TENKEN 469 (1570 words)

Audience・Front

謁見・表

A few hours after hearing from the Count that the king was calling for us. Fran and Forrund went to a mansion. This is the place where the king has taken refuge and is currently conducting his affairs.

As this was an emergency situation, we were told that we didn't have to wear formal wear, so the two of us were dressed as usual. However, since we were not allowed to carry weapons, I had transformed into a bracelet. This way, I wouldn't be taken away.

In terms of time, it was a little early for dinner, and I was grateful that we would only have to have a really brief conversation.

『Fran, use honorific to address the king, okay? I’m serious』

「Nn」

『And also, don't talk about unnecessary things. I don't know what would be considered disrespectful』

「I understand」

Apparently, Forrund is used to it, but as expected, this is Fran's first time. No, she has met the Beast King before, but I don't think that should be included in the category of kings. At the very least, he's not a normal king.

『Forrund, if she makes a mistake please give her a follow up! I beg you!』

(Leave it to me. The king of this country is not a fool. As long as you don't aim to be rude, you won't have a problem)

『Yeah, butー』

Because it's Fran, right? A girl who talks as she usually does to a nobleman on the first meeting? No matter how much I worried, I couldn't worry enough.

『Worst case scenario, we'll have to consider leaving the country』

「It's all right. I got it」

「Worrying excessively」

You guys, how can you be so calm....

But no matter how worried I was, the time for the audience would come. The attendant man who was leading Fran and Forrund stopped in front of a large door.

「The king awaits you ahead. Please do not be rude」

「Nn」

「Yea」

「.....Very well」

The old attendant gave us a look that said,「will these guys be fine huh」I agree with you!

『Fran, it's just like we practiced, okay?』

(Nn)

And when the door was opened from the inside, it was a simple audience room. Had it been renovated after the king had occupied the mansion?

A red carpet stretched straight out from the door, which must have come from somewhere, and there was even a throne at the end of it. Compared to the throne I had seen in the Beastman Kingdom, it looked rather plain, but it was big enough and luxurious enough to be called a throne.

On the throne sat a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious clothes that looked a bit out of place. It may be a simple type for daily use, but he really does have a crown on his head. I was a little impressed.

I'd say he's about 50 years old huh? His hairline is a bit receding, but his body is reasonably well trained. Well, not quite at a warrior level. At least he seems to be in decent shape. He doesn't seem to be a tyrant type.

In my mind, royalty in this world is the image of a strong man, but apparently this king is different. Well, the comparison is with the Beast King, who is a rank S adventurer, or the royalty of Philias, who possesses a divine sword......

On either side of us were knights and noble-looking men. I could tell that half of the noblemen looked down on Fran and Forrund, or were bitter about it. But the other half were clearly welcoming Fran and Forrund.

Moreover, among the noblemen, the higher-ranking noblemen who wore more luxurious clothes seemed to have a greater tendency to do so. Many of them are smiling.

As expected, the knights guarding him were expressionless. Among the knights, there was a very strong man who was closest to the king.

His skin is as white as snow, and he has beautiful silver hair. He was only about six feet tall (180 cm), but his intimidating presence made him look bigger. In addition, the magic power he emitted was unbelievable.

I have heard that SPs intimidate their attackers by showing a stern appearance, and I guess this is just another form of intimidation. By showing his strength from the start, he's silently warning us not to do anything stupid. (1)

On the other hand, if the opponent is not able to sense this intimidation, it is probably not even worthy of caution.

『Even so, he has no gap huh.....』

He's probably at a rank A class. It's a pity that I can't appraise it since it's in front of the royalty.

As expected of the king's bodyguard. They are in a position to attack Fran and Forrund while protecting the king at any time without a moment's delay.

「Both of you, step forward」

At the attendant's words, Fran stepped forward alongside Forrund, bowed, and knelt. Okay, you're moving as what we have practiced beforehand.

The nobles were especially surprised by the elegance of Fran's manners. They probably didn't expect a little adventurer girl to bow so beautifully in accordance with the manners of the nobility. I could see their eyes widen.

Yes. The court etiquette that we got from Viscount Alsand is still exist. And then, Forrund made his speech.

「It is a great pleasure to have an audience with you」

Fran just nodded her head silently. The chamberlain said that was fine. I was wondering what was going to happen, but I think they can manage somehow huh?

「Raise your face」

「Yes」

「Yes」

At the king's words, Fran and Forrund raised their face.

「You've done a great job」

「Yes」

「Yes」

Well, it was a typical audience scene from here. The king said a few firm words, then Forrund and Fran nodded. This was repeated. At the end, the king gave another word of praise, and that was it.

There was almost no unnecessary conversation. It's so simple, it's almost feels disheartening.

『I was expecting him to bring it up to the point of taking you into the Kingdom of Kranzel, but he didn't said anything at all』

(Nn)

『I thought he might at least offer you a knighthood or a medal....』

In fact, she had discussed it with Eliante. It was obvious that if she refused the offer of a knighthood at the audience, it would cause a lot of trouble. So, if she was offered a knighthood, she planned to present the Order of the Golden Beast Fang Medal that she had received in the Beastman Kingdom.

It was not limited to this audience, though. Starting with the baron who was turned away by Colbert the other day, various noblemen have flocked to the audience. It seems that the purpose is to take in Fran, who is started to be called the cat-eared saint.

I thought that they should help with the reconstruction before they came to recruit her with their guards, but it seemed that they were miscellaneous nobles who hadn't been assigned any important work.

Well, judging from the dim-witted attitude they took when recruiting, I could tell he wouldn't be valued to any work. However, there were so many of them, and some of them did not back down even when she mentioned the Count's name, so we consulted Eliante about what to do. The conclusion was to use the medal.

Apparently, it was a more powerful medal than we had imagined. When we showed it to Eliante, she literally jumped up in surprise.

Since it is a medal of another country, it does not have a strong influence in the Kingdom of Kranzel, but the people who are shown it are likely to think that Fran has ties to the Beast Kingdom.

As a beastman, it was not strange at all that Fran belonged to the Beastman Kingdom, and the Beastman Kingdom and the Kingdom of Kranzel were friendly countries. It was at Eliante's opinion that they would not be so arrogant as to forcefully give Fran a title.

It's still can be treated as a string attached......to the beastman country, it is a good place for Fran to live, and it's much better than being forced to give her a knighthood in another country. In fact, they might have given her the medal in anticipation of such a situation.

Well, it seems I was worrying too much. However, it was soon after Fran and Forrund had finished their audience.

「You two!」

The man who approached us was the chamberlain. I had a bad feeling about this. The words I didn't want to hear came out of his mouth.

「The king is waiting for you in the other room. This way, please」

Without saying a word, the chamberlain turns and walks away. He didn't think that Fran and Forrund would not follow him. No, we will follow him though.

『Fran, please still use the honorific』

「Nn? I understand」

Perhaps, you didn't get it, huh? Oh God! Please call out to her!

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___TLN_________

(1) SP (Japanese Security Police https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_Police)

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