The King Wants a Son-in-Law

"What?" Shirou exclaimed in surprise. He hadn't sensed Servant before. Could it be the person who was hiding in that carriage earlier?

Chapter 174 The King Wants to Find a Son-in-Law

As the group entered the castle, the coachman had already placed the carriages in their place, and the soldiers had settled the horses in the stables.

Ministers and generals, along with their servants and soldiers, followed behind Emperor Louis and the Princess toward the magnificent building in the very center.

In the center of the courtyard is a circular fountain composed of thirteen fan-shaped sections, surrounded by green lawns filled with vibrant purple and white flowers.

Ahead lies the central building of this castle, with its blue spires, eaves, walls, and corners adorned with ornate carvings. Blooming vines entwine the surrounding area, while tall white stone pillars support the walls below. The ceiling is inlaid with stained glass paintings depicting fierce and exotic beasts such as lions, leopards, eagles, qilin, and pandas. Every aspect is exquisitely crafted, inspiring awe.

Upon seeing such a view, Emperor Louis exclaimed, "Wow, what a magnificent castle! I can sense that the designer was a dashing gentleman who loved ornate styles and floral decorations. Although it is far smaller than Palace of Versailles, it would certainly hold its own if placed within the Palace of Versailles."

The minister flattered, "Indeed, I never imagined that Marquis Shirou would possess such a magnificent estate. Your Majesty has excellent taste; this is surely the result of Your Majesty's benevolence and kindness."

The general chimed in with flattery, "Yes, Your Majesty, that Marquis Shirou must be preparing how to welcome Your Majesty."

"Are you sure this is really where Marquis Shirou entered?" Emperor Louis asked the cavalryman who had come to report, confirming again. He was worried about letting a young boy who might be robbed travel alone, so he sent a cavalryman to follow on horseback.

"Yes, Your Majesty, it is absolutely true," the cavalryman assured him.

Because Shirou and his chestnut horse worked together very well and were very fast, the cavalry could only follow the hoofprints all the way to the castle before turning back to report.

So Emperor Louis sent his caravan along the road to the castle. They entered without any obstruction, and even though servants were working, no one stopped them from entering, which was clearly a sign of welcome.

Therefore, Emperor Louis's entourage and others were even more convinced of the identity of the master of this place.

The sheer wealth of this place took him by surprise, leaving him only with admiration and delight. Marquis Shirou, that elegant young man, had completely become the epitome of the perfect son-in-law.

Emperor Louis then turned to his Princess and asked, "My lovely daughter, what do you think of this place?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, this is a very nice place. The architectural style blends the best of France style with elements of England, as well as some novel styles. I quite like this international feel." Princess nodded, gave a chivalrous salute, her long golden hair cascading down, and replied respectfully.

"Is that so? Is that so? Hahaha." Emperor Louis laughed happily, and his steps became lighter.

They were still a few minutes away from reaching the front door of the house.

The servants in the castle were like headless flies, wandering aimlessly in front of the gate. Originally, they were just servants hired by a country nobleman. Before Merlin used the Holy Grail to build such a castle, their workplace was actually a wooden villa made by a third-rate carpenter. They ate two meals a day, which consisted of warm water and black bread. They worked year-round without rest, and their sleeping place was a cellar covered with a layer of old cowhide.

Most of those fields were seized by those who abused their power and acted like scoundrels. They just made a fortune quietly because no one else cared about them in the countryside, and they became local tycoons.

In contrast, the newly arrived Lord Jeanne, though a bit harsh in her words, was extremely kind to the servants and showed no disrespect to them, who came from humble rural backgrounds.

Now they eat soft bread, receive wages, and sleep in large beds in corner guest rooms. Their feelings towards Jeanne d'Arc are more gratitude than fear.

But people of their backgrounds had never met such a distinguished figure as the emperor before, and they were all flustered. They gathered in front of the hall, afraid to go in, and receiving no response, they were at a loss.

Just then, Jeanne d'Arc, having taken a hot bath and dried herself thoroughly, returned.

"What are you all doing here chattering away? It's so noisy! If you've finished your work, go and rest somewhere out of sight. What are you doing here?" Jeanne d'Arc of Arc asked the servants.

"My lord! So you're here. We have a distinguished guest outside, who says he's the emperor of a neighboring country." The servant waiting outside, seeing the silver-haired girl, felt reassured and stepped forward to report.

"Yes, what should we do?! We've never entertained such an important person before!" the servants asked.

