Hamlet - 3: Rumors and the Lazy King's Visit
The scalpers who had been gnawing away at the cultural arts scene were wiped out in a single stroke. Of course, the scalpers had their own backings—they'd been steadily sending "gifts" to administrative officials and the guard captain, figuring they could bolt if a crackdown ever came. It was a perfectly wrong assumption.
"Wh-what crime have I committed to deserve this?!"
"The council passed the 'Ban on Unfair Resale in Cultural Arts Act' just yesterday. Everything you've been up to is punishable now."
"How was I supposed to know about a law passed yesterday! Forget that—call the guard captain for me. My buddy Leyton will surely—"
"The guard captain? Oh, speak of the devil—he's right here."
"L-Leyton! Great to see you! There must be some misunderstanding; I haven't done anything wro—eek?!"
"...I'm here to warn you, Hans. If my name slips out of your mouth even once more, I'll mobilize every connection I have to make sure you can't set foot in the Empire."
The guard captain growled his warning in a voice like a beast's low rumble. The merchant couldn't help but shrink back.
"I-I really didn't know. This is a misunderstanding—"
"You, a merchant who's supposed to be in the know, claims ignorance of a council-passed law directly tied to your little 'games'?"
"E-even so, it's only been a day since it passed—detaining people over this is too much!"
"Do you even know what 'too much' really means?"
"......"
"Just for accepting a single bottle of booze from you, I'm in a position to lose my captaincy. The author Homerus, whose works you've exploited in your 'games,' is an artist patronized by the imperial family. And Ian Plummer, known as co-author on Hamlet, is the favorite youngest of that 'Plummer Count.' That's what 'too much' means. What you've done is the real outrage!"
"Th-that's—"
"One more warning. Make sure my name doesn't slip out in any upcoming interviews—not even by mistake."
The Empire was a constitutional monarchy where even commoners could enter the council, but class and power gaps were stark. And Homerus was protected by the highest power of all.
Of course, in the shadows beyond power's reach, there were those harboring grudges.
"This can't stand! Oppressing us merchants like this—what kind of nonsense is this? If it's come to this, we need to issue a warning—"
"Grrr..."
"...Beastkin? H-heeek!"
But—there were none left.
In the end, the scalping issue was resolved cleanly and thoroughly.
"All assets seized from the scalpers will fund the advancement of performing arts."
"Sounds good."
And so, the external issue plaguing the cultural arts scene was settled. But another problem reared its head—one all too familiar, albeit in a different sense.
"Hamlet's indecisiveness and horrific downfall—couldn't that be a satire of the Lazy King of Haren Kingdom, who holds absolute power yet does nothing?"
"And Claudius, who murders his brother to usurp the throne—isn't that a jab at the Empire's current emperor, originally third in the line of succession?"
Political hypochondriacs, that is.
"So, isn't Hamlet really Homerus's way of declaring his political stance?"
"Writing it with his students—couldn't that be a clever ruse to hide the truth?"
Critics, enthusiasts, and busybodies latched onto Hamlet, mining it for political meanings. Those "political" interpretations soon morphed into concrete rumors, spreading like wildfire.
"I heard Homerus is hiding his identity because he criticized the Lazy King and got sentenced to death—that's why he defected from Haren! Denying his Haren origins is just to evade the royal gaze!"
"Nah, I heard something different. Homerus is actually the emperor's illegitimate son—that's why the imperial family sponsors him."
"What? Homerus as the bastard child between the emperor and the Haren royals?!"
"What."
Of course, hardly anyone took such nonsense seriously...
"This makes everything clear! Homerus wrote Hamlet to criticize the Lazy King!"
...Hardly any meant a few did. And the crazies always had the loudest voices.
"Hamlet is an exposé novel! Exposing the downfall of the Haren royals—that's its true purpose!"
With political maniacs spreading their drivel in confident, conviction-filled tones, even those who dismissed it as joke started wondering, "What if...?"
In the end...
"The Haren royal family will respond sternly to all rumors circulating about Homerus and His Majesty the Lazy King. We request the Empire's cooperation."
