Chapter 169: (Self Edited) Face to Face Dinner Part One

“But to be married at your age is…” (Rook)Rook said as the carriage rumbled and swayed.

“Aah… sorry. I guess I didn’t follow Father’s teaching.” (Yuri)

“Well, that is…” (Rook)

“Teaching?” (Suzuya)

Suzuya asked with a question mark on the face.

“That one, you know. I was told to refrain from engaging in any disreputable behavior with girls while I was still a student.” (Yuri)

“Oh my…” (Suzuya)

‘Actually, I was told not to touch the girls in the school of Liberal Arts, and if I have to release the urge, I should either do it with town girls or go to a brothel. Well, I’m sure I broke the teaching.’

‘That reminds me. Suzuya is pregnant, so she doesn’t have to come. Her tummy is getting bigger… I heard that she forced herself to follow him, saying that she was feeling better and would be fine. I wonder if she has entered a stable phase.’

“But it can’t be helped, isn’t it? You have fallen in love with her.” (Suzuya)

“Yes… but with a royal family, huh…” (Rook)

Rook seemed to have something that didn’t fall into his mind.

“What about the Hou Household?” (Rook)

“Father, please take care of it for a while. Well, maybe it will cause a lot of trouble.” (Yuri)

“Hmm… well, I don’t mind. I’m sure you have something to think about…” (Rook)

‘Something to think about…’

“Yes, I have a lot. But I wonder if I can make it in time for the next Crusade…” (Yuri)

“Well, we just have to figure it out. I’m just going to do the best I can. If I don’t, nothing will happen.” (Rook)

‘When I think about it, Rook has been under this pressure for a long time. And it’s not like he has been thinking about running away like I have. I’m sure he had a lot to worry about.’

“I’m not really sure, but I think our household can handle it. After all, we do have two reliable men.” (Suzuya)

“Come on. If you say it in front of our son, it’s embarrassing, alright.” (Rook)

‘What’s with this old man… Well, he could at least handle the household’s side.’

“Say, leaving that aside, I think your dress isn’t suitable.” (Suzuya)

Suzuya asked the question for the umpteenth time.

“Don’t worry. it’s not that big of an event.” (Yuri)

“But we’re going to see Her Majesty the Queen, right?” (Suzuya)

“You don’t have to address her Her Majesty the Queen. The Queen is good enough.” (Yuri)

“…Wouldn’t that be rude?” (Suzuya)

‘That being said, is it rude? Hmm… It sounded more strange than rude, but it would be difficult to explain to Suzuya.’

“Everyone addresses her as Her Majesty, so it should be fine.” (Yuri)

“How about your dress? Will it be alright?” (Suzuya)

“Don’t worry. It’s just a meeting between families. If anything, it might be too formal.” (Yuri)

“Is that so?” (Suzuya)

‘Yes. Since it’s family meeting, I wanted to bring Shamu if possible. But she refused saying she would never go there… Satsuki can’t come because she can’t leave while Rook is away from the territory.’

The sound of the rattling wheels had changed.

“Are we almost there?” (Rook)

Rook asked.

The entrance to the island of the royal castle was a bridge, but it was a stone arch bridge only halfway through, and the last six meters was a drawbridge. When a foreign enemy approached, this bridge would be raised to stop the invasion.

It was made of wood because it was difficult to lift if it was heavy. It wasn’t raised every night, and recently, it had been raised twice a year to check its operation. Even then, it would be dropped off immediately because it would be an obstacle to traffic. Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ NʘvᴇlFɪre.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

When the carriage passed through this point, the sound of the wheels rattling on the cobblestones changed to the sound of running on wood.

‘If so, we will reach the royal castle soon.’

“Mother, I wonder if I can avoid making mistakes…” (Suzuya)

Suzuya’s anxiety had returned.

—

“Welcome.” (??)

When we entered the royal castle, we were greeted by four women dressed as maids, who bowed their heads and welcomed the three of us.

‘I’m familiar with one of them. I believe she is called Tilet. I was with her at Kilghina. I wonder if I should greet ‘Hey, long time no see’. Well, since she is dressed as a maid, I think it’s better not to do that.’

“I will guide you. Please…” (??)

We walked along the corridor of the royal castle while being guided. After climbing the stairs twice, we reached some kind of luxurious room.

‘It really is a room for noble guests with a night view. The gold leaf on the ceiling, which is carved on one side, is soothing, but the gold thread used for the wallpaper seems to be new. It must have been replaced regularly.’

When I entered the room, the light from the large chandelier was bright enough to illuminate the room, though not as bright as in the daytime.

The floor was carpeted, and the tables were gorgeous. Of course, the table itself was massive and luxurious, but on top of it, there was a large bouquet of lavishly arranged flowers.

‘This alone is going to take a lot of money.’

“Thank you for coming. Welcome.” (Queen)

Her Majesty the Queen, who was already waiting at her seat, stood up again, pinched both ends of her skirt and gave a light bow.

‘This is unusual. The Queen doesn’t usually bow to herself.’