"Don't make a fuss. I don't care what emperor or king he is. The person I'm looking for has arrived, so everyone else just get out of here," Jeanne d'Arc said impatiently.

Upon hearing the girl's voice, Shirou immediately opened the door and came out, saying, "No, Jeanne d'Arc, we have to go see those people; there are Servant there."

"Servant? Shirou, is that an enemy?" Jeanne d'Arc asked the boy, frowning.

"Sir, who are these guests?" the servants asked, puzzled.

"That's enough, um, this is mine..." Jeanne d'Arc glanced at the boy, her eyes darting around, and said with an awkward grin, "...Friends! Just treat him like me and obey his orders."

"Yes, sir. May we ask how we should address you?" Seeing the master's reaction and the boy's luxurious clothes, the servants exchanged knowing glances and respectfully asked the boy.

Shirou looked at the servants and said kindly, "Ah... call me Shirou..."

Before Shirou could speak, Tamamo Cat jumped out and shouted, "This is my master Marquis Shirou! Show some respect, commoners!"

"Yes! So you are the Marquis! We are truly sorry for our disrespect." Upon hearing the boy's identity, the servants became even more respectful.

"Well then, esteemed guest, the carriage has been settled in. Marquis Excellency, what shall we do next?" the servants asked, bowing their heads.

"Master, please show some of the aura of a Marquis! Woof!" Tamamo Cat said, hugging the boy.

Unexpectedly, Tamamo Cat, who seemed to be acting recklessly and fooling around, turned out to be the most rational and reliable. So I have to pull myself together.

Shirou took a deep breath and adjusted his mindset. He certainly had no experience in receiving emperors, but he was not without experience in receiving nobles. So let him lead these people to give them a perfect reception.

Shirou looked at the servants waiting for instructions. They weren't the black-haired head maid in their twenties, cold beauties, leading a group of pure and lovely teenage girls, full of dreams, that you often see in light novels. Instead, they were a team of aunties and uncles in their thirties and forties. The people here all came from rural farming families in remote areas.

Because the family didn't have much land, the children were usually enough to handle the farm work. So, during the off-season, she would come out to work as a maid to earn some money to supplement the family income. She was an adult who could patiently take care of people and do dirty and tiring work without complaint.

"The emperor who has come here is a distinguished guest who has helped me before. In any case, let's go and greet them first," Shirou instructed.

"Yes," the servants replied.

"Maids and male servants, stand in two rows at the entrance, the shorter ones at the front and the taller ones at the back, facing the middle of the aisle. You don't need to say anything to greet our distinguished guests, and don't smile. Just bow your heads slightly to show respect! Hurry up! If you do a good job, your salary this month will double," Shirou said.

"Yes!" The servants beamed with joy at the news that their wages would be doubled, and answered loudly.

Having received their orders, the servants no longer hesitated and quickly got to work. Born into pragmatic farming families, they didn't dream of being noticed by important figures and living a carefree life.

In fact, as long as they don't make any mistakes and properly receive a great figure like the emperor of a neighboring country, that's enough for them to talk about for a lifetime.

Getting a reward now is simply the best thing ever.

"So, are you coming along too?" Shirou asked the two female Servant.

"Meow, I'll always be your loyal pet!" Tamamo Cat said with a smile, raising both paws and showing off her big, paw-filled hands.

"Okay, pet management confirmed. Then we can leave her here." Shirou nodded.

Jeanne d'Arc grinned disdainfully and said, "Me? I won't show myself. Kings and nobles only make me want to burn them down."

"Alright then, I'll go greet the Emperor and the others first, then I'll come find you," Shirou said to the silver-haired girl.

"Well, anyway, my room is the biggest one over there. Just come over if you need me," Jeanne d'Arc said, turning her face away.

"I know." Shirou waved and ran outside.

When Emperor Louis led his entourage through the blue and gold patterned gate, he saw maids and servants standing on either side of the long red carpet, their heads bowed respectfully.

The boy stood in the middle of the road, smiling as he approached.

"Your Majesty, welcome."

"Shirou! You have quite a good business." Emperor Louis said admiringly, looking at the young man.

"Haha, you flatter me." During the conversation, Shirou scanned the area with his Magic Eye. This was a space between dreams and reality, and the state of every creature was different from before.

Emperor Louis, a kind and virtuous man, has a stable Spirit Origin, but he doesn't look like Servant. His ministers and generals are somewhat less so, and the soldiers behind him are just ordinary people.

