Chapter 14: Father

My hands were sweating.

I was more nervous now than when facing any powerful enemy.

"I can only accompany you this far. From here, you go alone, Yusuke."

"Yeah..."

"Whatever he says… you don’t have to obey it, alright?"

"Yeah—...Wait, no, I can’t just—"

"Doesn’t matter. I permit it."

Milia’s usual sharp tone had returned, nudging me forward down the castle corridor. My steps felt leaden.

The number of doors dwindled until, finally, I stood before his room.

No guards. No attendants.

I swallowed hard and knocked.

"Enter."

The deep, resonant voice made my shoulders hitch.

"F-forgive my intrusion..."

Breathe. Breathe.

Wasn’t there some trick about writing a person on your palm and swallowing it to calm down? No—focus. I turned the knob and stepped inside.

The room was austere. No gaudy decorations, yet every piece of furniture exuded quiet dignity.

And there, seated on the sofa—

—a blond, bearded man in his late fifties.

Milia’s father.

The King.

"...Sit, Hero."

"...Y-yes, Your Majesty."

I obeyed, sinking into the opposite sofa. His expression was unreadable.

"The last time we spoke face-to-face was at your wedding, was it not?"

"Yes... that’s correct."

Father-in-law.

Yet we’d exchanged barely a dozen words. Frankly, he was practically a stranger.

So why summon me now? Not in court, but privately. No guards. Just us.

"The incident in Zayon Territory. Are you aware of the outcome?"

"No... my apologies."

"No matter. I ensured my daughter remained uninformed. It’s natural you wouldn’t know."

The King stood, crossing the room to a magic device on his desk. A grinding sound echoed as dark liquid flowed into a connected pod.

The aroma hit me immediately.

Coffee.

A rare luxury in this world.

"Will you join me?"

"Th-thank you."

He poured it himself, handing me a mug.

I nearly fumbled it.

Why is the King serving me—?

"...You seem perplexed."

"N-no! I mean—yes."

"A hobby of mine."

He took a sip. A faint smirk.

"The brewing is half the pleasure."

I followed suit.

Bitter. Of course it was black.

A moment later, a sugar jar slid toward me.

I hesitated.

Was that… amusement?

I added sugar.

"The fools behind the Zayon incident—the lord, the Ozam Magic Guildmaster, the Ruber, Eugen, and Barios houses—have all been stripped of their peerages."

"...I see."

I set down my cup, meeting his gaze.

"My daughter knows that much."

He leaned forward.

"What follows, she does not. Nor will she ever."

"Yes... I understand."

"Let me be blunt."

The King’s gaze didn’t waver.

"The masterminds—along with their spouses, their families, their entire bloodlines—have been executed."

"...I... see."

He rested his chin on his hand, studying me.

"Does it strike you as unjust?"

"...No. It was... necessary."

"Correct."

His voice was ice. His eyes, bottomless.

"If one could atone for great sins with merely their own life, then any fool would commit atrocities for their so-called righteous cause. No—the price must be pride. Love. Those they sought to protect."

I swallowed.

"My daughter is soft." He gestured toward the sugar jar. "Like this—a virtue in moderation, poison in excess."

"............"

"But she is not destined to rule. A kingdom cannot survive on sweetness alone."

His gaze pierced through me.

"Those arrogant enough to lay hands on a king’s daughter cannot be suffered to live. Their lives were forfeit the moment they acted. But this crime demanded more than their blood. It required a lesson."

"...You’re right."

The King sipped his black coffee.

"Now you understand. Some sins cannot be paid by the sinner alone."

"Yes."

His eyes sharpened.

"Single-handedly neutralizing an entire territory’s forces. Slaying knights clad in magic artifacts. Your deeds are undeniable."

"............"

"But excessive power invites fear."

"...I know."

"What if that power were exploited? If you were tricked into committing atrocities against your will?"

"...It would bring disgrace upon Milia—Princess Millianera."

"Precisely."

He set his mug down.

Clink.

"Do you still believe yourself worthy to be my daughter’s husband?"

The weight of his stare was crushing.

In raw power, I surpassed him—but the gulf in authority left no doubt who stood higher.

And yet, my answer came without hesitation.

"Yes. There’s no one else."

Not just confidence. Conviction. That I had to protect her.

...No, maybe it was selfishness. The arrogance of thinking only I could.

The King’s eyes crinkled slightly.

"...Very well. Prove it."

"I will."

I bowed deeply.

When I looked up, he was adding sugar to his coffee. Just a pinch.

I took a sip of mine.

...Bitter.

But now, faintly sweet.

"That concludes my words as your king."

