134 Queen (1/2)
–Aegir POV–
「So is what the storytellers said really true!? That only a single person stood in front of the castle gates and cut down a thousand enemies!」
I have been granted an audience with Her Majesty, Celestina, the Queen of the Malt Kingdom...or it should have been an audience.
「How about the giant spider which crawled out from the depths of the earth!? How big was it!? The spider I saw last night in the bathroom was this big.」
The girl seated on the throne could not even reach the floor with her legs, but she kicks them back and forth while talking excitedly. All I could see is a child who's talking about made-up stories she heard from somewhere.
「Your Majesty, don't tell me you are going to invite those vulgar people like the storytellers to the royal palace? That won't do. If you want, grandpa1 can tell you, so...」
「No! The stories told by grandpa are dull and boring. I'll turn into an old woman just from listening to them.」
「How harsh...」
If this was a scene in a room of a common residential house, it would be a pleasant chat between a young girl and her grandfather, but unfortunately, this is the royal palace. Since we got interrupted, I'll only say what is necessary.
「By the way, Your Majesty, I heard from the messenger that I was invited this time to discuss topics of peace and trade.」
I give the man called 'grandpa' a glance while speaking to the young girl. It is clear to me this girl has no experience, so the actual person closest to being the King and the influential person is this elderly man.
「Mu, talk to grandpa about those difficult subjects.」
「I will handle it in place of Her Majesty.」
The man called 'grandpa' is the Lord Regent2 named Marquess Lavoy. And sure enough, someone was appointed to her as the Regent as I expected.
「Our country has agreed upon a mutual non-aggression pact with Treia Kingdom. We have continued to uphold that pact for close to 50 years.」
「Treia has disappeared.」
「Disappeared? Where did it go?」
「Your Majesty, here are your sweets.」
「Ooh, I love sugary confections!」
Perhaps feeling bored from the conversation between myself and the Lord Regent, Celestina interrupted and was given some confections by the maid at her side.
「Indeed, the Kingdom of Treia has disappeared, and your nation has become the new neighboring nation. Although our neighbours may have changed, our desire for peace has not, however we have attempted to bind a non-aggression pact many times and have not been able to get a favorable reply.」
Of course nobody would accept. In the first place, a mutual non-aggression treaty is signed only when both parties view each other as a threat. There's no meaning to signing an agreement of equal terms with an opponent who you can easily crush, and our King is not that naïve to do so.
「So sweeeeeet! I want more.」
「Your Majesty, if you eat more, your teeth will be eaten by bugs.」
「During that time, because you have also mobilized your army, we don't feel at ease either.」
I have certainly moved soldiers for the patrol. But only 2000 of them, which should not be enough to make a country feel threatened at all.
「The heroic tales of Lord Hardlett has reached the southern countries by word of mouth of the storytellers as well. If such a brave general moves his army, your heart can no longer remain calm.」
「I will apologize for that. However, that is ultimately part of the process of dealing with the aftermath of the war, and the fact that my soldiers have been returned to their place should have made it clear I have no intentions to invade.」
「Yes, though that may be so, I would feel at ease if the pact is signed as proof.」
Fumu, it seems he wants me to sign the non-aggression pact no matter what. I've discussed with Leopolt and I don't particularly mind, but I give Tristan a glance.
「Going on about 'peace this' and 'peace that'...they're practically screaming 'I'm scared' and 'I don't want to fight'. I don't see what's wrong with it? We're not going to attack them anyways. If they're going to be so childish, they shouldn't be a threat to us.」
Fumu, so I guess it's fine to accept.
「As was said earlier, we have no objections to signing the non-aggression pact.」
The tension in the air quickly settles.
「This is wonderful. So...is it safe to say that Goldonia's royalty also think the same way?」
「The agreement is ultimately between your country and mine, however I don't think the Goldonian Kingdom would oppose this motion.」
「Ooh! Then let's sign immediately!」
That is only for now though, since there's no way I can see inside the King's heart. I wonder if they know that If the King so desires, he could give the word and they will vanish from the face of the earth even though I've signed the non-aggression pact with them.
