"Your Majesty. So about the two months of staying together."
"Yeah."
"I am actually confused as to what this is."
"This?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Lloyd was inside Queen Alicia's study. He nodded as he stood in front of her desk, on which was a piece of document that particularly grabbed his attention. The queen lifted her eyebrow and nonchalantly responded.
"That's the table showing my schedule for the day."
"I am aware of that, Your Majesty."
"What's the problem, then?"
"I was wondering why there was not a single blank space in the schedule."
"Because that's how the chamberlain drafted it."
"That isn't my question, Your Majesty."
"Then?"
"I was wondering why your schedule is so tight and does not allow you to take a single break in between, Your Majesty."
"Hmm. That's an unexpected question," replied Queen Alicia, casually shrugging her shoulders as if she was stating the obvious. "Because I have that much work to do. That's nothing out of the ordinary."
"Then..."
"I do this on a daily basis."
"Every single day, Your Majesty?"
"Yeah."
"For the entire day?"
"Yeah."
"What about holidays...?"
"What is a holiday?"
"...Ugh."
Lloyd inadvertently teared up a little from the saddening morning conversation with the queen. He was getting the feeling that the two-month training while living together was going to be a disaster.
Crap. This is really bad.
Lloyd realized what situation he'd gotten himself into, and quickly summarized it.
I must remain calm. No need to panic just yet. Alright, so I need to figure out precisely what it is I need to do. I must stop the enforced restoration of fate and the event that could trigger it. My queen's left arm is the trigger this time. She's going to eventually lose her arm due to the unidentifiable paralysis, and become a tyrant in the end.
Lloyd had proposed two months of living and training together to prevent that.
I need to pass down the Asrahan Core Technique to her. As long as she masters it, her left arm is going to be cured and fate would not force itself.
The estate developer had to spend time and effort to persuade the queen, and the two-month training could barely begin. He was even able to overcome the anticipated opposition.
I proved that I was a swordmaster in front of nobles yesterday, and was acknowledged as a worthy sparring partner for the queen, who officially declared the two-month live-in training.
All that transpired yesterday, Lloyd had not had a shred of a doubt this plan was going to work until last night, thinking all he now needed to do was focus on the training. He had confidently incorporated his own ideas into the training curriculum.
Why is her schedule like this...? She's doing different things literally every ten minutes, from granting audience and taking reports to attending meetings, greeting guests, and throwing parties, only to repeat the same thing all over again. And this is supposed to be the daily schedule and not a monthly one?
The schedule was that tight. It was as if a college student was taking courses from morning to evening without taking a break, and then moving on to night classes too. Lloyd could only chuckle bitterly in disbelief.
"Your Majesty. Are you sure this is your schedule for the day...?"
"It is. I already told you."
My queen was serious. Had she been an ordinary citizen instead of a swordmaster, this was the schedule that could have caused her to die from overworking. And she was doing this daily.
This is bad. Really bad.
But that wasn't because he had to accompany her to every location, with his wrist tied to hers.
This won't do. The Asrahan Core Technique will not work if she spends every day like this.
It was just as Lloyd thought. The schedule was way too full. Even if the estate developer was going to accompany her everywhere and engrave the mana route in the meantime, the queen had to take time to focus on feeling, accepting, and embracing it. That was the objective. However, the tight schedule was going to defeat the purpose at this rate.
No. This really won't do.
Lloyd concluded and spoke to the queen again.
"Uhm... Your Majesty?"
"Speak."
"I don't think this would work."
"Why not?"
"Your schedule is way too tight."
"Even if you were to tag along and work on engraving the route the entire time?"
"I'm afraid so, Your Majesty."
This was why Lloyd enjoyed conversing with the queen; she would immediately identify what the problem was, even before the estate developer explained in detail, with her wits and wisdom. And Queen Alicia had done just that.
"Hmm. I think I understand the basis of your argument, Lloyd Frontera."
"Your grace knows no bounds, Your Majesty."
"...Except I haven't told you of my decision yet."
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
"Tsk."
“...”
"But I understand what it is you're claiming. You're trying to point out that the live-in training to cure my left arm must be prioritized over anything else. Correct?"
"That is correct, Your Majesty."
"But I don't think that would do."
"...Huh?"
Lloyd was astonished by the response, as the queen spoke with a rough smile on her face.
"Even if the condition of my arm is of importance, this schedule was put together for the betterment of all citizens of the kingdom."
The queen tapped on the schedule on the desk with her finger as she emphasized.
"The nobles and vassals that have shown fealty to the royal court, the residents of the royal capital, and every citizen that is born and raised within my territory are affected by what I do. Don't you think?"
"However..."
"No. I will not hear of any counterarguments from you this time. The harder I work and the more tired I get, the more prosperous my kingdom and my people will become."
"However..."
"Tsk. That is the weight of the responsibility on my shoulders and that of the crown on my head. Yet you ask me to postpone these. Do you think I can just accept that?"
"Your Majesty, just..."
"Just what?"
"Just two months. Can you delegate some of the work to competent vassals in your court?"
"No."
“...”
"Not a chance."
“...”
Lloyd couldn't believe how adamant the queen was. It was frustrating to realize this.
God. I didn't know she was a workaholic.
And a severe one at that. The queen wasn't doing this for her success, renown, or wealth. She was actually on a mission to engage in selfless behaviors for the greater good of the community she was a part of. She was the most diligent and hard-working type of person.
Ugh. This is really bad.
Lloyd was getting the strong, unfortunate feeling that no persuasion attempt was going to succeed at this rate. But the queen continued to demand with a stern look on her face.
"Lloyd Frontera. Continue thinking and researching."
"Huh?"
"Find ways to pass down the Asrahan Core Technique without interruption even while I carry out my duties."
“..."
