Chapter 333

Aegir POV

Capital Goldonia .

Nonna accompanies me in the capital .

Since then, we followed the instructions of the Royal Army who intervened and withdrew our troops from Baron Wejinis territory .

We returned to Rafen immediately and demobilized the army .

Not too long later, I received notice from the capital telling me to come and explain the situation .

Nonna understandably got stressed and even started to pack her bags, but Erich sent a letter guaranteeing we dont have to worry excessively and telling us there wont be any concern for assassinations .

Leopolt and Tristan also said it should be fine, yet Nonna is still trembling beside me .

If youre that scared, you could have stayed in the territory, you know?

If something happened by chance, it would be easier to run if she was back in my territory .

I think its better if I, as your legal wife, am with you when youre apologizing besides, our house would be finished if anything were to happen to Aegir-sama . I would rather go to the other world together with Aegir-sama than lose everything and be thrown out again .

Dont jinx it .

I will go with you too!

Celia pops up and declares with a determined face .

Like Im saying, dont jinx things . Weve been told not to worry .

Lord Hardlett, this way please .

After we arrive at the royal palace, the knights waiting there guide us in another direction to the location of the audience .

Nonna and Celia are openly acting cautious, except theres really nothing to be worried about .

After all, they havent picked up their swords yet .

As long as I have my Dual Crater, I can hold out against ten or twenty of these knights .

To ease their tension, I grab both of their asses .

Hya!?Wakyaa!?

They shriek in surprise together .

? Is something the matter?

The knight leading the way turns around curiously .

I continue rubbing Nonna and Celias asses out of the knights view .

N-no, its nothing at all .

Y-yes! No problems here .

Right

When the knight faces forward, Celia stares at me with tears in her eyes and Nonna pinches my arm .

No matter how much muscle I have, the pain from getting pinched doesnt change .

The room we were guided to is a gloomy cellar no, its actually Erichs office .

Oh yeah, I think I remember seeing this knights face before . I didnt realize right away because I was looking at Nonnas tits .

Your wife and your follower can come this way .

The knight takes the girls to another room and the door closes .

You big idiot!!

Erich yells angrily .

He also hits me on the head . I wonder how long its been since Ive gotten hit in the head by a man .

It was a decent strike on the top of my forehead . Itll probably swell up .

Talks of you and Zilgray going at it have been the hot topic here in the royal palace! Ive already told you of His Majestys transformation and you still do all these unnecessary things! Do you know how much trouble I had to go through to defend your hasty behavior!?

As expected, the nobles in the royal palace knew who was behind Baron Wejini .

The lecture began after that .

Nonna and Celia were led to another room probably so they cant see me get scolded .

Erich is being considerate and trying not to embarrass me .

In that case, Ill sit here obediently while he reprimands me .

Erich initially shouts loudly at me, though it eventually changes from a heavy lecture to a rant complaining about how hard he had to work to keep the incident from spiralling out of control .

that guy did all sorts of meddling . He even got Myla injured so I couldnt stay quiet .

Lady Hyuutia? well, I understand where youre coming from . I would also likely have counterattacked if I were in your position

So he does understand me .

Still, there are limits . No matter how you look at it, leading several thousand cavalry and going wild is too much!

Erich slaps my hand right when I was about to toss a teacake into my mouth .

I guess hes not going to let me eat anything today . I notice he hasnt offered any alcohol either .

What kind of idiot gets drunk and goes before the King? Youll really be hanged .

Erich sighs and then brings down the tone of his voice .

On the surface, it was an excessive act for a dispute over water rights, and even though the situation behind the scenes is pretty much common knowledge, most people see that Lord Zilgray was the one who attacked first . the minister of commerce has been blindly supporting Lord Zilgray all this time and only recently did he suddenly become indifferent .

I know nothing about the situation within the royal court but things should work out if I get Leopolt to think about some solutions .

I do not think the King will exclude you thats why you should be prepared to be shamed and pay a fine . Since you have the luxury to mobilize three or four thousand soldiers, a fine should be nothing to you right?

Not really . I have to give an excuse to Adolph again . Ill let Celia do it and run away .

Erich laughs as if saying I reap what I sow .

You were scolded here by me for nearly an hour and even got hit on the head . Thats what you get .

What does he mean by that?

Audience with the King .

Hardlett . I am disappointed with you for what happened . I did not give you such territory and soldiers for you to use on internal disputes about rights .

I seriously repent from the heart for troubling you needlessly . In order for no such incident to happen again

For not stopping my husbands foolish undertaking

Nonna and I bow our heads deeply .

I dont even really understand what Im saying, Im just going by how I was told to apologize .

I practiced it countless times with Nonna in the waiting room a while ago .

About that . I know you acted hastily because one of your women got involved . But as long as youve been entrusted with important land on the national border, a deed done to a commander which can end in a funny story can also bring about ruin . Be very careful about what you do in the future .

The King warns me strictly and then takes a scroll from a minister waiting beside him .

