Translator: AkazaTL
Pr/Ed: Sol IX
***
Chapter 105 : The Grand Duke Has Returned
“……This is the extent of the matters I have confird, Your Majesty.”
“I see. There must have been many exhausting matters, yet to bring even such valuable information…… You truly worked hard.”
I reported the information gathered through this Sacred Festival to Friedrich.
The King, who was listening to the story with an interesting expression, praised my hard work as soon as the words ended.
“Not at all.”
Of course, I hadn't reported every single fact I found out.
“Hmm…… For the character of the 1st Prince, who should succeed the throne, to be like that…… It seems the rumors rife about the next succession issue aren't entirely nonsense.”
“That is correct. Anyway, right now, since the Emperor’s favor for the 1st Prince is so thick, decisive noise does not co out, but it appears there is a power struggle in between.”
At Sheldrick’s words, I nodded lightly.
After the ceremony announcing the return ended in the Great Hall, Friedrich, Sheldrick, and I moved to the King’s quarters and were sharing secret stories.
The King, and the highest-ranking ministers in charge of national defense and internal affairs respectively, gathered to hold a leadership eting.
“Actually, the 2nd Prince and 7th Prince, who possess the strongest backgrounds among the Princes, did not show themselves throughout this Sacred Festival and only barely showed themselves on the last day. It must be a sign of protest against the 1st Prince supervising the Sacred Festival.”
“What about the 3rd Prince? Speaking of backgrounds, isn't the 3rd Prince, who has a prestigious family of the military as maternal relatives, also powerful? Grand Duke.”
“Although the 3rd Prince’s influence is mighty, since his nature is close to a warrior, he seed to have no big interest in complicated power struggles.”
“I see. I understand.”
Friedrich’s expression throwing questions regarding the Empire’s situation looked quite sharp, unlike his usual gentle appearance.
“Ah, you must be tired, you should withdraw and take a rest now. My glad heart was too big so I held onto the Grand Duke for too long.”
However, as soon as eyes t mine, Friedrich returned to the appearance of the usual innocent boy.
“Your Majesty, actually there is a matter I wish to request of Your Majesty.”
“Please speak.”
“If it is okay, I wish to obtain a leave of about a week.”
“A leave?”
Hearing the words coming out of my mouth, Friedrich and Sheldrick made surprised expressions.
Because the Hein they knew was a severe workaholic who didn't know things like taking leave.
“Of course. Since you suffered, naturally you should rest. Please do as the Grand Duke pleases.”
However, Friedrich soon nodded his head while making an expression that I should naturally do so.
Watching such a King, Sheldrick spoke while making a strange smile.
“Your Majesty, do you not have words to say to the Grand Duke?”
“Yes?”
“I an that thing I ntioned the other day.”
“……Lord Sang, there is no need to tell such a trivial matter to the Grand Duke…….”
Friedrich waved his hand, but despite the King’s dissuasion, Sheldrick brought up the story.
“No. The Grand Duke should also know sothing like this. Your Excellency, do you rember asking to examine the famine that occurred in the southwest region in detail before going to the Empire the other day?”
“I rember.”
If there had been just a little more ti, I would have personally finished even the task of supplying grain to the famine region before leaving.
In a situation where the country was not yet completely stable, if agitation of public sentint occurred due to a problem directly connected to survival, there was a high possibility that a serious problem would occur in the young King’s governance capability.
Therefore, at least for this problem, I wanted to tie it up properly.
However, since ti was so tight, I had to entrust this problem to Sheldrick and go to the Empire.
“It is a matter proceeding while Your Excellency was absent.”
Now that a month has passed since then, in the report Sheldrick held out, the relief of the famine region was neatly finished.
From the thod of efficiently transporting the food to be supported, to the equal distribution fitting the circumstances.
It was finished perfectly to the extent that a flaw could not be found at all.
“You must have worked hard, Sir.”
I offered words of praise to Sheldrick.
However.
