Chapter 35: Dissatisfied Elements
“Your Majesty, now that it is known I can use Healing Magic, proposals for marriage and requests for treatment have been flooding in. From newborns to those nearing the end of their lives, even nobles are coming in droves, and it has become quite a burden. If you could use your influence to put a stop to this, I would be most grateful. Additionally, regarding the recent attack, there are many voices claiming that Kaito’s act of grabbing Prince Herarus by the collar and throwing him was disrespectful. If we adhere to etiquette during emergencies, it would mean the prince’s life is forfeit. Conversely, there are also calls to punish Kaito, suggesting that if he had only followed proper decorum, the prince’s life would not have been at stake.”
“I understand. I will ensure Kaito’s safety. As for your marriage proposals… just tell them to go through the Royal Family. Unless I permit it, the Hamawar family will not entertain such matters, so you can rest easy. Is there any other reward you seek?”
Fiene lightly shook her head and bowed.
“Do neither the Viscount nor the Marquis desire anything?”
“I merely erected an ice wall, so I have done nothing worthy of a reward.”
“I too must decline, as I entrusted the critical moments to Kaito and ended up sustaining serious injuries myself.”
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
By the third day after requesting His Majesty’s assistance, the flood of marriage proposals had come to a complete halt. The requests for treatment also ceased, allowing Fiene to finally settle into a more peaceful life. When Kaito visited the Egdra Hotel, he found several unsavory-looking men loitering in the lobby. They weren’t intimidating guests per se, but they were quickly sizing up anyone who entered.
Upon spotting Hyalda and Fiene, they offered a slight nod and feigned indifference. Kaito was having a late breakfast in a corner of the dining hall.
“Kaito, how are you doing?”
“Hey, Hyaru, Fi. I’m working on recovering my strength. It seems it’ll take a bit longer before I can venture outside the city. I’m still not confident enough to gather Medicinal Herbs. By the way, what about those guys?”
“I wanted to let you know that there are people complaining about your actions when you grabbed the prince’s collar and threw him.”
“Well, isn’t that just lovely? They want me to watch the prince die while adhering to etiquette.”
“They’re the ones His Majesty sent to deal with those complaints.”
“I heard a few more have been caught, and my father mentioned that a list of those stirring up trouble is being compiled.”
“If Hyalda is going to serve as His Majesty’s guard, you should consider equipping yourself with something that provides Magic Defense.”
“I’ll do that. If I had been wearing adventurer gear, my injuries would have been minor.”
“That was a close-range magic attack, so the defense didn’t kick in in time.”
That night, Marquis Hamawar visited Kaito on behalf of His Majesty the King, leaving behind a token of gratitude from the Royal Family. Inside a wallet pouch adorned with the royal crest were 2,000 gold coins and a royal-issued pass. The golden pouch, marked with a purple royal emblem, glowed faintly in lavender when mana was channeled through it. The back remained unchanged, concealing the words for Spatial Storage and Transfer Magic. While it didn’t possess the same power as the famed Mito Komon’s emblem, it was said to be a valuable item that granted free passage within the Nagyar Kingdom, making it difficult for nobles to act carelessly.
Additionally, Kaito received a fee for his protection services from the Marquis. Including the gratitude for saving Prince Herarus’s life, he was given 1,000 gold coins. As I pondered how my Spatial Storage was filling up, I couldn’t refuse the rewards from His Majesty or the Marquis, so I bowed my head and stored them away.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
Reports of the actions of the dissatisfied elements against Kaito were delivered by Prime Minister Nagalan. Six individuals had gone to the hotel with guards, intending to punish Kaito, while three others were preparing to do the same. Nine had openly slandered Kaito in public, with five inciting others alongside them. Among those who had taken action or were preparing to do so, five were connected to the former Duke Jacksen Nagyar.
“Shall we deal with those five first? Prepare to secure the residences and territories in the Royal Capital.”
Ten days after the King’s order, Prime Minister Nagalan summoned Count Halbart to the Royal Castle. Guided by attendants, Halbart waited in the Prime Minister’s reception room until a knock announced the arrival of His Majesty. As he hurriedly knelt, the royal knights surrounded him, and the cold voice of the King echoed above him.
“Emilio Halbart, do you find the protection of Marquis Hamawar so disagreeable?”
