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"You may raise your head, Desmond Damwead."
I really didn't want to hear those words.
I never imagined I'd be in a place like this, the audience chamber. It's so majestic and serious. Just the atmosphere alone seems suffocating for someone like me, a small fry.
As much as she acted all chummy with me, there's no way they would allow a walking nuclear warhead into the audience chamber. Whether that's really the case or not, let's set aside our opinion for now, especially after we've been invited...
With a bit of hesitation, I slowly raise my head, and there, before me, is His Majesty.
Harold V, nearing middle age, has chiseled features and striking blue eyes. A few wisps of white intermingle with his golden locks. His demeanor exudes an air of self-discipline rather than ruthless authority. He's like the picture-perfect king who holds himself to high standards. Is it disrespectful to think a bathrobe would suit him perfectly?
But not only that, there are also the surrounding, stereotypical noble old men! Every single one of them is sizing me up as if they were trying to judge me.......
――Being stared at by men is not my cup of tea, at all!
――Ah, I want to go home!
Screw the title, please send me home, I beg you.
But...
The king won't entertain such a thing.
"Desmond Damwead."
I've been summoned, but I keep my mouth shut. Because I haven't been given permission yet. Then, His Majesty says,
"Your presence in the capital with the dragon caused chaos among the people myself."
Hehe-!?
Oh no, I managed to hold back from chucking.
"I will bestow upon you a title as planned, but with recompense."
I don't need a title, please let me off the hook, but I still haven't been given permission to speak.
"Aisha."
With that, the king called out,
*Clack.*
Came the sound of hard boots,
――Oh, a gallant female knight. My crotch is stirring.
But now's not the time to be saying that. Yeah, I know, but there's nothing I can do about it.
"As part of your punishment, I order you to fight her and demonstrate your strength. And if you win, you must impregnate her on the spot."
――Wha?
Wait, What's going on now?
Fight this girl as reparations for causing chaos by arriving at the capital with a dragon? And if I win, I get to impregnate her?
...Eh?
Wait, is that really punishment? It seems more like a reward than anything else, doesn't it?
"...As I thought."
Margaret's voice suddenly intrudes, as usual, echoing through my mind.
"We showcased our power with Teresa-chan and Schwarz-chan, but they want to have you demonstrate your strength as well, Desmond-sama. And they ensure your compliance through an offer..."
――What's this, setup for a comeback? Who was the one who engineered this irrefutable situation?!
"All brought by Margaret, a woman after your own heart,"
Make no mistake, but it's impossible for an old lady like——"Ahh?"
——Pii
"Well, everything is well within expectations. Desmond-sama just needs to defeat his opponent and impregnate her, like usual."
...Wait, what do you mean 'like usual'? What kind of character am I portraying inside her mind, despite being such a chicken-shit?
"He's a wonderful man who impregnated his sister-in-law and mother-in-law."
That's definitely a dangerous individual that needs to keep an eye on! The desirable concept of Ero elf-esque should never be spread.
And then,
"Ah, also, Desmond-sama, I believe you understand this already, but it would be unwise for you to fully enjoy this maiden in front of everyone. As per the customs, It's just merely to ensure her conception. You understand that it would be troublesome if they became aware of eroticism."
Glancing around, they're all typical noble gentlemen.
――Hmm, that's true....
But there's no way I can refuse this reparation turns reward now. It's because of my mother-in-law's fault!
"I humbly accept."
And with that, my only option is to bow my head.
◇
"Who would have thought someone would ride into the capital atop a dragon... The Impregnation Lord, truly a formidable man..."
"And to arrive accompanied by the Platinum Breaker... with a child already growing in her belly... the rumors are indeed true..."
While Desmond and Teresa were causing a ruckus in the guest room, the elders of the country gathered in the king's office to discuss the impertinent lord who flaunt his power.
The faces of the participants were filled with frustration and bewilderment.
"But they seem to be quite considerate towards us."
When the Prime Minister said these words, the fact that he did not show any overt suspicion, even if they did not understand him, was a testament to the fact that he was one of the country's most prominent figures.
