Chapter 4

Chapter 4 - Returning to the Past (4)

 

"You just need to wait here for a moment."

At the servant's words, George Hegmes gave a stiff nod of his head.

And soon.

CLICK.

"Whew."

When the servant left and the door to the drawing room closed, he let out a long breath he had been holding.

Was it due to the tension provided by the name Royal Palace? It felt as if his lower abdomen was slowly starting to ache.

No matter how much he thought about it, he did not think he would ever get used to this situation.

"......"

Looking around, everything was golden.

The decorations rolling around commonly were at a level where their value could not be gauged, and this sofa he was currently sitting on was also far superior to any chairs he had sat on in his life.

I declare. It was truly a sight seen for the first time in my life.

This was the same for the high-quality clothing he had received.

"Oh, man. Just what is going on."

For what reason would that great First Prince be looking for me?

Me, a guy who was born in the countryside and has lived an ordinary life.

Wait. Out of conscience, I cannot call it an ordinary life, but.......

Rather, because there were too many things weighing on his conscience, he could not guess.

It was at that time he was having distracted thoughts.

CLICK.

The door to the drawing room opened suddenly, and someone walked in confidently.

Silver hair and red eyes. And a sharp body like that of a young nobleman.

However, that beautiful appearance conversely gave off an impression so strong that one could not dare to look at him, and the elegant uniform went perfectly well with the atmosphere of the royal palace.

Therefore, despite it being the first meeting, he could guess in an instant that he was the First Prince.

"Uh......"

George's body, which had stood up to show courtesy, froze for an instant.

He surely must have learned the etiquette toward the royal family from the servant.

However, when he encountered those red eyes like those of a beast, his mind went blank and he could not remember anything.

"T-That is......"

The red eyes were surely shining more brilliantly than expensive jewels.

But if one looked closely into those eyes, they were a cruel dark red, like blood that had hardened after being scattered on a battlefield.

Just how could a person's eyes be so cruel?

Would a deer encountering a lion feel this way?

Just by meeting his eyes, his mind was dominated by the thought that he might die.

This was a primal fear.

Damn it!

A word like insult to royalty was now fine either way.

If he stayed like this, he felt as if he might really faint.

George closed his eyes tightly as he felt a dizzying sensation.

***

He is young.

That was the first thought that came to me as soon as I saw George Hegmes in the drawing room.

It was not that he was young in age.

His age, which Baron Vidor had found out, was the same as mine now.

However, it was because his behavior was quite different from the tempered feeling I had seen before the regression.

The appearance of a fellow who was still clumsy.

It was to the point that it was unbelievable to call them the same person, but since 20 years is a time when even rivers and mountains change twice, it could be a natural thing.

Even so, the smell of a swindler already emanates from him.

The reason the bastard was kicked out of the Kingdom of Esteban and fled.

It was because he was caught while committing fraud against nobles.

Truly boldly, George Hegmes stabbed the lord of the territory where he lived and his acquaintances in the back.

A total of eight cases of large-scale fraud. It was an amount corresponding to a whopping ten million gold.

That was not all.

Whether he had been secretly embezzling money from the merchant group where he had worked since he was young, he made a habit of arbitrarily modifying budgets to embezzle extra money.

If the fraud cases had not been discovered purely by chance, the amount of damage would have increased even further.

There must have been various circumstances, but it was certain that he was a swindler who would remain in the history of Esteban.

Perhaps the reason he rose to the leadership of the enemy nation in an instant was because such experiences were integrated.

A genius swindler of commoner origin.

Bringing such a fellow under me was clearly a risky thing.

But I was confident in holding the fellow in my hand and moving him as I wished.

Because the reason the fellow fled was not simply that.

If I were not confident, I would not have pushed ahead with the work.

Long words are not necessary.

"Take a seat."

I took off my uniform coat and sat in the seat of honor.

Then, I handed the coat to Baron Vidor, who entered the drawing room with me.

But George was still just frozen blankly.

"Do you not hear my words? George Hegmes."

"Yes? No. I am sorry."

Then, he sat down with an expression as if he were about to cry at any moment.

But he could not hide the swindler's instinct hidden behind that face.

It was an intentional expression.

He is certain that I will not harm him.

For someone who was frozen until just now, his change in attitude is truly quick.

By showing such a frail appearance, he seems to be trying to leave me with the impression that he is a delicate person.

Although everything has already been seen through.

A battle of wits that has no meaning.

Well, then. From where should I talk?

I read the document where George Hegmes's personal details were written and slowly opened my mouth.

"Do you know why I called you?"

"I-I am sorry. I have no idea at all."

Tsk.

I clicked my tongue briefly and narrowed my eyes.

"I will speak bluntly. I need a capable aide. Someone who can fill even the parts that I fail to notice."

"......"

"Therefore, I have selected you as a candidate for the aide."

"......Yes?"

This time, as if truly shocked. The fellow spoke with a surprised expression.

"Are you talking about me?"

"Yes."

"I-I am someone who was born in the countryside and has learned nothing. Why do you say such a thing?"

At the unexpected proposal, the fellow's eyes spin round and round.

It was spiteful that he was using his brain even while saying that.

"The eye that reads the trends and leads them. The ability to triple the sales of a countryside branch in a short period. Finally, the appearance of maintaining humility even in front of a prince. Even after this, do you say my eye for people is not accurate?"

"I-It is not that!"

"Becoming the aide to the First Prince would be a great honor even for a commoner like you. Of course, a large amount of money will follow accordingly."

George's eyes widened.

Then, he fell into thought while narrowing his eyes.

He is likely weighing the future where he becomes an aide and the future where he does not.

So he does not care about money anymore.

If it were an ordinary commoner, they would have bowed their head and shed tears.

Becoming the First Prince's aide was the same as a reversal of life.

