Chapter 25

Kneeling at the feet of the queen's consort, Zenjiro spoke frankly, holding the letter containing the secret that his mother had given him.

The queen's consort, a renowned general and the kingdom's top commander, stood before him. There was no way this combination wouldn't draw attention. Zenjiro, who had noticed that the nobles who had been chatting had stopped and were now looking at him with keen interest, wiped cold sweat from his brow, thinking, "This is troublesome," and deliberately cleared his throat.

(Ah, damn it. I didn't anticipate a situation like this. From here on, it's all improvisation, huh?)

During his salaryman days, Zenjiro would prepare as much as possible before internal presentations or external negotiations, creating a list of anticipated questions to prepare his responses. He was not well-equipped to handle situations that required all-improvised responses, like the one he found himself in now.

Still, Zenjiro desperately tried to match his makeshift knowledge with his current situation to decide on his words and actions.

(Well, this is a standing reception, so a certain level of rudeness is allowed. And I'm royalty, and he's a general...)

In his heart, Zenjiro referred to General Pujol as "this guy." While he understood that harboring ill feelings towards someone he was meeting for the first time was not commendable, Zenjiro was not yet mature enough to remain neutral towards the man who had been his beloved wife's fiancé.

Hiding these various emotions behind his expression, Zenjiro responded as safely as possible.

"General, a knee bow is unnecessary in such a setting."

"Ah, my apologies."

In response to Zenjiro's words, General Pujol stood up with a smooth motion.

Zenjiro suppressed the urge to step back at the imposing figure of Pujol, who was easily a head taller than him, standing at over 190 cm. Pujol, who was around 172 cm tall, must have weighed close to 100 kg. Of course, it was not fat but a massive, battle-ready body built of solid muscle.

"Then, let's get to the matter at hand. You mentioned a gift."

Looking directly into Pujol's eyes, which were a head above his own, Zenjiro organized his thoughts.

He had been informed that there was a possibility of someone launching a gift offensive in such a setting. The act of buying someone's favor with gifts seemed to be a common value in this world as well.

(I'm sure I can't just refuse without a reason. The problem is the attitude when accepting it.)

If he showed too much joy, the other party would expect a return that matched that joy. If he showed disappointment, it would embarrass the other person in public.

Zenjiro felt the heavy pressure of his current position, where even his words and expressions when accepting a gift could potentially influence the fate of those around him.

Unaware of Zenjiro's inner turmoil, General Pujol answered, "Yes," and bowed his head again, signaling a young knight standing behind him with a glance.

The young knight, carrying a long, thin object wrapped in white cloth, hurried over to General Pujol and handed the wrapped object to him.

At this, Zenjiro's usually expressionless face slightly changed, and he opened his eyes a bit wider.

(What? He brought the actual item, not just a list?)

Zenjiro had been told that in such settings, it was common to first present a list and have the actual item delivered to the recipient's residence later. After all, these were gifts from nobles and royalty. Some items could be as grand as a well-groomed 'running dragon' or a suitable summer house.

Of course, it was not impossible to hand over items like jewelry or swords directly, but it was generally not done. If the item was refused, the embarrassment would be unbearable.

"Please take a look, Mr. Zenjiro."

Ignoring Zenjiro's surprise, Pujol skillfully unwrapped the cloth, revealing the contents.

(What is this? A bow?)

Zenjiro tilted his head in confusion. The contents were a rugged, intricately curved stick. To Zenjiro, it looked like a practical, no-frills 'bow.'

Confirming Zenjiro's thoughts, General Pujol proudly stated, "This is a 'Dragon Bow,' crafted by one of the finest artisans in the capital."

At these words, the surrounding nobles, who had been watching, let out exclamations of surprise.

It seemed that this 'Dragon Bow' was a remarkable item indeed.

Zenjiro looked at the 'Dragon Bow' in Pujol's hands again but still couldn't see how special it was. The bow, with its ends sealed with a yellow clay-like substance and the royal seal, was only about half the size of a traditional Japanese bow and looked rather unimpressive.

Understanding Zenjiro's lack of reaction, Pujol began to explain in a deep, steady voice.

"The 'Dragon Bow' is made by combining a thin wooden base with the tendons and ribs of a 'running dragon.'

As you can see, it is only about half the size of the longbows used by archers, yet it surpasses them in both power and range. Its smaller size makes it more maneuverable, and a skilled user can achieve high accuracy and rapid fire. It is the strongest weapon for mounted combat."

The 'Dragon Bow' is a composite bow, a type of bow made from multiple materials. Similar weapons existed in Earth's history and had proven their effectiveness on the battlefield.

"However, only a select few knights can wield a 'Dragon Bow.' This is because the flexible tendons and bones suitable for making a bow can only be obtained from young 'running dragons' that are still growing, making the materials extremely rare and the production process time-consuming and labor-intensive."

Generally, the 'running dragons' suitable for 'Dragon Bows' are those between five and seven years old. Once they stop growing, their bones become hard and lose flexibility, and their tendons suffer similar issues.

Realizing what the 'Dragon Bow' was, Zenjiro's cheek twitched.

While Zenjiro was unaware of the 'Dragon Bow's' existence, he had been briefed on the importance of 'running dragons' to the country. The number of these dragons had drastically decreased during the last great war, and the stable masters were still working tirelessly to restore the necessary numbers for the national army.

