Published: July 3, 2025
Ryo visited the room where King Abel was recuperating, located away from the Royal Castle.
"Hey, Ryo. I'm feeling exceptionally well. Thank you..."
"Abel."
"Hm? What’s with the scary face?"
Interrupting Abel’s expression of gratitude, Ryo called out to him.
Abel looked at him suspiciously.
"Abel, is there something you're hiding from me?"
"What are you talking about out of the blue...?"
As Ryo pressed him with a pointed question, Abel averted his gaze.
"See! You looked away! Now, just tell me clearly."
"Well, there are too many things to choose from, I don't even know what you're referring to..."
"What...?"
Ryo dropped to his knees and placed his hands on the floor, assuming a pose of despair.
"A crack between the king of the Naitorei Kingdom and the first duke!"
"There's no need to say things that stir up a national crisis."
Ryo spoke as if reading a headline from a newspaper, and Abel chided him with a wry smile.
By the way, there are no newspapers or the like in the Central Nations.
"So, really, what are you referring to?"
"I could just tell you everything, you know?"
"If I learned everything, Ryo would be buried in paperwork... but that could be interesting too."
"I'm sorry, but if that happens, Duke Rondo's territory will secede from the kingdom."
"Yeah, let's avoid that."
The negotiations between the king and the first duke were like a spark flying, a fierce exchange...
"Marquis Heinlein said one reason he called me was for the people coming from the Empire in a month."
"Oh, that."
Abel nodded several times, albeit faintly.
"Yeah, I didn't think Ryo would come right away. I thought it would take about a month if you were in the Forest of Rondo, so I informed you early. Actually, a delegation from the Empire is coming in a month. It's not just any delegation; the official envoy is Duchess Rubine, the sister of the current emperor."
"That's quite a big deal."
Ryo nodded along, sensing the atmosphere.
"Yeah. When it comes to such a big figure, the kingdom must send someone suitable to welcome them. It has to be the king or someone of equivalent status..."
"Oh... So, they are sending a delegation to gauge the severity of King Abel's illness."
"That's right. Or perhaps to confirm whether I might already be dead."
Abel said this with a wry smile.
In fact, until a few days ago, he had resigned himself to the possibility of dying before the Empire's delegation arrived.
"Marquis Heinlein will actually handle the negotiations, but if Ryo could be there... I thought it would give a good impression as long as the chancellor and the first duke were present, even if I couldn't show myself."
"But ultimately, it will be confirmed that Abel's illness is serious, won't it?"
"That's a fact. It will be revealed soon anyway, so there's no helping it..."
Abel was not at all skilled in the art of negotiation as a king.
Yet, despite that, the result of considering the nation's survival was Ryo's visit to the castle...
Once it was mentioned, Ryo naturally agreed to cooperate.
"Understood. I will also attend that negotiation with the delegation."
Ryo nodded vigorously, and Abel smiled widely. The two exchanged a firm handshake.
Now the plan for a month later was set, but what to do until then...?
There were plenty of things to be done!
Discovering delicious restaurants.
Reading books related to alchemy.
...
Among many other things, there was a lot for Ryo to accomplish.
"Is it going to be just eating or alchemy...?"
"I don't want to hear that from a king who's been sleeping for so long!"
"Well, I was sick..."
At that moment, while the king and the first duke were having such a conversation in the detached castle, a knock sounded, and the chamberlain and attendants entered with a mountain of documents.
"Your Majesty, is it truly alright? You should rest a little longer..."
"No, it’s fine. Just leave it here..."
"Abel? What on earth is going on here?"
The chamberlain asked, Abel replied, and Ryo questioned his actions.
"Well, I thought I’d do a bit of work..."
"That's definitely not allowed! I told you to rest for a month!"