Chapter 69 (1/2)

Chapter 69 – Sweets and Tea Party

translations are incorrect if you read this anywhere other than mylittlehippokun.wordpress.com

The next morning, I, who had finished breakfast and packed the jelly into a box, was troubled about a certain matter.

「How should I carry these…?」

Two boxes of cakes, three boxes of apple pies, and boxes with compote, sweet potatoes and jelly placed inside them were lined up.

「……I’m sure they’ll collapse inside a rucksack, right?」

If it’s in a rucksack magic tool, then it’s possible to place everything inside it, but nothing can be done about them collapsing inside the rucksack. Although even if they don’t get crushed after cramming them inside the rucksack, the shaking is another matter. The best method would be to carry them by hand, but since there’s the distance from my house to the castle, it would take a good amount of time to carry this amount of boxes.

However, those worries were settled before long.

「Heey.」

I heard the voice of a visitor coming from the front door.

When I went out to look, the former self-proclaimed Hero, Takahas.h.i.+-san, was there.

「I was told to come meet you by His Highness Prince Edwill. He said “there are probably many packages, so load them onto a carriage in order to transport them.”」

Ooh, that’s surprisingly considerate, isn’t it?

Taking advantage of Prince Edwill’s good will, I decided to load everything onto the carriage.

「Please don’t shake them if possible, alright? Because it will be the end if they get crushed.」

I loaded the boxes into the carriage one by one while warning Takahas.h.i.+-san.

The cakes in particular need to be carefully transported. The other boxes will more or less be okay even if they get shaken, but it will only be bad for the cakes.

After all the boxes were loaded, I got onto the carriage and we travelled towards the castle. Of course, the boxes of cakes were on top of my knees and Takahas.h.i.+-san’s.

The carriage travelled along the Royal Capital’s stone pavement while shaking from time to time.

When we arrived at the castle, Prince Edwill came out to personally meet us. Prince Sedrim also came along. While we kept our greetings within moderation, the boxes of sweets were unloaded1. It seems they are be taken to the kitchen. And so, it appears they’ll be kept in there temporarily, and be taken out when it’s time for tea.

It seems Prince Edwill’s fiancée will arrive just past noon and will get in touch.

……If that’s the case, I wonder why it wasn’t fine to just deliver the goods before noon?

I thought that, but I’ll accept that at the time the commission was made, I’m sure they couldn’t know when the princess would arrive

With the help of the princes and the others, all the boxes were carried to the kitchen.

「Hey, what did you make?」

Though I’m sure he’s curious, the fun is in seeing it yourself.

「You’ll know when you eat them. That’s also a way of enjoying it.」

I avoided it by saying that.

When I tried leaving since the goods were delivered, I was detained by Prince Edwill.

「Fu, I can’t let you go back yet. I’ll have you accompany me until it’s time for tea.」

Pardon? Why must I attend a tea party for royalty? Furthermore, one that even a princess of a foreign country will be in!?

「Fu, there’s a reason. There isn’t anyone to explain to the princess when she asks about the sweets, right? That would be a problem.」

M

u, I wonder how he understood that I disliked the idea of it?

「Fu, because it was immediately shown on your face. Things like what you’re thinking, I can immediately understand, you see.」

Muu, even if you say that now… Does it really show on my face that much?

「Fu, therefore, come inside the castle. The commission won’t be recognized as completed until the tea party has ended, you see.」

Uwa, to use the commission as a s.h.i.+eld, what a coward! Wasn’t the commission just to make sweets!?

「I’ll listen if you have a complaint, you know? However, I’ll only listen na.」

Grr! Shall I mix something just in Prince Edwill’s portion!?

「If you do something like that, I’ll replace it with your portion na.」

H-How frustrating! h.e.l.l, I won’t make any more bread either!

I helplessly remained in the castle and comfortably pa.s.sed the time.

Although I say that, I only talked with Chiffon-san ne.

Princess Aria and the Queen seem to be busy with the princess’ welcoming.

It appears Chiffon-san isn’t that busy since she’s not in charge of the guest rooms. Rather, it’s because I’m currently in the guest room, but…

But if it was going to be like this, I should have bought along something like cookies ne…

After waiting over five hours for lunch, I was finally called.

Following the guide, we headed towards the venue(?) of the tea party.

The venue was in a courtyard, I wonder if those are roses in the circ.u.mference? There’s something like large hedges that were grown, and a large table was placed at the centre.

And there were several people on the seats already.

There are four people, the King, the Queen, the Prince and Princess Aria. I am the fifth person. The ones left are Prince Edwill and the Princess…?

I went to sit down on the seat I was recommended while being puzzled.

……Huh? My role was to explain, right? Why did I sit down?

When I tilted my head to the side, Prince Edwill arrived together with a lady by his side. I’m sure that person is his fiancée since they are holding hands.

Because the King and the others stood up, I also rose from my seat.

「Sorry to have kept you waiting. Since there are people here meeting for the first time, allow me do the introductions. This is my fiancée, the second princess of the country of Sandra, Princess Abelia Asa Sandra.」

The lady next to Prince Edwill pinched the skirt of her dress and gave her greetings.

「I am Abelia Asa Sandra. Please treat me well.」

She’s a beautiful lady, with mild bluish silver hair. Are her eyes blue, I wonder? Her height is around 175cm, her chest…… isn’t it almost as big as Princess Aria’s? Heh, as expected, she was chosen for her chest ne.

While I was sulking, it appears the introductions had proceeded.

「……Finally, although she isn’t royalty, is Sakura Fujino, who made the sweets for Princess Abelia this time.」

Oops, is it my turn?

「I am Sakura Fujino. How do you do, Princess Abelia-sama. I feel honoured to receive this kind of duty on this occasion.」

Fu, even I can give a proper response, you know? ……Why is everyone surprised? Is it strange for me to give a decent greeting?

「……Did Sakura know etiquette?」2