The king's mother suddenly opened her seemingly closed eyes and, with a calm but commanding voice, asked everyone to leave the room except for Akari. Akari, though slightly confused, stepped forward. The elderly woman beckoned her closer, her gaze sharp and discerning.
"Child of light," the king's mother said, her voice carrying the weight of generations of wisdom, "you are destined to face those great beings. You will bring salvation." She then patted Akari's head, an unexpected gesture that filled Akari with a sudden warmth and sense of peace.
On the other hand, outside in the garden, Ken was explaining all of Akari's abilities to the king, who listened with great interest. His eyes gleamed with intrigue as Ken described each of her powers in detail, and beside him, the queen's eyes sparkled, as if she had found the perfect bride for her son.
When the king's mother returned with Akari, she addressed the king with a tone of finality. "Grant this girl the title of Countess. She will live as a citizen of our land."
The king was taken aback. His mother rarely intervened in matters, and when she did, her words were absolute. Her influence was undeniable, not only because of her revered position but also because of her power of knowledge—a literal ability that allowed her to see the hidden truths and potentials in others. Her declaration was a testament to Akari's worth, and the king knew better than to question her wisdom.
The king leaned back, his curiosity piqued as he addressed Ken. "So, it seems the need for the first condition is eliminated. She doesn't need to be your daughter or daughter-in-law. In fact, she could live in the palace; it would be a good arrangement."
Ken, looking a bit flustered, tried to interject, "My majesty, but—"
"No, no, leave it to Akari," the king cut him off with a wave of his hand.
Akari, always composed, smiled politely. "Your majesty, I would prefer to stay with Mr. and Mrs. Ken. They have been my saviors, and as for the engagement, if there is no legal need for it, I would prefer not to proceed with it."
Kuro, sitting in the corner, felt his plans crumble. "What? All my carefully laid-out schemes... ruined!" he thought to himself, trying to mask his frustration with a neutral expression.
The king nodded thoughtfully. "Very well. Now, about your powers—I'd love a demonstration. Would that be acceptable?"
Akari bowed her head slightly. "Of course, your majesty."
The king clapped his hands and called for one of his servants. "Fetch my children."
A few moments later, three figures appeared in the garden. The oldest son, with long, dark blonde hair like the king's, strode in with a sophisticated air, almost as if he had just walked out of a royal portrait. He nodded politely to Akari, maintaining a princely demeanor. The middle child, however, was quite the contrast. He looked shy, his light brown hair resembling the queen's, and his eyes darted nervously as if he'd rather be anywhere else but here. He glanced at the ground, shuffling his feet.
Then, there was the youngest—the princess. With a wild mop of blonde hair, she stormed in like a whirlwind, her eyes glinting with mischief. She immediately made a beeline for Kuro, poking him in the side.
" Hey you little " kuro whispered
The king introduced his children one by one. "This is Takashi, my eldest, Arnold, my middle son, and Emma, my youngest," he said, gesturing to each of them in turn.
Akari nodded, acknowledging them.
"I want you to assess their health and mental conditions," the king continued, his tone growing more serious. "There are a few things I'd like to know as well, but we can go one by one."
Akari stepped forward, ready to begin her task.
Inside the tent, Akari meticulously examined each sibling, using her plant manipulation abilities to create fine, vine-like tendrils that wove around their bodies to sense their health. Takashi, the eldest, maintained a calm and composed demeanor. Arnold, the middle sibling, couldn't stop blushing, glancing at her shyly. Meanwhile, Emma, the youngest, was practically impossible to keep still, darting around the tent with boundless energy.
After completing the thorough examination, all three siblings left the tent, leaving Akari alone with the king.
"Alright, Your Majesty," Akari said, ready to report. "Please ask about them one by one."
The king nodded thoughtfully. "Let's start with my oldest son. I'll call him back in to verify what you say."
Takashi returned, standing respectfully before his father and Akari.
"First, his health," the king prompted.
"Excellent," Akari replied. "He has a solid training routine and a balanced diet. He has a slight wrist injury from overuse, though."
"Interesting," the king remarked, then continued. "What about his hobbies?"
"He enjoys reading and sparring with his friend, Armin," Akari replied.
The king smiled, impressed. "And what are his ambitions, as well as his thoughts about me?"
"Takashi aspires to become the Chief of Knights one day. He holds you in high respect and hopes to grow into someone like you. In my opinion, it's quite admirable," Akari answered with a nod.
"Impressive." The king turned to his son. "Is she correct, Takashi?"
"Down to every detail," Takashi confirmed, a hint of admiration in his voice. "Honestly, Father, I'm impressed as well. If you permit, I'd like to take her as a trainee for the knights."
Akari's eyes lit up with excitement. "A knight? I'd love that!"
Takashi couldn't help but smile, clearly pleased. "Really? That's wonderful. What weapons do you prefer?"
Akari leaned forward eagerly, "Well, I'm particularly fond of swords and bows…"
"Ahm, ahm," the king interjected, amused. "I know you both are passionate about knightship and weaponry, but may we continue?"
"Sorry!" they both replied in unison, a bit sheepishly.
The king gave a satisfied nod. "Takashi, you may go now. Send in your younger brother."
Arnold entered the tent with a shy, tentative smile, greeting his father and then sneaking an extra glance at Akari. He was clearly nervous, his cheeks going red as soon as she looked at him.
The king started with the usual, "So, let's hear about his health."
