Chapter 8
Editor:Starbuck11
Noon, 14th Day, 11th Month, the Year 2813 .
A heavy atmosphere covered the audience room .
The color of tension appeared on the face of the guarding knights who had lined up on the left and right .
Such an attitude was natural .
Because the hero who had ended the civil war, and the ruler who tried to get rid of such a hero will face each other after a long time .
The guards, and the civil servants . And also the major nobles .
Everyone’s line of sight was looking at the kneeled man waiting for the Queen to enter the room .
"Long time no see Baron Mikoshiba . Raise your head . "
When Ryouma was still kneeling down in front of the throne, Lupis voice echoed from the top of his head .
Meltina who was standing on her side, looked at him with a sharp gaze .
This Meltina was the same as the one whom Ryouma had seen during their first meeting .
"Indeed it has been a long time . Your Majesty . "
As per Lupis order, Ryouma lifted his face, showing a gentle smile .
On his face, neither hatred, anger or disdain towards Lupis could be seen .
It was a perfectly aristocratic expression .
And a gentle smile that looks good .
Looking at him, the atmosphere inside the audience room relaxed .
Although it was not something made public, the upper part of the aristocracy understood the feud between Queen Lupis and Mikoshiba Ryouma .
They were worried that this talk would end up with an assassination attempt, but it unexpectedly began with a gentle start .
It was no surprise if they all ended up stroking their chest feeling relieved .
But in the next moment, their face became stiff once again, when Lupis spoke .
"I think the situation was written in Elena's letter, but let me say it straight . I would like for you to participate in the reinforcement mission to help Zalda Kingdom, together with Elena . "
They all thought that the two would talk for a bit before beginning this kind of talk .
After all, this was kind of history in the making .
They all thought that the two would talk for a bit to amend their relationship and relax the atmosphere first, but Lupis seemed to think differently .
She chooses to be straightforward .
Perhaps it was not something favorable for the nobles who value formality, but on the other hand, it left a good impression in the eyes of Ryouma who did not like such pointless formality .
Ryouma answered with a firm voice and a gentle smile on his face, while everyone looking at the two’s exchange was left with a stiff expression .
"I will accept the order . "
A stir happened after everyone heard Ryouma's reply .
Certainly, those who knew Mikoshiba Ryouma would not believe the sight in front of them .
His personality aside, it was only one year and a few months that had passed since he had been given Wortenia peninsula as his territory . An uncharted territory abandoned by the kingdom for many years . It was a territory with no citizen to pay taxes .
In a practical matter, after being given such a land, there was no way for him to store up the power to gather soldiers in such a short amount of time .
Naturally, most people present in the audience room thought that Ryouma would refuse Lupis order .
Only a handful of people who knew Mikoshiba Ryouma could think the other way around .
"However, I have several requests . "
Following Ryouma's words, a stir happened once again .
(Well, I guess this is natural . . . )
Lupis quietly nodded, urging Ryouma to continue .
She was calm on the surface, but she had prepared herself in case he refuses her order .
Yet on the contrary, her order was being accepted plainly, but the man in front of her was not that naive .
He was a man possessing a wizened face with a gentle smile that looked good .
Although his physique was good, his overall look was kind of mediocre .
But, Lupis knows this all too well .
That the man in front of her eyes was actually a beast that could devour anything .
It was only over a year ago, when Gerhardt brought princess Ladine, the illegitimate child of the previous king .
And the knight order who was originally the shield and spear of the royal family, 80% of it was being controlled by General Hodram, were pitted against each others .
While she could only rely on Mikhail Banashu and Meltina Lecta who were her guards and aides since a long time ago .
Then at that time, the man appeared in a situation when even a hope of light could not be seen .
He was the man that in order to create a beachhead, had drowned thousands of enemy soldiers, and since afterwards, he was hailed as the 'Demon of Irachion'
Brutal, cruel and cunning . . . A man who will take any means necessary to achieve his goals .
However, on the other hand, he was also a sincere man who respected Lupis .
At least he was a man that can be believed more than the fickle nobles .
(Yet despite all that, I betrayed this man . . . )
Indeed, on the surface, for the reward of his service during the civil war, he was given the Wortenia territory and also a noble rank .
However, Lupis herself knew that her act was actually out of fear towards the man in front of her .
There was neither hospitality nor kindness when the Kingdom gave him the frontier territory, the without-revenue Wortenia peninsula .
