How the Sidekick Prince Lives Again Chapter 117

Published at 12th of July 2023 11:48:54 AM

“Her Majesty the Queen is looking for me?”

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“Yes, she sent a message saying that if Your Imperial Highness is okay with it, she would like to have tea time in the main palace’s greenhouse with you. Her Majesty wants to personally serve tea to Renato-nim, the royal family’s benefactor.”

The chamberlain reverently explained the reason for Maryam’s invitation. Arche’s lips twitched as she heard those words. Louis’ expression also brightened. The monarch of a country serving tea or bestowing alcohol themselves meant that the person would be treated with utmost courtesy.

In other words, Maryam had decided to treat Renato as more than just a national guest. With this level of achievement, even the Empire’s nobles would not be able to look down on Renato. It indicated that he was recognized as an important figure by the Queen of the Khan Kingdom.

“It’s a great honor to have tea prepared by Her Majesty herself. Could you give me some time to prepare?”

“Of course. Then I will be waiting outside.”

With a gentle smile, the chamberlain left the drawing room first. After Laila’s matter, he began to express sincere goodwill to Renato. It was not only the chamberlain but also all the palace attendants he met in the royal palace. They were deeply grateful that Renato had saved their Queen Consort.

“Louis, can you prepare an appropriate outfit for me to meet Her Majesty?”

“Yes, Your Imperial Highness!”

Louis sprang up and hurriedly ran to the dressing room. With his help, Renato changed into an outfit conforming to etiquette. When he went outside, a carriage with the royal emblem was waiting for Renato. It was an exclusive carriage in the kingdom that only the monarch, their consort, and their direct descendants could ride in.

“Please get in the carriage.”

The chamberlain led Renato to the carriage, one that even Khalid would need permission to ride, in a natural manner. Then, he sat in the horseman’s seat and drove the carriage himself. Clearly, Maryam intended to show the people in the palace how she treated Renato.

“Her Majesty is waiting inside. She commanded me to send out everyone, so I will stay here as well. Please have a good time.”

Arriving at the main palace, Renato headed for the greenhouse located in the back garden with the chamberlain’s guidance. After opening the greenhouse door, the chamberlain stepped aside.

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“Come on in, Prince!”

Maryam, dressed in comfortable clothes, warmly greeted him when he arrived. Renato bent his back toward Maryam as she stepped closer.

“I offer my greetings to Your Majesty.”

“You don’t have to be so polite! Aren’t you the Queen Consort’s and my benefactor?”

Maryam grabbed Renato’s hand with a broad smile. Her expression as well as her voice and actions were all full of goodwill to Renato.

“Sit here.”

Maryam smiled and led Renato to his seat. As if it wasn’t enough, she even took out the chair herself. Renato respectfully sat down in the chair.

“Laila also wanted to be here…… But she couldn’t come because the palace doctor advised not to get out of bed for at least a week.”

Maryam sat across from Renato and regretfully said.

“It has not been long since Her Majesty gave birth. She needs to rest now.”

“That’s true. The palace doctor also said the same thing as you. But I heard Laila is in better shape than ever.”

Maryam smiled, lifting the teapot brewed in advance. Laila’s recovery went smoothly thanks to the Fairy’s Tears, while the baby was healthy without problems. Thanks to that, Maryam was in a very good mood.

“The palace doctor advised her to refrain from meeting people for at least two weeks, but…… Laila earnestly wants to meet you and Khalid. So what do you think about meeting her before leaving?”

Splash, the red tea filled the cup. Maryam poured tea into Renato’s cup while asking his opinion.

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“If Her Majesty the Queen Consort is okay with it, of course I’m fine.”

“Then I’ll tell the palace doctor. Let’s see, we can’t interrupt you two’s schedule, so I will arrange it one or two days before you depart.”

Khalid and Renato were to leave the kingdom and return to the Empire in the following week. This was already delayed by several days from the original plan due to the Black Wolf Knights problem, so it could not be delayed any longer.

“I’m fine with any time, so please set the date and time according to Her Majesty the Queen Consort’s condition.”

“Thank you for your consideration. Ah, drink it before it gets cold. This is a traditional tea served to our royal family’s precious guests.”

“Thank you very much.”

Renato carefully held the teacup. Maryam also picked up her teacup and brought it to her mouth. There was a moment of silence between the two. Clack, after putting down the teacup first, Maryam took a short deep breath. Then, with a more serious face than ever, she made eye contact with Renato.

“Please let me thank you again. Prince Renato El Fleurette, I sincerely thank you. Thank you so much for saving my companion.”