“With all due respect, that Kaito fellow is a disrespectful person who dared to grab and throw Prince Herarus by the collar. He is someone who deserves punishment.”
“I see… So you are saying that as long as one is polite, it does not matter if Herarus dies?”
“Your Majesty, that is not what I meant.”
“Good, I have no need to hear that. The reason I called you here is not for that, but regarding Jacksen Nagyar. You understand what I mean, do you not?”
Count Halbart realized he was not summoned for disrespect towards Prince Herarus. Knights were already positioned to his sides and behind him, looking down at him.
“Emilio Halbart, your residence has already been sealed off and is under search by the Royal Capital’s guard.”
Halbart understood he was powerless against the Prime Minister’s cold voice. The same fate awaited Count Naruhan, Viscount Olkan, Baron Tales, and Baron Martina, who were summoned right after Halbart and captured in the same manner.
Three days later, the remaining four—Marquis Emerson, Count Hanasen, Viscount Emilia, and Viscount Ekkens—were all summoned together by the Prime Minister. Upon seeing His Majesty enter the room after the Prime Minister, they all knelt, and the royal knights surrounded them. Having heard rumors of the previous five, the four turned pale as the King’s cold voice questioned them.
“It seems you are quite displeased that both I and Herarus survived.”
“Your Majesty, we would never think such a thing. It is just that the actions against Prince Herarus are far too disrespectful to the Royal Family.”
“If Kaito had not thrown Herarus at that moment, he would have died. In fact, Kaito was injured by a magic attack immediately after switching places with Herarus. He would have died without Fiene Hamawar’s Healing Magic. Your words imply that you are questioning why Herarus and I did not perish. Those around me suspect that you are either the ones who sent the attackers or their supporters.”
“That is not the case at all!”
“Your Majesty, this must be a mistake!”
“Please forgive me, I was thoughtless!”
“Silence! As punishment, you will be stripped of your titles and fined 5,000 gold coins, and you will retire.”
“Your Majesty, my successor is only 25 years old and has no experience managing the territory!”
“Do not worry. I will assign a good guardian to raise him into a fine vassal.”
As they were led away by the royal knights, all their Magic Pouches and signs of status were stripped from them, and they were taken back to their residences. Afterward, they would not even be able to see their families, living in a corner of their estates, with their successors inheriting their downgraded titles. They would soon have to vacate their mansions and move to residences befitting their new ranks.
Once they were led away and disappeared from sight, a sigh escaped from the King.
“What a pitiful tale, Nagalan.”
“Indeed, but it is a necessary measure. Once we expel the rot, we can restore the kingdom.”
“True, we should squeeze out the remaining rot as well.”
The nine who had openly slandered Kaito in public, along with the five who incited them and eight other nobles, were gathered in a room within the Royal Castle.
As the King entered, they all knelt, and the women greeted him with courtesy, but the cold voice of Prime Minister Nagalan began the accusations.
“Lady Eliya Koigera, I would like you to explain why Kaito’s actions as a guard are deemed disrespectful.”
Caught off guard by the sudden interrogation, she stammered but began to assert that throwing Prince Herarus was utterly disrespectful, only to be interrupted by the King’s voice.
“It seems you too would have preferred it if Herarus had died.”
“Your Majesty, I would never think such a thing. I merely—”
“Kaito was the one who saved Herarus’s life. If he had not thrown him, Herarus would have perished. In fact, Kaito was injured by a magic attack immediately after switching places with Herarus. He would have died without the Healing Magic of Fiene Hamawar. To doubt your words is to imply that you are either the one who sent the attackers or a supporter of the attack.”
Next to the trembling Lady Eliya Koigera, who was speechless and quaking in fear, I turned to Baroness Hamana Hoisle, but she merely hung her head in silence. The King moved from one person to another, but all I heard were shallow apologies and expressions of regret.
“Is it too much to ask for a proper response? Your behavior is inexcusable, and even those who are supposed to be the ladies’ companions have failed to admonish you. Including those who fanned the flames of this farce with their amusing tales, all of you shall step aside and yield your positions to the next generation. If the successors are not yet ready, I will appoint guardians for them. Live quietly in the corners of your estates and never again meddle in the affairs of the Kingdom!”
As I watched the instigators being dealt with one by one, an eerie silence swiftly returned to the Royal Capital.