Living Life My Own Damn Way (2)
At the old man's greeting, I glanced around. No one in the hall was paying us any mind.
"It's been half a year, sir. What brings someone as esteemed as you all the way out here?"
"Show some respect to His Majesty, Balder."
The hulking woman fixed me with a murderous glare at the word "sir." She looked ready to smash my skull with the beer mug in her hand any second.
But whatever. Titles like "Your Majesty" were too cringey to even spit out.
"What? Wanna go a round right here, Kamei?"
Kamei half-rose from her chair like she was seriously considering it.
"Don't, Kamei. He's called me that since the day we first met."
The king chuckled heartily and waved her down, reining in his royal guard captain. Kamei sat back down. The king turned to me, crinkles forming around his eyes.
"I got bored and came to visit. Also curious how you've been holding up."
"What, can't you see?"
The king followed my gaze around the inn's hall. Blazing lanterns, cool air, bustling crowd, delicious smells wafting from the kitchen, pretty waitresses. For a guy who'd impulsively decided to run an inn from nothing, it'd grown massively in just half a year.
"I worried when you suddenly said you were opening an inn, but that was just me overthinking. Never imagined it'd be booming like this."
"You already knew all about it, didn't you? Acting like it's your first time hearing."
"Heh heh."
The king neither confirmed nor denied, just laughed and pointed to the empty seat beside Kamei.
"Take a seat for a bit. If you're not too swamped."
I sat, and the king snatched a fried fish from the table, popping it in his mouth.
"The food here's incredible. Makes me want to send the palace chefs here for training."
"Hired a senior from the Cuisine Academy. Can't half-ass the grub if you're selling food."
"Ah, that explains it."
The king munched through the whole piece, crumbs sticking to his beard, looking utterly satisfied.
"How was your outing, Bertrand?"
I knew exactly what "outing" he meant—the past few days smashing six baronies to bits.
"Less 'fun' and more just handling business. You know what those bastards were up to? Doubt it goes that deep for you."
"Tell me."
I explained how the six lords had colluded to blockade the northern road out of Rosens. The king, well-versed in Rosens' geopolitics, seemed to grasp the full picture from that alone.
"Those idiot lords made a huge blunder."
"Eh, they probably thought it was their best shot. Without me, they'd have pulled it off. The capital couldn't help anyway—not after Golruk, same as always."
Repeated failures purging Golruk had shrunk the capital's leverage over Rosens. Lords who didn't want Rosens thriving used it as ammo, hammering the palace politically until it backed off to just stationing one administrator to keep the direct rule nominal.
"So we end up relying on you again, unintentionally. Heh heh, what a thing."
"Think what you want. But six baronies wiped out, and the noble council's staying quiet?"
"Quiet for now. Gotta investigate among themselves first. Won't be easy, though—no one imagines a single guy pulling that off."
"So how'd you know it was me, sir?"
"Who else in this world could pull something like that besides you?"
The king muttered to himself and laughed. Kamei didn't even crack a smile. Man, that woman was stone-cold.
"Heard rumors you were on death's door, but looks like bullshit. You're still kicking strong."
"Plenty wish it otherwise, I guess. In a place where they spread lies even about healthy folks dying, health rumors are par for the course."
"Yeah, nowhere filthier or slimier than the capital. Viper pit's got nothing on it."
The king cackled, wiping greasy fingers on a napkin.
"Viper pit, eh? Good metaphor. Just like the palace—biting till the last one's left."
"Politics is politics. No happy endings where everyone thrives."
The king nodded in agreement, taking a swig of beer.
"I became king that way too, but now I'm disillusioned. Few years, I'll have to pass the throne, and it'll be blood washing blood again."
"Clean house now so it doesn't happen. Every succession war in kingdom history started with a sudden king death."
The king eyed me steadily.
"That's why I'm uneasy lately. Then the report on those barony attacks hit, and you popped into my head."
Sensing a long talk ahead, I waved Idwild over for a beer myself.
"You're the hero chosen by the Goddess, saver of kingdom and world. Stacked achievements no one's matched—you could've seized the kingdom, hell, the world if you wanted."
"Me? Hm... And?"
"But you tossed it all, vanished to live doing what you want. I'm jealous."
The king couldn't say "I want to" or "I won't." Becoming king erased the self—turned you into a tool for everyone. Palace politics was maneuvering the king for maximum gain. The king's skill was balancing without favoritism. One slip in that brutal checks-and-balances, and rebellion, assassination, purges rained blood. No one trustworthy, no one to trust. Viper pit.
"Jealousy's fine. I'm happier now than as a hero. But you didn't come just for that, right?"
The king paused, glancing at Kamei. Quick on the uptake, she set down her mug and stood.
"Night, Kamei. Hope the bed fits."
I tossed the jab; she shot me a glare and headed upstairs. No fun teasing that one—no fun at all.
"Speak."
"Three prime candidates for the throne."
"Hold up."
I checked around again, but our tucked-away table kept our chat private. This old coot... that was the real reason.
Asking my take on succession? Made sense. Better than untrustworthy palace snakes—I had no skin in the game, knew the basics, and could speak freely without kissing ass.
"But... I'm just an innkeeper. Hate to break it, but don't hit me up for favors now."
"Heh heh. Not asking for help. Just wanted to vent to someone, sort my thoughts."
"That so... If it's just venting, go on."
The king sipped his beer and continued.
"Three prime candidates. First, as you know, my daughter Elua. But..."
"But you'll never hand her the throne. With her personality, it'd be a bloodbath across the kingdom."
Princess Elua was obsessive and cruel. Even top nobles watched their mouths around her. Her with the crown? Kingdom's doom, plain as day.
"Second's Alvis, backed by the noble council. Strong support base, but bloodline-wise, trails Elua."
"And if that prick takes it, the country's the nobles' playground."
"Exactly. Third's my bastard Gobert. You've probably seen his face."
Gobert, son of a concubine. Mild-mannered, smart, but too nice—fatal in politics.
"You're leaning Gobert, huh. Not much choice."
"But Gobert lags Elua in blood and Alvis in support."
"Name him now or on your deathbed via will? That's a death sentence for the kid."
"Yeah... spot on."
No way cunning, cruel Elua or power-hungry nobles let some nobody outrank them and take the crown. Assassinate Gobert, then the rest duke it out—obvious to anyone not an idiot.
"Tough spot. And with those Kusobo lords rising up for independence on top."
"Heh heh. Headache. What would you do?"
I eyed the king a moment, then spoke.
"I've got one hell of a good idea."