Using young 'running dragons' to create weapons meant that the 'Dragon Bow' required a cost that could only be justified if it achieved results equivalent to a fully grown 'running dragon.'

"Mr. Zenjiro?"

Noticing that Zenjiro's reaction was a bit off, General Pujol called out his name in a probing tone. Zenjiro, trying to keep his voice neutral, asked, "General, can this 'Dragon Bow' be easily handled by just anyone?"

Not understanding Zenjiro's intent, Pujol answered honestly, "No. Given its small size and immense power and range, it is not uncommon for regular soldiers to struggle to draw it fully."

Suppressing a sigh at the expected answer, Zenjiro thought, This is a powerful weapon, but it's extremely difficult to handle, and the materials are rare, so there aren't many of them. It doesn't seem right to let it sit unused in my possession, no matter how valuable it is.

However, from the reactions around him, it seemed that the 'Dragon Bow' was a gift of sufficient 'dignity' to be presented to royalty. How could he refuse it without causing a stir?

Struggling to come up with a solution, Zenjiro slowly responded, "I am grateful for the general's gesture in presenting such a valuable item. However, as a seasoned warrior, you can see that I am a weak and powerless presence on the battlefield."

"Ah, but..."

Interrupting Pujol, who was about to say something, Zenjiro continued, "Therefore, I will accept this bow, but I will not hold it in my hands. General Pujol, among your subordinates, there must be knights who have not yet been given a 'Dragon Bow.' Please give this bow to the one who is the most skilled and loyal to the royal family. That would be the most desirable use of this bow for me."

For a moment, the hall fell silent.

"......I understand. I will ensure that this bow is given to someone who will not betray your trust, Mr. Zenjiro."

After a long silence, General Pujol bowed deeply, still holding the 'Dragon Bow' in both hands.

Watching the entire scene from a distance, Queen Aura let out a sigh of relief.

(Good. He managed to handle it without accepting the bow.)

If he had accepted the bow, it would have been a very troublesome situation. If it had been a ceremonial weapon like a sword or a decorative spear, accepting it wouldn't have been a problem, but accepting a practical weapon would have been interpreted as an intention to use it.

This would have made it extremely difficult to decline future invitations to training or hunting from General Pujol.

While Zenjiro's reputation might suffer slightly from declaring that he had no intention of using a bow, the fact that he accepted ownership of the bow and then entrusted it to a deserving knight avoided embarrassing Pujol.

From Aura's perspective, this was the best possible outcome.

At worst, she was prepared to intervene herself and forcefully resolve the situation. If she had done so, rumors that "the queen is dominated by her husband" would have only intensified.

"That was a rather impressive response, Your Majesty."

Standing next to Aura, Duke Marques spoke with a smile.

"Ah, I apologize. I was in the middle of a conversation, Duke."

Adjusting the large floral decoration on her left chest, Aura turned to face Duke Marques, who had been standing by her side the entire time.

The portly duke smiled and narrowed his eyes, "No, no, it's natural for a newly married monarch to follow their spouse with their eyes. It's a sign of a happy relationship."

"I appreciate your kind words."

Aura chuckled at Duke Marques' words, which sounded somewhat sarcastic, and sniffed lightly.

She turned her attention back to Zenjiro and General Pujol. Pujol, having handed the 'Dragon Bow' to a subordinate, was still engaging Zenjiro in conversation. It seemed they were now having a relatively safe and pleasant exchange, with Zenjiro responding calmly.

However, if Pujol were the type to give up after one or two failures, he wouldn't be known as the 'Hungry Wolf.'

"Indeed, Mr. Zenjiro's role is to continue the royal bloodline, and there is no need for him to risk his life on the battlefield.

Then, Mr. Zenjiro, once you and Queen Aura have a child to continue the royal bloodline, wouldn't it be necessary to have a concubine to bear a child to continue your own family line?"

Hearing Pujol's next move, which was to launch a matchmaking offensive, Aura, who was listening from a distance, momentarily tensed.

Unaware of Aura's reaction, Pujol continued his bold approach.

"By the way, did you know that my family, the Gijen, has a small but noble connection to the Carpa royal family?

I have brought my sister here today. Since this is a rare opportunity, I would like to introduce her to Mr. Zenjiro."

The conversation hadn't changed at all. It was as direct as a sales pitch in a brothel.

Watching from a distance, Aura's face visibly tensed. This was a situation that required intervention.

Just as Aura was about to step forward, Duke Marques, standing next to her, spoke in a calm but unreadable tone, "Ah, by the way, I haven't greeted General Pujol yet. Your Majesty, may I excuse myself for a moment?"

"!?"

Caught off guard by Duke Marques' deliberate words, Aura paused.

While she couldn't understand Duke Marques' intentions, his words were a perfect opportunity for her. If she responded, "No, if that's the case, I'll go with you," she could intervene in the 'Hungry Wolf's' matchmaking offensive without appearing to forcefully intrude on her husband's conversation.

(What are you up to, Duke? Are you trying to do me a favor?)

While Duke Marques' intentions were unclear and somewhat unsettling, Aura couldn't bear to watch Zenjiro and Pujol's conversation any longer.

"No, if that's the case, I'll go with you."

Aura gratefully accepted the lifeline offered by Duke Marques.