In the end, having decided to attend the evening banquet, I put on the prepared formal attire and headed to the venue with the hero.
It seemed the princess had greetings to make with various nobles and she appeared much busier than us, who had almost no backing at the royal palace.
"Hey, aren't you supposed to be with the princess?"
When I asked the hero, whom I had not seen in a while, he wore an expression that was hard to describe. And rightly so. As the hero's future partner, normally I think it would be a given for them to greet people together as the future king and queen of this country.
'I wonder if this guy's position isn't that great in the eyes of the nobles… These guys are really stupid huh? Someone apointed by a god, who fought and won against a monster that would have destroyed everything in it's path is being shunned just because he isn't a noble? They should thank their lucky starts that this guy is genuinelly a good person. If he crashed out I doubt they could do anything to hold him.'
The king and the princess are favorable toward the hero, who saved the country. However, from the perspective of the nobles, the hero has effectively eliminated any possibility of them having a connection to the royal family. While heroes like him are highly respected in times of crisis, they might be considered troublesome once there is peace.
"We plan to go around together later."
"Oh, I see. But don't push yourself too hard, okay? The princess was quite worried."
"Yes. Thank you, Mr. Daniel."
"Stop with Mr this, Mr that, it makes me feel old. Just call me Daniel, alright?" I say to him with a smile. It seems that it was effective, he sighed a little and seemed a bit less tense while giving me a small smile and answering.
"Alright, Daniel."
When I first met the hero, he had a more lively expression. Now, there was a shadow of weariness on him. It felt like I had seen the fast-forwarded version of a new employee who gradually becomes exhausted after a few years and I sighed in my heart.
"Hey, Alex, want something to eat?"
The evening banquet was a standing buffet and each person either picked up what they wanted with a glass in hand or called over the servers to get their meals. Not knowing who to address, I raised my voice a bit louder and smiled.
"No, I… haven't had much of an appetite lately."
"What are you saying? If you start being all skin and bones the princess will cry, you know? You have to eat properly. Here, I'll get something for you."
"W-Wait, please, not like this…!"
I pretended not to hear the feeble voice. Most of my junior colleagues who had broken down and quit the company had become like this. They couldn't eat, their laughter felt forced and by the time they realized it, they were pushed to their limits. So far, I didn't do anything to help those colleagues. Well, more accurately, I hadn't done anything for them.
"Nobody should be pushed to this extent."
Since coming to this country and spending my days mostly staying in the room and embracing the princess, I've had much more time to think. I've seen someone close up who, at the age of about twenty, was entrusted with a heavy responsibility and I've been increasingly filled with regrets about not having listened more attentively and sympathetically to my juniors at work.
"But the princess is not like that…"
As I piled on more meat dishes like roast beef, I suddenly heard the voice of a nobleman nearby. I glanced in that direction with just my gaze and saw a thickset, likely a military figure, nobleman frowning and crossing his arms.
"Someone who hasn't even studied military tactics, such a person becoming the Chief of the Armed Forces… Does His Majesty intend to expose this country to external threats?"
"Even after the demon race has been annihilated, we must contend with neighboring countries. Nevertheless, a youth like him as the head of the military…"
I shouldn't have listened.
Based on the content of their conversation, the people talking nearby me were probably high-ranking members of the military. Annoyed with my bad eavesdropping habit, I tried to wait for the next words while pretending to reach for a potato salad-like dish.
"He has no experience in the military and he hasn't even attended an officer school."
"We'd like him to understand our feelings to some extent, considering that he's being used as a pawn to allow the marriage with the princess…"
As I continued to eavesdrop while heaping more food onto my plate, I felt a cold sensation on my back. Since they were talking so loudly in a place like this, there was no doubt that the hero could hear them to some extent. They were probably deliberately talking in a way that the hero could hear.
"This is of a damn bad taste…"
However, I couldn't outright deny what they were saying. The Chief of the Armed Forces is responsible for the defense of the country and its citizens. While it would be more acceptable if someone who had undergone training took that position, it might be frustrating for some people if it's used to add luster to the hero's marriage with the princess. Not that he even need that little bit of luster, truly.
