Chapter 6 — A Duel Called Negotiations

Several months had passed and Queen Aura was currently in the midst of yet another discussion with the Twin Kingdoms’ envoy.

It was the coolest part of the year, and the gentle sunbeams didn’t push the temperature above twenty-five degrees, even at the height of the afternoon heat. Those beams now fell in through the wide-open window, bathing the room in a comfortable illumination. Aura’s morning sickness had abated, and her stomach had visibly grown, so she was wearing a looser red dress than she normally would and was seated on a sofa as she calmly spoke with the envoy across from her.

“I am, as you can see, with child, so I apologize for my somewhat slovenly appearance.”

“Not at all,” the envoy returned formally, bowing as custom dictated. “I am honored that you would grant me this audience.”

He was a middle-aged man, clad in the formal wear of the Twin Kingdoms, colored in a pattern of purple and white. He was a noble of middling rank, without peerage or lands, but the responsibility being entrusted to him here spoke of the confidence that had been placed in his personality and skills. Even sitting across from a grand country’s ruler as he currently was, the man’s face was placid and composed.

He had arrived two months prior, and this was the fifth time that Aura had accepted an audience with him. Considering the weight of the subject, this being their fifth meeting was actually treating it somewhat lightly, but when prioritizing secrecy above all else, there was little choice. A monarch like Aura and a mere diplomat, even one from the Twin Kingdoms, meeting so frequently in private would allow people to infer that there was some sort of diplomatic situation being hidden from them. The two countries’ overall goals and claims clashed, but the secrecy alone was something that both were in agreement on.

“I am sure you are aware, but I lack the time to dedicate a long meeting to this. Let us proceed with some haste. The Twin Kingdoms gave their blessings when my husband and I were wed. I presume you have no intention of rescinding that?” she demanded, getting right to the heart of the matter.

“Of course, our country sincerely wishes for the best in your marriage, Your Majesty. The words were not false in the slightest,” he answered without hesitation, even as he bowed his head humbly once again.

The Sharous lacked the desire to rescind their congratulations, implying that they did not intend to interfere with the child that she and Zenjirou would have together. The statement itself essentially accomplished one of Aura’s goals. There was at least no real concern about interference in the line of succession for Capua. It went without saying that such a pledge had her breathing a mental sigh of relief. This was her greatest achievement in the past few months.

She had no chance to relax, however, as the diplomat continued, politely cutting across her. “Sir Zenjirou is recognized as a member of the Capuan royal family. Another country must not meddle with the future that such a person offers the kingdom. We understand that. But we would also like you to understand our own country’s position.”

“I am aware of what you wish to say,” the queen answered with a nod, her expression growing severe.

With Zenjirou now recognized as the prince consort by their neighboring countries, the Twin Kingdoms would ordinarily have no legitimate claim to his lineage. However, with the risk of lineal magics spreading beyond their borders, they could use the potential issue it created to gain legitimacy by way of public opinion... to say nothing of the fact that the Twin Kingdoms of Sharou-Gilbelle was the most powerful force at the center of the continent.

Given the slight risk of inciting a war, Aura couldn’t unilaterally push her own interests. It grated, but she would have to make concessions. She placed her folded hands atop her stomach and lowered her voice conspiratorially.

“My husband is aware of your position and has stated that he will have no children with any woman other than myself. If you were to state that you would not interfere with my children, would that not be sufficient?”

At present, Capua had only two people who had inherited their kingdom’s lineal magic, so purposefully restricting the spread of that blood was more than sufficient as a compromise. Aura certainly had no intention of conceding any further.

But the envoy had a different perspective. “That is something I am glad to hear. However, a royal may not always choose his relations freely. What would happen if circumstances came to pass such that Sir Zenjirou was required to take a concubine, and the resulting child inherits enchantment magic?” he replied without hesitation.

Aura’s relaxed smile remained fixed in place, but she cursed mentally. The man was correct; a promise to not take a concubine could not be guaranteed forevermore from a royal. They would need some form of secret agreement that detailed penalties for breaking their word.

In truth, Aura had never actually intended to honor such a promise forever. She would not be so foolish as to provoke the Twin Kingdoms without reason but had considered it something she could wave off with an apology if it came down to it. She had never expected such a blatant warning from him, but the man clearly had a significant amount of courage.

