Chapter 15: Rumors of a Soul Swap

He is giving up his position as Prince.

In other words, from now on, he will never be able to covet imperial power again.

Of course, he would no longer be able to form his own faction, and his political activities would be restricted.

“Your Highness!”

After the meeting ended.

Someone rushed urgently toward Rohan.

“You’re here, Count.”

“Your Highness, what in the world are you saying! You’re going to give up your position as Prince?!”

It was none other than Count Nidro.

“Why are you making such a fuss? It’s not like I said I’d give it up right this instant.”

“Still, even so…”

Count Nidro was so stunned that he let out a gasp.

“There’s no guarantee this will succeed completely, is there? Even if the issue can’t be resolved, I thought it was important for Your Highness to make a political move, so I supported you. But this isn’t it, is it?”

Count Nidro had already resolved to stand with Rohan, even going so far as to show his loyalty.

If Rohan were to relinquish his title as Prince now, Count Nidro would become a prime target for the radicals.

“I won’t let any harm come to you, Count.”

“Your Highness…”

Count Nidro’s face was pale with fear.

“Count.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“If I hadn’t done it this way, do you really think they’d have let me take the test so easily?”

“…”

“No matter the place or the event, they would have found some excuse to keep me from taking the test. You know that as well as I do.”

At Rohan’s words, Count Nidro could only close his mouth.

Not a word was wrong.

Judging by the mood in the corridor today, it seemed everyone had sharpened their knives to oppose Rohan’s Prince’s test.

Ever since Crown Prince Joshua, the pillar of the Empire’s conservatives, had died, the voices of the conservative nobles had undeniably weakened.

That’s why Rohan’s test was an important step to persuade those conservative nobles.

To rally them again, the ‘Prince’ title—one with the potential to claim imperial power—was necessary. No matter the conditions, taking the test was important.

Thanks to the Prince’s shocking conditions, even the opposition had been silenced, hadn’t they?

“If I don’t prove myself properly, their opposition will only get fiercer. That’s why I plan to show them clearly this time.”

“…I failed to understand Your Highness’s deeper intentions.”

Count Nidro bowed his head deeply.

Despite the huge age gap, the way he bowed without hesitation showed his character once again.

“Send a letter ahead to the Gerald estate. Tell them I’ll be setting a date to visit soon.”

“I understand.”

Count Nidro soon withdrew.

“Martin, let’s go as well.”

And so—

Rohan, too, was about to head back to the Boronia Palace.

“Rohan?”

Rohan stopped at the sound of a young girl’s voice.

‘Ah, no way.’

He recognized who it was the moment he heard the voice.

“Rohan, is that you?”

A cautious finger tapped his shoulder.

‘Meeting her here?’

He’d hoped not to cross paths in this life, at least.

Rohan sighed inwardly and composed his face.

Then he turned and opened his mouth as he looked at the girl.

“Isabelle.”

“Huh? You know who I am?”

The girl in the pale yellow dress asked in surprise.

“Of course. How could I not recognize the Empire’s one and only Princess?”

He answered with a blank expression, and Isabelle shrugged in surprise.

“I thought you wouldn’t know since we’ve never actually talked before. But….”

Isabelle narrowed her eyes.

“Why are you talking down to me all of a sudden?”

“You talked down to me first.”

“What? Ha! What kind of—!”

Isabelle let out a laugh of disbelief.

“Anyway, we’re the same age, and if you look at royal rank, I’m higher as the Prince. Can you understand that?”

“T-that may be true! But you were just a commoner who joined halfway, weren’t you? I’ve lived in the Imperial Palace much longer!”

“Wow, that’s so childish I can’t even listen. Yes, yes, congratulations. Must be nice to have lived here first.”

“Hey, are you making fun of me?!”

Isabelle’s face turned as red as a hearth.

Martin, standing next to them, looked puzzled at Rohan’s unusual attitude.

“Your Highness, is this all right?”

Martin whispered in Rohan’s ear.

“It’s fine.”

Rohan whispered back.

“Why are you two whispering with someone right here? What’s that about! It’s annoying!”

“I’m busy, so I’ll be on my way, Princess. Excuse me.”

With that, Rohan strode away, leaving the fuming Isabelle behind in the corridor.

“Ha! What’s with him?”

She fumed behind him, but he ignored her lightly.

“Your Highness, wasn’t that a bit much for the Princess? That’s not like you.”

“It’s all right, I did it on purpose. Nothing good comes from getting involved with her.”

“Pardon?”

Martin tilted his head in confusion.

“There’s a reason, just a reason.”

Rohan’s eyes turned cold.

Isabelle.

As the Empire’s only Princess, she’d been spoiled all her life and received the highest treatment among the noble daughters.

Perhaps because of that.

She was truly famous for being immature.

She even overturned a political marriage with a foreign prince, insisting on staying in the Imperial City.

