The Respective Request
Royal Capital
“Leivelt-dono, it is a pleasure to meet you. Also, this here is my daughter, and she is 17 years old this year……”
“Leivelt-kun. If you don’t mind, won’t you come to our mansion next time? My younger sister says she wants to meet you……”
“Leivelt-shama! I, luv Leivelt-shama!”
“Here, here. My apologies, Leivelt-dono. My grandchild likes Leivelt-dono’s heroic tales. If you don’t mind, how about having a chat at our mansion……”
“Hahahaha…….”
……it’s, it’s exhausting. It has been about an hour since the party started. After the King’s greeting finished, the nobles went and gave their greetings in sequence, according to their rank.
Afterwards, they went to give their greetings to the Queens, the Crown Prince, and the royal family, but they didn’t return after they were finished with that, but instead, they came to give their greetings to us.
I can still understand if it’s Alexia, Ferris, or Caro, but amongst our members, the first person they come to give their greetings to is me.
And when it comes to our conversations; they’re mostly introductions of their family’s daughter, or otherwise, younger sister. Furthermore, it didn’t settle with simply an introduction, but with them asking whether I’ll take them as a concubine.
If I refuse in front of everybody, it’ll negatively impact our relationship, and if I reply with a yes, it’ll mean that I consented and they’ll end up joining the ranks of my fiances right away. I have to come up with a way to answer, so it’s quite a headache.
They also went to give their greetings to the ladies as well, but since it’s already been decided that they’re my fiances, there wasn’t anybody who made weird advances on them. Well, I won’t let them off if there were any though.
It was quite amusing when I saw the nobles’ sons give their greetings to Mei-chan and the others. Both Mei-chan and Haku are adorable, without favouritism, so they’re rather popular.
It’s just that it was amusing watching Roy at the back intimidating the sons that were displaying affection to Mei-chan. It makes me want to tell him to confess to her before she gets taken by somebody else, but they’re still kids. I guess maybe it’s still not the age to think about it.
Haku herself just greets back indifferently. I do think that she can smile to them a bit more, but I watch while thinking that, well, it’s Haku-like. As I’m looking at such everybody
“It’s exhausting huh”
“…….Victoria-sama! Are you already done with greetings?”
Perhaps she saw that the nobles that come to where I am to give their greetings have reduced, the First Queen Victoria-sama came along to where I am. It’s my first time speaking to her like this individually.
“Eeh, there’s a little something I want to talk to you about”
“Something to talk to me about?”
I wonder what is it that Victoria-sama wants to talk to me about? Did something happen?
“Just between us, Raymond intends to step down the throne in a couple more years and let Albert1 succeed him”
“Haa! ……uu”
That’s close, that’s close. I nearly let my voice out loudly from the unbelievable topic. I cover my mouth right away and stop myself from shouting. Still, that came out of nowhere.
“All of us Queens knew about this because it’s something Raymond talked to us about. He says that his reason is partly that he’s already at that age, but the actual reason is you”
“Me, is it?”
Nothing comes to mind even if I’m told something like that. Why am I the reason for the King stepping down the throne? If it’s in a couple of years, then the King is still in his 50s. I think he can still be assuming his role actively though.
“Apparently, his reason is that he wants to teach you various things. Raymond is feeling apologetic over the fact that he ended up placing a heavy burden on you because of the rivalry over the Nanor’s throne. He says that’s why he wants to make use of his experiences and teach them to you to lighten your burden even a little”
……he’s thinking about something like that huh. Indeed, he was making a rather apologetic expression when he told me he wants me to build a country.
I guess it’s because he himself knows; how difficult it is to move a country. He’s probably feeling guilty about leaving the task of building a country, that’s even more difficult, to me.
“He really is a foolish person. He could’ve spent his retirement life with us if he’s going to step down from the throne”
Despite saying that, Victoria-sama’s eyes when she looks at the King is filled with affection. But I’m going to end up feeling apologetic as well if I’m told something like that.
