Loyalist

"Hmm, I feel like I was given the title of Grand Duke so that I won't claim my succession when it comes to the throne." I spoke.

However, Jerome looked like he had something else to say. "Umm, not quite. It was you who chose to become the Grand Duke so that you won't be involved in the imperial power struggle." He spoke.

"I don't get it then. Why would anyone try to kill me then? I mean, if I'm not involved in anything that the royalty are doing right now, why bother poisoning me?" I asked.

"Hmm, well just because YOU said that you are out of the palace politics, that doesn't mean that you are out. You were initially exempted from the mess because your sympathizers were few in number. However, it hasn't been the case recently." Jerome spoke.

"And why is that? Why did my supporters suddenly spike up?" I asked.

"Well, do you want me to be real and honest about it? It's cuz the crown prince is shite. I know that most of the people in this kingdom would have the balls to say that, but I will say it. The crown prince is actually shite. I mean, the only redeeming factor that he has is that he is slightly good looking. And I truly believe that it is the reason that his regime as the crown prince has the slightest of credibility. Other than that, he's been a fucking mess if you ask me." Jerome sighed as he said that.

"I see, if that was the case, then shouldn't people have shifted their attention towards the third prince instead of me, since he has more of a chance to succeed the throne?" I asked.

"Nah, that's like going from worse to the worst. If the crown prince is shite, then the third prince is worse than that. He is a freaking womanizer. And I feel like he turned out this worse because of his lacking education. I mean, yea he went to prestigious schools and stuff, but the fact that no one actually gives a shit about how he did and he was simply able to succeed because of nepotism is where the fault lies. He grew haughty and began playing around with women." Jerome explained.

"I think that you're probably the only one who says things like this with no fear." I couldn't help but chuckle as I said that.

"Well, not really. I feel like there are multiple people who think the same way. I mean, isn't that why there is an entire faction supporting you?" He shrugged at that point.

"That's true. But no one would dare to say it to an imperial like you, right?" I asked.

"Well, I mean, it's because I can, right? Think about it. You are amnesiac first of all. And the entire mansion thinks you are a lunatic, so it's not like they would believe you when you tell them that the doctor who is the most loyal to the imperial family talked against them to you." Jerome smiled as he said that.

"You are loyal to the imperial family? Then why the heck do you even tell all of this to me?" I asked.

"Well, it's my family that has been loyal to the imperials. I don't give a damn about that, if you ask me. Well, except for the monetary aspect of it." Jerome was quite honest about it at that point.

"Ha… Even though you say that, I have this sneaking suspicion that you just might be the crown prince's closest confidant and you are inciting me into doing an uprising or something just so that you could paint me as a villain and the crown prince as the hero." I decided to voice my inner thoughts because I need to see what his expression would be.

Well, he just laughed. When I say that he laughed, I mean he went for a minute long cackle. "Gotta appreciate that, you know? That is some smart thinking. But I just tried picturing myself as that prick's close confidant and I couldn't help but laugh." He said as he continued laughing.

It's not like I can judge him just based on how he cackled, but it's not like I have any other choice but to trust him for now. There is no other credible source of information in front of me right now. 'What about the maid?', you ask? Well, that woman just told literally everyone in this place that I'm crazy. And I'm supposed to believe in the woman? Over my dead body that is!

"Hmm, although I still have my doubts over you, I will just place my trust over you because of obvious reasons. Anyhow, the reason why I'm being targeted is because the two princes are pricks? I mean, aren't there any other princes in this kingdom who could be considered for the throne?" I asked.

"There is, but they are all too young at this point. I mean, that is kinda why some rich tycoons support the thirteenth prince. They believe that if the king dies right now and if they somehow manage to subdue the two princes by using people's emotions and you remain the way you are, they can bring in the thirteenth prince and make him a puppet emperor." Jerome spoke.

"Weird of them to pick that specific number, don't you think?" I asked.

"Oh, that's because he's the third son of the current queen. Our king is quite the experimentalist, if you know what I mean." Jerome gave out a smug smile as he said that.

"Well, that doesn't sound disturbing to me at all." I couldn't help but sigh at that point.

"What? He just has a lot of concubines. I just tried to give it a different wording there." Jerome shrugged.

"Yea, whatever. Let's leave this conversation here and speak about more important things." I spoke.

"And that is?" He asked.

"Who do you think poisoned me?" I asked back, turning all serious.

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