Ch.119Finding Work (1)

Claude, with his reduced workload, spends more time with his family but still tries to dedicate his mornings to state affairs.

Of course, when there’s no work to do, he can’t do it—so Claude has been creating tasks for himself.

One notable example is attending university lectures.

The classroom was thrown into chaos when the king unexpectedly appeared like a meteor during a peaceful lecture. Soon, only Professor Ellen’s voice could be heard while all other sounds faded away.

Ding— Diiing—

“W-well… that concludes today’s class…”

As the bell signaled the end of the hour, Ellen, who had been lecturing, announced the end with visible relief in her expression and voice. The students, with looks that said “finally,” sighed deeply and hurriedly rose from their seats to leave the classroom.

“Ah…!”

But the students’ movements didn’t last long.

This was because Claude, who had been watching the lecture from the back, also moved to leave.

The students, whose legs had frozen at the sight of the king approaching, quickly realized he was merely trying to pass through to the door and hastily stepped back.

Between the pig slaughtering machine incident and openly practicing polygamy despite doctrinal prohibitions, all sorts of terrible rumors surrounded the king.

Hadn’t a maid who approached the king too casually been suddenly violated in the dining hall? Who knows what might happen if one gets too close.

Even the heir to the Bermann family, who leads current high society, immediately darkens and becomes serious when the king is mentioned—public perception holds that he too must have experienced some threat or chilling incident when meeting the king.

From the start, etiquette dictates that those of lower status should never address their superiors first, so the best strategy is to keep a safe distance from the king and avoid entanglement altogether.

‘…?’

However, Claude, the very cause of the students’ behavior, merely finds their reaction puzzling and tilts his head in confusion.

‘What are they doing?’

No matter that I’m king, it’s impossible that not a single noble would approach me.

In a feudal society, establishing connections with the king provides not just simple benefits but significant political advantages—why wouldn’t they pursue this?

Even if they fear criticism, it’s still worth the attempt, isn’t it?

Hmm… I thought nobles valued honor and courage, but that was just my preconception. Well, we’re all human—no group is exceptionally different from others.

With that thought, Claude downwardly adjusted his assessment of the nobility and passed through the open door.

“Sigh… I need to hurry back and—”

“Ellen.”

“—eep!”

Like Moses parting the sea, Claude quickly moved through the nobles and verbally stopped Ellen, who was hastily trying to leave the corridor.

“Eep?”

“Ah, no… I was just startled when you suddenly called me…”

Claude approaches Ellen, who stands frozen in place, with complete naturalness.

He has high regard for Ellen—having known her for over two years, finding her easier to interact with than nobles due to her commoner background, appreciating her extremely gentle personality, and considering her his first disciple.

Ellen also harbors a different kind of affection for Claude, but being acutely aware of her position and status, she tries her best not to show such feelings.

“Ah… well, that happens. Sorry for startling you.”

“Oh… p-please don’t say such things… if others hear…”

Ellen is shocked by Claude’s casual manner.

An apology? Why would His Majesty apologize to me when I’m the one who was startled?

His Majesty always speaks such words sincerely and without ulterior motives, which is too much for my heart. Ugh… this is why I was trying to get away quickly…

“What are you saying…? Well, never mind that. I see you’re lecturing perfectly now. You don’t need to worry anymore.”

“Ah, haha… it’s because Your Majesty taught me so well.”

“No, I’m actually not good at teaching others. Do you think I just happened to select intelligent people? It’s entirely your talent.”

Ellen’s face grows increasingly red.

Her heart is already pounding too hard for proper judgment, and hearing such words of pure goodwill makes it impossible to endure.

“Now that I think about it, Ellen knew the concept of disinfection from the beginning—”

“Your Majesty!!”

“—Hmm?”

Claude, reminiscing about the past without properly noticing Ellen’s face, has his thoughts interrupted by a sudden voice from behind.

Turning around thinking something serious might have happened, Claude sees Louis, the heir to the Bermann family.

