Chapter 59
The Holy King of the Kurvaan Holy Kingdom is given a name in childhood, but once he ascends the throne, he becomes "the Holy King" and casts aside his name. Apparently, he goes by "the Holy King" until he dies.
His defining features are translucent light-blue hair and eyes. This color is called "Holy Water Color," and apparently a child will either have this combination regardless of the other parent's race, or inherit the other parent's genetics completely.
In a sense, I suppose this is another form of unusual inheritance, like Magic Eyes.
"Holy Water Color" manifests in both men and women, so it is entirely possible for a woman to become the Holy King. However, if Holy Water Color does not manifest, the child is not called a Holy Prince or Holy Princess and instead lives as a relative of the royal family—in that case, they cannot even call themselves a ducal house. Only those who possess Holy Water Color can become a ducal house. Of course, Holy Water Color can die out, and apparently its loss does not cause a reversion to ancestral traits. That must be why House Ebene is a family of halflings despite being a ducal house.
—"Holy Water Color" is a special color for the Holy Kingdom, and the noblest color of all.
That was what my tutor had told me.
"The real Holy King!?"
"Why is he here?"
"Is he accompanying the Holy Prince-sama!?"
The commotion had reached its peak.
But the children at my table—the highest-ranking place in the hall—dropped to one knee and bowed their heads, and we guards followed suit.
When the same thing happened at the other tables, the spacious hall fell silent, and everyone ended up bowing their heads.
Outside, even the last traces of twilight had faded, and darkness befitting a new-moon night filled the sky.
Inside the hall, however, brilliant chandeliers cast their light.
Tap, tap. The footsteps of the Holy Prince and the Holy King—two pairs in all—approached us.
Incredible. I mean, that aura is incredible. If Akashi-kun from Kuroko's Basketball told me, "Your head is too high," I bet this is what it would feel like... Ah, it's so painful being unable to share this understanding with anyone in this world!
"Ah, um. Everyone, please raise your heads. I, too, am a participant in this banquet, just like all of you."
The stiff wording and his unfamiliarity with it mixed with the Holy Prince's childish voice, creating an unbelievable mismatch.
But nobody raised their heads. In the deathly silent hall, the Holy Prince's pitiful voice could be heard saying, "Oh dear..."
"—Didn't you hear me? Raise your heads."
When a deep bass voice that seemed capable of making glass tremble rang out, the two children from ducal houses and the one from a marquess house were the first to raise their heads. Ah, so it was okay to look up. Lady Eva, I, and everyone else raised our heads all at once.
There was no need to ask who had spoken: it was the Holy King himself.
Looking directly at him, his aura was even more overwhelming. He almost seemed to be glowing. Wait, is that magic power? Is it just leaking out? Isn't that dangerous, Holy King?
"Sorry about this. If I'd said I was coming in person, it would've caused a huge commotion, so I deliberately kept it secret. I'm Kurvshrat's guard. Just think of me that way."
Even if you came without announcing it, it still caused a huge commotion.
Everyone was surely thinking the same thing, but no one could say it. After all, he was the Holy King.
Kurvshrat-sama looked visibly relieved when everyone stood up. He came over to our table and sat down.
Then the Holy King stood behind Kurvshrat-sama with his legs planted wide and surveyed everyone at the table—was he seriously being treated as a guard? Was that okay? Everyone was standing around awkwardly, unable to sit down.
"...Your Majesty, please keep your jokes within reason."
A gray bear spoke!—or so I thought, but it was the berserker who had been standing behind Mira-sama. Oh, so it was just the berserker speaking. What a relief.
Of course not.
A guard suddenly speaking up was bad. Very bad.
"What? You volunteered to serve as a guard yourself because you're so fond of your own child, didn't you, Margrave Mule?"
The Holy King raised his eyebrows and gave him a sharp look—and the berserker was Margrave Mule himself!?
Even Lady Eva and the young lords from the ducal houses were stunned by this.
