14-Chapter 1-12 Celia's Thoughts

The king's carriage took them to the village of Kukuri in about two hours.

In the carriage, they found out that this king was an extraordinary man.

Q. Why do you want to go to Kukri village?　　　　

A、(construction) Recently there was a rumour in the capital that there was something wrong in the forest of the Grand Old Man. At that time, the once-a-decade inspection of the Haust frontier county is often held, so that the people can understand that the king cares enough about the country to visit and inspect it himself.

I was getting stressed out because the minister had been so noisy lately, so I wanted to change my mind.

Q. Couldn't it have been better to report via the Haust frontier county?

A、The king's visit to the frontier county would put a heavy burden on the frontier county. Then, after the inspection, it would be better to take a small group of people on the way back home.

It's a hassle to go there for a change of pace, but it's a hassle to have the frontier count's men with you.

Q、Don't you think it will be a problem later?

A. (Tatemae) In order to be able to respond quickly, the king himself needs to find out in person.

I think the ministers should take care of the trouble.

Q, Is that what the king is supposed to do?

A、(Construction) I have been able to do well as a king because I am surrounded by excellent people.

It's all right for me because I'm a king!

The above is an excerpt from the question and answer session.

How can you not have a coup or something like that?

I'm most surprised.

Ricardo!

Alex!

The old man and the old man embracing each other with a crush...and my dad and the king.

The two of them, along with Mom and Mr. Cliffe, who isn't here this time but is currently the captain of the king's personal guard, formed a party of five when they were young and were adventurers.

It seems that they were quite a famous party when they were on active duty, and they once slayed a dragon. Incidentally, Grandpa once slayed a dragon by himself.

In this world, it's not unusual for royalty to become adventurers when they are young, partly as a way of studying society.

Incidentally, the king once studied under his grandfather.

''His intelligence was average and his magic power was only average, but he would do stupid things from time to time, so it was never boring to watch him.

And that's what happened.

Meanwhile, I said.

Temma, I told you not to do anything dangerous.

They had detonated the Ciria volcano again.

'Shelia, Temma saved us. Forgive him.

Guillotine

It's nothing.

Yes, my king, you are useless!

Or rather, mother, who are you!

Lady Shelia is a friend of Queen Maria von Blumair Krastin, the rightful wife of the King, from her 'magic school primary' and the one she calls her best friend ever.

Mr. Cliffe tells me from behind.

'Huh,'

"And the king was weak against Mary.

Are you being a pain in the ass?

'Left. Also, Lady Shelia and Maria often exchange letters with each other even now.

I don't want him to be tipped off about what's going on here.

It would be more interesting to me personally if that happened.

Your butler has a nice personality.

"Tenma, what are you talking about?

No, Mr. Clyfe isn't here!

When did that butler happen?

Temma, I don't think you've figured it out yet.

Oh, no! Ciria Volcano is hoarding power, there is no God... no, I've met him, but...

It's time for you to forgive him, Shelia. It is brave to go into a battle when you can't win, but it is courageous to do so when the odds are stacked against you, and that is to be commended.

Uncle.

Mom puts away her anger at Grandpa's words.

Oh, Grandpa, you are my God!

Long time no see. Lord Merlin.

The king greets you.

"Mmm, long time no see.

You're nodding your head in a hawkish way, Grandpa, not the other way around.

''His Majesty respects Master Merlin like a father, so...''

There it is again, Cliffe, ignore it, ignore it.

'His Majesty was quite a bad boy when he was a little boy, and even when he had a tutor, many of them quit because they couldn't keep up with His Majesty's mischief and so on, but he was so impressed with Master Merlin's lessons that he gradually became more and more mature.

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

"How to make people suffer more efficiently, how to skip class more efficiently, etc.

As far as I'm concerned.

'He enjoyed that, and he missed it because it taught him things other people wouldn't tell him.

Well, it doesn't matter, that's not the point. Let's just agree that there are many unusual people around me.

And Tenma-sama is a very different person.

Don't read my mind, oddball butler, and I don't need you to tell me that!

The king and the others are going to check on Kukri Village and the Grand Old Man's Forest all day tomorrow, and then return to the royal capital the day after tomorrow. The king and Mr. Cliffe will stay at our house, and the other four will stay at my grandfather's house.

We decided to go to bed early today because it was going to be noisy until late. Good night.

That night.

