47 Episode 46: The Gray Earl Son (2/2)

”Alliance?”

”We're not so close to being comrades. What we give each other priority is stability and prosperity in the country. Then let's form an alliance with me. If it's in my interest, you just have to keep the alliance going. If I tilt the country, you can drag it down relentlessly.”

I tell Miguel as I slap him in the neck with my fingers. Although Miguel rounded his eyes for a moment, he immediately held his belly and laughed.

”Ha ha! You can drag yourself down if it's not in the country's interest! Nice, nice, Princess! You're the best!

”... that much?

”You don't get tired of watching a woman with that much temper. Uh, that's crazy. But you're really a parent and a child, and a princess.”

”Hmm?”

”They also said His Majesty Orphans. If you need it to stabilize the country, drop this neck. Then Lord Grants and Queen Sylphine squeezed me.”

”... uh, it's amazing”

It was too easy to imagine a father whose mother was preaching and shrinking his shoulders under pressure from Lord Grants. But I'm just a little relieved when people say they're similar. I'm glad you think I'm a proper daughter.

I am royal even if I rot, and I grew up in this country. I don't hate this country, and I don't wish it was rough. That's why I thought I could swallow the pain or be king. I've never been over it before, though.

”So, alliance, alliance. You think it's okay to remain neutral?

”Yeah, I wouldn't even tell you to be on my side. Let's keep our hands together while our interests match.”

”Fine. This is my personal covenant with the princess. The Graphites are, once and for all, sire by but neutral in their position. I'm not going to change that position even if I take the lead. Is that all right with you?

I nod and show. I'm sure the loyalty of Zildu's grandfather and the present Marquis Graphite was dedicated to his father. Somehow I feel that way.

So what I get is Miguel's trust and loyalty. When he doesn't get along with it, he could turn to my enemy. But I don't mind. Sometimes it's better to have a dry relationship.

”From today on, I'm your ally. Say hello again, Princess Anisphere?

”This is Miguel. I'd like to ask you a quick favor.”

”Yes, sir. Instead, give me good information on magic.”

”... then. Raini!”

When I call Raini, Raini, who was waiting a short distance away, rushes up.

”Are you calling? Dear Annis.”

”Bring me one Mana Blade. Give it to Miguel.”

”... because it's good?

”It's an alliance. I'll take care of it, that's why.”

Mana Blade hasn't used it as her primary weapon since I got the Celestial either. I may carry it as a protective weapon.

Miguel might have something in the future. You might be able to guess your alliance with me. So I'll give it to you as protection when something happens. This is my sincerity.

”Oh! Rumor has it you're a demon prop! Can I have one?

”Yeah, definitely use it. But if you use it too much, you'll be suspicious of my relationship.”

”Of course it is! So, again, you're asking for information?

”Yep. All I want to hear is about the aristocracy that seems to take my side and the aristocracy that needs to be careful.”

”Hmm...”

Miguel strokes his jaw to my question. Put your hand down while I stroke your chin.

”First, the Voltaire family. Looks like you're gathering support over there with the intention of delivering to Chartreuse's cauldron. Our Lord is also a Taka of Magic Faith. I'm sure Lang, my son, knows, but he won't impress the princess very well.”

”Oh, I know that's a boulder.”

”So, he said he was turning up the heat on Miss Uphilia. He wants to welcome me to his wife in the future.”

”He's gonna break it.”

I'm not saying what. It really hurts my eclampsia, Lang......

If you turn a blind eye to Ufi, who has been listening to you in silence since the other day, he's got an unpleasant eyebrow.

”Not noble after that, but what is the son of a major merchant in the country as well? Rumors broke out in this case that the management of the Chamber of Commerce was inclined. There may be times when you may have been taken off your feet because you had a strong connection with the nobles.”

”... now you're not even a nobleman, but a merchant's son went to an aristocratic college?

I've never questioned it before, but speaking of which, why was the merchant's son at the College of Aristocrats? I thought that was just a place to educate the aristocrats.

”There are also children in the College of Aristocracy who have been welcomed into adoption, like Raini, or who plan to be taken as adopted children. If you pay to pass the exam, you'll be welcomed as a special student.”

”There was such a system?

”Otherwise I wonder if it would be difficult to live as a nobleman. Because it's also a social place. Even if you are taught manners at home, it is very difficult to connect. But you still need money to enroll, so you can't do it unless you're a millionaire merchant.”

