Chapter 73

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Anyway, since we couldn't keep His Majesty the King waiting at the gate of the mansion for too long, I ordered the servants to guide him to the reception room.

Emma, the troublemaker, was made to appear as if her condition had not yet improved, so Leonardo and Mersa welcomed the King with the proper etiquette of subjects.

By the way, this reception room is also a storage room filled with the most expensive-looking items from the furniture and artworks that came with the mansion when we bought it.

Given the size of the mansion, it is spacious enough, and it is filled with luxurious furnishings that could rival those of the royal castle, so no one usually goes near it except for cleaning.

The mansion in the capital, which we bought at great expense, has been transformed into a simple interior like the Palace mansion, except for the reception room.

To create a space where the family, who had lived in poverty for a long time, could feel at ease, they packed the reception room with unnecessary items (luxury items) and items that could cause heart problems (luxury items).

In the end, the reception room, which ended up being opulently decorated, had His Majesty the King and Prince Task of the Empire sitting on a super-high-class sofa that was treated like a storage item.

Behind them, about ten diplomats, including Oliver, stood on guard, beads of sweat on their foreheads.

All the sofas in the reception room were covered with covers intricately embroidered by Leonardo to prevent them from getting dirty, and of course, they were made of Emma Silk.

The Stewart family had forgotten, but the Emma Silk covers were far more valuable than any of the furnishings.

Even the King hesitated for a moment before sitting down, and the diplomats did not have the courage to sit at all.

The tablecloth was a total lace with intricate patterns made of Emma Silk (Leonardo's work, 25 minutes to make), and they could not even touch the tea that was served.

One of the diplomats, who had experienced many diplomatic negotiations, said that this was the first time he had been so tense in a reception room.

On our side, after the formalities of etiquette were over, Leonardo was introduced to Prince Task and was anxious because the difficulty of bluffing had skyrocketed.

He had thought that since it was a foreign country he didn't understand well, he could get by with a casual approach, but then a local appeared unexpectedly.

Leonardo already lacked confidence in his ability to bluff effectively.

Mersa, who was his last hope, had become sullen the moment she saw Oliver; they had always had a poor relationship.

"Did you come without prior notice and surprise us? I would have come to the castle immediately if you had summoned me, Your Majesty..."

Why? The King himself is moving? This is unusual, even during a coup.

"No, it was difficult to come alone. Last night, I heard that Emma had collapsed due to what I had done, and I felt so sorry and worried that I couldn't sit still. I tried to leave the castle after pushing most of my official duties onto the two princes, but I was caught by the prince and the diplomats."

In the heavy atmosphere, the King spoke.

Last night, upon hearing that Emma had collapsed due to what he had done, he felt so sorry and worried that he couldn't sit still, and he tried to leave the castle after pushing most of his official duties onto the two princes, but he was caught by the prince and the diplomats.

"Your Majesty, if you had commanded me to come, I would have rushed to the castle immediately..."

Why? The King is moving? This is unusual, even during a coup.

"No, it's difficult to have secret talks at the castle. How is Emma feeling?"

While feeling uncomfortable with the King's worried expression, Leonardo couldn't say that she was super energetic, so he replied.

"Yes, she regained consciousness this morning, and we are relieved. She had a little bit of... fruit? and is now resting in her room."

Leonardo, who is a poor liar, was struggling.

Just before he almost said that she had eaten a full course breakfast, Mersa, standing next to him, stepped on his foot to alert him.

"Even though I had heard about Emma's injury, I ended up gripping her hand tightly. I'm really sorry..."

"Your Majesty, the royal family should not apologize so easily. Let's move on to the main topic."

Before the King could bow, Oliver, standing behind him, warned him.

"Oliver? What are you saying? I came here today to apologize to Emma. Even if one is a member of the royal family, it is necessary to apologize when one makes a mistake. I came to the Stewart family because many people at the castle say what you just said..."

The King sighed, wishing he hadn't brought them along.

"Your Majesty, Emma is originally a shy and quiet person, and she was probably nervous at the dinner party with many high-ranking nobles. She was just a bit surprised, so please don't worry."

Leonardo, feeling too guilty to let the King bow, hurriedly offered that there was no need to apologize.

"Oh, yesterday, she was probably intimidated because she was at the table with Edward and Prince Task and the four great dukes. She was treated as a guest of Duke Sullivan."

"Your Majesty, let's move on to the main topic..."

"Is that so? We haven't heard much about it. Did Emma make any mistakes at such a high-ranking table?"

Mersa asked the King, seemingly to counter Oliver's words. Probably on purpose.

"Emma was so perfect in her manners that there was no need to be intimidated. Her elegant dress and beautiful etiquette were praised at the dinner party."

The King smiled and praised Emma, as if remembering something. Mersa was convinced that her uncle's infatuation with her daughter was still alive in this world. It was terrifying, even for her own daughter.

