Another Strategy (Roosevelt POV)

Once again, my uncle and Olivia came to my mother's palace and there was a meeting, discussing my future. My future was in a tough condition. Brother Francis started to be my real thread lately.

Brother Francis' catched the emperor's attention. He even showed an amazing performance in his class. The only weakness he had was his skill in swordsmanship. Besides that, he showed a perfect talent.

At this point, he would gain more power than me and even beat me at the final exam. This situation was definitely a dangerous one. Once he beat me at the final exam, then it most likely he would be appointed as the crown prince. And that meant, everything was over.

Not only about the appointment. Final test was such a big exam that was attended by royals and nobles that attended the successor class. Most families and even the royal family use this exam to decide the heir. So, if I lost to Brother Francis, then I would lose my face! People would start to talk about me as the prince who lost to the son of a mere maid.

No, of course I wouldn't let it happen. My mother and uncle also would help me for sure. No one in this place wanted to be ruled over the son of a maid!

"Olivia, it seems like you're not performing as well as usual. At first I could say that you need to adjust yourself. But three months passed and Prince Francis got stronger and stronger. I started to doubt you."

I was so happy to hear that my uncle doubted Olivia. My heart beat so much and I almost laughed. What if I talked about the new year party? About the girl that met Brother Francis that night. I wondered how Olivia would react. Would she be surprised? I wanted to look at her surprised face! Or would she just hold her feelings?

"I'm sorry for your grace. I failed to control Prince Francis." She answered.

I looked at her while holding my smile. "Lady Whitley, your job is to watch over Brother Francis as his study partner. But at this rate, could you really watch over him? And, do you know that someone is helping him?"

She froze. "Someone… is helping him?" She repeated my words slowly. I got you, lady.

"What do you mean Roosevelt?" My mother asked.

My uncle and mother looked at me, waiting for my answer, while my heart beat so fast. I felt like my heart was about to explode due to happiness. But I had to control myself, since I wasn't sure who Brother Francis actually met.

"I am still unsure about who it is, but Brother Francis met someone at the new year party."

That was the reality. That night, Lydia was also unsure whether the girl that met Brother Francis was Olivia or not. She said that she would check it again and would work on it. She had a grudge against Olivia after all.

"Do you know about it Olivia?" My mother asked her. Her voice was so cold and sharp. She was displeased.

"I will try to find it, your highness. I'm sorry." She bowed. What a good view!

My uncle sighed. "Olivia, from now I want you to focus more on your work at the lab and Rowan. For Prince Francis, just give me your report regularly as usual. Don't work too much about him."

"Brother, then how can we drag that child down? We need someone to focus and watch over him. Just looking at him walking around irritates me!" My mother yelled.

"Don't worry. If Prince Roosevelt Really does well in class and tests then everything will be alright. Also we can get more support if Prince Roosevelt engaged and married the eldest daughter of Gardson Duchy."

Gardson Duchy? That family was another great family besides my family, Ashford Duchy. If the Ashford produced weapons and knights, then the Gardson produced talented businessmen and high quality tutors. That was a good idea to get support from them.

"About Prince Francis, we could arrange his marriage to someone from a low family. So he couldn't get any supporters through marriage." My uncle continued.

My mother smiled. "I like your idea brother. Now, we have to decide who can be Francis' partner. We should make sure that girl won't bite us in the future."

Uncle looked at Olivia. "Olivia, do you have any idea?" Why did he ask that girl? Did he still trust her or what?!

"Ummm, I don't know if I could tell you my opinion. But if you wanted to eliminate Prince Francis, I think I have an idea." What was she talking about? She still dared to share an idea?

After my uncle gave her a sign to continue, she continued to speak and told her ideas. "The research at the laboratory goes so fast. The current product is so strong and effective. Even though it is still lacking in some ways, you can count on it. So, how if we set a sword sparring between that prince and Prince Roosevelt, then poisoned him. When he dies, we can cover it by saying he is a weak prince."

I should admit that it was a good idea. It would raise my reputation as the perfect heir too. But it still irritated me that Olivia was the one who proposed it.

"I like your idea Olivia. I will try to tell his majesty about this idea and get his permission." Even my mother agrees with her.

My uncle looked so pleased. "This is why I like you Olivia. I will have this idea executed."

Olivia smiled politely and answered. "This is my pleasure to help you, your highness and your grace."

"And for you, Prince Roosevelt. You have to practice more. Even though we all know that Prince Francis' skill in swordsmanship is quite bad, you have to perform well. Remember that the Ashford family is a family that produces the best knights."

"Yes uncle, I will practice harder." I bowed.

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