Ripening (6)

Thanks to Branne, I was able to enjoy the banquet while feeling as though I were sitting on a bed of thorns, and throughout the entire banquet, which had been scheduled for four hours, I watched the women’s battle of nerves from right beside me and realized one thing.

I experienced firsthand what it meant for a shrimp’s back to burst in a fight between whales.

Honestly speaking, I wondered why they were acting that way among themselves when the person who would give them the rice cake had not even thought about it. It was not that I did not understand the princesses’ feelings.

I thought the life of a princess in this world might perhaps be even tighter than the life of a princess in Earth’s medieval era. That was because, since this was a world where special powers existed, the life of a princess in this world was to be used like a tool that drew in all sorts of people.

A life with someone she truly cherished and loved?

Honestly speaking, I thought it was close to impossible. Unless she was fortunate enough to share a burning love with the partner of a political marriage, I had heard and knew that most were used as tools for raising status and then forgotten.

‘It must be an arduous life. That must be why they try even harder to obtain powerful strength…’

Over these past few days, marriage talks had truly come in nonstop. The situation had changed far too much compared to when I was simply a lord, so much so that it could be said that most of the proposals received from outside were marriage talks.

Amid that, there were also a few quick-witted princesses who had succeeded in concluding major deals, and in Onellia’s case, she had increased the volume of iron ore transactions and won orders for special metals that we were thought to be lacking, thereby concluding a deal worth several million great gold coins.

As this became known, the fact that the national finances of a country called Ingrad were enormous became known as well, to the point that additional princesses came rushing in.

Among them, the princess who had achieved a conspicuous result was the princess of a kingdom called “Wedia” on the Western Continent, and what she proposed to us was a “transfer of shipbuilding technology.” According to what I heard, since it was close to being an island nation, its shipbuilding technology was extremely advanced.

Since I could not endlessly cling to ships myself, after a meeting, we were able to reach the conclusion of raising the level of ship technology itself, and as a result, the Princess of Wedia was able to achieve a great result by signing a contract in which we agreed to pay several million great gold coins as the technology transfer fee.

‘Was she called Forne de Wedia?’

Among the princesses of various kingdoms leaving the banquet hall, Forne de Wedia, with her green hair, stood out.

She was a woman with an unusual hair color. I heard that it was because she had the blood of an “elf” mixed in her, and though I had seen dwarves often, I had yet to see an elf.

In the Terakan Empire, elf slaves were prohibited, and most countries on the Central Continent had also outlawed elf slaves and were making efforts to preserve the species. From what I heard, the reason the elf race was inevitably headed toward extinction was that they had almost no sexual desire. I had heard the explanation that reproduction of the race itself almost never happened.

Moreover, there were also people who added that elves lived for hundreds of years and only had two or three children at most, which was another reason they were going extinct.

I thought that I wanted to see one if I had the chance, and while briefly thinking that perhaps they would feel similar to Forne de Wedia, I looked at the banquet that was coming to an end.

“Are you not tired?”

Onellia asked while looking at me. I said to her.

“Even if I am tired, I cannot withdraw after inviting guests.”

In truth, I had heard that it would be fine for me to withdraw, but because it bothered me, I had remained until the end.

“As expected… You are very different from other nobles. But how long does Lord Branne de Ishtain intend to appoint herself as Your Majesty’s guard?”

It seemed Onellia’s target was Branne.

As soon as she received the question, Branne shrugged and answered it.

“I have never appointed myself as his guard. I merely stood here because I wanted to stand by His Majesty’s side.”

“Are you not embarrassed to say such a thing openly?”

“I simply act as my heart leads me. I am different from ordinary princesses.”

Branne clearly said what she wanted to say and drew a line. Honestly, at this point, even I was becoming embarrassed.

To put it bluntly, it was because Garea’s words from before kept coming to mind and confusing me. Honestly, I simply could not believe the fact that a woman like Branne liked me.

But at that moment, I saw people entering the banquet hall. They were my vassals, and at the very front among them was a woman running in while wearing a dress that went well with her black hair.

She came pattering over in front of me, spun around once, and spoke. It was Mia.

“Does it suit me?”

As her mind stabilized, Mia’s cheerful personality had begun to show. Honestly speaking, in Mia’s case, she did not feel like an extraordinary beauty.

Should I say she felt like just a pretty girl?

So I thought it matched well with the brightness she was showing now, and nodded.

“It suits you well. Who had that dress made for you?”

“Linda-ssi and Matilda-ssi said it looked like it would suit me and had it made. I like it very much!”

The way she slightly lifted the hem of her dress and looked here and there was unmistakably a girl’s sensibility.

But Onellia and Branne seemed to show tense expressions at Mia’s appearance, and Mia said to me.

“They said that after the noble banquet ended, the vassals would celebrate among themselves… Princess, are you not going?”

At Mia’s words, which openly asked Onellia, Onellia turned to look at Branne and said.

“It seems we must leave.”

“So it seems… It is regrettable, but since it is a celebration for the vassals, I think it is right for us to withdraw. Your Majesty, I shall take my leave now.”

