Having heard the story, Father became lost in thought.
Without interrupting him, I also indulged in deliberation by myself.
The knife user who attacked me. That wasnāt an amateur.
The pure bloodlust was extremely familiar to me, the way heād prepared his knives was telling. The very careful preparation is a proof of him being a professional criminal, not an amateur.
After sufficient time, Prime Minister continued the talk.
āBe that as it may, thereās no mistaking itās the specialty of Sahajaās assassin guilds. Then there are two magicians His Highness defeated. Their identify couldnāt be found, but I recall that vase magical tool had been made by the magical tool purveyor to the Sahajaās Royal Family generations ago. Itās not something that could be brought out easily, itās reasonable to think a member of royalty supplied it for the requestā
Father agreed with Prime Ministerās findings.
āThat is to say, because they canāt win on the battlefield, theyāre aiming directly at Freed. It looks like they are frustrated by losing the last battle. I suppose Andreās matter was their work as well, I have to applaud their tenacity⦠However, I donāt understand. I believed their king to not be so foolish⦠This case is too much of a follyā
When the topic of Andre still missing came up, for a moment the place became still as death.
Andreās situation is inconsequential, but it would be troubling if he just up and died. Runaway divine power explosion upon his death engulfing as far as the eye can see would be no joke.
Prime Minister spoke as if to intervene with the situation.
āI agree with Your Majesty. His Highnessās power must have sunk deeply into his mind. I donāt think heād use such a cheap methodā
Father muttered a while after Prime Minister finished the sentence.
āHeās growing old⦠The change of generations might be nearā
āYes. Thereās a possibility it wasnāt the king but another member of royalty acting on their own judgement, but as expected itās difficult to ascertain that far⦠Will we raise a protest about that matter?ā
Although it was more or less in the form of asking Father for instructions, it seems both had already decided on what to do. Just as I thought, Father quickly shook his head.
āNo, thereās no point. Anyhow they will only reject it saying they know nothingā
āI agree with Your Majesty. Since thereās no definite evidence, itās better not to do anything careless. I will also report it to the Foreign Minister Duke Pellegriniā
āYeahā
āUnfortunately, this is the limit of the information I possess right now. To obtain more accurate information, Iām preparing to move my men who are infiltrating Sahajaā
āInformation warfare is Sahajaās strong point. What weāre talking is nothing but a speculation, we have to consider the possibility that we are being deceived. Lucas, be carefulā
āYesā
Hearing Prime Ministerās response, this time he turned his line of sight to me.
āFreed, you listen too. In the worst case thereās a possibility of war breaking out. At least prepare for thatā
āI am aware. Can Alex and others hear about this talk too?ā
āNo problem. You may be able to grasp somethingā
āI understand. If we grasp something, I will report itā
As our talk more or less ended, Father said in a voice that allowed no refusal.
āPlease return to the office first and start with the next arrangements. Iāll talk with my son a little more then head thereā
ā⦠I understandā
Sensing the implication behind Fatherās word, Prime Minister straightened himself and nodded.
When he quickly left, only I and Father were left.
āNow then, Freedā
āYes, Esteemed Fatherā
Sitting on the chair Father suggestively smiled. And said.
āLetās return to the topic. Donāt think excuses will work. Youāve met the witch?ā
ā⦠Yesā
⦠After all itās about that.
From the start I hadnāt thought I could hide it from Father, so I admitted it without being agitated.
Rather, Iām grateful he kept silent until we were alone.
āHow could you tellā
āItās well-known the Witch Delris lives hidden somewhere in Wilhelm. And then thereās the earlier talk and report. Thinking about it normally, itās impossible Princess would properly use neutralization magic whose very existence is doubted. In spite of that, Princess invoked the magic through her own will. Itās reasonable to think sheād received someoneās advice. And, when you think itās somebody from the citizens, itās unlikely to be anybody but the witchā
I have nothing to add once Iām told that much.
Moreover, from my earlier story he judged sheād shared information with both me and Lidi.
Whether we met⦠Heās probably convinced by now.
From the start I hadnāt intended to conceal it, so I obediently nodded.
āItās as you say. I had a fortune to meet the Medicine Witch. From that witch I heard Esteemed Father had met with another witchā
I stopped my words and examined Father.
āAfter all you met with Master Delris. However, you met with a witch famous for her misanthropy. Was it a coincidence?ā
āAsses⦠I see. Indeed. So Princess interacted with the Medicine Witch. Princess is more and more unique. Freed. Donāt let her goā
āNaturally, I am not going to let her go. Sheās my only oneā
I declared so.
