“I’m a dreamy young man, so I understand Mary-dono’s concerns well. Of course, not just Mary-dono’s, but everyone’s anxiety who drafted this proposal.”
 
“Concerns? I would never—”
 
“It’s fine. I’m aware. And I bear no ill will toward anyone. This is true. —You see, Mary-dono. I’ve realized that those who can be conscious of their powerlessness become just slightly better people.”
 
I try stepping in myself.
 
In other words, whether I think everyone “forced this through” on me or not. Whether I’m truly convinced—that’s what everyone wants to know. The Royal Guard Commander too, of course.
 
This is indeed frightening.… Read the rest

Chapter 6: The King and the Exhausting Meeting

Does anyone actually like Meetings? Normally everyone hates them, right?
 
Say “Let’s eliminate pointless Meetings” and you’ll get a storm of agreement—”Exactly!” At least that’s how it was at my company. I’d bet it’s pretty much the same everywhere else too.
 
Meetings rarely involve actual discussion. The big picture is already hammered out beforehand by the key people, and the Meeting is just a venue for announcing it. Because obviously. There’s only so much you can hash out in one or two hours. The bigger the topic, the more people … Read the rest

When King Grois fell ill and recovered within about a week, her father’s face as he informed her maintained its usual composed demeanor. But she somehow sensed there was an infinitesimal amount of anxiety beneath it.
 
For Zofie, her father was still an object of admiration. However, she was also aware that her father didn’t see her only as a daughter. The self reflected in her father’s eyes was seventy percent “beloved only daughter.” The remaining thirty percent was something hard—something that looked at a useful tool.
 
Two months after preparations began for the trip to Shtrois under … Read the rest

Episode 5: The Dark Lord and Zofie
 

 
The title of Duke in the Central Continent is bestowed only upon noble houses that satisfy one of the following two conditions. One is having been an independent power in the past that rivaled the royal house. The other is being a close relative of the royal house.
 
House Gaillou, if you trace its origins, arose from the independent territory of Gaillou that was born in the latter period of the “Surge of Peoples,” and is a great house ruling the northwestern edge of the Santeneri region. While formally pledging … Read the rest

“Your Majesty! You’ve finally come!”
 
Zofie-san spotted me and called out. Her brightness and big hand gestures are like a puppy wagging its short tail.
 
This is moving, you know? In modern Japan, she absolutely wouldn’t even sit next to me on the train. Well, I’d be more grateful for that though. Being told “There was this gross old guy sitting next to me this morning—” would be painful.
 
With her navy blue dress fluttering, Zofie-san approaches at a speed that’s more like a light jog than quick steps, and behind her, the other two approach with calm gaits.
 
Picture-perfect.… Read the rest

Chapter Four: The King’s Evening Party

 
Have you ever been to a high-end fashion brand boutique? I have. Through connections with a drinking circle that called itself a “young executives’ association.”
 
Those kinds of shops have the image of having nothing but extremely pointed designs aimed at fashion-obsessed people, but surprisingly, they also have modest pieces you can wear as everyday clothes. But you can’t let your guard down. You think, “Oh, they have normal shirts too,” and pick one up, only to find the fabric’s stripes are all made up of microscopic brand logos.
 
For men’s, they do have … Read the rest

Chapter Three: The King’s Apology

Today, you see, I’m going to apologize.

To be precise, I’m summoning someone and apologizing to them. Every day I summon someone and apologize.

Whether you call me president or king, the name doesn’t matter, but when you become what’s called “the most important person,” you can escape from most things you don’t want to do. If it’s a company that hasn’t gone public, you’re almost never scolded by anyone. Complaints and advice come all the time, sure. But no reprimands. It would be different if we were listed. But ours was just a garden … Read the rest

Chapter Two: The Dark Lord and Braune

Braune-En-Froisbourg was born as the eldest daughter of a marquis family.

Her father, Marcel, was the seneschal of the House of Leroi. In the Kingdom of Santeneri, the prime minister has traditionally taken the title of “seneschal.” Thus, she was the daughter of the Kingdom of Santeneri’s prime minister.

The great nation of Santeneri, which ruled the western region of the Central Continent, had an ancient history.

Approximately fifteen hundred years ago, immediately after the great upheaval known as the “Surge of Peoples” that had engulfed the entire Central Continent subsided, the Santeneri … Read the rest

Now, evening. If there’s no evening party, dinner is surprisingly modest. Ah, “modest” is relative to our company—meaning as a king’s meal. So by modern Japanese standards, the quantity is quite large. But I properly eat everything served. If I leave anything, various things happen.

Incidentally, today’s dinner is “intimate”—we’re hosting the Duke of Gaillou’s party.

The Gaillou family, which holds a super-huge domain in northwestern Santeneri, was originally an independent country that we Santeneri absorbed—like a subsidiary company. It’s been quite a while so they’ve become fairly integrated, but differences in corporate culture are still unavoidable…

The duke himself … Read the rest

Chapter 1: The King’s Routine

“Your Majesty, good morning.”

A deep baritone voice sounds. It’s the chamberlain. Until recently, this maximally dignified old man used to wake me up at my bedside, but it was so brutal that lately I’ve been working hard to get up on my own.

It’s been about two months now since I came to this mysterious other world.

Eight in the morning.

Urged by my manservants, I head to the grooming area in the corner of a bedroom that boasts the size of a school classroom. I shave my beard, brush my teeth, and get … Read the rest