Kays Translations

Chapter 26. Audience Room

I never thought I’d be back here again……. I stepped forward, remembering the time I was banished.

It’s not the same as when I was exiled, with Vigna and Galatea beside me and the lives and livelihoods of the people of Asgard on my back, my confidence has changed a lot. Unlike the time when I was called an incompetent prince who only talked, I have the status and confidence that I have built up as a respectable lord.

“Master, I think someone is watching us. Please be careful.”

Galatea whispered secretly in my ear. When I looked at Vigna, she looked suspicious and nodded her head. It must be an assassin who specializes in hiding.……

“Grace Vermillion-sama is here.”

The door is opened with the words of the guards who report directly to the king and we step into the audience. I didn’t care about their curiosity and surprise, but I just went straight to my damn father and started speaking.

“I’m Grace Vermillion, Lord of Asgard. I’ve just returned to the capital.”

“Oh, it’s been a while. Your recent activities have been reported here as well. I’ve heard that you’ve succeeded in cultivating that remote Asgardian territory and have developed it considerably.”

“Yes, unlike in King’s Landing, I seem to have been blessed with understanding companions. …… It’s a shame that I couldn’t display this talent in King’s Landing.”

The surrounding nobles buzzed at my sarcastic words. Some of them even gave me a hostile look. In the midst of all this, my damn father was laughing happily.

Yeah, he’s that kind of guy. He’s generous to those he deems capable. I don’t care what he says, I’m finally getting his approval. I used to try so hard to get his approval, but now it doesn’t matter.

“Haha, you’ve got a point, Grace. I heard that you were attacked by bandits with dragons, but you successfully defeated them. You’ve got great powers, I’ll give you a pat on the back.”

He laughed off my irreverent words. I’m pretty sure the reason he called me here …… was for the gun. I’m sure he knew that Kyle was there, but he didn’t even mention it. ……

It’s a little bit of a pity.

“So… are you willing to mass produce those guns in King’s Landing? Of course, you’ll be rewarded with a suitable position and territory. Of course, it won’t be in a backwater like Asgard.”

Those words made me want to vomit. I could honestly yell back at him to stop screwing around, but that would be a last resort. If it was just us, we could just run away, but Asgard has my people. That’s not going to happen. Even if the negotiations break down, it is better to talk and make sense of it first, because it will be more convincing to get the cooperation of the surrounding countries.

“With all due respect, sir, the gun is a power developed in my territory. Does the king want me to transfer the power I’ve gained to others? In this country, where power is everything, I have gained power and now the king wants to take it away from the people of the same country? If that’s the case, there’s no point in living in this country. If that’s the case, then I have a lot of thinking to do.”

“Hou ……”

At my words, the king looked at me curiously for some reason. I said that if he complained too much, I would sell the technology to another country and run away. This reaction was a bit unexpected, even though I had said something extremely rude.

Then, the person who had been staring at us for a while, though not on behalf of the king, spoke out.

“Grace, don’t get carried away! You’re being rude to our father. Besides, Asgard’s development is not in your power. It’s because you happen to have the power of Souzi! I know that the weapon you have, the gun, is based on Souzi’s relic.”

“Do you know how hard it was for Grace to ……”

“Relax, Vigna, it’s going to be okay.”

I stopped Vigna, who looked like she was about to slash at my brother George Vermillion, the person who has been antagonizing me for a while now.

It was predictable that this guy would get involved. Now that Kyle is missing, it’s just me and him as heirs to the throne. And even though our father had banished me, he must have been impatient with the fact that he had taken the trouble to bring me back.

“It’s not like Grace himself has gained any power, right? If my soldiers use the guns he made, they will become even more powerful. He just invented a weapon. He doesn’t belong in a country where power is everything. Grace, you can give me the gun you made and go back to the countryside!”

“So you want me to lend you my strength…… and in return, you can lend me your two arms you use in wielding your prized sword? It’s a kind of equivalent exchange. I’m lending you my power. I need you to lend me your power as well. Don’t worry, I’ll return it to you when It’s no longer needed. I don’t know if it’ll ever get back together again, though.”

“You ……”

George gets angry at my words and glares at me. Oh, my! You’ve ruined a good-looking face. But I glare back at him as well.

“I see. …… You’re right, Grace has a point. George, if you can’t give this guy what he wants, then give up on getting a gun.”

“Father!”

“What?”

I couldn’t believe my ears at the unexpected backup. My damn father was defending me? I looked at him in surprise and he chuckled..

“Though, George and Grace. I’ve called you both here for one reason and one reason only. There is one thing I want you to do. Well, how about the one who succeeds in my request can command the other?”

My father chuckled. You mean that? Does that mean I’m now a candidate for the throne instead of Kyle? I couldn’t hide my disgust at the way my father treated me, as if nothing had happened.

Well, I’m sure Galatea, Vigna and the rest of Asgard will be able to handle even the most absurd requests.

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