My punishment is probably written on there .

Id be at a loss if he tells me something like give up Nonna . I would have to revolt on the spot .

For committing such rash actions, Margrave Hardlett will be fined a sum of 20,000 gold . In addition, someone will be staying in your residence to keep watch for a suitable amount of time . Got it?

Yes Sire!

20,000 hurts .

The unnecessary meddling of that stupid Zilgray cost me a huge chunk of money .

If it means no danger will befall my women, I have to bear with it .

Once it was read, the document with my punishment on it is neatly wrapped back up .

Then the King nods slightly and his expression relaxes .

The ministers pleaded for a harsher punishment . The reason I did not do so was because I dont doubt your loyalty and it looks like the Military Commissioner has already punished you .

The Kings gaze is on the top of my forehead . I reach up to touch it and feel a bump from Erichs earlier strike .

Erich turns to the King and nods rigidly .

It causes a little commotion among the ministers and chief vassals .

The Military Commissioner hit Lord Hardlett on the head, huh

Yeah, and it hurt quite a bit .

For someone like the Margrave to be hit and for that knowledge to be made public, that should certainly be an unbearable humiliation its not unheard of for nobles who greatly value pride to inflict harm on themselves because of the disgrace it should be more punishing than a fine .

Not really . Id rather get hit once or twice instead of having to pay more money .

Having to explain myself to Adolph is annoying and the girls have less money to spend on luxuries .

With that said, Id cave in his skull if I got hit for no reason .

Regardless, it looks like Lord Hardlett who is famed to be brave and ruthless in battle doesnt raise his head before the Military Commissioner .

So this really means the Military Commissioner is more

Erich nods contently .

So him hitting me is deliberately aimed at the King .

He knows that I cant stand getting hit by Erich who similarly rose in status from being a mercenary .

Its also his goal to show off his prestige but that part is a give and take .

Fuu

Nonna looks like shes about to fall over after letting out a big sigh of relief, and as I support her, my hands happen to grab her breasts .

There are people here whore looking at these huge things . Come on guys, this is an audience before the King so control yourselves .

Nonna and I step backward and then it was time for Zilgray to step forward .

Did he always have that kind of face? I dont remember .

Now Lord Zilgray, your circumstances are a bit different .

Well

The King appears to be more displeased with him than with me .

Well youre the aggressor here . Your face deserves to be beaten and bruised .

I warned you not to disrupt the peace in my Kingdom any further, did I not?

Yes I am properly ashamed

The King speaks over Zilgrays apology .

You falsely accused someone of a crime with no evidence after being deceived by a forged letter! You were behind the attack which resulted in the loss of the sons and brothers of multiple nobles! Following that, the sudden occurrence of a fire! Youve caused those around you a series of problems!

B-but that was Lord Hardlett

The King and those beside him focus their eyes on me .

Sorry, I do not know what he is referring to .

I dont say anything more .

Leopolt told me not to confess anything about the attack no matter what .

They might completely suspect me, but they have no proof .

Finally the King stands up and hurls the glass in his hand at Zilgray .

Did you think I would not read the report you sent!? The fire in Patena was caused accidentally by an open-flame, the attack which was done by remnants of the rebellion has already been suppressed, didnt you yourself report that the fire in your private residence was due to a servant who went mad!? Yet you are still laying the blame on others is it not that attitude of yours to blame for what happened!?

Zilgray isnt saying anything .

Hes the one who attacked . Its not my problem .

Ive had enough . It looks like I was foolish for expecting anything from you .

Those in the vicinity become restless .

Is this a dismissal of the Governor General?

No, with all that reprimanding, that might not be it

Kenneth steps in front of the whitening Zilgray .

Your Majesty, there is no defense to his repeated incompetencies, however

Everyone, including the King, looks at Kenneth .

Governor General Zilgrays rule over the former Magrado region is stable though imperfect, and he has not been overdue on sending tax revenue to the Kingdom . Regardless of the cause of the earlier attack and the reason for the fire to his residence

Kenneth glances at me . I look away and focus on Nonnas boobs instead .

Changing the Governor General in this situation would allow the rebellion to grow stronger and further increase the unease in the citizens .

I have not said anything yet .

Kenneth bows his head fearfully after the King speaks .

I apologize for overstepping my boundaries

The King once again glares back at Zilgray . He doesnt read off a punishment document this time .

Margrave Zilgray will be fined 100,000 gold . I will appoint a deputy Governor General for the Magrado General Governorate to whom a part of the Governor Generals authority will be given and future ruling will be done after proper deliberation with that deputy Governor General . You will hear the rest of the details from the Commissioner of Government Affairs .

guh y-yes Sire . Understood, your Majesty .

Hes clearly shaken .

100,000 gold this may be Lord Zilgray were talking about, but how long will it take to pay that off?

No, the appointing of the deputy Governor General is the harsher punishment . The transfer of authority takes away the charm of