Chapter 268: Chapter 268: 15-year-old Inglis, the Dragon God and the Elder King (41)

「Everybody, listen up!」

In the center of the encampment, in front of the lodgings that Lahti and his officials used, Lahti called out the assembled residents with a renewed and serious expression. Pullum was by her side, looking somewhat uncomfortable and downcast.

When Inglis and the others returned to the encampment, Pullum had already regained consciousness. Then, after a short rest and settling down, Lahti gathered the people together.

Inglis and the gang were standing a short distance away from the mass, near Luwin and the Knight squad, watching over the situation. Because of the commotion, both the residents and the Knights were tense with each other.

「Gwihh. Keef yahr gwaf ahm, awkeh? Vve dahn noeh wahd kaun hawfen……! (Glis. Keep your guard up, okay? We don’t know what can happen……!)」

「Ah noeh, Wayne! eidh ayhagh……! (I know, Rani! It’s alright…..!)」

While it was happening, Inglis and Rafinha were busy stuffing their mouths. A large amount of grilled meat on skewers was piling up on the plates they both held in their hands.

Inglis was trying to bury the frustration of not being able to fight the Mecha Dragon God by eating and eating more and kept on eating. She just couldn’t keep herself calm otherwise.

「……Did I hear keep your guards up?」

When Leone asked, both Inglis and Rafinha nodded their heads.

「……Between the four of us? Honestly…」

「It just doesn’t appear that the two of you are nervous at all…」

While Leone and Liselotte let out a defeated sigh, Lahti continued his speech.

「I’ve heard all the details about the commotion! And I won’t punish anyone for it!」

At that, some relief spread amongst the residents. It was Ian who led and fanned the flame, but the result was a situation where the Knights had to point their blades. Moreover, Pullum was gravely injured. It would be a no-brainer to think that Lahti would insist on ratting out and capturing anyone who was involved.

「And I won’t constitute any punishment to her either!」

He said, approaching Pullum and putting his hand on her shoulder.

「What Hallim did was unforgivable……so, it doesn’t take an idiot to steer the blame to his sister, Pullum, as well! I know that’s what you lots have in your hearts. We can say Pullum isn’t Hallim as much as we want, but I know it ain’t that simple!」

「Myuhm (Mhm)!」

Even at such times, the meat of the Dragon God was superb. Inglis nodded to Lahti’s words while smacking her tongue.

The logic, as it should be, was that the sin belonged to the sinner only. It wasn’t a commendable thing to make Hallim’s sins befell Pullum, but it was also the fact that emotions that had nowhere else to go would seek the closest alternative. Leone, too, had also been put in a difficult situation by this fact.

If a fair and lawful king made a good king, then a king who was close to the people’s hearts was also a good king. And when viewed in the context of the situation at hand, the former contradicted the latter.

The right answers, justice, and whatnot change from era to era. Even the same words carry different results depending on who said them. In the end, one only needed to take the leap of faith.

「And so, I’m going to say what I have in my heart too!」

As Inglis watched on, Lahti’s eyes were filled with the light of a strong will.

「As the Prince of this Kingdom, I will take her, Pullum, as my Queen!」

「「EEEeeehh?!!」」

「「OOOOoooh?!!」」

「「Wh-, WHAT?!」」

Voices filled with a mixture of emotions erupted, and the place suddenly became noisy.

「If Pullum bears Hallim’s sins, then I bear Pullum’s sins with me! I will spend the rest of my life making up for it! I will rebuild Lekrea and make it more prosperous than ever! So… please give us some time! Please……!」

Lahti showed a deep bow of his head to the people in front of him.

「E-, erm… Lahti! I……!!」

「What, don’t tell me you’re going to reject it now of all time?! I already said it, you know?」

「B-, but……can I really… Uu……UuuuuUuuu……!!」

「……! Now’s not the time to cry, just lower your head!」

「Y-, yesh……!!」

As the two bowed together, Rafinha, who was standing next to Inglis, clapped right away.

「Dyads kwed~! Ai ryaik dyads~! Kaungwadhs~! (That’s great~! I like that~! Congrats~!)」

With her mouth filled with meat, however. Her mouth gaping, her hands clapping, her eyes streaming tears. What a busy person.

「Wayne! Whey cawn hiff yhou wiff yher mawf fawl! (Rani! They can’t hear you with your mouth full!)」

「You’re not any better, Inglis! By the gods, be more proper already!」

Leone also applauded, while nagging at Inglis and Rafinha.

「We approve and support you!」

Liselotte followed and clapped her hands. Rafinha, Leone, and Liselotte’s faces were sparkling with, in their own words, a Maiden’s Longing.

As for Inglis, she didn’t have such longings, so she was more concerned about other things. Perhaps because she didn’t consider marriage a possibility, had she been in Pullum’s shoes, she would have been more inclined to reject the marriage. But, if she rejected it in such a public place, she would surely bring shame to the other party, so she thought.

Well, it seemed like Pullum had no need to worry about such things, and the results were good. Inglis wasn’t against it either. Young and naive, but fresh and gleaming, oh how it invited smiles to her lips.

Then, the applause started coming from people other than Inglis’ little group. The applause gradually grew louder and louder. The people here, despite their various circumstances, were people who had gathered because they admired Prince Lahti’s efforts to restore Lekrea.

Therefore, there were those who would follow Lahti and there were those who were genuinely impressed by his determination and attitude. Some of them might not be convinced yet, but they might be willing to take Lahti’s words for it and see the future he brings.

「I believe Miss Pullum! She put her own life on the line to save me! That’s not something she’d do for mere fame! She’s really thinking about all of us!」

Some of them seemed to be beginning to trust Pullum personally. Pullum taking that injury was not for nothing, it seemed. At any rate, it was safe to say that there was no need to worry about such a commotion happening again, for the time being.