"But you don't have to say it like that. Even if you want to say something, it should be somewhere where the person in question can't hear it…" I said in a low voice to not be heard.
Frustrated with the situation, I returned to the hero with even more piled-up dishes. He had been left alone and surrounded by a lot of nobles without my knowing.
"If the Hero-sama hadn't already decided to marry Lady Anastasia, I would have married my granddaughter to him!"
"Well, if he's going to be the next king, it shouldn't be a problem if he marries a second and third wives."
"While the current king has been devoted to the queen, previous kings have had up to five wives…"
It seems like quite a commotion. Perhaps the hero doesn't understand how to handle these nobles, or he can't say anything and just smiles politely.
"Hey, Alex! I brought you food, eat more."
"Dan… Mr. Daniel!"
As I couldn't stand it anymore, I shouted loudly and the bewildered gazes of the nobles turned toward us. While going I also intensified my mana circulation emulating Ren while approaching.
"Hey, come on! You must be hungry, right? Drink more wine!"
They can't see my mana, but they're all feeling its weight. Their disdainful stares are faltering mid-glance. Now they're actively avoiding my gaze, already fumbling for some reason to depart. With a magician from another continent in their midst, one they don't comprehend, the nobles are slowly starting to steer clear.
To the nobles of this country, I was a powerful foreigner with shady origins. They were probably whispering behind my back that I'd curse you if you so much as looked at me. In their eyes, I was some kind of monster as they never knew what might set me off.
"Thank you, Mist-Cough... Daniel."
"Sure, eat up. If you run out, I'll bring you more."
With those words, I looked around and the nobles who had surrounded the hero scattered in a hurry.
Finally, the guy could catch a breath. This should keep them from approaching for a while.
"I'm really sorry… I'm not very good at avoiding those kinds of conversations."
"You don't need to avoid them. Given the hero's personality, it would probably be easier if you just told the truth."
"That's right… Yeah…"
But as he said that, his expression became somewhat clouded. It reminded me of what the princess had looked like earlier.
"I'm sorry… I'll go get some fresh air."
"Ah… That might be a good idea. I'll eat something here and walk around."
I didn't know how to talk to the hero anymore, I'm not good at this.
He was clearly cornered. Perhaps it seemed that way to me because the hero's impression when we first met was so lively. While gazing at the hero's back as he went to get some fresh air, I ate the food I had brought for myself.
The roast beef-like dish tasted just like roast beef.
I felt it was a bit salty, but it paired well with the wine as I chewed and savored it. Princess Anastasia approached and smiled.
"Oh, Mr. Daniel, you're here."
"Oh, the hero was here a moment ago."
"The hero? And now?"
"Uh, he went to get some fresh air."
Perhaps the princess had come to see the hero. After hearing my words, she furrowed her eyebrows slightly and looked down.
"I see… I thought I would have a chat with the hero after a long time."
"Well, it seems like he's having a hard time. I overheard some nobles talking about him briefly earlier."
In response to my words, the princess closed her eyes and nodded slowly. It seemed like the princess had heard such conversations as well, probably worse ones than I had.
"Lately, he hasn't been spending much time with me. I understand that he's very busy because of his position…"
While the princess spoke, I felt a kind of sentiment... But I couldn't quite put it into words.
When your heart is heavy, it's difficult to accept the idea of your loved one being with someone else. I had tried to convince myself with the words 'ethics of this country', but our relationship is quite twisted.
"Tonight, I will come to your room again... Will you listen to me, just a little?"
"Ah…"
Deep down, I was thrilled. I was contemplating how I should embrace the princess, who came to me in this situation, but it was what I didn't want to happen. The hero and Anastasia were suppressing their own suffering and I hated myself for thinking about tasting the sweet nectar.
"It's all wrong… Everything is…"
Gradually, things were falling apart and I was waiting for the time when the noisy banquet would end.