Aloof King and Cool (Acting) Queen Chapter 24-25

24. Indifferent First eting

The door to the audience room had elaborate decorations and gave off a profound feeling. The two knights standing in front of the door nodded to our direction.

As expected, my palms beca sweaty from nervousness.

The Knight opened the door from Lord Kristoff’s signal.

I stepped inside the audience room, facing straight ahead. Headed by Sir Eckart, several people dressed like Knights ford a line along the red carpet spread from the door. On the other side, there were another group of people who seed like civil officials. They ford a line like a path leading to the stage.

And ahead of that, there was His Majesty the Emperor.

Just as I heard from the rumors, he had short silver hair with so of them hanging down his blue eyes and a solid physique.

His handso appearance spurred a sharp atmosphere overall.

I probably just caught a glimpse of one of the reasons why he was indeed called the “Aloof King”.

“Your Majesty, I have brought Princess Shane.”

After Lord Kristoff presented ,

“I have troubled you. You had to co to such a far place as Caspar. Welco, I am Leonhart Caspar, the Emperor of this country. It is a pleasure to et you.”

His voice was low and clear. There was no change in his expression.

“I am Shane Orannia. I extend my gratitude for allowing the honor of having an excellent match for this occasion. I, too, find it a pleasure to et you.”

Although I was thinking a lot of things, the nervousness did not manifest in my voice. Emperor Leonhart addressed at that interval.

“I see you did not bring attendants with you, will you be alright? If you feel any inconvenience, you can say it imdiately.”

That’s right, I brought no one from Orannia. Alex advised to bring soone but I declined. It was because I wanted to reduce the possibility that my secret will be exposed even a little.

“Thank you very much. I was introduced to Elias not long ago so I think I will not feel inconvenience in my daily life. Besides, I received training from my holand in order to accomplish anything by myself.”

I don’t really want to increase the people around . I thought it was also the sa for His Majesty, but I wonder if I looked so much like I cannot do anything?

“Is that so? I will have you participate together in various official occasions as the Empress Consort of the Emperor in the future. There will be nurous hardships but let us endeavor together.”

Those were kind words unthinkable of the “Aloof King” but his expression did not change at all.

“Yes. If it is sothing I can do, I will help in any way. Please treat well.”

Afterwards, I was introduced to other people present during the audience and my first eting with Emperor Leonhart ca to a close.

—-

When I returned to my room, Elias was preparing tea.

“You seem tired, Princess Shane. I prepared tea so please have a seat.”

“Thank you very much. You, too, Elias. Please sit down with .”

The first ti i made him sit with seed to be effective. He obediently prepared tea for two this ti.

“How was your first impression of His Majesty?”

“Let’s see, I experienced having him tell kind words as opposed to his rumored nickna. It’s just that, I was already nervous with only His Majesty but then, the surroundings were full of great people so I beca extra strained. Because of that, I ended up talking indifferently.”

We only exchanged a few words. With rely that to go on, I know almost nothing about Emperor Leonhart.

“Then it’s alright if you let your guard down, at least when you are with . My social position also does not require you speak to respectfully. I do not have the obligation to report on Princess Shane’s affairs so please be relieved. Although if I were asked, I might have to answer more or less...”

Seeing Elias scratch his cheek in embarrassnt was heartwarming. His expression did not change so much, just like Emperor Leonhart, but for who had been a commoner until recently, I feel that a Squire is easier to get on with than the top executives of the country.

“Thank you. Then I will accept your kind offer.”

When I answered so, Elias looked a little happy. I was also glad that it did not take ti for to learn to distinguish his expressions.

I also want to at least build a relationship with Emperor Leonhart in this level, but the issue at present was the approaching marriage ceremony and my debut 10 days later.

==

25. Regarding the Queen

[Elias]

There are two ways to beco a Knight in this country.

First is to gradute from a Knight training school and pile up several years of experience as a Squire. Another one is to be recognized in military exploits and usual conduct as a soldier and receive a referral from the top brass of the Knight Order.

However, they say it’s almost impossible to beco a Knight through the latter thod. This is because a Knight must be both skilled in military arts and also possess social manners that will not be disgraceful as a representative of the country. The standards are frighteningly high. Therefore, majority of the Knights are made up of aristocrats who received military arts training and academic lessons from a young age.

Among them, I am one of the very few examples of commoners who passed a Knight training school. But as expected, discrimination due to the status of one’s family certainly exists. My daily life at school was by no ans peaceful.

I finally graduated after great pains. I beca a Squire and two years later, I turned twenty years old. Even though I beca a Squire, I am haunted by my social status. It is to the extent that I cannot count the unjustified fault-findings from my seniors either. Even so, the current Knight Leader is not concerned with social status. It was mostly rumored that he give promotions to capable personnels.

I did not want to be deed as soone who cannot accomplish his job, so I exerted effort more than anyone else.

Therefore, I despaired the mont I was told to beco the personal attendant of the Empress Consort due to arrive for the marriage.

