Chapter 23 - The Ministers Troubles (1)

"Pardon me Your Ethereal Majesty, but did my Father not send you a letter ahead of time?" Prince Emeric conformed.

"...He did, but I want to hear your reason for visiting from you," Arik paused, "Plus I'd sound more believable coming from the people who came in person…So spit it out," The emperor finished in a commanding voice.

"..." The crown prince was currently stuck in thought, so I decided to help him out.

"Ahem, please excuse me your Imperial Majesty, but may I be granted access to stand while I explain?" I asked with my best respectful tone.

"Haaa, access granted."

"Thank you, now, the reason His Majesty Rhys has sent us here is because of the yearly peace council," I decided to use my businessman's voice, "His Majesty sent us here at this time suspecting you to have come to a decision."

"I see, and if I haven't?" The Emporer asked.

"Then I suppose we would have to stay until you decide, and I'm sure you and I both don't want that," I then bowed my best bow, "So with all due respect Emporer, I believe it would be in your best interest to accept the peace council."

'I hope I didn't sound too condescending.'

"Hmmm, I suppose you do have a point," The emperor hummed while sitting back on his throne, "Alright, I will accept your Peace Council proposal…but just to be sure, this is about our recent predicament with the demons, right?"

"Why of course, if not that then what else?"

"Alright, then with that being said, if you are going to stay here then I suggest that you hold that tone of yours, you should be grateful that I was in a good mood today," Arik demanded, but also suggested.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After our conversation with Emporer Lorcan, Astrid escorted us to our rooms where we both decided to turn in for the night. But right as I was about to get into bed there was a soft knock at the door, reluctant just to continue what I was about to do and crawl into bed, I answered the door.

"Who is it?"

"It's the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Viscount Andraste."

"Haaa," I sighed while putting on a robe and sitting on the couch, "You may enter."

"So sorry to bother you Your Grace, but this is rather urgent," A man said while coming in and standing beside the couch in front of me.

The man had grayish-violet hair and gray eyes, I noticed that he also had pointed ears and when he opened his mouth to speak, I saw small fangs. But I didn't pay too much attention to that. He was wearing what I assumed to be his uniform, an ivory dress shirt, a black suit vest, jade dress pants, and a jade trench coat that he was wearing as a cape. 

"Alright," I said leaning forward, "What can I do for you, Sir…Sorry, what was you're name again?"

"Ah! I guess I didn't introduce myself properly, my apologies. My name is Klaus Leondis, and I am the Minister of Foreign Affairs."

"..." I leaned back in my chair and messaged my temples sensing a headache coming, "Please take a seat Minister Leondis, what is it that you would like to talk about?"

"Thank you, and I came here to ask for your opinion on something," Klaus stated.

"Hold on, have you asked His Royal Highness yet?" I questioned.

"I had something different to ask him, the thing I wanted to ask you is specifically related to military problems," He then paused and I motioned for him to continue, "If…If our empire were to join forces with yours to be able to fight an army of demons what would you think?"

"..." I stayed silent for a while trying to process what he just said, "Huh?"

'This dude just made no sense whatsoever, though it might just be that I'm too tired to think.'

"Oh, I should probably explain thoroughly. What I mean is, if our army were to be suddenly attacked by demons and we asked for your help, what would be your course of action?" He clarified.

"Shouldn't this be something the Defense Minister should come and ask me?" I asked while pouring myself some wine picking up the glass to take a sip.

"..." The Foreign Affairs minister had a pained face on him, "We…Unfortunately do not have one-"

"Pfft-! What!?" I said while spitting out my drink in surprise, "Oh, apologies. But what do you mean you don't have a Minister for Defense?!"

"Unfortunately our Defense Minister passed a couple of months ago, he was killed by one of the Demon Kings commanders," He admitted.

"I see, so you came to ask me this to know where we lie on loyalty, am I correct?" 

"Heh, no wonder you were able to get power so quickly, you are quite smart!"

"...Right…But going back to you're original question, I would send a few of my troops, and depending on how bad it gets, I might send either myself or one of my stringer subordinates," I replied.

'That would indeed be the best course of action, and I'd rather not have to say anything else regarding that question.'

"Hmm, that would indeed be logical," He then mumbled, "Looks and brains huh?"

"Hm?"

"Ah! Nothing, my apologies. Thank you for your answer, I'll be taking my leave now," He said with his face flushed and rushing out of my room.

'Weirdo…Now I can finally sleep!'

I then stood up and hung my robe by my bed, then went to sleep.

***

The next morning I was woken up by a knock on the door, once again reluctant to answer it I moved as slowly as I could towards the door, and right as I was about to open it, someone swung the door open and it hit my square in the nose.

"Good Morning Lieu- OH MY GODS ARE YOU OKAY!?" The Foreign affairs minister said closing the door behind him.

"Ugh, has no one taught you better manners? Ask for permission before you open the door, and no, I am not okay!" I shouted while showing him my now swelled-up nose.

"Ahh! You're right, I'm so sorry! I was just so excited to be able to come and wake you up that I completely forgot, please sit down and I'll grab you some ointment-" He froze and looked at me with a blushing face and wide eyes.

"What is it now you dolt? Stop standing there gawking, you look like a fish out of the water," I commented coldly.

"Oh! Sorry, I just didn't think you're shirt would be open like that," He said looking away and covering his eyes with his hands and blushing, "But yes, I'll go get the ointment right away just wait for a second.

