4
さて、レオルドがダイエットを決意している頃、物語が進行していた。
レオルドの父ことベルーガは国王からの呼び出しにより、王城へと赴いていた。既に、レオルドの決闘騒ぎは王国中に広がっており、城内を歩くベルーガにもその噂が耳に入っていた。
様々な噂が飛び交っている。曰く、婚約者を無下に扱い、部下に襲わせた。
曰く、公爵家という身分を笠に教師を脅して成績を改竄した。
曰く、決闘に敗北した時、豚のように鳴いたとか。
ベルーガの耳に入ってくる噂には、頭を抱えたくなるが一部を除いてほぼ事実である。とは言っても、ベルーガも何もしていないわけではない。諜報員を使って噂を確かめて、真実と知っている。
故に噂を聞いた馬鹿な貴族がどれだけベルーガへ皮肉を言おうともベルーガは動じなかった。
そうして、ついに謁見の時が訪れる。ベルーガは呼び出された理由を理解しており、どういう対処をするかを決めている。この謁見は言うなれば意思確認と言ってもいい。
豪華絢爛と言う言葉が相応しい玉座の間。その玉座に腰を下ろすのは、アルガベイン王国六十四代目国王アルベリオン・アルガベイン。齢四十にして尚老いる事のない端整な顔をしている。
流石は四十八人のイラストレーターが手掛けた人物と言える容姿の持ち主だ。ただ、見た目と政治に極振りなので、戦闘面では紙装甲であり一撃で死ぬ。
ただし、懐刀とされている近衛騎士がいる。ここでは、名前を挙げる事はないがアルガベイン王国最強とだけ言っておこう。
国王の眼前に辿り着いたベルーガは片膝を着いて、忠義の姿勢を見せる。
「面を上げよ」
「はっ!」
下を向いていたベルーガは国王の言うとおりに顔を上げる。ベルーガが顔を上げたところで、此度の謁見についての理由が述べられる。
「ベルーガ・ハーヴェスト。この度呼び立てたのは他でもない、汝が息子レオルド・ハーヴェストが王国法の下、決闘にて敗れた件についてである。
既にこの件については当事者達、レオルド・ハーヴェスト、ジークフリート・ゼクシアにて解決されている。勝利者であるジークフリート・ゼクシアはレオルド・ハーヴェストに対して二つの要求をした。
一つ目は、レオルド・ハーヴェストと婚約関係にあったクラリス・ヴァネッサとの接触禁止。
二つ目は、先に述べた二人との接触禁止により学園を退学。
以上、ここまでよろしいか?」
「はい。間違いないかと」
玉座の間にいた宰相が声高らかに説明した。既に一部の者を除いて知られている情報なので、玉座の間に集められた貴族はあまり動揺しない。
全てを把握しているベルーガは慌てることなく、淡白な返事をした。宰相はベルーガの言葉を聞いてから、一歩下がる。
ここから先は国王の仕事だ。ここは王国であり、王制であるので、国王が全ての裁決を下す。今回の件についてはベルーガに責任はない。親なのだから責任を負うべきではと思われるのだが、決闘は当事者達の間でしか責任が発生しない。
なぜならば、勝てば全てを手に入れ、負ければ全てを失うのが決闘だからだ。
だが、それでもベルーガは公爵でありレオルドも同じ家系である為、格下であるゼクシア男爵家の嫡男に負けたのは見過ごす事はできない。
貴族社会の上下関係はとても厳しい。それに亀裂を入れるような真似を晒すわけにはいかないのでレオルドには罰が必要なのだ。
つまり、これからベルーガは親として、そして公爵家の人間としてレオルドに罰を下さねばならない。それをこの場で示すのが、今回ベルーガが呼ばれた理由であり責務でもある。
「ハーヴェストよ。此度、お前の息子が仕出かした罪は重い。どう責任を取るつもりだ?」
国王の重たい言葉がベルーガに圧し掛かる。しかし、ベルーガは最初から答えを用意している。なので、後は多くの貴族が見詰める謁見の場で大々的に宣言するのみ。
「我が不肖の息子、レオルドには次期当主の資格を剥奪及びに辺境の地へと幽閉する事を罰とします」
この決定は実質、公爵家からの追放という意味を成す。これがどれだけ重たい罰なのかをレオルドは分かっていないが、貴族からすれば死よりも重い恥辱である。
名誉や栄光、名声に富といったものが全て無くなるのだ。すなわち、貴族にとっての社会的な死を意味する。
「そうか。では、次期当主をどうする?」
「その点についてはご心配に及びません。次男であるレグルスに決めています」
「ほう。噂は聞いておる。愚兄に似ず、優秀な弟だと。して、それは真なのだろうか?」
「親の欲目抜きにしても、とだけ」
「であるか。しかし、残念よな。お前の息子は武勇に優れた神童と持てはやされておったのに、このような結末を迎えようとは......」
「恥ずかしい限りです。私の教育が間違っていたのでしょう」
「どうであろうか。お前の息子レグルスはレオルドとは違うのであろう? ならば、レオルドに原因があったのだろう」
「それならば、尚更恥ずかしい限りです。息子の本性を見抜けなかったのですから」
「人間、誰しも間違いはある。さて、レオルドの処罰についてはこれにて終いとしよう。最後にハーヴェストよ、二度は無いぞ?」
「はっ! 陛下の温情に感謝を!!」
これにて謁見は終了である。集まっていた貴族も解散して、用意されていた部屋へと戻っていく。同じく、ベルーガも自室へと戻り、椅子に腰掛けて休む。
しばらく休んでいるところに客人が訪れる。ベルーガも予想していたのか、控えていたメイドに指示を出して扉を開けさせる。