Maryam thanked Renato with honorifics. Then, she slightly bowed her head. She was showing the utmost courtesy a monarch could show.

“Our Hakan royal family never forgets goodwill and enmity. I, Maryam Nur Hakan, will never forget this favor even in death.”

Thinking of the moment when the miracle happened to Laila, Maryam still felt overwhelmed. She thanked Renato as a woman’s companion and not as a country’s monarch.

“His highness’ family is like my family. I just did what I had to do. And please speak comfortably. Your Majesty is my elder, after all.”

“Right. Anyway, I’m truly…… It seems like I keep saying this, but I’m truly grateful and thankful…… I don’t know how to convey all my feelings right now.”

“Your Majesty’s feelings have already been fully conveyed.”

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“No, no. This much isn’t…… Ah, right. Is there anything you want from me?”

Maryam looked at Renato with a face brimming with ambition. Her red eyes sparkled.

“It’s alright. I didn’t do that to ask for compensation in the first place.”

“I know, but I don’t feel comfortable like this. At first, I thought of conferring a medal and awarding a prize, but you are not someone who lacks wealth. The Empire is much richer than our country, so most things won’t be suitable for you.”

Originally, Maryam intended to confer a medal and bestow an honorary title on Renato. But that made her feel like something was lacking. Typically, gifts such as gemstones or accessories would be given together as a prize, but it would have been unimpressive to Renato, an Empire’s Prince who would become the owner of Esteban territory.

Maryam wanted to give Renato something greater than that. Then, the idea of military support entered her head. It reminded her of the reason Renato had proposed a political marriage to Khalid.

But as the Queen, she couldn’t bring up military support first. If she did, there was a high risk of being viewed as intending to interfere in the Empire’s internal affairs. So she decided to induce the answer from Renato.

“I couldn’t come up with a good idea on my own, so I talked to the Queen Consort last night. She knows these kinds of things better than I do. Laila said that a gift would be good when the recipient, not the giver, is happy and likes it. So I pondered about what you need the most right now.”

Maryam’s voice softened. If she could give Renato military support, she would be able to repay the favor while expanding Khan Kingdom’s influence within the Fleurette Empire at the same time. That thought ignited greed at the bottom of her heart.

The news that Renato saved Laila had already spread beyond the capital to nearby territories. Perhaps tomorrow or so, people in the kingdom’s border areas would also know about it. When that happened, the whole kingdom would praise Renato, which was a good thing for Maryam.

When that happened, Renato, as Khalid’s companion, would be known to both the nobles and the citizens as having a close relationship with Maryam. This also meant the more Renato’s fame increased, the more authority Maryam would have.

“A tough battle will await you when you return to the Empire, right? If you are okay with it, I want to help you separately from Khalid……”

Maryam trailed off her words, looking at Renato’s expression. He didn’t show any reaction. Seeing that made her a little nervous. Her desire to properly repay Renato was certainly sincere. But on the other side of her heart, there was also a desire to increase her power as a Queen through this opportunity.

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“Your Majesty will help me?”

“Yes. So tell me if you want anything. As I said earlier, anything I can do is fine.”

It’s time. Feeling the moment he had been waiting for had arrived, Renato tightened his grip on the teacup. In fact, he had been waiting for Maryam to bring up these words from the moment he received her invitation.

“Can I really ask anything?”

Renato cautiously asked, paying attention to his expression. Maryam immediately responded when he secretly hinted that he wanted something but found it difficult to say.

“Well, as long as you don’t ask me to hand over the throne? Haha. You don’t need to look at me like that, don’t feel pressured and just talk comfortably.”

“……There is one thing I would like to ask from you, Your Majesty.”

“What is that?”

Maryam leaned closer, delighted at Renato’s hesitant words. But Renato couldn’t easily speak up.

“What I want is…… That, uhm.”

“Why are you so hesitant? Don’t feel uncomfortable and just tell me. I will definitely do it if it’s something I can do. I promise.”

Maryam kindly smiled and urged Renato as he continued to hesitate. Renato’s attitude gave her a hunch that he might say something different from what she had induced, but she was okay with it.

It would be best if he asked for military support, but if not, it wouldn’t be a bad ending either. Just showing the citizens that she and Renato had a friendly relationship would give her the upper hand over the noble faction for a while.

Therefore, Maryam was confident to comply with whatever Renato requested. However, the smile disappeared from her face at his continued words. Renato’s request was something Maryam never expected.

“I hope that Your Majesty will no longer shake his highness the grand prince. Please don’t hurt him anymore in the future.”

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Chapter end