“Your Excellency, the one who supervised the work was not but His Majesty. That all matters proceeded so smoothly like this is also thanks to His Majesty personally examining all processes.”
Sheldrick shook his head.
“……His Majesty did?”
“That is correct. His Majesty showed such enthusiasm saying it was a task the Grand Duke personally entrusted before leaving.”
“Lord Sang! I just, if a problem occurred when the Grand Duke vacated his seat, I would have no face to see the Grand Duke later…….”
Friedrich dissuaded Sheldrick, but he continued speaking without caring.
“To achieve a task of this level when it hasn't even been a month since ascending to the throne. The Grand Duke was also surprised, right?”
Sheldrick naturally induced my praise.
Because praise coming from his mouth would be a clear reward for the effort the young King devoted for a month.
However,
“I was not particularly surprised.”
Unlike Sheldrick’s expectation, I shook my head while making an indifferent expression.
“……!”
Friedrich bowed his head with a flustered expression.
Actually, although he dissuaded Sheldrick with words, it would be a lie to say there wasn't even a little expectation.
“Because I knew long ago that a problem of this level is nothing to His Majesty.”
“……!”
“The Chief Minister will have to beco a little bolder. Being surprised with just this level, can you assist by His Majesty’s side?”
Friedrich’s head, which had been bowed low, was raised upright before long.
“Ah, t-that is right. I was too timid. Like you said, from now on I will steel my heart a little more firmly. Haha!”
“Your Majesty, then this subject will try withdrawing now.”
“Yes, yes! Please do so. Grand Duke. Please rest comfortably, and I will be waiting to be able to see you again when the leave ends.”
Before long, after showing a bow with disciplined movents, I left the seat.
“……!”
At that mont, Friedrich’s fist, clenched tight to suppress the surging joy, trembled.
If Sheldrick had not been by the side, he would have expressed joy by shouting out right away.
The praise received for the first ti from the hero he admired made the boy this happy.
Watching such a King, Sheldrick had no choice but to build a scoff.
‘Hoho, to make His Majesty fall this deeply with such a blunt face. A truly brazen person…….’
***
It was not only the King who was waiting for Hein’s return with eager anticipation.
A person waiting only for Reichart’s master to return existed in the Grand Duke’s residence as well…….
“Master, Master, Master!”
Sherazade, who confird she had cleared all attendants from the surroundings, was knocking on my room door and urging ‘Master’ continuously.
“Open the door quickly! I know you ca and everything.”
Around the ti the number of knocks on the door approached about 100 tis.
“……Wait.”
My voice, looking sowhat tired, was heard from across the room door.
“What is the matter?”
She urged so much that I had to open the door without even finishing changing into indoor clothes.
Because of that, my sleek collarbone was slightly revealed through the shirt collar I hadn't managed to button yet.
“Kyaa! Beast!”
Sherazade, seeing that disheveled appearance, pretended to cover her eyes with her hands and let out squealing sounds.
“……Where on earth do you keep learning things like that?”
“I heard the story Jenny, Matilda, and Margaret were talking about. Thinking I couldn't hear, they were talking excitedly under the window. But I heard it all!”
Sherazade revealed the nas of the maids who supplied various knowledge ‘irrelevant to their own intentions’ while making a pleased expression.
“If it was a gift, I would have sent soone to send it in advance.”
“Yeah. I received that gratefully. But right now, sothing more important than a gift.”
While I buttoned the shirt hem I hadn't managed to button, Sherazade lifted a finger and pointed to my chest.
“Our Spirit Babies!”
“……Co in.”
Click.
As the door closed, I obediently handed the Magic Armor of Spirit Soul I was wearing around my neck to Sherazade.
Anyway, I was thinking of calling her as soon as changing clothes was finished.
Because the spirits said to be asleep inside the magic armor were a significant interest to as well.
“Then I’m starting! Master, watch well!”
Sherazade, who received the magic armor, imdiately went into preparation to wake the spirits.
