Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1996: Making a deal

"Your Majesty, it's quite the shock for you to request a sudden meeting like this." King Lune remarked, his voice carrying a pretense of ease.

Yet only I noticed the intensity in his gaze, revealing that his demeanor held no true relaxation.

Indeed, he appeared rather on edge because of my summons for this encounter.

I had intentionally withheld the purpose to keep him on tenterhooks, though now it felt like I might have overdone it. For one, he looked somewhat worn out...

No, that wasn't mere weariness...

His expression was that of a man who had spent the entire night fretting over an unknown issue.

Clearly, I had pushed the tension too far with his evident strain, and that wasn't ideal given the proposal I was set to make next.

But regretting it now was pointless since the situation was already in motion.

Thus, only one course remained open to me.

"It's straightforward, really—I have a topic to bring up with you. Whether it turns easy or complicated hinges entirely on your response." I replied with an offhand air.

Upon hearing this, King Lune furrowed his brow involuntarily, yet I met his probing stare with a composed, nonchalant expression as he tried to read my intentions.

We held each other's gaze in silence for some moments until at last he spoke, "Very well, take a seat so we can talk this over."

Evidently, he had resigned himself to whatever fate held in store.

This reaction further confirmed my suspicions.

The Lune Royal Family had never truly focused on ruling their realm. Judging by King Lune's behavior, they seemed accustomed to letting events unfold naturally.

After all, their nation's fortunes made it rare for troubles to arise that demanded their attention.

Affairs tended to resolve themselves favorably, leaving them with few concerns to occupy their minds.

Strangely enough, a prosperous land like theirs had never evolved into an empire.

Did they lack the drive for expansion, or was some barrier holding them back?

Were they deliberately keeping a low profile, or did the blessing upon their country impose its own constraints?

In the end, I dismissed these musings as irrelevant for now. Once my proposed arrangement succeeded as planned, uncovering the truth behind this mystery would merely be a question of time.

Once seated, I fixed my eyes on him and declared, "I wish to strike a bargain with you."

King Lune's brows creased once more, and this time the unease seemed deeper.

He could sense that my words didn't pertain to the broader Solar Kingdom but targeted solely the Lune Royal Family.

Swallowing hard in apprehension, King Lune urged, "Go ahead and state your terms."

With a nod, I continued, "I seek access to the Lune Royal Family's relic."

Predictably, an odd expression crossed King Lune's features.

Noting this, I added, "I realize this violates your family's traditions, yet it's a crucial task I must undertake. In exchange, I'll grant the Solar Kingdom first access to the divine energy barrier I plan to deploy soon. Provided you permit me to..."

King Lune abruptly lifted his hand, cutting me off mid-sentence.

My own brows furrowed slightly in response, though the interruption hardly caught me off guard.

What I requested was, after all, quite demanding.

Nevertheless, I had no intention of backing down so readily.

"In truth, that won't be necessary." King Lune stated, clearing his throat uncomfortably.

Surprise flickered across my face at these words, as they defied my expectations. He didn't appear opposed to my proposition; rather, it seemed he was inclined to consent.

Even so, his phrasing struck me as peculiar.

Composing himself briefly, King Lune then revealed, "Truth be told, we had intended to reach out to Your Majesty about this very matter."

His statement left me momentarily stunned, prompting me to narrow my eyes as I studied him closely.

It was difficult to accept at face value, but the earnestness in his gaze convinced me of his sincerity.

Still, the whole thing defied logic...

Just moments ago, he had seemed resolute in refusal, and now...

His sudden shift felt almost like dealing with dual personas.

Catching my skeptical glance, King Lune explained, "Previously, the timing simply wasn't suitable for such a revelation. But the ancestor has already instructed us to guide you to the relic at the appropriate juncture. Given our current circumstances, I believe this is the ideal moment."

I arched a single eyebrow at him, a wave of doubt washing over me.

The unfolding events gave the impression of being steered toward an ambush of some sort.

Yet upon reflection, I chose to proceed, lacking any real alternatives.

Ultimately, with no other paths available, I resolved to follow his lead.