Chapter 37

"Hahehihe!?"

The moment the king's words reached their ears, the princes' expressions froze.

I watched the scene from a distance, as if it were a spectacle.

"What do you mean, Father? Is it a slip of the tongue? Or did I hear it wrong?"

"Why do you think so?"

"Because... deprivation? You're going to deprive me of my right to the throne...!?"

The prince's eyes widened so much that they seemed about to pop out. He must have been shocked to the core.

"You heard it clearly, didn't you? Don't make me repeat such nonsense over and over."

"I can't accept it! ...No, I understand it! These two can understand it!"

Prince Zemnant, the first prince, turned to look at his older sister and younger brother on either side.

"Ultimately, they are not fit to be king...! But I am different! In terms of bloodline, gender, and birth order, I am fully qualified to be king. I have always trained myself rigorously to become a worthy successor. Why, then, am I being deprived of my right to the throne? It's unfair!"

"Unfair? Unfair, you say? Hahaha...!"

Ah, there it is again?

The king's voiceless laughter.

Could it be that this laughter is a sign of deep anger?

"When the laughter loses its intonation, it means the king is about to lose his temper."

According to Reslazer, that's exactly right!

But what is the king so angry about?

"Then tell me, why did you return?"

"It's because... this is our homeland."

The prince's response sounded like an excuse.

"Of course! This is the country where I was born! I love this country with all my heart! No matter where I wander, this is the place I should return to in the end!!"

"Is that so...? If you feel so deeply about this country, then why...!"

The king's voice became even more stern.

"You abandoned the country and fled...!?"

His voice was as cold as ice.

"How... how could you say we abandoned and fled...!?"

"Is there any other way to put it? Leaving the country in the face of a national crisis is nothing but desertion!"

The king's tone had become a full-blown scolding.

...But what's going on? Without knowing the full context, I can't quite grasp the whole picture.

"Reslazer...?"

Unable to understand, I turned to my new wife, Reslazer, for help...

"The root of everything is the invasion of the demon race."

She understood and answered without me having to finish my question.

"Is that the demon I defeated?"

"Yes. At the beginning of the invasion, it was thought that a savior like Ryuya would never appear, and it was even said that the kingdom's fate was sealed."

It might sound exaggerated, but demons are that terrifying.

In fact, the demon Benyian, who fought on the front lines, led an army of 30,000 monsters and possessed even greater combat abilities.

It was a crisis on the level of a natural disaster.

"Father took the lead in formulating countermeasures. He concealed information from the citizens of the capital to prevent panic, gathered soldiers from all over, and ensured that supplies and medicines were ready. ...Of course, he also made an immediate request for assistance to the church..."

That old man is truly a capable king.

I'm starting to understand.

"I worked as a knight to support Father. On the other hand, those three older brothers and sisters...?"

They fled?

"They fled. They decided that the country would be destroyed by the demons and escaped from the kingdom. Each of them has a maternal family to which they could turn, where they could live a life of luxury just as they did here..."

And while they were living comfortably with their maternal families, they received the news that the demon had been defeated... and returned enthusiastically...?

... ...

No wonder the king is so angry. He's really angry!

"The king is the country itself. Where there is a country, there is a king, and it is absurd for a king to survive while the country is destroyed. You were supposed to be the future king, yet you, the royal candidates, were the first to abandon the country. This is unacceptable!"

"You're wrong, Father! That's not true!"

The prince, in a panic, tried to defend himself but had no effective words to use.

"May I speak, Your Majesty..."

But one of them remained calm.

The first princess, with a calm voice, began to defend herself.

"Father just said, 'The king is the country itself.'"

"Hmm?"

"Then, the royal family must never die. Even if most of the people are wiped out, as long as the king survives, the country can be revived. If the kingdom is ravaged by demons and the entire land is burned, the surviving members of the royal family must return to the scorched earth and rebuild the nation."

"So, you fled for that reason?"

"Yes, all for the survival of the state, and we were prepared to bear the disgrace."

What a skilled way to justify it.

"Indeed, Isabelle's words have some merit. It is a good quality for a leader to consider the worst-case scenario, and it is true that the royal family must not die. However, there is a proper way to flee. How can the leader, who has not fulfilled his duties, inspire those who are fighting on the front lines by fleeing first? What you did was a serious act of betrayal."

"......!"

"If you were to flee, you should have done so after doing everything you could and made a decision with dignity. But your hasty departure was like rats fleeing a sinking ship. Who would follow a coward like you to the throne?"

"Please, Father, that's...!"

"No, I will not wait. It is unacceptable to make a leader who is the first to flee in the face of danger. This one incident will be used as evidence that you three are not fit to be king. Therefore...!"

You will be deprived of your right to the throne...

Until just a moment ago, the princes and princesses had been composed, but now their composure was shattered.

Sweat beaded on their faces, their eyes darted around, and their breathing was labored.

"Please, Father, please, please, please...!"

They clung to their father, who held the power to decide their fate.

If they had shown such determination during the demon invasion, it would have been for the better.

"But if you do this, it will not benefit the country. If my sister, Isabelle, and I, and Lucelche, are all removed from the line of succession, who will be the next king?"

"That's right, only the three of us have the right to the throne! If all three of us are removed, there will be no successor, and the country will fall into chaos!"

"That's correct, Father, please reconsider!"

The siblings, who had been at odds over the succession, suddenly united when they realized they were all being removed.

If they had shown such unity during the demon invasion, it would have been for the better!

"Do not worry, I have already considered a solution."

"A solution?"

"I have another child. A much more capable daughter than any of you."

"Could it be...!?"

All eyes turned to one person.

Me?

No, not me.

Reslazer, who was standing next to me.

"Reslazer was not considered for the line of succession due to her mother's low status, but in light of the emergency of the three princes' deprivation of succession rights, I have decided to take special measures and grant her the first right of succession, in recognition of her role in defeating the demons."

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!?"

The most surprised of all was Reslazer herself.

"Reslazer, when I can no longer bear to sit on this throne, you will take my place as queen."

"Queen!?"

She was so shocked that her chest heaved, and her breasts almost spilled out of her low-cut dress.

"But, Father! I mean, Your Majesty! I have only received training as a knight and have no knowledge of statecraft! I am not fit to be a queen...!"

"You can learn now. You are an excellent knight, and the education of a knight is closely related to that of a ruler. You have a solid foundation."

"But...!?"

Reslazer, suddenly designated as the next queen, was at a loss.

"But, we must also hear Lord Ryuya's opinion...! He is now my husband, and a wife should follow her husband!"

"What? The hero who saved the country is Reslazer's husband!?"

The sudden revelation shocked the princes and princesses.

What? You didn't know?

"Ah, I remember Ryuya. ...Well, if Reslazer absolutely refuses, Ryuya, would you be willing to become king? As the son-in-law of the current king, you would have the qualifications by default."

"I decline!"

Somehow, the king's decision has now affected me too...!?

A king-making contest has erupted here, even though there are three people who want it!