Chapter 47

That night.

As usual, after finishing dinner and bathing, Zenjiro and Aura spent some quality time together on the sofa in the living room.

However, their seating arrangement was not side by side, but facing each other.

When they sat side by side, it was for a relaxed conversation. When they sat facing each other, it was for a more serious discussion. Over the past year, this unwritten rule had been established without them even realizing it.

Therefore, when Aura sat directly in front of him, Zenjiro, sensing the direction of the conversation, had not yet taken a sip from his whiskey glass with ice and placed it on the coaster on the table.

It seemed that his judgment was correct, as Aura, dressed in a thin nightgown, which was not fitting for her relaxed post-bath attire, began to speak with a serious expression.

"Zenjiro, do you have a moment? I apologize for bringing up such an unromantic topic at this time, but I have some information that I think you should know. It's about today's 'lunch meeting'..."

Leaning forward slightly from the sofa illuminated by six LED stand lights, Zenjiro, dressed in a blue-striped pajama, listened to his wife's words.

"Well, I don't really understand, but is it really that unusual for the royal family of Shalowa to come out of the country?"

After listening to Aura's explanation, Zenjiro first raised this question.

The prince and princess of the Shalowa royal family might come to this country.

He understood that it was important, but Aura's surprise seemed a bit exaggerated. After all, last year, Princess Isabella of the Gilbert royal family, the other royal family of the Shalowa-Gilbert Dual Kingdom, had made an official visit.

Moreover, Zenjiro and Aura's wedding, which had to be rushed, was attended only by domestic nobles and foreign nobles of the diplomatic class. However, Zenjiro remembered being taught by his tutor Octavia that in a typical royal wedding, it was common for direct royal family members from other countries to attend.

In response to Zenjiro's question, Aura smiled slightly, nodded, and answered.

"No, the visit of a 'royal' is not particularly unusual. What is unusual is simply the visit of the 'Shalowa royal family.' The Shalowa-Gilbert Dual Kingdom has two royal families, and foreign visits are generally the responsibility of the 'Gilbert royal family.'

It's not as if the country has maintained two royal families for hundreds of years without reason. The division of roles is quite well-established.

Of course, there are many power structures on the border between the two families, where the tug-of-war of interests between the two royal families is said to take place behind the scenes."

Zenjiro nodded in response to Aura's explanation.

"Even so, for such an inward-looking royal family to come to this country, there must be a clear purpose, right?"

Even though he thought it was obvious, Zenjiro asked the question, and as expected, Aura nodded in agreement.

"Yes. Their purpose is probably your 'marbles.' In fact, after that, the dual kingdom has continued to send letters through Princess Isabella, hinting at the purchase of the remaining 'marbles.'

It seems that the hypothesis that 'marbles' are a significant power in the use of 'bestowal magic' is quite accurate."

"Hmm, I see. Those marbles..."

Zenjiro found it hard to believe that the glass marbles he had bought for a few hundred yen could be such a potent political force in this world.

"Well, I'll leave the negotiations to you, Aura. Just let me know the results. By the way, is there any possibility that their purpose is my lineage? They were quite persistent at first, weren't they?"

As if he had just thought of it, Zenjiro raised this question. Aura placed her right hand on her chin, thought for a moment, and then shook her head in response.

"...Well, I can't say it's impossible, but the likelihood is low. Indeed, Princess Bonne, who is hinting at the visit, is an unmarried young royal, so she might be thinking that seducing you would be a good thing, but even in our palace, such blatant moves are unlikely.

The palace on the other side is more likely to be wary. You will eventually learn the 'teleportation' magic and go to the dual kingdom, right? Even if you have the spare magical power, you won't be able to make an unauthorized day trip. You will almost certainly receive a grand 'welcome' at their palace.

If the Shalowa royal family hasn't given up on your lineage or person, the main battlefield will be there."

Zenjiro couldn't help but shiver at his wife's slightly menacing smile.

"Oh, I see. Indeed, if I go to their country, that's what will happen, isn't it?"

Upon reflection, it was obvious.

Technically, he could use the 'teleportation' magic to jump directly to the diplomatic residence of the Kingdom of Carpa in the capital of the dual kingdom, but he would not be allowed to make an unauthorized round trip to their palace.

As Aura said, he would not be able to refuse the 'welcome' according to their wishes.

(Not good, I might have been thinking too simply.)

Even though it was still a distant future, Zenjiro realized the naivety of his foresight and slightly lowered his head on the sofa in a reflective manner.

However, he could not afford to waver from his original goal of learning the 'teleportation' magic and being able to move to the capital of the dual kingdom.

In the future, it was almost certain that Aura would give birth to a second and third child.

