CH 383

Today is the day I get to meet a cute little princess. Eleonore is very cute, unlike Ludwig. Did they really come from the same mother and are full siblings? Eleonore is too cute. Geeze, I want to take her home now.

And when I headed for the reception of the royal castle with a bit of a skip in my step, there was…

“Ah, Princess Flora, I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Your Grace Dietrich……”

I don’t know why, but it seems that Dietrich was waiting for me at the reception. I made an appointment to go up to the castle today, but… appointment is a strange word, but let’s say it. It is an appointment to climb up to the castle! No, there’s no problem here…

Anyway, why is Dietrich waiting outside just because I came to see Eleonore today? Is this Prime Minister so free with his time?

“Then let’s go. His Majesty is also waiting,” Dietrich said.

“What? Huh?”

Even the King? what are you waiting for, souvenirs and new sweets that I will bring?

“…Princess Flora? You came to report the results of negotiations with the Demon Country today, didn’t you?” Dietrich said.

“Eh!? Ah, right! Yes!” I said, surprised.

That’s right. In my mind, it was all over, so it didn’t matter. I always tell people to do a good report, but I forget to report myself.

If I’m just going to give myself an excuse, I’m always the one who receives reports, not the one who does them. So I just forgot that I had to report it. In my House, I don’t have to report to anyone anymore. Of course, I will consult and contact you. We also have meetings to share our thoughts and ideas. I just forgot about it because I never report anything.

“It’s fine to look forward to meeting Princess Eleonore, but don’t forget about your duties,” Dietrich said.

“Yes……”

You know… I had completely forgotten about that, so I didn’t even bring the signed documents with me… I am completely unable to work… Normally, it would be the place where you would have to bring the document first and hand it over…

Well, I can’t help but forget things. Let’s just say that I’ve come here for a verbal explanation today. Normally, it would be something to show the King that I have definitive proof of my success, but…

Led by Dietrich, I headed to the King’s private room as usual. I know where he’s going by looking at the route he’s walking. An outsider like me has already completely remembered the inner palace. Is this okay? I don’t think it’s good for security, but…

“Pardon us, we’re coming in,” Dietrich said.

“Oh, Flora! Good to see you,” Wilhelm said.

“It has been a while, Your Majesty Wilhelm.”

We enter the King’s private room and say our greetings. No one else is there. The three of us will probably want to talk to each other privately. I guess Dietrich was waiting at the reception because he didn’t want to be disturbed by anyone.

“Aren’t you and I on good terms? It’s not even an official occasion. You don’t need that kind of stiff greetings,” Wilhelm said.

“Thank you,” I said.

What kind of relationship do I have with the King? Aren’t I just a stranger and both the royal family and nobles could become hostile if I make a mistake? It may be my fault for not marrying Ludwig, but I think I’d rather flee the country than be forced to marry Ludwig. I’m sorry I’d rather die than marry a man.

“Then let me know as soon as possible,” Wilhelm said.

“Yes. Well then…”

I explained in detail to the King and Dietrich the contents of the treaty signed between us and the Demon Country. Since I was in charge, it’s not difficult to explain verbally even if there is no actual contract or if the report is not prepared in advance. After finishing the explanation, I will add additional words at the end.

“…The all I have to say about the treaty,” I said. “And the official documents that were signed… I was too excited to see Princess Eleonore, so I forgot about them… my apologies.”

I sincerely apologize and bow my head. I thought about making excuses but decided to be honest. When you make a mistake, the best thing to do is apologize. If that makes them angry, it’s your fault, so there’s nothing you can do about it. It’s actually my fault that I forgot. Let’s take the easy way and let them get angry.

“”…………””

“…………”

Even though I bowed my head, the king and Dietrich stared at me for a while with their eyes widened, and then they looked at each other. Is it so fun for old men to stare at each other?

“Puh…”

“Wahaha! It’s fine, it’s fine! Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow… no, just bring it when it’s officially to be announced,” Dietrich said.

“Huh? But, that’s…”

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It goes without saying that you should check the official document in advance of its announcement. If you suddenly make it public before other nobles and ministers, and the content differs from what I reported to the King, it will be an irreversible and serious problem. I don’t intend to do that, but if by any chance I’m thinking of demeaning the Kingdom of Ploiss in the eyes of its government, you can take such measures.

I can’t do what I didn’t make public. That’s why it’s only natural for the King and his close aide to check the actual item first and confirm the contents. How carefree are the King and Dietrich to say that it’s okay to do that later?

“I don’t think you’re lying to me for telling such a ridiculously honest story,” Wilhelm said. “In the first place, this discussion wouldn’t have been possible without you. Above all… you’re meeting my adorable and only daughter. You shouldn’t feel bad about confessing that you were looking forward to her that much, right?”

“That’s… no, thank you.”

I was about to say something, but I stopped. Let’s take it seriously here.

