Volume 1 Chapter 36 Bite
I've incorporated your request and improved the storytelling while maintaining all words. Here's the refined version:
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Afterwards, only Lene and I, who had been chatting with Lady Cecil, were led to the audience chamber by Knight Commander Gottfried von Hoffman.
This knight was also genuinely pleased that we had been able to rescue Suzu. They're all good people.
The audience chamber, as expected, was lavishly decorated, a fitting display of the royal family's prestige. Though the Beistein Kingdom is sometimes ridiculed as a small country, everything here looked top-of-the-line.
I wanted to use 〈Identification〉 on them. But I wouldn't—such an act would be disrespectful.
"Raise your heads."
With a single word from His Majesty, who had shifted into his regal demeanor after donning the crown, we who had been kneeling lifted our gazes.
Seated on the throne was King Georg Roche von Beistein.
The queen's throne remained empty. I believe she passed away quite some time ago.
Beside His Majesty stood Prime Minister Elmer von Stern, His Excellency the Grand Duke. He was giving us a stern look. Well, there were always those who disapproved of commoners having direct audiences with royalty.
"Enchanter Ryuuji. I appreciate the 〈Magic Stone of Dispelling〉 you crafted for me."
"Thank you for your kind words."
"And Alchemist Lene, your medicine has restored my strength. I am grateful for that as well."
"Thank you for your kind words."
Lene tensed up. A faint trembling caught my peripheral vision, but unfortunately, I couldn't clearly see it.
"I have already arranged a reward for fulfilling my daughter's request, but I would like to offer you an additional token of my gratitude. Do you have any wishes?"
We had already discussed this matter with Lady Cecil earlier.
"I'm checking whether it would be disrespectful to Lady Cecil," I had asked.
"I don't think it will be a problem," she had reassured me.
If Lady Cecil found it acceptable, then His Majesty would likely consider it as well.
"Ah, if I may be so bold, there is one thing I would like to request. I am aware that it is beyond my station, but please allow me to speak."
"Very well. Speak."
With His Majesty's permission, I presented my request without hesitation.
I swallowed hard, met His Majesty's gaze directly, and spoke.
"I would like to request assistance with the restoration of the port in Marquis Reichner's territory, Sartzstadt."
"...Hmm."
Perhaps it was too unexpected, for His Majesty looked upward in thought. Surely, he hadn't anticipated someone bringing up matters of governance.
"You! What do you mean, a mere commoner speaks on governance! You commoners should leave administration to the nobles!"
The agitated voice belonged to Prime Minister Elmer von Stern, the king's close aide. Just as Lady Cecil had predicted, he was quick to interfere.
His words dripped with condescension.
Unlike His Majesty the King and Her Highness the Princess, who would casually pat commoners on the shoulder, this man's attitude made the contrast stark.
"Elmer, be quiet. I do not permit you to speak."
"But...!"
Despite the rebuke, the Prime Minister attempted to object but fell silent under His Majesty's piercing gaze.
It seemed these two did not see eye to eye. There were undoubtedly political complexities at play.
* * *
His Majesty agreed to consider the restoration of Sartzstadt's port. Even if immediate support did not come, merely having the king's attention shift toward the southwest was already a success.
"Huff..."
Stepping out of the audience chamber, we both let out deep sighs. That might have been the most nerve-wracking moment of our lives.
"Lene, you were stuttering."
"D-Don't say that!"
Lene covered her face, her ears turning bright red.
A dark elf was called a dark elf because of their brown skin, but what would you call an elf whose skin turned red so easily? A hot elf?
While pondering this trivial thought and teasing Lene, we made our way back to the waiting room where our companions were.
But then—I suddenly felt a gaze on me and turned around.
Standing there was Prime Minister Elmer von Stern, the very same man who had been furious during the audience.
Beside him stood a man clad in a white robe, exuding the presence of a magician.
"Duke Stern, Your Excellency, is there something you need?"
Knight Commander Gottfried von Hoffman, who had also noticed them, saluted and inquired.
However, the Prime Minister merely snorted, flicked the golden necklace around his neck with his fingers in disdain, and turned his back.
"Don't get too full of yourselves, commoners and demi-humans."
"........."
Without waiting for a response, the Prime Minister and the white-robed man walked away.
What was that all about?
"...Please don't take it to heart. His Excellency the Prime Minister... well, he tends to be like that toward those who aren't nobles," Knight Commander Gottfried von Hoffman said apologetically.
"...It's quite common," I muttered with a shrug.
Nobles who looked down on commoners and demi-humans were everywhere. If anything, people like His Majesty, Her Highness, and even Mr. Dietrich were the exceptions.
"...Commander Hoffman, who was that man in the white robe earlier?"
Something about him felt... wrong.
Was it adventurer's intuition? There was an unmistakable scent of danger.
But to my surprise, Knight Commander Gottfried tilted his head.
"The person in the white robe? What do you mean?"
"Huh?"
I was stunned.
Lene and I exchanged glances. She had seen him too—hesitantly, she nodded.
"...Earlier, behind His Excellency the Prime Minister, there was a man in a white robe who looked like a magician. Lene saw him too, but Commander Hoffman, you didn't?"
"...I apologize. I did not see anyone like that."
Impossible.
How could he not have noticed someone standing right there beside us?
We described the man in detail to Commander Hoffman, then headed back to the reception room.
I had a very bad feeling about this.
I only hoped nothing terrible would come of it.
* * *
And then—
The next day, just before dawn.
"......Ugh."
I frowned. A chilling cold spread through my crossed legs.
Minori's voice rang out from the next room, yelling to be let out.
Lene, who shared a room with her, was slumped over, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Suzu, on the other hand, was fast asleep as usual, even in this predicament.
A sturdy iron grate stood before us.
Without a magic stone, even if I used Temporary Enhanced Magic, brute force alone wouldn't be enough to break out of this cage.
"I never thought it would come to this..."
Crossing my arms, I sank into deep thought, replaying the events that led us here.
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