He could not face the next childbirth in a state where he could do nothing but rely on Aura's physical strength and luck, as he did with their first child, Carlos Zenji.

If he could make a round trip to the capital of the dual kingdom using 'teleportation' magic, he could immediately call on a healer from the 'Gilbert royal family.'

For that, the risk was within acceptable limits.

Zenjiro, who had made up his mind about his future, sat up straight on the sofa and looked directly into Aura's eyes.

"Understood. When the time comes, I'll be as careful as possible and make sure not to get entangled."

"Alright."

In response to her husband's answer, the queen replied with a gentle look, indicating that she had no intention of changing the plan to go to the dual kingdom as soon as he learned the 'teleportation' magic.

Understanding that the underlying thought was her affection and concern for him, Aura smiled despite her worry for her husband's future.

"Understood. It will probably be a while, but when the time comes, please take care."

Aura said this to her husband with a smile, in a calm voice.

"By the way, getting back to the topic, when will the prince and princess of the Shalowa royal family come here?"

In a slightly relaxed atmosphere, Zenjiro stirred his whiskey, which had thinned with the melting ice, with a silver spoon and took a sip from the blue Satsuma cut glass.

Aura, who had moistened her throat with brandy in a red Satsuma cut glass of the same model, leaned back on the sofa, tilted her head slightly, and answered.

"Well, how about it? It's still at the stage of 'unofficial rumors.' I don't think it will happen immediately, but since there is no precedent, it's hard to predict their movements."

"Hmm, I see. Then, there's no point in being on guard from now on. By the way, what kind of people are they? Do you know, Aura?"

In response to Zenjiro's question, Aura shook her head.

"No, as I said earlier, the Shalowa royal family doesn't come out much. Compared to other royals, there is very little information.

What I know is their birth and age. The rest is just vague rumors that can't be relied on."

Aura said this and returned the red cut glass, which still had some contents, to the coaster on the table.

"What kind of rumors?" Zenjiro asked briefly, and in response, Aura leaned back on the sofa, crossed her hands on her stomach, and continued.

"Well, let's see. First, their ages are Prince Francesco, twenty-four, and Princess Bonne, sixteen. Prince Francesco is a direct descendant of the royal family, the grandson of the current king, and is almost certain to be the first legitimate prince and the next king."

Zenjiro's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected nobility of his lineage.

"Does that mean he's the next king?"

If you read Aura's explanation straightforwardly, that's what it means. While the succession to the throne in this world is not necessarily based on primogeniture, the tendency is strong.

However, in response to Zenjiro's question, Aura shook her head.

"No, not yet. At least at this point, Prince Francesco has not yet officially obtained the right of succession."

This answer surprised Zenjiro even more than before.

"What!? But, he's twenty-four, right? Is that normal?"

"It's not normal. Normally, it's not. There are cases where a person is born with legitimate blood but is not recognized as a royal because they cannot activate the 'bloodline magic,' but Prince Francesco is known as one of the top five 'bestowal magic' users in the current Shalowa royal family."

Aura's firm statement left Zenjiro with a sense of unease.

The grandson of the current king's legitimate line, already twenty-four years old, and able to use 'bloodline magic' without any problem, yet not having the 'right of succession.'

If there were no problems with lineage, age, and ability, and he did not have the right of succession, it could only mean that there was a problem with his 'character.'

"…Just hearing this story makes me feel heavy. I don't want to meet this person."

"I agree."

In response to Zenjiro's frowning comment, Aura nodded in agreement.

"However, since they are breaking their long silence and sending someone to our country, I hope they have enough common sense and decency to avoid causing international problems."

Saying this, Aura shrugged her shoulders and then began to explain the other royal.

"The other visitor, Princess Bonne, is almost the opposite of Prince Francesco. Her parents are not royals. She is a 'bloodline magic' successor born into an old noble family with royal blood. I think her right of succession is around twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth, which is almost at the bottom of the royal family."

"Wow, even if you're not born into the royal family, if you can use 'bloodline magic,' you can be recognized as a royal."

Zenjiro, who sounded a bit impressed, received a nod from Aura in response.

"Yes. This varies by country, but that's how it is in the dual kingdom. In reality, for royals who are not direct descendants, it's barely enough to use 'bloodline magic,' so they rarely get involved in succession issues. In practice, there is no value other than being a 'bloodline magic' user.

Their position within the country is likely to be quite weak."

"I see. To put it bluntly, she's a 'nominal princess,' isn't she?"

"Pretty much. That's why she's a problem. Her intentions are transparent."

Zenjiro, who received a meaningful look from Aura, understood what she meant and spoke hesitantly.

"Oh... I see. So, in other words, they still haven't given up on me, right?"

"Well, as I said earlier, I don't think they