Chapter 274
“Please allow me to uproot the capital,” Lloyd implored the queen.
“What?” she responded, eyes wide in disbelief, as if searching for a lost fool with her voice.
Despite the queen’s astonished reaction, Lloyd maintained his composure. Suddenly, he was reminded of an incident from a fortnight ago.
‘I was just as flabbergasted then.’ Was it after we dealt with the Kraken’s swift onslaught? Thanks to that, I managed to acquire the blueprint for the Jewel of Truth, Aotearoa.
‘We can restore the jewel now. It was a fascinating moment, although we faced an unexpected snag.
‘To activate the jewel’s full potential, we need to gather key materials scattered around the world,’ the jewel’s blueprint had kindly informed us.
One of these essential materials, Tauranga, lies here in the capital, Magenta, utilized within the royal estate.
‘I had to extract it and came—or rather, flew—here immediately after wrapping up there.’
As Lloyd stood before the queen, Lloyd recalled the events leading up to this moment.
‘Thank you for dealing with the Kraken’s urgent matter, allowing us to discover the base of a jewel once considered a myth. The recognition of mermaids was overwhelming. I became an instant star, celebrated by mermaids wherever I went, even receiving formal congratulations from the Mermaid Queen.Doodook, too, reaped the benefits, gaining lifelong access to the Mermaid Kingdom.
‘In exchange, I had to transfer the management rights of the sauna to the Mermaid Queen. Not too shabby, considering it was originally established to mobilize manpower for the jewel’s excavation. But now that we’ve found the jewel? Even holding onto the management rights meant more headaches with maintenance and repairs. Better to pass it on in good spirits and manage the image. A shrewd angle for sure.
‘If we wish to restore the jewel later, we’ll need the mermaids’ help again. Better to score as many points as possible now for future benefits. So, I handed it over like a donation, earning applause from the mermaid community.
‘As a bonus, I became an honorary citizen of the Mermaid Kingdom, gaining unrestricted access for life, along with a magical necklace that protects in deep-sea environments—part of the VVIP package at the sauna.
‘And there’s more. Our connection with the mermaid race fully opened up, allowing me to freely increase my rapport and receive RP with mermaids worldwide.
‘Thanks to this, we can count on their full support when restoring the Jewel of Truth. No word on helping restore the ruined mermaid city, though. VIPs needn’t worry; they’ll figure it out and told me not to fret.
‘With that, I left the Mermaid Kingdom, escorted by the Mermaid Queen herself. Her astonishing swimming speed allowed us to quickly exit the Arctic Sea and arrive near Cremo Harbor. There, I settled my account with Peliconia, said my farewells, and flew directly to Magenta. Upon arriving, I immediately sought an audience with the queen. This has been my journey over the past two weeks.
‘Wow, but it’s frustrating. Glad I made it here, but the queen’s gaze is no joke.’
Lloyd gulped painfully, aware that Queen Alicia was watching me. Her gaze was no laughing matter. Initially panicked, I now faced forward, ignoring the crowd.
‘This is me openly begging, “Your Majesty! Please allow me to extract the capital just this once!” Since I’ve put it that way.’
I feared getting entangled in a scandal or perhaps having my nameplate rightfully stolen. It was a time of heightened anxiety.
“Wow. You’re always like this,” Queen Alicia laughed.
“It’s really tough. How do you manage to perplex me every time? But your request just now, it wasn’t a joke, right?”
“Yes, it wasn’t,” Lloyd confirmed.
“You’re asking to choose my royal estate for this request?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Lloyd didn’t deny it. Now was the time for a straight game, especially since the queen had publicly questioned my intentions.
“It’s not just any house or building; you’re asking for permission to choose the royal estate. There must be a significant reason behind such a colossal request.”
“Indeed.”
“Tell me.”
“The ancient artifact Tauranga was used in the construction of the royal estate.”
“And?”
“I’ve come to claim it.”
“Why do you seek it?”
“I can’t reveal the purpose right now. But I assure you, this endeavor will in no way harm Your Majesty or the royal family.”
I answered earnestly, my intentions genuine.
‘This isn’t about harming the queen or the royal family. On the contrary, it’s to aid them. The queen too, will be a victim of fate restoration.’
A flash of future insight, courtesy of an ending spoiler, crossed Lloyd’s mind. In that future, the queen would lose sensation in her left arm. Unlike the original Ironblood Knight, where the arm was severed, the queen would suffer paralysis and excruciating pain due to fate restoration, rendering the arm as good as nonexistent.
‘Especially since the queen is a master swordsman. For someone who wields a sword to lose an arm… It’s a horrific scenario, impossible to recover from easily.’
To prevent such a tragedy, we need Tauranga. And to obtain it, the royal estate must be chosen. I expressed my sincerity, but I couldn’t delve into the specifics of fate restoration or reveal my identity and the story of the Korean novel ‘Ironblood Knight’ from another dimension.
‘Without bringing up such tales, the gist of my explanation is my genuine intention. It’s about setting the mood, so the queen believes me.’
Lloyd trusted this approach because the queen is an extraordinary individual, far smarter than he is and with only a limited understanding of the future. He decided to rely on the queen’s political acumen, and Queen Alicia responded precisely to his faith in her.
“Very well,” she said, a smile playing at her lips, which soon turned bittersweet.
“You’re quite the troublesome person.”
“My apologies.”
“No need. I find myself with no choice but to trust you. After all, if you were so inclined, there are numerous ways you could harm me and the royal family without having to come to me with such a complex and challenging request. How could I not believe your noble word?”
Queen Alicia spoke with self-deprecation, urging me to honestly believe in her words. She considered the matter quite simple.
‘Lloyd Frontiera. Because that person already possesses power beyond my control.’
