Looking closely, the three people sitting in front of me were all wearing different atmospheres. First, Lafayence, who is sitting to my right, slowly turned his eyes to the two kings with his usual expression and then looked at me. He looked as if he was saying, "I will follow up with you, so you can talk with me without any worries.
On the other hand, the king of Maintia, who is standing on the left side, is staring at me. His eyes are sparkling, as if he is filled with anticipation. Furthermore, King Poseidon in front of me is staring at me. It is as if he is trying to gauge my strength.
It seems that there is no escape from here. I guess I'll just have to make up my mind.
"Well... well... well... Is it okay if I tell you what I heard, instead of my experience?"
"No problem."
King Poseidon answers immediately. King Maintia grins. He is probably thinking, "Why don't you just tell him that it was your experience ...... instead of being so shy? I know exactly what he is thinking.
I'm ready, cough, and open my mouth.
"It's an old, old story. There was a king who had a beautiful queen. The king was so enchanted by her beauty that he favored her deeply, deeply.
"Yes, that's a common story. Just like my father, the Great High King."
"......"
"As a result of his favor, a beautiful baby boy was born to them. However, the king had many concubines and the queen was of low birth. Because of this, the queen became jealous of the other concubines and was harassed by them in various ways. Perhaps because of this, she gradually became ill more and more often.
"Yes, I know exactly what you mean. My Alyson Castle is in just such a state."
"......"
"And when the prince was three years old, the queen finally became very ill and did not return."
"What a ....... How tragic! Couldn't something have been done before that happened!"
"......"
"The king was deeply, deeply grieved. He could not forget the queen for a long time. His retainers, seeing this, found a woman who looked exactly like the queen, and they sent her to serve at the king's side.
"Excellent loyal subject! If only our Hladime nation had one such loyal subject ......"
"......"
"The king rejoiced, and favored his new queen, and she was restored to health."
"I know, I know."
......This idiot's tweets have been annoying me since a while ago. On the other hand, King Poseidon is listening to me with a straight face, not changing his facial expression at all. It's a little creepy. As I'm thinking this, King Poseidon suddenly opens his mouth.
"And then? You don't think that's the end of it, do you? If so, please visit ......."
"No, the story continues."
"Okay, let's hear it."
Mr. Poseidon, there's no need to be so touchy. You're scaring me. I cleared my throat again and continued my story.
"Now, the prince who was born to the deceased queen was very lonely after the death of his mother. And he gradually grew fond of his new queen, who was a shadow of his late mother, and she grew affectionate towards him.
"Mm. Good story."
"......"
"And as time passed and the prince grew older, his feelings for the queen became more affectionate. In other words, the queen becomes the prince's first love.
"Oh-ho. So, what's the story?"
Lord Baka-dono is as annoying as ever, but if you look closely, you can see that King Poseidon's body is slightly bent over as he folds his arms and remains silent. Is he getting interested in our conversation? All right, let's keep talking.
"As you can imagine, I can't tell the queen how I feel about her, much less lay a hand on her in the presence of my father the king. In the end, the prince will have a queen of his own, even though he still adores her.
"Well, you're not going to tell me that's the end of your love, are you?"
"No way."
"Yes, that's what I thought you would say. Come on, let's hear the rest of the story."
For some reason, Lord Baka is getting a kick out of my story. It's really annoying.
"Oh-hon. So, the prince had been in love with the queen for a long time, but one day, she fell ill. And she had to leave the royal palace and move to the countryside where the air is clean and restful. When the prince heard of this, he followed the queen.
"Oh! No way. ......"
"No, of course not. The prince snuck into the house where the queen was resting and had his way with her.
"Oh yeah! You did it! It has to be! And? And? What happened after that?"
She was carrying the prince's child.
"Oh, wow. That's what happens. d*mnation. But I know how you feel. Yes, yes. I know how you feel. But it's a big problem.
"The queen, healed of her illness, returned to the palace. And in her guilt, she gave birth to the prince's child. It was a boy. The king was overjoyed and made him his son.
"...... wait! Why would the child born be the crown prince? Normally, it would make sense for the older brother prince to be the crown prince, wouldn't it? No way,...... no way,...... the king knew about the relationship between the prince and the queen,......? If that's the case, if that's the case! The prince was charged with adultery and burned at the stake ......!"
"...... Calm down, maintia king. There's more to come. So, the queen was tormented by guilt and died soon after. The prince, too, is in a state of guilt and sadness over the loss of his loved one."
"How unfortunate. ....... No, wait! You said ...... for guilt? You don't mean to say that he was executed by the king in secret? If that's the case, the prince has no time to be depressed! If we don't get out of the country soon, our lives will be in danger. ......"