“Eh… no no no, it’s our pleasure to be invited.” (Rook)

Rook, as expected, looked flustered and returned the courtesy. He had probably never seen the Queen like this before.

“Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, welcome. My name is Carol Full Chartres.” (Carol)

Carol, who was wearing a loose-fitting dress, perhaps to hide her slightly swollen belly, bowed her head.

‘Hmm… it doesn’t look like they feign friendliness. Well, if I were in the opposite position, I probably wouldn’t do it. After all, I’m already acquainted with the Queen.’

“M-my name is Suzuya Hou.” (Suzuya)

Suzuya greeted with a strange posture, stammering nervously.

‘I guess for Suzuya, it feels like they are people who are close to heavenly beings… She is going to be your daughter-in-law now, so I don’t think she needs to be so awed. It seems that everyone is introducing themselves, so I should do the same.’

“Thank you for the arrangement today. I’m really grateful. Your Majesty the Queen.” (Yuri)

‘Still, it sounds feigning friendliness. I can’t speak for Carol.’

“Thank you. I hope you enjoy today. Please, have a seat.” (Queen)

The Queen said.

The Queen, of course, was sitting in the upper seat, but the seat to her right was open, and Carol was sitting next to it. Sitting next to Carol was Cary.

‘Carya, huh… Is she going to participate? She’s glaring at me. Is she trying to kill me with her gaze?’

‘There are three seats on the right side of the Queen and two on the left. The left side of the room would be occupied by the couple, and I would be seated on the right side.’

Rook sat down like that, escorting Suzuya, who had become stiff.  When she saw that everyone was safely seated, the Queen gave a quick signal with a glance. A person who looked like a Queen’s Sword dressed as a waiter, opened the door and walked out.

‘I guess she will bring an aperitif or something.’

“This room is close to the kitchen, so we can serve our food while it’s still warm.” (Queen)

The Queen said.

‘Hmm, is that so? I thought that eating at the royal castle would be a large dining hall since there are many Witches who work here, but there is no such thing. I’ve heard that Witches order food to be delivered to restaurants or go out for lunch themselves when they have time, and if it’s a big event where meals are served, the caterers are supposed to bring the food. Apparently, there is also a kitchen where the royal family’s meals are prepared. Well, there you go.’

“I see. I’m looking forward to it.” (Rook)

Rook replied rhetorically.

“I hope it fits your taste.” (Carol)

Carol said something admirable.

‘This kind of Carol is rare… she is friendly even in her own house.’

Then, the door opened, and a maid appeared with a tray. She started handing out drinks to everyone.

A long, thin cup filled with a clear liquid along with ice, fizzing inside.

‘Soda water? I’ve never drank it so much. There are some areas on the inner part of the mountains where all drinking water is carbonated, but in most areas, it’s just a rare spring water. It’s hard to carry it in an airtight container, so I wonder if you have to drink it all the way so that it doesn’t lose its carbonation. Anyhow, I don’t like it, so I don’t drink it much. As expected, it’s delicious to use soda water for watering, and it seems to be familiar to drinkers.’

“Please enjoy it.” (Queen)

The Queen told me to take a sip, so I did.

‘Ooh, it’s a lemon soda. And I knew it even before I drank it. The fizzing droplets brought the scent of lemon to my nose before my mouth. They must have tried to make a soda out of lemon that Hou and Associates gave to them.’

I took a sip, and sure enough, it was lemon soda. The sweetness wasn’t very strong, but it gave me a nostalgic feeling.

When I tasted it carefully, I felt that there was also a mint-like flavor in it. Hou and Associates just brought in lemons, but I supposed they had done a lot of research for it.

“How is it? It’s my new favorite thing.” (Queen)

The Queen said as she smiled.

‘She’s kind of excited today.’

“It’s very delicious. I thought it would be squeezed into meat, but there is also such a way to drink it.” (Suzuya)

Suzuya summoned up the courage to speak up.

“Actually, it’s a recipe that has been around for a long time. Yuri-san brought it for the first time in 900 years, so I can make it again.” (Queen)

‘Ooh. It was probably during the time of the Great Empire, but I wonder if there was a way to drink soda water with lemon. It must have been written in an ancient cookbook. Maybe, I’m mistaking it for lime or something.’

“This was also brought by Yuri… amazing.” (Suzuya)

‘Uwaah. That’s embarrassing.’

“No, not really. It was a sailor who brought it…” (Yuri)

“Well, there’s no need to be so humble.” (Queen)

The Queen teased me.

“I’m not being humble…” (Yuri)

“I think it’s actually quite impressive. Sixty percent of the Hou Household’s revenue is related to Yuri’s business. If you include the money flow, Yuri is increasing it by ten percent.” (Rook)

Rook asked.

‘Oi oi, you can’t say that in front of the Queen, Otou-sama. As for the source of the money, half of it is coming from this royal capital. If I have to say it, the Hou Household’s territory has a large trade surplus against the royal family territory, so there is trade friction, isn’t it?’

