As I walked through the royal castle, clearly out of place, the knights on guard stopped me multiple times.
But every time Yuzuriha-san mentioned my name, they immediately bowed and stepped aside, saying, “We apologize!” Incredible.
This is the overwhelming power of the duke’s family. It’s just too impressive…!
While I stared in awe, Yuzuriha-san looked at me with exasperation.
“I don’t know what misunderstanding you have, but the one being bowed to isn’t me, it’s you, right?”
“I don’t really understand what you’re saying. Besides, the knights shouldn’t know my name or face, right?”
When I denied it, Suzuha, who was walking behind me, chimed in.
“In that case, brother, how about looking at it from a different perspective?”
“How so?”
“Yuzuriha’s name and face are widely known, especially as a knight guarding the castle. So, when they see her, they should recognize that it’s her.”
“Yeah.”
“In that case, mentioning Yuzuriha’s name doesn’t make sense. However, when Yuzuriha mentioned big brother’s name along with her own, the knights all panicked and immediately gave way. So, why do you think they cleared the way, if not for big brother’s name?”
“Haha, don’t be silly.”
When I brilliantly ignored Suzuha’s logical magic, Yuzuriha and Suzuha somehow found themselves looking at each other, both sighing at the same time.
“Well, for now, it’s fine. But, when dealing with Toko’s guards, stand tall, okay?”
“Why is this sudden?”
“The remaining guards are all individuals with both the spirit and skill to reject the idiotic princes and choose Toko. They genuinely regret not being able to protect Toko during the coup. To them, you, who rescued Toko, are a national hero, a hero who accomplished a great feat.”
“Huh?”
“Regardless of how you see yourself, they are all crazy about you. Even after knowing you’re a commoner, every single one of them, including the top brass, directly appealed to Toko to make you the next head of the knights. That’s the kind of impact you have on them.”
“…………”
“Of course, you have no obligation to play along, but if our hero of the nation looks pathetic, the military morale will plummet. So, I’m asking you.”
“Yes, I understand.”
I tightened my expression and nodded.
Even if it’s fiction, if they need me,
I’ve decided to stand tall.
***
The infiltration into the venue of the coronation ball went smoothly.
After all, the power dynamics had changed so much that no noble had time to gather information.
The coronation ball at the palace was the perfect opportunity.
No one had time to bother with a guy who looked like a commoner.
“Jeez. If you had come straight here from the beginning, we wouldn’t have had to play this little act. Your attire could have been more neatly arranged…”
“Oh! Big Brother, there’s our target!”
Yuzuriha said something, but our attention was fixated on a certain part of the venue.
Sushi.
A sushi stall.
All-you-can-eat premium sushi! Hooray!
“But Suzuha, it’s still not allowed.”
“Why are you stopping us, brother!?”
“Well, it’s not that simple. ──But before that, we should at least say hello to Toko. If we’re going to eat sushi for free, we shouldn’t forget our manners, right?”
“Big Brother, you’re amazing!”
“Hey, you two, at parties, it’s natural to greet the host, right? Have you forgotten that we’re in the midst of a post-coronation ball right now?”
Yuzuriha looked exasperated, but she had no understanding of how difficult it was for commoners to exercise restraint in the face of high-class sushi. That’s why these noble folks are like that.
Toko was quickly found.
In the farthest corner of the venue, Toko was talking to some noble. In front of her, there was a line of nobles waiting to greet her. Well, that’s expected.
“Ugh…”
“What will you do, brother? Will we join that line?”
“No, it’s a bit awkward to stand among the nobles right now. It takes time, and it’s out of place… Maybe I should quickly greet them during a break in the line.”
“But today is the coronation ceremony, and the line to greet the new queen at the ball won’t likely break.”
“Ugh…”
This is troublesome.
I think it’s proper etiquette to greet them before diving into the all-you-can-eat buffet.
But lining up with the nobles as a commoner feels a bit out of place and lacking in social awareness.
Suddenly, an idea struck me. This is an emergency situation, so it can’t be helped.
I could ask Yuzuriha-san, a high-ranking noble, to deliver my message to Toko-san. Once I witness that, I can dash to the sushi stand and maintain at least some semblance of courtesy. Proper face-to-face greetings can wait for another time.
─I shouldn’t ponder whether it’s acceptable for a commoner to make a high-ranking noble like Yuzuriha-san my errand-runner. Otherwise, I might end up unable to eat sushi.
“Um, Yuzuriha-san, I’m really sorry, but I have a favor to ask.”
“Yeah, I get it. Don’t say it in front of everyone.”
“As expected of Yuzuriha-san! You’re so reliable!”
“Hehe. I’m your partner, so it’s only natural that I understand. I have confidence in my vocal volume.”
Vocal volume?
What does the volume of her voice have to do with anything?
I don’t have time to question that.
Unexpectedly, Yuzuriha-san made a ridiculous move.
