22_Nightly roundabout

Chapter 22: Meeting anew

"What time is it?" Is this the place?" My head isn't hurting as much as it used to, and the migraine is gone when I force myself to rest. I was collapsing at the table of negotiation before properly giving the plant seeds to them, looking around and searching my memory. I recall them reaching for it so they didn't fall to the ground... I'm glad I don't have to recreate those seeds because I want to modify fully-adapted them to these rich dark-mana lands.

The room is the same as when I awoke, a chamber without a window. The door to the outside world is located in the room's right corner. Was I going through another "rebirth"? No, no, that space's memory would be here. So, am I simply overworking my sleep? Is there no heart failure or organ dysfunction? This vessel has adjusted well to my new work-style environment.

I'll try sneaking outside by opening the wooden door. I'm hoping it wasn't too late in the day to get up. The brilliant moonlight shone through the crack in the door, which was locked but held open by something. Was something pushing against the door, trying to get in? I take a step back to allow the door to swing open.

"What with the door...Woah," Kryos staggers forward and falls to the ground. I caught him before he fell to the ground. Despite his slim build, he is on the heavier side of the spectrum.

"I greet your Majesty. I'm guessing you're coming to watch me." I helped him to his feet, his stance still shaky.

"Are you quite astute? Yes, I am here to commend you on your efforts." Kryos proudly announced that he was returning to me to relax. While I have no thoughts, I appreciate the amusing gesture.

"I am flattered and humbled by your compliment, so-" As I approached the door, Kryos began to shield his body from the chamber exits. So, much to my surprise, his next line is a rhetorical question. Should we agonize over something that is unchangeable, as if he doesn't know the obvious answer?

"Wait, you're going to work again?" Kryos asks, annoyed. 

"What else would I be doing, your majesty?" I'm here to handle your tedious, uninteresting work." I respond as if he hadn't learned from our previous arguments.

"But you're still there—I know I can't argue with your words, so come with me." He dragged me out of the room, clutching my hand tightly to keep me from ambling. It hurts less than pinching the original claw of the incubus with those measly-formed hands of his.

The night is silently still outside as Kryos drag me through the moonlit corridor. The firefly circles the flower like a swamp. This place is changing for the better as the lively atmosphere changes. As he notices my cooperative demeanor, his hand relaxes.

Guards are no longer tired, and some of them are more than pleasant on the job with alcoholic beverages in their hands. Praise can come in the form of a pay raise or simply enough rations. They wave and greet both of us, and gratitude and charisma aren't the same things. Is this walk to congratulate my achievement?

"The office? What are you going to show me of your shambles, your majesty?" I speak up as we near the end of our walk. He let go of my hand and motioned to the opening. Is this a late intervention on his part, or am I being punished for pushing myself too far?

By opening the door, the vessel became more accustomed to the blinded progress of the protection spell. The table has a unique set of demons, the commerce minister and the agriculture minister on the left side of the table reading books and counting coins, taking their time; opposite that is the advisor and Andromalius, who appear to be discussing something with a few documents at hand.

"Well, I have brought the most desired self-sacrificing king," Kryos said cheerfully. Why are they staring at me from the end of the table opposite his top table? This is far too stressful to serve as a wake-up call.

“So Mikhail you have woken up from your slumber…”

“…much quite a treat to scare us like that ever so often, your highness.”

The advisor sets the documents down as he stares dagger-like into my soul, while Andromalius simply shakes his head lightly. They are undoubtedly disappointed by my bad habit of pushing this vessel to its limits. While Andromalius was always concerned about my mental state having irreversible consequences, the same can be said for the advisor, who is always remarking on my unsuitable stand-in for Kryos.

"Permit me, Lord Andromalius. First and foremost, I'd like to express my concern." While gathering the documents in his hand, the advisor says.

"Approve, but make sure not to leave out anything we discussed." Andromalius is bored, so he waves his hand. They appear to have been planning this for a long time before I woke up.

They weren't talking about Saudade and Andromalius' village's alliance. I'm glad they didn't take that step while I was sleeping; there are a lot of negative possibilities if the two of them are negotiating.

"Your Majesty's efforts are greatly appreciated. Never before, even during King Lysander's reign, have I seen the office so...well-organized." Everything is recorded by the advisor. As he remarked, being so well organized makes it difficult to describe.

