Chapter 95

Once back in the office, I had a servant announce to the Chief Lady-in-Waiting that I had a report to make. That person is quite strict about the little things, so without such a notice, I would surely be reprimanded... No, it's my fault for hesitating and worrying about when to go and talk to her, and I acted on a whim, which I now regret.

While waiting for the Chief Lady-in-Waiting's approval, I tried to organize in my head the stories I had heard, in chronological order.

First, Eren's attitude towards me is because of a girl named Murietta. Murietta is the daughter of the adventurer who became the 'Hero' this time, whom he met while living on the frontier. She predicted Eren's future as if she had a clairvoyant ability. She said that the people in the princess's palace were mean, so she believed I would harass her. Now that she understands it was a misunderstanding, she has apologized, and I have accepted it.

I told her not to spread the word about Murietta, but since I heard she was violent, I had a knight accompany me, so the captain of the guard must have heard the story.

And that knight is Aldar.

Yeah, that's about it! If asked about my thoughts, I'll say, "It's unclear whether she really has clairvoyant abilities, but I think we should be cautious," and that should be fine!

The scary part is that I don't know what her purpose is... If she's a naive woman who believes that things will unfold as in the game, she probably wouldn't try to manipulate Eren or work behind the scenes... and she certainly wouldn't team up with her father, the adventurer, to defeat a giant monster. She probably accepted this world's reality as I did.

Well, it's just a guess, though. Ultimately, as long as it doesn't harm Princess Primera, I don't have much to worry about, but that's unclear. If she's preparing allies for her life in the castle, we should also be prepared.

Actually, when I reported this to the Chief Lady-in-Waiting in her room, she nodded solemnly.

"I understand. However, there's no need to worry."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"From the beginning, the hero was a mediocre adventurer, but after his daughter started speaking, reports came in that he began to stand out. Therefore, regardless of the circumstances, the sudden change... whether it would be beneficial to the country or not, we had the Adventurer's Guild monitor them and had a grasp of their actions to some extent."

Hmm.

In other words, it was clear that Murietta was influencing her father, and they were always on the lookout for a chance to scout her... right! Perhaps they thought it would be great if she contributed to the country, but if not, they would keep her under surveillance. And if she turned against them, they wouldn't show any mercy. Scary!

"Especially the daughter, who is said to be intelligent and can use magic. It is speculated that she might be making prophecies guided by spirits... Of course, as you said, it's not something many people should know. Therefore, I commend you for keeping it confidential."

"Thank you."

Wow, so the higher-ups weren't optimistically thinking that a hero would suddenly appear and defeat a giant monster! In many hero tales, the people cheer, the king praises, and a beautiful princess or goddess appears... but in reality, it's a harsh world.

Well, I've heard that powerful people are always watched, but you never know where or how... Scary!

"The captain of the guard is also aware of this, and the security for His Majesty is impeccable."

"I'm relieved to hear that."

I wouldn't say I'm not worried, but I wouldn't say it even if my mouth were torn open!

So, it seems I didn't need to do any groundwork. I don't need to consult with the prince or the dowager empress... or at least, I should just talk to them...

"However, if you think that way about the princess, it's understandable that you're worried. Even if you thought no one would hear, it's still a crime of disrespect. However, it would be an overreach to punish you for something we didn't directly hear."

"Yes."

"Know this as a fact. After the birthday festival, the adventurer and his daughter will be invited to the castle. This time, the father will be knighted and granted a baron's title by His Majesty. He will also be given a modest townhouse in the city."

"..."

Nobles need to stay in the city for council meetings and other duties, so they have townhouses. These are in the noble district, which is close to the castle, and as a result, the upper class from all over the country gather there, making social life very active. The townhouses are where they live, and while they are smaller than their estates, they often have multiple floors to compensate for the limited space. However, high-ranking nobles usually have houses with gardens.

For example, the Fandied Viscount family also has a townhouse, yes, because we have a territory. However, it's a very small, embarrassing house, with no caretaker. It's a regular house size. Of course, we hire people to clean it occasionally... Not being able to afford a caretaker is embarrassing for a noble, but it's quite common.

Getting back to the point, the Murietta and her father will probably be given a small townhouse similar to the Fandied family's. They probably won't have the means to hire help for a while...

But the fact that the country is giving it to them is a big deal. Normally, you need permission to live in the noble district, so for the king to personally arrange it is a great honor! It's probably a statement that they want to keep an eye on them or show that they are being watched... If I were in their position, I would be terrified and my stomach would hurt.

"Also, several dresses will be given to the daughter, and a governess will be sent to educate her as a lady, and she will be tested regularly in the castle. She will be educated strictly, and her future will be determined by whether she corrects her disrespectful behavior."

"...The daughter is said to use magic well. What kind of future will she have?"

"I don't think an adventurer can become a knight. If it happens, it's rare. Moreover, a young girl from a common background, who has been given a house by the king, will have to show how much she can stand up for herself... or even if she has a backbone at all."

The Chief Lady-in-Waiting smiled cold