Hmm, it was. I don't know much about the college, so it's kind of fresh.

”He said he was going to be a son-in-law in the noble house in the future. So I went to college earlier to get an education to be my son-in-law.

”What?”

”Huh?”

”Did you have a fiancée?!? I, I had no idea!?”

Raini reveals her surprise by opening up to the point where her eyes are going to pop out. Uh, that's why the merchant's son was at the College of Aristocrats. He said he went to college to be educated as an aristocrat in anticipation of becoming an aristocrat in the future.

I was struck by Raini's charm. Besides, he said he stuck with his fiancée to become a nobleman.... Yeah, a little boulder for that.

”What was that merchant's son like?

”... with a very good face and soft hips. I took a step back because I'm a civilian, but it's very popular with women, and I'm being discouraged by men...”

”... so did they burn you because you might be in a similar position to yourself?

”... Yes”

Raini is also raised a civilian, and the situation is certainly similar in the form of an adopted son and a son-in-law. So I don't know if it's sympathy or empathy, but I think I'm getting close to Raini and caught up in the charm...?

Besides, I have a fiancée, and I can't help but get annoyed in an environment where I think I can be a nobleman in the future, but I'm being discouraged. Is that even a factor that got caught up in Raini...?

Is that why my son was taken care of?

”Mr. Saran!?”

”Saran? Is that the name of the merchant's son?

”Right. Saran Meki, son of the Meki Grand Chamber of Commerce.”

”... I've heard the name of the Chamber of Commerce on the boulder.”

The Meki Grand Chamber of Commerce is a name I hear about. I have a wide range of businesses and have a thriving investment. You think it's a good chamber of commerce with a good gold spin and a good memory from the nobles? It's just like Tomas once told me there were some black rumors to make money.

... I'm a little more worried about the Cyan Baron family than I am about this. When this happens, I become aware that I really don't have enough hands. I almost zeroed my tongue by accident.

”... you're totally out of hands. That's why you can't even let it happen.”

I wonder if my mother has tasted this itching tooth as well. No, maybe I'm still savoring it.

If you think so, you can't just hold him like this on a boulder.

”Well, I mean, there's a lot of homes that could potentially be enemies like this.”

”I'm sick of you....... What house looks like you could be on my side?

”Hmm, I don't know. If the house belongs to a faction of the Duke of Magenta's, it seems like you could use some help. I don't know if you'll follow me to Princess Anisphere from the bottom of my heart. This is Miss Uphilia with the neck.”

”... the reason for this is because they think I'm being treated with contempt by the royal family?

Uffi asks as he narrows his eyes. Oh, well, maybe even the Duke's faction has a house that's drunk on Lord Grants, like Caindo-kun is drunk on Ufi.

”Well, you are. Some people say they were surrounded as the comforter of Princess Anisphere because Prince Algard dumped them”

”... oh, yeah. That's what they say.”

In fact, I won't surround you. Comforter. Hey, no, yeah. What do you think? Instead I'm the one who was consoled...? No, I don't suppose that's what you mean, but maybe it's not a power relationship as we all think!?

Perhaps that and this is also due to the fact that I remain unsure of the reality of magic. Intentionally, the information on the magic props came down, and this previous exhibition sponsored by the Ministry of Magic was ruined because of Al.

”Actually, I was going to throw a tea party hosted by me to deepen my knowledge of magic...”

”As far as it goes. So you can't tell which house to invite, and you're counting on me? Is that a recommendation from Your Majesty or the Queen?

”No, I named the Graphite family”

”Ho ho! I see, Miss Uphilia. I wondered if His Majesty or the Queen had accidentally zeroed it. Then you can rest assured. Fine, then I can put it around, okay?

”Really? That's comforting”

”But, could you color the reward a little bit more?

”Besides Mana Blade? Right... I don't mind.”

The connection with Miguel is now so precious that it seems like you can get your hands out of your throat. You don't have to spare it if that's what you get in a deal with demon props.

Then he elbows on the table so Miguel can get in front and look straight at me. Many times I've been seen, those curious eyes.

”Then would you enlighten me here on the philosophy of magic?

”The philosophy of magic?

”Why was magic born and for what? As an advocate, I'd like you to speak to Princess Anisphere.”

Those eyes showed a greedy light with the momentum of not telling me to eat.