Chapter 18: His Royal Highness Julius
“It’s an honor to meet the national hero and the bearer of living knowledge. “
I was greeted by His Highness Julius, the younger brother of His Highness Auglia, who took my hand with a wry smile.
His Highness Auglia watched from the side, holding his chin in one hand. Although both brothers had red hair, His Highness Julius had straight hair that he tied back in a single ponytail.
His eyes were nearly golden and his gaze was filled with reverence as he looked at me.
When he rose to his feet, he faced His Highness Auglia. Despite his demeanor, he appeared to be quite passionate (hot-blooded type).
“Brother! Why don’t you get married? Your attitude is making me… “
“Julius.”
His Highness Auglia finally interrupted his younger brother with a wry smile.
His Highness Julius had returned early for the meeting with the Faithnum Empire, and he immediately knelt to greet me first, neglecting even to talk to his family.
His Highness Auglia said he would definitely return, but there was still a week to go until the delegation arrived.
While he aspires to become the leader of the knights, I wondered if that was appropriate. It appears he was one of the many who were cured of their wheat allergy, so in the event of any emergency, he would likely come to my assistance(?).
I would be guarded by Lord Balk (a former knight known for his domestic skills who now works as a civil servant), His Highness Julius, and the maids, Melissa, Gwenna, and Millie, even while I slept.
Lord Balk, who was said to be His Highness Auglia’s sword master, had already approved of his skills. It was comforting to know that someone capable of protecting me was close by.
I threatened my home country using myself as a shield. If I don’t come back to them, they’ll want to kill me no matter what. I don’t know when that threat will be carried out.
I am a blackmailer, a hostage whose life is in the hands of my home land. I am unable to protect myself, and if I am killed, it will lead to more war. Although I have taken secret measures, I am powerless…
Today, we’ll talk about how to release me from my position as a hostage.
The meeting could be considered a negotiation, but it’s clear to everyone that the empire’s apology is merely a guise for their intention to kill me.
Those who are suspected of being spies are under house arrest, but we cannot detain them completely due to the risk of false accusations. We are seeking their cooperation.
Everyone is staying quietly in their assigned rooms in the royal palace, saying “we humbly comply.” On the fifth floor, two soldiers stand guard outside the door of a single individual’s room.
Spies are often considered to be servants with no family ties and unreliable backgrounds. In my country, it was a common practice to hire servants from the lower classes, so it’s not unusual.
Of course, the maids and butlers who serve me on a daily basis have their identities verified and guaranteed.
Due to a shortage of labor for menial tasks, we sought assistance from the Chamber of Commerce in the port city and were granted permission to hire workers with verified identities from a reputable trading company, but only for a limited time.
“Making connections is always a wise move,” I thought to myself.
It seems that His Highness Julius and the royal family have concluded their updates and discussions on the current situation.
“I won’t let anything harm Claire-sama, my savior! Now, let’s figure out how we can f*ck them!”
His Highness Julius is impulsive, and his plan to defeat them may be a bit extreme, but to “f*ck them,” it’s certainly intriguing.
