<h4>Chapter 182: Meeting with the King (1)</h4>
<i>Tranted by AmaLynne </i>
<i> </i>
<span data-contrast="auto">Sam, escorted to the king’s office, was asked to sit on the sofa and did so.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">Instead of a maid, coffee preparations were underway.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Uh, Your Majesty?”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“I’ve been getting into coffee recently. I select my favorites from various beans and pay attention to the equipment. Do you like coffee?”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Yes.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“That’s good to hear. Francis and Ste seem to prefer tea, and though they apany me, they don’t seem to enjoy it much.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">The rich aroma of coffee filled the room, and with a smile, King Clyde handed Sam a cup.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Thank you. I’ll enjoy this.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">Sam liked both coffee and tea.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">While he often drank green tea from his previous world, he had also frequented coffee chains worldwide, although not to the extent Clyde did.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">He enjoyed coffee for its own sake, but he recalled that some of his friends had made it a hobby, even obsessing over coffee-making equipment.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“—It’s delicious.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">Sam’sment wasn’t ttery; the coffee was well-bnced and truly tasty. Clyde’s face rxed upon hearing Sam’s words.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“That’s good to hear. Oh, right, there was something I wanted to discuss. It seems Lise is pregnant. Congrattions.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Thank you.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“I hope Lise will be happy with you.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“I’d be happy if that were the case.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">If Lise were happy, Sam would be too.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">Given her unhappy previous marriage, he wanted to make her so happy that she could forget her painful past.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Have you heard about the Michel family?”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Yes.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Julian Michel is dead, and Misery Michel went insane andmitted suicide. It’s self-inflicted, but it’s truly pathetic. There’s no room for sympathy, though.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“I agree.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">Sam has no sympathy for them, as it’s their fault.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">They could have just behaved themselves after losing their manhood, but they made foolish moves like taking Kotomi hostage, which led to them losing both arms.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">As a result, they attempted suicide but couldn’t die, and ultimately died at the hands of their mother.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">Their mother, too, went insane andmitted suicide by smashing her head against a wall due to the shock of killing her beloved son. Instead of atoning for their sins, they chose the easy way out.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“The remaining members of the Michel family have been demoted from earls to barons. That’s about all the penalty I can give them, I’m sorry.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“You don’t need to apologize to me.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">Sam doesn’t care about people who are no longer here, and he has no intention of getting involved with that family in the future.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“By the way, you probably already know, but I met with Kurando recently.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Sorry about his arm.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">Sam didn’t expect Kuranso to refuse treatment for his arm.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">Magnolia also backed down easily when Kurando refused treatment, so he would likely continue living as a one-armed man.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">However, that didn’t mean he had lost his skills as a swordsman.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">Sam hoped never to face him in battle again.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Very well. Not treating it was his choice. He made those decisions. I should apologize to you. Kurando was an irreceable friend to me. That’s why I offered leniency, which you may disagree with. Sorry.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“It’s alright. Kurando-sama was also a victim.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“I apologize. The position of Sword Saint will eventually be inherited by Mizuki. However, it’s too soon for that now. The recent incident, though regrettable, has already spread too widely. Therefore, it’s impossible to make Mizuki the Sword Saint at this time. Besides, Kurando says she doesn’t have the required level of skill yet.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“I’ll leave that matter to you.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Isn’t it about your wife?”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">Sam looked troubled at the king’s words.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">The decision to make Mizuki Sam’s fiancée was Clyde’s judgment.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">Mizuki herself seemed to understand that she was also a hostage, but Sam wasn’t entirely convinced.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">However, if both Kurando and Mizuki agreed, he didn’t intend to interfere.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“It doesn’t matter to me whether Mizuki-sama bes the Sword Saint or not. I epted our engagement thinking it was fate, not because she’s the Sword Saint’s daughter.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Sometimes, I envy that about you. When I was young, I couldn’t be like you.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“It’s because of my inexperience. I’m truly ashamed.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">Sam had a good rtionship with Mizuki.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">There was no sense of desperation since she came as a hostage. Moreover, Sam and the Walker Count’s family treated her as one of his fiancées, so she always had a smile on her face.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">Although she lived apart from her father and sister, it wasn’t as if she couldn’t meet them, so she would visit them when she had the time.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">Sam also spent time with her.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Hehe, that’s fine. That’s what you wish for. Anyway, there have been suggestions to grant you territories, including for Lise, Ste, Hanae, and Mizuki.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“I’m fine.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“…Let me finish.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“I don’t need it.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“That’s why…”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“I don’t need it.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“…Sigh. You’re not greedy at all. Usually, people would be delighted to receive territories.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">Sam shrugged his shoulders at the king’s wry smile.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Even if I received territories, I couldn’t bear the responsibility of managing the livelihoods of the residents. In the future, even if such offerse up, I won’t ept them.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Is that your wish?”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Yes. I’m more suited to a leisurely life in the capital.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“When I look back on Sam’s past, he doesn’t seem veryid-back.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Ah, hahaha, let’s leave it at that.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Well, alright then. We’ll do as you wish. It’s more convenient for me if you stay in the capital.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">“Thank you.”<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">
<span data-contrast="auto">Sam was genuinely relieved not to receive any territories.<span datap-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559740":276}">