“Yes, indeed. He’s a wonderful son. I want him to teach me.” (Queen)

‘As I thought, the Queen didn’t seem to care at all. it seems that she will continue to tease me. Should I give up already? I guess the purpose of today is to be accompanied with such a play. Perhaps, that’s what marriage is all about.’

“No… I really didn’t do anything. If I had to guess, I would say that it was a good thing to bring him up peacefully.” (Rook)

‘Hey, stop it. Please don’t say it in front of the kids.’

“Hmm… I wonder if it’s better to raise them that way after all. What do you think, Carol-chan?” (Queen)

‘Did you call her with that honorific? My parents are here, you know. Her demeanors are so different to the point that Rook is confused since a while ago.’

“That’s right. I think it’s better to support them in what they want to do and develop their strengths. It seems that’s how both Yuri and Shamu-chan were raised.” (Carol)

‘Somehow, you’re saying something decent. Do you have any thoughts on how to educate your children now?’

Then, I heard the clattering sound of a chair.

“…What is it, Carya?” (Queen)

The Queen asked.

“…Let me excuse myself for a bit.” (Carya)

For the first time today, Carla opened her mouth. She left the room as it was with indignant footsteps. The door slammed shut roughly.

“U-uhm… are we being rude?” (Suzuya)

Suzuya asked terrifiedly.

“No, not at all. She’s… going through difficult times.” (Queen)

“Is that so…?” (Suzuya)

Suzuya looked uneasy.

‘I guess she feels as if a dark cloud has risen in the future of family relationships.’

“Girls that age are difficult to handle. Is it called rebellious age?” (Rook)

Rook said. He sounded like an old man.

“It’s difficult to raise a child. When I was with Carol, I raised her strictly because she was my first child, and I wanted her to grow up to be worthy of being the next queen.” (Queen)

The Queen put down the cup in her hand and began to speak. Her eyes were kind of sad and nostalgic for the past.

“She studied from morning until night, and took lessons in between hours… That kind of daily life is harsh for young children. Even though I thought it was my duty as a queen, my heart as a parent was aching and I couldn’t help feeling pain in my heart. That’s why I thought that Carya-chan doesn’t need to be raised so strictly since I have Carol.” (Queen)

‘The reminiscence seems to continue. Nevertheless, as a parent-to-be, I find it interesting. Whether it’s a son or a daughter, I don’t want my child to grow up like Carya.’

“Carol-chan also complained a little bit Thinking that I took it easy when it comes to Carya… but she is a serious person at heart, so she took on a lot of responsibilities and grew up to be a great person.” (Queen)

‘Hmm, what an eye opener. Carol was forced to go through an endless process of cramming exams, even though she complained. I guess Carol who I met at the entrance ceremony was exactly at the final form.

“But then, the difference gradually appears. Carol-chan was the one who was always praised. She is the one who is expected to be a Queen. On the other hand, Carya-chan is neither praised nor expected. She gradually began to look painful. It was only then that I realized my mistake. But I realized it was too late. After that, I tried to be strict for a while, but a child who had been spoiled wasn’t going to be able to endure a lot of temperance and discipline so suddenly. On the contrary, she became sulky…” (Queen)

‘The Queen is also a mother. As for Carya, she probably thinks she is abandoned. After all, a mother always thinks about her children. However, it’s hard to say that it happened because the early education for Carya was bad. Whether human growth is due to the quality of birth or the experience from birth is a difficult question that is quite difficult to draw a line.’

‘ADHD and autism are birth defects, and this isn’t something that can be corrected. Even within the normal acceptance, there are high and low levels of autism and IQ. Still, I can’t say Carya would have been an inferior student with rigorous education. Human growth is hard to describe simply, and no one can say that Carya didn’t have a future that surpassed Carol’s.’

“Oh my, I’m sorry. I’ve been talking too much.” (Queen)

‘Goodness. Even though we would become relatives from now on, I wonder if it’s fine to let her guard down. Well, I guess since we would be so, it’s fine to let loose a bit. Am I thinking too much?’

“I’m sure your Majesty’s attention is conveyed. Someday, you will be able to laugh about it and have a talk.” (Suzuya)

Suzuya seemed to be moved, as tears formed in the corners of her eyes, as if she could relate to her as a mother.

‘Perhaps, Suzuya thinks that Carya’s departure earlier was because of her feud with Her Majesty the Queen. I think it was simply because she was irritated that Carol stole me from her, and she didn’t like the seat itself.’

“Thank you, Suzuya-san… Oh, the food hasn’t been arranged yet. I’ll have it arranged soon.” (Queen)

The dinner was finally about to begin.

‘I’ve been waiting.’

Before that, I suddenly became curious and looked at Carol sitting next to me, who seemed to have a difficult expression on her face, as if the Queen’s words had left a heavy impression on her mind. It seemed that she didn’t hear about the food and conversation.

“What’s wrong?” (Yuri)

I asked in a whisper.

“Uhmm… I thought about having a proper talk with Carya later, but I thought… we would end up fighting anyway.” (Carol)

It was a reasonable thought.