「先程ぶりだな、ベルーガよ」
訪れてきたのは国王本人であった。
プライベートな訪問なので、ベルーガはメイドを下がらせてアルベリオンと二人きりになってから口を開いた。
「今回は手間を掛けさせてすまなかった」
「気にするな。私とお前の仲だ。それよりも、お前こそ平気か?」
「気が気じゃなかったさ。決闘で負けたと聞いたときは髪の毛が抜け落ちた程さ。ああ、息子は死んだんだって」
「それに関しては運がよかったな。ジークフリートが死ねと命じていたら、その時は本当に終わっていたぞ」
「本当に感謝しかないよ、彼には」
「その事についてはこれで終わりにしよう。少し、愚痴に付き合ってくれ」
「いくらでも付き合おう」
プライベートで仲の良い二人は、時間を忘れるほど仕事や政治についての愚痴を言い合った。だけど、その顔は晴れやかな笑顔であった。
久方ぶりに会う友人との話は愚痴だとしても楽しいものなのだ。
Ch 4
Now, when Leolde was making up his mind to go on a diet, the story was going on.
Beluga, Leordo's father, had been summoned by the king to the royal castle. The rumors of Leolde's duel had already spread throughout the kingdom, and even Beluga, who was walking around the castle, had heard about it.
There were various rumors flying around. According to some, he treated his fiancee disrespectfully and had his men attack her.
He used his status as a duke to blackmail a teacher into falsifying his grades.
when he lost a duel, he squealed like a pig.
The rumors that come to Beluga's ears make him want to hold his head in his hands, but with a few exceptions, they are mostly true. However, that doesn't mean that Beluga hasn't done anything about it.He has used   his  agents to confirm the rumors and know them to be true.
Therefore, no matter how many sarcastic remarks Beluga received from the foolish nobles who heard the rumors, Beluga was unfazed.
And so, the time for the audience finally arrived. Beluga understood the reason why he was summoned, and decided what to do about it. This audience could be called a confirmation of his intentions.
The throne room is a place of luxury and splendor. Sitting on that throne is the sixty-fourth king of the Argabane Kingdom, Alberion Argabane. Even at forty years of age, he has a neat face as if  he has never aged.
He has the appearance of someone who has been created by forty-eight illustrators. However, because he is so politically correct, he is paper armored and can be killed with a single blow in battle.
However, there is a knight in his personal guard who is considered to be his sword. his name unknown for now  , but let's just say that he is the strongest of the Argabane Kingdom.
When Beluga arrived in front of the king, he got down on one knee and showed his loyalty.