He appears to be a rational individual. If Desmond was here, he would undoubtedly dub him "Insidious Glasses,"
Desmond showed his military power. It's something they can't just ignore as a kingdom.
But thanks to his display of power in such a way, it became possible to impose penalties, which could be seen as an act of submission to the kingdom. Otherwise, there could have been more strategic methods to apply pressure. He simply displayed his strength openly, casting doubt upon the kingdom and initiating negotiations. If his aim was to assert dominance, he could have utilized more cunning tactics. This illustrates the extent of the threat posed by the Sovereign Black Dragon and the Platinum Breaker. ——No, it could be more than that. The Gray Hound, the Witch of Terrace, the Aldora Knights, along with their allies, all united and brought together against the Kingdom,.......
Despite having such "power", he deliberately took on blame himself, giving the Kingdom a pretext to punish him. In that case, it's nothing but a submissive intention with a resolve to conflict, and furthermore,
——We are being tested.
When he heard that he arrived in the capital on a dragon, and then heard of his actions,
Hahaha,
the Prime Minister couldn't help and nearly chuckled.
He - or they, or the Witch of the Terrace, or whichever - had put us on a spot. They were testing the Kingdom. How the Kingdom would respond in such a situation...
I already set the stage. So, what about you all? What about your table manners in the face of this feast?
――Interesting.
Apologies to the anxious, but it's essentially a forceful examination of our sincerity. To launch an attack and then gauge our capabilities. It was quite a disrespectful action for a noble, but if he genuinely possesses such power, it appears to be fair and straightforward.
In a sense, it's a head-on fight as a nobleman.
Not a petty squabble between small fry.
The Prime Minister finds it quite to his liking, perhaps even more so than he dares to admit. Surely——no, undoubtedly, the King shares the sentiment. Despite his stern and cold demeanor, the Prime Minister can see it. Behind the King's tightly sealed lips, there's a suppressed chuckle.
But even though they may be important enough to be present here, how many of them are truly following this game of wits?
"Your Majesty, if I may make a suggestion," the Prime Minister addresses the King.
"Go ahead."
"At this point, why not allow Desmond Damwead to confront her?"
With just that, it seems the King grasps the Prime Minister's intentions.
The Prime Minister doesn't miss the subtle relaxation of the King's lips, bordering on a smile.
――He appears to be quite amused.
The Prime Minister's lips twitch slightly in response.
"Very well."
"Understood. I will arrange it as such."
With a respectful nod from the Prime Minister, the plan is set in motion.
Give Desmond a chance to showcase his strength as the leader of his faction. Even if he arrives with a dragon or the Platinum Breaker in tow, there may be some who doubt his own strength. We'll provide him with an opportunity to demonstrate that strength before the court.
And she, despite being a woman, is strong. In the noble society where women should only be vessels for bearing children, she's more than capable. She insists that if she's to be treated as a tool, then he who wants to be her owner must demonstrate his strength. Some men offered to be her opponent, but there weren't many noblemen who wanted to surround themselves with such a woman in the first place. Moreover, even if they tried to use her as a womb to give birth to the <Shadow>, she wouldn't allow it, and most importantly...
If Desmond wins, her ownership will be decided, bringing relief to her family. By impregnating her on the spot, he'll confirm whether he truly deserves the title of the Impregnation Lord.
We could have asked for the secret of impregnating a woman as reparation, but that would have been lacking in dignity. Because they are inquiring about our table manners.
We could have demanded the secret of impregnating her as reparation, but that would have compromised our dignity. They're inquiring about our table manners after all.
In other words, this is a mutually beneficial negotiation, if they are testing us, then we will also throw the ball back by testing them.
――If you're going to challenge us, then prove your strength.
That was the Kingdom's stance.
I truly appreciate any support you can give.
Tags:
Reincarnated lord
"much as *she* acted all chummy with me, there's no way they would allow a walking nuclear warhead"
ReplyDelete> dont you meant **he**?