Episode 107: Engagement
After my Light Magic forced the Imperial Army into a full retreat, they didn’t come back.
I flew out to check on their movements and confirmed they were returning to the Imperial Capital. Thus, the first battle concluded with our victory.
That was my understanding, but apparently, it was a complete victory.
Duke Fastall says all that’s left is to wait for an envoy to discuss a ceasefire.
So, from here on, the political skirmishes with Lestall will begin, or so I’m told.
“So, for that reason, I’m sorry, Rui, but I need you to stay out of the public eye for a while…”
“Please,” Pops said, bowing his head for some reason.
I’d heard there was going to be a ceremony in Lestall to celebrate the victory in the war; is this about that?
Honestly, being thrown into a circle of strangers is a pain, so this is a relief.
“Eh… If I don’t have to attend the ceremony, I’d welcome that, though?”
“I-Is that so? But please, at least hear out the reason.”
Huh, why does he look so troubled?
As I tilted my head, listening to Gramps’s explanation, it all made sense.
Apparently, moves would begin to try and recruit me, the one holding information on the new weapons.
I understood that much, at least.
That’s why I hid the guns and was cautious during my student days.
However, the Lord and the King were surprisingly kind, the country never tried to take anything from me, and my freedom was never restricted, so I’d let my guard down before I knew it.
They said they couldn’t let someone as unguarded as me out in public.
Conversely, as long as I didn’t get involved with Lestall’s nobles, I was apparently free to do as I pleased.
That’s just perfect for me!
This is the development I’ve been hoping for!
“So, in short, I can just play around for the rest of my life?”
“Not for the rest of your life… In the first place, we want you here, you know?
Well, that’s fine. For the time being, you can enjoy yourself with Yurisia.”
Oooh! Yes!
“Yuri, where should we go play next!”
“Fufufu, where indeed! Anywhere is fine as long as I’m with you, you know?”
“Wait, wait. I’m not finished talking.”
Eh, didn’t you just say it was fine?
Just when I was getting excited and having fun…
“Don’t be hasty. This is a different matter. Regarding this incident, we’ve formally decided on your engagement.
We’ll be announcing it both internally and externally. Is that alright?”
—!?
I was surprised by the sudden change of topic, but there was nothing that could make me happier.
I instinctively turned to Yurisia and squeezed her hand.
She gazed back at me with tear-filled eyes. I felt like I could get sucked into them…
“…I can see you’re happy, so listen to what I have to say.
Rui, what methods do powerful people typically use to try and win someone over?”
“Umm, money, concessions… a honey trap?”
“That’s right. Those are the main ones.
You understand what will come your way, possessing both money and authority.
They’ll use not only women but also bonds and affection. That would be a nuisance for you too, right?”
Well, yeah.
Only the honey trap would work. In the sense that I’d be unconditionally interrogated by Yuri.
Even though I’d never cheat on her…
Wait a minute.
Considering our recent rules, I could be all lovey-dovey with Yuri every day.
…No, that’s no good. What am I thinking, doing something that would make Yuri sad!
“I can see you’re conflicted, but use your head a little more.
This engagement announcement is to avoid even a little bit of trouble.
Do you understand? Young lady Yurisia is no exception to these recruitment attempts, you know?”
“Huh? There’s no way I’d ever allow that!”
“Your Highness… What are you doing, intimidating His Majesty?
It means that forming a friendly connection with young lady Yurisia, whom Your Highness cherishes, becomes a connection to Your Highness.”
Ugh, so that’s what it means. I need to calm down a bit.
I got too hyped up about the engagement being decided.
“I don’t want to suddenly burden Rui, who hasn’t been taught how to handle such things, with a serious matter where failure is not an option.
That’s why I’m telling you to be careful and avoid getting close yourself.”
“I-I see… Sorry. Thanks, Pops… So, you’ll take care of my younger brother too, right?”
