Chapter 95

Finally, the day has arrived.

The principal is with us, and the four of us are kneeling in a row.

This is the King's chamber.

Today is the day we are to meet His Majesty the King.

I bow my head, staring at the ground as I wait for the moment. The tension is overwhelming.

(Oh, I’m so nervous I might throw up. Just make it end quickly, please.)

I swallow hard in my parched mouth and continue to stare at the ground. I’m desperately looking for something on the ground to distract me from this tension. The floor, too perfect to offer any solace, reveals nothing to help me.

"Everyone, raise your heads."

A man speaks to us, who are kneeling and bowing. My heart leaps with a loud thud, as if it might jump out of my chest. I slowly raise my head, trying not to be rude.

(No, I’m sorry, I’m just taking it slowly because I’m so nervous. I’m sorry, I was just trying to look composed.)

In front of us, seated on the throne raised above the floor, is King Jilvolt Yesso Dalford. To me, he is the so-called "playboy king."

(Well, I admit he’s better looking than I imagined. But no matter how good he looks, I’ve heard so much about him that I can’t think highly of him at all. Besides, I’m too nervous to think about anything else.)

In front of His Majesty, I’m thinking such impolite thoughts.

"Ho ho... What a fine group of young women. Raimus, you’re all so composed."

The king’s casual remark as he looks over us, especially the women, makes my face twitch.

"...Your Majesty..."

The pressure from the queen, who sits beside him with a smile that belies her true feelings, only tightens our expressions further.

"Wo-hon! This, this time, your service was commendable. I was thinking of rewarding you, but, well, what should I do, ahaha?"

The king, who reveals his true nature within seconds of speaking, makes my tension dissipate. However, the atmosphere is still not relaxed enough for me to completely let my guard down; it just feels that way.

(Ah, just make it end quickly. I don’t even want a reward...)

Wishing for the audience to end quickly, I watch the proceedings. After all, there’s nothing else I can do right now, so I just hope nothing goes wrong.

(Please, don’t say anything strange, Your Majesty...)

I silently plead as I watch the king, who is flashing a fake smile at the queen.

The reason for my worry is that the day before the audience, the prince had told me about the reward. Everyone was speechless at what he said. Apparently, the king had casually suggested making all of us women the prince’s fiancées as a reward.

When asked about Zaha, the king replied, "Ah, just give her something nice, I guess," which led to the queen’s iron fist of justice. As a result, the king pouted and threw a tantrum, saying he didn’t know what to do, and the matter was put on hold.

(Really, is this country okay? Maybe the queen should run it?)

I suppress a sigh as I glance at the principal, who is standing to the side. Everyone is looking to him, the only adult in the room, with hopeful eyes.

(Please, Principal. You’re our only hope.)

"Your Majesty, may I speak?"

A commanding voice echoes through the King’s chamber. The principal, who is usually a bumbling old man scolded by the Grandmasters, speaks with such clarity that I slightly raise my opinion of him.

"Eh, ah, yes, you may speak."

With the principal taking over, we bow our heads again, leaving the rest to him.

"Your Majesty, these are still children and students, so rewards are—"

And so, the principal, who had discussed with us beforehand, activated our plan: "We don’t need any rewards."

"Hmm, even as students, it’s not right to give nothing for protecting the queen from bandits and monsters. Perhaps marriage—"

"Your Majesty!"

The king, about to say something ominous in a casual tone, is interrupted by the queen, who emits a terrifying aura. A quick glance shows her fan is broken. Additionally, my father, the marshal, who is standing to the side, is also emitting a similar aura.

(Scary, scary, scary. Is the king trying to die? Is he stupid? And is it okay for my father to emit such an aura in front of the king?)

"Wo-hon! Well, let’s set aside the jokes. If there’s something you desire, speak up. I’ll do my best to grant it."

Hit by the auras from two directions, the king, drenched in sweat, clears his throat and continues as if nothing happened.

(Ah, it seems to be okay. Maybe this is a daily occurrence?)

Relieved, I look at the floor, feeling everyone’s gaze. Sure enough, everyone is peeking at me while still bowing. The principal’s attempt failed, so we’re moving on to the next plan. As a duchess’s daughter, I have the most authority among us, so I understand why everyone is looking at me to speak... but.