When told a Princess of marriageable age couldn’t stay in the palace, she pulled out an old history book, arguing that even if not a formal wife, there were cases where princesses lived as the Emperor’s consort, and made a fuss.

Being wild and fiercely independent, with her mother Empress Sherilda gone, there was no one left to rein her in.

‘Of course… we were good friends.’

Rohan’s mouth tasted bitter.

They were half-siblings, but in truth, more like friends.

In the past, Isabelle was the same age as Rohan, so they shared a subtle closeness.

They would often read together in the study or debate, creating shared memories.

But that became a problem.

The reason she didn’t want to leave the palace was ultimately because she wanted to protect the precarious Rohan.

Later, due to pressure from Marquis Fabian, she was forced into a new political marriage. Unfortunately, her match was the worst possible, and she ended up miserable.

‘I can’t let the past repeat itself.’

That’s why he had to push her away coldly.

To keep her from being unhappy again, he had to act properly now.

“…Why did she show up here?”

It was a sudden appearance.

Given his current schedule, there should have been no reason to run into her.

“Oh, Your Highness. I received a letter from Lucretia.”

“What about?”

“She says the design for the padded robe is ready and invites you for tea.”

“What? Already?”

It hadn’t even been a few days since he’d sent the request for the padded robe, yet the design was already finished.

“She must be very interested in what’s happening here.”

“It seems so.”

Tonight, he’d have to make some time.

“There’s still some time until dinner. I should drop by the records archive.”

“To see Jenon?”

“Yes. Now that the test is confirmed, I have more things to look into.”

The most important thing in the exam would be his memory, but—

It couldn’t hurt to gather information in advance.

“Oh, before that.”

Rohan smiled softly.

“Let’s pick up a present on the way.”

“A present?”

Martin looked puzzled.

“Are you going to bring another rare book like last time?”

“That’s not something I can give often. Today, I just want to share some sweets and have a chat.”

He’d been through a lot today—something sweet was needed.

‘I bet she’s looking for something sweet right now too.’

Isabelle liked sweets.

And when she was angry, something sweet always cheered her up.

Such a simple personality.

“A strawberry mousse cake would be nice.”

A dessert that came to mind after meeting Isabelle.

Rohan smiled to himself as he walked on.

---

Meanwhile, Isabelle stormed back to the palace, still fuming.

“Seriously, what’s with him? Was he always like that?”

It was strange.

The Rohan she’d known and heard about wasn’t like that at all.

“Wasn’t he always holed up in Boronia Palace, a coward, acting with no noble grace like some commoner… Didn’t they call him a total fool?”

She listed all the things she’d heard about Rohan and glared at her maid.

“That’s what I heard too, Princess…”

The maid also looked troubled.

“Haaah, so frustrating. I feel like I lost an argument.”

“Shall I have them bring you a strawberry mousse cake, Your favorite?”

“Good idea. And hot chocolate too.”

“I’ll give the order.”

The maid hurried out and relayed the order to the waiting handmaids outside.

The dessert was brought in quickly.

Thanks to the Princess’s love for sweets, there were always desserts prepared in Marine Palace.

“Mmm, good. I’m starting to feel better.”

Isabelle took a big bite of cake with a dreamy look.

“But seriously, did you see earlier? He was completely rude!”

“Haha, ha…”

From the maid’s position, there was nothing she could say about the Prince, so she could only force a laugh.

If she agreed, she could be executed for insulting royalty.

“There have been a lot of weird rumors lately… Maybe they’re all true?”

“Rumors?”

“You know, that he captured the butler of Boronia Palace and made him a slave, and that he suddenly showed up at the breakfast meeting and took part in state affairs.”

“Ah, right. I thought those were just baseless rumors, but…”

The maid whispered cautiously.

“I overheard my father speaking, and I don’t think they’re all false, Princess.”

“Really?”

Isabelle listened with interest.

“And among the noble ladies, there are stories that the Prince’s soul was swapped by some strange sorcery.”

“Strange sorcery? Tell me more!”

Isabelle, her cheeks flushed, clenched her fists in excitement.

The maid, encouraged by her reaction, continued.

“You know, the incident where His Highness was attacked by a cat?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Well, they say that inside that cat was a cursed, handsome prince, and because of that, His Highness and the prince’s souls were swapped!”

“What?! No way! So he’s not really the Prince?”

“I don’t know about that… but that’s what people are saying.”

At the maid’s words, Isabelle’s eyes sparkled.

“I don’t believe all of it, but it’s the most interesting story I’ve heard in my 14 years.”

“Right? Me too!”

“This just makes me more curious.”

Coincidentally, their birthdays were only a month apart. Being the same age as the Prince, she felt a growing curiosity.

“Oh, and there’s another story. Want to hear it?”

“What?”

Isabelle smiled as she raised her fork.

“No, this won’t do. I’ll have two pieces of cake today! While I’m at it, have them bring one for you too!”

“Kyaa! Thank you, Princess!”

It was the carefree conversation of two foolish girls.