"Raise your head."
"Ha!"
Beluga, who had been looking down, did as the king said and raised his head. When Beluga looked up, the reason for this audience was stated.
"Beluga Harvest. The reason I have summoned you here is to discuss the matter of your son, Leolde Herbst, who was defeated in a duel under the laws of the kingdom.
The matter has already been settled by the parties involved, Leolde  Herbst and Siegfried Zexia. The victor, Siegfried Zexia, made two demands   to Leold eHerbst.
The first was a  forbidden on contact with Clarice Vanessa, who was engaged to Leold Herbst.
The second is that he be expelled from the school due to the prohibition of contact with the two people mentioned above.
"Is that all?"
"Yes. I'm sure of it."
The Prime Minister, who was in the throne room, explained in a loud voice. Since the information was already known to all but a few, the nobles gathered in the throne room were not too upset.
Beluga, who was aware of everything, did not panic and gave an indifferent reply. The Prime Minister took a step back after hearing Beluga's words.
It is the king's job from here on out. Since this is a kingdom and a monarchy, the king will make all the decisions. Beluga is not responsible for this matter. One would think that since he is the parent, he should be responsible, but in a duel, the responsibility is only between the parties involved.
Because in a duel, if you win, you get everything, and if you lose, you lose everything.
But even so, Beluga is a duke, and Leolde is from the same family, so he cannot overlook the fact that he lost to the legitimate son of a lower-ranked Zexia baron.
The hierarchical relationship in aristocratic society is very strict. It's very important that he be punished, because he can't expose himself to the kind of behavior that could cause a crack in it.
In other words, from now on, Beluga, as a parent and a member of the duke's family, must punish Leoldo. This is the reason why Beluga was called here, and it is also  his duty.
"Harvest. The crime your son has committed is a serious one. How do you intend to hold him accountable?"
The king's heavy words pressed down on Beluga, but Beluga has an answer ready from the start. So, all he has to do is to make a grand declaration in front of an audience of many nobles.
"My unworthy son, Leolde, shall be punished by being disqualified from being the next head of the family and imprisoned in a remote place.'
In effect, this decision meant that he would be expelled from the duchy. Leorde doesn't understand how serious the punishment is, but from the nobleman's point of view, it's a humiliation worse than death.
All honor, glory, fame, and fortune will be gone. In other words, it means social death for the nobility.
"I see. Then what should we do about the next head of the family?"
"Don't worry about that. I've decided on Regulus, my second son."
"Oh. I have heard rumors about him. I've heard rumors that he is an excellent  person , unlike his foolish brother. But is that true?"
"I've only heard that he's a good kid, even without his parents' greed.
"Is that so? But it's a pity. It's a shame, though, that your son, who was touted as a child prodigy of great valor, should end up like this: ......"
". I am ashamed of  it myself. I  had  educated him wrongly."
"What do you think? Your son Regulus is different from Leolde, isn't he? Then it must have been his fault."
"Then I am even more ashamed. I didn't see the true nature of my son."
"We all make mistakes. Now, let's talk about Leolde's punishment. Finally, Harvest, will there be a second time?"
"Ha! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"
With this, the audience was over. The nobles who had gathered disbanded and returned to the rooms they had prepared. At the same time, Beluga also returned to his room and sat down on a chair to rest.
While he was resting for a while, a guest came to visit. Beluga, perhaps expecting this, instructed the maid who was waiting for him to open the door.
"It's been a while, Beluga."
The visitor was the king himself.
Since it was a private visit, Beluga sent the maids away to be alone with Alberion before he spoke.
"I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you this time."
"Don't worry about it. It's between you and me. "
"I've been thinking about it. When I heard that  my son  lost the duel, my hair fell out .Oh mt son he might have been dead
"You're lucky about that. If Siegfried had ordered  him to die, then it would have been over for you."
"I can't thank him enough, you know."
"That's all I'm going to say about that. I'll leave you to your complaints."
"I'll stay with you as long as you want.""
The two men, who were good friends in private, lost track of time complaining about work and politics. But their faces were radiant with smiles.
It's always fun to talk with friends you haven't seen in a while, even if it's just complaining.
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