Chapter 268
Chapter 268
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 268
Chapter Title: Kazura Kingdom (5)
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Orkamp raised a hand to welcome them.
“You must be weary from your long journey. Shirone, I trust you know why you are here?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Good. We will discuss the details in a more private setting. The journey must have been arduous. See that they are given rooms and served a meal.”
The chamberlain in charge of the royal castle's affairs bowed his head.
“As you wish, Your Majesty.”
Shirone lifted his head again and looked at Orkamp.
It was a reunion between father and son after eighteen years. Yet, he heard not a single personal word from the man.
Is this what it meant to be a king? Did the title of king mean one could not even reveal personal emotions?
Perhaps he simply felt nothing for the son he had already abandoned.
If he had truly loved his child, he would never have abandoned him, no matter the hardship.
But he had, and so many years had passed.
He didn't know why he had been summoned, but perhaps it would have been better if they had never sought him out.
With a sense of emptiness, Shirone's party followed the chamberlain out of the Grand Hall.
The Great Chamber, where guests stayed, had rooms for two.
Vincent and his wife took one room, and Amy and Reina took another.
However, the chamberlain did not assign a room for Shirone.
“Lord Shirone will be staying in the inner quarters with the royal family.”
Amy stepped forward with a surprised expression.
“We were not told anything of the sort.”
Separating Shirone in a royal castle, where any number of conspiracies could be lurking, was dangerous.
But the chamberlain gave Amy an odd look.
“But of course. Lord Shirone is to become a member of the royal family.”
“That hasn't been officially decided yet.”
The chamberlain frowned.
Such matters were beyond the knowledge of a mere chamberlain.
Rumor had it that the verification of the First Prince was merely a formality. He couldn't understand why they were acting this way.
He had also heard that Shirone was a commoner. If such a blessing had been bestowed upon him, he would have prostrated himself before the gods in thanks.
Yet, their expressions showed not a hint of pleasure, but rather a strange sense of unease.
“What is the matter?”
Administrative Officer Ordos walked over.
The chamberlain hastily bowed his head and explained Shirone's party's complaint.
Ordos was also displeased, but he didn't find the situation particularly unusual. If they had any sense, they would have grasped the political climate of Kazura before coming.
Ordos turned to Shirone and said.
“The royal palace has its own set of laws. Simply changing a royal's room can cause a great commotion. However, if you are that uncomfortable, I will raise the issue.”
Not wanting to cause trouble so soon after arriving at the castle, Shirone shook his head.
It was true he was wary of danger, but he still wanted to believe that his birth parents would not harm him.
If that wasn't the case… then there would be no reason for him to be here, even if they shared the same blood.
“I understand. I'll go to the inner quarters. We can all see each other at mealtime, right?”
Ordos shook his head.
“You will be seated separately during meals. It is forbidden for commoners to join the royal family at their table.”
Shirone's expression hardened.
For eighteen years, Vincent and Olina had been his benefactors and his only parents.
Even if he was of royal blood, he had no intention of denying that fact.
Come to think of it, no one from Kazura had yet expressed any gratitude to Vincent and Olina.
Perhaps they didn't think of it as abandoning their child, but merely entrusting him to someone for a time.
Just as a subject obeys a king's command, they clearly took Vincent and Olina's good deed for granted.
That was something Shirone could not tolerate.
If his parents were to be treated with such contempt, he wouldn't mind returning home right this instant.
“That's unacceptable. Please let us dine together.”
“Sh-Shirone… we're fine.”
Vincent said, his face pale.
Having been harassed by nobles, let alone royalty, his entire life, he knew just how dangerous Shirone's words were.
But Shirone did not back down.
If some kind of conflict was inevitable, now was the most opportune moment to assert his will.
“No. In that case, I won't attend either. My parents must join me at the table.”
Ordos pressed his lips together, lost in thought.
What an audacious boy. Did he think he already had everything just because he was named the First Prince?
Of course, he would become a prince, but that didn't mean the power structure would change.
The son of the current First Prince, Terase, was in the royal castle.
As his thoughts reached that point, he found it strange.
Despite the public announcement that Eliza's biological child was being brought in, there had been no movement from Terase's side.
It could mean they were that confident, or it could be a silent pressure on their planted forces in Kazura to act on their own.
The Queen's power was immense. Until now, factions hadn't really formed because there was no way to oppose her, but now was the time to choose sides carefully.
But Ordos was skeptical.
Though he had distinguished himself at the magic academy, that was hardly a credential with which to challenge Terase's children.
“I understand your position, Lord Shirone, but it is not my place to decide. This goes against protocol and could escalate into a national incident. Therefore, with all due respect, I suggest you appeal directly to His Majesty.”
Shirone nodded, as if he had nothing to fear.
“Fine. I'll speak to him myself.”
“Then let us go. I will guide you to the inner quarters.”
Following Ordos, Shirone looked back and said.
“I'll be back. See you later.”
Reina watched Shirone as he walked away.
Was he really planning to bring Vincent and Olina to the royal table?
Royal etiquette was held higher than the laws of the nation. It was a characteristic of a monarchy; if the king's authority was insulted, the country itself could be shaken.
This decision was certain to invite danger in one way or another.
Olina grabbed Reina's sleeve and pleaded.
