I Secretly Healed the Illness of the Twin Princesses While Wearing a Mask, and Now the Entire Kingdom Is in an Uproar ~Please Stop Trying to Expose the Street Healer~ - Chapter 54

A few days later, Zenapart was driven back.

Ridiel and I arrived at the imperial capital of the Rudelhardt Empire. We were now waiting in a small room inside the imperial castle, right at the center of the city.

“Haa, haa, I-I’m so nervous I feel like I’m going to throw up…”

Ridiel’s eyes rolled back as she breathed hard.

Just a few days ago, while we were helping rebuild Kaime Fortress, a letter arrived for us.

It was from the emperor of the Rudelhardt Empire.

The letter said that Ridiel Leendiel and her helper would be rewarded as we had retaken Kaime Fortress and defeated a dangerous demon.

That helper meant me.

My identity as Nameless shouldn’t be known to anyone except Ridiel, so it was probably because I made a lot of simple weapons during the battle to retake the fortress…

Still, it was a big surprise.

“…Why am I getting a reward too?”

“It’s because without you, Kaime Fortress could not have been taken back. Even if you’re from another country, the Empire must give proper thanks. Otherwise, it would hurt its honor.”

“Is that how it works?”

“That’s how it works.”

I see.

To calm our nerves, we chatted for a while. Then, it was time for the audience at last.

We followed a knight in full armor toward the throne room.

Many important people of the Empire were gathered inside. There were nobles and members of the royal family.

A woman sat upon the throne.

She had long hair that shone like silver, and beautiful blue eyes.

“I am the Emperor of the Empire, Sigurd Zan Rudelhardt!!”

…So the emperor is a woman.

No, her clothes looked like men’s clothing, so maybe she was dressed that way on purpose.

I’d better not say anything.

“Ridiel Leendiel. I have heard of your heroic deeds. You recaptured the Kaime Fortress and defeated a dangerous demon who killed one hundred heroes. I heard this from Karma Sedog, the knight commander of the Hero Corps.”

“I-I am deeply honored!!”

Ah, she bit her tongue. Her face turned bright red.

“―!!”

“Pfft, hahaha! It’s fine! Everyone makes mistakes! I am generous, so I forgive you!”

“I-I’m really sorry…”

Ridiel trembled with her eyes full of tears.

When she finally calmed down, the emperor spoke again.

“Now then, your reward. First, you will be treated the same as other heroes. You shall be given the rank of first-class citizen.”

“M-me as a first-class citizen!?”

“And as you should know, anyone who becomes a first-class citizen may have one wish granted. Of course, it must be something that can truly be done.”

The first-class citizens get benefits like that, too?

“Now then, Ridiel Leendiel. What do you wish for? Gold and treasure? More power? Or perhaps a handsome reverse harem?”

“N-no, not the last one… I-I have only one wish.”

“Oh? Then tell me. What is it?”

Ridiel took a deep breath in and let it out. She looked straight at the emperor as she spoke.

This time, she didn’t trip over her words.

“Your Majesty, do you know how fifth-class citizens are treated?”

“…Hmm? Of course I do. Unlike fourth-class citizens, who are at least treated as people, fifth-class citizens receive no pay for their work. They are given only poor food and a place to sleep. Even if they fall sick or are hurt, they are pushed aside. Is that correct?”

“Yes. My father was a fifth-class citizen. And until my talent as a sniper was noticed and I became a second-class citizen, I was also a fifth-class citizen.”

“I have already looked into your past. I know you suffered much.”

The Ridiel who had been shaking with nerves just moments ago was gone.

“The one thing I ask of you, Your Majesty, is a chance.”

“A chance?”

“In this recent battle, many fifth-class citizens showed they had the skill to fight monsters. Their talent is being buried and wasted. That is why I want you to give everyone a chance to notice their own strength!”

Ridiel was overflowing with charisma…

From now on, I think I’ll call this version of Ridiel Hero Mode.

“I don’t believe the Empire’s rules, which have lasted for hundreds of years, can be changed overnight. But at the very least, I want people to understand that there are talented individuals among the fifth-class citizens—”

“Very well!!”

“Eh?”

“Hahaha!! A true hero is a woman like you!! I like you! I like you very much! Hey, Prime Minister!!”

“Yes.”

The one who answered was a pale and gentle-looking man.

So that’s the Prime Minister? He looks kind of sick.

A moment later, I understood why.

“Create a bill at once to improve the treatment of fifth-class citizens. I leave the details to you. Have it ready by next month.”

