– Entor Kingdom’s King Esmaruit’s POV-
I look at Cabell who had rolled over here after noticing him moving.
「Damn, where is this?」
Cabell looked around until our gazes met.
Cabell, who was staring at me, must have grasped the situation.
He glared at me with a hateful expression on his face.
「I’m a fool, aren’t I?」
That little murmur of mine was not heard by anyone.
-0-
I wanted to believe Cabell.
However, that’s just idiotic.
-0-
Cabell and I had known each other since childhood.
He followed me around complaining about my reckless behavior.
He even got really mad at me once.
And when a noble tried to kill me, he risked his life to protect me.
He still has the scar on his waist he got from that time.
-0-
Even after I became king, he would get really angry at me if I made a wrong decision.
He was such a valuable person to me.
That’s why I trusted him.
「Cabell, why did you betray me?」
I asked him before any of his crimes were announced.
I wanted to hear it from his own mouth.
「I betrayed you? No, I did not. I was only trying to do what is best for the country.」
What is best for the country?
What do you mean?
「Esmaruit, I’ve been with you long enough to know that you’re not fit to be king. For that reason, I worked for the benefit of the citizen!」
The forcefulness of his words brings a wry smile on my face.
I know that better than anyone.
-0-
I was the 3rd son.
I was never going to be king because I had superior older brothers.
And yet, one of my older brothers lost his life defeating a monster.
My other older brother was killed after being betrayed by a noble.
-0-
I suddenly became the king out of nowhere.
I was the one who was more perplexed and almost crushed by anxiety than anyone else.
However, I couldn’t show that kind of attitude.
If I showed my uneasy attitude, the nobles would take advantage of me.
That is why I played the role of a strong king from the day I was chosen as the crown prince.
I never had a moment to relax.
Even so, Cabell.
It was because you supported me that I was able to stand my ground so far.
Come to think of it, I have often spoken weakly in front of you.
Is that the reason?
-0-
I felt as if the support I had until now had suddenly disappeared.
Or perhaps there was no support to begin with.
My mood dropped dramatically.
「His lordship said, 『Esmaruit is an amazing king.』. That means he is the king of beastkin country recognized by the god of the forest.」
「Eh?」
I looked up at Batchu-dono who just said that and saw Garfa and Dadavis nodding.
Ah, so there are those who recognize me.
That’s right.
I am the king of the beastkin country, Entor Kingdom.
I have been betrayed many times before.
This is just one of those.
There is no difference between Cabell and other traitors.
A traitor is just a traitor.
「I don’t really get what you are saying, Cabell. You claim that you are doing it for the benefit of the citizens but your real purpose is your own interest, isn’t it? For that reason, you were planning to install the first prince, who is easier to control, to the throne.」
The first prince?
You mean my son Estoar?
「And if it was really for the benefit of the citizens, how could you have tacitly approved what Count Maloshi and Marquis Baryu were doing? You knew, didn’t you? You knew what they were doing.」
「W-what are you talking about?」
Standing in front of the impatient Cabell, Batchu-Dono put his hand on his hips and tilted his head.
「E? Didn’t you proudly tell your son that you were already in control of the first prince? Have you forgotten? And didn’t you go to the slave crest laboratory to see how fast the research had progressed? Have you forgotten both of them? Are you sure? Don’t you really remember?」
Batchu shook his head to the left and right in front of Cabell as if he was making fun of him.
Cabell looks humiliated at his attitude.
「I don’t! I don’t know anything!」
「You can’t remember? Then, let me tell you more about it.」
「What? More?」
「That’s right. How did you manage to get to the first prince? The second prince was crowned to be the next king and you took advantage of his desperation, didn’t you? You said, “You are worthy to be king. With my help, I can assure you that you will be king.”. Recall anything? Do you remember now?」
「Why? How did you know……」
The stunned look on Cabell’s face tells me it’s true.
I let out a small sigh.
Since it’s Estoar, I can clearly see him cooperating with Cabell.
-0-
In Entor Kingdom, being first born is not enough to be crowned as the next king.
The current king nominates the next king after determining from among the children whether they are excellent and have no problems with their character.
Therefore, until the children grow up to a certain extent, it is not known who will be the next king.
