「………」
「………」
During the work, Liscia and I didn’t exchange even one word.
What an unpleasant situation…… No, this unpleasantness might only be felt by me one-sidedly. Liscia was behaving normally.
That day, even after I told her that Georg Carmine had committed suicide inside the prison, Liscia didn’t make any changes in her expression. While being expressionless, she only muttered a tiny 「I see……」.
It didn’t mean that I expected her to lose her composure. It also didn’t mean that I expected her to blame me either. My relationship with her is not that shallow to the extent where I don’t know that she isn’t that kind of person. However, I never expected that she would still behave normally even until now. I thought that at least her expression would become gloomy to some degree. Not only did she not feel any anguish or any sadness, Liscia was acting as if nothing ever happened. This put me at lost for words.
If it like this, then it will be better if she at least said even one complaint……
『Why didn’t you do anything to help Duke Carmine!』
……Yeah. This hypothetical situation wasn’t any better. Just imagining the scene of Liscia scorning me was depressing for me. Then, if she just hit me to finally wipe the slate clean…… But in this case, the one who should be worried will be me instead, right? Really…… What am I doing? I had boasted to Georg, 「No matter what happens, I will protect my family」, but in the first place I couldn’t protect the girl closest to me.
「Souma.」(Liscia)
「Eh, ah, what is it?」(Souma)
I looked at the one who called me. It was Liscia, who slightly tilted her head.
「Your pen stopped.」(Liscia)
「……Ah, sorry.」(Souma)
Not good…… I need to pull myself together. I once again returned to my work. Let’s finish the things in front of me right now. Perhaps, one day, time will fix this. While thinking like this and working, someone knocked on the door. 「Come in」 I called out to the door, 「Excuse me」, Serina-san the grand chambermaid entered.
「I came to inform Your Majesty that the preparations have been finished.」(Serina)
「I understand.」(Souma)
After stopping our work, I put on the kingly mantle and then we headed to the audience room together.
This day was the Commendation Day for the people that had performed distinguished services in the war against Amidonia.
◇ ◇ ◇
「Glaive Magna. I commend you for your loyalty and the great deeds that we have been indebted to. To reward that loyalty, I confer to you the territory of Randell and its surroundings.」(Souma)
「Yes, Your Majesty. I am grateful for this blessing.」(Glaive)
「Yes. This is just temporary, but I bestow to you a part of Former Supreme Army General Georg’s authority to you. Until the time comes for the Elfrieden Defense Force’s reorganization, please adeptly unite the Kingdom Army.」(Souma)
「Yes, Your Majesty. These old bones will certainly strive to meet Your Majesty’s expectations.」(Glaive)
In front of me, who stood out from the throne and granted an award with a pompous tone, was Hal’s father, Glaive, prostrating himself. Since it’s not being deliberately broadcasted, I actually disliked this formal ambience. However, since the State Secretary was recording my each and every word and action, I needed to act “Kingly” like this. So that the people in the future wouldn’t belittle me when they read the historical records, that was what my retainer, Marcus, had been telling me repeatedly. Honestly, I don’t really care about the posthumous evaluation.