"I don't want to go..."
Renato's younger brother Rinaldo looked disgusted. He has a mild face that resembles the queen's, while Renato and his third brother, Angelo, resemble the emperor.
"If I were to use an analogy, it would be like jumping into a pit of hungry beasts," Angelo said.
Angelo made no expression of dislike at all, but insisted calmly with his voice.
"No matter how much your brother asks..."
As Rinaldo grumbled and complained, Renato muttered deliberately, as if remembering, "Speaking of which, I wonder if Mariabelle knows there is a rare cat in the kingdom.?"
"A cat...?"
"I believe only females are born, and males are very rare."
"Um... you mean... the tri-colored cat?"
Cats with black and brown patterns on a white background rarely produce males, so they are popular as guardian cats.
When Mariabelle asked if it was that cat, Rinaldo responded to the word "cat."
"The tri-colored cat! That phantom!"
"I heard it is being kept in the Marquise de Berkeley's mansion. and that he is willing to give it to the Imperial family."
"Really, brother?"
"Yes, of course.."
"I'll do anything to help!"
"Rinaldo, my brother, you're being lured with a cat again..."
Despite Angelo's words, Rinaldo was so happy that he almost started dancing.
While Renato was busy with his engagement to Mariabelle, Rinaldo was taking over Renato's office with the promise of a red and blue odd-eyed kitten with white fur.
"Just for the record, I can't be bribed," Angelo said.
To a wary Angelo, Renato said, "Well, that's too bad," and turned his attention to Count Fidelo downstairs.
"I have permission to copy the first edition of Cornelius's book "Chronicle of Anapathis," at Count Fidelo's house..."
"Oh...! You should do it, Let's go, Brother Rinaldo."
For Angelo, who has a passion for history books, it is not just borrowing and reading them, but finding the differences between editions that gives him pleasure.
History is often changed by the rulers of the time. That is why first editions of history books are so valuable.
Renato knew exactly what his brothers' tastes were and used them as a reward for asking them to do something difficult.
As expected, Rinaldo and Angelo went down first, and the nobles, with their daughters of the right age, gathered around them.
Even Claudia, who had been taken away by her father, walked toward Rinaldo without hiding her reluctance to be taken away.
Meanwhile, Renato and Mariabelle weaved their way through the nobles waiting to be spoken to and went to James, Mariabelle's father.
"Lord Berkeley."
"This is His Royal Highness Prince Renato. I am honored that you took the trouble to address me."
Renato waited for James, who bowed condescendingly, to look up, and then moved to the wall.
James followed knowingly.
The ambassador beside him also followed James after making sure he was not stopped.
As expected, the other nobles were unable to approach, leaving Renato and the other four alone in the room.
Renato casually ordered his guards to keep everyone away for a while, then turned to the bewildered ambassador.
"Now, Ambassador. I know this may come as a surprise, but it has been decided that Mariabelle Berkeley from your kingdom will be the Crown Princess of our Empire."
"I am very pleased to congratulate you on this decision. However, the..."
The ambassador's voice trailed off.
"I think today's announcement was a bit rash. The Berkeley family is a venerable family with a lineage that traces back to a royal princess. The engagement of the daughter of the Berkeley family to the Crown Prince is an important matter that should be discussed among nations. How is it right to announce it without permission?"
"The ambassador's concern is well founded, but... you will hear the details from Lord Berkeley later, but to explain briefly, as His Majesty the Emperor said earlier, we have received approval from His Majesty, the King of your country, so there is nothing wrong with it."
"His Majesty!" The ambassador exclaimed in shock.
"I heard that in the document of compensation for damages when the engagement was broken off, he promised that the kingdom would not interfere in any way regarding Mariabelle's marriage in the future. Is that right, Lord Berkeley?"
James affirmed Renato's words, "That's correct, Your Highness."
Renato nodded lightly and smiled down at Mariabelle, who had her arms crossed.
Mariabelle's emerald eyes sparkled with the light of the chandelier.
"I think Mariabelle smiling innocently under the sunlight in the rose garden is beautiful, but the way she smiles under the artificial brightness of the ball like this is also beautiful."
"In other words, there would be no problem if Mariabelle were to become the crown princess."
"But the land you will have as a dowry may also be too large. People may start to see it as an act of rebellion."
The ambassador continued to argue, but he was silenced when James said, "His Majesty knows."
"What in the world does His Majesty mean by this...?"
The ambassador's mumbled words were lost in the sound of a minuet played by the orchestra, and no voice answered him.