Finally, he spotted the suspicious blonde woman standing behind the emperor, wearing a light blue evening gown and a long hat that covered half her face. She had been inside the carriage the whole time and was very good at concealing herself, which was why he hadn't noticed her.

It is now certain that she is Servant.

'Is she an enemy? Or is she something that was sucked into the dream like Tamamo Cat?' Shirou channeled even more magical power into his Magic Eye, trying to discern whether the girl opposite him was related to the black mud Heroic Spirit.

At this moment, the other person also peeked at the boy through the gap in the hat, her fair hand clutching her skirt, tightening the sword hidden inside. The boy in front of her was clearly not Servant, but the aggressive, all-seeing demonic Magic Eye made him no ordinary person.

The two stared at each other in silence for a long time.

"Hmm? Haha, ahahaha." Emperor Louis took in this scene and laughed happily instead.

"Hahaha." The minister and the general also laughed.

"Alright, alright, Shirou, as a gentleman, it's not proper to stare at a lady like that. Don't be impatient, I'll introduce this lovely young lady to you properly later, so now let's show us around your castle," Emperor Louis said with a smile.

"No, you've misunderstood." Shirou said, awkwardly closing his Magic Eye.

The blonde woman opposite her also breathed a sigh of relief and released the sword hidden under her skirt.

"Haha, don't be shy, you're just a young man!" Emperor Louis, as if he were an experienced man, stepped forward and patted the boy on the back.

"Yes, please let me show you the way." Shirou nodded in agreement, then gave a few instructions to the servants before acting as their guide and showing the Emperor around the magnificent house.

To avoid giving himself away, Shirou's Mystic Eyes of Analysis came in handy, allowing him to know the layout of the large house in advance, the purpose of each room, and even the decorations and design style. He could analyze and explain some of these details.

After showing Emperor Louis and his entourage around, the servants who had been assigned earlier had finished their preparations.

"Your Majesty, please allow me to properly entertain you and your entourage. A house has been prepared for you to rest in; please stay here tonight," Shirou said with a smile.

"Shirou, thank you so much. You've prepared so thoughtfully. We'll accept it without hesitation," Emperor Louis replied with a smile.

As they were distinguished guests, Shirou naturally couldn't be entertained in ordinary guest rooms. Instead, he cleared out the villa next to the main building for the emperor and Princess to use freely. The ministers and generals were accommodated on the upper floor of the Western-style building next to the villa, while the soldiers who served as knights and their attendants were on the lower floor, and they were free to choose as they pleased.

When Merlin built the castle, it seems to have been a scaled-down version based on Camelot, with only the unnecessary walls and residential areas removed, but the rooms were definitely sufficient.

Having traveled Pegasus, constantly bumping along, King Louis, now sitting on the sofa and feeling tired, decided to rest for a while.

After settling the emperor and his entourage, Shirou left the annex and returned to the main building, heading towards the room where Jeanne d'Arc was.

At this moment, the silver-haired girl was lying on the red sofa, talking to Tamamo Cat.

Meanwhile, Tamamo Cat sat at the table, using a sewing machine that appeared out of nowhere. She quickly sewed silk and other fabrics onto the table, and the garment was already mostly finished. Despite having two pairs of cat paws that looked like they were wearing heavy gloves, they moved with remarkable dexterity, and a men's aristocratic formal suit was gradually taking shape in her hands.

"Done! Meow!" Tamamo Cat held up her dress with both hands, wagged her tail, and happily spun around in place.

"Oh, you have cat paws, but your hands are really skillful," Jeanne d'Arc exclaimed.

"Meow, if I just hand this outfit to my master, it looks like I can move on to the next stage, woof~!" Tamamo Cat blushed slightly, looking very expectant.

"What's the next stage?" Jeanne d'Arc asked Tamamo Cat, looking at her with a puzzled expression.

"Now that I have land and a house, it's about time to hand over this red rope of destiny to my master, so that he can take a nap with me every day and take me for a walk in the courtyard at night, meow." Tamamo Cat blushed and somehow managed to pull out a long red rope with a button from the shallow pocket of her apron.

"Wait! Wait! What are you doing, you stray cat?!" Jeanne d'Arc rushed over, snatched the leash, and yelled at Tamamo Cat.

Tamamo Cat quickly reached out and grabbed the other end of the leash, pulling it back to its side.

"I really don't understand. The cat is the master's perfect Omnipotent Pet. It's as cute as a cat, as loyal as a dog, and as virtuous as a maid. It's proficient in everything, from fighting and cooking to cleaning and warming the bed."

