.

So, if you think it is impossible then dont do it in the first place.

I will not lie and I dont want to lie.

I do not want to deceive and I dont want to be deceived.

When your heart tells you that it is impossible, you should give up on lying.

I slowly lower my hood.

Then I introduce myself to her again.

I am the 7th Prince of the Empire, Arnold Lakes Adler. Even though I had no other choice, I apologize for the deception. Lady Charlotte von Lowenstein.

why didnt you lie? If you wanted to deceive me then you should have done that. You already know how much I hate the Imperial Family, Why did you choose to give me your name?

There may have been a way to deceive you but I thought that it wont work. As long as that is my true feeling, I have no choice but to obediently tell you the truth.

Chars eyes never leave me.

However, there are no longer doubts in her eyes.

If Char really hates the Imperial Family then I have no hand left to play.

The only choice left would be to forcibly visit Duke Lowenstein by myself. I doubt that it will succeed but that would still be much easier than deceiving Char here.

Im troubled.

With what?

It is the opposite of when we first talk with each other here.

While having a bitter smile on her face, Char looked up at the starry sky.

Ojii-sama used to tell me a story about when he helped a prince with black-haired and black eyes. That is why I have a suspicion that you belong to the Imperial Family.

The Marquis was unexpectedly talkative huh.

Ojii-sama liked telling old stories but his favorite was the story when he helped out that prince. He always smiled and told me how much the event touched him while telling it.

Is that so..

There are two princes with black hair and eyes in the Imperial Family. You and your twin brother. Which one of you did Ojii-sama help?

Unfortunately, it was me.

I seeI would understand why he admired the prince so much if it was Prince Leonard but it was you who was called the Dull Prince instead huh.

Chars words are not malicious.

She only relays the content of her heart.

Ojii-sama..after the Crown Princes death, he took it upon himself to prevent the country from dividing. The Imperial Family did nothing. They only use him because he was convenient. Thats why I hate the Imperial Family.

Yes, that is correct.

I cant say that I understand it.

Since I belong on the side of the people who wronged her, there is no way that I can understand her feelings.

I can imagine what it must be like but that is far from understanding it.

Such a pain can only be understood by those who were directly subjected to it or those who have been around to witness it happen. It is not something that a person who is on the side that inflicting such pain can understand.

But..I still can not forgive Gordon for betraying Ojii-samas earnest wish. If we leave things as they are, Gordon might be able to win. Duke Lowenstein might be fine with that but the Zweig house is different. I will not allow such a future to exist.

Char said with a strong and determined voice.

She then got off the railing and stood in front of me.

Her odd eyes are staring right through me.

What is the chance that we can persuade Duke Lowenstein?

50-50. It depends on how much the Duke treasures his house and the north.

Our chances are not so bad huh. Alright. The Zweig house will side with you.

..you hate the Imperial Family right?

I do. But Ojii-sama taught me that a title is still nothing but a title. I choose to believe in you who I can see right in front of me rather than judging you by the title of the Imperial family you carry. You have shown sincerity in response to my doubts. I know that you are a good person. To be honest, at first, I thought that you will lie until the very end since you are one of the Imperial Family. I was prepared to strike you with thunder at first..but you didnt choose to lie as I thought you would. Thats why I believe in you. Rather than holding on to the prejudice from your title, I think that I should trust in my own impression of you.

Saying so, Char knelt down in front of me.

One of the 47 clans of the north, the house of Zweig shall be Your Highnesss power. I pledge the knowledge given to me by Ojii-sama and my thunder to Your Highness.

thank you. And what do you wish for in return?

..I do not mind if it will be after the war but allow me to succeed the title of Marquis Zweig. I can not have any other family name other than this.

I understand. That is a cheap price to pay.

Marquis Zweig didnt have any successor.

If he wanted to keep his house alive then he should have adopted an heir but rather than that, he thought it would be better to leave everything to Char.

The problem is Duke Lowenstein but lets include this in the negotiation with him as well.

House Lowenstein also has a deep-rooted grudge against the Imperial Family you know?

I know. Thats why I came here personally. If it is about being persecuted then I wont lose too after all.

I said so and showed her a grin.