Chapter 25: Princess Phialis - Part 3
Watching the king hastily make excuses, I screamed inside my heart.
Why do I keep meeting important characters from the game, one after another!
What did I do to deserve this!
I became an adventurer to survive after being expelled from home, and I just wanted to leave the capital as soon as possible...
"So, what about you, Father? Isn't it your working hours now?"
"I forgot about lunch and was working. I just left my room, thinking of having a meal now... But judging by the situation, it seems difficult for me to join."
"Oh, that's fine. Chloe-san and Jin-san will continue visiting the royal castle, so it's better for Father to get used to them earlier."
"!?"
Stunned by the princess's words, Chloe and I stared at her with eyes filled with disbelief.
Seeing our reaction, the king pondered for a moment. Normally, he would refuse to have a meal with commoners. I felt relieved.
"Yeah, that sounds good. Shall we have a meal together? I'm also hungry, and if Phialis says it's fine, I'll join."
"Hehe, that's great."
When the king agreed to join, the princess looked at me and smiled. Definitely, she invited the king to the meal to trouble me...
After that, the king, the princess, the king's advisor, and Minister Beltos von Boltrock of this country, we all headed to the dining hall.
"J-Jin-kun, why did this happen..."
"It's all the princess's fault..."
Arriving at the dining hall, we whispered to each other as we watched the nobles chatting happily in a tired state.
The royal and noble members were enjoying their meal elegantly, but Chloe and I struggled to swallow the food that should have been delicious. It was a difficult situation.
"By the way, Phialis, how was your conversation with the adventurers?"
"It was a fun time listening to stories that people who are the same age as me, experiencing a world I don't know, have written and haven't been recorded in books."
"I see, I see."
The princess said with a satisfied expression, and the king smiled with a smile on his face.
Come to think of it, this king in the game was excessively doting on his daughter, Phialis...
In the game, the king was always on high alert due to the existence of the Demon Lord, and his character was even more intimidating than now.
However, the only time this intimidating king's expression softened was when he was in front of his daughter Phialis, whom he doted on.
According to the background story, when the princess said she would go on the Demon Lord subjugation with the hero, the king didn't want to let her go and shed tears of blood behind the scenes.
"Thank you for telling my daughter entertaining stories. Adventurers, I appreciate it."
"H-Haha."
"No, it was a request, so there's no need for the king to thank me so much."
Upon hearing the king's words of gratitude, Chloe almost fainted, so I spoke to the king instead.
In response, the king smiled with a nod at my words.
"The words just now, please accept them not as a king, but as a father."
"...I understand. However, please refrain from thanking commoners so readily. There is a possibility that they might become like her."
"Hehe, I thanked you because you were there. I'm still considering the other party's situation, so we're having a conversation."
The king directed a gaze at me, similar to when the princess targeted me as her prey, and shivered.
"Oh, King. Please don't tease him too much. They are guests invited by the royal family, after all."
"Sorry, sorry. I couldn't help but find it amusing when Fiaris was teasing him."
"Even so, it doesn't mean that the king should do the same."
Being scolded like that by Lord Beltos, the king didn't seem to reflect on it and said so to Lord Beltos without any signs of remorse.
Seeing the king's attitude, Lord Beltos sighed and apologized to me.
"By the way, I saw that you were expelled from your house about a month ago when I was investigating about you. Is that true?"
"Yes, it is. My father told me to leave the house a month ago, and now I live a life similar to that of a commoner."
"Hmm, it seems that you had a fiancée according to the investigation, but you broke off the engagement and were expelled from your house. Was something wrong?"
From the king's gaze, it seemed like he wanted to confirm that there were no false statements.
...I see, this dinner party wasn't held by chance pretending to be a coincidence, but it was an event organized from the beginning to "ask about me."
With that in mind, I looked at the princess, who had a cheerful smile on her face.
"...Is that a question as the king?"
Turning my face back to the king again, I asked as a final confirmation.
The king understood my thoughts and focused his gaze on me, tightening the loose atmosphere.
"Yes, that's right. I command you, Jin von Lagnia, the eldest son of the former Lagnia family, to tell us about the events that happened a month ago."
"Understood."
I replied to the king's words, and I spoke about the events that happened a month ago, including the story I hadn't told the princess.
"...That's almost like being held captive."
"I was fine when my mother was alive, but it was tough after her death. That's why when I was faced with a choice, I decided to leave the house."
When I replied to the king's words, Chloe, who was sitting next to me, shed tears and said, "Jin-kun, it's terrible even though you didn't do anything wrong..."