The Haren royals, unable to sit idle, drew their sword. But with no diplomatic leverage, their options were limited—begging the Empire to quash the rumors was about it. Instead, their official response only amplified the chatter.
"Bring the great literatus Homerus, born of Haren, back to Haren!"
"Homerus is an imperial! Origins don't matter!"
"Isn't Homerus actually from the Seidel Republic?"
"What the hell is this guy on about?!"
It was chaos.
"What should we do, sir...?"
"...Ignore it."
"Sir!"
"Ah, yes. President. What brings you to use the communication orb for an emergency summons...?"
"A-a guest has arrived!"
"Yes. Did Lady Is pay a visit?"
"N-no, not that. Well..."
"Take your time—it's fine."
"The Lazy King... in person...?"
"...Pardon?"
The Lazy King. Sovereign of the Haren Kingdom, situated in the Empire's eastern reaches. Bishop of the Eastern Church and rightful ruler of the Haren people.
"Haha, so you're the author Homerus?"
"...Yes."
He stood right before me now. Without a single escort, dressed in sackcloth-like rags, all by his lonesome. If not for that platinum magical ID badge, I'd have taken him for a beggar claiming to be king.
"Nice to meet you! I've read all your works—loved every one. Don Quixote. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The Little Prince. The Sorrows of Young Werther. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Even Hamlet! All masterpieces that stirred the heart. Haha!"
"Thank you..."
"You definitely have that Haren look about you! Mixed blood?"
"Well..."
"Just kidding! You're too handsome to be Haren stock. Haha!"
"Hahaha... Thank you..."
I had no clue what was happening. This was a king. Not some imperial prince or minor royal—a full-fledged absolute monarch ruling an eastern kingdom outright. And here he was, standing before me. In the imperial capital, no less.
How was I supposed to process this?
"The reason I came to see you like this is simple: to support your writing endeavors."
"Pardon?"
"That's it! Were you expecting some other motive? Haha!"
"Ah, well, I..."
"I know about all the rumors flying around lately. That Hamlet was written to criticize me, that sort of absurd nonsense."
"......"
"It'd be great if those rumors spread even further. Ideally, till folks start calling for my dethronement!"
"...Pardon?"
I was utterly lost. Couldn't follow the conversation at all.
"How much do you know about the Haren royal family?"
"Uh... nothing at all."
"The Haren royals... well, simply put, we're mixed-blood with ancient dragon lineage. Not public knowledge, but most officials in the kingdom know. It's why we're so insular... anyway."
...Was I even supposed to hear this?
"Ever heard of 'dragons'?"
"...Just from scripture or myths, yes."
"Dragon blood flows in our Haren royal veins."
Real dragons existed in this world? As if answering my doubt, the Lazy King's pupils slit vertically, morphing into serpentine ones.
"That's the whole proof."
"Pardon?"
"Of the dragon blood. These eyes are it. Pretty ridiculous, huh? Sitting someone on the throne just for this..."
"Pardon?"
"Long story short: I never wanted to be 'king.' But the blood runs thickest in me, so here I am."
"Ah..."
Mysticism exists in this world. Blue blood in a king wasn't that odd.
"I said I hated being king, but officials and other royals wouldn't hear it... anyway. That's when your works caught my eye."
"My works, you say?"
"Hamlet. It gained some traction in Haren Kingdom too. After folks read it, suddenly loads started cursing me out..."
"Haha..."
"So, if I keep getting hate like this, maybe the officials will finally let me step down someday?"
"I see..."
In that moment, I understood this "Lazy King." He was the same breed as my father!
"That's why I came—to urge you to keep writing diligently. Bonus if the works make me look bad!"
"...I'll do my best."
"Haha! Well, time to go! May the gods bless you!"
...Don't overthink it. Bedtime early tonight. I'm beat...
"Heehee, long time no see! Sir! You missed me a lot, right?"
"...Yes. It's been a while, Lady Is."
"Looks like you've had quite the fun while I was away?"
"Fun, you say?"
"I checked the mage tower's teleport entry records... and there was direct traffic from the Haren royals."
"......"
"Aw, don't tense up like that. Get too stiff, and I'll feel neglected?"