'It's not like I actually need ointment, but anything to get him to go away while I calm myself, but what's wrong with my shirt?'

I then looked down to see what Klaus was talking about, and I saw that my shirt was unbuttoned completely, and exposing my abs for all to see. I quickly buttoned my shirt back up in embarrassment.

A few minutes later I was sitting out on the balcony enjoying a morning smoke when I heard another knock at the door, "Haaa, come in Klaus!" I shouted from the balcony.

"Um, excuse me," Klaus said while coming in carrying boxes and an ointment container, "Oh, here you are, I got worried when I didn't see you in the room," He said peering into the balcony and holding only the ointment.

"Apologies, I just thought I'd take a smoke break while waiting for you," I said putting out my cigarette and walking back into the room.

"Right, I've brought the ointment, and an outfit the Crown Prince said his father wanted you to wear during a banquet."

"Something from his majesty?" I then grabbed the box, sat down, and opened it while Minister Klaus put the ointment on my nose, "..."

"Hm? Is some the matter Viscount?" He asked, tilting his head.

"Its…The King sent me a suit," I then paused, "But it is in the kingdom's colors."

In the world of "How to Kill Demons Without Dying," it is an offense to wear your kingdom's colors to a banquet in a foreign country, especially an ally. But thankfully it wasn't something that would get you beheaded, though it would still leave a distaste for you in other people's mouths.

Perhaps knowing this, King Rhys could get me to stick to his side, by sending this as a way to say, 'I could make you do much more embarrassing things' but who knows.

"Oh my, um, it's quite a nice Fraque suit, but is there perhaps a way to change the colors without ruining it?" Klaus questioned with a look of worry, but yet his eyes had a look of amusement.

"I'm not sure, perhaps we could ask one of the maids or the palace tailor," I said putting it back in the box.

Klaus then got up and put the closed ointment container to the side, "Well no use worrying about it now, we should get you dressed, we wouldn't want to keep the Emperor or the Crown Prince waiting, now would we?"

"Huh? What do you mean 'We'?"

"Ho? Did they not tell you? Since you didn't have any servants accompanying you I am to act as your butler for the time being, but not to worry, it's only until we find somebody more suitable," He said smiling.

"...Kill me now…" I mumbled.

***

Half an hour later I was sitting in the banquet hall, eating breakfast with The Crown Prince, and the Emperor. We were eating quietly until the Emperor cleared his throat to get our attention, where we were then served tea and had our plates taken away.

"Pardon me for asking this Your Royal Highness, but I am suspecting that you are coming to this banquet yes?" Arik asked.

"Um yes, I would be permitted to do so i would love to participate in some of the festivities," He then paused for a bit, "But if I may ask, how long will the banquet be?"

"Well, I was hoping for it to last until 10 p.m. but I'm not so sure," The Emporer then turned to look at me, "My Foreign affairs minister said you have a few good opinions, would you care to share your thoughts?"

'That guy!'

"Of course, I would be honored to!" I smiled, "If it were up to me I wouldn't have a set ending time, after all, different people take longer to eat than most."

"I'm going to have to agree with you there, thank you for the suggestion," The Emporer said.

We chatted for a bit longer but were soon dismissed, not wanting to return to my room I decided to take a walk around the palace grounds. During my walk, I found the library, the kitchen, the training grounds, and the inner courtyard.

I decided to continue my walk in the inner courtyard, and halfway through I decided to take a small rest on a bench, during which I had, unfortunately, fallen asleep. A while later I woke up, only to find a familiar figure sitting next to me, and they had placed my head in their lap.

"Hmmm." I groaned while squinting my eyes from the sun.

"Good morning sleepy head, hope I didn't wake you," The man said.

"Huh!? Minister Klaus? Sorry, and you're fine…but why was my head in your lap?" I asked while sitting up.

"Oh, sorry. You just looked uncomfortable with your head hanging off of the edge of the backrest, so I thought I'd sit next to you and offer you my lap," Klaus explained while smiling and looking a little flushed.

"Well thank you for the kind gesture, I appreciate it, even if it was a bit awkward," I said standing up and starting to walk away, "Sorry for bothering you."

"Oh! Wait just a moment, please! I have something I need to give you."

"Hm? What is it?"

"The emperor had some papers he wanted me to give you, I had brought the Crown Prince his but I ended up forgetting yours, so I thought I'd get through the courtyard to my office to grab them, but then I saw you here," He then paused for a bit, "So, would you please come with me to my office to grab them?"

"I suppose I can, it's not like I have anything better to do."

"Alright, then please come this way, it won't take long."

About three minutes later we reached his office, which was diagonal from the entrance to the inner courtyard on the south side, and once we went inside he went directly to his desk.

"I think I put them somewhere around here…" Klaus mumbled.

"Is something the matter minister?" I said while approaching him from behind.

"For some reason, I can't find those papers even though I'm sure I pu-" He stopped when he looked behind and saw me right behind him leaning over to pick something off the desk, "U-um, th-they might be over on the left side of the desk, would you look over there? They should have a label with you're name on it."

"Huh? Alright," I quickly back away noticing the flushed face of the Foreign Affairs Minister.

As I was searching through the papers on the other side of the desk I snuck a look at Klaus who was looking in the same place, he was taller than me but only slightly muscular, and right now, he was blushing and trembling, he had i slight look of excitement on his face.

'Wonder what that's all about.'