"Th-thank you for—"

"Next, as her father."

"Huh—?"

He stood—

—and bowed.

"Yusuke the Hero. Thank you for saving my daughter."

I scrambled to my knees.

"N-no need for that! I only did what anyone would—!"

"And yet," he said simply, "I am not so foolish as to withhold gratitude from her savior."

"I-I get it, so please—!"

fter much flustered persuasion, the King finally returned to his seat.

This man… was completely unpredictable. Impossible to pin down.

His expression had shifted—just slightly—from the solemn ruler he’d been moments ago.

"...We still have some time. Very well, let's make some small talk."

"Y-yes, Your Majesty..."

His tone had softened—just a little. Feeling somewhat at ease, I raised my coffee to my lips—

"So when might I expect grandchildren?"

"Ghk—!"

I choked.

Hard.

Coughing violently, I barely managed to set my cup down without spilling it.

The King frowned.

"What are you doing? You're not some bashful maiden."

"I—I suppose not..."

Technically, since we were married, it would be normal for us to have… done the deed.

But the King didn’t know our marriage was only for appearances.

"Did you manage at least once during your journey to slay the evil dragon?"

"Th-that's...!"

"Hmm. Then perhaps after returning to the castle?"

"Ah... haha..."

What followed was a string of increasingly embarrassing questions—some so blunt they had to be intentional.

At some point, I wasn’t sure if this counted as royal interrogation or just borderline sexual harassment.

...Though coming from a King, maybe it was just succession planning.

Still, after enduring several rounds of his incredibly awkward inquiries and "advice," my audience with the King finally concluded.

As I stepped out into the corridor, still dazed, only one thought lingered in my mind—

...I think I was starting to understand why Millia called him that damn old man.

---

Fidget, fidget.

"............"

Fidget, fidget.

"...Milady."

Fidget—

"Milady. Your behavior is unbecoming. Please compose yourself."

Jane’s voice was calm but firm as she watched me pace in frantic circles around my royal chambers.

"But... I'm worried, damn it! That damn old man has Yusuke alone in there! Who knows what kind of nonsense he might pull?!"

"I assure you, His Majesty would never engage in such... nonsense."

Why are you defending him? That bastard of a father...
...Come to think of it, didn’t Jane once imply she and that damn old man had a history?

Grrr...

"Must you make such strange noises...?"

I slumped into a chair, burying my face in my arms.

That bastard summoned Yusuke out of nowhere—no explanation, no warning. It had to be about the magic guild or the dragon-slaying gear or some other royal headache.

But I couldn’t shake the dread.

Yusuke might be strong, but he’s still just one man. And a man must bow to a kingdom’s will—
Which is to say, the king’s will.

If that old coot cornered him in private—

The door creaked open.

I jerked upright—

"I-I’m back..."

There stood Yusuke, looking utterly drained.

The moment Jane shut the door, I lunged.

"Hey! Did he— Did he do anything weird to you!?"

"Huh? Weird...? No?"

"Then say anything weird!?"

"Weird...? Well, nothing too weird..."

I grabbed his collar, but Jane yanked me back.

"Then... what did he want? Why’d that bastard call you?"

"What did he...? Uh—"

Yusuke scratched his cheek, hesitating.

"He... thanked me. For saving you. And then he... bowed."

"...Hah? That bastard bowed?"

"Yeah."

I crossed my arms, baffled.

That cold, calculating bastard? Did he only do it because I’m still the kingdom’s prized princess?

No clue.

"And? What else? Did he say anything?"

"Else? Not really... Oh—"

Yusuke suddenly averted his eyes, flustered.

The hell’s that look?

"Spit it out. What’d he say?"

"Uh... It’s nothing!"

"Bullshit. Out with it."

I jabbed his ribs. He winced—then caved.

"...Well. His Majesty asked..."

"Yeah?"

"...When he could expect grandchildren."

"Grand... what?"

Grandchildren.

His grandchildren would mean... my children.

Which would mean Yusuke’s and my—

"Wha—!? D-don’t be stupid!"

"H-hey, he’s the one who said it!"

My face burned, but my mind raced coldly.

Succession matters. Titles. Inheritance.

Once the crown passes to the next king, I’ll no longer be the king’s daughter—just another royal. A duke’s house, most likely. And if I have children, they’ll inherit that rank.

Of course that bastard would care.

...But my children.

With Yusuke.

Which would mean... doing it.

Skin against skin, tangled in sheets—
Just imagining it—

My face flared hotter. My heart pounded louder.

I mean... I knew this day would come.

But if that bastard insists...

Well.

...Fine.

Fine.