That day, I was told by my imdiate superior to go report to the Knight Leader’s room. A direct summon from the Knight Leader is either a good or bad thing.

I don’t recall making a big mistake but still, I knocked on the door of the Knight Leader’s room while feeling uneasy.

I confird an answer from inside and entered the room.

“This is Elias Torazash. I was inford you called for .”

I saluted to the man admired by all Knights in front of , Knight Leader Eckart.

“Sorry for calling when you are busy. I summoned you since I had an earnest favor to ask. Well, sit down.”

“Excuse ,” I sat in the sofa in front of Sir Eckart. I felt a little relieved when it seed like I’m not going to be reprimanded.

“Well then, you are aware that Emperor Leo invited an Empress Consort this ti. I want to ask you to look after the personal needs of the Empress Consort.”

Is he telling to be the personal attendant of a noble lady although I am aiming to beco a Knight for the sake of the country and the Emperor? I felt weak from too much shock.

“I do not have any experience on taking care of another person. I also did not study for sothing like that.”

I put up resistance at the very least. Did he judged to be so unsuitable to beco a Knight?

“Sorry. My words were insufficient. I am not asking you to resign as a Knight. The Empress has special circumstances so I want to place only trustworthy people near her. Therefore, while I say you will be taking care of her needs, your main role is actually a guard. I cannot speak any more of the situation unless you agree to accept this job, but I think no one is even more suitable for this job than you, Elias. Please, will you accept it?”

I beco ashad at myself from a while ago. Since Sir Eckart said that much, I had no reason to decline.

“Thank you very much for evaluating to that extent. I will accept that mission.”

“I believed you will say so. Well then, I will begin to talk in detail right away, but telling others what I will say after this is absolutely prohibited. If it ever leaked outside, be aware that you can only apologize with your own neck.”

After that, Sir Eckart talked about an unbelievable story.

Who would co up with making a man falsify his gender to beco a bride?

“Shane-sama is also close to your age. Please, I want you to offer her support nearby. By all rights, a man must not be allowed to serve as the Empress Consort’s attendant but it would be unwise to appoint a woman in this case. Situations he might be unable to conceal alone might also arise so patch things up skillfully if that happens. Fortunately, Shane-sama has a chronic disease and has to have dicine delivered from her holand once a month. Because of it, your existence is overco with the reason that if anything happens, a female attendant will not be able to correspond to it with her weak strength. You may be subject to criticisms once you start this mission but I evaluated your patience, diligence and of course, your skills in military arts highly. That is why I gave you this request. I’m relying on you.”

“Yes. I will devote myself to the best of my abilities.”

I stood up and saluted.

It’s a princess of a country. Just thinking what sort of arrogant noble lady he would be is terrifying but since Sir Eckart asked this far, I decided to accomplish it by all costs.

Finally, the day of Shane-sama’s arrival, the whole country was in a welcoming mood and enthusiasm overflowed more than the usual. The sky cleared up, it was a good day.

For this day, I was taught about the job by the maids and butlers serving His Majesty and in cases of ergency, I also received sword training directly from Sir Eckart. There were people from around who said so annoying things but I finally developed awareness of my own position so nowadays, I feel like they’re just the fluttering of insects.

Shane-sama’s luggage was delivered earlier than his arrival. I was suprised at its scarcity. I heard that a normal princess would make one room collapse from the amount of her dresses, but Shane-sama’s luggage is not even worth one carriage.

Above all, they included two potted plants with leaves that give off a nice fragrance. It indeed gave the impression of a native of “Capital of Flowers”.

When I diligently brought in the luggage to the room, Lord Kristoff, together with a petite woman, entered the room.

“Elias, this is Princess Shane.”

If Lord Kristoff did not inform in a low voice, I wouldn’t have noticed at all.

I expected that no matter how much he looked like a woman, in so ways, there will be so parts of him that will make it clear he’s a man. However, if I look closely, only his sowhat low voice gives the feeling that he’s male.

And what suprised above all, was that he was polite to an attendant like . In addition, he apologized for having take care of her personal needs.

There was not the slightest arrogant attitude I expected. Rather, I ended up feeling ashad for being addressed too politely.

Shane-sama appeared really tired after his first eting with His Majesty. When I proposed that he can ease up in front of , I was thrown off balance by her kind smile and gentle words.

“I’m glad he is the Empress Consort,” it seed natural to think so when I saw that smile.

Since then, drinking tea with Shane-sama beca a custom. It was a very pleasant ti hearing about Shane-sama’s favorite plants and talking about each of our countries. It seems like the leaves of the potted plant Shane-sama brought from her holand can be brewed into a drink called “herb” tea.

“Let’s drink together when it grows up,” we promised each other.

I am looking forward to it from now on.

I still do not have the kind of loyalty where I will wager anything to serve Shane-sama. Still, I can sohow feel it’s only a matter of ti, judging from Shane-sama’s personality.

Contrary to what I expected, this kind of life may not be a bad thing either.