Chapter 90 : Chapter 90
Chapter 90
The King might have been as strong as Jereuth when he was young.
That thought suddenly occurred to me, and I tried to imagine it, comparing the King I knew with Jereuth.
‘Hmm……. I can't really picture it.’
I couldn't imagine that sickly old man, who could die any day now, being on a similar level of skill as Jereuth. If the King had that much skill, he wouldn't have had his power taken away by the nobles, nor would he be in such a pitiful situation now.
‘Perhaps the King was just a problem child who only received Jereuth's help. The younger Jereuth would have been much stronger than he is now, so one problem child wouldn't have been an issue.’
If not that, then the elf who was said to have entered the Minotaur's dungeon with them at the time—‘Queen Victoria’—might have been incredibly skilled. Skilled enough to conquer the Minotaur's dungeon with just Jereuth, even with the problem child King in tow.
‘I can find out for sure by asking the King directly. It's a good chance to show my face after a long time, too.’
I decided to push the doubt about the King's youthful skill to the back of my mind.
Creak—.
I stood up from my seat. Olivia would be waiting for me in the banquet hall, so it was about time I went there.
I was about to change my clothes before going but decided against it. My head was a mess and I felt rushed, so I wasn't in the mood.
***
The Crimson Banquet Hall on the 2nd floor of the Royal Palace.
It was a banquet hall that had always been shrouded in the solemn reign of terror of Leonardo, but the atmosphere was different now. Because the knights and soldiers who had returned from Misty Port with Leonardo were enjoying their ‘reward’.
“Oh, ooh…… delicious! This is delicious!!”
Rags, a high-ranking knight, held a bottle of wine in one hand and a large piece of meat in the other, exclaiming in admiration as he ate and drank at the same time. The knights and soldiers, who were used to seeing Rags eat so ravenously, paid him no mind and enjoyed their own banquet.
The Knight Commander, Jereuth, was also in the banquet hall. However, unlike the other knights and soldiers, he honestly couldn't enjoy the banquet.
Because he was worried about Leonardo.
‘Is His Highness working again as soon as he returned…….’
Jereuth had been to Leonardo's room before the banquet officially began. He had intended to suggest they dine together.
However, when Jereuth reached Leonardo's room, a soldier guarding the vicinity told him.
That Olivia and Heinshtangl were reporting on their work in Leonardo's room.
‘I feel guilty enjoying wine and meat while His Highness is working.’
Though he had such thoughts, Jereuth did his best not to show any awkwardness. It was out of consideration for the other knights and soldiers so they could enjoy the banquet.
It was then.
—His Highness Leonardo is entering!
A guard shouted from the direction of the banquet hall door. At the sound, the knights and soldiers all stopped their movements in unison. Then they all stood up from their seats at the same time.
Screech—!
The sound was as if a single person had stood up from their seat. The banquet hall, which had been boisterous just a moment ago, fell deathly silent.
“Haha, why is everyone standing? Please sit.”
When Leonardo, who had entered the banquet hall, spoke with a smile, the high-ranking knights sat down first. They were followed by the mid-ranking, low-ranking, and then the soldiers.
Following behind Leonardo, Heinshtangl, Olivia, and Elly entered together. Jereuth approached to greet them.
“You have arrived, Your Highness. I went to escort you, but you seemed busy, so I did not wish to disturb. My apologies.”
“Ah, yes. I heard from the guard. It's alright.”
“……”
“Why has everyone stopped eating? Please, eat, eat. It's best when it's warm.”
Leonardo, who was speaking to Jereuth, then turned his attention to the other knights and soldiers.
Even at his words, the knights and soldiers did not rashly touch their food. Because the crown prince had entered the banquet hall, they could not eat any more food until he, their superior, had eaten.
That was the etiquette a soldier had to observe at a banquet and a way of showing respect.
Just then, someone picked up the largest piece of meat and put it in his mouth. It was Rags.
Munch, munch—.
“His Highness's command is law, so it cannot be broken. His Highness, our superior, has not yet begun his meal, but we cannot disobey his command, can we? The law takes precedence over etiquette.”
At Rags' words, Leonardo asked back.
“Etiquette?”
Gulp—.
“Yes, Your Highness. Allow me to explain. In a banquet hall, the highest-ranking person—”
Rags explained to Leonardo the etiquette that knights and soldiers must observe in a banquet hall. The etiquette that when the highest-ranking person newly enters a banquet, no one may eat until he has eaten.
Hearing that, Leonardo let out a dry laugh.
“You can just eat……. I understand.”
Leonardo picked up a random fruit from the table and ate it.