This is Entor Kingdom’s rule about the throne.
-0-
And yet, for some reason, Estoar assumed that he would be nominated as the next king.
And perhaps because of that, he became very arrogant.
I warned him time and time again.
However, he never improved.
That is the reason why I appointed my second son, the second prince Estcart, as the next king.
I thought I had taken the time to explain to Estoar why that happened but I guess it was pointless.
「Ah, I had the first prince Estoar come here too. If you still can’t remember, maybe we should ask him.」
At Batchu-dono’s words, Cabell’s shoulders trembled. He looked up as if he gave up and showed a disgusting smile.
I feel a sense of crisis seeing that.
「Ahahaha. Yes, that’s right. However, the god of the forest is not quite there yet either.」
What are you talking about?
「Cabell, stop!」
If you offend the god of the forest, it will affect the whole country!
「What do you mean?」
Batchu-dono’s gruff voice brought tension to the audience hall.
Of everyone here, only Cabell was smiling.
「Kukuku! Ah, this is the best! I guess the god of the forest thought he had seen through everything. However, alas. I’m not alone!」
Cabell looks at Ortor, who is shaking with a very pale face.
Come to think of it, I haven’t asked about their relationship yet.
「Ah～I see. You mean that.」
Cabell looks at the suddenly happy Batchu-dono suspiciously.
「I have bad news for you, honey. You have been deceived.」
「Huh? I was deceived? What are you talking about?」
Cabell looks annoyed.
「You were talking about Marquis Artis and Count Narmit, right?」
Did they betray me too?
「That’s right, the two of them. Why aren’t they here?」
「Fufufu, Cabell didn’t notice at all? Well, that’s funny.」
Cabell’s expression turned grim.
「Marquis Artis and Count Narmit approached you to protect the king.」
Eh?
「Cabell is fully trusted by the king. They thought they couldn’t destroy you with just half baked evidence. Thus, in order to obtain evidence that would ensure your downfall, they decided to get into your pocket. From the way you were acting, it looks like they succeeded. Ah, right, they had a message for you, “We believe that King Esmaruit is the rightful person to be the king. All we heard from you were selfish rumblings which are nothing but irritating.”. Sorry if you have to hear that.」
I can’t believe those who would say that.
「Haha. I guess the way I see others was clouded. I need to broaden my horizons.」
I look at Cabell.
The unexpected betrayal from the two made his arrogant attitude from a moment ago disappear.
「Stop, let me go right now! Who do you think I am?」
「Aniue, can you shut your mouth for goodness sake?」
The door to the audience hall opened and my children entered.
One is my eldest son, Estoar….who was wrapped by the threads of an armearenier.
Next, is my second son, Estcart.
There’s also my eldest daughter, Eritotear.
「Father, what is the meaning of this? Why are you doing this to me!」
Estoar shouted at me.
Seeing that, Eritotear let out a sigh.
-0-
I have 3 children.
Estcart is very good at winning people’s hearts.
And Eritotear is……I shouldn’t say this as a parent but, she’s cold hearted and conniving.
No, she also has a gentle side.
I really don’t know how Estoar turned out like that.
「Shut up. Looks like Cabell told you that he will make you king.」
Estoar turns pale.
「Eh? That’s because I’m fit to be the king.」
「Impossible. How can someone like you, who got sweet talked to do crime and leaked important palace security secrets fit to be king? If you want to sleep talk, go sleep. Batchu-dono, here is the rest of the evidence. I also included all the evidence you gave me before. I already sorted them out.」
「Thank you. You are very helpful.」
Eh?
Eritotear?
「What’s wrong? Father?」
「No, I mean, you know Batchu-dono?」
「Yes, we met when we were having trouble getting rid of some trash. We had the same goal so we cooperated with them. His comrades are amazing. It was as if everything before them were just waiting to be gathered. We managed to get all the information and evidence we needed in no time. And there are a lot of them. fufufufu」
She’s reliable but the way she smiles is a little scary.
See, the knights even took a step back.
Ah, perhaps Estcart also knew about it?
He’s shaking his head so he probably doesn’t.
「Is that so? Thanks.」
Would Eritotear have been better suited to be king?
….no, let’s stop.
That’s going to scare a lot.
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