“Fufu, you don’t really have to be bothered by it. That person is probably doing it because he wants to, and we acknowledged it as well. So it’s fine for you to have that person teach you various things. ……oops, I’ve got to return soon”
Victoria-sama says and returns to where she was initially. Indeed, I’m thankful to have him teach me various things regarding a country. I’m absolutely clueless after all.
“What were you talking about with Victoria-okaasama?”
As I’m thinking while looking at Victoria-sama’s back, Alexia comes along beside me and asks me.
“Had Alexia known about it? That the King is stepping down from the throne”
“Aah, that huh. Of course. Ah, but Onii-samas still don’t know, so you can’t talk to others about it. Not to the nobles as well of course”
……not even Crown Prince Albert knows huh. Why does Alexia know about that? It’s a mystery.
“Fufu, that’s what we call ‘a woman’s secret'”
Immediately after, perhaps my thoughts were seen through, Alexia says while smiling. It was a bewitchingly impish and lovely smile.
“Nn, I shan’t ask about it then. It’s about time the nobles’ greetings come to an end, let’s go and have some food……”
I said, and as I was about to bring Alexia and the others with me to the table lined up with dishes
“Hey, Leivelt-dono, how are you?”
Prince Mistgart came along to where I am. In that instant, my fiances’ smiles disappear, and they shroud the surroundings with killing intent entirely.
It feels like they’re going, ‘don’t get in the way when we finally get to have fun talking after everything, ora!’. I don’t know if they’re thinking of something like that though.
“……I saw your face, so it’s the worst”
“Haha, you sure don’t mince your words huh. What, I won’t ask you to help me anymore. I should resolve it by myself after all”
Prince Mistgart says and bows. ……who’s this? He’s so different from before that it makes me think, ‘isn’t somebody else posing as Prince Mistgart?’. Alexia and the others are also placing their hands on their mouth in shock.
“I know what Leivelt-dono wants to say. I was desperate then, that’s why I ended up doing something stupid. But, I realised; that I have to handle it myself. So we’ll return to Celia once the new year comes”
“That too is sudden huh”
“Aah, it’s because it’s better to resolve something like as soon as possible. I’m thinking of giving up the throne once it’s over and come to this country. Over there, I have a request”
“……a request?”
I’ll be a little bit cautious since there’s the incident previously. However, I’ll end up causing trouble for the King and the others if I snap here, so I have to try and suppress my anger no matter what he says to me.
“Aah, I’d like you to hire me at that time”
“Huh?”
This is again, an unexpected request. Prince Mistgart wants me to hire him?
“Like I said previously, I’m a person who’s capable of anything in Celia. Amongst that are, of course, politics, finance and so forth. I heard from His Majesty Raymond; that Leivelt-dono is making a country. I’m not redeeming myself, but I’d like to help out with that”
If I remember correctly, this person is being targeted for his life because he’s talented. I’d forgotten about it entirely because of what happened previously. However, hmm. What should I do.
“What, I won’t tell you to do it right away. I don’t know whether I can return alive either after all. Think about it when I return again”
And then Prince Mistgart returns to where he was initially. Hmm. I’m feeling somewhat gloomy.
“Lei, what are you going to do?”
Aerith shows her concern for me as I’m feeling gloomy by myself. It’s somebody she almost had an engagement with, albeit for just a brief moment. She’s probably worried.
“……I told Claire-san that I want her to come to me if her life is in danger. She’ll probably come again if something happens. Leaving that aside, let’s quickly go and eat……”
When I was once again about to head to the food
Baan!
the hall’s door opens. While being nailed down by the gazes of everybody, the one who came in was
“Hey, hey, are you enjoying your last supper. Raymond?”
Grutas, who brought along soldiers with him.
- It’s written as ‘William’ in the original text, but I changed it because I think it’s supposed to be Albert.
