62
ようやく辿り着いた王都にレオルドは不安しかなかった。真人の記憶が目覚めてから久しぶりの王都である。
運命48の主人公こと、ジークフリートとの決闘から実に半年ぶりの帰還である。しかし、レオルドは久しぶりに見る王都に何の感情も湧かなかった。
(ホントならもっと喜ぶべきなんだろうけど、陛下に呼ばれてるからな~
手紙の内容だと褒賞を与えるとか書いてたけど、正直いらない。
はあ~、出来るだけ早く終わらせてゼアトに帰ろう)
「坊ちゃま。このまま真っ直ぐに王城へ向かいますよ」
「え? 父上や母上に会うんじゃないのか?」
「国王陛下への謁見が先ですよ。既に連絡は済ませてありますので、後は坊ちゃまが王城へと向かうだけです」
「そ、そうか......」
王都への入場手続きを行っている時にギルバートから説明を受けてレオルドは驚く。
まさかこのまま真っ直ぐに王城へと向かうとは思わなかったからだ。まず先に両親へ顔を見せに行くものだと思っていたのにと、レオルドは溜息を吐く。
レオルドを乗せた馬車は真っ直ぐ街道を進み、その先に聳える王城へと向かっていく。レオルドは車窓から外を眺めて、街並みや歩いている人に見入っていた。
ゼアトよりも綺麗な街並みや大勢の人に、レオルドは改めて王都へと戻ってきたことを思い知る。
やがて人の数が減っていき、見上げた先には城が見えた。これからあの中に入るのかと考えたら、レオルドは胃が痛くなる。
(うぅ、お家に帰りたいよ~)
最早、レオルドがどれだけ喚こうが帰ることは出来ない。むしろ、帰ろうものなら物理的に帰れなくなるだろう。とは言え、首と胴体が分かれた状態で帰ることなら出来るだろうが。
流石にそのような蛮勇は、レオルドにはない。
うだうだ考えている内に馬車は王城へと進み、レオルドはいよいよかと覚悟を決める。
粗相があっては首を刎ねられるかもしれないという怯えと緊張に、レオルドは肉体的にも精神的にも震えが止まらない。
実際には余程の事を仕出かさない限り、首を刎ねられることなどありえないのだが、真人の記憶とレオルドの記憶が合わさっている所為で、レオルドの被害妄想が激しくなっている。
やがて馬車が止まり、扉が開く。外にいたのは案内役の人間だろう。レオルドは馬車から降りると、ギルバートとシェリアを引き連れて城の中へと踏み込んでいく。
城内の豪勢な作りについ見惚れて立ち止まりつつも、先へと進んでいく案内人に置いていかれない様に早足で進む。
道中、執事であるギルバートと使用人であるシェリアと分かれ、レオルドは案内人の後ろで一人孤独に苛まれながら、玉座の間へと進んでいく。
これから相対するのは、この王国で最高の権力を持つ人物、国王陛下だ。レオルドの記憶では父親と仲のいい友人という認識だが、真人の記憶として油断ならない恐ろしい人物と言う認識もある。
国王自身の戦闘能力は全く無いに等しいけど、こと政治においては、凄まじい才覚を惜しみなく発揮しているそうだ。
ただ残念ながら、素人目には何が何だか分からない。
そしてついにレオルドは、玉座の間の入口前へと辿り着く。案内人に軽く説明を受けてレオルドは襟を正した。
巨大な扉に圧倒されるが、レオルドは扉を見上げつつ首を傾げていた。
(どうして、こういう所の扉は大きいのか。威厳を見せるためか?
案内人はレオルドに説明を終えたあと、巨大な扉とは別にある小さい扉から玉座の間へと入っていく。むしろ、あちらの小さい扉が正しい入り口なのでは、とレオルドは苦笑いを浮かべる。
そうして、しばらくすると巨大な扉が大層な音を上げながら開いていく。レオルドは案内人から受けた説明通りに巨大な扉が開き切るまで待機する。
そして、玉座の間へと続く巨大な扉が開き切るとレオルドは歩を進める。両側に並んで立っているのは名だたる貴族で、後方に控えているのは騎士の精鋭部隊。
一挙一動が注目を集めるレオルドは内心ガクガクと震えながら、中央の玉座に腰掛けている国王の前へと進む。
国王の前まで進んだレオルドは片膝を着き、胸に手を添えながら頭を垂れる。
そこで、静寂に支配されていた玉座の間に声が鳴り響く。
「これより、此度のモンスターパニックで多大な功績を残したレオルド・ハーヴェストに褒賞を与える!
レオルド・ハーヴェストよ、面を上げよ」
「はっ!」
国王の傍に控えている初老の男、宰相が紙を広げて読み上げる。
レオルドが残した功績についてを。
モンスターパニックの最前線となっていたゼアト砦を騎士達と共に防衛したことを述べた。
宰相が紙に書かれていた報告を読み上げると、国王が満足そうに頷いてレオルドへと問い掛ける。
「レオルドよ。この報告に偽りはないか?」
「恐れながら国王陛下。私はハーヴェスト家当主であられる父の言葉に従ったまでのこと。此度の功績は全て騎士団のものと思います。
ですから、私のような者には陛下からのお言葉だけで満足でございます」
「ふむ。なるほど。お前の言い分はわかった。だが、言葉だけでは足りぬだろう」
とにかくレオルドは早く終わらせて帰りたかった。だから自分を卑下して国王に満足してもらおうと、足りない頭を必死に回転させて言葉を並べていた。
「確かにそうではあるが、歴史を辿ればお前の過ちは可愛い方だろう。ただ、婚約者を他人に傷つけて貰おうとしたことは許せんがな」
「......」
ダラダラとレオルドは汗を流し始める。正直、土下座しながら泣き喚き、すぐにこの場から立ち去りたいとすら考えていた。
多くの貴族に見られながら、しかも父親もいる中、国王との問答をこれ以上続けるのは、レオルドには耐え切れそうになかった。
一刻も早くこの場を立ち去らなければと懸命に脳の回路をフルに酷使して言葉を発する。
「陛下、やはり私には過ぎたるものかと......」
もうダメだ。脳がショートした。これ以上、上手い言葉は出てこない。思わず、目を逸らす為に顔を伏せてしまったレオルド。
Ch 62
When he finally arrived at the royal capital,  he was only worried. It had been a long time since   past life memories had been awakened.