Her expression had, at so point, taken the appearance of a ‘Princess of a ruined ancient kingdom’, not an ‘innocent young lady’.
Woo-woong-
‘Hoo!’
An unusual color ford in my pupils watching Sherazade, who closed her eyes while clutching the magic armor in both hands.
‘The degree of reaction is unusual?’
It was surprising that Sherazade’s presence changed in an instant, but what was more surprising than that was the reaction the magic armor showed.
The magic armor held in Sherazade’s hand was showing a much clearer reaction than when I injected mana as a test the other day.
‘It’s different from the energy felt when Skada used the magic armor. This is a reaction irrelevant to the amount of possessed mana.’
There was a high possibility this was a phenonon originating from ‘Spirit Affinity’, irrelevant to a mage’s capability.
I examined Sherazade and the magic armor carefully.
“Phew!”
After a while.
Sherazade, who finished the ritual, let out a rough breath and held out the magic armor.
“Is it finished?”
“Yeah. But for the babies to open their eyes, you will have to wait a little more. Since they are sleeping so soundly like sleepyheads, it seems it will take a little ti to wake up.”
“Is it certain that they’ll open their eyes?”
“Of course. How close I am with the babies!”
“I understand. Thanks.”
“Ahem, for just this much.”
Perhaps glad about the words of thanks heard after a long ti, Sherazade smiled bashfully and stroked her flushed cheeks.
“By the way, what do spirits look like?”
There was no record remaining clearly about the appearance of spirits.
This was curiosity as a mage irrelevant to the power the Magic Armor of Spirit Soul possessed.
“Right now, it’s a secret! If you know in advance, it’s no fun, right?”
However, Sherazade only shook her head side to side.
“If the spirits wake from sleep, can I also see with the naked eye?”
“Yeah! If I just give the Master a little help, you can see. Ah, of course, these babies must trust though. Heh heh! When that ti cos, instead of showing the babies to Master, what should I ask you to do?”
“……You intend to demand a price?”
“Yeah. On the day we first t, Master said so. Where in the world is there sothing for free.”
Sherazade’s twinkling pupils headed toward .
“It’s a big trouble since you keep learning only bad things.”
“Uh! Just now, Master admitted yourself that you are a bad person, right?”
I avoided her gaze without saying anything.
“Ah, since I used power after a long ti, I’m tired.”
Whether the ritual waking the spirits’ sleep was tiring, Sherazade lay down flat on my bed.
“Get up. If you're going to sleep, go back to your room and sleep.”
“So what? It’s not like it wears out?”
“If I say no, it’s no. Get up.”
“Master is a miser! Stingy! Penny-pincher!”
Eventually, I added an explanation in my own way.
“It’s not like that. A grown woman shouldn't just lie down on any man’s bed like that.”
“Master is not just any man, right? So it’s okay.”
“No, it’s not okay. At least in the world where humans live, it’s not okay.”
Of course, it seed it would be the sa in the Kingdom of Sub-Dragons too, but.
“Why is it not okay?”
“…….”
“Why is it not okay?”
“Go ask Jenny, Matilda, and Margaret to teach you that. Anyway, no.”
“Che, got it. Hmph!”
Eventually, Sherazade spat out a sullen sound and raised her body from the bed.
But imdiately she spoke with a voice as if asking when she was sulking.
“Anyway Master, you aren't going anywhere now, right? Heh heh, from tonight before sleeping, I should ponder slowly what to ask Master to do.”
“Thinking is your freedom, but if it is sothing that takes a long ti, I cannot do it for you.”
“Why?”
“Because there is a place I must go by all ans.”
However, Sherazade’s ambitious wish broke into pieces in an instant.
Since it was a situation where I even took a leave of a whopping week to visit this place, I was thinking of leaving right tomorrow morning.
“Again only alone? That’s an!”
“It’s not an.”
And after firmly dismissing her complaint, I said.
“Because I’m going with you.”
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