“I've eaten now, so it's alright, isn't it? Everyone, please eat comfortably. It makes me feel sorry if you all sit so stiffly.”
As the crown prince once again told them to eat, the knights and soldiers finally began to eat. The atmosphere of the banquet hall gradually became as boisterous as before.
Watching the knights and soldiers, Jereuth asked Leonardo.
“Your Highness, did you come here because you have something to say to us?”
“Yes. But I will speak after everyone has eaten. I don't want to ruin the mood when everyone is enjoying their meal so much.”
At Leonardo's consideration for the knights and soldiers, Jereuth nodded calmly.
If it were up to Jereuth, he would have had the knights and soldiers line up right now to listen to Leonardo's words. However, as Rags had said earlier, Leonardo's word was law. He could not disobey it.
***
About 30 minutes later.
The eating speed of the knights and soldiers had slowed down considerably. Everyone was more or less full.
Watching them, Leonardo, who was sitting at the dining table on the dais, spoke.
“Did everyone enjoy their meal?”
—Yes, we did!
“I'm glad. I originally wasn't going to attend the banquet. I thought everyone would feel unnecessarily uncomfortable if I was here.”
—Not at all!
“Haha…… yes. Anyway, the reason I came is to both thank you for your efforts on this journey to Misty Port, and to introduce someone new to you.”
Leonardo pointed to Olivia, who was sitting to his left.
“I'm sure you all know her, but this is Lady Olivia, Sir Heinshtangl's daughter. And from now on, Lady Olivia will be assisting me and taking responsibility for internal affairs. She will be taking over the work that Sir Heinshtangl has been doing until now. It will be easier to think of her as his successor.”
The crown prince spoke calmly and composedly, but.
The reaction of the knights who heard his words was quite different.
‘……Entrusting her with full authority over internal affairs?’
‘She was sitting next to His Highness the whole time, so I thought she might have achieved some great merit or received a position.’
‘For her to take over his role while Heinshtangl is still active, does that mean this daughter is more capable than him?’
While the knights were each trying to understand the situation in their own minds, Leonardo continued.
“I hope that you will all support Lady Olivia in the future. As you all know, the policies I intend to implement are only possible when the internal affairs and the military join forces.”
—Yes, we understand!
“Thank you. Then, Lady Olivia, would you like to say a word?”
At Leonardo's words, Olivia nodded lightly and spoke.
“I am Olivia Heinshtangl. As I have taken on a grave responsibility under His Highness's command, I will thoroughly manage the kingdom's budget in accordance with His Highness's beliefs and will, and do my utmost for the kingdom's reconstruction and development.”
—…….
“And above all, I will dedicate myself to His Highness who has trusted me. For that, I hope to receive much help from you, ‘Sir Knights’ and ‘soldiers’.”
Olivia deliberately addressed the knights and soldiers with honorifics. It was to show her respect for them, while also showing that she would even follow Leonardo's manner of speaking.
When Olivia finished speaking, a silence fell over the banquet hall. It was not an uncomfortable silence.
Everyone was simply waiting for Jereuth's words.
Jereuth, who was sitting to Leonardo's right, stood up from his seat and approached Olivia.
Then, after looking down at Olivia, who was much smaller than him, he first offered a handshake and spoke.
“If there is anything you need, speak of it. If there is anyone who obstructs the execution of His Highness's will, speak of that as well. If there is such a person, I will step forward myself.”
“Thank you, Commander.”
Olivia took Jereuth's hand.
The moment the absolute authority of the military and the new person in charge of internal affairs shook hands, surprisingly, there was no discomfort between the two.
But for some reason, Elly, who was watching, looked restless.
***
Watching Jereuth and Olivia shake hands amicably, I inwardly let out a sigh of relief.
‘Hoo…… Jereuth was looking at Olivia without a word for a while, so I thought he didn't like her.’
A power struggle between the newly appointed head of internal affairs and the head of the military. It was a common occurrence in the history of any nation, so I had been worried that something like that might happen.
Jereuth wasn't the type to engage in such political power struggles, but I still had a slight concern.
After exchanging handshakes, Olivia and Jereuth sat down again. Then, the knights and soldiers looked at each other for a moment before starting to talk and eat among themselves again.
I could vaguely hear the words of the knights and soldiers. Most of it was about Olivia, who had newly become the head of internal affairs, but fortunately, there were no negative comments.
To be precise, it seemed the knights and soldiers didn't really care who became the head of internal affairs. The atmosphere was one of just doing their own jobs well.
It was the very model of a proper military attitude.
After observing the atmosphere for a moment, I spoke to Jereuth.
“Commander, I apologize for interrupting your meal, but I have something to tell you.”
