101
レオルドは静かに怒りを見せている迫力満点の国王へ自身の答えを述べる。
「陛下、ご無礼をお許しください。ですが、やはり私にはシルヴィア殿下は勿体なき御方です。陛下もご存知の通り、私は元婚約者を襲った卑しき罪人にございます。
そのような人間に陛下は娘を任せられるでしょうか?」
「ふむ。お前の言い分も理解できる。だが、今のお前になら私は任せられると思ったから、今回の話を持ってきたのだ」
「なるほど。過大な評価をしていただき光栄にございます。しかし、それでも私には相応しくないでしょう。殿下にはもっと相応しい相手がいるはずです」
「お前は自分が不足だと申すのか?」
「はい。その通りにございます」
「ならば、考えを改めるといい。お前はモンスターパニックを終息へ導くのに一役買い、さらには伝説の転移魔法を現代に蘇らせたという歴史的偉業を成した。
特に転移魔法の復活はあまりにも大きい。どれだけ国に貢献したかお前は理解していないようだが、はっきりと言おう。
お前には爵位と領地を与えるつもりだ。それだけ与えてもまだ足りないと私は思っている」
「そ、それは流石に他の者が黙っていないのでは?」
「ああ。だが、転移魔法を活用した場合の利益を考えて見ろ。どれだけこの国を潤してくれると思っている。
隣国である帝国は大陸一の国であるが、転移魔法を復活させる事は叶わなかった。しかし、お前は帝国ですら叶わなかった転移魔法を復活させたのだ。
それほどの偉業を他の者が越える事は出来るか? いいや、出来るはずがない。文句を言うのは一人前だが、何かを成し遂げる事が出来る人間は多くないのだ、レオルド。
だから、レオルドよ。謙遜することはない。誇っていいのだ。お前の成した事はそれだけ素晴らしい事なのだ」
「......陛下のお言葉、誠に光栄の極みでございます」
お前にとっても悪くない話であろう? シルヴィアは親の欲目抜きにしても美しく、聡明で、器量よしだ。
こんな言い方は良くないのだが、私達王族とも縁を結ぶ事になるのだぞ。だというのに、どうして断るんだ?」
国王の言う事はもっともである。恐らく貴族ならば誰だって王族と縁を結びたいと考えるだろう。だが、レオルドは違う。縁を結びたいという気持ちもあるが、それ以上にシルヴィアとの婚約は避けたいのだ。
故にレオルドは切り札を切ってみせる。
「......陛下。ここで借りを返していただきたいのです」
「な......に......?」
レオルドの言葉に国王は戸惑う。恐らくレオルドが言う借りとは、過去に国王がレオルドに言った言葉だ。
信じられないと国王はレオルドを見詰める。しかし、レオルドは本気のようで、その瞳は固い意志が見られる。
「はい......」
これは賭けだ。レオルドは国王という最高権力者に勝負を挑んだのだ。あまりにも無謀、あまりにも愚か。されど、レオルドに残されていたのは過去に国王と約束した借りを返すというもの。
正式なものではないが、国王は必ず返してくれるだろう。だが、今回の話を断る為というのはあまりにも無茶なものだ。
「本気なのだな?」
「無論。冗談でこのようなことは言いません」
国王とレオルド以外の四人はただ固唾を飲んで見守る事しか出来ない。緊迫した時間が続き、レオルドはやはりダメかと強く拳を握り締める。
「......少し、レオルドと二人きりにして欲しい」
『え?』
国王の言葉に全員が困惑の声を上げる。一体、何故二人きりになる必要があるのだろうか。他の者には聞かせられない事でもあるのだろうかと疑ってしまう。
「お父様。なぜ当事者である私まで席を外さなければならないのですか?」
「今は私の言う事を聞いてくれ」
「......わかりました」
レオルド以外の四人は席を外す。応接室には、レオルドと国王の二人のみとなった。
しかし、一向に国王は話そうとしない。重たい空気だけがレオルドの肩に圧し掛かる。いつまでもこのままではいられない。むしろ、胃が保ちそうにないレオルドは自ら口を開こうとしたが、国王の重たかった口がようやく開いた。
「レオルド。お前がそうまでして断りたい理由を聞かせてはくれないか?
勿論、どんな理由だろうと私はお前を責める事はしないと約束しよう」
言える訳がない。お宅の娘さんはサディストなのでお断りしたいです、なんて口が裂けても言えないだろう。
国王から目を背けてダラダラと冷や汗を流すレオルドを見て国王は予想していた通りだと確信して話を続けた。
「そうか。お前は気付いていたのか。シルヴィアの本質に......」
「いや、すまない。レオルド。まさか、娘にあのような一面があるとは思わなかったのでな。
しかし、お前は知っていたのか......
だから、断りたかったのだな? あの時の借りを使ってまで」
「うっ......はい」
「別に責めているわけではない。まあ、気持ちは理解できる。我が娘ながらどうしてあのように歪んでしまったか......」
一緒にいてもいいという人ならばレオルドも問題はなかった。だが、シルヴィアと一緒になれば何をされるかは分からない。
勿論、殺されるなんて事はないと信じたいが、シルヴィアの興味が失せた途端に寝首をかかれるのだけは御免である。
「わかった。今回の話は無かったことにしよう」
「流石に今のシルヴィアは危うい。一度しっかりと話そうと思う」
「あ、ありがとうございます!」
まさか、上手くいくとは思っていなかったレオルドは感激に震えながら頭を下げる。しかも、シルヴィアの父親であるアルベリオンまで味方をしてくれるとは予想も付かなかった事だろう。
最高の結果にレオルドは飛び跳ねそうになった。
Ch 101
Leolde gives his answer to the king, who is quietly angry with him .
