Chapter 5: The King Reigns, But Does Not Govern
As I stood in front of the wooden door, I felt like I was standing on the frontline. If this was a normal story, this would have been the ending. I took a deep breath. The original owner of this body might have just died today. Ah, I was kind of getting nervous now.
"Hey, Estella do you know which child is engaged in the kings family?"
"This is not hard to answer, everyone who's not married, yet. Well, I guess the third prince isn't engaged to anyone."
"Is that so."
"Yes, they get engaged pretty early after all."
"Okay, understood, let's go."
Estella nodded and opened the door, together, we entered the throne room.
A solemn atmosphere filled the place.
I had been here on my first day already, but this time, it was different. Last time, the person I met was only a prince. A not-yet matured brat. The man sitting on the throne right now, held the real authority.
He, well, he looked like a king would look. He was a middle aged man, wearing a crown. Of course he was also wearing different kind of ornaments and decorations, but these were not important. Only the crown symbolized his standing. The crown was what separated him from me.
With a sharp glint, he analyzed me from head to toe.
I instinctively lowered my head and spoke, "this one is honored to be graced by your presence, your majesty"
"Pay it no heed, my child. What is your tidings, on this day? Hath the likes been plagued by the engagement? Does thou not know, I am a busy man?"
Getting straight to the case, I replied, "the third born hath just annulled the marriage, your majesty."
"Whence?"
"Now."
Although subtle, his face twitched a bit. Ah, I wanted to go home.
"Speak, no, stay and tell me more."
"I was certain his majesty had already found out about it?"
"Such information is of no small matter. Tell, and I shall compare it to the testimony of my son. I warn thee, that a single lie will cost thy head."
"I pray that the story is to your liking then."
"What has been the cause?"
"The cause has been very much me, sir."
I have made many plans in my head, and I believed this current option to be the most suitable.
"Thou are quite honest. Does thou believe I will not beat you to death on the spot."
It was also the riskiest, though. It felt like the temperature had dropped a degree.
I lowered my head even more and said, "this one was just following orders. This one asks not for forgiveness, but hopes his majesty would allow me to impart the story, objectively."
"I hath already told you to speak your mind, child. Your judgement shall be postponed to afterwards."
Okay, the first lock had been opened. With this I knew that he was not a foolish king who resorted to useless violence. If he was, the whole plan would crumble and I had to show them the speed I had attained trough running away from the police.
"His majesty is merciful. Firstly, I wish to make clear that I want nothing but the best for this country. Thus, I had deemed it as disadvantageous for an internal marriage between me and the prince."
"Elaborate."
Now came the second lock. It all depended on whether he swallowed my lies.
"Yes, At the moment, we face three major problems. First we have the famine. It has come to my notice, that the goddess of fertility is not on our side this year. Secondly, there are the neighboring countries. I hear there's a high possibility that they will choose this time to invade us. The last one is a consequence of the two above. That is the citizens unrest."
At least that was the information I got from my day outside.
"What hath this to do with thy marriage?"
"A lot, my majesty. To solve these problems, I propose an external marriage. A marriage with the princess of Erdsburg to be exact. I understand that his highness wishes to strengthen the royal blood, and bond the aristocracy in the times of uncertainty, still I believe it is not a wise decision, to carry on with the engagement, between the prince and I."
Actually, I had been thinking about this, since the time I planned on meeting the king. If the prince married someone else, soon everyone would forget about me. Still, the external factors had to be right. If anyone else was free for marriage, I didn't know what to say. That's why I confirmed it with Estella first.
"You dare question my will, don't you know that women have no place in politics?"
"Oh, but I hath only annulled the marriage with the prince. It has nothing to do with politics. No, as a matter of fact, it was the prince who had annulled the marriage.Thus, it will not harm the royal prestige, and my household would not care about a child like me either. On the surface, it will seemeth as if me and the prince had a fallout. Of course, the truth, we will hold next to our hearts," I send him an mischievous smile.
Here came the lie. After saying everything I wanted to say, my throat felt itchy. Meanwhile, the King was in deep contemplation. I waited for him to answer.
"What if the princess of Erdsburg rejects the idea?" He asked.
"Possible, but I believe it's unlikely."
"What brings you that confidence."
"The commoners, my majesty. Rumors say, that the second princess is fond of the third prince. Those rumors, they do not spawn without a cause. I believe that it is worth corroborating.
