Party
After following the King and his company for several minutes, we arrive at the room that’s always being used for parties.
It’s my first time entering with the King and his company, so it’s somewhat nerve-wracking. Perhaps the princess group is used to it, they’re behaving nonchalantly, however, Aerith and I are feeling nervous. When it comes to Priscilla, her face is ghastly pale. Somehow, it felt like this previously as well.
As for the children group; I can tell that they’re trying their hardest to be on their best behaviour under this atmosphere, but they’re fidgety because they rarely ever get the chance to come to the Royal Castle. Mei-chan looks like she’s about to start running about at any time.
I pat the head of such Mei-chan. Immediately after, the fidgety Mei-chan suddenly stopped and looked up at me. And then she smiles brightly at me. It’s adorable, so I’ll pat her a little bit more. Immediately after
“Onii……me too……”
Haku, who pinches the fingertip of my other hand, says to me. So I pat Haku with my other hand. Although her expression doesn’t really change, I can tell that she’s feeling happy.
“My, my, Lei-kun sure is popular huh”
Immediately after, Carey-sama looks over here from the front and says something like that. Thereupon, Crown Prince Albert, who heard that, looks in my direction and grins. Wai! What are you making a, ‘A fellow comrade huh!’, face for! I am by no means a lolicon! I love them solely as a family!
“Everybody, we’re entering”
Everybody goes quiet instantly when the King solemnly says that. Mei-chan and Haku also read the mood and went quiet. Well done.
And then when the assembly hall’s door opens, dazzlingly dressed nobles with their sons and daughters are inside, awaiting the King and his company to enter.
……geh! Even Prince Mistgart is around. ……come to think of it, he was saying that he’ll be around at the end of the year as well. It looks like his bruises from my beating have subsided. I was too angry that I sent him back without healing him, but I guess he got somebody to fix him.
Claire-san is bowing apologetically behind him. The butler outfit elderly man, who was around when we first met, is also beside her bowing.
It’s troubling for me for the two of them, who are faultless, to bow at me. Prince Mistgart is behaving nonchalantly, paying no mind to something like that. Maybe I should send him flying again.
Meanwhile, the King proceeds in. The nobles around look at the royal family, and then they show surprised expressions when they see us. Well, they’re going to be surprised huh. Coming with the King and his company, means we’re the royal family’s relatives.
Well, it’s not wrong since Alexia and I are engaged though. Everybody’s expressions differ from person to person; those who welcome us, those who make loathing faces, those who are charmed by Alexia and the others, and men who are licking their lips……men?
……let’s forget what I just saw. The chills that ran down my spine is probably just my imagination. Ignore it, just ignore it. In any case, there are all kinds of expressions.
The King walks dignifiedly amongst that and heads towards the innermost seat of honour. And then when the King finally arrives at the seat of honour, the Queens move to the right side, and we move to the left side.
“Everybody, thank you for gathering”
From there, the King starts his speech. First, he looks back on this year; how it has been a bountiful year, how there has been many casualties, all kinds of things. He follows on with the matter regarding the Demon Race, the horde of goblins, and the conversation’s focus shifts to us.
He talks about Alexia’s engagement, and showers me, her partner, with praises. It’s, it’s embarrassing, so I wish he’d stop.
Perhaps my fiances are also delighted by what the King said; they’re making triumphant faces towards everybody. I wish you guys would stop with that as well if possible though…….
And then, next, he starts stating the resolutions for next year. The first thing he talks about is, of course, the war against the Regalia Empire. The King declares that we will definitely win this. Well, it’s all kinds of bad if we don’t win after all.
It appears that he sent 50 thousand soldiers to the Runwalker March for the sake of that. It seems a female general called Meria・Alstad will take command until the March. I hear that she’s apparently the eldest daughter of a chevalier family, but she climbed all the way to the position of a Commander with her own capability.
And then, it seems when she arrives at the March, she’ll hand the command over to Sieg and take command as the Vice Commander. It seems they’ll be facing the Regalia Empire’s 100 thousand soldiers with approximately 80 thousand soldiers, made up of Sieg’s personal army of 20 thousand, the soldiers gathered from the nearby territories of 10 thousand, the soldiers dispatched from the Royal Capital of 50 thousand.
It seems the 50 thousand soldiers have already arrived at the March. With this, it won’t be strange for the war to break out at any time. But 100 thousand against 80 thousand huh. I don’t know how significant the difference of 20 thousand will be, but they shouldn’t lose that easily. I hope they can keep at it.
◇◇◇
12th Month 28th Day
Regalia Empire National Border Fortress 「Disgalia」
“……the war is going to start at the end of the year huh”
I was filled with uneasiness and ended up muttering something like that. Today is the fifth day since we came to this national border’s fortress 「Disgalia」. Our destination, the Nanor Kingdom’s border’s territory, Runwalker March, is already a hair’s breadth away.
And then General Gregorius, who’s leading the troops this time around, was saying that we’ll start attacking at the end of the year. Haa, I hate war. ……a large number of people is going to die; so many that I alone won’t be enough to rescue them all.
“What’s wrong, Kanamin?”
As I’m thinking about such things, I hear a voice calling me from behind. Mari was standing over there when I turned around. And then she sits beside me.
“……as I thought, you’re feeling uneasy?”
“It’s a given, isn’t it? Mari, aren’t you afraid?”
Mari laughs amusingly when I ask her that. I wonder if I said something strange? I got slightly irritated, so I puffed up my cheeks and looked at Mari.
“Ah, sorry, sorry, for laughing. I’m obviously afraid”
Mari says while laughing. Continuing with that
“But, what I’m more afraid of is, being afraid and Kaminin dying because of that”
“Mari……”
“That’s why, I’ll do my best. I’ll definitely survive! Otherwise, I can’t do something like this!”
“Hyaaa!”
Mari grabbed hold of my breasts with a serious look!
“Ooh! Kanamin-dono’s boobs-dono sure are soft huh~!”
“Wai, Ma, Mari! Sto, stop!”
“Hore hore~. Do you like it here? Or is it here~?”
“Ah, aahnn, re, really, sto, stop, nn!”
“Hore, hore~!”
“I said stop, didn’t I!”
“Fugyaa!”
Mari was fondling my breasts excessively, so I ended up hitting her head with all my strength. But it’s not my fault. I mean, she did it even though there are lots of soldiers around; furthermore, they’re all men. For her to fondle my breasts before the eyes of those people!
I hide my breasts with my arms and look at Mari, who’s squatting on the ground while panting. Good grief, this girl……. But
“Geez, idiot Mari. I won’t let you off easily if you do it again next time!”
I understand that she did it to cheer me up. Although the way she did it is the worst. Mari’s eyes are tearing, but she stands up while laughing.
I don’t want to see Mari get hurt either. That’s why, I’ll do my best as well. I received the power from the Goddess for the sake of that after all. Onii-san, I’m going to do my best; so root for me from the heavens, alright.
