Audience with the Benevolent King
King Siegfried said, “His Majesty wishes to see you.” The royal guards stared at us intently, as if refusing wasn't even an option.
I asked, “Why does the king want to see us?”
“He wishes to speak with Lady Elizabeth, the first-place winner in the Conquer competition. He's waiting in the lounge, so please come this way.”
…I had a feeling this would happen.
I swallowed a sigh. Meeting a nation's leader was a rare opportunity, but I wasn't thrilled at all. Eight years had passed, but the empire's search might not be over yet. Schvalier had said the imperial agents were conducting a perfunctory investigation, but that didn't mean they weren't looking. Getting caught because we let our guard down would be the start of hell. Associating with the king here would inevitably draw unwanted attention—not just from Aihenvalt nobles, but from the empire too.
Refusing was awkward as well. The one summoning us was none other than King Siegfried himself. A monarch who had reigned for fifty long years with a firm grip on royal authority. Rejecting him would be disastrous in an entirely different way.
“His Majesty has summoned us…” Unlike me, whose stomach was churning, Hildegard seemed eager for the audience with the king.
“Let's go for now,” I said.
*
The Hall of Violetta had a lounge reserved exclusively for royalty. King Siegfried stroked the golden rings crammed onto his fingers. Felix sipped coffee while admiring a famous painting on the wall. Royal guards stood at attention at every entrance to the lounge. They were all waiting for Leo's group.
“This is infuriating. What makes that lowly commoner girl better than me? Those judges are weird too. Have they all gone deaf from old age? How am I second place?”
Clang! The second-place silver trophy tumbled across the carpet. Its handle and decorations shattered. Yet Mandelia, its owner, still wasn't satisfied. She paced the lounge, breathing heavily.
“How am I supposed to impress His Grace the Duke like this?!”
“Why worry so much, Your Highness? His Grace the Duke is already Your Highness's fiancé.”
Felix offered his feeble words to the hysterical Mandelia, but they provided no comfort. She spun around and shouted,
“It's a loveless marriage! I want his love!”
“Living together day by day, His Grace will surely come to love Your Highness.”
Felix replied calmly as he sipped his coffee. The one Mandelia called “His Grace the Duke” was the head of one of Aihenvalt's top five noble houses: Lenz, Ludenburg, Waldeck, and the ducal house of Rollingel. She was utterly smitten with him. They were already engaged, but it was a political marriage. She wanted his heart as well.
“At next month's debutante ball, you can capture His Grace the Grand Duke's interest completely. Trust in Your Highness's own beauty.”
“Haa… Fine.”
At Felix's expert flattery, Mandelia sighed deeply and quelled her anger.
“Father. Why did you summon those people anyway?”
Mandelia, who had been bouncing around moments ago, asked the king.
“That Elizabeth girl—she's truly exceptional.”
“How exceptional?”
“Have the chamberlain explain.”
The king passed the buck. Felix cleared his throat and spoke.
“There are many details, but simply put, she's the greatest talent in history.”
“…What does that mean?”
“Top of nearly every subject, first place in the bar exam at eighteen, second in the swordsmanship tournament, winner of the mock trial debate… and so on. Listing them all would fill pages.”
“And she's pretty too, right?”
“…Even so, she doesn't compare to Your Highness's beauty.”
Felix lied without batting an eye. Mandelia glared at him intently before turning back to the king.
“So what does that matter?”
“Mandelia, the world is changing. Blue blood alone no longer rules the world.”
Nobles had long boasted of their blue blood, claiming to be different from commoners with red blood.
“Talent matters. No matter how noble, incompetence is incompetence. And the royal family's commoner support base is shaky these days.”
“So? Are you planning to hire that girl as a lawyer?”
“That's one option. Or marry her to your younger brother. I'm leaning toward the latter.”
Elizabeth's freedom had no place in the king's thoughts. She was just a pawn to move as he wished. Because he was the king of this nation. This was the true face of the man the world called the Benevolent King.
“Even so, marrying a commoner…”
Mandelia didn't particularly like her younger brother, but the idea of a commoner marrying into the noble royal family disgusted her. It meant mixing mongrel blood into their exalted line.
Knock knock.
“Your Majesty. Lady Elizabeth and her family have arrived.”
“Let them in.”
The guard opened the door. Soon after, Leo, Elizabeth, and Hildegard entered. The king gawked at Elizabeth and Hildegard's beauty. He knew they were beauties, but he hadn't imagined they would be this stunning. They bowed calmly to him.
*
Leo, Hildegard, and Elizabeth bowed politely to the king.
“Hoho, I feel guilty for interrupting your family reunion.”
The king spoke softly with a warm smile. He knows full well. Leo shook his head.
“Not at all, Your Majesty.”
“I summoned you to see the face of such a brilliant performer up close. Young lady, it's a pleasure to meet you.”
Elizabeth performed a graceful curtsy.
“The pleasure is mine, Benevolent King.”
“Don't use such an embarrassing title. I am merely a servant of the kingdom's people.”
“Please don't say that. You are the father and sun of this nation. Who in this land does not know Your Majesty's benevolence and wisdom?”
“Hoho.”
As expected of a debate champion, Elizabeth won the king's favor with her dazzling rhetoric. The king, not displeased, smiled even more warmly.
“You've raised a truly splendid daughter, Leo Valentine.”
“Not at all. It's all thanks to Elizabeth growing up so well. I did nothing.”
Leo bowed neither too much nor too little. His pronunciation was clear, his expression composed. The king felt he didn't seem like a commoner. He perfectly knew how to address superiors.
“And… you're the lady of Quyrhalstein, aren't you? Why are you here?”
The king eyed Hildegard. His gaze carried an undertone of why are you here? But Hildegard didn't notice. Her heart pounded at the sight of the king.
“Th-this humble servant will soon be Leo Valentine's lover…”
“Oh? So you're to be married soon?”
“Y-yes, embarrassingly so.”
Hildegard stammered unusually. Elizabeth's eyes flickered briefly before regaining composure. There were exactly two people Hildegard respected most in the world: her grandfather and the king. She couldn't help trembling before the king she revered.
“Marriage?”
The king was startled. Quyrhalstein marrying? Even he thought it monumental.
“Y-yes… That's why, despite my impertinence, I am honored to meet Your Majesty here…”
“Hoho, no need for such humility. You've come well. May the gods bless this union.”
The king gave a simple blessing and turned to Elizabeth. Time for the main topic.
“I've heard from Felix that your potential is extraordinary. But you have no betrothed…? Is that true?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Then, would it be acceptable if I introduced you to a fine young man of your age?”
Without a moment's hesitation, Elizabeth replied,
“I must decline.”
“…”
Her firm refusal brought an inescapable silence over the lounge. The king's expression hardened, then softened. Felix nearly spat out his coffee, and Mandelia let out a incredulous chuckle. Leo squeezed his eyes shut, Hildegard stared blankly at her, and the guards were all but aghast. Reactions varied, but all were shocked by Elizabeth's words.
“I have no intention of marrying anyone yet. I wish to live my own life first and decide then. Thank you for your concern.”
“…”
The king opened and closed his mouth repeatedly. The shock lingered deeply. He never imagined a mere commoner girl would dare reject his proposal. She hadn't even asked who it was. She had no interest in hearing it from the start. She must know anyone he recommended would be at least a marquis's son, yet she rejected it outright. Suppressing his boiling anger at the slight to his pride, the king barely managed a smile with his eyes.