"For my master's sake, I will do anything with love, whether I become a hamster meowing and rolling on the wheel, or a panda barking and rolling around!" Tamamo Cat used her superhuman Monstrous Strength to pull the leash toward her, swaying her body, the bell around her neck jingling, and declared with a sense of pride.

"That's so unfair! Do you think I'll let you get away with this?!" Jeanne d'Arc tried her best to snatch the rope away.

Tamamo Cat flashed with a fierce light as she said, "You really want to compete with me for the spot to walk with Master? No way! Meow is Master's perfect pet!"

"What are you arguing about? We can hear you from outside," Shirou asked, pushing open the door and walking in.

"Master! Master! Look! The new clothes I made for you!" Upon seeing the boy, Tamamo Cat had already dropped the red leash, picked up the clothes, and ran to the boy like a treasure.

"Ah, thank you, Tamamo Cat. Yes, you should wash this borrowed dress and return it." Shirou patted Tamamo Cat's head and praised her.

Tamamo Cat accepted the petting, squinting her eyes and smiling with an expression of enjoyment. Then she asked, "Hehe, Master, isn't a cat the perfect pet? It's both a cat and a dog, and it's even trained as a maid. It's practically a three-in-one, all-powerful pet!"

Shirou, resting his chin on his hand, said, "Hmm? In terms of performance, it's truly impeccable. That means it can serve as three different pets at the same time, and it's also skilled in sewing. It seems like it would get along quite well with the current Artoria... Wait! A maid isn't a pet, is it!"

"But I'm the pet dog who loves my master the most." Tamamo Cat cupped her face, blinked her big eyes, and looked at the boy without hiding her feelings.

Shirou paused, feeling a little shy. Although he understood that this was due to their class difference, and that Tamamo Cat was as affectionate as a pet, he still felt that no matter how much she emphasized that she was a pet, she was still a cute girl. He wasn't very good at dealing with such an assertive woman.

"Woof!" Ca-Vall II of the Higashiya family suddenly shuddered, warily looking around as if he had been startled by something.

"What's wrong, Niji?" At that moment, Hikigaya Komachi the Higashiya family, came over upon hearing the sound, stroking the white dog and asking, "Are you missing your brother? Just a little more patience, he'll be back in a week. Then you'll be annoyed to death by his nagging, old man-like lectures."

"Woof?" The second prince, instead of comforting the girl, licked her hand.

"Yes, he should be in Paris now. There seems to be some strange disease spreading there on the news lately. But my brother is as strong as a monster, he should be alright. I wonder if we can manage to bring a foreign girl back with us?"

"Woof!" The second one's eyes lit up, and it wagged its tail happily.

Komachi laughed as she spoke, "But as for my brother, that's impossible, ahahaha! Well, as long as you bring back Komachi's sweets, that's fine."

"Woof woof..." The Second Prince squinted his eyes and sighed as if he were also feeling the same way.

In Jeanne d'Arc Alter's room, the boy was too shy to say anything, so the catgirl took the opportunity to step forward and rub against the boy's firm chest.

"Wait a minute! Shirou! What are you being shy about?!" Jeanne d'Arc said, kicking the dazed boy in annoyance.

Shirou was kicked, and he finally came to his senses.

Shirou coughed and said, "Ahem, now is not the time to talk about other things. First of all, we need to prepare for entertaining the Emperor and his family and get them to agree to take us into that country in the forest."

"What a hassle. Why can't we just barge in?" Jeanne d'Arc Alter said with her arms crossed, annoyed. After all, it was a rare opportunity to meet the boy, and now, not only had a stray cat appeared, but now a bunch of strange people had also come.

"Well, that's one way, but since I received the Emperor's help before, it's only right that I treat them well now. Besides, it's rare for us to reunite, so I guess we'll want to eat something good to celebrate." Shirou said with a light laugh, looking at the silver-haired girl.

"Is... is that so? Well, I really can't do anything with you, Shirou!" Jeanne d'Arc Alter turned her face away, grinning awkwardly. "I'm not as greedy as the Cold-blooded King, but since Shirou wants to do it, I won't stop you."

"Well then, Tamamo Cat will help me," Shirou said, rolling up his sleeves.

"Meow, I know! Leave it to Woof! Meow? Master?!" Tamamo Cat raised her arm and agreed enthusiastically, then realized what was happening and stared blankly at the boy.