Chapter 41: Matchmaking with a neighbouring crown prince, part 1

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Translator: Denryuu; Editor: Ryunakama


「Excuse me.」

I entered the branch chief’s office.

「Do you need something, chief?」, I asked as I shut the door behind me.

「Yes, it’s quite important this time.」, sighed Iris, drawing a deep breath.

After morning assembly, Iris had asked me to go to her office. While she often either needed a favour from me or wanted to enquire about events, today felt a little different.

「It appears that Almeria-sama will be meeting with the crown prince of the Heavenly Kingdom of Reubens for a formal matchmaking session. 」

「A matchmaking session…」

「I called you here today because his Majesty requested for you to be his escort.」

「Me? To escort Almeria… no, Princess Almeria?」

Is that really necessary…?

「You are acquainted with the Princess, right? In that case –」

「Uh, chief…」

「I know, I know. She is the Princess who defeated the Demon King…」

…Iris evidently knew a lot about me.

I suppose she had learnt from the guildmaster that I was formerly an assassin. From her speech, however, it was evident that she was unaware that it was I who killed the Demon King, or that I was even a party member.

「We received a letter from his Majesty. It’s directly addressed to you.」

She took out an envelope marked with a red seal from her desk drawer. I took it and put it into my pocket. Without even opening it, I could already guess what was written inside. It most likely contained a smattering of Almeria’s self-indulgent prose, or some pitiful exhortation that my presence would make her stronger.

A ‘normal’ employee wouldn’t be called upon to escort the Princess. On top of that, to even think of receiving a personal request from the King would be absurd.

「I can’t possibly not let you go. I’m really sorry, but if you will…」

Iris rarely let her words trail off. It would be in my best interest to follow my superior’s orders. I agreed to her request and asked her about the details.

After that, I quickly made some preparations and set off for the designated meeting point.

「My oh my, they really know how to use you.」

While in the midst of preparation, Lyla had said that she wanted to come along. And that’s how she ended up in my rucksack with her feline head peeking out. As usual, I travelled light — you could say that cat made up ninety percent of my luggage.

「A ‘normal’ employee doesn’t turn down a superior’s orders.」

「Mm, I suppose.」

Before long, the King and his daughter came into view. There were about a hundred mounted Royal Guards. It looked like plenty, seeing that we weren’t going to war. Finding it too troublesome to introduce myself to the guards surrounding him, I activated my skill and quickly snuck into the centre of their formation.

「…Over there, huh.」

A solitary luxurious carriage was in the midst of everything.

「Hnng… smack, smack, mwah. Solaris –」

「Ahn… your Majesty. It tickles♡」

King Randolph was having a passionate time with one of his ladies-in-waiting. I barged into the carriage.

「To summon me for something like a matchmaking session, good grief.」

「Whaaaaa!?」

「Kyaaaaaa –!?」

「Absolutely disgusting. Get out, woman.」

I glared at the half-naked woman and pointed outside with my chin.

「Yes, yes sir…」

The carriage stopped moving. The woman hurriedly put on an overcoat and scurried outside.

「Y-you just came in like that…!」

「I think it was a King Randolph who summoned me.」

The king frantically straightened out his messy garments.

「Have you read the letter…? Hm, looks like you haven’t.」

「King Randolph, I don’t want to have anything to do with the royal family.」

「I know. That letter was written to apologise and say that it would be a great help if you could come.」

Hm, I see. From his tone, it appears that it wasn’t a forceful summon. Come to think of it, Iris hadn’t asked me to go without a second thought either.

「So, how about it? I have no intention to order you around or pressure your guild, and never did. We’re headed for a neutral zone — it’s common courtesy to disarm ourselves there. Maybe it’s a rule or something, actually. Anyway, I’ll feel more at ease with you around.」

I guess it’s fine to be empty-handed. I see… he’ll feel safer with me around if the unexpected happens. The branch chief had also strongly implied that it would be good for me to be here.

「Well, since I’m here.」

「Thank you.」, said the king, giving me a million-dollar smile.

「I’m just an escort, so you can spare me the details of anything unnecessary, or excessively convoluted. If there’s something I need to know as an escort, then please inform me of it.」

「A rigid, no… dedicated man as always. Well, I have nothing for you.」

The Heavenly Kingdom of Reubens shared borders with the Kingdom of Ferland. According to the international constitution, their word was second to that of Ferland’s. Elvi, who was born and raised in Reubens, hadn’t been a heroes’ party member for no reason. Perhaps Almeria was the reason for Ferland being so high up in the hierarchy.

Anyway, all that is irrelevant. Both kingdoms were equally powerful.

「This time, the ambassador from Reubens is Elvi Elque-Heidens… Elvi, the knight.」, said the king.