“What is it?”

“Your Majesty, she, Professor Ellen is…”

“What about Ellen?”

Claude looks at Louis with a puzzled expression.

‘What’s going on?’

He’s breathing heavily and his face is flushed. He seems greatly excited about something, but I don’t understand why he’s acting this way.

Did he run here in a hurry? No, even if he ran, he shouldn’t be this affected.

“Yes, Your Majesty… she is… well…”

“…Finish what you’re saying.”

Claude becomes slightly annoyed with Louis, who is mumbling without properly expressing himself.

If you’ve stopped me, you should state your business—how can I not be irritated when you just stand there doing nothing?

“…Professor Ellen is uncomfortable. Please stop.”

“What?”

“Pardon?”

After hesitating, Louis speaks as if having made a big decision, and immediately both Claude and Ellen simultaneously exclaim in surprise.

Hearing Louis’s words, Claude finally takes a careful look at Ellen.

Her face is red, her legs are trembling, her breathing is rough, and her eyes are darting around rather than staying fixed.

“…I see, you’re right.”

“Y-Your Majesty?”

“Ellen, rest well.”

With a complicated expression, Claude greets Ellen and then walks past her.

Ellen looks dumbfounded and tries to stop Claude, but there are too many eyes watching for her to do so.

After Claude leaves, Louis approaches Ellen, muttering concerns about whether she’s alright or if she was touched inappropriately, but Ellen—too shocked to maintain her sense of reality—can barely understand his words. She can only smile awkwardly and nod slightly.

……….

‘This hurts my heart…’

Back at the palace, Claude lies on his bed, recalling the incident at the university with a heavy heart.

Ellen trying to distance herself from me?

There could be many reasons—perhaps the status difference makes close association too burdensome, or maybe she had urgent business—but the shock is unavoidable.

Fellow commoners like Chloe and Jeanne tend to show excessive affection, making conversation difficult, but Ellen was just right—comfortable to talk with as she expressed both negative and positive opinions about what I said…

“Your Majesty, did something happen?”

“No, nothing.”

Seeing her husband dejected after saying he was going to observe a lecture at the university, Ines worriedly and gently strokes his body, but Claude chooses not to reveal that he’s this affected merely by being rejected, as it would hurt his pride.

“…I’ll let it go since you don’t want to talk about it, but if it’s not resolved with time, please tell me later?”

“I really said it’s nothing.”

“Yes, I understand, Your Majesty.”

With a slight smile like someone who’s seen a boy with unnecessary pride, Ines nods. Seeing her reaction, Claude feels a flash of irritation but manages to hold back without saying anything.

I’m not sure what Ines is thinking right now, but it can’t be good, sigh…

The way she drags out her words and calls me “Your Majesty” means she’s deliberately trying to provoke me into talking—wait, “Your Majesty”?

“Ines.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Why do you call me ‘Your Majesty’? I’m pretty sure you called me ‘husband’ until yesterday.”

Ines always called me “Your Majesty” in official settings.

But this isn’t an official setting—we’re alone in our room, aren’t we?

“Ah… haha… that’s because Liliane keeps saying strange things.”

“Liliane?”

“Yesss… because I keep calling Your Majesty ‘husband,’ Liliane now calls everyone I like ‘husband’…”

Ah, I understand now.

Liliane is currently two years old, and children that age quickly pick up words their parents use with emotion.

Ines probably uses many emotional words, but “husband” would certainly be a prominent one.

The word “husband” keeps slipping out unconsciously, and since the children hear it, she’s trying not to use it even in private.

“Oh, so she calls you ‘husband’ too?”

“Yes…”

“Heh… that’s funny. I’d really like to see that in person.”

If only I could record it on video…

Electronic devices are too complex—even if we started developing the technology now, it would take until my great-grandchildren’s time to glimpse even fragments of such technology.

I should at least tell a painter to create many pictures of her childhood.