Still, Aura was not easily thrown enough to accept it without protest. “That is a hypothetical of a hypothetical. I see no reason to go that far at present, do you?”

The man answered in a calm tone, “Yet would you not agree that it is an eminently plausible hypothesis? It is my humble opinion that we would be better served by preventing such potential disputes before they come to pass.”

He would not falter, and Aura could tell that pushing back directly would require far more effort than was practical, so she changed her tack. “I see. There is a certain logic to it. Then I ask you this: what of the possibility of the Sharou family breaking their own word in interfering with our child? If the lineage of my husband were leaked to a member of a branch family, that family could decide to act on their own initiative. Hypothetical it may be, but it is also ‘eminently plausible,’ is it not?”

“Hmm...”

Aura’s riposte had made the man hesitate for the first time that day. It was a petty revenge but an exceedingly effective one. Unlike the queen, who stood at the head of her country, the envoy was nothing more than a mouthpiece for his own ruling family, so he only had so much leeway.

Aura pressed further. “Well, you are quite correct. It is a matter for consideration, much like my own offered scenario.”

The wording was circuitous, but it was akin to saying that they should deal with both countries’ issues simultaneously. The simultaneity might have made it sound impartial, but that was far from being the truth. Aura could make any decisions on her own, but her visitor was a mere diplomat, so his authority was limited.

“Very well. I shall consult my kingdom as a matter of urgency.”

The man could go no further this time around.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

Meanwhile, Zenjirou found himself in the reception hall as yet another ceremony took place.

He was clad in the red formal wear that still didn’t suit him. The subsidiary seat next to the empty throne was reserved for him. The throne and the consort’s seat would normally be distinct either in size or decoration but Zenjirou’s was almost identical to the queen’s. It was another way in which the kingdom’s first prince consort was proving difficult to deal with.

You can’t make the monarch’s spouse look better than the monarch. But with the monarch being a woman, you can’t have her looking better than her husband, either. She’s really in a tough spot, he thought to himself.

Holding an audience like this brought home just how difficult a position she was in. The nobles’ evaluating gazes weighed heavily on him, but if he thought of Aura facing it in her condition, doing it himself and the effort it required was nothing.

Zenjirou purposefully declined to meet anyone’s eyes as he looked over the assembled nobles awaiting the end of the ceremony, holding himself like a well-mannered doll. The ceremonies that he attended as Aura’s representative were all fundamentally alike; they just needed someone with a royal title to be present, and that was about the sum of it. Anything that required complex discussion or actions was dealt with by Aura directly.

I just need to stay quiet and polite, and wait for it to finish, he thought as he sat upright on the red secondary throne made of stone. His sole duty was to raise a hand and greet the nobles when the officials chairing the meeting called his name. Should be any minute, he decided, preparing himself as he listened to the presiding official’s speech.

“Today, Sir Zenjirou has graced us with his presence as a representative of the royal Capuan family. Everyone, join your hands for His Majesty’s presence!”

Zenjirou’s breath caught in his throat at the unexpected statement. There was no room for him to be surprised here, though; a glance at the official’s face suggested that he had not said it maliciously, but that was exactly why he could not let them lie.

His role would ordinarily be to silently raise his right hand. He was playing it by ear here, and wasn’t certain of the correct action, but with the situation requiring acknowledgment, he needed to offer some form of response. He put his hand on the decorative bronze sword at his waist and gave his reprimand, speaking loudly to mask his nerves.

“An amendment! I sit here not as a representative of the royal family; I sit here as a representative of the one queen of Capua, Her Majesty Aura!”

His words were far removed from his usual tone, sharp and overbearing. Of course, they were not spoken from the heart; they were simply the best he could manage on the spur of the moment, making an effort to redirect things as best he could. However, placing a hand upon his sword showed that, depending on the situation, he was willing to mete out punishment.

The young official, not being privy to Zenjirou’s panicked thoughts, couldn’t bear it. The unexpected rebuke from a royal made his face drain of color as he hurriedly remedied the mistake.

“M-My apologies! Allow me to correct myself: Queen Aura’s husband, Sir Zenjirou, is here as her representative!”

