I Don’t Need Them Anymore — Abandoning the Family That Never Loved Me, I Find Happiness in a Neighboring Kingdom - Chapter 35

We departed before dawn and reached the harbor as the sky brightened, boarding the prepared ship.

Though it was already time for Father’s ship to have arrived at the Kingdom of Yusers’ harbor, Lady Edith informed me that by now, the soldiers and knights of the Rofeus Kingdom would have suppressed the pirates and were scheduled to be anchored in the waters near the Yusers Kingdom’s harbor.

After several hours of sailing, we caught up just as the ship carrying Father and the others was entering port.

Hearing Lady Edith say, “Despite everything, it seems both His Majesty of the Yusers Kingdom and Princess Ramula are safe,” I asked her, “What happened to Father and my sister?”

They probably weren’t killed, but I wondered if they had been tortured or something.

“We’ll find out soon,” Lady Edith said with a wry smile, pulling up her hood to remain inconspicuous.

After disembarking at the harbor and walking toward the distant large-ship pier, I saw many men walking with their hands bound.

They were likely the captured pirates. Strangely, despite being captured, they seemed to be enjoying themselves.

When we entered the building for port entry procedures, I noticed a crowd gathering.

“What’s all the commotion about?” I wondered aloud, just as I heard Father’s voice.

“Don’t look! This isn’t some spectacle!”

Startled, I turned to Lady Edith, who was speaking to a nearby soldier.

“What in the world is going on?”

“It’s not a sight for women—no, perhaps not for men either.”

“What do you mean? Are they injured?”

“No… not exactly.”

As the soldier hesitated, I noticed someone approaching me, and both the soldier and Lady Edith moved to shield me.

“Dahlia! Help me! I… I was betrayed by Father!”

My sister’s face was a mess. Her makeup had run from crying, leaving black streaks on her cheeks and dark circles around her eyes.

“Betrayed?” I repeated.

Just then, someone in the crowd shouted upon hearing my sister’s voice, “Princess Ramula and Princess Dahlia!? And even Prince Rix!”

Since Lady Edith’s face was still unknown even to the people of the Rofeus Kingdom, the Yusers Kingdom’s citizens had no way of recognizing her. With her hood up, they probably thought she was an attendant.

“I thought Princess Dahlia was plain, but she’s quite pretty with makeup.”

“True. And look at Princess Ramula—what a terrible face.”

These weren’t appropriate remarks about royalty. The old me would have just looked down without saying anything.

I shot a sharp glare in the direction of the voices, and they quickly fell silent.

“Is Rix here!? Hey, Rix! Lend me your coat!” Father shouted.

The crowd gradually made way for us.

Then, what came into view was Father, completely naked. Though his lower half was hidden, perhaps with a coat borrowed from someone, I was surprised to see his protruding belly. I had imagined him with a toned body.

“The pirates didn’t use violence against His Majesty, but they ordered him to remove all his clothes,” a knight who had blended in as a crew member reported to Lady Edith.

“Hey, Rix! Help me quickly! If this continues, my authority will be undermined!”

“I think it already has been,” my brother replied.

Father then turned his gaze to me. “Dahlia! I’m sorry! I’ll treat you well from now on! So please help me!”

I was appalled by his opportunistic plea.

As if I would help him.

I smiled and replied, “They say ‘the naked king’ in foreign lands has this meaning.”

“…What is it?”

“It refers to someone too stubborn to accept criticism or opposition, or a person in a high position who doesn’t listen to others.”

“Wha—!”

Just as Father turned bright red and shouted, several men with the Yusers Kingdom knight brigade armbands approached and addressed him.

“We need to speak with you regarding charges of public indecency.”

“Th-this is wrong! I was forced into this state!”

“We’ll hear the details after we move to another location.”

“D-do you know who I am!? I-I am the king! I’ll have you all punished!”

As he was led away, Father’s voice trembled despite his bold words.

He must have realized he was being removed from the throne.

Since the child swap hadn’t been made public, he would likely face many other charges for his unnecessary actions.

He brought this upon himself, so I won’t help him.

But I decided I would see it through until his punishment was determined.