CH 185

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“Last night’s magic performance was truly amazing! It was like a dream.”

Aurora’s cheeks were slightly tinted, and her voice was unusually lively.

“I’m glad you liked it.”

If something like that can make you so happy, I would perform magic any number of times.

The magic performance last night will no doubt be the talk of the town in other countries. I am sure it will be a boost for McMillan-sama.

“I hope so.”

Anyway, the egg dishes are delicious. Soft and fluffy. The aroma of spices in the sausages also stimulates the appetite.

However, there is a slight problem.

“Mnn?”

I was so greedy that I threw the entire sausage into my mouth, but I couldn’t open my mouth, so instead of answering, I turned to look at Aurora.

Perhaps I did something without realising it?

“Here’s what I received……”

Aurora calls out to the maid of honour who is waiting by the wall, and a wagon is pushed to the side of the table. There were many envelopes on it. All of them were splendid.

What is this?

“This is?”

Percival also had a suspicious look on his face.

“All of these are invitations to a tea party. Each invitation said that I should be accompanied by Sapphiras-sama.”

Ugh……

I was supposed to have done some sort of chanting to avoid this. It wasn’t very effective, was it?

“I guess that’s how attractive Sapphiras’ magic was. I imagine they are desperate to somehow connect with the magician who stole the evening party before Aurora-jyou returns home.”

“Yes. I’m sure you are right, Percival-sama. Sapphiras-sama had that much charm last night.”

I’m happy about that, but I’d like to avoid any kind of tea party for aristocrats that is full of ulterior motives. No matter how I look at it, I’m sure I won’t be able to enjoy tea or sweets.

“Please rest assured. We are declining all invitations. However, there is one invitation that we cannot refuse.”

As expected of Aurora, she is dependable. However, when it comes to someone Aurora can’t refuse, the only people that come to mind are royalty.

“Yes, Her Royal Highness Queen Sophia insists on it. She invited me last night.”

Just as I thought. If the other person is Her Royal Highness the Queen, we won’t be able to refuse unless there is something special……

Mmn? Come to think of it, I haven’t said a word since a while ago, so how do you both know what I’m trying to say?

“It’s simple. It’s all in your face.”

What did you say!

Percival and Aurora gave me a loose smile, and I finally swallowed the sausage into my stomach, my expression tightened as I coughed lightly.

***

Aurora is elegantly enjoying tea with Her Royal Highness the Queen at a pavilion in a beautifully landscaped garden with colourful flowers and green grass.

As for me, I was standing silently behind Aurora as her bodyguard. As expected, I, a commoner and a mere bodyguard, cannot sit at the same table as Her Royal Highness the Queen.

By the way, Percival is not here. Because the invitation only had Aurora and my names on it.

This garden seems to be a place for the royal family to enjoy themselves in private, and only those who are officially invited can enter.

Around the pavilion stood several female Tornx knights, and further away were knights in armour and guards. There are also ladies-in-waiting and servants, but of course they are also chosen ones.

Solmontana’s guards are waiting outside the garden, but it is hard to believe that a candidate for the crown princess of a major power would be in danger in the royal palace of a friendly country, and even if something should happen, I’ll just let Aurora leave this place. It’s easy, so I don’t have any problems even if it’s just me.

“Anyway, the magicians of Solmontana are amazing. The whole castle was buzzing all night long with stories about last night’s magic.”

“I’m honoured to receive your compliment.”

“Sapphiras-san, is that right? Can we invite him to our country?”

“Well……I am sorry, Your Highness Sophia, but Sapphiras-sama is still a student. He is still in the middle of his studies, so I cannot accept your offer.”

“Of course, as a guest of the royal family, we will prepare Sapphiras-san so that he can fully study at this academy.”

Her Royal Highness turned her gaze to and I lowered my eyes in a panic. No, I have no intention of leaving Solmontana for the time being.

“It is a great honour for you to welcome Sapphiras-sama as a student of our country, so warmly. However, the development of human resources at Creare Academy is one of the measures that His Highness Prince Melchior is most passionate about. In particular, from now on, the head of Solmontana’s magic division wants to put more effort into training magicians who can use magic like the one we saw last night. Our ducal family, who agrees with His Highness Melchior’s ideas, is sponsoring Sapphiras-sama, a promising magician, and my father also has a special eye on him.”

“Well, that’s how it is……it’s a shame, but if that’s the case, it can’t be helped.”

