Chapter 22 (1/2)

Azul Kingdom]

Southeast across the Reelabras Mountain Range from the Blau Empire. Beyond the dense forest is the Azul Kingdom.

It’s only one of the small countries and its territory is also small. It has managed to function well economically, but it is currently suffering from chronic labour shortages due to its small population.

Currently, the Royal Capital was in a bit of a chaotic situation at the moment.

There’s no vibrancy to the main streets that should be always quiet lively, instead it was replaced by loud noises created by people who roared around the Royal Castle.

「Bring out the princess!」

「What will you do if the empire will attack!?」

When the people shouted that, the guards who defended the castle yelled while holding their shields.

「You, you idiot! Where do you think you are!?」

「If you don’t stop this, all of you will be thrown into the dungeon!」

Hearing such words, the people’s anger burned up even more. Seeing the tension of the people and soldiers who yell at each other in this critical situation, a man breathed a sigh.

He is was short and a plump man. His age is probably in his fifties, but currently he was bending his back with a depressed look so it would not be strange even if it was said that he is sixty years old.

There’s a small crown above the red hair of the man who wore a mantle on his luxurious dress.

King of Azul Kingdom, Reizent Torte Azul. That is the name and title of this man.

However, Reizent is looking out of the window quietly with a worn-out face that doesn’t even have a trace such as the dignity of a King.

「… I was done. I was completely done…… After all, I was trapped by the Empire…… I even personally led my own daughter to receive a slave mark……」

Reizent grumbles to himself hoarsely.

He heard a knocking sound on the door from the outside. Knitting his brows to the intense sound, Reizent raised his face.

Immediately after giving his permission to enter the room, the door opened and a tall man appeared from the back. He didn’t have a helmet, but he was wearing a white armour.

「Excuse me. Your Majesty, an envoy of the Blau Empire……」

「Again?」

Interrupting the man’s report, Reizent looked up at the sky. Seeing the annoyed look of Reizent, the man shut his mouth and hardened his expression.

「Although there should also be no leaks of internal information to the outside, the populace is alleging that I attacked the imperial soldiers because of the princess cuteness and I am currently hiding her inside the castle…… And now, what I have heard from the envoy say that we should quickly give the princess or else the Empire will give the Kingdom a crushing blow……」

Reizent said that with a faint smile and slammed the wall.

「Nonsense! She received a slave mark in front of my eyes and I was watching my crying daughter! Because of the Empire, the princess became a slave and lost her place where she can return to! How could they behave as if they were the victim!」