It had been half a year since his duel with Siegfried,  protagonist of Destiny 48. However, Leolde did not feel any emotion at the royal capital that he had not seen in a long time.
(If that true, I should be more than happy,  to be been summoned by His Majesty.)
The letter said something about giving a reward , but honestly, he  don't need it.
(Let's finish this as soon as possible and return to Ze'at.)
" Master . We'll head straight for the royal castle."
"What? Aren't we going to meet  my father and mother?"
"We'll have an audience with the King first. I've already made contact with them, so all that's left is for you to make your way to the castle."
"I see. ......"
Leolde was surprised when Gilbert explained to him while he was going through the procedures to enter the royal capital.
I never thought I would head straight to the royal castle. Leold sighs, thinking he was going to show his face to his parents first.
The carriage carrying  him went straight down the street and headed for the royal castle that stood at the end of the street. Leolde looked out of the carige window and admired the cityscape and the people walking around.
The streets were more beautiful than Ze'at, and the large number of people reminded Leolde  once again that he was back in the royal capital.
Eventually, the number of people dwindled and he looked up and saw the castle. The thought of entering that castle made  himfeel sick to  his stomach.
(Ugh, I want to go home!)
It didn't matter how much he screamed, he couldn't go home However, if  he want to return with  his head and body separated,  he can.
Leolde  does not have the courage to do so.
In the meantime, the carriages proceeded to the royal castle, and  he made up  his mind that it was time to go.
The fear and nervousness of the possibility of having his head chopped off in the event of a mishap caused him to tremble both physically and mentally.
In reality, it is impossible for him to be beheaded unless he has done something wrong, but the combination of  past life memory and Leolde's memory is making him paranoid.
Eventually, the carriage stopped and the door opened. The person outside must have been the guide.  he got out of the carriage and stepped into the castle with Gilbert and Sheria.
While stopping to admire the opulence of the castle's interior, he walked quickly to avoid being left behind by the guides who were moving forward.
On the way, he was separated from Gilbert, the butler, and Shelia, the servant, while Leolde, alone behind the guide and tormented by loneliness, made his way to the throne room.
The person he was about to face was the most powerful person in the kingdom, His Majesty the King. In Lelde's memory, he is a good friend of his father's, but in  his past life memory, he is a fearsome person who cannot be traced.
The king himself has no combat skills at all, but in politics, he shows his tremendous talent without reserve.
Unfortunately, the untrained eye cannot understand what is going on.
Finally,  he arrived at the entrance of the throne room. After a brief explanation by the guide,  he straightened his collar.
The huge door overwhelmed him, but he tilted his head as he looked up at the door.
(Why are the doors of these places so big?  Is it to show their dignity?_
After the guide finished explaining to Leolde, he entered the throne room through a small door separate from the huge one. Leolde smiled, wondering if that small door was the  entrance.
After a while, a huge door opened with a loud bang. Leolde  waited until the huge door was fully open, as explained by the guide.
Then, when the huge doors leading to the throne room were fully open, Leolde  walked forward. Standing on both sides of the door are famous noblemen, and behind them is an elite troop of knights.
Leolde, whose every move attracts attention, trembles inwardly as he makes his way to the king sitting on the throne in the center of the room.
When he reached the king, he dropped to one knee and hung his head with his hand on his chest.
Then, a voice rang out in the throne room, which had been dominated by silence.
"I now present to you, Leolde  Harvest, a reward for your great contribution to this monster panic!"
Leolde Harvest, raise your head."
"Ha!"
The Prime Minister, an elderly man standing beside the King, unfolded a piece of paper and read it out.
He talked about  his accomplishments.
He mentioned that he and his knights had defended Fort Ze'at, which had become the front line  for the monster panic.
When the Prime Minister read out the report on the paper, the King nodded his head in satisfaction and asked Leorde.
"Leolde. Are you  heard about this report?
"With all due respect, Your Majesty. I was only following the words of my father, the head of the Harvest family. I believe that all the credit for this achievement belongs to the Order."
"So, for someone like me, I'm satisfied with what His Majesty has to say."
"Hmm. I see. I understand what you are saying. But words alone are not enough."
In any case,  he wanted to get it over with and go home. Therefore, he despised himself and tried to satisfy the king, turning his insufficient head desperately to arrange his words.
"I'm sure that's true, but if you go back in history, your mistake is a  big one one. However, I can't forgive you for trying to get someone else fiancee hurt ."
"......"
Dully, Leolde  begins to sweat. To be honest, he even wanted to get down on his knees, cry out, and leave the place immediately.
He didn't think he would be able to bear the thought of continuing to argue with the king in the presence of so many nobles and his father.
He had to get out of here as soon as possible, so he tried his best to use all the circuits in his brain to speak.
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid it's too much for me. ......"
(I can't do this anymore. My brain short-circuited. I can't think of anything better to say.)
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