"Your Majesty! Why! The main topic is why Emma Stewart can speak Imperial language! This is a matter of great importance to the kingdom's future! Please don't talk about trivial things now!"

Oliver, frustrated, raised his voice.

The atmosphere, which had become more relaxed, was ruined by this man who couldn't read the room.

Mersa, who was the terror of etiquette, sighed and then looked at Oliver.

"On the contrary, may I ask why you, as diplomats, cannot speak Imperial language? Language is the key to diplomacy. Isn't this a case of negligence in your duties?"

Though she sounded arrogant, it was true that no one could speak it, which was why they had come to the Stewart family, and the Empire must be an important country for the kingdom to want to establish relations with, even if they couldn't communicate.

However, Mersa, who couldn't admit to knowing nothing in front of Oliver, tried to provoke him to get information.

"It is a well-known fact that almost no one in the kingdom or other countries can understand Imperial language! The pronunciation, grammar, and even the writing are so different that they are harder to decipher than ancient scripts. This is not a case of negligence in our duties!"

Oliver explained as if on cue.

Japanese is indeed a language used in a different world, and while it's unclear why it feels so difficult, it could be true.

"Until now, the Empire has been self-sufficient within its borders and has not engaged in diplomacy. There was no need for the Imperial people to study foreign languages, and only a few who visited the Empire for travel could speak Baritu language. The Empire is now facing a food shortage. Could we please have Emma's assistance?"

Prince Task, who had been silent until then, spoke earnestly in his imperfect kingdom language, explaining the Empire's dire situation and his request for Emma's help, as he felt limited in his ability to conduct diplomacy alone.

"It is the duty of a citizen to serve the country. Moreover, as a member of the nobility, there is no right to refuse. Why are you, a prince of the Empire, speaking so humbly? You can use a mere daughter of a viscount's family as you please."

Oliver, fawning over the prince, offered Emma without even consulting the Stewart family, who had not agreed to cooperate. The diplomats, who were supposed to be in a position to request help, were acting so arrogantly because they believed it was for the good of the kingdom.

Oliver's attitude, which did not seem to recognize his position as the one asking for help, pushed Mersa's anger to its peak.

"Our Stewart family guards more than half of the kingdom's monster-infested areas in the borderlands. We also engage in sericulture and pay a large amount of taxes. Are you asking us to offer our weak, shy daughter as a tool for diplomacy? ... It's fine, you know? We could move to another country. Well, in that case... the Rothschild Trading Company would also move with us."

The blood drained from the faces of the King and all the diplomats.

There was no other noble or hunter in the kingdom who could take over the vast monster-infested areas currently guarded by the Stewart family.

The taxes paid by the Stewart family were a major part of the national budget, and losing them would mean the collapse of the kingdom.

Furthermore, the Rothschild Trading Company, which controlled all of the kingdom's trade and commerce, would also leave, and the loss of high-quality silk from the Palace would mean being scolded by wives and daughters.

"Y-Yes! We are very sorry!!!"

All the diplomats prostrated themselves, and the King bowed as well.

Why? Why did the Stewart family, which held the kingdom's security and economy in their hands, only have a viscount title? The diplomats were confused.

"Ah, Your Majesty, please raise your head."

Leonardo, flustered, tried to calm the situation.

Mersa was scary when angry, and Oliver, who had been scolded many times during their school days, still didn't learn.

"No, considering the Stewart family's contributions to the kingdom, a higher title is more appropriate..."

The King, raising his head, started to bring up the reward that had been refused last time.

"No, Your Majesty, I cannot accept that!! We are really fine as we are!"

The muscular Leonardo, flustered, tried to calm the situation. He was a pacifist and couldn't be forceful despite his size.

"Still, perhaps... the engagement between our Edward and Emma..."

"Emma will not be married!!!!"

Leonardo, who had been flustered, stood up and shouted before the King could finish speaking.

He looked down at the King with a murderous glare and a voice so low it was surprising, repeating the important point twice.

"Emma will not be married. Not even by royal decree, absolutely not."

The murderous aura from Leonardo, who had slain many monsters, was too much for the diplomats, who were not used to combat.

They trembled and couldn't move, tears streaming down their faces uncontrollably.

The tears fell onto the carpet in the reception room but did not soak in, forming droplets on the white surface.

In their terror, the diplomats noticed something.

The carpet covering the entire reception room... white, fluffy, and soft... the texture, the water-repellent fur... it was the highly prized and rare one-horned rabbit fur, which was in high demand in the capital...!

The one-horned rabbit fur that they had cried out was too expensive when their wives and daughters had asked for coats last year... was it a carpet?

The entire... one-horned... rabbit... fur...!?

They just wanted to get out of the reception room as quickly as possible.

The diplomats' minds were united, but their bodies wouldn't move from fear.

...

What should I do... The conversation isn't progressing at all (wry smile).