Volume 4 Chapter 1 Talking With The King Again, But...
The day after the victory party and our heart-to-heart with Brave (Relix), I summoned by the king once more.
Kyunei and Mikage had returned to the clinic, while Aina seemed preoccupied with future matters, keeping herself busy.
So, it was just me meeting the king this time. And the discussion ended up being in the king's private room.
"Thanks for coming."
"...Uh, yeah."
The king seemed way more relaxed compared to our last meeting. But no matter how calm I acted, it's hard not to feel a bit tense when I'm talking to the king.
"Hahaha. Don't be so stiff――I know it's easier said than done, but you'll wear yourself out if you keep being so uptight. Just think of me as your lover's father rather than the king while you're here, okay?"
But that's the main cause of tension!
Besides me and the king, there are just a few guards hanging around. Even though they're a small crew, I can tell they've seen some serious action.
And that's where the real talk starts.
Turns out, the king thought that 'Aina' was not enough to reward me.
Sure, Aina is his precious daughter and all, but we're talking about the fate of the kingdom here. One kingdom and one daughter aren't balanced. As a king, this is not enough.
Now, I'm not planning to reveal the truth behind my achievements to the public, and it seemed like there was no one to show it to anyway. However, as a king ruling the country, it seems he wants to settle things without leaving any loose ends.
If I refuse after saying this much, it would tarnish the king's reputation. I can't bring shame to Aina's father.
So, I made two wishes.
First off, it's about Mikage.
During the invasion of the demon, at that moment, Mikage had undertaken the task of intercepting the monsters surging toward the royal capital as a mercenary. Though it was a compulsory assignment, as a mercenary, she had the obligation to fulfill any task she had once accepted, regardless of its form.
However, she gave up on that and came running to me. While I was incredibly happy and reassured by her actions, as a mercenary, it's a breach of contract. Even with a Brave there and Mikage gone, they would have been strong enough. However, leaving the battlefield means abandoning the mission.
Therefore, I wished for the royal family to intervene on Mikage's behalf, informing the guild that her breach of contract could be overlooked or that there was room for leniency.
While the Mercenary Guild is technically separate from politics, it's not entirely independent. They can't ignore the words of the local lord where their branch is located.
A bit later, Mikage's actions ended up "paving the way before Brave's actions" and as a result, punishment towards her was no longer warranted.
And another thing is the various supplies and equipment I used up in the battle against the demon. Especially painful was the fact that the brand-new big hatchet I had just bought got broken. I hadn't used it for long, but it was my favorite. I asked the royal family to cover the replacement cost.
"――That should about cover it."
As I finished conveying my thoughts, the king seemed surprised.
"Very well. It's a trivial matter. However, unexpectedly modest of you."
"This is more like a bonus, you see."
The request I made was essentially claiming the necessary expenses incurred during the demon attack. This seems reasonable for what I'm asking for.
"You're greedy one moment and humble the next, aren't you?"
"A truly humble person wouldn't desire a princess."
"Hahaha, you're absolutely right about that."
The king chuckled gleefully.
But, something didn't quite sit right with him.
"Um, mind if I ask a question?"
"Huh? What do you want to ask?"
"Well, from the king's perspective, it kind of looks like some random commoner snatched away your precious daughter, doesn't it? And, on top of that, I've already got two lovers."
I had already let the king know about my other lovers, but surprisingly, the king took it in stride. I had braced myself for a few insults or scoldings, but it was way smoother than I expected.
"Even if she (Aina) consented, is it really okay to entrust your precious daughter to someone like that?"
"...You mean you're not confident you can make her happy?"
"No, definitely not. I'll do everything in my power to make her happy, I swear."
Aina, Kyunei, Mikage―― I wholeheartedly committed to making sure they won't regret sticking with me, aiming to bring them nothing but happiness.
"If that's the case, there's nothing to worry about. It seems you're concerned about the fact that you have other lovers, but I can't speak for others in that regard."
In noble society, lineage is valued above all else. Therefore, to ensure the continuation of the family line, an heir must be produced. Hence, besides the queen, there is a need for another who can bear children—a concubine. If, by chance, only one child is born from the legal wife, and something were to happen to that child, the lineage would come to an end.
Though it may sound harsh, the child of a concubine is essentially a backup heir.
Naturally, even the king, who is the ultimate authority among the nobles, also has concubines.
"Fortunately, the relationships between the queen, concubines, and their children are harmonious. Most are satisfied with the succession to the throne. I assume it's the same with your situation."
"Well, yes, that's true."
Kyunei's all like, "Welcome aboard!" and Mikage's sticking to her usual obedient style, saying, "If it's what Yukina-sama wishes."
And then there's Aina, just as accepting of Kyunei and Mikage as the king himself.
"She's part of the royal family too. Honestly, she's probably more forgiving about that stuff than commoners."
Seriously? Here I am, all worked up about this and that, and maybe I've been fretting over nothing?
"As a parent, knowing you're not taking this lightly makes me satisfied. It's clear you're not just thinking of Aina as another lover, but you're genuinely considering her as an individual."
The king looked straight into my eyes.
"As a king, I can't show favoritism towards any one individual, but as a parent, I'll always think of her. Take care of Aina for me, will you?"
"Yes, I'll make sure Aina is happy."
I could feel the strong feelings that parents have for their children. I nodded, feeling something akin to resolve.
"Oh, and when you have a grandkid, I want to be their godparent."
"Whoa, slow down there, aren't you getting ahead of yourself a bit!?"
Is this king actually a very cheerful person?
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