The fact that he, a commoner, was agonizing over it was a contradiction in itself.

As expected, the fellow shook his head and spoke.

"I know that even expressing the intent to refuse is not permitted. However, I am someone who dare not be suitable as the First Prince's aide. Please reconsider the decision."

"Oho. Do you really think so?"

"......I am sorry."

It cannot be helped.

I signaled to Baron Vidor, who was glaring at George with a burning gaze.

Soon, Baron Vidor, who understood my intent to have a private talk, left the drawing room with a reluctant expression.

Well, then, from now on is the beginning of the main point.

"George Hegmes."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"To refuse such a proposal, it seems you are quite full from taking too much of the merchant group's budget."

"Yes?"

Did he hear wrong? The fellow's expression changed inquisitively.

I spoke while raising the corners of my mouth in a smirk.

"I intended to appoint you as an aide, thinking highly of your work ability...... but it is a pity that things have turned out like this."

"What on earth does that mean?"

"I hear you embezzled because of your mother's incurable disease?"

The poker face broke in an instant, and the fellow's true expression was revealed.

It was an expression of utter disbelief.

"H-How did you know that?"

"Did you think you would never be caught? From the eyes of the Great Kingdom of Esteban?"

"......"

"I heard the holy water for recovery sold at the temple is expensive, so it will take quite a while to pay that money back."

Then, I continued my last words as if to emphasize them.

"On the premise that you do not go to prison."

George's face spread with fluster, unlike him. He seemingly never dreamed he would be caught.

Saying he was caught by the intelligence department was, of course, a lie.

If it were to the point of being caught so easily, I would not even have thought of picking him as an aide.

Since I have whipped him appropriately, it is now time to give a carrot.

"However, caring for the people is indeed the fate of a prince. Even if you say you will not become my person, I promise to create a treatment, not mere holy water."

"......Treatment?"

"A treatment that will completely heal your mother's incurable disease."

"I-Is that really true?"

"Holding a family hostage is not to my taste. However, in that case, you would have to pay back all the money embezzled from the merchant group."

STILL.

The fellow's body froze.

What is the intent? Is he really going to give the treatment without any conditions? The doubt contained in the fellow's gaze.

Of course, I was sincere.

The death of his mother, which was one of the other causes for the fellow's defection.

If I can prevent him from becoming the strategist of the Carrot Federal Empire by erasing that and the reason for the embezzlement from the fellow, it is a profitable deal.

And it would be good if I could recruit the fellow along the way.

Because I covet that talent that had flustered me so much that I cannot stand it.

I smiled leisurely while watching that sight and pulled out a contract.

"If you say you will follow me, I will give you treatment that is not disappointing. Of course, you will have to perform duties beyond those of an aide."

I personally held out the contract before George.

Then, the fellow barely managed to receive the contract with a trembling hand.

1. George Hegmes becomes the shadow of the First Prince.
2. In exchange, the First Prince pays back the money embezzled from the merchant group on his behalf. Additionally, an annual salary of 1,000,000 gold is promised.
3. This contract takes effect as soon as it is signed.
4. However, even if the contract is not signed, the First Prince provides a treatment to heal George's mother's illness.

A contract of only four lines.

The meaning implied within was also simple.

I will give a prosperous future to you and your family.

"T-Treat...... Mother......"

At that moment, the pouch held in my hand collapsed onto the table, and gold coins dizzying even to look at poured out.

An amount that a commoner family could not even catch a glimpse of even if they saved for a lifetime.

I looked at the gold coins filling the table indifferently and spoke.

"It is an advance payment. Use this money toward bringing your family to the capital."

"H-How are you going to trust me? I am someone who even embezzled from the merchant group I attended. Is there no law that says I will not betray Your Highness?"

Impudent.

To think he tries to have a battle of wits to see my intent even in such a situation, while clearly being delighted by the blooming hope.

But that is all.

An inexperienced swindler can never escape from my grasp.

"In that case, I will finally say that my eyes were wrong."

Go back to his hometown and live an ordinary life, or become the First Prince's aide.

The options were already decided.

George calmed his spinning head and held the fountain pen.

"Good."

I brushed back my bangs while watching the fellow sign the contract.

With this, I succeeded in securing a definite talent.

It could be considered the first harvest after regressing.

"Welcome to being my person."

"......I will give you my full loyalty."

It is still merely a hollow loyalty.

However. Even if he is a swindler, he is a fellow whose heart toward his family is sincere.

If he sees his mother's healthy appearance, he will show loyalty that comes from the heart.

I snatched the contract written by the fellow and put it in my chest, then called out Baron Vidor, who would be waiting outside.

CLICK.

"First Prince. Did you call?"

"The fellow has decided to be the aide."

"Is that really true?"

"Yes."

No, earlier he said he would not do it?

Baron Vidor's gaze seemed to say that.

But there was no way George Hegmes, who already felt like he was about to die, could answer.

"Take him and tell him the room where he will stay. And for the time being, follow me and tell him everything an aide should do."

"I understand."

"You may leave now."

Baron Vidor, who turned sullen at the prospect of indefinite overtime work, dragged George and went outside.

The fellow was practically dragged away.

CLICK.

I was left alone in the drawing room that had been full of tension.

Because I liked the cold silence, I decided to stay like this for just a bit longer.

I moved my steps and approached the window.

"Now, one step."

The struggle to change the future that had gone astray finally began.

And this time, I will never fail.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Your Highness. There was a summons from the King."

I came to my senses at the maid's voice knocking on the door.

The time was already pointing to 6 PM.

I had something to say to Father, so this has turned out well.

Since it was almost the time for the self-reflection to end, it was time to move in earnest.

"I will depart now."

However, as expected, being called around by someone was still something I could not get used to.