From where I was standing, she suddenly called out loudly towards Toko-san!
“Your Majesty! Your lifesaver has arrived!”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
I froze.
All eyes in the venue turned towards us.
In this unbelievable situation, I cautiously looked at Toko-san. For some reason, she was beckoning me with a huge smile. What’s going on?
Yuzuriha-san, giving off a vibe of a job well done, even gave me a thumbs up.
“Now, go ahead. Go to her.”
“No, it’s disrespectful to mingle in the midst of all those nobles…”
“It would be more disrespectful not to follow the Queen’s invitation. Go on, quickly.”
Yuzuriha-san pushed me forward as if to say there’s no other choice, and I reluctantly began to walk.
Approaching cautiously, once again, an unbelievable event unfolded.
The nobles scattered around as if the waves were receding, distancing themselves from the straight line connecting me and Toko-san.
As if they were determined not to interfere with me.
And then.
Clap… clap clap… clap clap clap clap…!
— Applause erupted from someone and quickly spread, soon turning into thunderous applause throughout the venue.
It was as if they were welcoming a hero who had finally appeared to save the country.
Unable to turn back now,
somehow, I managed to reach Toko-san.
“Phew, you finally made it.”
“Today, congratulations, Your Majesty, the new queen.”
“No way? I told Suzuha-nii to call me Toko.”
“…This is an official setting, in a way, it’s a public matter. Familiar attitudes should be avoided. Besides, there are many nobles around.”
“That doesn’t matter. Hey, everyone! If anyone opposes the hero who saved my life calling me by my name, come forward now!”
At Toko-san’s sudden call, some nobles tried to move, but
“Of course, at that time, I will declare how much Suzuha-nii contributed to my becoming queen before anyone gives their opinion!”
With those words, every noble who was about to move stopped abruptly and remained silent.
“See? No one disagrees, right? That’s why it’s fine.”
“…It feels like it was quite forceful, though…?”
“If you worry about the details, sushi won’t taste good, you know?”
That’s not good.
Well then, I’ll obediently follow Toko-san’s request.
After all, it’s a royal command.
“So, once again. Toko-san, congratulations today.”
“Thank you. It’s all thanks to everyone and Suzuha-nii being here.”
“No, no, it’s all thanks to Toko-san’s hard work.”
“Or rather, if it weren’t for Suzuha-nii, there’s no way I’d be the queen right now… Well, explaining all that in detail would take forever, you know?”
Toko-san continues to say incomprehensible things.
Besides, talking about noble politics and conspiracies, it’s all other language to me.
“Anyway, today I have a proposal for Suzuha-nii.”
” …… Yes? ”
“Originally, I wanted to announce it with a bang during the coronation ceremony along with my ascension declaration, but Suzuha-nii didn’t attend the ceremony. So, I thought maybe I could announce it during the subsequent banquet.”
“I don’t really understand, but I have a bad feeling about this, so I’ll decline with all my might.”
When I decline, Toko-san mutters with a distant look for some reason.
“The current season is autumn, and winter is coming, right? …The fish will be fatty, and it’s the delicious season for sushi.”
“……! ”
“As expected, the classic is Tuna, right? The tuna in other countries gets burnt, and even cats won’t eat it. But in our country, the fishermen have top-notch techniques for catching a single tuna and freezing preservation magic, so the tuna is really delicious. Suzuha-nii likes big tuna, right?”
“Other than the price, it’s my favorite!”
“That’s right. But, you know, I actually prefer filefish over big tuna and urchin, especially in winter. Putting the plump liver of filefish on top of a piece of sushi and eating it, it just melts in your mouth.”
“Such a wonderful food exists in this world…!?”
“Also, milt is delicious. Do you know, good milt doesn’t have any fishy smell at all? And when you chew on it, a complex sweetness spreads throughout your mouth. The springy feeling when the milt bursts at that moment is just irresistible.”
“F-Fuwaa…!”
“─By the way, Suzuha-nii? If you’re willing to listen to my little request, I can make all those delicious big tuna, urchin, filefish, and milt all-you-can-eat for you. How about it?”
“I humbly accept.”
I readily agreed.
I trust Toko-san.
And, considering that she even calls me her lifesaver…
So, no matter what, she wouldn’t say anything too harsh.
Therefore, my answer is a definite yes.
I must have thought that way because I was swayed by the allure of sushi.
When I gave my answer, Toko flashed a triumphant smile and said,
“It’s a promise. I won’t let you get away.”
“Huh? What do you mean by that…?”
“Hey, everyone! Listen up!”
With a bewildered me on the side, Toko loudly declared to the nobles gathered from all over the country.
For the sake of rewarding my remarkable achievements.
She decided, right there and then, to pass on the title of the now heirless Margrave Lohengrin to me, as a reward for quelling the rebellion…
And so, in a way I couldn’t comprehend,
On that day, I found myself undergoing a sudden class change into a noble, courtesy of the esteemed nobility.
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