Branne politely observed etiquette and then vanished out, and because of Branne, Onellia also could not remain and had to take her leave after giving her greetings. But amid that, Onellia’s expression looked “resentful,” so I could only laugh softly.

And so, all outsiders left, and only the vassals remained.

In Mia’s case, she was not yet exactly a “vassal,” but I remembered that she was learning the work of a maid, saying that she would live as part of the household.

I had told her there was no need to go that far, but because she said she liked it and took the lead in doing this and that, it actually felt burdensome. But putting all of that aside, the fact that she was living well while maintaining a bright personality despite having no memories was admirable.

“Now, has everyone come?”

At my words, Hare glared at me viciously.

“Give us a break, will you?”

Everyone laughed as though I could not be stopped. Honestly, I did not want to put on airs toward those who had worked hard for me.

“Everyone, you worked hard. You have not even been able to rest while handling such an unreasonable schedule, have you?”

The vassals said that was not true, and among them, Linda and Matilda looked as though the dark circles under their eyes would reach their knees, so I looked at the two of them and said.

“You two worked very hard. Thanks to you, I think the schedule ended well.”

Linda, who wore a bright smile, answered first.

“No, this was something we planned, and it was something we had to finish. Rather, I can only apologize because it feels like we pushed Your Majesty too hard.”

“That is right. It was a schedule the two of us prepared unreasonably. We are merely extremely grateful that you did exactly as we wished without complaint.”

The two women acted modestly. After that, I expressed my gratitude to Wijel and several others, then spoke about what I had been thinking during that time.

“I believe we have now begun acting as a full-fledged kingdom. Therefore, I believe there must be positions befitting that.”

At the word “positions,” everyone looked at me as though puzzled. So I first spoke to Linda and Matilda.

“First is the rank for Linda-ssi and Matilda-ssi. To begin with, I will establish a ‘General Staff Department,’ and I would like Matilda-ssi to take charge of it. Linda-ssi, will you take charge of the Finance Department and organize that department?”

At the terms General Staff Department and Finance Department, they looked unfamiliar with them, and once I explained the two organizations, they finally understood that they suited their aptitudes, but as the two tried to decline because the positions were too burdensome, I said to them.

“This is the first order I am giving you two as king. Are you trying to refuse?”

Only then did Linda and Matilda shut their mouths without a peep. And at this point, people began to grow tense. They had become nervous at the thought that some position might be given to them as well.

And the next target was Hare.

“Hare-ssi will be appointed as the head of the ‘Magic Department,’ and Richard as the deputy head. There are not enough people besides you, so it will still be difficult to find department staff… but I will do my best to recruit them, so for now, please operate it with the two of you.”

Hare sighed and asked.

“If I refuse, you will say the same thing you said to Linda and Matilda, will you not?”

“Of course. It is an order.”

Hare withdrew without a peep. Richard also had a dumbfounded expression at the fact that he had been given a position, but even so, it was not an expression of dislike.

I thought that, perhaps in Richard’s case, he was a man who would be satisfied as long as he could continue his research, so he might not feel much about it.

After that, I appointed Wijel as the mayor of “Soil City,” and Ulde as the mayor of Rad City. First of all, I entrusted those posts to them because their positions were those of kings of their respective beastkin.

Considering their experience leading their tribes, I thought they would do well. After that, I made Debik and Gamung each take charge of the two fortresses in the south and the two fortresses in the east, appointing them as defense commanders, and in Demina’s case, I could appoint her to take charge of Ing City’s defense force while also serving as my personal guard.

No one seemed to have great dissatisfaction. Moreover, when I gave them autonomy regarding the appointment of middle commanders and administrators within their organizations, they instead strongly declined, saying that too much authority had been entrusted to them, but regarding that, I decided not to argue and was able to push ahead.

Furthermore, in the case of the whale beastkin, Volv had taken an interest in leading the Black Gold Merchant Company and even stepped forward, saying that he wanted to take charge of it himself, while Oliver and Herman were made to take charge of the navy, dividing their roles.

Aside from that, in the case of those who commanded the territorial army, I ordered Bella and Denix, who had captured the Three Castles of Rad and accomplished great deeds this time, to each be assigned 10,000 troops to command, and I was able to order Jorban to manage the Rangers, whose numbers had now reached 500, as their captain.

In that way, rewards according to merit were carried out in detail for those who had worked hard for Ingrad, and I was able to finish in an unprecedented manner by ensuring that no noble titles other than “king” would exist in Ingrad.

Not everyone had a satisfied expression. Some tried to decline, saying it was burdensome, while others revealed confidence and expressed that confidence.

Their personalities were all different, and their thoughts were all different as well, but one thing was certain. Harmony… Everyone was mingling and laughing together.

Those smiles would not be eternal forever, but I hoped they would last as long as possible.

It was a kingdom that had only just begun, and it was certain that it would have a great many shortcomings. But, thinking that we would manage well just as we had until now, I looked around at everyone. That was when my eyes met Debik’s, and he grinned.

“For the glory of the Kingdom of Ingrad!”

Along with Debik’s shout, everyone shouted, “For the glory!” I was flustered, but I thought it felt fairly good.