Chapter 9 – Bivnaheim Branch
A few days later, I went to the castle with Helena.
As we don’t have any connections in this country, it became hard for us to meet the king directly.
So I decided to use someone close to the king.
The other party is the minister that Fran met.
Hearing it from Helena, he is one of the kings trusted retainers and one of the highest positions below the king.
It’s possible to have an audience if we were to ask from the minister.
“Then Helena, can I leave it to you?”
“Yes, I will try my best!”
She nodded lively and went to the back entrance of the castle.
Then, like as she expected, the minister in question was there.
“Oh, Helena. Working hard today again as usual I see.”
“This one is grateful for the praise, but this can’t be compared to his Excellency”
“Surely you jest, young lady”
He made a light greeting as always, today I have to get close to him somehow.
The minister’s mood seems to have improved too, while speaking with her.
After all, it seems that he cares about Helena according to Fran’s story.
I have to utilize this now.
“Ehehe. By the way, your Excellency, to tell the truth, I have some sort of request”
“Are you? Come on, don’t be shy and say it. I can grant you anything”
“Well, as for the story, there are some people who want to have an audience with his Majesty”
At the end of the main subject, the expression of the minister changes to something suspicious.
“Hmmm. Helena, who said these kind of things?”
“It’s a person named Alan vi Alling”
“Such a name, I have never heard of it …”
There is no excuse for the minister not to know, because our diplomatic relations have been broken for a long time.
But not to know the names of the Elven Royal family, do they even have historians?
“To tell you the truth, that person is an Elf.”
“An Elf! can’t believe it ……”
“Uhm, it’s true! And, onii-san is the prince of the kingdom of elves …”
“do you have a fever? I think you should take a break today. I’ll inform the head maid myself……”
Apparently, this seems to be the limit for her.
But it is fine just to hold him back.
I walked over the two people from behind.
“Excuse me, your Excellency. Are you fine?”
“Who on earth is this, another half elf again? How did you enter this castle…”
“I am the elf that Helena said there”
“What did you just say? Though there is that sense of incongruity coming from you”
Apparently, he is not that familiar with the elves either.
Then I have no choice but to pull this out.
I took out the branch of the King Tree from my pocket.
“That’s…… a branch from the King Tree! And moreover, it’s not from ours or the other countries either!”
“Of course it is. After all it’s the Elves’ King Tree.”
“For someone to possess the limited branches of the King Tree……”
The minister had been silent for a while, but when considered me with a nod.
“I understand. I’ll prepare you an audience with the king. But I want to make sure that the branch of the tree is real first.”
“Fine with me, however, I have bring my reliable companions too”
With that, I called over Cecil and the others from the outside.
“Oh my, what is this? Two more elves……and one of them is a spirit! What a great time to be alive”
The minister seems to have forgotten about Helena.
Well, I would have the same reaction too if such mythical creatures appear before my eyes.
“Not quite correct. The other woman is a half-elf. Why don’t Cecil and the others take the King Tree Branch and follow the Minister?”
“Allan-sama, are you sure you want to entrust it to us?”
“I can trust no one more than you”
“……Yes, we’ll do as you wish”
Cecil then knelt in front of me, receiving the branch in a way like standing on a ceremony.
It seems that the minister is beginning to believe in her gestures that I’m someone important.
“Well then, let me consult with an expert. If it’s genuine, I’ll permit you to have the audience. Helena, can you lead our guest to the reception room?”
“Yes, please leave it to me!”
With this, we could somehow meet the King of Bivnaheim now.
※
“So, you are the prince of the Country of the Elves?”
Before the enormous throne.
The king of this country sat in that place which was elevated by one step.
His hair and beard are white now, and he looked considerably aged.
He stared me with suspicion. It seems that this won’t go easily.
“Yes. I am the Arinheim’s Prince, Allan Vi Alling”
“Certainly, among our records, it is confirmed that it’s the name of the royal family of the Elven Country. But why now, after your country had stayed silent for a long time? And to be accompanied by a spirit too”
“That is for the purpose of uniting Algarde for the peace of this world-”
“Hmph, going all out with world peace. However, these kinds of things are useless”
The king cuts himself in the middle of my talk.
“I know that elves and spirits have been allies for a long time, as they are both species that lived for a long time. But what about us humans?”
“Certainly, it’s short compared to ours but……”
“Once the king changes, the ideals of the country also changes. With that, associating with a nation with their state of mind changes with a few years’ time will be hard. How can you make sure this unity last?”
“If that’s the case, then how about we hold a conference with each representative of the country once a year to ensure it?”
I showed my ideas to the king filled with negative thoughts.
“Surely, if it’s yearly, we will be able to adjust to the circumstances. However, how can you make sure that the spirits, famous for being shut-ins in their home country are really participating and not just on a whim?”
Even though there are half-elves in this country, as for the spirits, most of them have no interest in living outside their country, thus lacking their presence in the outside. Of course with the exception of Effie and some others.
It is to the extent that they are a race that can be openly called as shut-ins, but……
“If that, then I will meet with the Spirit King again and persuade him. If he agrees, as for the above, the pledge will be kept for the next one thousand years.”
“A thousand years, huh……Our scales are different after all”
Though I made it a bit exaggerating, I made it like that to set the mood. He is the king after all, and he must be taken seriously.
“Anyway, I tightened my expression and faced the king once again.
“Now, this Algarde is in peace, but it is still uncertain how long. Your Majesty, I beg your cooperation to bring the world one step closer to peace.”
“Well, if you say it like that, it’s good for me”
He said, continuing to brush his white beard.
“I also crave for peace. But can you really achieve it?”
“I will do it. In the name of this Alan Vi Alling.”
“Hmmm……”
The king stared at me in silence for a little while.
Then, he put his hand on the armrest and opened his mouth and said.
“Seems fine to me. With this, Bivnaheim now has official ties with Arinheim as friends”
“We are very grateful for your decision”
Though the king had a hard to please impression, somehow, I seem to have properly transmitted my feelings.
I’m glad, really.
“But there is one condition”
Such words doused the growing delight in my head instantly.
“And, what condition will that be?”
“I have certainly heard your story, but I don’t know what my son thinks about it. Therefore, I can only assure you the friendship of our countries as long as I’m alive.”
“Indeed, even though peace has been achieved with you, it may not be so for the crown prince of this country”
“That’s right. So, can you still do it?”
“Of course. I don’t intend to make this a hundred years journey after all. I will accomplish this before you know it”
At first I was thinking of going around slowly, but with Helena joining us a few days ago, it changed our plans.
I will settle these things as soon as possible, then relax afterward in the country.
“Then, here is the King Tree Branch”
After the king said so, an old aid brought up a cool-looking box.
|Allan, come here”
I walked to the king as he take out their branch from the box.
Then, he handed over to me.
“With this, I’ll entrust it to you. How will the world become from now on? Allow me to see it afterwards.”
“Then I’ll provide results that will meet your expectations”
And thus, I succeeded exchanging King Tree Branches with the second country.