Such a thing was an open secret among the ruling class within the Rozeria Kingdom .
"Try to say it . . . "
Lupis said those words while preparing herself .
She had already made her decision .
That was why she was planning on taking full responsibility .
Lupis had decided to take any conditions for the sake of protecting her country .
No matter how painful the requested terms were, she planned to accept it .
Because there was no other way to protect the country .
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That night, Ryouma received a visit from Elena inside the room assigned to him .
Sitting down on the sofa, the two gazed at each other .
"It was a quicker reunion than I thought . . . "
Elena looked at Ryouma's face with a gentle smile on her face like a mother would .
"Indeed . I'm also feeling surprised by this situation . "
The lamp placed on top of the table illuminates Elena's face .
(She looked a little bit thinner since the last time I saw her . )
While responding to Elena's talk lightly, Ryouma eyes were directed toward Elena's face .
When he saw her during the audience, he did not notice it because of the distance, but it seemed like she had been working hard; she looked tired .
"Did my advice end up being a waste?"
It was about the advice Ryouma told Elena before they parted ways over a year ago . <TLN: The advice that the kingdom would fall within 5 years, and that she should find a new life somewhere>
"Well, I can understand why you did that . I myself never thought the situation would deteriorate this much, to be honest . . . At first, I wasn’t sure how to say this to Elena-san . . . "
Ryouma told her his thoughts without hiding anything .
It was Ryouma who supported Elena in her current position, and in regards for giving the chance of performing pay-back revenge on Hodram and his family .
It was inevitable for her to take some kind of responsibility despite the ship called the Rozeria Kingdom had almost sunk .
Such thoughts appeared on the back of Ryouma's mind .
"As expected . . . At that time, we should've executed Gerhardt . "
Ryouma shook his head towards Elena who uttered those words with a sigh .
"If I'm to look at the current situation, even if we abandoned Mikhail and executed Gerhardt at that time, it would not have made much difference . "
"You mean that she is unqualified as a ruler?"
Elena narrowed her eyes and looked at Ryouma's face .
Those words can be regarded as slander towards the ruler .
"I won't say that she's disqualified, but it is true that she's not suitable for the job . Well, if she were to have someone capable who can be trusted to hold the real power, and she comes to be a symbolic existence, then results would have differed considerably . "
Towards Ryouma’s answer Elena's eyes lost its sharpness, and sadness begins to surface on her face .
Regrets .
That was what Elena felt .
"I guess you're right . . . Certainly, that would be best for this country and her highness Lupis too . If only, someone like you supported her . . . "
It was a nonsense imagination .
Although he had helped during the civil war, Ryouma was not a citizen of the Rozeria Kingdom . There was strong opposition from the aristocrats and senior knights in this country to give him more pedigrees .
While they have their individual pride as nobles and knights, they all have a similar high-handed thought pattern when it comes to commoners .
Nevertheless, if he was a Rozeria citizen, they would have consented .
Even if they did so reluctantly .
However, Ryouma was different .
Not only was he not a citizen of Rozeria Kingdom, he was also a mercenary with a dubious background .
The reason why they accepted Ryouma as a noble with a baron rank, was because it had been done for the purpose of keeping the troublesome person away until it died, it was a story that no one was going to question loudly .
The Wortenia peninsula was also a special territory, that was why everyone accepted it to be given to him . Had it been a normal circumstance, such a thing would be impossible .
Being thrown into such territory, Mikoshiba Ryouma would not be able to engage in the country's administration .
Of course, Elena was also a commoner, but in her case, she was given her current position because of the achievements she had gained over many years while also being the citizen of the country .
The nickname she had also spread to the surrounding countries and became some kind of national pride .
Her situation was far too different compared to Ryouma .
And the biggest reason was that Lupis herself pushed Ryouma away .
With all those conditions, Elena's dream was a dream that could not exist .
But still, Elena felt regrettable .
'If only . . . '
Such words binded Elena's heart .
"Well, let's leave such story aside . . . "
Elena tightens her expression while she looked at Ryouma .
An assumption was no more than a hypothesis after all .
No matter how much she regrets it, the situation won't change .
(Right now, there's no other choice but to do what I can . . . )
Indeed, she was right, because right now, another nation had begun to bare its fangs towards the Rozeria Kingdom .
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login