Chapter 21
"P-Pleased to meet you, Rerence-sama! I am Cecilia, daughter of Desanto Hogbeck! I-I hope you will remember me!"
"I am Opa, daughter of Voil Soleck, head of the Soleck family. Rerence-sama, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Facing the two of them as they offered their stiff greetings, Queen Rerence smiled gently.
"Cecilia-san, Opa-san, I am very happy to meet you both. But please relax and make yourselves comfortable. I was the one intruding on your tea party, after all. It would make me uncomfortable if you were so stiff."
"Rerence-sama is right. You can relax; this is an informal occasion."
At Lapiria-sama's words, Queen Rerence lightly clapped her hands.
"That's right, Lapiria. Today is informal. Let's forget about our positions and enjoy hearing you gush about your fiancé!"
"W-Wait, Rerence-sama!"
Lapiria-sama was already blushing a little. Still, the two seemed very close. Noticing my puzzled expression, Lapiria-sama explained.
"Rerence-sama and I have known each other since I was a child. Whenever my grandfather brought me to the royal palace, she would dote on me."
Lapiria-sama's grandfather was the famous Buildzar Zodiac-sama, known as Rudek's Great Eagle. The fact that she had been visiting the royal palace since childhood made me realize once again that the Zodiac family really was an eminent one.
"Lapiria was so tiny and adorable back then. And now she's old enough to be engaged..."
As the queen chuckled, Lapiria-sama urged her to sit down, saying, "Oh, honestly, I'll prepare the tea, so please sit down!"
At last, we took our seats, and preparations for tea began before us. At the same time, Lapiria-sama began busily taking out jars of jam.
"Oh, are those jars of jam? There are so many."
"Yes, I've made all sorts of jam. I wish I could open them all for you, but given the current circumstances, you can choose just one. ...Would you like to pick one, Cecilia?"
"Huh? Me? But..."
I was the youngest one there. And with the queen sitting right in front of me...
"That sounds like a good idea. Cecilia-san, would you choose one for us?"
Since the queen herself had asked me, I couldn't say no. I seriously examined the jars. Fortunately, each one was labeled with the kind of jam it contained, so I could get a rough idea of how it would taste.
"Oh, this one..."
"Oh, Sepinya and Nanasaki Flower jam. That sounds nice."
Sepinya was a familiar citrus fruit. There was even a Sepinya tree planted in a corner of the Hogbeck family's garden.
"I don't think I've heard of a Nanasaki flower before?"
At Opa-san's words, Lapiria-sama proudly puffed out her chest, as though she had been waiting for someone to ask.
"Actually, it's a plant from the Southern Continent."
"From the Southern Continent? But how did it end up in jam...?"
"They're edible dried flowers from the Southern Continent. Even dried, they have a strong fragrance, so Luluria—the Fourth Imperial Prince's wife—told me I should try using them."
"The wife of the Fourth Imperial Prince... Lapiria-san, you certainly have a wide circle of acquaintances."
Opa-san gazed at the jam, impressed. With no objection from the queen, we decided to open the Sepinya and Nanasaki Flower jam.
As soon as the lid was opened, an unfamiliar, gentle floral fragrance drifted out.
"What a lovely fragrance..."
"It should be fine, but I'll taste a little first to make sure it hasn't gone bad."
Saying so, Lapiria-sama scooped up some jam with a teaspoon and brought it to her mouth.
"Mm. It's fine. Now, let's add it to our tea and enjoy it."
At Lapiria-sama's words, I timidly raised my hand.
"Um..."
"What is it, Cecilia?"
"Um...could I have a little taste of it on its own, please...?"
I thought it was unladylike, but I was terribly curious to know what it tasted like on its own. Besides, if I didn't try it here, I probably wouldn't get another chance to taste it anytime soon.
"...Oh, then I'd like to try some too..."
Following my lead, Opa-san raised her hand as well, looking just as embarrassed.
And then—
"Then I would like to try it as well."
Saying that, the queen raised her hand in the same manner.
After exchanging glances, we all laughed for a while.