Kaka , Father laughed.
āYes. It was needless to say. Once we meet our mate, our family canāt recognize opposite sex aside from our matesā
āIād known that story, but I never would have thought it would happen to myselfā
It was only after I fell in love at first sight when I understood that.
āWilhelmās royalty is basically lucky. Even so, about half have to attempt the Kingās Flower ceremony without finding their mate. Itās truly fortunate to have your princess consort be your mateā
āYesā
I was truly lucky to be able to meet Lidi at that time. Once again I thought so.
ā⦠Iām truly glad you could obtain a mate properly. As it was, I was wondering whether Iād lose you in the near futureā
āEsteemed Fatherā¦ā
My eyes widened a little from the soft voice.
āEven if you obtained the Kingās Flower, if your partner wasnāt your mate, I donāt know whether you could be happy. Unlike my Esteemed Father, you arenāt particularly fond of woman, even if you obtained the Kingās Flower and became able to control divine power, I was concerned your heart would break⦠Itās thanks to Master Meissaā
āMaster Meissaā¦ā
I reacted to the name said without hesitations.
Meissa. The Connecting Witch. Why did her name come up here.
āThe power of witches is immeasurable. It can lead to consequences far beyond your power. If you borrow Master Delrisās power, be careful. Do you understandā
ā⦠Yesā
Feeling that Father doesnāt intend to go deeply into it, I reluctantly withdrew.
Perhaps as a compensation for having me talk about the Witch Delris he showcased his relationship. Once I understood that, I couldnāt ask for more.
āIs there no doubt that Master Delris taught Princess about neutralization magic?ā
āYes. Lidi said soā
āI see. It may be thanks to Master Delris that Princess hasnāt caught eye of anybody strange. We should be gratefulā
āYesā
Itās as Esteemed Father says. She may have remained safe until now because the witch told her to keep it secret. Thinking so, I could only feel thankful for that black-robed witch.
āFreedā
āYesā
I answered Father.
Fatherās eyes were unexpectedly serious. I straightened myself in expectation, but when his words continued, strength left me.
āShow me my grandchildās face soon. I want to retire quicklyā
In Wilhelmās Royal Family the custom is to transfer the throne once the Crown Princeās successor is born.
When he indirectly brought up the throne succession, I could only wryly smile.
āI donāt know whether I can live up to your expectations, but Iāll do my bestā
I used to think of the throne succession as troublesome, but itās different now.
If I can have Lidi as the Queen on my side, that role isnāt bad at all.
Father laughed at my unenthusiastic reply.
āYeah. It takes at least three years for conception in our family. It took me five. Do your best not to be hated by Princess. I failed at thatā
Although I felt uneasy about his last words, having noticed Father showed a miserable face for just an instant, I couldnāt ask for more.
Wanting to change the mood, I said cheerfully.
āLidi wonāt refuse. Well then, excuse meā
āYeah, Iām looking forward to it. Thatās right, Freedā
āYes. What is it, Esteemed Fatherā
When I turned about having been called to a halt, saying he forgot to mention Father beckoned me.
āBoth of you left the recent evening party right away. Afterwards, the singer who accompanied Marquis Muller performed. He was invited to the Royal Palace once again. So both of you can participate at that timeā
āTo the Royal Palace? Was he invited to a banquet or something?ā
āNo, we tried to reward him, but he refused. When asked if he has any wishes, he said he wants to sing to you who hadnāt been thereā
Although I was suspicious about Fatherās words, I recalled Lidi had been looking forward to it.
I felt a little bad that we immediately withdrew.
āTo us, is it. Since Lidi will be delighted, I donāt mind, butā¦ā
Why did he expressly nominate us.
Perhaps the doubt appeared on my face, as Father nodded in agreement.
āWell, heās obviously suspicious. But thereās no problem. Heāll be watched. However, I think you understand, but donāt lose focus around himā
āThe other party must know heās suspicious. He wants to meet us despite the risk⦠Is how it is. I understandā
Honestly, things just keep happening.
Thereās no time to take a breath.
āI want my wedding with Lidi to be peaceful. Iāll put forth my best effort to quickly solve the current problemsā
Despite breathing a sigh, I answered so.
Father stood up from the chair, implicitly informing me that the talk is over.
āI see. After all the existence of a mate is tremendousā
āYeah, Lidi is my whole driving forceā
Thatās why I wonāt forgive those who get in our way.
Once I clearly declared that, with an expectant and intrigued face Father smiled.