Chapter 269: Harold

Chapter 269: Harold

Editor: Tseirp

“The western countries...I bet Ryo would like to go...”

“Oh, definitely.”

The Royal Palace, King’s office.

King Abel I had finally moved out of that detached wing in the castle and returned to his original office.

And he was currently consulting with his prime minister, Marquis Heinlein.

“The golem corps was it...actually, even I’d like to see that.”

“You can’t go, Your Majesty.”

“Mm...that goes without saying.”

With a slightly forlorn look on his face, Abel let out a small sigh.

He was originally an adventurer.

To want to see things never seen before is a natural instinct.

However, he is now a king.

Moreover, Ryo had managed to save his life, so he can’t afford to do anything reckless....

“If this were a normal delegation, Ryo, the premier duke, would be fine as the leader, but with the Empire and the Union in the picture...it’ll be too heavy a burden on Ryo.”

“There’s no doubt regarding his abilities, but his experience in negotiations...”

Abel frowned and so did Marquis Heinlein.

“That’s his only drawback. Now then, who else could serve as the leader?”

Abel frowned more than before.

Abel had no siblings.

His only brother, the previous crown prince Cain, had died of illness.

No sisters either.

Furthermore, his father, the late King Stafford, also had no remaining siblings.

The previous king’s brother Raymond committed suicide after rebelling. And Raymond didn’t have any children.

Stafford had no other brothers or sisters.

Thinking about it again, it certainly does look like the current royal family of the Kingdom of Knightley isn’t really fertile.

“Talk about a scanty bloodline, or should I say insufficient direct lineage...”

“Your Majesty, please make a lot of children.”

“S-Sure...”

Marquis Heinlein said with a serious face, and Abel nodded.

“If necessary, you may even take one or two concubines...”

“Nah, Rihya is likely to beat the shit out of me if I do, so I’ll pass.”

Abel shook his head again and again as he pictured the scene of Rihya hitting him with her staff technique.

As the two were discussing this, misfortune fell upon them.

“Your Majesty, a C-rank adventurer, Mr. Harold is here with his party requesting an audience.”

“What?”

Abel frowned as he asked.

Moreover, Marquis Heinlein was putting on an even more displeased face than Abel.

It was unusual for him to frown so much....

It was completely by chance that Ryo saw the party.

He was planning to escape from the castle and go to ‘Cafe de Chocolat’ to have a cake set when he saw the group walking around.

Normally, he wouldn’t have paid any attention to them.

Perhaps, even failing to recognize them.

If he was staring at a table full of cake.

But this time, perhaps because the keywords ‘Cafe de Chocolat’ were in his mind... he immediately recognized the group.

“That’s the Mont Blanc punk and the capable priest! Plus, one.”

Yup, the party of three, including the future heir to a dukedom, who had previously made a fuss at the ‘Cafe de Chocolat’, saying, ‘Get us some Mont Blanc!’.

The three of them were walking around the castle.

It was quite unusual to see C-rank adventurers walking around the castle.

Of course, Ryo is also a C-rank adventurer, but he is the premier duke as well ... so it’s fine.

“This reeks of trouble.”

Muttering a line as if he were the protagonist of a mystery novel, Ryo decided to follow the three of them.

The group entered the audience hall, led by palace guards.

“I believe I told you that you would get your dukedom when you’re good enough?”

“I’ve moved up to C-rank. I think I’ve become competent enough!”

Harold retorted King Abel’s words.

Perhaps because he was also his nephew, the orphaned son of his late brother whom he adored.

Abel shook his head without correcting his impolite behavior.

Seeing this, Harold continued.

“Uncle, I mean, Your Majesty, once said to me. That, if I could defeat you in a sword fight, you would make me a Duke without question.”

Abel made no reply to that.

“In that case, how about we do it right here, right now!”

“...Excuse me?”

As expected, Abel’s tone was a little deep, as if he was offended by what he just heard.

“Let me guess...you think you have a better chance of defeating me now that I’m ill?”

Abel narrowed his eyes, glanced at the cunning-looking noble, and then glared back at Harold.

“T-That wasn’t my intention! I just thought I’d show you my ability!”

Harold retorted, his face bright red.

Someone probably suggested it to him...the cunning-looking noble over there maybe.

Abel stared at Harold for a while.

Harold, too, met Abel’s gaze squarely.

(A face-off between an uncle and a nephew... the same thing happened during the Kingdom Liberation War. It’s a sad thing watching family squabble.)

Ryo compared Abel and Harold, who were glaring at each other, remembering the conflict between uncle Raymond and nephew Abel during the Kingdom Liberation War.

(I believe...this is where I, the premier duke, make my entrance...if he were to make this kid a Duke, it will upset the order of the country.)

After concluding so on his own, Ryo walked out of the line of courtiers and got down on one knee at the bottom of the throne.

“I, Ryo, a C-rank adventurer, have a matter I wish to discuss with His Majesty the King.”

Harold and the rest of his party were startled by Ryo’s sudden appearance.

Another startled fellow, a cunning-looking noble, began to rant.

“Hey bum, what are you...?”

Having said that much, he couldn’t get another word out because... his mouth had been gagged with ice.

And it wouldn’t come off....

Harold and another party member were surprised to see this.

They didn’t even understand what was happening.

But only the priest narrowed his eyes, as something glowed in his eyes.

(Oh, he noticed it? Got to hand it to you, capable priest...)

He had once laid Ice Bahn outside ‘Cafe de Chocolat’ to make the three of them trip.

Needless to say, only the priest didn’t fall, on the contrary, he even recognized that he had been attacked from somewhere.

He may have even recognized that the ‘slippage was caused by ice’ at that time.

And the ‘Ice Muzzle’ this time, put together....

“C-rank adventurer Ryo, you have my permission. You may speak.”

Abel said solemnly.

“Your Majesty, this man, Harold, was so angry at a famous coffee shop for being out of Mont Blanc that he lashed out at the manager and even the customers around him. He is such a child...no, an immature brat, who shamelessly claims that he is a C-rank adventurer and will become a Duke in the future.”

“Wh...What are you...”

Harold’s lips trembled and he couldn’t form any words against Ryo’s accusation... or rather snide remark.

The people around him were left with their mouths hanging open in shock.

So, Ryo continued.

“To appoint such a man, who is a disgrace to the people of the Kingdom as a Duke, would be to heap shame upon shame...”

“You bastard, you shut your mouth!”

At this stage, Harold’s face turned red and he shouted.

Then, at the same time, he drew his sword.

Ryo glanced sideways at him and smiled.

“Mr. Harold, do you understand the implications of drawing your sword on me?”

“You bet your sorry ass! After smearing my name with this much insult, what better way to redeem my honor than with a sword!”

“I see...I guess you have yourself a duel.”

Ryo said and stood up.

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