“It is alright. Please speak.”
“Thank you. As I mentioned before, I intend to re-seal the Minotaur's dungeon. To conquer that dungeon, I first intend to go to the Wasteland of Ruin…… ah.”
As I spoke, I looked towards Olivia and added.
“Lady Olivia, please listen as well. I may be away for quite a long time, so you will have to take on my role during that time.”
“I understand.”
“Yes. Then, hmm……. I should start by talking about the Minotaur's dungeon.”
As I was speaking, Olivia interjected at a good timing and said.
“I have read about the Minotaur's dungeon in a book before. And you do not need to explain the reason why Your Highness intends to conquer that dungeon. You must have a valid reason for doing so.”
“……”
“Your Highness just needs to command me on what I have to do. ……If possible, I would appreciate it if it were in writing, especially as a ‘written order’.”
Olivia spoke calmly as she usually did, but when she mentioned the ‘written order’, she subtly avoided my gaze. Her white face was slightly reddish, though I couldn't tell if it was because of the wine or the lighting.
“I understand. Then I will write down the tasks for you to do while I am away in a separate written order.”
“Yes. And now that I have officially become Your Highness's person, you do not need to use honorifics.”
“I'm more comfortable using honorifics. And I'm young, too.”
“Age……? I understand.”
For some reason, Olivia replied as if she was a little disappointed. It didn't seem like something I needed to worry about, so I continued what I was saying to Jereuth.
“There are two things I would like to ask of you, Commander. The first, of course, is to guide me to the Giant settlement. The Wasteland of Ruin is quite far, and I don't think anyone has been there, so I will need your help again this time.”
“It is my honor to accompany Your Highness on a long journey.”
“Haha, yes. And the next thing I would like to ask is, we were originally training, weren't we? The physical training for my health.”
“Yes. Should we resume that?”
“Yes. But I would like you to include swordsmanship training as well.”
“Swordsmanship training……”
Jereuth trailed off before continuing.
“Are you trying to learn the sword to prepare for the Minotaur's dungeon?”
“Yes. The immediate goal is to learn the sword so I can protect myself in the Minotaur's dungeon. But in the long run, I think it's necessary for me to learn the sword. I hope it doesn't come to that, but there might be a time when I have to go to the battlefield.”
“……”
Jereuth, lost in thought.
After thinking about something on his own for a while, he looked me straight in the eye and nodded.
“As ‘royalty’ is one of the conditions for entering the Minotaur's dungeon, Your Highness must enter. Therefore, learning the sword in preparation for that is a wise decision. Also, as Your Highness said, it would be best if it doesn't come to that, but if you must go to the battlefield one day, it is good to have learned the sword in preparation for that time.”
“Yes.”
“So I can provide you with basic physical training. However—.”
Jereuth, who had been speaking cautiously, added his final words even more cautiously.
“Before you learn the sword from me, please meet King Philip first. When it comes to swordsmanship, he knows more than I do.”
……The King is better with a sword than Jereuth?
***
The Royal Treasury.
The place where Leonardo had come in the past to obtain Mithril Powder to recruit Seria.
The royal treasury remained empty even after Leonardo came to power. The reason was that Leonardo preferred to squeeze out as much wealth as possible and use it for the kingdom's operating budget rather than hoarding it.
It was for a completely different reason than when the treasury was empty due to the plunder and waste of the nobles.
Two old men had entered that treasury. One was Lewis, the treasury manager who had managed the royal treasury for generations of his family.
And the other was the fallen king, but who had regained a little honor thanks to his son, 'King Philip'.
King Philip, who had come deep inside the royal treasury, spoke to Lewis.
“Lewis. Would you open the ‘inner treasury’?”
The ‘inner treasury’ was a secret space in the kingdom's treasure vault known only to the treasury manager and the royal family.
“Of course, I can open it for you. But more importantly…… as expected, Your Majesty is still going strong.”
“Indeed. I couldn't fool your eyes, after all. Even Jereuth didn't know.”
“I have served the Plank royal family for three generations, so I know a thing or two.”
Lewis nodded with a smile and continued to speak to the King.
“However, Your Majesty, if you have come to see the queen's necklace—”
“I know that Leonardo has already taken Victoria's mithril necklace. I also know that he used it to bring the Mage Tower Master Seria to his side. The reason I want to enter the ‘inner treasury’ is to take something else.”
“Something else…… ah.”
“Yes, I'm talking about my sword. The sword of the fallen king. The one that was with me when I shone the brightest.”
The King looked somewhere in the empty space and added one more thing calmly.
“It seems it's time to teach my son the sword as well.”
His gaze was as if he knew the future.