Chapter 1394: A Shared Responsibility ( 1394 )
Chapter 1394: A Shared Responsibility ( 1394 )
Marcellus leaned over to Cedric, whispering something just loud enough for Javier to catch. Cedric chuckled in response, shaking his head.
Javier exhaled in frustration, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Celine tilted her head slightly, noticing Javier’s reaction. Her cheeks flushed, and she glanced away shyly, raising her fan to cover half her face.
"If I may ask... did I say something improper? Was my tone too forward?"
Javier quickly shook his head. "Ah, no... it’s not you. My brother is always like that. He’s probably teasing me for something."
"Oh... I see. I apologize if my manner of speaking caused any... unintended amusement."
"No, don’t worry about it. Once you get to know them, you’ll understand. Especially those two." Javier gestured casually toward Marcellus and Cedric, who were still grinning like mischievous children.
"I... I see." Celine lowered her fan slightly, a small, relieved smile on her lips.
Javier shoved both hands back into his pockets. "My brothers will accompany you for now, along with the current Armand officers. They’ll escort you to the guest wing. I’ll come back to inform you about the audience once I’ve spoken with my parents."
Celine nodded gracefully, her composure returning. "I understand. I shall await your return, My Husband."
"Alright. I’m going."
Javier turned, raising one hand in a casual wave while the other remained tucked in his pocket, and walked off without looking back.
Celine gave a slight bow, her eyes following him until he disappeared around the corner.
Marcellus stepped forward, rubbing his chin as he studied Celine with an amused, curious expression.
Celine straightened, her composure returning as she addressed him in her formal royal tone. "Is there something on my face, Prince Marcellus? Or have I done something to warrant your attention?"
Marcellus blinked, then shook his head with a light chuckle. "Nah, no... it’s not that."
Celine tilted her head, her curiosity growing.
He glanced at Cedric, Aelius, and Heres before turning his attention back to Celine, his voice dropping into a low mumble. "It’s just... I wonder why... My little brother..." He paused, his gaze distant for a moment before he shrugged. "Ah, forget it."
He turned to walk ahead but paused, glancing over his shoulder.
"Anyway, Princess... Celine, right?"
Celine offered another graceful curtsy, her voice polite and formal. "Yes, Prince Marcellus. That is correct."
Marcellus smiled warmly. "You can drop the formal tone. It’s fine for official meetings, but between us, feel free to speak casually. We get tired of all the formality and carefully chosen words around here. It’s exhausting, honestly. Even the old man prefers straightforward talk when the crown isn’t on his head."
"R... really?" Celine’s eyes widened in surprise before she glanced away, her voice dropping into a hesitant mumble. "I... I do not believe it would be appropriate. I am a guest, and you are the princes of Armand. I was raised to always speak with proper decorum, especially in the presence of royalty. Maintaining a degree of formality is expected of me."
Cedric smirked and shook his head. "It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Even my father gets tired of using all that formal language when he doesn’t have to. He prefers it when people speak plainly."
He stepped forward, stopping beside Marcellus as he looked at Celine. "No one will say anything if you drop the formalities with us. We’d honestly prefer it."
Aelius offered a calm, reassuring smile. "Just look at Javier. He’s the first in line to the throne, but have you ever heard him speak in a formal tone since you met him?"
Celine paused, thinking back. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she shook her head gently. "No... I suppose I haven’t."
Aelius chuckled softly. "Even he, the future king, doesn’t bother with formalities when it’s just family or close acquaintances. So please, don’t feel pressured to maintain them around us."
Celine hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice soft but curious. "If you say so, I shall try..." She paused, tilting her head slightly. "But if I may ask... what do you mean by ’first in line’?"
Aelius smiled gently. "Javier is the next heir to the throne of Armand."
"E... Eh!?" Celine’s eyes widened in shock. She turned her gaze toward Marcellus, who was grinning and nudging Cedric, then back to Aelius. "Pardon me, but... isn’t Prince Marcellus the First Prince? Shouldn’t he be the one next in line?"
The moment those words left her mouth, Marcellus’s face twisted into an exaggerated expression of distaste.
"Ewww! No way!"
He waved his hands dismissively, wiggling his fingers with a smug grin. "No, no, no~ Who in their right mind would want to take on that pile of work? The endless piles of paperwork, the boring meetings, the responsibility of governing an entire nation..." He shuddered dramatically. "That’s a nightmare, not a dream. I’d rather spend my days training, relaxing, and enjoying life."
He crossed his arms, grinning at Celine.
"Let Javier handle all that. He’s the one with the brains and the patience for it. I’d rather spend my time with my family, training, and enjoying life."
Celine’s brow furrowed in confusion as she glanced between them, her voice carrying a hint of disbelief.
"B-but... in my continent, every prince, every noble, even the distant cousins of the king, they all vie for the throne. They scheme, they plot, they compete for the crown. It is seen as the ultimate prize, the highest honor. It is rare for someone to openly refuse it. Are you telling me that none of you desire the throne? None of you interested in ruling?"
Marcellus and Cedric exchanged a glance, and Aelius let out a soft laugh. The three of them chuckled together before Marcellus shook his head.
"No. Not even a little."
Cedric nodded in agreement. "Maybe in the Human Nation, or among the nobles, the sons fight over inheritance and titles. Some plot in the shadows, poison their rivals, assassinate their siblings... all for a chance at power."
Marcellus nodded, gesturing for everyone to start walking. "Yeah. What Cedric said is true, and it happens everywhere. But we are Armand. We are different from them. We don’t see the throne as a prize to be fought over. We see it as a responsibility, a burden to be shared. And none of us wants to carry that weight alone."
Aelius fell into step beside Celine, his voice calm and reassuring. "Our father raised us with freedom, not obligation. Each of us chose our own path. I handle the economy, the merchant guild, the banks, and the trade networks alongside Athine. Brother Marcellus oversees the Armand Magic Academy and education. Cedric manages internal affairs and the paladin orders."
He paused, a teasing smirk spreading across his lips as he gestured toward Heres. "Well... this one is a bit ’unlucky~’ He got stuck governing Arjam as interim ruler."
Heres shot them all a flat look, letting out a resigned exhale. "Yeah, yeah... go ahead and laugh."
Marcellus smiled warmly. "In Armand, we believe in choosing the most suitable person for the role, not the one with the highest birth order. Javier has the vision, the patience, and the mind for it. The rest of us have our own strengths and our own paths to follow. The crown is just a symbol. What matters is that Armand thrives."
( End Of Chapter )