Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1992: Touring the land

Despite the minor setback caused by my question about the royal family's relic, the banquet wrapped up on an upbeat and satisfying note.

In the end, they desired many favors from me, so it wasn't like they would resent me over such a trivial matter.

Moreover, I hadn't pressed the issue forcefully, which allowed it to be brushed aside without much fuss.

Thus, my initial day in the Solar Kingdom drew to a close.

As the second day dawned, it came as no surprise that they wouldn't let me be on my own.

The instant the sun rose, a group had already gathered, eagerly awaiting my emergence from the chamber they'd assigned to me.

Being royalty from afar, they'd initially offered quarters in the palace. Yet I declined to impose, leading them to arrange this estate for my stay instead.

Peering from my window, I spotted the crowd lingering beyond the manor's entrance.

I couldn't simply brush them off, forcing me to confront them eventually.

Still, my opening words caught them completely off guard.

"Your Majesty, could you kindly repeat what you just said?"

No matter how often they urged me to reconsider, my resolve remained unshaken.

"I wish to explore the countryside and witness the local attractions firsthand."

Everyone surrounding me stared with puzzled expressions, yet they understood that no arguments would sway my decision.

My demeanor stayed relaxed, though my gaze held unyielding determination.

That said, even if they longed to object, words failed them in the moment.

I wasn't demanding access to forbidden zones or anything extreme; all I sought was a simple tour of the Solar Kingdom's territories, a freedom granted to any ordinary visitor.

Several aristocrats attempted to lure me to their estates or steer me toward more enticing spots, but I turned them down and stuck to my plan of sightseeing solo.

Ultimately, they relented with no other option.

The issue arose from their reluctance to grant me any solitude.

I'd anticipated this turn of events, so I braced myself for their constant companionship.

Since nothing in my itinerary required privacy, their presence didn't truly bother me.

The real irritation came from their persistent probing about the barrier, despite knowing better than to press too aggressively—yet one or two always overstepped in such discussions.

Thankfully, my skill at tuning out nobles had sharpened considerably. Frequent encounters with them had taught me to dismiss their chatter outright.

They lacked the standing to protest, given the vast gap in our ranks.

After some journeying, we reached a settlement close to the capital.

Guided by the nobles, our path to this spot proved smooth, with no locals daring to approach.

The villagers naturally cowered at the sudden arrival of so many elites, some fearing abductions by these figures.

Such reactions clearly hinted at past abuses by these nobles.

From my brief dealings with them, I could easily believe they'd stoop to such acts. However, intervening wasn't my role here.

I possessed the power to act, but my visit had a specific purpose.

Inwardly, I offered silent apologies to the afflicted and vowed to investigate upon my return, though nothing could be done immediately.

Eventually, only the village head stepped forth to greet us.

They couldn't pretend we weren't there, and the chief bore the duty to represent them. His approach carried the air of one accepting his fate as the village's offering.

He seemed convinced escape was impossible.

Upon reaching us, the village chief immediately lowered his head in a deep bow.

The nobles treated this as utterly routine, showing no surprise at his deference.

To them, such submission from the lowly masses was expected.

Yet to me, the dynamics here revealed deeper undercurrents.

For the moment, I simply stated, "Village chief, would you mind guiding us through your village? I'd like to explore the nearby attractions."

"Attractions?" the village chief murmured in bewilderment upon hearing this, but he snapped to attention under the nobles' scrutinizing stares.

He realized such matters were beyond his station to question.

His sole task was to lead the tour as requested.

"Certainly, I'll guide you through our village's highlights," the village chief replied, forcing a smile onto his face.