Seeing that the man was on the verge of fainting, Zenjirou wanted to apologize for going too far. In truth, it might even look to someone who didn’t know the circumstances that it was a case of a superior finding excessive fault with an inferior. And indeed there were more than a few looks sent his way from the nobles staring up at the stage. However, given Zenjirou’s position, it wasn’t something that he could ignore. If he was here “as Queen Aura’s representative” then that meant he was here at her pleasure. On the other hand, if he was serving “as a representative of the royal family,” they could later request his presence directly rather than going through Aura herself.

No matter what, Zenjirou had to avoid using his position without Aura’s permission. It wasn’t like the metaphor of a butterfly flapping its wings, but the best way to avoid a problem was to avoid creating the precedent.

Crap... I expected it a bit, but I was accepted as royalty way sooner than I thought. Purposely averting his eyes from the clamor of the gathered crowd, he forced down his anxiety.

Once the ceremony was over, it was customary to hold a buffet. Zenjirou had avoided attending such events as much as possible, to avoid the potential pitfalls of casual conversation, but for his current goals, they were a necessary sacrifice. Having changed from his second ceremonial dress into a lighter third outfit, he began walking around the dining hall where the guests were taking lunch.

The customs of the country held that those of lower status could not freely interact with those of a higher status, so to fulfill his goals, he would have to address people himself. He wandered the red carpet, wearing the unfamiliar cloth shoes, looking for suitable targets.

“Oh, I believe you are Count Balogna, are you not? I have heard from Her Majesty that you are a man of culture and refinement in addition to your efforts in office,” he called out to the first man that he recognized and knew the name of.

“Oh, Sir Zenjirou, I am honored by your praise. It pleases me that I am able to speak with you in such a place. I was truly ecstatic to see you at the event.”

“Ah, it was nothing. It was a direct order from my beloved wife, Queen Aura, herself. As her humble servant and her husband, such duties are the least I can do,” he said, stressing that he was there solely per the queen’s request.

“Oh, indeed? Still, you seem to have been out of the inner palace more as of late. I suppose everyone wishes to spread their wings from time to time.”

Buffets might be less strict compared to other government affairs, but his wording was only barely acceptable, and Zenjirou scowled mentally, his mind working overtime to think of a suitable answer.

“Not in the slightest. When Her Majesty is busy and away from the inner palace, I almost feel like a candle without a flame. This is simply to distract myself from the loneliness,” he answered with a grin.

Is that good enough? All I really need to do is show that I’m head over heels for Aura.

The noble gave an exaggerated laugh, his shoulders shaking, unaware of Zenjirou’s thoughts. “Ahaha,” he guffawed, “My, my, you truly do adore Her Majesty.”

“I do indeed. I never thought myself to be so single-minded, and yet she and our child fill my mind, night and day. Shamefully, it is impinging upon my work; what a conundrum.”

I’m a lovestruck fool... utterly lovestruck... he told himself over and over, temporarily abandoning his usually treasured shame and self-respect as he laughed deeply.

The looks now focused on him seemed to prove the tactic’s worth, as the gazes of the nobles became tinged with disappointment and scorn one by one.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

That evening, when Aura returned to the inner palace after concluding negotiations with the Twin Kingdoms’ envoy, her beloved husband had still not returned. It was a rare occurrence for her to be back before him.

“Ah, yes, I remember now that he is representing me at a ceremony today,” she mused aloud, picking up an orange bath towel from a basket in the corner and settling onto the sofa. Loosening the dress from her stomach, she softly placed the towel over herself. “Phew...”

Due to her pregnancy, she had chosen a dress that would press on her as little as possible, but her position meant that a certain standard was required while out in public. Loosening the dress like this allowed her to breathe a sigh of relief, and the bath towel was to stop her stomach, now that it had grown to prominence, from getting cold.

Slumped back against the sofa, she suddenly felt the dryness of her throat and raised her voice.

“Maid.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?” a maid answered, appearing immediately from a neighboring room where she had been stationed.

Aura moved only her eyes to look at the humble servant. “My throat is parched; fetch something to drink. Oh, and a light snack as well.”

“Right away, Ma’am,” the woman bowed, briskly walking to the corner and opening the fridge. She poured a mixture of fruit juice, water, and sugar into a glass and placed it onto the table. “Please allow some time for the snack. Is there anything specific you would like?”