"I'm having trouble sorting through the note that your Majesty so meticulously made. Even if everything is in order, your work ethic is still a concern. Please don't be so dismissive of your work that you don't even ask for help." When the advisor says "assistance," he sighs. When I greeted him with those tired eyes, he may have been noticed since that dawn. I should be more cautious the next time so he does not make serious thoughts after brief exchanges.

"I concur with the advisor. Since then, you've been ignoring sleep and devoting all of your time to overworking yourself." Andromalius joins in as if this were a play that had been rehearsed many times.

"At the very least, I can admit that I am envious of your works. I've been a leader for over many centuries and led my people to a dead end, and you, a former adversary, did for my people in a single day what I can't for a century." Andromalius sighs at the end of his argument, tired of debating his current state and whether or not to show his affection.

I'll end this quickly and get back to work; some time has passed: "I will consider your words of wisdom-"

"Could you please give the little majesty a break? They've just awoken and don't deserve to be treated like this." The agriculture department interjected, having listened for so long that he now spoke at the end of the intervention. However, hearing him speak so suggestively is an intriguing sight. As far as I'm concerned, his speech is more refined, and he appears to take this seriously when speaking in this manner.

"Look, I'm not in the way of observation because I'm a simpleton." However, since little majesty's improvement, my work efficiency has increased. Please let me convey my gratitude to them." Although expressing gratitude may end this argument, his sinister appearance suggests that he has more to say.

"However, you don't just have this old man to hang like this, do you, little  majesty?" Oh, the workaholic nature, I wouldn't have it any other way.

“Ha! Here, I agree with my old friend. After all, shouldn't Mikhail be a great gift from the underworld to be the hardworking savior we deserve?" To prolong this mess, the commerce minister interjects himself into the conversation. Sure, I'll bite, after all, he's the reason for Kryos's immediate aid in the battle.

"Most of the kingdom treasures have been replenished by sub-space agriculture here after Mikhail’s proposal. I didn't think such things exist in the outside world. May I have a look the next time?" Never pass up an opportunity to profit, the commerce grins at the prospect of gold coins made from my sub-space. I would have declined as the keeper of knowledge, but I find it amusing that someone has taken up the challenge.

"I will take your reques-" I began, but was cut off again. When will this be over?

“Why are you already putting tall orders to their majesty already?” The advisor refutes

“Why not? For the flourish of the kingdom, is it not?” The commerce minister scratches his goatee.

“Can’t you see how many times have they collapsed? You greedy goat” The advisor hissed. This argument will just turn into a hand-throwing contest that outsmarts others.

Oh the other side, things have been milder. The agriculture minister and Andromalius have many later agreements with each other.

“So being an aristocrat also mean that you can’t lead your people too? Such pity.” The agriculture comments, not out of malice but simply the notice of Andromalius’s confession.

“And the same can be said to you, a farmer yet can’t harvest with help.” Andromalius do the same as he has seen how the sub-space amounts. It would impossible for one to work this fast without help.

“At least, I don’t over-exhaust little majesty. How many times for it two?” The agriculture concern, this time directed at me.

“They were doing on their own term, nothing can be done. They can have installed heating runes, create a clean water supply, and change my village’s agriculture from high noon to dawn. I wish I can do something.” Andromalius recalled that night. After talking about the seeds, I was too tired to continue so did he bring me back or…?

“Are you serious? That’s way too unreasonable, now I see your point. With the same body as theirs, it’s fearsome that how can they do in a day.” The agriculture speaks with a harsh tone while turning to me.

At this point, this should stop altogether, the intervention now turns into a pointless dispute of their opinion of my image.

"Can everyone pause?" I'm sick and tired of this pointless debate. Because I have considered all of your wishes and concerns. I am flawed, but have some faith in me as your sovereign." I hereby declare. All of them slowly turn to face me, and the room quietens as the silence embraces everyone. A hand claps in the midst of the silence.

"Have you finally realized your worth in this palace?" As Saudade's true king, you are irreplaceable. "Shall we then plan the coronation?" Kryos laughs and announces my coronation casually.

Pardon?

The end

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The crown weighs heavily on the young ruler.

Indication of their lineage and supporter.

Validation of their achievement and hardship.