第６６８堀：その後と今からの話 (Part1)
Chapter 668: The Aftermath and What Comes Next
Side: Samantha
"Samantha! Where is that idiot hiding?!"
"Lady Samantha, if we don't find that... no, if we don't find His Majesty, our nation’s shame will be known to the entire world...!"
I was being pressed by my father and Chancellor Ronri, whom I had brought to the lord’s mansion. The whole ordeal began when the current King of our homeland, His Majesty Blade, took advantage of our visit to slip away and flee toward Betan.
Following Yuki-sama’s instructions, I had managed to intercept the armed group from Roday right at the entrance of the gate, preventing them from storming into Betan and sparking a full-blown military invasion. I had brought my father, Chancellor Ronri, and their guards to the mansion to keep them contained, but it seemed Yuki-sama hadn't managed to bring His Majesty Blade back just yet.
Well, knowing His Majesty, if anyone tried to drag him back by force, he would likely just bolt again.
"Yuki-sama and the others are currently searching for His Majesty Blade. It shouldn't take much longer to find him."
With the map function at their disposal, it was impossible for it to take any significant amount of time. Besides, no one could truly escape from Yuki-sama’s group if they were serious about catching them.
"The current issue is that the Roday soldiers are bustling about the town of Betan. While His Majesty Blade is certainly a problem, having Roday soldiers acting so agitated in another country invites unnecessary misunderstandings."
"Hmm..."
"Indeed..."
Phew. It seemed my persuasion had finally helped them regain their composure.
"If I may ask, are you two worried that His Majesty Blade might come to harm at the hands of someone?"
"No. We’re worried that idiot will cause some kind of trouble. If a rift forms between us and Weed because of him...!"
They spoke in unison.
...My, my. My father and Chancellor Ronri really are close, aren't they?
Just as I was thinking that, a message arrived from Cleena.
『Found His Majesty Blade. Currently in the middle of questioning. We are handling things calmly and haven't used force, so it might take a little time. Please wait a while longer. You should also hear their side of the story. There might be a difference in perception between both parties.』
Phew.
As expected, they found him quite easily.
"Father, Ronri-sama. It seems Yuki-sama and the others have found His Majesty Blade."
"Is that true?! We must retrieve him at once—"
"Please, calm down. For a king of one nation to be dragged through the streets of another is a terrible look for both Weed and Roday. Yuki-sama is currently persuading him, so please wait a little longer."
"Gunu-nu..."
Knowing he had been found, I watched as the two of them reluctantly sat down on the sofa, and I decided to ask the reason behind this commotion.
"So, for what reason did His Majesty Blade infiltrate—or rather, flee—to Betan? And why were you at the royal castle, Father? Shouldn't you have returned to your territory?"
It was natural for Ronri-sama to be at the castle. After all, he is the Chancellor—the right hand of the King. But my father, Duke Huge, primarily manages the dukedom. My older sister serves in the magic corps at the castle, but I didn't think he would be showing his face there so often.
"I was there to deliver the video cameras."
"Ah, that’s right. That did happen."
Video equipment that records the scenery of the time and place. It was an item Yuki-sama prepared to negotiate with our Roday. Though, the real reason was that Yuki-sama prepared it to gain approval for his marriage to me. Naturally, I have dubbed and saved the footage from that time in over ten different locations so I can watch it whenever I like. When my child is born and grows up, I intend to show them the moment their mother and father met.
But setting that aside, it has become an essential item for the Huge Dukedom to exert influence in Roday. Thanks to this video, we were able to punish Dokusen, who had been picking fights with our house every chance he got.
"But that’s not all. It’s about the aftermath of capturing and dismantling the Dokusen house..."
"Huge has been entrusted with the organization and management of everything that was under the Dokusen house's control. Well, since he has his own territory to manage, your older sister, Lady Runo, has been handling various things alongside her magic guard duties."
"Huh? My sister? What about the other nobles?"
Why would they entrust the management of the Dokusen assets to my sister? She hasn't inherited the dukedom yet, and in terms of status, she should still be a knight.
"The items are... sensitive. Magic swords and other things that might have been involved in criminal activities. We couldn't entrust them to just anyone. Especially not to those who already hold power..."
"Ah. So that’s why it’s my sister, who doesn't hold much power."
"I thought it might be a burden for her, but we’ve entrusted the management to Lady Runo, while the ownership remains with His Majesty. We’ve declared that anyone who tries to threaten Lady Runo will face severe punishment, and with the existence of the video from her father, Duke Huge, it’s perfect for security."
Indeed, the existence of a surveillance camera like the video is quite reassuring.
"If only we could mass-produce more cameras, we could place them everywhere and monitor everything..."
"Don't say it so easily. We should be grateful that my son found them and is funneling them from Weed in the first place, shouldn't we?"
"I'm just wishing for the impossible. Please, ignore me."
...Actually, I can't tell them that I can summon as many as I want with DP. Besides, selling tools that can barely be maintained or repaired is one thing, and I hope Zargis or Comet will develop them on their own... If that happens, we will be able to mass-produce them in the true sense of the word.
Well, talking more about Weed-related items might be risky, so...
"I understand about Father, but why did His Majesty Blade go to Betan?"
"..."
The two who had been answering so briskly fell silent. Was there some major problem? As that anxiety crossed my mind... they opened their mouths as if they had resigned themselves to their fate.
"He said he wanted to eat... well, the food in Betan."
"...Indeed, Weed’s cuisine is refined and delicious. But our goal was to welcome Yuki-dono and his group to our country..."
"..."
How... ridiculous.
No, wait. The quality of food is important, but to come all the way here just because the food is good, without considering his own country...
Ah, come to think of it, the last time he came, he was repairing the castle walls just to get some pocket money, wasn't he?
...He’s not quite on Yuki-sama’s level, but our King is certainly quite free-spirited.
As I felt a wave of dizziness, the door to the guest room opened, and Yuki-sama and the others entered with His Majesty Blade.
"Yo. You're here, Huge, Ronri."
"YOU...!!"
His Majesty Blade greeted them with a light wave of his hand, but the two, who had been bottling up their irritation, used that as a trigger to pounce on him.
"Oh, you want to go?"
"You’re the one who started this fight!! Just take your beating quietly!!"
"If we break a leg or two, you’ll probably quiet down, won't you!!"
"Whoa!? Wait, are you serious!?"
Well, while they were busy roughhousing, I took the opportunity to approach Yuki-sama.