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Deep within the depths of the royal palace was a wide, spacious room lined with bookshelves that were filled all the way to the ceiling in a grand, overwhelming display. This was originally an archival room, but apparently it had been converted into the king’s personal relaxation room, as evidenced by the lounge furniture that had been brought in.
Shouzou entered the room together with Marquis Goldas, and found the owner of the room already waiting. He was in one of the sofas, absorbed in a book.
“There you are.” So saying, the man closed his book and stood up. This man who directed sharp eyes toward Shouzou was none other than King Alan Alsbeit himself.
He had blond hair streaked with white. Having reigned for more than twenty years since his coronation at 18-years-old, the hardships over the years played no small part in causing the deep wrinkles carved into his face, which made him look much older than someone with fewer than 40 years under his belt.
His governance was extolled as being one of the very best in the kingdom’s entire history. His benevolence and wisdom had caused him to be reverently referred to as the “Sage King” by some. However, he was also well-known for being quite the odd character.
Goldas respectfully lowered his head. “We apologize for the wait.”
“I mind it not. Waiting here is no burden. And it seems you two have arrived earlier than the scheduled time as well.”
As the king turned his gaze toward Shouzou again, the latter also lowered his head. “Your lowly subject is filled with joyous delight at being granted the honor of this audience with Your Majesty.”
“There’s no need for such formalities here. This is an unofficial audience. Today, I want to hear candid and unreserved opinions from the both of you. As I’ve ordered that no one else enter the room, unfortunately I can’t even offer a cup of tea. But well, have a seat.” King Alsbeit gestured toward the sofa across while dropping himself into his.
Shouzou followed Goldas in sitting down.
“First, allow me to acknowledge your efforts, Shouzou. Despite the necessity of laying down groundwork as someone new to the scene, going around lowering your head to those troublesome geezers must have been tiring indeed.”
“No, it was not that much trouble, actually.”
“Is that so? And here I was, expecting the usual complaints. What a fearful man you must be to be able to say that of the gaggle that gives even me headaches at times.” The sight of the king laughing frankly and openly caused Shouzou’s nervousness to recede a little.
However, the king’s face quickly turned severe. “Allow me to get straight to the point. We might have to go a few rounds with the Bardimian Empire after all.”
“Your Majesty, what are you saying?! That’s too sudden......” Goldas was so surprised he almost stood up.
“Of course, this is not confirmed yet. However, if things take a turn for the worse, we would be hurtling down a one-way path, is what I’m trying to say.”
“I’m afraid I do not follow the situation. What change has there been after the water dragon incident?” asked Shouzou while keeping his cool.
“The water dragon incident...... Thanks to the initiative we held, that matter did not go awry. In regards to the reparation, the empire readily agreed to drop the issue for the lowest amount we offered, much to our surprise.”
“In other words, is the empire trying to shake us up with a new approach?”
The king nodded gravely, then stood up with his book in hand. While walking over to the bookshelf behind him to put the thickly bound book back in its position, he said, “I assume both of you know that I have children. One son and one daughter......”
The elder brother was 16 years old. In this kingdom, that age was considered an adult already. However, the rumors about him were not good. Supposedly he had inherited none of his father’s ability, and was permanently locked up in his room. It was said that no one had seen him at a formal function for the longest time.
On the other hand, despite being merely 8 years old, the younger sister was already known throughout the kingdom for her wisdom and cheerfulness. She was a bit of a tomboy, but voices supporting her as the next generation ruler had already reached the level of being general public opinion.
“The next move that the empire made...... was an offer of marriage. They asked for the princess’s hand in marriage to a man of a branch family of their imperial line who was feudal lord over what is effectively one of their most backwater domains.”
“Such insolence! Such arrogance!” Goldas leaped to his feet in incensed indignation.
“So well, that’s what’s going on behind closed doors at the moment. I haven’t shared the news of this offer with the more hot-blooded nobles yet. I can already imagine them screaming ‘Reject it immediately!’ at me.” The king shrugged his shoulders while turning back around. “Onigawara, what are your thoughts?”
“I am unable to make judgment. There is insufficient information.”
“In other words, you would consider accepting, depending on the circumstances?”
“That is not so. I am, in principle, against marriages formed against the will of the couple in question. However, encounters can happen in an almost endless variety of ways. I do not deny that even in political marriages, the couple can learn to love and cherish each other. However—” This time, denial was the only viable option. “Her Highness is still only 8 years of age. I believe that she needs to at least be old enough to be capable of objectively understanding her own emotions.”
“I see. I understand your point of view. However, this is a highly political dilemma. Those born into royalty have a duty to do what must be done, even if that requires one to suppress and kill one’s own emotions,” said King Alsbeit flatly.
His value system was at complete odds with that of the one in modern Japan that Shouzou was from. To ask him to change his mind would likely be an effort in futility. If it was on a usual matter, that was—
“I see, ‘even if that requires one to suppress and kill one’s own emotions,’ is it. Is it not because you cannot do this that you have summoned us?”
“Shouzou, you are out of line!” Marquis Goldas raised his voice, but King Alsbeit waved his hand dismissively.
“Leave it. He speaks true. I thought I was the one probing you, but it seems I was the one being probed instead. As expected of the man that Jilk recommended so strongly.” The king dropped his gaze toward the low table, the wrinkles on his brow deepening into a grimace. With a heavy tone, he spat out, “The princess is my ultimate pride and joy. The very thought of letting her go is enough to make me go mad.”
“Y-Your Majesty?!”
(I get it......) Shouzou nodded deeply from his heart.
“However, if I simply rejected the empire’s offer in a fit of emotion, it could have led to war. And so—”
“And so......?”
“I said to them, ‘The princess is still too young, we would not want to cause trouble for the family that she marries into.’ Though well, that was the pretext. Then I suggested, ‘Instead, the prince is already of age but unfortunately has yet to be blessed with a good match. Would the empire consider sending over one of your imperial princesses to be his partner?’”
“Ha~ha~ha! What a splendid idea it is, having the emperor experience the pain of losing one of his beloved daughters!” However, Shouzou had the presence of mind to not comment on the fact that that was still a very emotional response. Apparently this king would lose all traces of being the “Sage King” when it came to his family.
“Would that not be taken as provocation......?” asked the marquis worriedly.
“Indeed, I myself also regretted it as soon as I calmed down. However, to my surprise—” The empire had immediately sent a response of agreement. “And that is the very reason why I am troubled. Lend me your wisdom, gentlemen.”
Shouzou tilted his head in puzzlement. “I am afraid I do not follow. If the empire is willing to send over a consort, then the relationship between the two countries would not only be bettered, it would in fact become unshakeable.”
“You are right. However, that is only if this marriage goes well.”
“Could it be......”
Is the empire planning on finding fault with the marriage after the fact, forcing a breakup, and shoving the blame for that onto the kingdom?
“The emperor is a man feared as the Emperor of Ruin. He has no qualms about using his family members as mere tools. So we cannot fully rule out that possibility. However, regardless of what their intentions are, this marriage is doomed to fail. The fact that the empire still holds the upper hand and that our kingdom is still in a predicament remains unchanged.” King Alsbeit stood up with a grave look on his face. “Follow me,” he said. Then he walked out of the room without turning around.
Shouzou looked at Goldas’s face, but the latter merely had his brows drawn in distress, and wordlessly followed after the king—