Akari nodded seriously, but with a warm smile. "He's in good health, though he could use a more balanced diet… and maybe ease up on the sweets. Believe me, I get it, Arnold—I'm a sweets fan too! But, you know, gotta keep things balanced!"
Arnold's face turned even redder, and he gave a tiny, bashful nod. The king raised an amused eyebrow, watching his son practically glow with embarrassment.
"Alright, next question. His hobbies?" the king asked, giving Akari an encouraging nod.
"Well, he's really into sparring, traveling, strategy games, and swimming. Honestly, Your Majesty, I think he has as many hobbies as I do!" she grinned, glancing at Arnold. This only seemed to add fuel to his growing blush, his eyes darting everywhere but Akari's face.
The king chuckled, then got to the more personal question. "Alright. How does he feel about me?"
Akari started to answer, "He loves you a lot. But he feels it's a bit childish to ask for a fatherly—"
"Hey!" Arnold blurted, his face now as red as a sunset. "Stop! Don't… don't tell him everything!"
Akari grinned, thoroughly enjoying his reaction. She turned to the king with a playful shrug. "What do you think, Your Majesty? Should I keep going?"
The king chuckled, clearly entertained. "Maybe spare him the full details. But his ambition—let's hear that part."
Akari straightened up, giving her answer. "Arnold wants to be king."
The king's eyes lit up, pleasantly surprised. "Really? So, at least one of my children wants to take my place! Well, son, is that true?"
Arnold looked down, cheeks still crimson, but he nodded shyly. "Yes, Father."
"Impressive, Akari." The king smiled at her, then looked back at Arnold, amused at his flustered expression. "Now, son, go and send your sister in, alright?"
Arnold glanced at Akari one last time, a mix of admiration and nerves evident in his gaze. "Yes, Father," he managed, and then practically stumbled out of the tent, muttering something under his breath.
Emma came bouncing into the tent, her energy and enthusiasm lighting up the space. She greeted her father with a bright, "Hi, Papa!" before turning to Akari with a curious gaze. She wasn't shy at all, and Akari found her confidence amusing.
The king smiled, "Alright, let's begin. Akari, how's her health?"
Akari gave a warm smile to Emma. "She's in excellent health, Your Majesty. A very active little one." She turned to Emma and added, "I bet you love sweets as much as your brother, don't you?"
Emma giggled. "Maybe a little," she admitted, her eyes twinkling.
The king then asked, "And what are her hobbies?"
"Oh, she's very artistic! She loves drawing and dancing," Akari said. "I wouldn't be surprised if the castle walls are covered with her artwork."
Emma beamed with pride, bouncing a bit as she added, "I'm gonna be the best dancer in the kingdom, just wait!"
"Such big dreams," the king said, clearly proud. "And, how does she feel about me?"
Akari grinned. "She loves you a lot and just wants to see you happy. She's got a huge heart." Emma looked up at her father, nodding excitedly.
Finally, the king asked, "And her ambitions?"
Akari's face softened as she looked at Emma. "She just wants everyone to be happy. Simple but incredibly sweet."
Emma nodded, smiling brightly at both of them. "Yep! And if anyone's sad, I'm gonna dance and make them smile!"
The king chuckled warmly, reaching over to pat Emma's head. "I'm proud of you, Emma. Thank you, Akari. Now, why don't you two go join the others?"
Emma took Akari's hand eagerly, her excitement contagious as they walked out, already chatting about dance moves and colors.
The king leaned down, giving Arnold a mischievous smile. "So, Arnold," he began, his tone teasing, "do you happen to like our guest, Akari? If you're interested, I could always ask for her hand on your behalf… but you'll have to act fast, or else I hear the Duke's son has an eye on her too!"
Arnold's face flushed a deep crimson. He stammered, trying to play it cool, "F-Father, it's not... I mean, she's... we just met!"
The king chuckled, thoroughly enjoying his son's reaction. "Oh, come on! She seems perfect for a future king, doesn't she?" he continued, nudging Arnold playfully. "Smart, talented, confident—she's got it all!"
Arnold fidgeted, finally managing a mumbled response, "I—I think she's… impressive. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, Father!"
The king couldn't resist one last comment. "Well, just think about it. You never know; she might not wait around forever!"
Arnold muttered under his breath, cheeks still bright red, "I'll think about it." But as he walked away, he couldn't help the small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
The king nodded thoughtfully as he announced the decision. "Akari, you'll stay with the Duke's family for six months, then you, Kuro, and Arnold will train together at the academy until you all turn 20. You'll live in the dormitory there, which should be a perfect arrangement for the three of you."
Akari exchanged a glance with Kuro, who looked both amused and slightly annoyed. Meanwhile, Arnold's eyes lit up a bit at the prospect of more time around Akari, though he tried to hide it behind a cool expression.
"And Duke," the king continued, a bit too casually, "since Arnold will be heading to the academy, perhaps he could spend this time with you as well? It will give him a chance to… adapt to your family's ways and focus more on his training."
The Duke inclined his head respectfully, though he couldn't hide the flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Of course, Your Majesty. We would be honored to have your son with us."
Arnold, trying to sound casual, nodded. "I suppose that sounds reasonable," he said, though the slight smile on his face gave him away.
Akari, smiling, leaned toward Kuro and whispered, "This arrangement is going to be… interesting."
Kuro rolled his eyes, muttering back, "Interesting is one way to put it."