kscans

Chapter 239 - Episode 28. Part One. The Greatest Risk Factor

"What are you doing? Let me go. I'm a merchant, a merchant."

After putting up a futile struggle in a waiting room of the royal palace's party hall, I was made to change into a fine suit of clothes. It looked like a slightly more subdued version of what you would see in a portrait from a music room in my past life.

When I entered the hall, an angel in a white dress came toward me. Despite her long skirt, her movements were more fluid than mine in trousers.

"It looks very good. I think it is just a matter of getting used to it."

Alfina smiled brightly. I was blessed to have a partner with such calm judgment. The princess, by the way, wore her dress as if it were a matter of course. From her academy uniform to her casual wear and now a dress, it was unfair how clothes seemed to spontaneously conform to a beautiful girl.

Escorted by Alfina, I was shown to my seat.

"Still, this is the place?"

My cheek twitched as I was guided to the seat next to Euphillia. Alfina was beside me, and across the carpeted aisle, which felt like a grand stage, was Maytyl. I could almost fool my own senses into thinking it was just the usual setup at the lab.

However, there were only four people, including Euphillia, seated closer to the king than I was. They were, of course, grand dukes, dukes, and the like.

Even Marquis Tembelg, commander of the First Knight Order, was seated in a lower position than me. Ah, that look on your face says you are not convinced. What a coincidence. Neither am I.

Fulsy was not present because he was waiting in the central aisle, attended by Noel. This event was apparently to honor those who had contributed to the countermeasures against the great catastrophe decided upon today.

The members of Central Garden, who I thought had been deliberating with officials from the Chancellor's Office in another room during the strategy meeting, had also been invited. They were at the very back, of course. I would have been fine sitting there too.

"Isn't this a little premature?" I asked Euphillia.

"That is politics," she said, as if it were nothing.

The king began by announcing that the new magic staff was accomplished through joint development with the Empire, and he expressed his gratitude for Maytyl's cooperation. Then, as the person in charge on the kingdom's side, Fulsy's name was called, with Noel named as his assistant. Following that, the names of the seconded members were read out, group by group according to their dormitories of origin.

After them, the members of Central Garden were called. The official reason was for their cooperation at the lab, so it was the original group including Dalgan and the others. Being called by the king himself, they were all understandably stiff with tension. gachi gachi.

There was talk of making reliefs of the members in the Royal Capital's Forum. Their likenesses would be carved into the kingdom's history. The more practical reward was a grant of land for a branch office in the planned new city. It felt suspiciously like a success fee.

"In short, he is showing off how much the 'kingdom' contributed to this matter," Euphillia told me.

"Then what about the Crown Prince?"

"He is telling His Majesty to retire early and yield the throne."

Euphillia's expression turned blank in an instant.

"Such a frightening thought. I understand. I will be careful not to create such misunderstandings."

"So long as you understand."

The slightest remark could be taken as a sign that Prince Craig desired to inherit the throne quickly. The moment I step down from this position, I might just die. Holding a high rank without my own military force or network of relatives is nothing but dangerous.

I will have to think very carefully to make sure the new city can serve as my insurance. And also...

I looked at my partner right beside me. This was something I had to think about if I wanted to stay by Alfina's side.

Well, such matters could wait until after the battle was over.

"Priestess Princess Alfina. Ricardo Vinder. Come forward."

At last, we were called. Together with Alfina. The two of us advanced before the king. I was made to stand right beside Alfina. The king first looked at his niece, his adopted daughter. Then, he personally handed a piece of paper to Alfina. Seeing it, Alfina's eyes widened. And her shoulders began to tremble.

From the side, I could see the large seal of a cathedral stamped in the center of the paper.

"For the great service Alfina has performed as Priestess Princess, not only in averting numerous disasters but also in predicting the next crisis..."

The king paused for a moment. Then he continued in a strong tone.

"By special exception, the honor of Sofia Fellbach is restored. Retroactively, the marriage between Sofia and Klaus Crownheite is recognized."

The names of Alfina's mother and father echoed through the hall. A stir went through the crowd at the name Fellbach coming from the king's lips.

A marriage certificate from the cathedral is, in essence, a family register. It has a decisive influence on matters like property inheritance and the order of succession for titles. The existence of Alfina's parents, which had been erased, was now officially restored.

Considering all that Alfina had done, it was long overdue, but I could be genuinely happy for her. This was what she had sought for so long.

Come to think of it, the palace had provided the original sketches when the reliefs were being restored. Both then and with this marriage certificate now, it meant the king had kept them safe. But why at this timing? It did not seem to have much to do with any appeal to the Empire.

Besides, why was I called up with her?

The king's eyes turned to me. Please do not say you are giving me a title. Unlike an official post, you cannot just quit those things. I have heard Fulsy complain about it.

The words "sowing discord" and "devaluing rank" crossed my mind. Without the help of everyone whose names were mentioned earlier, I am completely powerless.

"Concurrently, Alfina shall be granted the title of Countess Fellbach. And the engagement with Ricardo Vinder..."

"If you would wait just a moment."

Just as I braced myself at the sound of my own name, Maytyl and Dagobard suddenly stood up and voiced their objection. Huh? What is happening? Interrupting an allied king's official statement is quite a serious offense, is it not?

No, wait, what was the king about to say?