(Ah, I guess I have to do it. Ugh, I wish the principal’s attempt had worked.)

Even though we had rehearsed, I never thought it would actually come to this. I try to organize the lines I had practiced in my head.

(Calm down, calm down, Mary. Stay calm, stay calm.)

Taking a deep breath, I repeat "calm down" to myself, but my mind is filled with the word "calm."

"Mary-sama, are you alright?"

"Kyaa!"

The telepathic magic from Magilka makes me let out a small, strange sound. Just in case, I had begged Magilka to form a telepathic contract with me before entering the King’s chamber.

"Sorry, my head is full of 'calm.'"

"Huh? Stop saying nonsense and do as we rehearsed."

Urged by Magilka, I take another deep breath and open my mouth, determined to go with the flow.

"Your Majesty, may I speak?"

The last part came out a bit high-pitched, but I said it all in one go, and I’m suddenly exhausted.

"Hmm, you may speak."

At the king’s words, everyone in the room focuses their attention on me. The tension reaches its peak, and the word "calm" in my head explodes, leaving my mind blank.

(Ah, no, I completely forgot what to say.)

The moment my impromptu attempt fails.

"Mary-sama!"

Magilka urges me through telepathic magic.

(Oh, whatever! Here goes nothing!)

"Your Majesty!"

"Yes?"

"Give us money!"

"..."

While bowing, a word about funding for the school pops into my head, and I blurt out something completely inappropriate.

"Mary-sama? That’s not the line... Explain about the school’s facilities funding..."

The room is filled with an awkward silence, and I finally realize the gravity of my words thanks to Magilka’s telepathic magic. The lines I had forgotten come back to me.

"Ah! I, I didn’t say it properly. Um, for the school, yes, the school’s future operating funds. You know, for facility investments, to create a better learning environment. We are students, and our primary duty is to learn, so we want to make the environment as good as possible."

Panicking, I recite the lines I had practiced, piecing them together from memory.

(Ahhh! It’s over, the duchess’s daughter is finished!)

After finishing, I remain bowed, overwhelmed with despair and shame, trembling uncontrollably.

"Hahaha!"

After a few moments of silence, the king’s laughter echoes through the room.

"Haha, your first words really took me by surprise. Truly, you are Ferdid’s daughter, with a strong heart."

The king looks at my father, who is standing to the side, but I have no time to care about that. All I can hear is my heart pounding in my chest.

"Hmm, your clear and unhesitant request, thinking not just for yourself but for the entire school and future students, is commendable. Very well, I will grant your wish."

(Huh? What?)

I’m not sure what’s happening, but it seems the conversation has landed in a strange direction while I was trembling with shame. The adults around me look satisfied, some even clapping.

(I have a feeling they’re interpreting it in a strange way, but I don’t want to dig myself any deeper, so I’ll stay quiet. Well, at least I didn’t end up as a duchess’s daughter, so that’s something, right?)

I’m a bit concerned about how my reputation in the castle has been affected, but since it doesn’t seem to have plummeted, I’ll take comfort in that.

Thus, in a somewhat confusing manner, I manage to conclude the audience and head back to the waiting room, feeling relieved.

A few minutes later.

Just as we were about to leave, the principal and I parted ways, and the queen’s maid led us to another room.

"Hey, what’s going on? Did you hear anything from the queen?"

"No, I haven’t. What’s this about?"

As we walk, I whisper to Magilka, who looks equally puzzled. I ask the others if they know anything, but they all give the same response.

Eventually, we arrive at our destination, and the maid knocks and confirms with someone inside before inviting us in.

Confused, we enter the room, where the prince, the queen, and an unfamiliar gentleman are waiting.

We bow to the queen and the prince, and the gentleman, who has been standing beside the queen, approaches us and removes his hat.

We all stare at the two horns growing from his head.

"Nice to meet you. I am an envoy from the Kingdom of Relirex."

(Maybe one problem has just been replaced by another?)

The gentleman’s words fill me with a bad feeling.

From GC Novels, "It Seems My Body Is Invincible" Volume 1 is now available. As I mentioned in my activity report, a reprint has been decided. This is all thanks to everyone who purchased the book. Thank you very much. I hope you will continue to support me.