I messed up my black hair, which was carefully arranged in the back, and I pulled it down in front of the two that were seriously looking at me.

"Did you really think I would just say, "Yes, I understand," and then you would just go on your merry way?"

"If it's your benevolence, your highness, then I'm sure you'll understand."

The look in Celis' eyes tells me that she really believes that without a single hint of doubt.

Originally, I was betrothed to her because it was going to be a marriage of convenience to balance the power between the aristocracy.

Even before I hadn't regained the memories of my previous life, I wasn't really that attached to her, as we'd only spoken and met quite a few times.

That's why I don't have any lingering affection for her, but right now this is different because...

"It seems they think that I'm a fool, and that they can look down upon me, huh?"

While I muttered that to myself, I used the armrest as a stand for my elbow, then put my cheeks on my fist while I crossed my legs.

"I'm sure you are aware of how much money was spent on your education and your personal belongings when you say that. Naturally, the Connaughts are willing to compensate us with that amount, right?"

Celis and I got engaged five years ago, at that time, I was twelve years old and she was ten years old.

In those five years, the budget that was set up and spent on her as a candidate for the crown princess was enough to make a hundred commoners live life leisurely for ten years.

"Also, you can't feign ignorance about that because you've spent your entire budget every year."

"I... I have no recollection of such things."

Celis became pale as she shook her head in denial. As if to protect her, the blonde man hugs her, then steps forward.

"You don't have to worry about the money because you're going to be the crown princess."

Come to think about it, I almost forgot that she's also here.

"Sophia"

I called out my aide, Duchess Sophia Crestos; she's wearing a crimson dress while fully armed for combat. She also had the same black hair as me.

She's so smart and intelligent that I can't believe we're the same age. I believe she has a directory of people's information in her brain.

"He's the hero."

Sophia said that while she covered her lips with a bushy black feather fan.

"Oh, so it's that guy, huh?"

According to the report that was given to me, he's a remarkable adventurer who came from the Earldom of Norris. It looks like Earl Norris recognized his skill as a hero, which is why he made the preparations to have him enter the Royal Academy as a transfer student.

I sighed again as I turned my gaze to the hero.

"Didn't you just say something interesting? How can Celis become the crown princess if she won't marry me anymore?"

To that question of mine, the hero said something like it's the most natural thing to say.

"The person who marries her, who will become the crown princess, will become the crown prince, and since I will marry her, therefore I will become the crown prince."

What's this monkey talking about?

"Sophia, did you hear what I've just heard?"

"I apologize, this is the result of the failure of our education system."

Both Sophia and I are shocked by what he just said.

Come to think of it, it looks like the hero has excellent physical abilities, but his intelligence is quite disappointing, so how come he was accepted by the Royal Academy while having that kind of intelligence.

The nobles also began to sneer at the ridiculous statement that they'd just heard.

In the midst of that, the hero... No, the blonde monkey pointed at me in a fit of rage.

"How long are you going to look down on me from there! I'm going to be the crown prince!"

When Celis heard that, it seems that she finally realized that something was wrong, as she is starting to panic.

I then looked at Sophia while giving her the kindest smile that I could.

"Hey, what's that monkey doing? Isn't that treason?"

"I think at this point we can count it as one."

Sophia, who also has the legal dictionary in her brain, gave her approval to me.

"Guards! Capture that monkey!"

When I pointed at the monkey, the Royal Guards who were waiting by the wall inside the hall all ran up to the hero, executing my command.

"Tsk! You're a coward! Prince Olea!"

The monkey started to curse at me while he took his stance.

As expected of a barbarian.

The monkey then begins to fight the royal guard unarmed.

The screams of the ladies echoed in the hall while the gentlemen cheered and applauded the Royal Guard.

In the midst of the scuffle, I raised my voice.

"Count Norris!"

A gentleman with a beard and a pale face emerged from the crowd when his name was called.

"You're that monkey's owner, aren't you? How are you going to take responsibility for his actions today?"

"I sincerely apologize for what he has done! I have no idea that this would happen... Please, forgive me. I'm sure your benevolent highness would understand my situation..."

So it looks like he's the same as them.

