Volume 2 Chapter 11 (1/2)
TLN: Unedited.ver... I think my editors were busy or something.
Chapter 2 Episode 11
(Audience 3)
The 96th
day after being summoned to another world.
Ryouma was
the only person inside the room in the castle.
There was a
little bit chaos during the audience; however, the princess never changes her
decision.
In Ryouma's
mind, he remembers the general gaze full of hatred being directed to him at the
time when he was about to leave the audience room.
(Fuu...
Well, I was a newcomer after all, so it can't be helped. )
Actually,
there are many things that he feels regretted.
In the
beginning, he wants to join the princess' faction without making anyone wary of
him.
However,
even if he said that, nothing would change.
(I should
be happy that the princess show an interest to my proposal...)
Currently,
Ryouma is still not yet formally part of the princess' faction.
Considering
everything, it was natural.
After all,
he has no achievement yet.
And from
now on, he should start making an achievement.
Thus
Ryouma's battle is still not yet ended.
No, rather,
this is where the actual battle start.
”I'm
sorry I've made you wait. ”
The one who
entered the room was Princess Lupis being accompanied by Meltina.
”Oh
no, for granting such an impossible wish, I really feel grateful. Your
Highness. ”
Ryouma
raises his body from his chair then lowered his head.
He wants to
discuss about what to do from now on, specifically because he had created
inconvenience to many people during the audience.
For that,
Ryouma and the princess both moved to another room within the castle.
And for
security reason, only Ryouma was being called.
”Well,
you don't have to be that stiff. Please relax and make yourself comfortable.
”
”Understood
Then please excuse me. ”
After
confirming Princess Lupis and Meltina have sat down, Ryouma once again sit down
in his chair as well.
”Then
shall we began our discussion? ”
After
confirming with the Princess, Meltina starts the talk.
”You
should know it already, what we want is a military force. ”
This should
be equal to putting Ryouma and the others in the princess' faction.
Meltina
said those words while looking at Ryouma as if trying to read his mind, then
she continues.
”However...”
”The
family of the people who died because of us, you unable to disregard the family
dissent is it?”
Hearing
Ryouma's words, Meltina nodded her head.
”Well,
I guess that can't be helped, don't you think? Now then, what's your
term?”
”Value...
”
Meltina
answered Ryouma's question briefly.
Although
many expectations were hidden within her reply.
”I
see... I have to show some value other than being a war potential, is it?
”
”After
all, if you said you only have war potential then, it would be no difference
than hiring mercenaries from somewhere. ”
”If
that is the case then, your highness will get a bargaining in this negotiation
you know?”
Hearing
Ryouma's words, Meltina shows an expression as if doubting him.
”Why
so?”
”After
all, I'll be the one who brings victory for your highness. ”
Hearing
that, Princess Lupis unintentionally leaked small laughter.
”You
have such a great confidence ne~? ”
”Thank
you very much for your praise. ”
”However,
I can't believe you with just a mere words ”
”Of
course, I understand that. ”
”Then
can you prove your words?”
Princess
Lupis tone of voice sounds like joking; however, he can feel thirst of blood
coming from her gaze.
”Of
course... or so that is what I want to say but, can I ask some confirmation
first?”
”What
are you trying to do? You, are you trying to deceive her highness?”
Meltina's
hand moved toward the sword on her waist.
It seems
like she's going to cut his head immediately if he makes a poor excuse here.
”No no
no... It's just, how am I going to make a countermeasure if I can't grasp the
current situation? Or rather than that... I saw something worrisome during the
audience, you know... After all, the situation is entirely different from what
I heard from Mikhail. Thus, I want to hear the current situation directly from
her highness. ”
Meltina who
heard Ryouma's explanation turned her line of sight toward the princess for
confirmation.
”First,
shall we listen about the worrisome matter you had said just now?”
Princess
Lupis said those words toward Ryouma while keeping calm.
”Alright...
First, I heard from Mikhail that the Knight faction is the princess' faction;
however, I guess it was not that simple is it not?”
Unrest
expression shown on the two people face after they heard Ryouma's words.
While
pretending to be calm, Princess Lupis continues the talk.
”Why
do you think so?”
”That
because at the time when your highness spares Mikhail's life, some of the
people there show unpleasant expression. Well, it was only for an instant
though. And The thing that I want to confirm just now. I've already got the
answer from looking at your highness expression. ”
”I
see... Then, what is your thought regarding that?”
”Regarding
the knight faction as your highness base support, we're sure of that, right?
However, not all the knight faction members supporting your highness. Perhaps,
the General who had been arguing against Meltina-san? Is there a separate
faction centered around that person? No... opposite of that, it's not like
there's a separate faction centered around that general, the general himself is
the main actor while the princess is actually only a figurehead, am I
right?”
Long
silence covered the whole room.
One might
wonder just how much their hearts was beating furiously after hearing Ryouma's
words.
The answer
can be seen just by looking at their expression.
(I hit the
mark huh?... That's mean, I have to change how I should deal with all of
this... No wait, I have to hear the princess objective first...)
”You
able to understand all of this just from the audience today?”
”Yes. ”
After the
long silence, Princess Lupis finally open her mouth.
”I
see... Indeed, just like you said, having you at my side might be really a
bargain...”
”Your
highness...”
Meltina
voice filled with sorrow and regret can be heard.
”It's
fine... There were no meaning in keeping quiet when he was already seen through
me this much, don't you think so?”
After
saying so, Princess Lupis turned her eyes to Ryouma.
”Just
like what you said... I had no choice but to become a figurehead. All the real
powers are held by General Hodram. ”
”I
see, that is the name of the person who argued with Meltina-san during the
audience, right?”
”Yes.
”
”Hmm...
Then can your highness tell me about the current situation? After all, I can't
make any countermeasure without knowing it. ”
Princess
Lupis began to talk after brooding over a little.
”Indeed.
... First, I should tell you everything about what the knight factions are.
”
It took
Princess Lupis 30 minutes to explain while getting supplemented by Meltina here
and there during the talk.
”I see
now; this is indeed quite bad. Even if the knight faction were to win the next
political struggle, the future that your highness will get would be the worst.
”
Such words
come out from Ryouma's mouth after listening to all of the princess'
explanation.
Due to
General Hodram holding the real power, by the time the political strife against
the n.o.ble comes to an end, Princess Lupis would literally.
No, if
General Hodram was someone who does not care about rebel stigma, after he
executes the n.o.bles faction, he might actually sit on the throne himself.
In other
words, for the princess to survive, two conditions must be cleared.
One is to
win the political strife against the n.o.ble.
During the
time the knight faction tried to win against the n.o.ble faction, they have also
to expand the princess' faction until it has enough power to counter the
General.
Even just
one of this condition can be said to be considerably difficult.
Although
Meltina and Princess Lupis seems to understand about this already.
(I thought
I was going to pa.s.s my predicament smoothly but, it ends up like this huh? Only
one-third of the knights from the Knight faction have sworn allegiance to the
princess...)
One can say
that the Princess faction was being cornered like a mouse.
That's why
they found interest toward Ryouma's words, as if clinging to the last straw of
hope.
For their own