「I don't know if they're just laid back or what.」
I share the same sentiments, but don't say it out loud Tristan or they'll hear you.
A table and chair is brought out and placed in front of me. They then take out the document for the agreement, which they must have composed beforehand. These guys are well-prepared.
「Your Majesty, your signature please.」
「Mm...finished!」
The Lord Regent presents the document with Celestina's signature to me. What messy handwriting...also, since she ate sweets with that hand, some sugar is stuck to the paper.
I let Celia confirm once just in case before I sign it. Even if I don't pay too much attention, I can just ignore the things I don't like later. What will stop my invasion is an army and castle walls, not some scrap of paper.
「What a perfect couple, since you both have messy handwriting.」
Shut it, I know my writing is messy. I've had someone else write all the letters for me recently so it has gotten worse.
「Next is the issue with trade.」
When I look over at Celestina, who is seated on the throne, her head is rocking back and forth and she looks as if she'll doze off any second.
「It's about time for your afternoon nap.」
The maid on the side comments with a troubled look on her face.
「Then we'll just get Her Majesty to approve later.」
「Understood. Now, Your Majesty, let's go.」
「Nnyuu...let me hear more when I wake up...」
After saying that, the little queen falls asleep on the maid's back. How appropriate for her age, she's just a spoiled child and nothing else.
「Then, shall we change locations?」
That'll be nice, I want to be in a place I can sit more comfortably. I'd prefer if there are some pretty maids too.
The place we were guided to was a harmless and inoffensive meeting room. Besides the prime minister who came along, there were two other men sat in the room. Unfortunately, there were no pretty or big-breasted maids.
「I have brought them, Diego-sama.」
「Umu, good work.」
As soon as Lavoy enters the room, he bows deeply to one man. I don't get it. If he was appointed as the Lord Regent, the only person ranked above him should be that little girl, who is the King.
「I apologize for the late introduction. I am Diego II... perhaps it is better to address me as just Diego now. I'm Celestina's father.」
「Well, how rude of me...」
I'll at least bow to the former King. Today's constant use of manners is really suffocating me. I thought for sure both of her parents died and the young girl had to succeed the throne out of necessity, but the previous King is still looking quite healthy. He certainly isn't young, but he hasn't gone senile yet either. At the very least, I think he might be the better King than the girl at the moment.
「That child was enthroned at an early age after all, so there are not many people she can casually converse with. The servants are unable to talk at length out of fear and respect, and I've been told talking with Lavoy is boring.」
「Pardon me for being inexperienced.」
Diego looks into the distance and continues talking further.
「Her blood-related brothers are also unable to make any decent conversations with Celestina...so it's quite rare for her to talk freely with someone as you did.」
I intended to hold back, but it might not have been enough. If you were so worried about that, it would have been better not to cede the throne to your daughter.
「Hahaha, you look puzzled. Is it that surprising for me to hand over the throne to Celestina?」
「I am curious to know why.」
「I see, I see, then I shall explain prior to our negotiations for your interest...」
Diego seems to love to talk, since I didn't even ask him much but he just keeps blabbing on and on.
「So he's going to keep talking...」
Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.
Tristan seems astounded and sighs. Celia also seems surprised.
The details of the conversation was as follows:
Besides Celestina, Diego has two sons. Both of them are in their mid-20's and already respectable adults, but both of them are extremely evil. The eldest son is gloomy and tricky, while the second son is arrogant and rude and has a nasty personality, unable to agree with a virtuous person like Diego. On the other hand, Celestina is the cute, youngest daughter who adores her father after her mother died of illness.
Then, Diego had a thought. If he were to die, there would definitely be a dispute over who succeeds and in the worst case, his cute Celestina may be killed and turned into a tool for political strife.
And so, he thought of a clever scheme to make Celestina the King while he was still healthy so her brothers would not be able to lay hands their on her.
Thus, the little girl became the King. And they all lived happily ever after.
「Surely, that's a stupid move. I feel sorry for the citizens too.」
Tristan mumbles in a really soft voice, while I also nod greatly. Well, they can do whatever they want, since this concerns another nation.
「Telling outsiders of such important information regarding their nation is also quite unbelievable.」