My last comment earned me a sharp look, but after a sigh, Pops showed a troubled expression. “I’m the one who should be apologizing. We’re still in a situation where we’re relying on your strength.”
It’s true that being dragged into wars repeatedly is a pain, but it can’t be helped in the current situation.
Just as I thought that, I remembered. There might be a countermeasure for that.
“Ah, I have something to discuss about that…”
Saying so, I placed the laser gun on the platform.
“What’s this?” Pops and the others tilted their heads, so I explained what it was.
“Ah, is that the thing you said you were using in the Abyss?
But you have several of these magic tools, don’t you? I heard you also have the magic circles recorded.
Is there some special significance to this one?”
In response to Pops’s question, I told them the fact that due to magical power consumption and combat efficiency, the training speed of soldiers would skyrocket ridiculously.
“My Uncle has already proven that, so anyone can do it.
Well, you need a way to get out if you enter the Abyss, and that place is my hunting ground, so I’d rather you didn’t.”
“That bastard Rudolph… Again! He didn’t tell me!!”
A vein throbbed on Pops’s forehead. He was pretty pissed about the whole incident with how I was raised.
However, I was the one who told him to keep quiet about this.
I clearly stated that I asked him not to tell anyone to preserve my advantage.
“So, since you’ll have more time now, I’d like you to use this to increase your strength, and I want to retire. How about it?”
“Rui, with your abilities, you can do more than enough even now. Why do you dislike the throne so much?”
“No, no, no, no! Pops, you’re overestimating me!
I’m a man who gets easily swayed by emotions and acts rashly, you know?
My personality isn’t suited for a ruler. More than anything, I lack the motivation.”
Honestly, the main reason is that I wouldn’t be able to play around with Yuri because of all the official duties, but that other stuff is also a major concern.
In the future, if I have kids, having power might be good, but being King is just too much.
Constantly having guards and people following me around is also painful for me, having lived as a commoner.
I conveyed these thoughts in a rush.
“Is that how Your Highness feels… Indeed, the will to succeed is also important.
However, feelings can change with the passage of time, so if you change your mind before a successor is raised, please do not hesitate to say so.
That said, if no other heir besides Prince Rui is born, the story changes. If a legitimate successor does not inherit, the country will split. In that case, you will ascend the throne. Please do not forget that.”
Gramps replied in place of Pops, who was looking troubled and deep in thought. His words meant that if Pops couldn’t produce a younger brother for me, it would be compulsory.
I need to get in touch with Eve-san…
“I understand Rui’s feelings. What do you think, young lady?
Are you also against it? Is being King too much for Rui?”
“Not at all! Rui can definitely do it!”
“Then, is it safe to say you want Rui to become a splendid king?”
“Of course! I am convinced that both His Majesty and Rui are vessels whose names will remain in posterity forever!”
Mmph…
Presiding Judge Fastall, this is clearly a leading question!
I glanced at Gramps, but he just nodded and smiled back at me.
“Using Yuri like that is cowardly, Pops,” I complained in a low voice.
“Using Evelyn like that is cowardly, Rui,” he retorted in a low voice.
Ooh. We were doing the same thing.
We really are father and son…
“F-For now, just let me be free. If I don’t get a younger brother, I’ll think about it properly.
Right now, I kind of want to go on a journey of self-discovery…”
…I blurted out “journey of self-discovery.” But it’s also my true feeling.
I want to see a bit more of this world, not from a national perspective, but from the standpoint of an ordinary person, and search for my own stance and the path I should take.
I hate being burdened with heavy responsibilities when I’m just being swept along by situations I don’t understand.
Even if I were to succeed, it would be after I’ve grown a bit more myself.
“My wish is Rui’s happiness and the stability of the country. If both can be achieved, then that’s fine.
Well, that’s enough of the troublesome talk. So, where are you going first?”
Pops nodded once and his expression softened.
“Hmm… First, I think I’ll go see the shop I asked Count Connor to set up. How about it?”
