Volume 1 Chapter 40 Rough Business
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I told Lord Rainsheyn about meeting Ms. Claudel, and we decided to wait for her contact to figure out our next steps. Still, the room was cramped, and we only had commoner food, so I felt really bad for the nobles.
That night, Sir Mihail came down from the upper room to my room.
”Hey, Mr. Yuuta. It seems Lord Rainsheyn is feeling relieved and wants to have a drink. Sorry, but do you have any alcohol and snacks?”
”Ah, Count. I have some alcohol stocked here. As for snacks, I only have whatever I can find, but I’ll prepare something. MelMel (Melon), help me out.”
Saying that, Ms. Akari happily went to the kitchen.
”Well then, my dear. I’ll just have the alcohol first.
Oh, right. Mr. Yuuta, you should join us too.”
”Me? Well, I guess Ellulu can at least pour some drinks…”
”Ah, no, I’m watching Karin.”
With no choice, I went upstairs with Sir Mihail. Honestly, drinking with this couple was nothing but nerve-wracking.
It seemed like the cramped living situation and various worries had really taken a toll on everyone, as the alcohol was hitting them hard. But they were being careful not to make too much noise, or else the military would find us, and that would be a disaster.
Lord Rainsheyn spoke to me.
”Mr. Yuuta. Sorry. Until now, I thought humans were boring creatures. But it seems you are different. I can’t even imagine my daughter relying on someone… Have you already… done it?”
”Whoa!” I spat out the drink I had in my mouth.
”Haha, no need to be shy. She only dates men she approves of. And if she’s asking for help finding her parents, you must have made quite the impression.”
It felt like Sir Mihail and Lady Beyond were grinning at my face.
”Come on, Mr. Yuuta, I told you. Even if they say elves are monogamous, that would just make life boring for everyone, so it’s pretty much free sex!”
Lady Beyond is drunk?
”What do you mean by free sex?”
As she said that, Ms. Akari walked in with some snacks she made.
”Whoa!” I panicked and jumped back. I wonder how much of that conversation Ms. Akari heard.
”Oh, my dear partner. I’m sorry. Hmm, that stir-fry looks delicious. How about it? Since it’s a special occasion, you should have a drink too.”
As he said that, Sir Mihail handed a cup to Ms. Akari.
”Well then, just a little…”
Saying that, Ms. Akari walked past me and sat down with Lady Beyond and Lady Rainsheyn, starting to chat with the ladies. They seem to be having a good time.
About an hour passed, and the party wrapped up. Ms. Akari and I went back to the lower room.
”Hehe, Yuuta. You know what? The ladies told me that you can cheat a little more! You have to enjoy life!”
”Wait, what? But elves and humans have different lifespans…”
”Well, that’s true. But I replied, ‘My husband is the best!’.”
”Haha… thanks.”
”Then Lady Beyond said, ‘That’s right. That’s amazing…’”
”!”
This is what it feels like to break out in a cold sweat…
I silently walked down the stairs, and at the door, Ms. Akari turned to me and said.
”Well, it’s a world like this, so you can go anywhere, but… make sure to come back, okay?”
Damn it. Ms. Akari is so cute! I suddenly felt like I wanted to get intimate, but of course, Melon and Ellulu were in the room… My celibacy life seems like it will continue for a while.
Three days later, I got called by Ms. Claudel again… and it’s another Date Cafe…
”I can’t help it! This is about the only place we can talk comfortably! Well, I wouldn’t mind doing something else instead…”
”No, let’s talk. So, is everything set up?”
”Yeah. You know about the canal that runs through the Royal Capital, right? It connects to the outside through a barred gate under the castle walls, and I think we can break that gate.”
”Really! So, are we going to make your father swim?”
”Of course not, my dad can’t swim… We’ll use a small boat. But there’s a high chance we’ll get spotted by the military while we’re breaking it. If that happens, we’ll need some kind of distraction… Do you think we can pull in some mercenaries or bodyguards?”
”Ah, I might know someone… but if we do that, that helper won’t be able to return to the Royal Capital for a while, okay?”
”Good catch, darling. But that’s right. I plan to escape the Royal Capital too, but that helper won’t be able to come back for a bit either.”
So I’ve finally been upgraded to “darling”… but is it okay to consult Ms. Sharlin about this? But there’s no point in hesitating. She’ll probably help me out.
Thinking that, I decided to visit the merchant guild.
* * *
At the merchant guild, I explained everything to Mr. Agohige, Ms. Humari, and Ms. Sharlin and asked for their cooperation. Mr. Agohige spoke up.
”Good grief. When did Mr. Yuuta start getting ahead of our merchant information network? I had no idea this was happening. It seems the information control in the private sector is quite tight. And to think you’re involving the princess.”
”Ah, please keep this under wraps. Also, how about borrowing Ms. Sharlin…?”
”Well, if she can’t stay in the Royal Capital but can be with Lord Mihail, it won’t be too much of a loss for the caravan. Ms. Sharlin, what do you think?”
”…How many people do we need?”
”? Oh, the number of helpers, right? According to Ms. Claudel’s estimate, if we can hold off the military for ten minutes at a ten-meter-wide passage, how does that sound?”