"...... King Maintia, please shut up for a second. It's hard for me to talk. Okay? One day, the prince, who was living in such a depressed mood, went for a walk in the mountains for a change of pace. There, he finds a rather large house.
"Well, this is going to be a new story.
"So I hear a little girl's voice coming from the house. She is saying something silly like, "The sparrows got away from me. The prince happened to spy on them through a crack in the wall he found.
"Mmm. Not acceptable behavior by any means, but ....... I know how you feel. So?"
"There was a girl about 10 years old playing there. She looked just like the dead queen."
"What! Oh, I didn't know that! I knew I would recognize the woman of the mansion, but it was a girl. ....... But 10 years old can't help it."
"And you think, 'What's the point? But the prince takes the girl back to his mansion. And he will make her well educated and bring her up to be a woman of his own liking."
"Law ......"
"And when the girl was fourteen years old, the prince took her as his wife."
"What! Is there ...... such a thing? ......"
"And the prince loved the girl with all his heart, and she loved him with all her heart, and they lived happily ever after. ....... That's the story."
Everyone falls silent, and there is a hush. King Poseidon's face is as expressionless as ever. King Maintia's eyes darted from side to side, unable to contain her agitation. Lafayence is looking up with his eyes closed, still thinking about something.
No way. ...... the original story has been exposed? No, it can't be. They couldn't have known. It's a piece I learned in high school, and it's a little deformed. You may say, "That's not exactly what it says," but it's not because I remember it vaguely. I dared to deform it a little. Yes, I dare you!
"A...... King of Agartha, was not the prince accused of adultery by his father the king? Eh? How is that?"
"Blame ......? As I recall, that never happened. ....... Yes, I remember that when the child born to the previous queen ascended the throne, the prince was reduced to a vassal and assisted the new king in his government.
"What? You put your own child on the throne and became its guardian! What a cunning ......, then, the country is now at the will of the prince. Is he not usurping the throne? What are the other retainers doing?"
For some reason, the king of Maintia is shaking and asking me a lot of crazy questions. Is he all right, this guy?
"No, of course there was some sort of struggle for power. In fact, the prince left the capital and went into hiding after losing the political battle. However, he was eventually recalled to the capital and took a high position. I think he was a good man in his own right, too, don't you?"
"But ...... but isn't that the same as usurping the throne?"
"Why don't you shut up for a minute?
King Poseidon opened his mouth. His voice is different and more powerful than usual. It sent a shiver down my spine. King Maintia straightened his posture with a shudder.
"Mm....... This is a story I have never heard before. It's not that it's not possible to adore your stepmother, but ....... I was surprised that he would take a little girl and raise her to be the woman of his choice and make her his wife. Can I really do such a thing? I can't ....... To do so, I would have to constantly show my love for the girl. Otherwise, you will not be able to communicate your deep affection for each other. The prince took the girl as his wife and lived happily together. The girl accepted the prince. Despite the fact that she was his foster parent. The girl must have been very good. ....... No, the prince's love. Without a love deeper than this sea, this story would not be possible: ......"
Before I knew it, the wrinkles between King Poseidon's eyebrows had been carved, making his face a little more powerful. He looks scary when he is angry. He looks scary when he gets angry. As I think about this, the king opens his mouth again.
"...... I'm surprised. No, it was interesting. I never thought that a man of the human race, much younger than I am, would teach me such a thing. I almost failed you, King Agartha."
King Poseidon nodded with a stern expression on his face. Scary ....... What am I supposed to say? While I was confused like that, suddenly King Poseidon's voice rang out.
"I am satisfied! After all, it was not a mistake to invite these men! From this day forth we are brothers! Let us be brothers in like-mindedness!"
...... What? What are you talking about? What do you mean brothers? ....... Like-mindedness....... Sorry, don't put us together. .......
Before I knew it, something that looked like a glass was laid out on the table. And there is a clear liquid in it. King Poseidon takes the glass, smiles again, and opens his mouth.
I have heard that among human races, when brothers are bound to each other, they share a glass of wine. Let us, accordingly, drink wine together to seal the bond of brotherhood!
Hearing these words, King Maintia takes a glass as if to say, "I agree. And Lafayence slowly takes his glass as well. All three of them are staring at me. I have no choice but to take a glass too.
"We are now brothers in arms. We may have come into this world on different days, but we are brothers, and we will help each other everywhere we go. And when we die, let us ...... swear to die in the same way!"
So saying, King Poseidon downed his drink in one gulp. King Maintia and Lafayence followed suit and downed their drinks in one gulp. And finally, I reluctantly drank it all.
It's not a good drink. And what's the same way to die? Could it be that he died from an accidental abdominal wound? I really don't like that way of dying. .......