MTLNOVEL Chapter 68
“This way, please.”
The next day, as I headed toward the academy gate with Angelica, a luxurious magic-powered carriage was waiting for us.
The interior of the carriage was not only equipped with heating and cooling but also enchanted with a magic tool that expanded the space, making the ride spacious and comfortable.
And so, we arrived at the castle of this kingdom.
Since the princess was aboard, we were allowed to pass through the castle gates without any inspection.
As we stepped out of the carriage and entered the castle, everyone we encountered made way for Angelica, bowing their heads in respect.
Observing this, I walked past the guards until we arrived in front of an opulent door.
“Erik-sama, are you ready?”
Angelica, looking slightly tense, knocked on the door.
“Enter.”
A voice responded from within. Angelica turned to me with a nod before stepping inside.
“Welcome home, An.”
The first person to greet us was Angelica’s mother.
“Mother, I have returned.”
It hadn’t been that long since the entrance ceremony, but the two of them embraced each other happily.
While watching them out of the corner of my eye, I took a moment to scan the room.
It was a fairly spacious chamber. The walls were adorned with expensive-looking paintings, and the furniture—tables, sofas—was all of the highest quality.
Amidst all this, I felt someone’s gaze on me.
He appeared to be in his thirties, dressed in a luxurious cape, with a well-groomed beard.
Without averting my eyes, I conversed with Eve in my mind.
(If he’s here, that means… he must be Angelica’s father—the king?)
『That seems likely.』
(Isn’t it considered rude to introduce yourself first to royalty?)
『Who knows? Eve doesn’t really care about etiquette since Master is the most important person to her.』
Before I could dwell on Eve’s words, the man took the initiative.
“I am Ares XIII, ruler of this kingdom.”
“A pleasure to meet you. My name is Erik. I apologize for intruding on your family time.”
As expected, King Ares introduced himself first, so I followed suit with a smooth introduction and bowed.
“Very well. I assume you are my daughter’s friend. Raise your head.”
Receiving his permission, I lifted my gaze. Upon closer observation, I noticed dark circles under his eyes. The stress of ruling a kingdom must be weighing heavily on him.
“Oh my, Erik-san, thank you for coming,” said Angelica’s mother, Queen Eclair.
“You know him, Eclair?” King Ares asked.
“Yes, I told you before, didn’t I? About the brave young man who saved An during the entrance exam. That was Erik-san.”
It felt like the story had been exaggerated quite a bit…
“You were the one who saved my daughter? I thank you, not as a king, but as a father.”
Saying this, King Ares firmly grasped my hand.
“Oh, it was nothing. I just happened to be passing by.”
As the entire room turned their appreciative gazes toward me, I felt somewhat awkward.
It was true that I had helped, but to me, it was something that had happened in the past.
I hadn’t done it expecting gratitude, so having everyone act so formally about it made me uneasy.
“Ah! How could I forget to prepare tea… Please wait a moment.”
With that, Queen Eclair hurriedly moved to prepare tea.
“Eclair, you should rest,” King Ares interjected.
“Yes, Mother, allow me to make the tea instead,” Angelica added.
With both of them insisting, Angelica began preparing tea herself.
“I never thought I’d see the day when you made tea… Not long ago, you couldn’t even get dressed without a maid’s help,” King Ares remarked.
“Indeed. It’s a joy to see our daughter’s growth,” Queen Eclair agreed.
“Ugh, Father! Mother! Please don’t say such things in front of Erik-sama!”
Angelica, blushing furiously, pouted, while her parents watched her fondly.
“Hmm, this is quite good,” King Ares commented after taking a sip.
“I’ve been learning how to make tea at occasional tea parties. And since you seemed exhausted, Father, I chose a papal herb tea.”
At her words, King Ares briefly pressed his fingers to his eyes.
“I never imagined my own daughter would be concerned for me…”
Watching this heartwarming family moment, I found it difficult to interject.
Although I had come here with a request, I hesitated to disrupt the scene.
“Why are you so tired, Your Majesty? I thought our relations with neighboring countries were good as of late,” I asked.
“Well… there are various reasons,” King Ares replied vaguely.
It seemed like there were matters he couldn’t discuss even with his family.
Sensing this, Angelica decided to change the topic.
“By the way, Father, why did you call for me today?”
On our way here, I had thanked her for arranging this meeting with her parents. In response, she had simply said, “I was summoned anyway.”
It was probably just parental concern about her well-being. Parents of children around this age tend to worry about their school life. I had seen similar situations in my past life.
“Yes, actually, there’s something I wanted to ask you.”
“Of course, please ask me anything.”
As I expected, this was about Angelica’s life at the academy.
King Ares exchanged glances with Queen Eclair before finally speaking.
“The vegetables you brought home the other day—the ones you said were a gift from a friend—who gave them to you?”
“…Huh?”
Angelica and I both froze, our eyes meeting in confusion.