“Y-Your Majesty, with all due respect, changing the law takes time. The class law is one of the Empire’s oldest and most important laws. Even making a plan to improve it would take at least five years…”

“Making that happen is your job; do your best.”

“…I will do my best.”

Yeah, the reason the Prime Minister looks sick is definitely because of the emperor’s wild demands.

“Next is you. Raise your head, Asuku Medix.”

“Yes.”

The emperor’s gaze turned to me.

Just being looked at made me feel heavy, like pressure was pushing down on me.

She really feels like an emperor.

“I will give you a reward of thirty Manni. If you were an imperial citizen, I would raise you to first-class status. But since you are a noble from another country, that would be difficult. My apologies.”

“No, I am deeply grateful.”

“…Hmm. Changing the subject. I have seven wives, nineteen sons, and one daughter.”

“Eh? Ah, yes.”

What is this about all of a sudden?

And wait, she’s a woman, but she has seven wives and twenty children? How does that even work?

“Well then, how about it? Would you like to marry my daughter?”

“No.”

“Wait, Asuku-kun!?”

“Oh? Are you saying my daughter is not good enough?”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

Ridiel looked shocked at my instant answer, and the emperor’s eyes turned sharp.

Even if she is an emperor from another country, a suggestion like that is almost the same as an order.

Refusing it is serious disrespect. Even with my achievements, that could mean execution.

I answered without thinking, out of habit.

Honestly, the king of the Xylica Kingdom and the emperor of the Rudelhardt Empire both try way too easily to marry off their princesses.

Still, I had a strong excuse.

“I already have a fiancée. I was just recently engaged to Victoria Shiru Xylica, the second princess of the Xylica Kingdom.”

“Oh, then congratulations.”

“Thank you very much.”

The emperor smiled brightly.

“Then there is no problem if she becomes a concubine!!”

“That’s a huge problem.”

“Asuku-kun!? I understand how you feel!! But don’t say any more than that!!”

“Hahaha!! You truly are amusing heroes!!”

Still, having a viscount’s son from another country marry a foreign princess would be very bad politically.

What is her real goal?

“To be honest, my sons fight all the time while each claiming they should be the next emperor. The crown prince is capable, but he lacks the power to truly unite the nation as I do.”

I glanced at the man who looked like the crown prince at the ceremony. He groaned and pressed a hand to his chest.

…Stomach pain?

Being the crown prince must be hard work. The stress might even give him ulcers. Maybe I should visit his room later and heal him.

I turned my gaze back to the emperor.

“When I die, civil war, rebellion, and division are certain. At the very least, I want to keep my one beloved daughter far away from that conflict.”

I see. A parent’s feelings.

It’s a noble wish, but it’s far too heavy for me.

In that case, I’ll use the magic words.

“I cannot decide this on my own. Please give me some time.”

“…Very well. Hehe, I do not dislike a careful man. If I am to entrust my daughter to someone, it must be a man who thinks things through.”

I’ll just nod along, avoid committing to anything, and quickly return to the kingdom.

…That’s what I thought.

“Ah, one more thing. The army from the Xylica Kingdom that was sent as support in this battle will remain in the Empire for a while as an envoy.”

“Eh?”

“You should also stay in the Empire for some time. I will prepare a room for you in the imperial castle as a special favor.”

“I must decline—”

“You wouldn’t refuse the kindness of your emperor, would you?”

“I am deeply honored.”

Damn it. Looks like I’ll have to stay in the Empire for a while.

◆　◇　◆

Some time after we began staying in the Empire.

Victoria suddenly burst into my room. She was breathing hard as she spoke.

“Mm. Asuku, let’s go on a date.”

“Huh? In the Empire?”

“In the Empire.”

“…Why all of a sudden? Didn’t we say we’d go on a date in the Kingdom?”

To my question, Victoria answered with a serious look.

“I heard the emperor of the Empire is trying to make you marry her daughter.”

“Well, yes.”

“Mm. She overlaps with me.”

“Eh?”

“She’s a younger sister and a princess. And from what I hear, the imperial princess is unbelievably beautiful. She overlaps with me!!”

Do they really overlap that much?

Well, I guess it’s fine… but what are we supposed to do on a date anyway?

◇　◇　◇

Afterword

One-Point Story

Author: “Next chapter!! The tall and big-chested fox beauty attacks!!”

V: “I sense the arrival of a rival…”

☆Notice★

End of Volume III!! Please allow me to take a short break of three days!! If you thought it was fun, please give ★★★!! Please leave comments!! Please follow!! Please write reviews!!

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