“And even Princess Flora, who is so talented, would have forgotten her work, she so badly wanted to meet Princess Eleonore, fufu, well, I think we’ve finally seen there’s a human side to you after all,” Dietrich said.

Dietrich, what do you mean by that? Are you saying that I’m normally inhuman?

“Indeed,” Wilhelm said. “A superhuman like Flora, who has never made a single mistake since childhood, forgetting her official documents just because she wants to meet Eleonore… you can’t get angry if your first failure is for such a cute reason, can you?”

“Uuu…”

When the King told me so, I had no choice but to shrink. Too pathetic…. The King’s words are too much, and I make mistakes and make more mistakes. There have been many failures, mistakes, and misunderstandings. But it’s the first time I’ve forgotten my job and failed in front of the King. That’s the reason for this kind of failure…

“So, regarding the promotion, it’s a sudden discussion, but is it okay if the ceremony is held in a week?” Wilhelm said.

“…… Huh?” I asked.

A promotion? For who? Why?

“Didn’t I tell you before you left for negotiations? When this treaty is successfully signed, you will be promoted,” Wilhelm said.

…………Ah! Could it be… in the end, when I missed the King and Dietrich’s talking for a moment? Did they say that then?

“I just got promoted to a viscount so recently…” I said.

“What are you talking about?” Dietrich said. “You have achieved peace with the Demon Country. This is our country’s long-cherished desire. If it is the accomplishment of securing a treaty, it’s not enough to be promoted to a knight if you weren’t one already. We have to give you as suitable reward.”

Impossible…. that can’t be right. I can’t let them give me any more territory or authority. In that case, the only thing that can be given is a peerage without real power.

“In the first place, Princess Flora, your territory is vast and too rich,” Dietrich said. “We’d honestly like you to promote to at least a marquis… or perhaps a duke, if we may go that far.”

“Uuu…”

I don’t know the actual area, but the Knight’s Nation has about the same size as the Carruthers Margraviate before part of it was ceded to me. Maybe even wider than that. In other words, having a Knight’s Nation is not worth it unless it is a margrave or a marquis. I understand that it is not good territory for a viscount to hold.

Therefore, even if there is no other way to raise the rank, it would be a problem if they suddenly told me that it would be a week later. Perhaps they have been saying for a long time that they will be promoted when this treaty is concluded, so I guess they think that I am preparing for that as well. But I hadn’t heard of that, so I wasn’t prepared.

If you are officially enthroned, a ceremony will be held. But I don’t have the formal attire for a count’s rank. It would be unreasonable to say that it should be ready in a week from now. It might not be impossible, but it would be a lot of work. And I have a plan. I was planning to go to the Knight’s Nation as soon as this was over. Even so, if I was stuck for a week, my schedule would go awry.

It’s all because I didn’t ask, but how about deciding on your own without asking about my circumstances?

However… it’s better to do it sooner rather than rudely telling them to delay it by a month later… If it’s a month or two later, it would take too much time to go to the Knight’s Nation and then come back, but it’s too long to wait in the capital. In that case, should I just put up with it for a week and extend my stay in the royal capital…?

After thinking about various things for a moment, I came up with an answer. There is a formal attire problem, but I have no choice but to do something about it with brute force. It would be less wasteful for me to have the promotion ceremony a week later.

“Understood……”

“Umu. Then let’s hold the ceremony in a week,” Wilhelm said.

Finally wrapped up. With this…….

“So, Flora,” Wilhelm said. “If you’re here, it’s a given, isn’t it?”

“…… Huh?”

When I looked at the King and Prime Minister after that, both had expectant eyes. Is this that? Are they expecting souvenirs?

“Flora!”

At that moment, the door banged open! It flew and a child’s voice resounded. The moment I think so, a small shadow runs towards me and jumps in.

“Princess Eleonore, it’s dangerous if you jump in…”

“Flora! Flora!”

Eleonore hits my chest as if she won’t let go anymore! She’s stuck to me. She seems to be crying a little. Apparently, she was crying because she was overwhelmed by seeing me for the first time in a long time. Oh how cute, I’m not a lolicon or a pedophile, but I want to take Eleonore home and eat her. Not in a sexual way… It’s that feeling that makes you want to bite a baby or something.

“Then let’s move rooms, shall we?”

“………… Yes”

The discussion is over, and I have to give Eleonore new sweets. I told the kitchen to prepare and moved to the living room in the inner palace. There was also the First Queen, Ludwig, and Margarete. Everyone seemed to be waiting with anticipation for what I would bring.

I didn’t bring anything that great today. Or rather, there is a high possibility that the taste will be divided among their preferences. I’m not very confident, but it’s painful if there are so many expectations. I feel that the hurdles for my souvenirs are too high. Normally, I wouldn’t worry about it so much, I would just bring a local specialty…

“So… what kind of food are you going to give us today?”

That’s why, Your Majesty… can you expect me to make so many new dishes one after another? Even professional cooks and pastry makers can’t just keep slinging finished ideas. Even more surprising is that I, who is just trying to reproduce what I want to eat on the side of my main job, can do anything so quickly.