He's kind of right in what he's saying, if it were the old me, who is kind and doesn't want to cause trouble for other people, I might have forgiven him. And even if I punish him, at most he will be confined to his territory for just a few weeks.

But I'm not the old me anymore.

"You're the same as that traitor. For your punishment, I will confiscate your territory and strip you of your rank."

"....You're Highness, please have mercy!"

Norris kneels on the ground and begs for forgiveness.

"I will notify you about your successor later on. Until then, get your affairs straightened out and prepare to vacate your territory."

"...Guards. Pick up Norris and escort him out of the castle."

The guards at the entrance of the hall followed my instructions and escorted Norris out of the castle.

While the royal guards are still busy trying to catch the monkey, all the nobles who saw what happened to Norris are holding their breath and are looking at me, waiting to see what will happen next.

Is the royal guard really this weak? I guess it's time to change their training regimen and increase it so they will be better at their jobs.

"Well, then, next... Marquis Connaught!"

"Ye... yes!"

I guess he knew his name was going to be called, as Marquis Connaught, with his bald head shining with greasy sweat, he immediately came out of the crowd and kneeled in front of me.

"I... I don't know that this would have happened. My daughter did this on her own without my knowledge! You're highness, please have mercy!"

"...Father! What are you trying to say? Aren't you happy that I introduced Abel to you? And you even said that if Abel and I marry, our connection to the Kingdom of Pardos will get stronger."

Celis approached Connaught, who was still kneeling on the ground while saying that.

"Well... that's..."

Amongst the hero's party and currently a student who also attends the same school as him, is the daughter of a high ranking aristocrat from the Kingdom of Pardos. According to the intel that I have received from the Royal Castle's intelligence organization, Marquis Connaught was using her daughter as a stepping stone to infiltrate the Kingdom of Pardos.

In the first place, my engagement with Celis was done so that our kingdom will have ties to the Connaught family, which has a wide range of trading firms both in our kingdom and in other kingdoms.

The king... no, my father thought that Marquis Connaught's ambition would die down if his daughter became the crown princess and eventually the queen.

But that kind of thinking is too shallow.

Because in reality Marquis Connaught is getting information about the affairs of the royal castle through the use of her daughter, then he's selling them to the Kingdom of Pardos through the mage of the hero's party, or more properly, a high ranking noble on the Kingdom of Pardos.

Both my father and I were aware of this, but he decided that if we became relatives through my marriage with Celis, then Connaught would work harder for the benefit of this kingdom, but...

"What you're doing, isn't that a betrayal of this kingdom?"

I didn't believe that.

When I glanced at Sophia, I noticed that she was smiling behind her fan.

"Selling information to foreign kingdoms is equivalent to treason. The punishment includes the confiscation of private properties, the stripping of rank, and hard labor in the mines. Depending on the content of the information that was leaked, a death penalty is also a possibility."

Sophia told that to Marquis Connaught calmly.

"Wha... what I'm doing is diplomacy, which is for the sake of this kingdom."

"You work for the Ministry of Finance, don't you? Then why are you doing diplomacy? Isn't that not part of your duties anymore?"

"But his majesty...."

"My father is recovering in a remote castle right now, so that means I'm the one who's running this kingdom now."

Right before the 50th birthday of my father, he suddenly collapsed due to overwork. That's why right now he's spending his time in a palace in the southern part of the kingdom, where the weather is comfortable.

And because of that, I was forced to graduate from the academy even without waiting for the actual graduation ceremony, and I ended up working in the government affairs of the kingdom.

As a result, I spend less and less time with my fiancée than before, and before I knew it, that monkey took her away from me during that time. I can only laugh now at my bad luck.

"Guards, arrest Connaught."

"Roger that! You're highness, what are we going to do with the young lady?"

In response to the guard's question, I told the guard to leave as I suddenly came up with a brilliant idea.

"I think right now would be the perfect opportunity to show the people what would happen if they disrespected me."

As the guards took Connaught away, he screamed curses at me, and while I ignored Connaught's screams, I crossed my legs.

Up until now, the monkey still hasn't been caught, and he continues to fight the guards.

"Isn't it time to end this charade?"

"Would you handle this on your own?"

I smiled at Sophia's question.

"Wouldn't it be interesting if I taught that monkey what a royal is all about?"