Towa had moved Floria by lying that Alec was on his sickbed, but Floria herself had a slight doubt.
“However, why would Towa tell such an easily discoverable lie? I think she just needed to bring me here normally?”
If it were Kousuke or Floria, they would have immediately come to the Florece Kingdom if Towa had said that Alec was lonely.
Floria didn’t understand the reason for having to come by telling a lie.
To Floria, who was asking this, Alec said with a troubled expression,
“No. It’s not entirely a lie.”
“….What? Does that mean Father is actually unwell somewhere?”
Floria asked, frowning, and Alec waved his hands left and right.
“No, no, don’t misunderstand. I’m really fine. …In short, it’s not me who’s unwell.”
Alec said the latter part in a small voice, and Floria fell silent.
She understood that there was a situation that forced Alec to speak in a low voice.
Kousuke, who immediately understood this, looked at Kouhi, who had accompanied them, and said,
“Kouhi, please.”
“Yes.”
Kouhi, understanding what Kousuke wanted, nodded and erected a barrier on the spot.
The barrier seemed to have been erected easily, but it was made by Kouhi.
It was impossible to break unless one was a formidable practitioner.
Alec, who gave a slight bow after seeing the exchange between Kousuke and Kouhi, looked at Floria again and said after a short pause,
“…It seems my older brother is not doing well.”
“Ehh!? Th-That’s…!”
Floria tried to show surprise at Alec’s words but managed to suppress it.
However, she couldn’t help but let out a gasp of astonishment.
Although Floria’s reaction was limited by her training since childhood, Kousuke and Silvia clearly looked surprised.
This was only natural, as there was only one person who came to mind when thinking of Alec’s older brother appearing at this moment: King Maxim of the Florece Kingdom.
King Maxim had been leading the Florece Kingdom since the former King Philip declared his retirement, and he had governed the country without any major domestic turmoil.
It was not an unreasonable opinion to think that the Florece Kingdom would be shaken if such a king fell ill.
Even though Crown Prince Leonard had been decided and the next king was already determined, many nobles would still stir to gain more power and benefits.
It could almost be said to be the habit of nobles.
Floria, understanding the current situation in her home country and Towa’s intentions, let out a big sigh.
“What can I say… Does he even use his own mother?”
“Mmm. They are quite similar, mother and son.”
Alec answered immediately to Floria, who said this with exasperation.
Kousuke, who had been listening to their exchange, covered his mouth with his hand, stifling a laugh.
Looking around, the others had similar expressions.
Floria’s expression turned glum as she saw their reactions.
No matter how old they were, in front of their parents, children were still just children.
“Hmm… Well, that’s besides the point, but you can’t know such detailed situations, can you?”
Floria forcibly changed the subject, glancing at the surroundings, and asked naturally.
Even if they were close siblings, Alec was officially considered to be outside the country by his status.
To Floria’s words that information wouldn’t be easily obtained, Alec shook his head.
“No, it’s not like that. In fact, we were able to enter my brother’s private room.”
Alec gave Floria a silent pressure, implying that he couldn’t say anything more, and Floria was surprised for a different reason.
“Really!? To think he would reveal himself so openly.”
Normally, a king’s health, especially if bad, would be hidden for the sake of the country.
If he openly appeared before Alec, who could be considered a foreigner, it wouldn’t be strange for some to think that it wasn’t a big deal.
However, it could also be considered that he deliberately arranged the meeting with Alec, knowing that people would think that way.
Floria, having thought that far, touched her chin as if lost in thought.
Alec, seeing this, looked up.
“Ah. I understand very well what my daughter is thinking.”
“Fufu. But you will do your best to make it happen, won’t you?”
Sonia said with a small laugh at Alec’s lament.
Looking at Alec’s face, it was clear that Sonia’s words were not wrong.
Alec, receiving a look of expectation from Floria, smiled wryly and held up his right palm.
“Well, wait. I’ll make an inquiry, but don’t get your hopes up too high. Also, it might take some time?”
“Ah, I understand that. It would be strange if the request was granted so easily.”
In the first place, it was strange for the meeting request to be granted.
Even if Floria was the king’s niece, it was unlikely that someone who had been a king of another country would be easily allowed to meet.
Floria, fully understanding that her request would likely be rejected, nodded at Alec’s words.
However, at that moment, something unusual happened: Kousuke joined the conversation.
“If I put my name forward, would the chances increase?”
Alec looked genuinely surprised at Kousuke’s words.
“Ah, ah. That would certainly be the case… are you sure it’s all right?”
Until now, Kousuke had rarely been directly involved in politics.
This was due to his relationship with Razek Amamiya.
That was precisely why Alec was surprised by Kousuke’s sudden statement.
As expected, Floria was also surprised.
“Is it alright? I don’t think it’s a good thing.”
Floria said, and Kousuke shrugged his shoulders.
“I don’t really care about politics. More importantly, is it that strange to request a visit to someone you know who is on their sickbed?”
The characters in Kousuke’s words made Floria and Alec nod in understanding.
What Kousuke was saying was that he wanted to visit not as an avatar, but simply as an acquaintance.
However, given that he appeared with Floria, it would likely generate various speculations from those around them.
Kousuke was deliberately aiming for this.
Of course, he understood that it would be for the benefit of the royal family of the Florece Kingdom.
Alec nodded at Kousuke’s words and said to Floria,
“Well then, let’s proceed in that direction. However, whether they will accept this proposal is still uncertain.”
Even with Kousuke’s presence, he would only be accompanying Floria officially.
Alec didn’t know how much of an impact that would have.
Floria also understood this well, so she simply nodded once.
“I know. If this doesn’t work, I’ll have an excuse for Towa too.”
In the end, both Kousuke and Floria were acting for Towa, their child.
Especially if Towa knew that Kousuke had taken action, she might be at a loss for words in a different way.
However, Floria thought that it would be fine.
And so, the story is that the one on the sickbed was not Alec, but Maxim (?).
He responded differently from his usual self, but there was no particular major reason for it.
It was simply to help Floria and Towa.
