Chapter 69 – Conquering the Princess and the Darkness at the same time (1/2)
CHAPTER 69 – CONQUERING THE PRINCESS AND THE DARKNESS AT THE SAME TIME
「I am thinking of stepping down from the throne」
The next morning, in the audience hall.
Aura and I were standing below, and the king was sitting on his throne.
The king was very exhausted, he was a wrinkly old man in the first place, but it seems like he had become much older than that; he’s weakened so much that he could die anytime.
「Otou-sama……」
「I was blinded. To think that I took a monster as a queen, to think that I was controlled by a monster」
The kind covered his face with his hands.
「Astrea, Clora, Shima, Daphne, Eunice, Lena, Leda……」
He called out names, his daughters’ names.
「Ohhhhhhh……forgive me, forgive me……」
He wailed while covering his face, repenting to the daughters that no longer exist.
「Onee-sama……」
Aura who was by my side also cried.
Honestly, I’m troubled. I don’t know what face to make. I can’t laugh or smile right.
I could only stay quiet.
Stay quiet and look at them, waiting for the two to calm down.
Aura returned earlier.
「Otou-sama, this kingdom still needs Otou-sama. Please continue, please continue to lead us, lead the people」
「The sin of dragging a monster within us……is heavy. It cannot be forgiven other than stepping down the throne」
「Otou-sama」
「And there, the next king……is……uhh……」
The king stutters, he took glances at Aura, it seems like he’s hesitating about something.
He had said it clearly when leaving his throne, what is he hesitating after all this time?
『He probably can’t say that his son would be the next king?』
Eleanor said. I see, that’s how it is huh.
The reason why he killed his daughters while being controlled by Aerine is to make his son the king; after regaining his senses, it’s probably hard for him to say that his son is the next king.
『That obsession and the his weak heart was probably the reason he was controlled』
That’s probably right. I also think so.
The king stutters. Later than Eleanor, Aura also noticed that.
Aura kneels, and said while bowing her head.
「The crown prince should be the next king. Aura Torideca Comotoria, as weak as I am, I am willing to support the new king as a vassal」
With a formal tone, she said what the king wants.
The king clearly got relieved, and his expression got bright.
『That’s why he got taken in』
Eleanor didn’t have mercy.
I also……agree with her pretty much.
☆
I was invited to Aura’s house.
It’s a splendid mansion that stands in the most lively place in the royal capital Krades. It’s several times more luxurious than my mansion, ‘as expected of a princess’ I thought.
Welcomed by many butlers and maids, I was passed through to the drawing room.
After waiting for a while, Aura appeared.
Her appearance right now, wearing a princess dress, is the most beautiful that I have seen her.
Aura straightens her back, and walks gracefully towards me.
She stood in front of me, stares, and bows her head.
「Thank you very much. All of it, is thanks to you」
「Yeah, be grateful」
「Yes, thank you very much」
Aura bowed her head again once, and said to me.
「I have talked to Otou-sama. You are now a viscount……one rank above baron」
「I see」
「Also, the land that bestowed before, he says that you will be given a vast land more than that」
「Land? Ahh, there was something like that right」
I remembered Comotoria’s messenger that came to my mansion.
If I’m correct, at that time, that man told me that he’d give me a land other than the baron title.
I didn’t have interest with that, so I had forgotten up until now.
「Is it vast?」
「Yes. It seems like your noble rank could not be raised immediately, so the land was increased」
「Fu〜n. That, it’s troublesome, so you manage it」
「Eh?」
「I don’t have that much interest in lands or territories. Honestly, noble ranks too」
「N-No way……」
Aura’s expression breaks off.
She had a princess-like refined face when she entered the room, but now, she was almost crying.
「I cannot give my gratitude back then. Is there anything……is there anything else you want?」
With a face that is about to cry, she asked me as if to beg.
「You」
I answered immediately.
From the start, I was only planning to request that.
Aura got dumbfounded.