Chapter 208 - Shirone, Part Four

Pax's Perspective:

This moment. The Royal Palace.

Only Benedict is left at my side.

Four knights of King Dragon Kingdom have surrounded me. My Royal Guard is gone. All twenty of them, wiped out by a handful of King Dragon Kingdom elites.

I suppose that's what you'd expect from their best.

Randolph, their strongest, hasn't even drawn his blade yet.

I've imagined this day countless times. Always knew it would come.

Benedict... I'm sorry. In the end, your husband is this useless.

What did it matter that the country improved? What did it matter that the people started following me?

I know it wasn't my own doing. Nothing more than a clumsy imitation of Rudeus. A pale copy of someone else's greatness.

But.

I don't want to die.

I drew a slow breath and spoke.

"Are you really going to do this? Lord Rudeus will find out."

"So what? In the end, he's just a mage. The world has blown his reputation completely out of proportion. 'Friend of Orsted.' 'Capable of causing national-level catastrophe with a single spell.' If he truly had that kind of power, he'd have conquered this world long ago."

"What about Randolph? Isn't he the one in charge here? Does he know what you're doing?"

"He's an outsider in King Dragon Kingdom. He never had any right to decide our actions."

"Fine. Then at least... don't kill my wife. She's pregnant."

"That won't do, I'm afraid. Blame yourself, Your Highness. You could have been a good vassal state and accepted being exploited. Why did it have to come to this? Your wife was a useless castoff gifted to you by King Dragon Kingdom, and you still thought you could break free."

"You dare insult my wife!"

"Hah? And what of it? If she weren't such a simpleton, I might have enjoyed violating her myself, Your Majesty."

"Bastard!"

Benedict, pressed against my chest, held a small knife. Ready to take her own life the moment it came to that.

I tore the knife from her hand and pulled her behind me.

"How gallant, Your Highness." The leader's smile was cruel. "Alright, be a good boy and die."

His blade came down.

I raised the small knife and closed my eyes.

In the end... this is all I ever amounted to.

The pain I was bracing for never came.

"AAAAAHHHHH!"

A scream. I opened my eyes.

Blood sprayed across my vision.

His arm.

I looked up.

It was the wheat-skinned beastwoman.

She glanced at me.

"Sorry. Randolph held me up for a bit."

"You... killed him?"

"No. I just clarified a few things."

"What?"

Before I could make sense of that, Randolph stepped through the main gate.

The lead knight ignored him and turned on Ghislaine.

But the instant they moved to attack, Randolph moved first.

Not toward me. Not toward Ghislaine. Toward the knights themselves.

Ghislaine cut down 2 outright. Randolph slashed the remaining pair to the edge of death and left them there, breathing but barely.

I couldn't even track it. It was over in a single instant.

One of the knights pressed his hands against his wound, staring up.

"Lord Randolph... you..."

"Fool. Do you want to bring destruction down on King Dragon Kingdom?"

"This is His Majesty's will! You coward! You're afraid of Rudeus Greyrat?!"

Randolph shook his head.

"The Third North God is currently working for Orsted. In my intelligence reports, he said with his own mouth that Rudeus and Orsted are friends. That means every rumor about Rudeus is true."

"Impossible! You're just afraid! Afraid of a mage! A disgrace to King Dragon Kingdom..."

"I was only ever an invited guest in your country. If you're truly this foolish..." Randolph exhaled. "There's nothing to be done. I'm leaving King Dragon Kingdom."

He didn't kill them.

He had their wounds treated. Then he turned to me.

"Send them back. Let them explain the situation to their king. King Dragon Kingdom has treated me well enough over the years. Give them one chance."

"Very well. Thank you, Sir Randolph."

"Don't thank me. The one you should thank is Lord Rudeus, and Lady Ghislaine."

I turned to the wheat-skinned beastwoman.

"Thank you, Lady Ghislaine."

Behind me, Benedict bowed low.

Ghislaine nodded.

"Now we wait for Aisha to bring Zanoba back."

Something uneasy twisted in my chest. I had to ask.

"Lord Rudeus... does he require anything of Shirone Kingdom? After all, this is an immense debt..."

"No. Nothing at present."

"If that ever changes, please tell me immediately. Whatever it is, I will find a way."

Ghislaine nodded again.

Randolph patted me on the shoulder.

"Your Highness, I've enjoyed our time together."

"As have I. You were the only person King Dragon Kingdom sent who ever treated me with respect."

"Do you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because you actually like my cooking."

I blinked. Then I laughed. "It truly is delicious. Benedict says the same."

"Really?!"

"I have no reason to lie to you."

Randolph grinned and clasped my hand.

"Your Highness, going forward, Shirone Kingdom will most likely be under Rudeus's protection. So tell me, does the royal court happen to need a chef? People who genuinely appreciate good food are rarer than you'd think."

Oh.

One of the Seven Great Powers. As my palace chef.

I did genuinely love his cooking, though.

I nodded without hesitation.

"Of course. Benedict loves your food as much as I do. I have no reason to refuse."

➤ Next: Shirone, Part Five