Father's Classmate
That morning, I was bathed, my hair styled in a half-updo, and dressed in a lovely sky-blue dress that matched my eyes.
"My, how adorable! To think the day would come when I could prepare you like this—Martha is overjoyed."
"Thank you for making me pretty, Martha!"
Once dressed up, I boarded the carriage with Father and my brothers. It was pulled by two horses—one of them being Snowy. I was worried since she'd never pulled a carriage before, but she reassured me:
(Don't worry! Uncle Vance taught me yesterday while you were out.)
The chestnut horse beside her nodded in agreement, so I relaxed.
"Father, what's your friend like?"
"Hmm… Very competent at work. Privately, he dotes on his wife and has two sons—the eldest is a year above Noel, the youngest four years below Gene."
"Then we might have seen the older one at the academy?"
"If we just passed by, I wouldn’t know."
"... No, you definitely know."
"”Eh??”"
"Ah, we're here."
I looked outside—only to see a castle.
Wait… that looks like Neuschwanstein from my Germany trip with my husband in my past life! Only in another world…
"D-Don’t tell me… Father’s classmate is… His Majesty?!"
Noel asked hesitantly.
"Well, yeah. That’s his job."
"His job is being king?!"
Gene looked exasperated.
"I knew His Majesty was the same age as Father, but to think they were friends…"
"Ah, never mentioned it, huh? After graduation, he joined the Monster Subjugation Unit until his coronation. Gray and the others know too."
Ah, so that’s why everyone was smiling wryly…
As we stepped out, a man with honey-blond hair slicked back and a monocle stood waiting.
"We’ve been expecting you, Margrave Lampail."
"To have the Chancellor himself greet us is too great an honor. We look forward to your hospitality today."
Father’s work mode is so cool! Completely different from at home.
"Save the greetings. First, let me escort you. Ever since your message arrived, someone has been too distracted to work… Truly troublesome."
"Is that so… ahaha…"
The Chancellor glared as Father laughed.
Wait, is this okay?! Isn’t that disrespectful?! This is the country’s No. 2!
The castle was opulent—paintings, sculptures, plush carpets. I nearly tripped gawking until Noel steadied me. After that, I was sandwiched between my brothers (aka "captured alien mode"), free to stare safely.
Why is this place so needlessly huge?!
After endless halls, stairs, and doors, we finally reached a guarded chamber.
"Margrave Lampail has arrived."
"Enter."
Inside, a man worked at a mahogany desk.
We were seated on luxurious sofas—Father reassuringly holding my hand.
Soon, the man—the king—moved to a single throne-like sofa, theChancellor standing beside him.
"I am Alexander Exaria, King of this nation. Today… you have… my thanks."
Why did he stumble? But wow, he’s handsome!
Shoulder-length golden hair, royal-blue eyes—every inch a monarch.
"... Ugh, I can’t keep this up."
Suddenly, the air hummed—like a "fwoom" sound.
"Just cast a sound barrier. Everyone, relax…. Seriously, I can’t act formal in front of Stan. Impossible!!"
"””Huh?!””"
We gaped at the sudden shift from regal to casual.
"Sigh… Couldn’t you hold out a little longer? You startled the children."
"It’s your fault, Holger! You were smirking at me while I tried to be proper!"
"Honestly, you’re both hopeless… Ahem. I’m Holger Yoshik, the Chancellor. His Majesty Alexander and your father Stanley were classmates—more like partners in crime. My pleasure."
"Yeah, I’m Alexander. Nice to meet ya. You’ll meet my wife and kids later…. Oh, call me Uncle Alex… whack… Ow?! Who hits a king?!"
"Not during official duties, but this is private. Uncle Alex? Are you an idiot?"
"But I don’t have a daughter! Imagine how happy I’d be if a cute girl called me that! You’ve also got two sons—don’t tell me you wouldn’t want to be Uncle Holger!"
"... Uncle Holger… sigh… tempting."
"Hey, you two morons, calm down. I’m the one who knows best how cute my daughter is."
…Is this a comedy skit? A trio act?!
My brothers were equally lost—Noel and Gene staring at the floor, the latter vibrating from suppressed laughter.
Do we even get to introduce ourselves?!
What do you think about this chapter?