Her Royal Highness Princess Sophia had a very disappointed look on her face. She seems to have understood that it would be impossible to pull out a student who attends an academy that involves the crown prince of a great country with the backing of an influential ducal family.

It seems that the royal family of this country is extremely decent and serious, unlike the crown prince who has gone missing somewhere, so I don’t think they will make any more unreasonable demands.

“Although it is still limited at the moment, the academy is preparing to open its doors widely to those who are willing to learn. We hope that one day the students of the Kingdom of Tornx will choose our country as a place for cultural exchange.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful to hear. It will be a great hope for the young people of our country to have the opportunity to learn such beautiful magic. Come to think of it, Aurora-sama, you are also a student at Creare, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am in the second grade, just like Sapphiras-sama.”

After that, they started talking about Creare Academy, and they completely left my topic. Thank goodness.

……Anyway. Aurora is a truly courageous young lady after all. She is taking on a queen in a dignified manner. Isn’t she the perfect woman to be the future crown princess?

I was beginning to get tired of just standing there when the tea party finally came to an end.

“I heard that you like sweets, Sapphiras-san. I’ll have the sweets delivered to your room later. Please enjoy yourself.”

Her Royal Highness smiled as she stood up from her seat.

Sweets, that’s something to look forward to. I bowed deeply to express my gratitude. She didn’t seem to be offended that we declined her invitation. Anyway, I am glad that everything ended without incident.

“Thank you for your hard work, Sapphira-sama.”

Aurora has gone from her crown princess candidate face back to her usual classmate face. I also stopped guarding her and walked up next to Aurora.

“You too, Aurora-jyou. Anyway, I’m glad she didn’t say anything forceful.”

“Yes, that’s true……but that doesn’t mean my concerns are gone.”

“Eh?”

“Actually, the son of the Duke whom you and Percival met in town, it turns out, is a nephew of Her Royal Highness Sophia.”

“……Ehh……that one? Really?”

It’s hard to believe that the nephew of Her Royal Highness, who seems so kind, is such an inconsiderate man, but it makes sense when you think that his arrogance is due to the fact that his aunt is the queen.

“I hear that he is not a man of good reputation, and Her Royal Highness Queen Sofia is having a hard time…”

Aurora frowned.

“I am planning to return to our country the day after tomorrow as planned, but please do not let your guard down until then.”

“Mm. I understand”

I leave the rest to the escort knight and part ways with Aurora on the spot. Percival may already know, but I might want to tell him soon, just in case.

“I’m tired of waiting. Come on, get over here!”

As I was rushing towards Percival, I suddenly heard a loud voice, and a strong force grabbed my arm from behind, causing me to stumble.

“!”

When I turned around in surprise, I saw that the person who was holding my arm was the Duke’s son who I had been talking about just a few minutes ago.

What with this guy?

Feeling annoyed, I forcefully shake off the hand that was holding my arm and glare at the Duke’s son.

“Isn’t it too rude to suddenly grab my arm?”

“Hmph, you’re so cocky even though you’re a commoner……now that I’m your master, I won’t let you behave like that again.”

“Ha? What the hell are you talking about? Are you out of your mind?”

I was so surprised that he suddenly started talking nonsense that I forgot that he was the Duke’s son and just let my true colours come out.

I don’t remember having someone like you as my master, and I have no intention of serving anyone in the slightest. Even a fool should think before he speaks, but even if they think, I don’t want to hear nonsense.

“You have a beautiful face, but a bad mouth. A commoner is a commoner after all. You must have heard it from my aunt. You have become my personal magician.”

What? I’m getting more and more confused. I tilted my head so much that I almost turned my head like an owl.

……Could it be that what Her Royal Highness Queen Sophia said at the tea party didn’t mean studying abroad, but that I should become his magician? No, no, that’s probably not the case. This guy may just be making his own assumptions, but isn’t it a certain kind of talent to be able to make such assumptions?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I heard of the invitation to come to this country. However, the Duke of Bloomfield’s daughter clearly told her that we refuse.”

“What did you say? Are you saying that you refused the invitation of my aunt who is the queen?”

“Of course. I have no intention of serving anyone.”

When I said that, the son looked surprised, but then he grinned and smiled creepily.

“Now that I think about it, I heard that you are engaged to that detestable man……but even though he is from the margrave family, he is the third son after all. I am the eldest son of the ducal family, and my aunt is the queen. It’ll be smarter to follow me. Besides, he may never go back to his country.”

He will follow me. That would be smarter. Besides, he might never return to his country.”

“Ha? What on earth does that mean?”