Volume 3 Chapter 28 The King Was In Disbelief, But...
As soon as I voiced my wish, the hall erupted into chaos. Well, It was understandable since I was asking for a princess from a whole kingdom isn't that crazy, right? Sure, there were some nobles muttering curses under their breath, but I couldn't be bothered to deal with every little reaction, so I just brushed it off.
"...Do you even know what you're saying?
"Yeah, of course."
The king's gaze became sharper. Being the ruler of a whole country definitely quite intimidating, but I met his stare with my own defiant glare.
"I could make you one of my top soldiers. Or I could shower you with riches beyond your wildest dreams. But still──"
"But still, I want her."
I interrupted, turning my gaze back to Aina. She looked at me, clutching the pendant around her neck, a mix of excitement and worry written all over her face.
"...So, my daughter Aina, she's quite excellent child. Not officially there yet, but I'm thinking she'll end up with Brave someday."
Wait, seriously?
Oh, I see. So when Aina mentioned 'fiancé' before, she meant Relix.
──But even if that's the case, my wish remains the same.
"If my wish can't be granted... I don't want anything anymore. I'll just go back like this."
"You're not planning on taking any reward?"
"'Money or fame' can't replace the depth of my desire for her."
If I were to accept money or fame here in place of Aina, my feelings for her would just be 'that much'. No way I'm doing that.
"...You're saying troubling things. I'm not shameless enough to swallow the words I've spoken to the kingdom's greatest hero who saved us from crisis. But... I can't think of a price that matches your wish."
The king fell silent as if deep in thought, then spoke again.
"First of all, why do you desire my daughter Aina?"
"Because I love her."
Oops, I accidentally got too casual. It might have been rude in front of the king.
When the king heard my answer, he looked surprised, then turned to Aina. She closed her eyes and held her pendant tightly, silent.
"Aina, what do you think?"
At the king's question, Aina opened her eyes, looking determined.
"...Yukina-san. You have a dagger, right?"
"A dagger... Oh, yeah. That one."
At first, I didn't understand what she was saying, but I figured it was the one the old man gave me, so I nodded.
"Can you show it to me now?"
As told, I took out the dagger from my pocket. The moment the king saw it, his expression changed to surprise.
"Could it be...?"
"Father, I've given him── the sword to Yukina-san. You should know what that means."
The hall got noisy after Aina said this.
From what was said, I understood that Aina had sent the sword to me through the old man. But I wasn't sure why. The king and nobles seemed to know, though.
"That's... yours──"
"Yes. My true feelings."
With a confident smile, Aina told the king,
"I love Yukina-san. His wishes are also mine. I want to── be his."
Hearing this made me feel like my battle was worth it. My heart was filled with joy.
'You're getting all hyped up like you're about to discover some new superpower, huh, partner!?'
Seriously? Is that even a thing?
'Who knows!'
Talk about being vague, geez.
'Anyway, forget that. So, in this country, there's this old tradition where they send a sword to the person they've decided to marry. It's like saying, 'Here's my life, it's in your hands,' you know? Is all this fuss because of that?'
Could you not drop bombshells like that so casually!?
Huh? So, basically, this sword from Aina was like a 'love letter,' huh? But why didn't anyone bother to tell me that? Not Aina, and not even the old man.
"...So, what are you going to do about Brave?"
"We'll figure it out. The whole engagement thing seems like it's just the royal family's own deal, and we never really made any official agreements anyway. So, technically, there's nothing to break, no promises to ruin."
Aina seems unusually lively, don't you think?
"Also, think about it. If Yukina-san and I were to be together, it would mean there's a 'connection' between him and our country. He has fought the demon on equal footing, even sliced the huge evil dragon in half. Tell me, in this country, do we have anyone who can match his achievements?"
Aina isn't just relying on emotions, she's trying to persuade the king with arguments about the country's benefit.
'That princess is amazing. She's stronger than she looks.'
I'm starting to fall for her new charm.
"Ah, I see. Indeed, as you say. Having ties with him could benefit our country in a different way than just the Brave."
The king spoke as if he understood.
But in the next moment, his face turned stern.
"But, listen up, Aina. No matter how captivating the story may be, he's a commoner. And you're royalty. Surely you understand what it means to accept the proposal."
"...Understood. Otherwise, I wouldn't have dared to reveal my feelings for him like this."
"So, you're prepared for that?"
The king turned towards me.
"You're a commoner. Therefore, if you choose to be with her, Aina will have to step down from her royal seat. But it doesn't seem like you're all that interested in her."
"Um... Does that mean cutting off family ties?"
Even if I gained Aina, it would leave a bad taste if they severed the bond of kinship.
"No, not to that extent. However, traditionally, the consort of a royal like Aina, though of lower rank, is granted the right to succession. If you, a commoner, were to marry her, that right would be stripped away. Also, Aina wouldn't be able to wield the power of royalty."
"Oh, is that all? Then it's no problem at all."
The connection between the king and Aina wasn't going to end here, which was a relief.
"...Truly, you desire nothing but Aina, don't you?"
"Indeed, she was the first person I ever fell in love with at first sight."
I said to the king, who seemed astonished.
The king closed his eyes and fell silent, then eventually spoke.
"So be it. I shall grant your wish."
""──.""
Coincidentally, both Aina and I held our breath.
"It's not so surprising. After all, it was your wish from the start."
"Oh, no. I didn't expect the conversation to go so smoothly."
I had anticipated some sort of complication or condition. At the very least, I was prepared for something to be added.
"If you're talking about conditions, then stripping Aina of her right to the throne is precisely that. And──"
The king directed a smile towards Aina.
"Normally, my daughter is very serious and doesn't ask for much. But today, she said something a bit selfish for the first time. As her father, it made me happy to feel like she was relying on me. Though, as a king, her choice might be a bit unconventional."
"Father──"
Aina couldn't help but tear up as she heard her father's gentle words.
"However, personally, I don't think her choice is necessarily wrong."
Saying so, the king looked pleased with himself.
"Yukina, I have high hopes for what you'll do next. And make sure to invite me to the wedding with my daughter. I don't intend to sever the bond between parent and child."
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