It was like asking the marathoner to play a flute while running, or asking a bungee jumper to eat a bowl of chicken noodle soup without spilling any.
This is beyond ridiculous.
Lloyd was stuck in a rut. He knew he needed something to rectify the situation. But the desperation he felt was unnoticed by the queen.
"Let's get moving. Follow me."
The queen got up and left the study, dragging Lloyd by the wrist. The immensely demanding daily schedule had just begun.
♣
The day went by without a chance to catch his breath, and the night finally came.
"...Huff. Huff. Huff."
"Are you alright?"
"...Huff. Huff. Huff."
"Definitely not."
"P-please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Lloyd panted like a dog. He was out of breath, and his stamina had completely depleted. He even felt nauseous.
"U-ugh."
He plopped on the chair in the bedroom. It was a massively demanding and overwhelming day.
I had to accompany her to five meetings, as well as several audiences and greetings that I gave up on counting, not to mention two parties and several reports that came in. To top it off, an urgent meeting was summoned in the end.
All that had transpired in just one day. But a bigger surprise was still awaiting him.
"Tsk. You're such a fragile individual. Don't tell me you're fatigued by this. It wasn't even that busy."
“...”
"And I do this daily."
“...”
Lloyd drooped down. His entire body was melting. But the worries just kept getting greater and greater, as he glanced at the pile of documents on one side of the queen's desk.
"Your Majesty."
"Speak."
"About those documents..."
"Good. You've done this before."
“...Please spare me."
"But I am not going to kill you."
"But..."
"All you have to do is to put the seal on each of the documents."
"Does it have to be me...?"
"That would please me."
Lloyd thought the queen's way of having fun was definitely evil. The estate developer desperately wished to shout it out, but the bright smile on the queen's face caused this thought to subside.
"I will wash up and be back. Do change in the meantime."
“...Yes, Your Majesty."
The rope tying the two wrists together would be untied only a few times during the day, and this was one of those moments. Now was Lloyd's chance to wash up and change into comfortable clothes. The estate developer quickly changed into clothes that the royal court had prepared for him and thought to himself.
This isn't going to do.
Lloyd was serious. He wasn't able to get much work done as far as passing down the technique was concerned, while simultaneously escorting the queen to the egregious schedule. Each time he tried to stretch the flow of mana onto her left arm, the busy schedule broke his concentration, as well as that of the queen, who was certainly at the heart of each event she was a part of.
This is defeating the purpose of live-in training.
Lloyd had to come up with a solution, and the only way he could think of was to somehow reduce the amount of work on the schedule. Lloyd finished changing and washed his face using the water in the golden washbasin that the maids had brought, touching every single thought and idea that came to his mind. He took those, placed them in his brain, and blended them. Numerous tactics, strategies, and schemes came together to shed light on the best possible solution. Lloyd quickly sifted out the improbable ideas and the ones that could cause the queen to slit his throat. He finally was left with the plan that could earn him a few smacks in the head, but still wouldn't take his life.
Good. This should do.
Lloyd had only just decided, when the queen came back into the bedroom dressed in pajamas. Lloyd had never seen the queen like this. She was wearing pink, silk nightwear that kind of looked familiar.
Wait. That looks just like the one I'm wearing.
Lloyd was appalled to realize that his blue, silk nightwear was a part of the set with the one the queen was dressed in.
No. No. No. This can't be a couple's item.
Lloyd suspected the maids had made a serious administrative error in bringing this set of clothes. It was unfathomable to dress in matching outfits with the queen. He was afraid that he may be indicted for contempt of the royal court. It was nerve-wracking. Lloyd had no choice but to anxiously glance at the queen.
"What's wrong?" The queen asked.
"N-nothing, Your Majesty."
"Is my nightwear strange?"
"N-no, Your Majesty."
"But yours definitely is."
“...Huh?"
"I would call it bizarre, actually. You seem puny and pathetic in those clothes. I really didn't expect someone to look that terrible in those."
Lloyd became speechless at the sudden, unexpected insult that came his way. He continued to move his fingers anxiously as the queen added.
"I should order the nightwear for honored guests of the royal court to be changed. I hadn't paid much attention to it because I looked good in them. Tsk."
Lloyd felt a little bit more at ease upon finding out the nightwear was specifically chosen for honored guests of the kingdom.
Phew. So the queen was just using one of those without giving it much thought.
In other words, it was by no means a couple's item. But Lloyd was relieved, yet a bit disappointed at the same time.
What the hell am I thinking?
He quickly shook off the strange thought and went back to the idea he had been conjuring.
Ugh. I don't see another way.
Lloyd had to reduce the amount of work the queen was doing daily, and the only way was to turn her into a lesser of a workaholic. The estate developer contained his desperate thoughts and spoke to the queen.
"Your Majesty."
"Speak."
"Your grace knows no bounds. There is something... I wanted to propose before putting seals on these documents."
"A proposal?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"What is it?"
"To be completely honest, I am actually extremely tired."
"And?"
"But it's not like I can go against your wish and fail to carry out the task."
"Okay?"
"So, it would be really nice if I could shake the fatigue off."
"Shake the fatigue off."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"A sparring match would be perfect, then."
"N-no, Your Majesty."
"Then?"
"I was wondering if we could place a bet for fun, Your Majesty."
"A bet?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Then the winner of the bet would be getting some kind of a reward."
"Precisely, Your Majesty."
"You have my attention."
"Your grace knows no bounds, Your Majesty."
"What do you want for your reward for winning the bet, and what do you intend to do to shake off the fatigue?" Asked the queen with a subtle smile on her face.
Things looked positive. This was an opportunity. Lloyd promptly began explaining as though he was reeling in a prized fish from the river.
"Have you ever heard of the game of In Other's Shoes, Your Majesty?"