If we have the support of another kingdom, our problems might just be relieved."
"If we should fail?"
"Then we fail. It is unfortunate, but not a loss. However, from moving nothing, there is no place to arrive," I said, meeting his gaze to show my determination.
The king began to smile, creepy. What was that smile supposed to mean.
"I have understood your story, and I find your idea to be intriguing. We shall build upon this idea. You have earned a selfless merit, dear. Speak, what do you desire in exchange?"
Okay, great, I got him. I took a deep breath, this was the last lock, an all or nothing act.
"The service in loyalty, by acting out, pays itself, your highness. However, there's one thing that I wish for."
"What is it."
"The servant over there, her name is Estella, I wish for her to be by my side."
I pointed towards Estella, and she suddenly tensed up.
Of course that's not all I wanted, still, I had to show that I do not care about materialistic needs. Or else, everything I build up would crumble. But if I were to leave empty handed, I would surely die from the hands of my household. Now, this was the time to show how wise you are, king.
"If it is that much, I can grant it. Still, do you wish for nothing more."
Yes, yes so close.
"No, that is all."
"Your magnanimity impresses me. Still, I cannot leave you empty handed, thou may have said, that the Duke will not care about this matter, but I think otherwise. I believe, that he would not receive you with much hospitality."
He at least understood that much. I swallowed my saliva and felt my sweat drenching my garment.
"That might be the case. However, I believe in the idea of one for many, and me for the country. If that's what it takes for our kingdom to flourish, than it is only a small price to pay."
"That would not bode well for me, to lose such a talented sprout. You have no need for money, as the greed of aristocracy would rip a tender one as you apart. You have no need for land, as the management will overwhelm a youngling.
So I will confer you a title. I confer you the title of an Archduke."
YE- wait, huh? Archduke? What's that. I'd rather have money. No he could also give me some land too, just something so I could live independently.
A slight commotion broke out. Apparently everyone knew about it, except me.
Suddenly, one of the butlers argued, "Your highness, is that not too rash?"
That butler looked like he could be my grandfather, still he exuded more elegance than a bonsai tree. Anyways, grandpa, tell him how this was not a good idea.
"It is only a title, I believe that she is worthy of such honor. Today, she had thoroughly earned my respect," he said," the title of an archduke, is the only title higher than the duke. Unlike the other titles, it cannot be passed from generation to generation. It will act as a protecting halo, on your way home. Is that not the perfect title?"
No, what was I supposed to do with that. That title was absolutely useless to me. Did he want me to eat the title or what? I only needed a little bit of money.
The butler too, wished to say something. I believed in him, grandpa.
"But-"
"Have I grown lax, that you can talk back to me now. The decision hath been made. This child has risked everything for her country, now I also wish to do something eccentric."
"I, I understand."
Why was he so weak, damn butler.
"At the forth-night, the title will be officially yours. Tell only your grandfather about this, and no else. I do not want rumors to spread, understood?"
"Yes, your majesty," I may be smiling on the outside, but I was crying on the inside.
"I will be leaving then. The maid over there, stay with her."
"Yes, your majesty," Estella answered and bowed deeply. At least she is happy.
After he said his words, the king left with his servants and guards. Grand entrance and grand exit, I guess.
My knees immediately gave up after that. My body swayed and I fell to the ground. From the periphery of my eyes, I saw Estella approaching me, her eyes glowing.
"That was magnificent, Agnes. I did not know you were such a patriot. To sacrifice yourself for the kingdom. How noble."
"Patriot your mother. Do I look like a patriot to you? As if I'd sacrifice myself for the nation. It can go to hell for all I care. I can always find another place to live, but I can't find another me."
"Huh, but you said-"
"Obviously, that was a lie."
"What, you mean, you lied to the king?"
"I guess."
I heard Estella's voice raising, "that's even more daring, to have even gotten the title of an Archduke from that, you must have been the youngest in history to get it."
"Uhh, don't remind me." Thinking about it made me feel like spitting blood. To have only obtained something like a title–This wasn't everything or nothing, this was everything for nothing.
I felt like staying on the floor to rot.
While wallowing in my sorrow and listening to Estella's praises, I realized that I had finally completed the first event.
Timing: A
Skill: S
Ingenuity: A
Reward: Junk.
Or something like that?
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone