20.5. You Can Always Trust Louis IV
This took place after my formal engagement with Ke Fei’er, as I was preparing to quickly ask the queen to lift her constant surveillance before heading to the Russian Empire.
Today was a day of special significance, coinciding with the end of the engagement not long ago. Since I wasn’t sure whether the Great Ying Empire had a custom of “couples dating” on this day, I decided to first ask my brand-new fiancée, Ke Fei’er, what she thought.
However, when I found Ke Fei’er’s silver-white silhouette in the back garden of her family’s estate…
“Ou… Ogilvy, what’s wrong?”
She turned around and revealed a strange smile that she usually didn’t show.
“It’s nothing… I just wanted to ask if we could go out together today…”
Wrong, it must be an illusion, hahaha. Just now, for a moment, I actually had the absurd thought that “Kefir is fake.” How could this wife be fake!? It must be that the marriage contract has just passed, and our relationship has fundamentally changed, causing both Kefir and me to feel a bit uncomfortable, hahaha~
As I said this, Kefir also glared at the maid beside her. Clearly, Kefir shouldn’t be that fierce, but is this maid timid? She almost ran away in a hurry.
I guess she was trying to provide us with some privacy. Poor maid, she must be exhausted.
“Of course, no problem.”
When I looked again, Kefir was no different from her usual self. But speaking of which, why did I feel a chill down my back since I first saw Kefir? I always felt something was…
“Today, you can do anything to me~”
What… what!?
Men are truly honest creatures. I was just foolishly led out by Kefir, holding my arm.
After mentioning the “date,” Kefir chose places within walking distance of the Great Ying Empire’s royal city. Maybe it’s because the marriage contract has just passed, but Kefir’s behavior along the way was somewhat… strange.
Kefir is still Kefir, her tone and attitude are fine, but… she’s overly affectionate with me now.
“Anyway, let’s first go to the famous attraction of the Great Ying Empire – the Sword in the Stone~”
Strange as it is, I admit: being held by Kefir like this, with her chest pressing against my arm, nothing seems strange to me anymore…
“By the way, Euclid, there probably won’t be many dates like this recently. The Queen has been watching us…”
“No problem, once we quickly go to the Rosia Empire, the Queen won’t be able to find us.”
I patted my chest and assured her: secretly going to the Rosia Empire with Kefir, this time with the help of Uncle Zerola, as long as we sneak away quietly, without any gunfire, by the time the Queen reacts and comes looking for us, Kefir and I will have already had our fun, hehe~
“Sigh… don’t underestimate the Queen Sister, okay? You’ll suffer then.”
“No problem, even if the Queen forces me to talk later, I can keep my mouth shut. The Queen really can’t pry the secret out of me.”
“Hehe~”
Kefir beside me suddenly let out a light laugh. Although it felt a bit strange…
Hehe~ Kefir is so proactive today. Could it be that after the marriage contract, the usually shy Kefir has suddenly become the gentle type who takes the initiative?
Thinking this, Kefir had already led me to the place she just mentioned, the “Sword in the Stone.”
Speaking of which, can this really be called an “attraction”? In the middle of a large grassy area stood a sword platform, with a half-inserted sword in the stone, the legendary curry stick. But the surroundings were so deserted that we were the only two “tourists.” Not to mention, on the way here, I felt like I passed some kind of “checkpoint.”
A luxurious long sword embedded halfway in the stone, adorned with gems and jewels; an empty surrounding; and a beautiful girl holding my arm!
Is there a more “date-like” date than this!? At this moment, Kefir, who tilted her head to look at me, also let go of my arm and pushed me towards the sword platform.
“According to legend, this is the sword of a great hero named Arthur from the Great Ying Empire, who inserted it into the stone after his retirement. Only those chosen by the sword can pull it out and become the ‘hero’ of the Great Ying Empire, gaining great power.”
With that, Kefir looked at me “expectantly,” her eyes seemingly sparkling, “Euclid, won’t you give it a try?”
This kind of legendary story, even if this “Sword in the Stone” is some kind of treasure or fairy, it must be Kefir, the protagonist of the script, who can pull it out, right? That being said, with a beautiful fiancée cheering me on, any man would be tempted.
“I’ll give it a try.”
Walking up, I prepared to place my hand on the sword hilt, which seemed to bear the marks of many years. But just as I was about to pull the legendary Sword in the Stone, I glanced at the script for a bit of “insurance” and found some… strange content!
[The secret law of the Great Ying Empire stipulates: The person who can pull out the Sword in the Stone will become the husband of the current Queen of the Great Ying Empire!]
My hand trembled with fear!
“What’s wrong? O’Keefe?”
“Nothing… nothing at all.”
This time, I didn’t dare to look back, because a question had already sprung up in my heart.
To pull the sword out means I can marry the queen! What kind of snake-skin operation is this? I won’t dwell on that for now… What is Kephiel thinking!?
She is the queen’s cousin; she must know how troublesome it would be if I, by chance, possibly, maybe actually pulled the sword out. Why was she so insistent just now that I try? Just to see me look cool? Come on, Kephiel is not that shallow of a woman.
Then… what is she trying to encourage me to do?
In the next moment, more scenarios began to emerge.
[The sword in the stone has no fairies or magic; any young person with hands and feet can easily pull it out.]
“…”
[However, this attraction will not be open to anyone unless granted direct permission from the queen, so…]
…
[Only the one chosen by the queen can pull the sword from the stone.]
My hand was truly frozen in place now.
In the next moment, Kephiel came closer, placing her hand on my chest, tilting her head with an expectant look.
“What’s wrong, O’Keefe? Aren’t you going to pull it out?”
“…”
“No need to be nervous, just give it a try~ I’ll take on the responsibility and consequences~”
“…”
“Not… pulling… it out?”
Kephiel’s smile was truly beautiful, just like the noble, elegant, and great Queen Louise IV of the Grand Empire.
…
It’s over…
Miss Kephiel, big shot, wife… come save me…
From now on, I can never boast about wanting to go on a date again…
So… what should I do now?
——
Written especially for 520, definitely not just goofing off.
If everyone has nothing to do today, then please vote for me, since I have nothing to do either.
I strongly protest against those who have things to do!