「You… Honestly, you said you were just going to go and take a look.」
「Sorry about that, old man. Her chest was just too perfect, you see.」
「I won’t complain about your tastes. But keep to the schedule, that’s all I ask. Proposing on the spot like that… Well, I suppose both father and son are hopeless fools.」
Recalling his own past, the king let out a wry smile.
「The formal engagement procedures will proceed between me and Milnhitza. We’ll announce the betrothal at the end of the rainy season. The wedding should follow soon after.」
「Talk to aniki about that sort of thing and decide it yourselves.」
「……I already have an idea.」
「Hm?」
Halfren, who had been signing documents for the various departments concerning the marriage, paused and lifted his pen.
His father, gazing out the window, slowly stroked his beard.
「I am considering transferring the throne to Schnitt at the same time as your wedding.」
「Why all of a sudden?」
「Don’t you think the guests would prefer everything done together?」
「You want to hold the enthronement and the wedding at the same time to save on expenses.」
「Don’t state the obvious so plainly. Thanks to Noie we’re managing somehow, but military expenditures have driven the kingdom’s finances into the flames.」
「But isn’t every country in the same situation?」
Any nation suffering dragon raids faces soaring military costs and desperate household finances.
Other countries seem to be enduring it by raising taxes, but Univance has not yet played that card.
「With the external threat of dragons looming over us, if we imposed new taxes now… what could the people possibly cling to in order to find hope to live?」
「True enough. Honestly, having Noie here already makes our position far better than most.」
Still, it was not good for her popularity to rise too high. Among the nobles and generals there were those who found it distasteful, and foreign spies naturally approached such people and tried to draw them in.
The previous incident with the Argusta raid had shocked him with how many nobles had cooperated.
Yet he could not condemn them all. In the end he made an example by taking the heads of several influential nobles, confiscating all their lands and wealth, and dropping their families down to slave status.
One worry disappeared, but a new grudge was born.
Running a country could never be done with pretty ideals alone.
「Well, Father. For me, the timing of the marriage doesn’t change what I have to do. Discuss it with aniki and decide whatever you like.」
「……Yes. That’s what I’ll do.」
With a soft chuckle the king resumed the hand he had stopped.
「Ah. I’d like to summon Richina here. Is that all right?」
「I don’t mind, but letting her live in your mansion… that would be a little unpleasant.」
「I’m not saying we’ll start making children right away. She has never been to the royal capital before, so first we need to let her get accustomed to it.」
「I see. Then have her stay at Milnhitza’s residence in the capital. I will permit up to ten of the royal guards for her protection.」
「Understood.」
Having finished signing everything he needed to, Halfren rose from the sofa where he had been seated.
「I’ve done today’s share, so I’m heading back.」
「……And after this?」
「Aniki ordered me to clean out the Sealed Warehouse… I’m dragging Arg along to help sort it out.」
「I see. Ah, that reminds me.」
「Hm?」
「……Your mother said she wants to see your face.」
Those words carried the weight not of a king, but of a father.
「Understood. I’ll find time to visit her.」
「Good. And… she also wants to see Argusta.」
「……」
For a moment Halfren’s expression twisted.
No, with that idiot little brother of his, there should be no real problem. He would surely manage somehow.
But… the one married to him was “Noie”.
「If Arg goes, Noie will come along too, you know?」
「I am aware. Even so, she says she wants to meet them.」
「……I can’t give an answer right away. I’ll have to discuss it with aniki first.」
「Yes. I leave it to you two.」
-0-
「Arg～? You’re free, right?」
「All right, I’m here. Noie… go punch that Muscle Prince for me.」
「Yes.」
「Oi! I’ll die!」
The Muscle Prince, rising from his chair, genuinely panicked and tried to flee as Noie stood up.
Yes. This feels refreshing.
「Noie. Come back.」
「Yes.」
She had started toward him with light steps to deliver the blow, and now she returned with the same light steps.
Noie really is adorable.
「So, what is it?」
「……Yeah. Lend me a hand for a bit.」
「I only have one lendable hand, though?」
「Yeah, yeah, my bad. I never imagined a monstrous woman would come charging at me.」
Since he apologized lightly, that was good enough.
Unlike me, he’s a proper prince, so he can’t just bow his head so easily.
「So, what are we doing?」
「A little experiment.」
「Experiment?」
「Yeah. Anyway, everyone who’s free, come along.」
At those words, the captain of Noie’s squad and the two vice-captains decided to follow.
-0-
「What’s with this ominous door?」
「It’s the Sealed Warehouse.」
「……Why not just leave it sealed?」
A massive pair of steel doors sat heavily underground in the castle. Double doors, terrifyingly large.
「This place stores items from other worlds that ended up in ours in the past.」
「Heh～」
「And opening this door is a real pain.」
The Muscle Prince gripped the handles firmly and poured strength into his entire body.
Gii… gigi… A faint sound came out. Wait, is this thing even moving?
「So yeah, one person can’t open it.」
「……That’s why you need me.」
「Exactly.」
Understood.
「Noie.」
「Yes.」
「Open it a little.」
「Yes.」
She switched places with the Muscle Prince and placed her hands on the door.
Huh? It didn’t budge at all?
「Arg-sama.」
「Hm?」
「‘A little’?」
「……Just open it normally, please.」
「Yes.」
Giii～ With a steady sound, the doors opened normally.
Leave a Reply