Chapter 60
The Holy King is moving the conversation along at his own pace, but the other three still haven't introduced themselves. Is that all right?
My lady seemed a little concerned about that too, but when the Holy King asks her a question, she has no choice but to answer.
"Yes. My father and I have discussed deciding those matters after tonight's banquet."
"I see. Then what about Kurvshrat?"
"Guh!?"
Kurvshrat-sama, caught off guard by the sudden question, choked on his aperitif. No wonder he was surprised. If someone started discussing your engagement as casually as asking about the weather, you'd be surprised too.
No, seriously, my lady. I told you not to give sidelong glances, but stealing the hearts of both Louis and Kurvshrat-sama in such a short time is insane. I don't think you meant to do it, though.
"Father——Your Majesty the Holy King! What are you saying!?"
"I told you beforehand that today was also a gathering to choose your consort, didn't I?"
A consort.
The Second Holy Prince's.
The young ladies seated at the distant tables all reacted at once. They'd all been listening in, of course. The other tables had gone deathly silent.
"B-but Your Majesty said I could decide for myself..."
"Looking at you, I thought it might take days to settle on someone."
"That doesn't mean you have to rush things like this!"
"What, is Victor's daughter unhappy with that?"
"N-no, th-th-that isn't what I meant..."
While the Holy King and his son bickered back and forth, Louis stared at me, grinding his teeth furiously.
——Hey, guard. Your master is in danger. Get rid of her.
The eyes say as much as words.
Ah, I see. Even a ducal house can't make a move against her once she becomes the Holy Prince's fiancée.
Louis's feelings came through loud and clear.
I turned away and ignored him.
"You bastard, why are you ignoring——"
"Kurvshrat-sama! I am Charlotte of House Fraise, a marquis's daughter! It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance!"
Charlotte-sama immediately leaned forward to promote herself, and—
"With such a nagging father, I feel sorry for the children..."
The gray bear spoke!—No, that was the Berserker.
"Huh? Are you talking to me, Margrave?"
"If you're aware of that, why don't you keep quiet, Guard?"
"You never came to the Holy Capital when I summoned you, always making one excuse or another. Yet you sneaked in wearing that out-of-place bear pelt just for your daughter. Which one of us is the fussy parent?"
"And who was it that said the children were the main attraction?"
"Huh? You want to go?"
"Oh? If it's a sparring match with Your Majesty after all this time, I'm in. My blood is boiling."
The gorilla and the bear stood facing each other, their arms crossed, half a step apart.
On one side was the Holy King, with magic power leaking out all over the place; on the other, the gray-bear Margrave. Was this the beginning of a no-holds-barred fight? ...No, apparently I was confused too—the people who had suddenly appeared simply had too much personality. Kurvshrat-sama had his head in his hands and was slumped over, and Mira-sama, the Margrave's daughter, was doing the same, while Charlotte-sama, whose moment in the spotlight had been completely stolen, had tears in her eyes.
Etan-sama's blank expression—one that seemed to say, "Huh?"—was reassuring. Right, that was the normal reaction. Louis, on the other hand, was also saying "Huh?" with sparkling eyes, as if to say, "Huh, they're going to fight now? Seriously? I want to watch!" You should reflect a little, Louis.
And so the banquet began amid turmoil.
"——I see. So House Slyries deliberately does not have any territory of its own."
"Yes, that's right. My father always says, 'Owning a territory entails many responsibilities, and fulfilling them requires a great deal of time.' House Slyries has long devoted itself to serving the country as a whole here in the Holy Capital."
"I think that is a very admirable philosophy."
"No... Just as House Ebene, Etan-sama's family, creates specialty products and enriches the kingdom, that too is important."
"Our family still has a long way to go——"
"I hear you successfully developed a new fragrance last year. That is wonderful."
"Oh, you've done your homework. I didn't realize you knew that much."
Etan-sama and my lady were having a pleasant conversation. My lady, your tutor's lessons really did sink in. Thank goodness—I felt a warm glow of something like parental pride.
Kurvshrat-sama and Mira-sama were on tenterhooks because their guards—their dads—were shooting sparks from their eyes at each other, while Charlotte-sama, who had tried and failed to speak earlier, was stress-eating the dishes as they came out.
Louis looked as though he wanted to talk to my lady, but perhaps he was preoccupied with the Holy King's talk of an "engagement," or perhaps he couldn't follow the conversation at all; he silently ate. He would chew, sneak a glance at my lady, and let out a sigh like "Haaah." What is this, a boy in love? Ah, that was exactly what he was: a boy in love.
"Since we're all the same age, why don't we form a friendship among ourselves?"
Etan-sama said this to everyone.
He must have been trying to be considerate after seeing how on edge everyone else was. Isn't this boy too good...? Are all halflings nothing but good people...?
"That sounds like a splendid proposal!"
Charlotte-sama cut in.
"What exactly does forming a friendship involve, Etan?"
Louis finally spoke. Judging by how casually he addressed Etan-sama, the two seemed to be fairly close.
"Well... For example, I spend a lot of time in my territory, so I'd be happy if everyone gathered whenever I came to the Holy Capital."
"For your own sake, you mean?"
"What's wrong with that? I'm bored when I'm in the Holy Capital. Louis is about the only person I can meet casually."
"Am I not enough for you?"
"Would you play with me every day?"
"Ugh, absolutely not."
"My, my, my, my! You two are such good friends!"
Charlotte-sama cut in. They certainly seemed close, but Louis and Etan-sama looked like they'd never get along.
"By the way, surely Kurvshrat-sama will be part of this circle of friends too...?"
That, it seemed, was Charlotte-sama's real concern—or at least her main interest. When she turned the question to him, Kurvshrat-sama hurriedly turned around and checked his father's expression. The Holy King grinned and gave a small nod.
"I would very much like to join!"
Kurvshrat-sama was adorable when he got all fired up like that. How did such a gentle-looking child come from a gorilla like the Holy King...?
After saying this, Kurvshrat-sama checked everyone's reactions. His gaze came to rest on Lady Eva. As my lady tilted her head,
"——Would I be welcome as well?"
"Wouldn't House Slyries be better off staying out of this?"
Charlotte-sama jumped in before anyone else could speak, and Kurvshrat-sama panicked.
"Why would you exclude Lady Eva, Lady Charlotte?"
"I... Kurvshrat-sama, I'm afraid I cannot say it in so many words. But I will say only this: 'House Slyries brings friction to noble society.'"
Charlotte-sama gave a meaningful smile.