Chapter 318: A Secret Talk Between the Queen and the Prime Minister

On the afternoon of the day Robbie met Prime Minister Cromwell, Prime Minister Cromwell was meeting with the Queen.

"Your Majesty, thank you for granting an audience even though I asked suddenly. This unworthy Cromwell, as for Your Majesty’s..."

The Prime Minister was sweating from the start and wiping it with his hand.

"Cromwell, that is enough already. You said all at once that you wanted to talk with me. Something happened, yes?"

The Queen threw it out cold.

"As expected of Your Majesty! You see my thought well..."

"Enough! There is no time, so say the business at once! It will be something worthless anyway, yes?"

Her Majesty was entering a little anger mode.

"Worthless is a most regrettable thing to say. No. In fact I would like Your Majesty to take Ambassador Marie and make a courtesy visit to the Eisleben tribe."

"..."

Too angry to speak...

"Um, Your Majesty?"

The Prime Minister did not notice that the color of the Queen’s eyes had changed.

"..."

"Your Majesty, can you hear me?"

With an expression that seemed about to make a kwa sound effect, the Queen opened her mouth.

"I can hear you!! What I thought you would say, and it is go to the Eisleben tribe in the west? What in the world are you talking about that makes no sense!? You say it as if it were easy. Do you think I can say yes, I see? You, called the iron-blooded prime minister, get carried away and bring me only impossible demands. What in the world are you thinking!!"

Her Majesty’s anger-laden mana hit the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister shook. Until the Queen’s anger settled, all the Prime Minister could do was keep his head down and hold silence. Sweat dripped onto the desk.

Time passed, and at last the Queen opened her mouth.

"I take Lord Robbie and go to the Eisleben tribe. What intent is there in that? Let me hear it!"

The Queen spoke in a way that seemed to make a snap. Her temple was prickling. Her pupils were narrowed. A Queen like this was as angry as she could be. If he did not choose words and speak with care, it would become a serious matter. The Prime Minister told himself that.

"In fact, I think Your Majesty has heard as well. The cathedral’s god-stone has filled with mana."

"Yes. I know that. The god-stone used for Hero Summoning, yes?"

"As expected, Your Majesty..."

Her Majesty’s eyes flashed, a glare!

"Prime Minister. I told you!"

"Yes!? I am sorry!"

The Prime Minister thought in his gut. Why, when I am the other party, is Her Majesty only angry? Toward that Robin Marie she scatters smiles past any need...

"So what about that god-stone? If the mana is filled, the condition for Hero Summoning is met, yes?"

"As you say. The problem is that the one who filled that god-stone with mana is that Robin Marie. I hear he filled it almost alone."

"Eeh!?"

The Queen was surprised. She had heard the mana was filled. But she had not heard that Robbie had borne most of it. The Queen had assumed the mana had gathered as the mana of many of the people collected.

"To speak in detail, Robin Marie went to the cathedral with the Duke and Duchess of Vélez. First the Duke and Duchess prayed, and at the Duchess the god-stone’s color changed a little, I hear. The priest present was surprised at that and took the Duke and Duchess to the High Priest. After that Robin Marie prayed and changed the god-stone’s color enough that anyone could see, I hear. A great many people witnessed that act. Robin Marie said he felt unwell, and Count Norfolk, who happened to be there, saw him off.

The priest returned to the god-stone, saw the changed color, was surprised, hurried to report to the High Priest, and the inside of the cathedral became an uproar. Then they learned that the one who changed the god-stone’s color was Robin Marie, and the Church side soothed a reluctant Robin Marie, begged Count Norfolk to persuade him, and somehow arranged for Robin Marie to come to the cathedral every day. So Robin Marie was taken by Count Norfolk and his wife and attended the cathedral daily, I hear."

"Hm. I understand the course. I have one question."

"What kind?"

"At first he went to the cathedral with the Duke and Duchess of Vélez, yes? Then would it not be natural for Robin Marie to go to the cathedral with the Duke and Duchess from the next time as well?"

"I think that is a fair question. I thought so too and looked into it. What I learned is that the moment the Duchess knew she could receive a blessing from the High Priest, the Duke flew up and asked Count Norfolk and his wife to see Robin Marie to the embassy."

The Queen put a finger to her brow and ground it as she spoke.

"How foolish... there is no medicine for that..."

"Exactly so. Robin Marie took a strong liking to Count Norfolk and his wife, who cared for him in a personal way when he felt unwell, and from then on the cathedral visits were with Count Norfolk and his wife, and in the end he received a special blessing from the High Priest together with Robin Marie, I hear."

"That would be so. That child is sensitive to people’s goodwill. The goodwill he receives, he tries somehow to return with goodwill. Someone somewhere does not know that, though."

The Queen thought, that is you, Cromwell!

"I see. Meaning the Duke of Vélez has dropped in evaluation again."

"It cannot be helped. Truly. I am too appalled to speak."

"Exactly so. We cannot call that one into the center of politics. He himself seems to be putting on airs."

"That one is only a monster of swollen desire to show himself."

Both of them thought of the Duke and let out a breath.

After a silence the Queen opened her mouth.

"Then why do you say I should go to Eisleben with Robbie?"

"That is because if Robin Marie is in the royal capital at the time of Hero Summoning, he seems likely to have some effect."

"Is that talk with some ground?"

"No. My intuition."

"I see... the Prime Minister’s hunch. Indeed, something seems likely. A holder of enough mana to fill the god-stone’s mana alone. You could call him outside the standard. Nnn. Shall I follow the Prime Minister’s hunch here. I will take Robbie and go to Eisleben. How long a schedule do you have in mind?"

Do I have to go on a trip following the Prime Minister’s worthless hunch? the Queen thought, and still thought that being able to go somewhere with Robbie would be rather fun.

"Five days going, five days staying, five days returning. If the summoning is delayed I will send some word."

At the Prime Minister’s words,

"Understood. I leave the rest to you."

Relieved, the Prime Minister answered brisk.

"I accept it."

With that, the Queen and Robbie’s trip to Eisleben was decided.