「Hmm… Elvi, huh? Well, that child is the daughter of the marquis.」

「Mm-hmm. Since she’s friends with Almeria, it will reflect badly on my daughter for me to flatly reject her.」

The uptight elder sister and the happy-go-lucky younger sister — such was the relationship between Elvi and Almeria. Diplomacy is infinitely more complicated than fighting the Demon King’s army. Since I was completely foreign to the world of diplomacy, I decided to keep my mouth shut.

「Ok, so here’s what I was thinking. As long as she doesn’t blatantly reject the crown prince, Fabian Toib-Reubens, even if she doesn’t explicitly say yes –」

Neither kingdom was particularly large, so their marriage would be considered a strategic alliance between neighbouring countries.

「Wow, you’ve grown up, King Randolph.」

「Fufufu… is that so?」

「But please stop messing around with women in the carriage. They can hear you outside.」

「Oh, that’s intentional. Isn’t it boring for them to do nothing but walk?」

The king guffawed loudly. My brain turned itself off for a second, and I laughed with him.

「Some king he is, that lecher」, said a disgusted Lyla (who was also a king).

The location agreed upon was Somarille Coast — a neutral zone between the two countries. Since it was often visited by nobles on vacation, it became known for its luxurious resorts built to entertain rich visitors. We were not in a hurry to arrive, so we stopped at a conveniently-located town for a rest. I needed to greet Almeria, but that could wait. I needed to confirm something about my job first.

「King Randolph, are your only escorts this time those hundred-or-so Royal Guards?」

「Yeah, indeed. I’ll introduce you to their commander.」

He beckoned to one of the knights, who promptly made his way to us. A feeble-looking man, his slightly long hair was tied up neatly. He was a little older than me, but still a young man by any definition.

Lyla snickered to herself in my rucksack. We seemed to roughly be on the same page.

「This is Gregor Shaq, Third Commander of the mounted Royal Guards. He is in charge of the escorts. Gregor, this is…」

The king stumbled, not knowing how to introduce me. I spared him the trouble.

「I am a guild employee, Roland Argan. I will be joining your team of escorts.」

Unable to restrain himself, Gregor laughed out loud.

「Your Majesty, I was wondering what kind of person you had to send for personally, but a guild employee…? Hahaha!」

As a Royal Guard, one’s main duty is to protect the royal family. By being in the royal family’s good books or otherwise, many nobles’ sons eventually end up as a Royal Guard. This Gregor fellow was typical of that group.

「I just joined a while ago…」

「Haw, haw, haw… hm, what?」

「Did you notice me earlier?」

「Huh?」

He clearly still didn’t get what I meant.

「Oi, Roland, don’t bully the guy…」

The king’s words derailed my train of thought. My assignment is to protect the king and his daughter. Do it too sloppily, and even the people who can protect them can’t be protected.

「Did anyone else know I was coming?」, I asked the king.

「Not before the two parties meet… no, only I know, since I called for you.」

I didn’t put in much effort to reach the king’s carriage. Instead, I only used my skill to approach at a regular pace. My skill, ‘Faint Shadow’, doesn’t erase my presence. I am still clearly visible to anyone who is alert or on the lookout.

「And in spite of that, I managed to reach his Majesty’s personal carriage without any resistance whatsoever… what in the world were your guards doing?」

「…」

「To let oneself relax, is akin to relaxing the rules. The guards were engaging in idle chatter, and paid no heed to any suspicious-looking people.」, said Lyla, poking her head out from my rucksack.

To avoid unwanted attention, I pretended that I had said that.

「Our destination is the royal family’s exclusive resort area. Making it a fun weekend getaway is more important than anything else, right?」, I continued.

「You….!!」

Gregor grabbed the hilt of his sword. But he couldn’t draw it, for I had blocked it with my palm.

「I can’t dr –, wait, when did you…!?」

「If I was an assassin, the king would be dead by now. Can you take responsibility for that, commander Gregor? Of course, it’s not just you. Your kinsmen up to the third degree can all be executed.」

「…」

Gregor went pale, looking at me with unease.

「Is that the duty of a knight tasked with guarding important people?」

「Hey, don’t bully a kid who’s never been on the battlefield.」, Lyla chimed in.「Have the inner workings of a victorious country rusted so? Such that a brat with no merits to his name but his lineage can abuse his power?」

Lyla was becoming a nuisance, so I stuffed her back into the rucksack.

「Unyaa…!? What are you –」

「Gregor, could you let this person be in charge?」, interrupted the king.

「But, that’s my responsibility as the sole commander…」

「This man leaves nothing to chance.」

「Why do you hold him in such high regard?」

「Roland is essentially Almeria’s tutor.」

「Eh, Almeria-sama’s…!?」

The commander took a few steps backwards and respectfully lowered his head.

「I sincerely apologise for my insubordination. In accordance with his Majesty’s wishes, will you be in charge of the escorts from now on, sir?」

「If you wish it to be so, then you can leave it to me.」


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