"The Empire wishes for a 'healthy' relationship with the kingdom. To that end, we cannot permit the kingdom's monopolization of Ricardo," Maytyl declared strangely. Next to her, Dagobard crossed his arms and puffed out his chest as if in agreement.

"Permit it or not, Ricardo Vinder is a citizen of this kingdom. He also holds a post, albeit temporary, equivalent to a high-ranking vassal of the kingdom," the chancellor immediately retorted. Right, that makes sense. Though this is the first I have heard of being 'equivalent to a high-ranking vassal'. Also, you sound quite prepared, as if you expected this.

"Oh my, for someone who has achieved so much, his treatment thus far has been quite shabby, has it not? In the first place, being the spouse of a countess is rather cheap, is it not? The Empire can prepare a much more suitable position."

"Ricardo Vinder's contributions are great, such as his prediction of the Magic Insect attack on the Empire. We are prepared to reward him handsomely," Dagobard said, looking very reluctant. You do not have to say it if you do not want to.

From there, a heated debate began over me. That the kingdom was trying to use Alfina to win me over, or that at the very least, both sides should grant me territory and a title. The discussion had become completely chaotic.

Do this after we have beaten the insects, I wanted to say with all my heart.

"It will be too late after we have won. That is politics," said Euphillia, who had come to stand beside us at some point. In the end, the discussion was postponed, leaving my disposition up in the air. The greatest pending issue had been kicked down the road, they said. Something is very wrong here.

Alfina and I, who had been on the sidelines for the latter half, decided to return to the lab. Maytyl, the one who started all the trouble, came back with us. She showed no signs of remorse.

*

In a cluttered room in the lab's old building, Maytyl and Noel were sleeping with their shoulders leaning against each other. It was a heartwarming sight. So long as I did not think about what would happen after Noel woke up. A short distance away, Fulsy was nodding off in a chair.

Alfina placed blankets over the three of them.

"Everyone really did work so hard."

It seemed everyone was exhausted, one way or another. And why not? Today's final events had blown everything else away, but they had all been working nonstop in preparation.

"You worked hard too, Alfina."

"I still have a long way to go. And about that, Ricardo-kun."

Alfina looked at me with a serious expression.

"Regarding His Majesty the King's words."

I knew what she wanted to say. The end of the king's sentence, the part Maytyl had cut off, was about arranging a marriage between me and Alfina.

"R, right. We should talk about it, just the two of us," I said to Alfina. But Alfina tilted her head in confusion. It was only then that I noticed the marriage certificate of her parents that she was holding. My face turned bright red.

"This is all thanks to you, Ricardo-kun. I do not know how I can ever thank you."

"Ah, no, I mean, it's the result of all your hard work, Alfina."

I recalled everything Alfina had done up to now. How she spoke up for her first prophecy, prepared for the opposition and isolation from those around her. How she worked so hard on her second prophecy that her health failed. How she even became a decoy to lure the enemy during the war with the Empire.

And concerning the great catastrophe, she corrected a major error in judgment I made. The growth of Alfina, my partner, was almost dazzling.

"You are as humble as ever, Ricardo-kun. So, what was it you wanted to talk about, just the two of us? ...Ah."

Alfina's face showed she had realized something. She clasped her hands tightly in front of her skirt and turned to me with a tense look.

"Please, let me hear what you have to say, Ricardo-kun."

This time, surely, it was not a misunderstanding. To be honest, if you asked me if I was qualified to be her partner, I would say I was far from certain.

"Um, well, being the princess's husband is a bit..."

At my words, Alfina's face clouded over. But I did not want to hand her over to anyone.

"But, I've been thinking that I want the daughter of the Fellbach family to stay by my side forever..." I added in a hurry. Alfina, who had been looking down, raised her head.

"...Which is to say, I want you to be my bride."

I managed to say it all. Alfina's eyes flew wide open. Her face reddened, and her small lips trembled. Everything else in the world faded away, and I could only see the girl in front of me.

"I, if you will have me, I would be deligh..."

kon kon

A crude stimulus, like a knock directly on my eardrums, instantly brought my vision back to normal.

"I apologize for bothering you when you must be tired. It is about the envoy from the Empire..."

A timid female voice came from the other side. She was the woman who had asked Noel for an officer position at the lab and had happily become Noel's apprentice, I think. It seemed Crenne had arrived.

I heard the sound of cloth falling behind me. I sensed Maytyl and the others were waking up.

We reluctantly moved apart. We headed for the entrance, as if fleeing from Maytyl and the others who were rubbing their eyes. We were returning to the same place anyway. There was no need to rush things right now.

"It has been a while, Crenne-dono."

I forced a smile. Arriving on the day mass production of the magic laser was decided was perfect timing. But it would have been nice if she had been just a little bit later.

"...Special Envoy-dono. No, I suppose it is Representative of the Kingdom-dono now. And the person with you is perhaps..."

"I am Alfina Crownheite, serving as the kingdom's priestess."

"..."

When Alfina introduced herself, Crenne frowned.

"In any case, I would first like to report my arrival to Princess Maytyl. Could you grant me an audience?"

Reporting her arrival was a reasonable request. But the stiffness of Crenne's expression bothered me.

She was carrying a large bag. When I offered to take it, she refused. Did something happen in the Empire? I really wanted to go home on time today, just for once.