Well… it seems the time has come for me to show my full power.
After the wildly chaotic congratulatory speeches, we finally leave the audience chamber.
That is it for today. All that remains is the main event tomorrow.
There is supposedly a royal family-hosted dinner party starting in the evening, but that is just our kingdom’s nobles coming out to casually drink and chat with the ambassadors and representatives from other countries.
Tonight, we are supposed to rest early to prepare for tomorrow… or so it should have been.
The moment we step back, a maid comes rushing over.
「Argusta-sama… um…」
「I know. Where should I go?」
「Yes. I am to guide you to His Majesty’s office.」
「Got it.」
「And… do not bring Noie-sama.」
They are taking away my greatest weapon and shield!
But I definitely messed up, so… the only path left is complete surrender.
「Noie. Go on ahead.」
「……」
Noie really is kind. She grips my hand tightly and refuses to let go.
I cannot believe someone like her could be a murderer. It must be some kind of mistake.
I have decided. Even if it is just me, I will believe that and hold onto it.
「It is okay. I will just go for a bit and come right back.」
「…Yes.」
「When I get back, give me a lap pillow. I will stroke your hair in return.」
「Yes.」
Her ahoge wiggles happily as Noie walks away.
There is no point in moping. I will steel myself and go.
Hey… they are not going to kill me or anything.
-0-
「I am truly very sorry!」
The muscle prince drawing his sword the instant I enter the office is seriously not okay!
I am not surrendering… I definitely did not give in to that threat!
His Majesty the King, leaning on his elbows at the desk with a heavy atmosphere around him, slowly stands up.
He walks over leisurely and thumps my shoulders hard…bam, bam.
Ow, ow. That hurts. A little restraint, please.
「Ow!」
「This much punishment should be light. You absolute fool.」
「…I am really sorry.」
「What were you thinking, taking that attitude with those two?」
What was I thinking… it was reflexive?
「The general was trying to make fun of Noie, so I got irritated. The finance minister exposed Noie’s secret, and I completely snapped.」
「What. It was all about Noie?」
「Yes.」
「What about when they insulted you?」
「That kind of thing does not matter at all. The only thing I could not forgive was what they said about Noie.」
Did they even insult me personally?
His Majesty the King bursts into loud laughter, kuhahhaha, and thumps my shoulders again before returning to his chair.
「Protecting your wife as a husband is important. Showing that spirit reached the honored guests as well. So… since both of them called it a 『joke』, I will overlook this incident. Understood?」
「Thank you very much.」
A full, deep bow from me.
Your Majesty… I will follow you anywhere for a while!
Only the idiot aniki who clicked his tongue and sheathed his sword, I will never forgive him.
「However, Father? We must find out how Noie’s past leaked to other countries.」
「Schnitt is right. Anyone have an idea?」
「The one who suppressed that place was the previous captain of the royal guard leading the guards. Probably someone retired and short on money was found and bribed with pocket change.」
「That would make it tricky, Halfren.」
「…I suspect the previous captain himself.」
「Basis?」
「The man was skilled with a sword but weak to drink and women. The reason for his retirement was definitely woman-related, right?」
「We will investigate along that line.」
His Majesty nods thoughtfully but does nothing else. That is fine.
Now, who is this handsome blond man sitting on the sofa?
He has the kind of stunning looks you rarely see even among Hollywood movie stars or global models.
「Idiot onii-chan.」
「What is it, idiot little brother?」
「Who is that person?」
「He is asking, aniki.」
Aniki? Did he say aniki?
「This is the first time meeting directly… I am Schnitt, the prime minister.」
His light bow is incredibly elegant.
I step back three paces to take in both brothers. No mistake.
「Your Majesty.」
「What is it?」
「One of them is definitely not your son. My guess is this one.」
「Wait a second. Why are you pointing at aniki?」
「Because you two look exactly alike. And you both chase women’s butts all the time!」
「The butt lover is Father. I am a chest guy.」
「Butts are great～」
See, it’s confirmed.
「Ahaha. Yeah, people often say Halfren and I don’t look alike at all. I take after my mother, and Halfren takes after our father.」
「That makes perfect sense.」
「You didn’t have to agree so fast!」
Shut up, you perverted royal family. I don’t want anyone thinking I’m part of your group.
「Let’s get back to the topic. There’s no way to stop information from leaking out. What we should think about next is Argusta’s secret.」
「Oh, right. There was that too.」
「You completely forgot about it?」
「Yeah. My memories from that side aren’t bad or anything, but over here, I’ve got Noie. Compared to her, all those memories from the other world feel like nothing at all.」
「You’re really, truly head over heels for her, huh?」
Don’t say it like that. I’m seriously going to get all flustered and blush any second now.
「It’s wonderful to see you two so close. Now then, Father… what should we do about Argusta’s secret?」
「Hm. Before that, Argusta.」
「Yes?」
「About our family… who told you?」
It’s obvious who.
「This guy right here.」
「You didn’t have to answer so fast!」
「Halfren?」
「…Well, Arg started saying he wanted to go visit his sick mother, so I kinda let it slip.」
「I see.」
The king closed his mouth for a moment. After a short pause, he let out a soft breath.
「It wouldn’t mean much coming from me, but I truly am sorry for everything I’ve put you through.」
「No, it’s fine. In the end, it doesn’t really feel like it has anything to do with me.」
My real parents are both gone, after all.
Maybe that’s why I don’t have any lingering attachments to that other world.
「Hearing you say that helps a lot.」
「Not at all. Though, about the engagement Argusta promised so casually… please, um, take care of that somehow.」
「I understand. We’ll handle it properly as our responsibility. Don’t worry.」
The king really is a good person. Even if he does love women a little too much.
「As for Argusta’s secret, we can think about it when it’s actually exposed. Now then… Head of the Draguknight family?」
「Yes?」
Huh? The king’s atmosphere suddenly changed.
「I hear you’ve gathered a rather extravagant amount of celebration gifts.」
「So, I’m going to impose a temporary tax on them.」
The enemies are the king and the prime minister, huh… As the one in charge of my house now, I can’t back down either!
In the end… we settled it by splitting all the celebration gifts coming from the empire.
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