Aura pondered for a moment before answering. “Hmm... yes, something sweet would be nice. Not fruit, though; and there is no need to rush.”

“Very well, Ma’am; I will see to it,” the maid replied, bowing and leaving the room.

Alone once more, Aura picked up the drink and raised it to her mouth. The bittersweet liquid refreshed her throat, and she breathed a sigh of satisfaction.

“Life has become easier now that my husband has grown used to the staff.”

Usually, Zenjirou disliked other people entering his private space, so Aura had done her utmost since their wedding to avoid summoning the maids to their chambers. But he had been more considerate of her preferences since the pregnancy and had allowed them to wait close by.

It had been a compromise on his behalf, but he seemed to have recently grown more comfortable with their presence, and as it was normal for Aura, she was grateful for that. Of course, if Zenjirou ultimately decided that he couldn’t get used to it and asked for them to stay outside, she would accept it, but she felt that she could impinge upon the kindness of her husband while she was with child.

As she put the glass back on the table, she heard the door clatter open behind her. For a moment, she thought it was the maid with her snacks, but if that were the case, the young woman would have knocked. There was only one person who would enter without announcing himself.

She turned in her seat to look and found her assumption verified.

“I’m back, Aura. How’re you?”

He had attended the event in her stead and was therefore wearing the ceremonial dress of a male royal. A red vest with gold thread embroidered on it rested above a white tap, with baggy pants covering his legs as he stood in the entrance. He had gradually become accustomed to the formal clothing as he had started attending more events in her place.

Seeing her husband, her voice naturally brightened as she answered. “There are no issues. My morning sickness has lessened recently and was not present at all during my duties today. It has put me in a much more pleasant mood.”

“That’s good, at least,” he answered with a smile, closing the door behind him and trotting over to a corner where a clothes hanger was.

He put the red outfit onto the hanger and nimbly took out a pitcher of fruit juice, pouring himself a drink before dropping down next to Aura.

“Phew,” he sighed. The temperature itself wasn’t too high, but the unfamiliar state function had caused him to sweat all over. He stuck a finger under his collar and shook the top to fan himself.

Two months had passed since he had started standing in for her, and yet he still couldn’t say that he was used to it. Aura watched her husband sprawl out on the sofa now that he had been released from the stress of the event.

“And you? You were at an event this evening, correct? Was there anything of concern?”

They were the same questions she had asked each day since he had started working outside of the inner palace. Even Aura herself thought that she was worrying a bit too much, but it was better to do so than to be out of sync if any problems arose. Fortunately, Zenjirou felt the same and never took offense. He always answered with a negative and a smile.

Today, however, his face twisted and he gave a different answer, his expression earnest. “Yeah, about that, there was something I was wondering...”

“Hmm?” What could be the problem? she asked herself. Growing increasingly nervous about his demeanor, Aura adjusted herself and waited soberly for his answer.

Zenjirou met her gaze and began to explain. “When I was introduced today, they said that I was ‘a representative of the royal family’ rather than ‘a representative of Her Majesty.’” He quickly added that he had promptly corrected them.

“That... is indeed a slight problem,” Aura answered, a similar grimace on her own lips.

Zenjirou had been representing her for several months now and had maintained his position as nothing more than her stand-in while she was pregnant. If he had been present as a male royal, specifically, then regardless of Aura being the queen, he would have been seen as more important than her simply because he was a man. It was inevitable, the country’s culture being what it was.

Of course, even with her pregnancy, Aura had far more appearances to manage. He was her representative only for relatively unimportant matters where he wouldn’t need to act of his own accord. Even so, a male royal acting in the queen’s stead had nobles murmuring about a transfer of power. The drop in the duties that she carried out as a result of her pregnancy had made them uneasy and unhappy about a woman reigning over Capua.

The two of them locked eyes and spoke simultaneously.

“This will be an issue if it is intentional.”

“This’ll probably be a problem if it’s not intentional.”

The two statements sounded similar at first, but the husband and wife’s thoughts were completely contrary, and they looked questioningly at each other after a brief silence.

“Huh?”

“Ah...”

Zenjirou was the first to speak. “Uhh... why would it being intentional be cause for concern? Could you explain?”