I looked at Yuri, and she nodded repeatedly.
“Ah, I’ve heard about that. Indeed, if you’re going, now’s the time.
It’s a shop operating under Rui’s name. In time, that too will likely be marked.”
Eh… Even that far?
What a pain. I see, so that’s how it is.
Should I have tried to move more inconspicuously?
No, I probably didn’t have the luxury for that.
If their goal is a friendly connection, it doesn’t seem dangerous, but I hope Naomi doesn’t get into any trouble.
Come to think of it, I told Riana-san and the others I’d invite them when it opened.
When I consulted about that, I was given permission, being told that since information transmission takes time, a day or two after opening wouldn’t be a problem.
“In any case, once the generals return, we can also take a breather.
Though that means we’ll have to get back to the troublesome task of governing Mildrad.”
Right. It’s a country with many towns like Leben.
No wonder he looks like he’s staring off into the distance.
“Ah, there was a war and all, so should I hand over Leben?”
“It’s okay, right?” I glanced at Yuri, who nodded in agreement.
“A reward for the war, huh… According to your story, Rui, no one other than you performed well enough to be granted territory, though?”
“Th-that’s not true! Uhm, as for nobles without official positions… Viscount Dora, perhaps?”
Right, right. He was on the front lines in the battle against the enemy general, too.
Thanks to learning the Empire’s magic, he was able to fight quite well, you know.
“Dora, huh… Indeed, I must give him a reward too, but he probably wouldn’t accept territory.
If the person himself dislikes it, there’s no point in the reward. For him, it’ll be a promotion in rank and money. Or perhaps recognition as a Holy Knight?”
Apparently, he has publicly declared that he will live his entire life as a Knight.
It seems he even enjoyed himself working as a Hunter during his time in hiding.
I always thought he was a free-spirited person, and it turns out he really is just like that.
“And what about Ignat’s matter?
If he remained quiet during the war, I don’t really doubt him that much anymore, but I can’t just leave him completely unmonitored either.”
He frowned, saying he was worried because Ignat’s strength is what it is.
From my perspective, it’s good news that Pops has at least some degree of trust in him now.
Well, considering he brought all of the Empire’s secret arts with him, there was never really any room to doubt that he wasn’t an agent of the Empire in that respect, though.
“Ah, yeah. Then, can I try giving him some work?
He’s super serious, so he was complaining that he felt bad about being kept around without doing any work.”
“Understood. Report to me again once he settles down.”
With Ignat’s matter settled, the conversation returned to what to do about Leben.
If I were to leave, someone would have to be sent there, he said.
“If you’re stepping down as Lord, I’m thinking of entrusting it to Count Connor. What do you think?”
Pops says that the man who served as aide to the supreme commander at Fort Fondale and has continued to support us with his private fortune since the Razbel era must be given as good a territory as possible.
“No matter how you look at it, it’s not exactly a good territory… Are you sure?”
“From what I’ve heard in Genzou’s report, there’s no problem.
Overall, in its current state, it’s one of the better ones within Mildrad.
The people’s sentiment… well, the place was originally too terrible, so there probably isn’t a huge difference there, but with the mining income, it’s easier to get things done.”
Ah, I see.
But if Count Connor becomes the Lord of Leben right now, Naomi’s shop will be…
I was worried about that, but apparently, his close aides can handle that much, so it’s not a problem.
If that’s the case, maybe I should take Count Connor with me too.
There’s also Raku and Fuu to consider, so I’ll probably be making several round trips, and it’ll be tough if we don’t do the handover on-site.
“What will you do? We can still consider other options for now.”
“No, no! By all means! I’d feel at ease if it’s Count Connor.”
“That’s true. I’d be at ease too. He’s one of the few high-ranking civil official nobles we have.”
Pops immediately sent a messenger to summon him and inform him.
And so, it was decided that the mining city of Leben would be entrusted to Count Connor, and the discussion came to an end.