Oh no! After I Reincarnated, My Moms Became Son-cons! - Volume 8 - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“Welcome home, Onii-sama . ”

When I got to the palace where I work, I came across Freya ,who happened to be leaving . She smiled when she saw me then bowed and greeted me .

“Ah, Freya . Long-time no see . ”

Come to think of it . Freya was the calmest one when she saw me . It was as though I wasn’t in the desert fighting for a month, but just went to the elven side to pay Lucia a visit and brought some souvenirs back . I looked at Freya who was smiling and wanted to say something but couldn’t .

Freya looked at me and then said, “I am very sorry, Onii-sama, but due to the challenges with my identity, I could not welcome you with Her Majesty . I, therefore, hope that you will not reprimand me for not welcoming you . I actually wanted to see you, Onii-sama, after all…”

I watched Freya lower her head . Though Freya is my adopted-sister, few actually acknowledge her as my adopted-sister . As Her Majesty doesn’t make her stance on the matter clear, whenever members of the royal family make an appearance, Freya won’t be present if I’m not . I don’t think Freya got to see Her Majesty while I was gone .

‘I’m aware of it, but I can’t say anything, either . I do feel sorry for Freya, though . Freya is very loyal to me . It’s just that Elizabeth doesn’t want any other child other than me . ’

I hugged Freya and then asked, “I won’t find fault with you . To the contrary, I’m a little worried . You weren’t present when I came back yesterday, were you? You didn’t come back at night, either . Have you been that busy with work recently?”

Freya raised her head up and leaned on my chest, seemingly reluctant to let go . She looked at me while she was leaning on my chest . Her expression was still very serious, nonetheless . She replied, “There have, indeed, been a lot of matters to take care of recently . Did you come to any agreements while in the desert, Onii-sama? Socina suddenly gave me a trading agreement that they wanted me to sign . Being clueless as to what happened, I did not dare to sign it, and therefore, it is still pending…”

I nodded, “Ah, just agree to it, since I’ve agreed to it . ”

 ‘I think that’s about it for the matter with Socina . I need to make a trip to Socina too, since their lord invited me . I assume there’s business of some sort, or maybe she just wants to speak with me . I’m very interested in Socina, myself . I’ll head there after a one-month break here . ‘            

“Is that so? I shall ask that you sign it yourself then, Your Majesty . ”

Freya didn’t ask me what happened .

‘I was wrestling with whether I should tell Freya about the agreement in the desert or not . I don’t know if Freya will laugh at me after hearing how I obliviously became someone’s pawn and got the map snatched right off of me . I don’t think she will, but it’s not a suitable time to be telling a story right now . ’

“There are also the preparations for the hunting event . It will soon be early spring . Her Majesty holds a hunting event once annually . All of the rulers of the various vassal states will also come . It will be a most splendorous event . However, how should I put it… Mm… This time, Her Majesty ordered Castell and me to prepare it together . It is my first time organising such a large event, so I feel as though I do not have what it takes to do what I wish . ”

Freya smiled embarrassingly then touched her head and continued, “I think we will have to make a trip back to the Royal Capital, since that is where the event will be held . I wonder if you will be participating, Onii-sama… It will begin very soon, in about a week . ”

It suddenly hit me .

‘I thought Nara was talking about something else when she said we would meet again soon when we left . So this is what she was referring to . I can’t believe it’s already spring . I thought it was still winter this entire time . But I guess it is . It’s warmer now and the water outside isn’t frozen, so spring must approaching soon . ’

“Primarily large wild animals are hunted for the hunting event, so I presume there will be dangers involved . As you have just returned from the desert, your body has yet to fully recover, therefore I advise against your participation, Onii-sama . It is enough for you to be a planner and supplier at the Royal Capital . ” Freya looked at me and earnestly went on, “Onii-sama, there was no need for me to partake in the planning this time, because it is a hunting event Her Majesty is organising, but she asked me to get involved . You know what that implies, right? It implies that you have to show yourself before all of the vassal states . ”

I dawdled for a moment .

‘Honestly, I still have traumas toward the word “hunting” . Last time, we hunted a White Deer King, only for Lucia and me to almost die in the wilderness . But okay, put that aside for a second . Mera died in my arms at the end . I deeply hate the hunting subject and it still hurts me . I will never be able to forget the pain . ’

‘Thus, I won’t be hunting anything this time regardless of how I’m expected to perform . I’m going to stay in the Royal Capital in peace . I won’t bother anyone, so don’t come bother me . Mommy Elizabeth might want for me to show myself in front of all of the vassal states this time, but I’m not leaving . ’

‘I’m not going no matter how much she wants me to go . I can’t shake off the feeling that something serious will happen if I leave this time . ’

“I won’t go hunting . ” I resolutely declared my stance . My resolute attitude caused Freya to freeze up .

Freya then chuckled . She replied, “I never thought I would see you so resolute, Your Majesty . Could it be that you are afraid of hunting? Well, it does not matter . After all, you are not really expected to show yourself and hunt . Hunting is her majesty’s pastime . Where you truly need to show yourself is the annual meeting that comes before the hunting event . ”

“Annual meeting?”

While looking at me, Freya explained, “Yes . It is a new year, after all . Her Majesty wants all the vassal states to come, too . You will be meeting all of the rulers of the vassal states at the annual meeting . You are the main star this time . It appears that Her Majesty wishes to announce your presence to everyone . Perhaps she is thinking about how to make you the next Emperor . ”

‘I understand that since Mommy Elizabeth has already mentioned it . I mean wanting for me to be the next Emperor that is . I want to say, please find somebody better than me . I’m honestly not modest… wait, shit!! Why are curse words surfacing in my mind all of a sudden?! I think I can do it . I’m not modest . I think this is an opportunity mom prepared for me . ’

“This is an opportunity, Onii-sama . Please ensure that you prepare well . Although you do not need to prepare any clothes or ceremonies, what you need to prepare is more abstract . And that is to show them what sort of monarch you wish to become . ”

Freya looked at me with a serious look and told me, “Please do not take it lightly, Onii-sama . You must do that if you wish to wear the crown . You must also carefully consider what you want to show them . That is how you must display yourself in order to get the vassal states to obey you . That is what is most important . I apologise, Onii-sama . You have just returned and have yet to rest . Nevertheless, you may not have time to relax as what we must do next is more serious than your journey to the desert . ”