Chapter 35
Something bad had happened somewhere in the north. Reiz-sama had also sustained a serious injury and was apparently recuperating at home.
The rumors reached Suur's ears as well. Travelers and merchants fleeing south from the north left ominous words behind at Tranza's inn before continuing on.
All they left behind were unpleasant rumors: that some of the Knight Order might have betrayed them, or that Riflerea had invaded.
It was impossible to know how much was true. But Reiz-sama did seem to have been injured, and there was no doubt that all the soldiers guarding the royal capital were on edge.
Given the circumstances, the town's atmosphere remained vaguely unpleasant for days, and the inn saw a slight drop in customers, particularly merchants.
―― It feels awful. ――
Then, one day, after the unease had continued for a while, an announcement was made that Reiz-sama had passed away, sending shock waves through the royal capital.
Voices mourning Reiz-sama's death filled the city, and the funeral was held with due solemnity. That day, Tranza's inn even closed its dining hall for the entire day as a gesture of mourning.
Suur was sad too, but her parents seemed to have suffered an even greater shock. "The hero who protected this country from the Empire..." Suur could tell that beneath those words lurked anxiety about what would happen from then on.
Then, not long after Reiz-sama's funeral, the 10th Knight Order's new organization was announced.
Following Reiz-sama, someone named Roa=Stein would apparently serve as vice commander of the 10th Knight Order. The new vice commander had distinguished himself greatly in a battle fought in the north shortly before.
Roa?
Hearing the name, Suur tilted her head. She knew a Roa-san in the Knight Order. That said, Roa was not such an unusual name. Maybe it was just a coincidence?
However, a banquet held by Nut Guy and the others, who came to Tranza's inn immediately after the announcement of the 10th Knight Order's new commander, revealed that Nut Guy was none other than Roa=Stein.
That day, Nut Guy brought a great many members of the 10th Knight Order with him, and the inn erupted in commotion.
Sazaby-san had informed us in advance that the inn would be booked exclusively, so there was no problem, but we servers were run off our feet.
In any case, they all ate and drank a great deal.
In the midst of frantically carrying food to the tables, Suur brought some alcohol to Nut Guy, who apologized a little sheepishly, "Sorry it's so noisy."
He seemed much the same as always, and Suur found herself wondering if this person really was the vice commander of the 10th Knight Order.
Suur froze for a moment as she looked at Nut Guy. His bewildered expression brought her back to herself, and she replied with a smile, "No, not at all! It's a huge help to the inn when our guests eat and drink this much! Still, everyone from the 10th Knight Order is certainly lively!"
Nut Guy smiled and said, "Yeah," as he gazed fondly at the commotion.
Once most of the food had been served, the biggest surprise of the day arrived at Tranza's inn.
K-K-King!?
In front of Suur's parents, who had frozen with both hands half raised, stood a magnificently dressed person surrounded by soldiers. Even Suur recognized the visitor at once. It was the king himself. Saying, "Very well. At ease," the king approached us.
"I realize it is uncouth to bring something like this into the dining hall, but I would like to contribute some drinks to the banquet currently under way. Will that be acceptable?"
"O-of course, Your Majesty!"
"Mm. Thank you. You there, bring the drinks."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The king walked toward the banquet hall with the drinks that had been brought in. We could only stare dumbfounded at the king's retreating figure.
Soon, a startled cry came from the banquet hall: "King Zeulacia!?" Then they heard, "Could it be that Father is joining us, too?" but Suur felt it would be best to pretend she had not heard that.
"As expected of a king! He's so generous!"
"We'll help ourselves, then!"
This time, they heard words that hardly seemed appropriate to say to a king, but Suur would pretend she had not heard those, too. Not prying any deeper than necessary was a cardinal rule of a good inn.
The king soon departed, but from that day on, reservations flooded into Tranza's inn beyond anyone's wildest imagination, turning it into the talk of the town.