But then again, Alex is the same guy.

Ricardo speaks sincerely about seeing each other again after more than a decade.

"That's not going to change! I'm me, no matter how old I get!

It's like saying they haven't grown up, even though they're just plain bad at getting to power.

Mr. Cliffe's tongue is as sharp as ever.

Alex is followed by Cliffe and Shelia.

'Power is meant to be used!

The king of this country, "Top", proudly states.

But that's why Temma got involved.

I'll make sure Maria knows exactly what's going on.

Ricardo was smiling, but Shelia's eyes were not smiling.

'Please, Lady Shelia,'

Don't do that! Cliffe, you're my butler!

I'm also Mary's steward.

Oh, my goodness.

This kind of shouting was also something I missed.

By the way, when did you have a baby? You could have written that in a letter to me.

Realizing that he was outnumbered, Alex changed the subject.

'I did let Maria know, though? Also, Temma said she's going to visit once she's past fifteen.

He didn't tell me.

It was a sleeper for Alex.

'Perhaps if the king found out, he thought you'd be willing to throw away your political duties to go play?

Yeah, that's what Alex would do. Now that he's here.

Yes, it's Alex.

The three of them agree with what Cliffe said. Alex had no allies.

'Well, well, that's beside the point. Isn't Temma pretty good, if it's a one-on-one fight, there aren't many people in King's Landing who can win, are there?''

''I suppose, without magic, Jean would only manage to bite into the one we brought this time. If they used magic, even Din would be defeated.

Clef to say. Din is a swordsman who was a member of Ricardo's party, a swordsman who also uses advanced magic, and the captain of the King's 《Alex》 kinsmen's guard, who is said to be the strongest man in the kingdom's army.

''Hou, do you make that much of a statement?''

Cliffe was a scout for the party when he was an adventurer, and he was even said to have the best eye for the competence of his opponents in the kingdom.

''I'd love to have you as my son or grandson's kinsman.

If she wants to...

Alex and the others didn't miss the shadow on Shelia's face.

'What's going on with Temma?'

Shelia began to speak idly to Alex, who had become the face of the king.

The fact that Tenma was an abandoned child,

The family name "Ootori" was listed as a possible connection to the nobility.

That they're afraid they'll leave the house if they find out they're not real parents, etc.

Hearing Shelia's story, not only Alex and Cliffe were surprised, but also Ricardo.

'Shelia, I'm sorry you were so troubled, I'm sorry I didn't notice.

There may have been a difference between male and female parents, but Ricardo thought that the bond he and Tenma had developed over the last ten years was thicker than blood.

It could be said that if Tenma's real parents showed up now, he was optimistic that Tenma would choose them, though.

Shelia was different,.

As a woman who, unlike a man, has to struggle to raise a child in her belly, to endure the pain, to sometimes risk her life to give birth to a child.

Could it be that Tenma would choose the birth mother who appeared to him more unexpectedly than himself?

Maybe I'm a step ahead of my real mother?

That was the kind of thinking that Shelia had in mind.

That's why she was overprotective of Tenma.

In order to protect her from 'the woman who gave birth to Tenma (my child),' who I had never seen before.

Of course, it was unconscious, but Shelia herself thinks so.

The men could not say anything to the female parent's distress.

The one who broke the silence in the heavy air was Merlin, who opened the door and walked in.

Merlin gently placed his hand on Shelia's shoulder.

Fool, you are the mother of Temma, of course. You only have to look at Tenma to see that.

Merlin says in a gentle voice, continuing

He calls me Mom, he seems sad when he's angry, and he smiles happily when he's praised. It is true that nowadays you sometimes annoy me by not listening to me. But isn't that because you don't have any reservations about me, because you think of me as your mother?

I'll take a moment to remind myself and then

"Trust in Temma more. "Trust her more, and give her your trust. You are Tenma's mother.

I said.

Shelia burst into tears at these words.

...Yes?

I just muttered.

Ricardo hugged Shelia and ruffled her hair.

Alex thought for a moment and

I've never heard of the family name Otori, but I'll keep that in mind and let you know if I learn anything.

And Clef.

I've certainly never heard of it, though the closest thing to it pronounced is 'House of Audrey,' but that's a house with a royal connection... and that's unlikely to be the case.

He said.

After this, because I was no longer in the mood to continue the conversation and because Shelia's exhaustion was deep in my mind, I called it quits.