Chapter 132
Interlude: Menexes Kingdom (14)
Crash!
Shatter!
“Kyaaaahhh!”
Bang! Rattle rattle! Slam!
“Y-Your Majesty! Please, please calm yourself!”
“Silence! How could I possibly calm down?! Don't touch me! Why?! Why Iris...?! Uwaaaaaahhh!”
A maid burst out of a room in the royal castle, the King's office, and ran to the Royal Guards stationed at the corridor entrance to prevent ordinary nobles from entering this floor.
“His Majesty... His Majesty has lost control of himself. Please help!”
Realizing this was no ordinary matter, two Royal Guards hurried to the King's office.
The moment they saw the state of the room, however, their feet stopped.
Normally, besides the Royal Guards, a personal guard knight would always be stationed at the King's side.
Since Filehien had once been an adventurer, he only kept a single guard with him at all times. Yet that knight was currently immobilized against the wall, his arms and legs pinned by what looked like a sheet of black cloth.
The civil servant who usually assisted with paperwork was curled up in a corner, trembling violently.
Weren't the documents scattered all over the room important?
The vase that normally decorated the office had been smashed to pieces, and the pink flowers His Majesty favored had been thrown from their container and lay scattered across the floor.
His Majesty himself stood hunched over with both hands planted on his massive desk.
Directly before him, the Chancellor was practically crawling across the floor, continuously offering words of apology.
What in the world had happened here?
When His Majesty first returned to the castle, many had feared him because of his adventurer background.
People had worried he might be a brute.
That if he became angry, nobody knew what he might do.
The atmosphere had been one of constant apprehension.
Yet His Majesty, though his speech sometimes resembled that of commoners, had always acted calmly.
He was not the sort of man to direct unreasonable anger at others.
Certainly, he handed down severe punishments to nobles who neglected their duties while demanding only their privileges, but even then, he always gave them a chance to redeem themselves first.
The current King was entirely different.
Pressure radiated from him.
Perhaps mana was leaking out as well.
Even I found myself unable to step fully into the room.
When I asked the maid who had summoned us what had happened, she explained that the Chancellor had come to report something and had presented an object wrapped in cloth.
The moment His Majesty saw it, he had erupted in fury.
Looking more closely, I noticed a piece of cloth clenched tightly in His Majesty's right hand.
Large tears dripped continuously from his trembling eyes.
Just as I was about to rush forward, the oppressive pressure vanished.
His Majesty slowly sank into his chair.
“Your Majesty, I am deeply sorry. This happened because I failed to think things through. I am sorry. I am truly sorry.”
The Chancellor continued pressing his forehead against the floor while apologizing repeatedly.
His Majesty didn't even look at him.
Just what had happened?
“Your Majesty, forgive my boldness. The current situation has not yet spread beyond this room. However, the sound of breaking glass and the maid's scream were likely heard by other departments. If this continues, someone may begin investigating.
If possible, I would like to restore the room immediately. Would that be acceptable?”
Had His Majesty still been rampaging, we might have needed to restrain him.
But at the moment, the only person moving, or rather speaking, was the Chancellor.
In that case, perhaps it was acceptable to make a suggestion.
“... Ah, yes. You're right. I've frightened everyone.
I'd like to be alone for a while. Take any necessary documents with you. Anyone injured should go to the infirmary.”
Without raising his head, His Majesty gave the order.
The black cloth binding the guard knight to the wall vanished with a simple wave of his hand.
Perhaps it was dark-attribute magic, the element favored by the royal family.
The civil servant hurriedly gathered the scattered documents around the desk, bowed, and left the room.
The maid appeared to want to clean up the shattered vase, but decided this was not the time and withdrew after a bow.
Only the guard knight who had been pinned remained behind.
However, after receiving nothing more than a brief glance from His Majesty, he too departed.
He would probably wait in the attic or on the balcony.
As for the Chancellor, who was still apologizing in exactly the same position… what should be done with him?
“You. Could you take that thing away?”
“Huh? E-Excuse me...?”
Surely he couldn't be referring to the Chancellor?
“If it remains in my sight, I cannot stay calm. I need to confirm the details, but I require time to compose myself first. So take it somewhere I cannot see it, and where I cannot hear its voice.”
“Yes, sir! Chancellor, come with us.”
“Your Majesty, I am truly sorry. I am truly sorry...”
“Chancellor, we're leaving. Hey, give me a hand here.”
This was the first time I had ever heard such coldness in His Majesty's voice.
The Chancellor had become like a broken marionette, capable only of repeating the same words over and over.
Even when I placed a hand on his shoulder and urged him to stand, he made no attempt to move.
Another Royal Guard supported his left side, and together we hauled him to his feet and practically dragged him from the room.
The moment the door closed, the sound of something being smashed, perhaps the desk itself, echoed from within.
Then came the sound of sobbing.
Really… just what in the world had happened?