Chapter 4: The Saint, Reunited With the King
“Miss Stacey, it’s been a long time.”
“Your Majesty, it’s been a long time.”
King Lute arrived at the Count’s house at the appointed time and date. The king’s marriage proposal has attracted a large number of attendants and guards, and not only her father, but also the countess and her half-siblings, are preoccupied with the situation.
Stacey felt sorry for the Countess, who fed her despite her dislike for her, or her half-siblings, who treated her like a tumor but were never mean to her.
Lute smiled as he was led into the drawing room, which had been thoroughly cleaned for the day.
Stacey passed out right after the dragon was killed and went back to the church. Since then, she and the king have only talked through letters.
Lute, whom she hadn’t seen in nearly a year, had grown even more fearless. But his gentle smile remained, and Stacey managed to return his smile, albeit nervously.
The Countess had hurriedly made a fashionable dress for Stacey, with a softly billowing skirt. It was a little uncomfortable for Stacey, who usually wore simple dresses in the countryside and simple priestess robes in church.
While the majority of the king’s entourage waited outside, a young knight dressed as a knight and a middle-aged man dressed as a bureaucrat followed Lute to the parlor and stood behind him.
A square cloth package was carried by the knight. It could be a gift or something.
“It is a pleasure to welcome you, Your Majesty .”
Stacey thanks him, and Lute extends a large hand.
“No, thank you for your hospitality, and… I also want to thank you for allowing me to speak with you, despite the fact that I sent you that letter out of the blue.”
“I don’t mind. It’s just…”
“Oh.”
Lute, who had been wearing a nervous expression, relaxed his cheeks slightly.
“I’ve come today to propose to Miss Stacey Rithberth.”
“…Well, Your Majesty, I’m honored to hear you say so, but…”
“I understand what you mean, so…”
Stacey winced as the bureaucrat handed Lute a piece of paper with the application form his father had prepared on it.
(As expected, you’re referring to those unreasonable requirements…?)
Half of them were Stacey’s type, while the other half were just a joke.
(I had no idea anyone would agree with me on that and I had no idea it would be His Majesty the King.)
“… I mean…”
“I am still a king. My annual income is well over 200,000 kururu.”
“I-Is that right…?”
“I’m also tall—If I had a wife, I would have no other lovers and would only love one. I swear to the Star Goddess I will never betray her.”
“… Yes.”
“Of course, I’m not going to leave you to do the housework—and I adore cats. I have five in my castle.”
“Really?!”
When she raised her voice, Lute looked up from the paper and smiled.
“You are welcome to come and see the cats whenever you want.”
“U-Um, thank you.”
“And finally—Samuel.”
“Yes, your majesty.”
Lute called for the knight and accepted the package he was carrying. Stacey had assumed it was a gift, but what emerged was…
“…Your Majesty?”
“As you can see, it’s a brick block.”
“B-Brick…”
“I’m going to crush it with one hand now.”
Lute stood up and grabbed a brick block with his large right hand, nodding vigorously at Stacey, who could only repeat the same words.
Immediately, a large cloth was spread on the floor, apparently brought by the knights and the bureaucrat, and Lute stood in the center of it.
(…Brick block, Brick block, Huh?!)
“Y-Your majesty! You don’t have to go that far…!”
“Don’t worry, Miss Stacey; I’ve practiced a lot.”
“I didn’t mean that! It was more of a, you know, prank…”
“… Hmph!”
Even though Stacey was pleading with him, Lute’s hand was jerked into a tight grip on the brick block he was holding, and the arm of his expensive suit bulged to its full height.
―Crack!
The brick block is crushed in an instant, and the brick fragments splatter onto the cloth.
Stacey was dumbfounded as the knight and bureaucrat began to clean up the mess, while Lute clasped and unclasped his right hand in satisfaction.
“Well, it looks like the practice paid off.”
“…Oh my god! Are you hurt?! I’ll take care of you right away!”
“Well, you don’t have to use your magic for something as trivial as this.”
Lute smiled and extended his hand to show her his palm. His white gloves are covered in sand brick fragments, but he appears to be unharmed.
(… Thank goodness! If His Majesty’s right hand had been rendered ineffective as a result of that silly condition, then…!)
Stacey wobbled, but Lute flew in and hugged her around the waist, supporting her.
…The hand that had just shattered a brick block in an instant and decapitated a demonic dragon with a great sword a year ago was full of tenderness―it’s the same hand that had shaken her hand when they first met.
“I’m sorry, it must be too stimulating for a lady…”
“Y-Yes, no! It was originally my idea. Thank you kindly. I’ll get up right now.”
“Really? I’m glad to hear that.”
Lute gave a reassuring smile and led Stacey to the sofa.
“…So, I meet all the conditions you have set out.”
“…Yes, that seems to be the case. But, um… Why did Your Majesty request that he marry me?”
Aside from the fact that meeting the ridiculous recruitment requirements was a miracle, Stacey had no idea how Lute felt about her.
“I am the Count’s daughter, but I am illegitimate and have not received a proper education as a noble lady. By marrying you, I will become queen of the Craifu kingdom. I don’t think I’m up to the queen’s task.”
“You don’t?”
“Yes. Even His Majesty will be wronged if a selfish and greedy woman like me becomes queen.”
Stacey was convinced she was right, but Lute slowly turned his head.
“It seems you are underestimating yourself…”
Lute spoke up again after a brief pause.
“Miss Stacey―What do you think the Queen’s most important job is?”
“To procreate with His Majesty the King and give birth to a worthy heir?”
“Huh…! W-Well, that’s one thing.”
Stacey was certain she had given him the perfect answer, but judging by Lute’s clearly upset expression, it wasn’t the answer he desired.
“Well… going to dominate the social world?”
“Yeah, well, that’s also important.”
Lute acknowledged Stacey’s answer, but was still unable to come up with the right response.
(Hmm… What else could it be if not procreation or socialization?)
Lute cleared his throat and sat back down as Stacey was perplexed by the answer.
“…When push comes to shove, succession and society can be left to others. But that is not what I desire for my Queen.”
“What exactly is it?”
“… It may seem silly, but I want to be able to discuss anything with the queen.”
Lute’s voice was tense as he spoke.
“I’ve met a few potential queens. Many of them are the daughters of prominent aristocrats, and I’ve met foreign princesses as well.”
(… I knew there were a lot of candidates.)
Stacey is convinced, but Lute’s face isn’t as bright as he says it.
“Now that I have inherited the throne from my brother, I need a queen—but, I’ve spent half my life as a knight, and I’m not well-versed in societal norms. Perhaps that’s why I’ve had trouble making friends with the ladies.”
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