Fatherly care

"The maid just shouted not to fire her because she will send regular updates and reports about the young miss."

Tense Beo relayed the message, bearing his fangs and leaning forward with his hands spread apart like the clawed paws of a wild beast.

"That girl… I believe her ability is something along the lines of… ah, I remember. Background Character. Her presence is blending in, and hardly anyone is able to pay attention to her… Those effects get even stronger if she is around someone with the royal-type ability, so she must have been the one dealing with all the formalities."

Duke Brynhild furrowed his brows but couldn't help but crack a little smile even when sighing. He let himself be played so easily, and yet… He couldn't help but feel a bit of pride amongst all of the complex feelings he had about the situation.

"Then… we're letting her go…?"

"Yes."

Beo glanced at the duke and asked, getting a lot calmer as Brynhild nodded.

That meant that despite doubts that any of the trio on the leaving ship had, Adrianna's words were indeed the direct reason for Beo to deactivate the skill, ending the outpour of bloodlust and allowing everyone in the port city to breathe in peace.

"GRAAAAH!"

The moment that happened, one of the elite guards charged the pair with a halberd, raising his weapon and bringing down the axhead part on Duke Brynhild's neck.

"...wh-wha…?!"

But just as the edge connected with the man's skin, the whole thing shattered like some cheap glass, throwing the wide-eyed elite guard off balance.

Before the attacker got a chance to regain it, Beo was already behind him.

The stylish halfling raised his right hand only to bring it down instantly before pushing his open palm against the elite guard's armored side.

"!!!"

Before the elite guard realized what was happening, he was already crushing into the water's surface. Only as he started to flail around, trying to resurface desperately, did his whole arm that Beo cut off hit the ground, still clenching the remains of the halberd that had become nothing more than a splintered pole.

"Your majesty, I believe we owe each other some explanation."

Duke Brynhild patted down his golden hair ruffled by the attack - not the guard's but Beo's - after the elite guard flew by. The Duke spoke calmly, putting one hand in his pocket.

"Everyone! Protect his majesty!"

The guards, who didn't lose their heads, called out and surrounded the pair while also shielding the king and the fallen crown prince.

"Captain, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but you and your men will use this time more efficiently by helping out your drowning comrade. Thank you for sparing his life, by the way, Commander Beo."

The King closed his eyes and sighed before nodding his head towards the stylish dark-blond-haired halfling standing beside the gold-haired man.

"B-but, your majesty…! The procedure in case of an attack demands me to use my ability to stop the attackers' abilities and…!"

The elite guard captain, who seemed to be on the younger side, flinched and glanced over his shoulder at the monarch.

"Your majesty, I did that only because I was at fault too by allowing for the attack to land in the first place because I was convinced the elite guards could handle a bit of pressure…"

The stylish halfling nodded back, acknowledging the King's apology and speaking over the guard.

"As for you… The ability to block a royal-type ability is a royal-type ability itself. Stand back. You are not that guy."

"...!"

The elite guard captain seemed eager to talk some more, but Beo's scoff made him eat all the words he was about to say.

"Not to mention that the people you try to apprehend are Duke Fenrioette and Commander Beo. The two people who swore to never reach level 40 as a sign of goodwill and loyalty to the crown and wear artifacts dispersing any experience points they could gain. Also, I am sorry to burst your bubble, but even if you do intend to pick a fight with them, the handful of level 50s we have here is not just not enough… both the numbers and levels are a straight-up insultingly low to even inconcvinience either of them... not to mention both of them."

"!!!"

The king added, and the young captain stepped aside with his head down.

"Captain. Your drowning subordinate."

"I… ah! At once, Your Majesty! Men, at ease! You two, with me!"

The king took a deep breath before pointing out, causing the captain to flinch and gasp in realization. Then, shouting orders to the other elite guards, he rushed towards the water.

"I believe that the entrance you made wasn't caused by the fatherly urge to see your daughter off on her voyage alone."

As most of the elite guards returned to their original spots, chasing away the gathered crowd of onlookers, the pair approached the king and were smiled at by him.

"You are correct, Your Majesty. I would like to discuss with you the possibility of…"

"Melinda is already a legal adult, and no matter what personal reason made her apply for the exchange program, her position, lineage, and eagerness make her the perfect representative with the biggest chance of paving the future I hope for. Do forgive me, Duke Fenrioette, but I will not order her return or withdraw her application to the Jade Academy without an actual reason not based on your personal opinion and feelings."

Brynhild spoke up, but the king interrupted him with the same benevolent smile, although his eyes showed no warmth or hesitation.

It wasn't some friendly banter - it was a final decision of the monarch who knew exactly what the duke would request of him.

"Don't worry. Your daughter might not have manifested her ability, but her will is strong enough to withstand any challenges."

"..."

The king added, and the duke turned his cold gaze away from the crown prince and back at the monarch.

"If that's what your majesty believes, this subject will conform."

Brynhild declared and turned around, with Beo following him after bowing to the king.

"..."

The king watched the two of them leave before looking over with a strict expression at his son, who still didn't manage to stand back up after falling over because of the overbearing bloodlust.

"I am greatly disappointed in you, Ester."

"?!?!"

His royal highness shook his head before leaving the flabbergasted crown prince behind.