“A purposeful mistake would be a clear effort to estrange us. How could that not be concerning? Why do you believe it would be a problem only if it were not purposeful?” she asked after explaining her own thoughts.

Unlike Aura, Zenjirou’s explanation was nowhere near as smooth and well-worded, but he managed to get his point across nonetheless. “Sure, well, if it wasn’t on purpose, it’d mean that people have unconsciously started to see me like, well, a royal in my own right, rather than your representative. That’d mean because of this country’s values, you’d get people unhappy with me being your puppet, I thought.”

Even for the queen and her consort, the patriarchy was firmly in place in the Kingdom of Capua, and the woman taking a leading role while the man acted as her subordinate wouldn’t be appreciated by the locals. So far, the country’s usual stance had been primarily overlooked due to Aura’s own achievements and the doubt that Zenjirou’s origins cast upon him. But it was possible that a lack of care could see the formation of opposing factions backing the queen and her consort respectively.

Worse, the people trying to remove Aura from the throne and install Zenjirou would have some validity to their claims. In this world, being royalty meant being a wielder of lineal magic, and the number of royals was part of the country’s strength. The only royals currently in Capua were Aura and Zenjirou, so it was inevitable that more children would be demanded of them, which meant that Aura would be pregnant and giving birth several times over the course of their marriage. With that in mind, it would be efficient to have Zenjirou publicly handling the running of the country and Aura dedicating herself to bearing healthy children.

Aura could see the logic. It made sense... if Zenjirou had had political abilities on the same level that she did. She understood what he was trying to say.

She leaned her pregnant frame back into the sofa and let out a deep sigh. “I see; you mean to say that an unconscious change in how you are perceived by the masses is a greater threat than the hidden maneuverings of a portion of the people.”

“Yeah, I do. Either way, now that I’m in the public eye, it’s just a matter of time,” he answered with a negligent shrug, leaning back as well.

“Indeed it is, so we shall have to ensure that we share information to prevent people from pitting us against each other.”

“Yup. We should make sure I don’t end up in a position where I can freely use my own authority and resources. If you suggest it, you’ll gain their displeasure for ‘impinging on your husband’s rights,’ so it’d probably be better for me to make it look like I’m ‘passing on the troublesome stuff,’” he suggested, still willing to take on more of the inevitable infamy himself, even after already lowering the public’s opinion by refusing concubines.

“Yes... that may be the safest option,” she answered with a frown. He was right, and it would be best for the royal family in the long run, so it was hard to disagree. Still, that would mean giving him the reputation of being a slothful individual who hated work in addition to being pathetically lovestruck. All together, it would make him appear to be a “lazy fool who lost his head over a woman.”

Of course, he had fallen for Aura at a glance and ran away to another world to escape his job, so it was a surprisingly accurate assessment.

“I consulted Fabio on the way back, and he agreed that it’s the safest option as well,” he added, encouraging his wife as she sat there, reluctant to agree.

With the person it would actually affect and her confidant offering the same solution, the queen could not refute them, and she could see its efficacy if she ignored her guilt.

“Very well; I shall once more rely on your goodwill, then. However, it does make me glad that you seem to be working well with Fabio. He is certainly skilled but by no means sociable, so I was somewhat concerned.”

Zenjirou’s gaze rocketed off to the side at that, and he answered while he was still looking away.

“Yeah; we’re working together well but not getting on well...”

Aura felt a smile part her lips as her husband failed to hide his displeasure. “And that is a good thing. I would be unable to bear it if you possessed a personality where you could ‘get on well.’ I would never be able to relax if such men were lurking both at work and at home.”

Her tone had been joking at the start, but her remarks ended up all but being spat out. Apparently, her confidant’s blunt nature had worn on her more than she’d realized. Her tone let Zenjirou see that the two of them held similar feelings towards the man, and he turned to face her again.

“Yeah, one of him’s enough.”

“Yes, although we do need one of him. While I may wish to strike him from time to time, those willing to tell a royal about unpleasant matters without fear are indispensable. There are even fewer willing to do so for benevolent reasons rather than malicious ones. Do try to work with him as best you can.”

“I get it; I’ll do what I can,” Zenjirou nodded, not trying to hide the grimace on his face.