Chapter 34

＊ Saint King's Palace ＊

After hearing the report, the Saint King crossed his arms and looked up at the sky. This was the audience chamber of the Saint King's Palace, but it was not a formal place; instead, it had a round table like a reception room. The formal audience chamber existed in the "First Holy District." Only those of the Holy Kingdom were allowed to enter the Saint King's Palace.

In the audience chamber, besides the Saint King, only the Crown Prince Kurvshurat and the Margrave of Muel were present. The Margrave, as always, was wearing a gray bear fur.

"So, what are you saying? We helped drive away the mediator who appeared at the天赋珠玉授与式 (Tianfu Pearl Granting Ceremony), possibly preventing a situation where many people might die, and yet! We tried to capture and kill a man who had slain a giant snake, just because he had black hair and black eyes! And we ended up being defeated and had to watch him leave the Holy Capital with our hands in our mouths!?"

"That is correct."

The gray bear responded without being affected by the Saint King's angry voice.

"What was Ebeny thinking to do such a thing!! And the Holy Knights too!! Even if it was a miscommunication, did they boast that they had done the slaying!?"

"Driven by a desire for glory and not wanting to let the Adventurers' Guild take all the credit, they claimed it as their own, even though they knew it was not true... It's as if they are not knights but nobles. They say things like 'It was a miscommunication,' 'There was no false report,' 'It was all for the country,' just like the nobles."

"Margrave! I don't need your sarcasm!"

"It is not sarcasm but the truth."

"Then shut your mouth that spews such bullshit! It's meaningless!"

"Wait... Father, please calm down."

When Kurvshurat intervened, the Saint King seemed to calm down a bit and drank some water from a cup.

"Ah, damn it, I shouldn't have been focusing on pursuing Duke Riviere... "

"Hmm... What about the ducal family?"

"... Well, it's not going well. Duke Ebeny is strongly supporting Duke Riviere. He doesn't like the evidence that Duke Sylies brought."

"Duke Sylies' 'Eye of Judgment' is difficult to use."

"That's true. Moreover, that guard... Raze, I think. His presence at Duke Sylies' place is also complicating the matter. But it's just a matter of time. They are just trying to find a resolution."

"A resolution?"

"Yes... Duke Ebeny must know that he can't protect Duke Riviere, who is almost completely guilty. But if this continues, Duke Sylies will rise in power, and Duke Ebeny will be rumored to have tried to kill a hero. He probably wants to bark and lower Duke Sylies' legitimacy now."

The Margrave also thought that these "rumors" were actually "facts," but in the noble society, "facts" are not always "truths."

"In the end, even Duke Luciel was targeted, saying that if the Luciel family's Sword Saint Ougustan had been there, the damage would have been less."

"Well, Duke Ebeny and Duke Luciel have never been on good terms. ... Your Majesty, I will take my leave now."

"Um... Are you going back to your territory? Margrave of Muel, I thank you for your unwavering loyalty."

"Hai."

"I will not forget your reprimand."

"... You flatter me."

The Margrave smiled wickedly and then stood up and left the room.

"Your Majesty, what did the Margrave mean by 'reprimand'?"

When Kurvshurat asked, the Saint King replied,

"... You need a friend. Someone you can trust and rely on completely."

It was as if he was trying to convince himself.

Many problems awaited the Saint King. Especially how to explain what happened at the Tianfu Pearl Granting Ceremony to the nobles was a difficult issue—ultimately, he had decided to tell the truth.

But explaining it meant acknowledging the Saint King's "sin" of not wanting to sacrifice Kurvshurat's life. He also had to consider how to deal with the Rozier family, who had lost Louis—although they said it was their son's own doing, they were surely not satisfied.

This was intertwined with the dissolution of the Riviere family, one of the six ducal families, which would inevitably lead to chaos.

"Kurvshurat, how do you see your brother and sister?"

"Brother and Sister? Both are excellent. Brother will surely become the next Saint King and have a splendid reign—ah, I mean, the current Saint King, not that there's anything wrong with him!"

"I understand."

The Saint King narrowed his eyes and patted Kurvshurat's head.

His emotions as a father had clouded his judgment and caused the chaos.

Still, even now, he could not abandon his role as a father.

"... Well, there is still work to be done as the Saint King. I will go."

"Yes. Have a good trip, Your Majesty."

The Saint King stood up and left the audience chamber, cutting through the air with his shoulders—Kurvshurat bowed to see him off.

"..."

After a while, Kurvshurat raised his head, his expression clouded.

He also knew. He had survived, but Louis, the boy who could have become his friend, had died.

He had no idea what had happened, and before he knew it, the situation had become so dire. He shuddered at the thought that he could have been the one to die, but at the same time, he was plagued by guilt for surviving.

If death was the duty of the Saint King's family, he should have fulfilled it.

"... How is Miss Eva doing...?"

At that moment, Kurvshurat remembered the beautiful girl. She was the daughter of Duke Sylies, the king's right-hand man, and had been the guard of the "hero" who had prevented the great disaster.

She had seemed very unwell at the ceremony—

"..."

Kurvshurat shook his head. He knew he was drawn to her, but he was not in a position to act on it.

(I should have died.)

Then.

"I must dedicate the rest of my life to the country..."

The shadow of this incident cast a dark and painful resolve over the 12-year-old boy.