“Eh~…, the items I prepared today may differ in taste… It’s just something new to present to His Majesty Wilhelm, and I don’t know if it will live up to everyone’s expectations. Please accept my apologies.”

I tried to resist lowering the hurdle a bit, but everyone said it was fine and didn’t listen. I can’t help it, so I’ll start with the new drink first.

“First of all…”

“Hmm? What is this?”

“Water……?”

What I poured into a clear glass is also clear water. However, unlike ordinary water, there are bubbles in the glass.

“Try drinking it.”

“… Nnh!? This is!?”

“Stimulation like beer… But it’s overwhelmingly more stimulating than beer!”

As expected, the King and Dietrich who are drinking alcohol probably know the sensation. But it seems that it was a surprise to those who had never drunk beer before.

“Shuuwawa!?” Eleonore cried, wiggling with strange movements.

“Princess Eleonore, you’re so cute!” I say, the words leaking out of my mouth.

The way her face scrunches up and her little dance is cute, but it also looks like when you eat sour pickled plums.

“Flora, what is this?” Wilhelm asked.

“This is called soda. As you can see, it’s carbonated water with a flavor. This one is lemonade. You can also create various other things by changing the seasoning.”

Soda is essentially a sodium compound. You’ve probably heard of caustic soda or the name of a dramatically exploding substance. Why is it used in the name of carbonated drinks?

Modern carbonated water is made by dissolving carbon dioxide gas into water by pressurizing it. So it doesn’t contain too many extra, unnecessary ingredients. Compared to that, how did you make carbonated water in the old days when carbon dioxide gas could not be dissolved in water by pressurization? It was made by mixing water with citric acid and baking soda.

I will leave the detailed chemical formulas aside, but simply speaking, if you dissolve citric acid and baking soda in water, you can make carbonated water and salt. Strictly speaking… I don’t know what the chemistry behind it is.

Therefore, carbonated water made by mixing citric acid and baking soda like in the old days is more expensive than modern ones. That is why people made things like lemonade and mixed in a lot of sugar to change the taste. Soda came to be called soda because it produced salt, or rather, sodium compounds.

Modern carbonated water isn’t actually soda anymore because it’s made without sodium compounds. It is widely recognized as such because it remains a product name.

“It’s similar to beer, but the stimulation is different.”

“Yes. The strength is different from that contained in the fermentation process of beer,” I said.

Everyone seemed puzzled by the stimulus at first, but after drinking a well-chilled carbonated drink, they seemed to get hooked. The first is a success. So far I have no doubts. Now comes the problem… I like the next one, but I don’t know if I like this person.

“Eh~…, next time I think we’ll have different flavors…”

“Flora! Hurry up! Hurry up!”

Eleonore is rushing, so let’s get it out quickly. Everyone looked curiously at the lined-up items.

“A round, hard-looking thing, and a white and blackish round thing… What is this?”

“This is the Demon Country’s sweets, senbei, daifuku, and ankoro mochi.”

Yes. This time I prepared rice crackers and rice cakes. I prepared diplomatic relations with the Demon Country. I personally have been eating them for a long time, but I don’t know if people in this Western country will like them. By the way, these were not imported from the Yamato Empire but were made by the Caan Knighthood.

Mikoto had brought in various things from the Yamato Empire before, so I cultivated the amount of glutinous rice that I could eat for pleasure. This time, I decided to bring carbonated water and then sweets from the Yamato Empire. I just don’t know if Japanese-esque sweets will appeal to the people of the Kingdom of Ploiss. Only for this, I am not sure.

“Fumu… muh? Mm? This crunchy texture is addictive,” Wilhelm said.

“On the contrary, this one is soft and sweet,” Dietrich said.

“Stretchy—!” Eleonore cried.

Eleonore grabbed the daifuku with her hand and ate it. Of course, it’s a sticky rice cake, so it’s going to stretch. Something about this is cute…

“This one is a little salty, but this one is sweet.”

“This is a soy sauce senbei, and this is a coarse senbei.”

I prepared two types of senbei instead of one. Don’t worry about noticing the difference.

“The black round one will crumble on the outside.”

“If you pick it up with your hands, the bean paste will stick to it, so it’s common to eat it with a skewer or a spoon.”

“Derishush–!”

Hawaah! Eleonore is smiling happily. With this, today’s picture diary should definitely depict the reunion with me in an impressive way! My perfect strategy can be said to be a great success this time, too!

In Eleonore’s picture diary, for that day, on the last page of the second book…

“Fizzy, crispy, stretchy, sticky”

There was a text description, and a long and narrow square with many bubbles, a brown round one, a white round one, and a black round one.

For those who know what happened today, it’s clearly carbonated water, senbei, daifuku, and ankoro mochi. Even in the diary part written, “Fizzy-Fizzy! Awesome!” or “Stretchy-Strecthy and Sticky-Sticky.” There was no mention of Flora in the diary.