"Your Majesty, please forgive my rudeness. , but Her Highness Sylvia is too good for me. As Your Majesty knows, I am a despicable criminal who attacked my former fiancee."
"How can Your Majesty entrust your daughter to such a person as me ?"
"Hmm. I understand where you're coming from. , but I' am doing this this because I think I can trust you now.
"I see. I am honored by your  prising , but you overestimating  me . However, I am still not good enough for her . Her Highness deserves someone better than me .
"Are you saying that you are not good enough?"
"Yes. , I do.
"Then you should change your mind. You have helped to  deal with the monster panic, and you have also accomplished a historic feat by bringing back the legendary transference magic   to the modern world.
"The revival of transference magic in particular is too great. You don't seem to understand how much you've contributed to your country, but let me be clear."
I"'m going to give you a knighthood and a fiefdom. I believe that even if I gave you that much, it still wouldn't be enough."
"I'm sure the others won't  be clam about that, will they?
"Yes. But think about the benefits of using transfer magic. How much do you think it will  help this country?"
"The neighboring empire, the best in the continent, has not been able to revive transfer magic. But you have revived transference magic, you done  something that even the Empire wasn't able to do "
Can anyone else surpass such a  achievement ? No, they can't. You can complain as much as you want, but not many people are capable of accomplishing what you had achieved  .
So, come on don't be modest. You can be proud of it. What you've done is that great thing ."
"I am truly honored by your words, ......."
"It's not so bad for you, is it? Sylvia is beautiful, intelligent, and capable,doing thing without help of her parents."
"and I hate to say this, but  you will be related to us royalty. So why would you refuse?"
The king had a good point. Probably every nobleman would like to be related to the royal family. But Leolde is different. It's not only that he wants to make a connection, but more importantly, he wants to avoid getting engaged to Sylvia.
That's why Leoldo  used his trump card.
"Your Majesty.I  want  you pay me back "
"What  ......?"
The king was puzzled by Leolde's words. Perhaps what Leoldoe owes him is what the king said to Leoldo in the past.
The king stared at Leolde  in disbelief. But Leolde seems to be serious, and his eyes show a firm will.
"Yes .......""
This is a gamble. It's not that  It was too reckless, too stupid. But what was left for LeoLde to do was to pay back the debt  the king  promised in the past.
It was not official, but the king would surely  is big thing  But for him to refuse this offer was too absurd.
"You're serious, aren't you?"
"Of course . I don't say such things in jest.
Except for the king and Leoldoe the other four could only watch with  holded breath. As the tense moment continued, Leolde clenched  his fists tightly, wondering if it was a bad idea.
"I'd like to be left alone with Leolde for a little bit ....
"What?
The king's words made everyone shout in confusion. Why in the world would they need to be alone ? They  wondered if there was something  he  couldn't let the others hear.
"Father. Why do I have toleave the room?
"Just do as  I said
"...... I understand."
The four of  them , except for Leolde,  leaved  their seats.There were only two people in the reception room, Leoldd and the king.
But the king would not speak at all. Only the heavy air presses down on Leolde's shoulders. He can't stay like this forever. Rather, he tried to open his mouth, but the king's heavy mouth opened first .
"Leolde. I'd like to hear the reason why you want to refuse the offer so badly.
"Of course, no matter what the reason is, I promise I won't blame you."
(How could I say that? I can't tell  him that  his daughter is a sadist and  that's why  he want to refuse her.)
When the king saw Leolde  turning away from  him and breaking out in a cold sweat, he was convinced that it was as he had expected and continued talking .
"I see. You've been aware of it, haven't you? Of Sylvia's true nature. ......"
"No, I'm sorry. Leolde. I didn't expect my daughter to have that side of her.
"But you knew about it. ......"
"That's why you wanted to refuse, right? Even using the debt you owe me from that time."
"Ugh. ...... Yes."
"It's not that I'm blaming you. Well, I understand how you feel. I don't know how my daughter got twisted like that. ......"
If it was someone who was willing to be with him, Leolde  had no problem with it. But with Sylvia, there was no telling what she would do.
Of course, he wanted to believe that he would not be killed, but he did not want to be caught in the act of sleeping with Sylvia as soon as she lost interest in him.
"Okay. Let's pretend this thing never happened."
"Sylvia is dangerous  now. I think we should talk about it once and for all.
"Oh, thank you very much!"
Leolde, who had not expected it to go well, bowed his head, trembling with emotion. In addition, he would never have expected that Alberion, Sylvia's father, would be on his side.
Leolde almost jumped at such result.
Eroge Reincarnation, Struggle of a Golden Pig Aristocrat Against Fate
エロゲ転生　運命に抗う金豚貴族の奮闘記
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/eroge-reincarnation-struggle-of-a-golden-pig-aristocrat-against-fate/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Age Progression Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Broken Engagement Butlers Character Growth Complex Family Relationships Cowardly Protagonist Crafting Dense Protagonist Domestic Affairs Doting Parents Elemental Magic Emotionally Weak Protagonist Empires Fallen Nobility Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fat Protagonist Fat to Fit Galge Handsome Male Lead Hard-Working Protagonist Harsh Training Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Late Romance Lost Civilizations Loyal Subordinates Magic Magic Formations Maids Male Protagonist Management Manipulative Characters Marriage Misunderstandings Modern Knowledge Monsters Naive Protagonist Nobles Reincarnated in a Game World Royalty Sadistic Characters Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Time Skip Transmigration Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong Wizards
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4214gk/
名無しの権兵衛