“We're really fine. I think it would be best to stop Shirone. I want to say something, but I don't know enough about these things…”
It wasn't just because of Olina's lack of knowledge.
Reina, too, couldn't understand what Shirone was thinking by acting this way.
“It's strange. He's not the type to be stubborn.”
“Shirone has already started the fight.”
Reina turned to Amy and asked.
“A fight?”
Amy recalled the conversation she'd had with Shirone.
“Shirone accepted the castle's invitation because he wanted to meet his birth parents. But he isn't interested in being an heir or a prince. He plans to go back to the magic academy and live with his family. And by family, of course, he means the two of them here. That's why he can't concede. If he takes one step back here, he'll be pushed around until the very end. Shirone chose the royal dinner table as the point to seize a strategic advantage.”
“Our son…”
Olina's eyes welled up with tears.
What worthless parents they were. In a situation like this, instead of protecting their son, they were the ones being cared for by him.
In truth, she wanted to fight too. She wanted to tell them to their faces, king or not, that she had raised him, so he was her son.
But she couldn't, and it wasn't for a lack of courage.
They were royalty. And Shirone was about to become the prince of a nation.
Vincent put an arm around Olina's shoulders and said.
“Let's just watch. He's our son. He's a thoughtful boy. We just need to do as he says.”
Olina wiped her tears and nodded.
Terase's Bloodline (1)
Shirone entered the inner quarters where the royal family resided.
Like another castle within the castle, a scene completely different from what he had seen so far unfolded.
Portraits of royalty hung on walls decorated with brilliant golden wallpaper, and a luxurious carpet covered the floor.
Shirone headed for Orkamp's room. It was located at the very end of the castle, so it wasn't hard to find.
Entering the study, he found Orkamp sitting at his desk, lost in thought. Only after a long moment did he realize Shirone was there, and he rose from his seat.
“You're here.”
His tone was more emotional than it had been in the Grand Hall, but the initial awkwardness still lingered.
“Come this way. Your mother is waiting.”
His mother. That would be Queen Eliza of Kazura. Orkamp said nothing more, not exchanging a single word on the way. Shirone was so nervous he barely even noticed. This was it, the moment he would finally meet the mother who gave birth to him.
Eliza's room could be declared the most extravagant and luxurious space in all of Kazura. In the enormous room stood a pure white bed large enough for ten people, and sitting upon it was a woman even paler than the sheets.
There was no rule that the queen of a nation had to be beautiful, but she was, and her large, doe-like eyes were filled with sorrow.
“Ah…”
Overcome with emotion, Eliza was at a loss for words.
She rose from the bed and, unable to say any of the words she had prepared, embraced Shirone.
Shirone just stood there. He felt he should hug her back, but for some reason, he couldn't move a single finger.
A pleasant scent emanated from her body. It was a luxurious and noble fragrance of royalty, the likes of which Shirone had never smelled before.
But it was not Olina's scent.
“My son, you're finally here. I'm so sorry…! Please, forgive your mother!”
Eliza's tearful voice made a lump form in Shirone's throat.
When he was younger, he had resented the parents who abandoned him. But Vincent and Olina had filled the void of blood ties, a void that could never truly be filled, with their immense love.
That was why he felt guilty. This version of himself, unable to offer kind words to Eliza, felt foreign.
“Outside… are the parents who raised me.”
Eliza pulled back and studied Shirone's face.
He was truly a beautiful boy. This, too, was her own—and Orkamp's—noble bloodline.
“Yes, but not anymore. I am your mother now. You will become the First Prince and inherit the kingdom. Don't you worry about a thing. From now on, your mother will protect you.”
Shirone's chest felt tight.
He didn't yet know what this feeling of anger was, but for the first time, he regretted coming here.
“I want to have a meal with them. I know it goes against the kingdom's protocol, but I believe they deserve to be treated as such.”
Eliza looked puzzled and then turned to her husband.
Orkamp, too, was disappointed by Shirone's words. For someone who was to become the king of a nation, what importance did a couple of backwoods foster parents hold?
Orkamp wondered if Shirone lacked the qualities of an heir, but he quickly shook his head.
Someone of Orkamp's bloodline couldn't possibly be like that.
It was simply that his upbringing had been different, so he had yet to awaken the disposition of a conqueror.
Shirone had to become the First Prince. It was the only way to stand against Terase's faction.
Orkamp said, showing his displeasure.
“Must you insist? Meals are fundamentally for family. I do not like the idea of uninvited guests intruding. I will give separate orders to have them treated well so they feel no slight.”
Shirone shook his head firmly. Then he glared at Eliza with sharp eyes.
So this was it? Was the protocol of a single meal more important than the trouble of raising their son? Is that why they cast him aside like a worn-out shoe when crisis befell the kingdom?
Eliza read the disappointment and frustration in Shirone's eyes and hastily changed her mind. When they had abandoned Shirone, she had agreed to it, but it was entirely for her husband Orkamp's sake.
What mother in the world would want to abandon her child? Plagued by guilt her entire life, she was prepared to grant Shirone anything he asked.
“If that is what you want, then so be it. They took care of you, so it's the least we can do. Of course, if it's what our son wants.”
As if moved by her own words, Eliza's eyes teared up again, and she pulled Shirone into another embrace.