Indeed, that was the case. The mighty Bone Dragon, Grand Master Javier—both formidable beings followed Lloyd. And that wasn’t all.
‘The Steel Sand Orc Tribe.’
The queen recalled the reports about the orc tribe in the Eastern Wastes, a potential threat. Each warrior of this savage tribe was as formidable as any significant force, having sworn a blood oath with the Frontiera family. To become a member of the orc tribe meant being recognized as a brother, implying that the orcs worldwide could take up arms in support of the Frontiera family’s call to battle.
‘Bone Dragon. Asrahan Knight. The Orc Tribe. Just these three alone put Count Frontiera’s power well beyond that of the royal family. In fact, he could establish a dynasty if he wished.’
But what if Lloyd decided to harm me or the royal family? It seemed unnecessary to go through such convoluted methods.
‘Perhaps he’s found something troublesome or is making a bold request. There’s no need for brute force.’
Having made up her mind, Queen Alicia said, “Rest easy. I’ve always trusted your loyalty, and I won’t change that now.”
“Truly, Your Majesty is too kind,” Lloyd said, somewhat overwhelmed.
“Tsk. Such formalities. You only come to me in times of sorrow.”
“I’m genuinely sorry, Your Majesty.”
“I only hear your apologies when I have nothing else to say.”
“…”
“Don’t make such a sheepish face. Your request also brings considerable capital to the kingdom, doesn’t it? I only hope that in your endeavors, my royal estate suffers the least damage possible.”
“Of course. I’ll do everything in my power to prevent unnecessary harm.”
“There will be necessary harm, right?”
“…”
“Fine. Since I’ve agreed to your request, can’t I understand that much? Be aware that the maintenance fee for the capital will be paid in a special manner, and make sure this is communicated outside.”
“I understand, Your Majesty.”
“But before that—”
Lloyd tried to show his best manners, but the queen stopped him. With a sharp gaze, she asked, “We’ve only discussed half the matter, haven’t we? What do you think?”
“Ah, are you asking for a solution to Your Majesty’s concern?”
“Exactly.”
“Would you like to hear more about it here and now?”
“Of course. Speak.”
“Then, may I have your ear?”
“Come closer.”
With Alicia’s permission granted, Lloyd cautiously approached the desk. Leaning over, he whispered in a deep voice, the details of his plan pouring into Queen Alicia’s ear like a secret murmur.
“So, it makes sense… (whispering) … to restore the disheartened faces of the royal family after the last Bone Dragon incident… (and so on) … Your Majesty, even if there’s opposition… (murmurs)… this will resolve everything…”
Lloyd diligently unpacked his pouch, pouring all his earnestness into each word. Amid this, Queen Alicia’s expression changed.
“…?”
‘What madness is this?’ he thought, as he caught her intrigued gaze. It was but a fleeting moment before she made a swift decision.
“Proceed with it. Let’s see how it unfolds,” she finally said, a hint of resignation in her voice.
‘It seems the queen herself deems my proposal as something of a lost cause.’
Lloyd’s smile, a symbol of his confidence in the success of his plan, spread throughout the royal chamber.
♣ Two weeks passed.
During this time, the Magentano royal family faced continuous challenges. The Grand Garden of Terminus, painstakingly restored and restructured over the past few months, was the center of these efforts. A banquet was organized to celebrate the completion of the Grand Garden.
“Tsk, tsk. What could possibly go wrong with such an event?” I mused, hiding my amusement.
The evening of the last banquet saw carriages of diplomats and distinguished guests from various nations arriving at the Grand Garden in Magenta. However, the expressions of the disembarking guests were subtly mocking. To be precise, a faint sneer was etched on their lips, a direct mockery of the Magentano royalty.
“This is just between us. ‘Magentanos,’ they mean. They seem to have made a blatant show of military power recently, but it appears they lack substance,” whispered an ambassador from a neighboring country.
“What do you mean, Ambassador?” asked his aide in a hushed tone.
“Shh. Keep your voice down. How long have you been my aide?”
“About two years, sir.”
“Tsk. Then you probably don’t grasp the gravity of my words. Listen, if I were Queen Alicia, I wouldn’t have hosted such a banquet following the Bone Dragon incident. Instead, a massive military parade would’ve been more fitting.”
“A military parade?”
“Exactly. Consider the last Bone Dragon fiasco. How powerless did the Magentano royalty appear? Plus, the guests at the banquet witnessed it all. That’s the real issue here. If you’re going to boast about military might, you need to demonstrate strength when all eyes are on you.”
“So, you’re saying a military parade would’ve helped reestablish the tarnished authority of the Magentano royal family?”
“Yes, that’s precisely it. This flimsy banquet changes nothing. But as a member of the royal family trying to save face, this event is no different from any previous banquet. Tsk, tsk. If you had significant power, what would you do? Because real power can’t be faked, right?”
“Ah, yes. It seems so.”
The neighboring country’s ambassador’s ridicule and his aide’s agreement were not isolated. Nearly all diplomats and guests at the dinner shared similar whispers. This banquet would not compensate for anything; it would only subject them to further ridicule by other nations. Yet, Queen Alicia seemed unaware of this, making one wonder if her political acumen had dulled.
Laughter and skepticism abounded, as the majority doubted the Magentan royal family’s decision to host the event. Thus, they unwittingly overlooked the preparations made a few kilometers away in the forest dedicated to royal hunts, where an exceptionally shocking and special presenter, following Lloyd’s request, had made comprehensive preparations to highlight today’s event.
“Let’s make it a good day, understood?” boomed a voice.
Poof! The Bone Dragon, adorned with an oversized bow tie and tuxedo, was determined to make a grand entrance for the esteemed guests.