”What’s that? If that’s the case, I should be enough on my own.”
”Eh? But, it’s pretty wide. Like, no one can get through…”
”What are you saying? We can count Lady Beyond in too. I can lend you my weapon. Well, you can’t use it since you can’t leave the Royal Capital anyway.”
”Huh? Oh, right. That person is super strong, after all.”
”Yeah, she’s my master. But, I really don’t want her naughty training… ah, I’m not joking! Don’t laugh!”
With Ms. Sharlin’s helper decided, I told Ms. Claudel about it. Ms. Claudel also seemed to have a few other nobles she wanted to help escape, so we gathered them all together, and 3 nights later, the nobles’ escape plan from the Royal Capital finally began.
* * *
In the middle of the night, I guided Sir Mihail and Lord Rainsheyn along the canal flowing beside Downtown, taking them to the designated passage.
My job ended here.
”Well then, I wish you a safe journey, Sir Mihail. Ms. Claudel and the mercenaries should be waiting at the designated spot. See you again in Ilman.”
”Yeah. Thanks for everything, Mr. Yuuta. See you soon in Ilman.”
Lord Rainsheyn also patted my shoulder and said,
”I won’t forget this favor. By the way, you were looking for an elf, right? I can’t do anything right now, but when I get back to my territory, I’ll check with the note you gave me. My territory is a bit far, but feel free to come visit. Claudel will be happy too.”
As we were parting, Lady Beyond gave me a deep kiss.
”Don’t worry. It’s not like I’m setting a death flag or anything. There’s no way ShaSha and I won’t succeed. So, Yuuta, let’s have another 4P in Ilman, okay?”
And then, Sir Mihail’s group melted into the darkness of the passage.
* * *
The story goes back to the night the king passed away.
In Prince Aaron’s private room in the royal castle, he was having a secret meeting with his uncle, Duke Asunabal, and the commander of the Royal Capital Military, General Naskinpos.
Prince Aaron was speaking with anger.
”Damn it! Father died too soon! We’re still not ready. Uncle, what should we do now?”
”Indeed, at this point, the first prince will likely be accepted as the heir by the Senate without any issues. If Sir Aaron is to make a comeback from here… we could say that the great lord’s early death is the first prince’s fault?”
”Haha, I see. But what happens after I push my brother aside? Will the high-ranking bureaucrats in the castle and the surrounding nobles follow me? I was supposed to gain enough power to face my brother without any rebels popping up first. Seriously, the military has made a big fuss, yet there’s been no progress at all!”
The focus shifted, and General Naskinpos changed his expression and countered.
”What are you saying? You knew from the start that the plan would take a long time to prepare. To bring it up now… what? There’s no problem. With just our Royal Capital Military and Duke’s private military, there are hardly any surrounding nobles who can stand against us. And… yes, for example, if we involve the nobles visiting the Royal Capital for the king’s funeral and coronation, there will be no one left to oppose us.”
”But, Asuka is still out there. If she gets supported by Lord Coral and comes to attack us…”
Prince Aaron spoke with concern, but the Duke smiled and replied.
”That’s not a problem at all. According to the spy’s report, Princess Asuka is mentally unwell and can’t handle her duties, living each day indulging in pleasures with her ladies-in-waiting. If we expose that, who would follow the princess… Besides, we have other plans in motion, and above all, there’s that Lord Coral. Unless he’s absolutely sure of victory, he won’t make a move. That princess, as you’ve always wished, will be your plaything once you take the throne.”
”If you say that, Uncle, I’ll trust you. Now, let’s come up with a strategy to involve the surrounding lords gathered for the state funeral.”
After the two stepped back, Prince Aaron lay down on the bed, closing his eyes and deep in thought.
”Damn, nothing is going my way. The succession, Asuka… I can’t tell how serious my uncle is about supporting me, and what about the military? Are they slacking off behind the scenes? How much have we drained from the treasury for this fantasy of procuring human weapons in bulk? If there’s even a hint of trouble during the audit, everyone involved must be executed… But if I can just hold on a little longer… once I take the throne, everyone will see me in a new light. And… my mother too…”
Prince Aaron’s mother came from a noble family of relatively modest status. However, the daughter she gave birth to at a young age was adopted by a childless marquis family. As the daughter grew up, she caught the eye of the king, who married her. Together, they had four children, including Youmo and Asuka.
(But, I…)
He doesn’t know what his father was thinking when he reached out to his wife’s mother, but after he was born, the records were altered, and the queen was said to be the daughter of the viscount couple from the start.
He’s fine. It doesn’t matter that his mother’s status was low. He is undoubtedly the king’s son.
But his mother… her very existence as his daughter was erased. The queen passed away long ago, and today the king has also died. He’s probably the only one who knows the truth behind it all. That’s why he must prove that his mother is the king’s mother. Yūmo and Asuka cannot be the king!
And if he marries Asuka, their child will be the true, unblemished heir to the throne.
”Until I report to my mother’s grave that I’ve become king… I’ll make it happen…”
With that, Prince Aaron let out a big sigh.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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