Well, well. In that case, there might be other instances where the guard himself is a VIP, right? Louis's guard was Arthur-sama, whose identity was clear, and Charlotte-sama's handsome guard... His mouth was hanging open, ruining his good looks, so he seemed safe. Whether he was actually okay as a guard was another matter.
And the halfling-san who was Etan-sama's guard... Yeah, they were staring hard at me. I guess they were wondering the same thing. To show them that I had no secrets, that I wasn't some kind of jack-in-the-box, I raised both hands a little and shook my head. Maybe they understood, because they nodded and said, "Indeed." What was with that "Indeed"?
"Then let us devote ourselves to the role of guards."
"Yeah, that's what I intend to do... Hey, you lot, how long are you planning to stand there? Sit down already."
What kind of guard tells guests, "Sit down already"?
Still, perhaps that was simply what people in power were like. They had no idea how the people beneath them felt.
Before I knew it, a small band had appeared in the corner of the hall and begun playing. The music, played on stringed instruments much like violins, was pleasant and did not interfere with conversation. The mansion's servants brought the Holy King a chair and offered it to him, but he refused, saying, "What kind of guard sits down?" and left the servant pale-faced. See? They really had no idea how the people beneath them felt.
The banquet was finally about to begin, it seemed. Something like a program had been placed on the table, listing the names of the dishes and noting that the host would give a speech during the banquet. Apparently, the host was to be a high-ranking noble, and the name written there was that of House Rosier, Louis's family.
Could the duke himself be coming? Would the head of the house be joining us too? The other tables already had a few children who looked short of breath after learning that the Holy King and Margrave Mule himself were present. Did nobody intend to let them breathe?
"Er, um, to everyone who turned twelve this year, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Kurvshrat. Please try not to pay too much attention to the Holy... guard behind me."
Nobody had said a word, so the Holy Prince had worked up the courage to start a conversation. But being told not to pay attention to the Holy King was impossible.
"Kurvshrat-sama, it has been a long time."
"Ah, Louis. Long time no see."
Did the two of them know each other? They spoke with a certain casual familiarity.
"Hmm? Did you change your hair color?"
"!? Y-yes, well, this is... I just felt like it."
Louis-sama was sweating after being asked about something he would rather not discuss, while glancing at Lady Eva. Kurvshrat-sama noticed that too, turned his gaze toward Lady Eva—and froze.
"—It is a pleasure to meet you, Holy Prince Kurvshrat-sama. I am Eva, eldest daughter of House Slyries."
Since she was seated, Lady Eva merely bowed her head, but Kurvshrat-sama was staring at her as though transfixed.
"? Kurvshrat-sama, is something the matter?"
"...U-um, er... may I ask your name?"
"As I said, I am Eva Slyries."
"I see! So your name is Evaslyries? That's a rather long name. Which house are you from—ow!?"
The Holy King brought his fist down on Kurvshrat-sama's head. Hey, a guard shouldn't injure the person he's guarding.
"Calm down, Kurvshrat. Girl, you're... I see, you're Victor's daughter."
"Yes. May Your Majesty the Holy King bestow great light upon House Slyries—"
"Stop, stop! None of that!"
The Holy King had spoken to Lady Eva, so she got down from her chair, knelt, and bowed her head—but it was the Holy King himself who cut her off.
"Sit, sit. Today, you children are the main attraction."
Surely many people thought that someone who stood out more than the main attraction had no business saying that.
"...I am deeply honored."
When Lady Eva returned to her chair, aperitifs were brought out.
White plates and forks and knives of polished pure silver, gleaming like mirrors, were arranged on the table. Nothing had been placed in the center; large platters of food would be brought there later.
The aperitif came in glasses of various colors, and the drink inside was something like cider made by fermenting apples. It was sweeter than cider.
Lady Eva took only the tiniest sip of her aperitif before setting down her glass. Louis-sama and Mira-sama gazed at her dreamily, watching every movement.
It was a heartwarming sight. As I wondered whether they might let the guards have something to eat too—though I knew they probably wouldn't—the Holy King spoke.
"By the way, Victor's daughter, are you engaged yet?"