Chapter 81 Extra Chapter 5.1 - Yuri’s elegant Heavenly Castle life, Part 1 (2/2)
I said that to myself and put my hand on the door of the guest room.
While advancing through the hallway that only has a dim and gentle light, I find a corner where light is leaking out to the hallway. When I tried to turn that corner, I could instantly find the dining room that Mea mentioned. It is natural because I came here yesterday, but it smells good when I come nearby, so I feel happy every time when I find the dining hall.
「Good morning」
When I said that and entered the dining hall, Torraine and the others appeared from the kitchen in the back.
「Good morning. Yuri-sama.」
「Good morning」
The three people, Torraine, Rant and Schnee, showed themselves to greet me, and Mea showed herself last while greeting me by nodding. She still seems to be a little shy, so she immediately withdraws her eyes.
While I was being healed by Mea’s cuteness, Rant walked towards me.
「Today will be toasted bread with butter and onion soup. Next is leafy green salad with vienna sausage and pudding for dessert, but is this okay with you?」
Being asked that, I nod with a wry smile.
「Of course it is. I am looking forward to it because there is nothing but cuisine that I have never heard of. I am especially looking forward to desserts.」
When I said that, Rant nodded while laughing.
「Yes. All of us love pudding, so I think Yuri-sama will surely love it as well.」
When Rant said that in good humour, Schnee hit the back of his head with a fist from behind. My eyes became wide at the strike that was strong enough to make a sound, but Rant grimaced strongly and collapsed on his spot.
As Rant, who fell to his knees on the floor, looked behind while groaning in pain, Schnee glared back fiercely at him.
「Wha, what are you……」
「It’s not ‘what are you’! Didn’t you hear that Yuri-sama comes from the royal family of Imperial Country of Fleida? Why the hell are you talking so lightly?」
Rant bowed his head dejectedly at Schnee whose anger can be seen at a glance.
「So, sorry.」
Seeing the apologizing Rant, I gently call their attention from the side.
「Not at all, I would be happy if you could speak to me casually. I would also like to be good friends with Schnee-sama, as well as Rant-sama.」
When I said that, Schnee’s and Rant’s eyes become wide and they looked at each other. And the two turn their troubled faces towards me as if on cue.
「…… Recently, I’m being troubled because my common sense of royalty has collapsed.」
「Me, too.」
I tilt my head at the two who are looking at me while saying that, and asked them.
「Common sense of royalty, is it?」
When I asked a question, I nodded with a bitter smile.
「Well, both Taiki-sama and Ayla-sama are royalty, but they are rather kind people who care about us. And they are easy and nice to talk to for me……」
「Hey, Rant.」
Rant was trying to give various explanations, but Schnee rebuked and stopped him. Rant shuts his mouth with that and apologizes with a vague smile.
「I’m sorry. I will prepare food at once, so please sit there and wait.」
After saying that much, Rant disappeared into the kitchen in order to escape.
Me and Schnee who were left behind, exchange glances silently and laugh out of nowhere. I was used to that kind of situation because it was something that happened frequently at the banquet with the nobles. Almost all, either a noble who has never had a conversation with a royal, or a young person who has simply come to a banquet for the first time, were likely to create such situations.
In other words, it’s an unspeakable situation that comes from tension.
At such times, it is always the organizer or the person with the highest status who can skillfully recover the situation.
「Well then, I will excuse myself and wait here.」
When I take the initiative in speaking and sit on the designated seat, Schnee nods as if relieved.
「Ah, yes. Thank you.」
Schnee said that and was about to leave, but suddenly stopped as if she remembered something. Then she turned around to my direction in a timid manner and speaks.
「U, umm, did you memorize my and Rant’s name?」
Being asked that for some reason, I laughed unintentionally.
「Of course I did. There is no way I will forget the faces and names of the people of the Heavenly Country who I want to be on good terms with from now on. I remember all those who were introduced to me once. Taiki-sama, Ayla-sama, Torraine-sama, Rant-sama, Schnee-sama, Mea-sama…… so far I have only met six people, so I would like to meet and talk with many people if possible.」
When I said that while smiling, Schnee blinked her eyes and spoke absentmindedly.
「…… I thought Yuri-sama was only a very carefree and gentle person, but she is, after all, a person from a royal family.」
I returned a bow while smiling bitterly to Schnee who said that and withdrew to the kitchen after making a bow.
If she says that I am like a royal, Yanual-niisama, who always cares about the interests of the country and the lives of the people in the territory he governs, is probably more like royalty.
As for me, I only have enough qualities that can be useful in socializing with nobles in the country and diplomacy outside the country, such as worldly wisdom that was hammered into me from my childhood, etiquettes as a royalty, knowledge for socialization and singing or dancing.
It’s just that I have a special skill to accurately memorize a person’s face and name as a part of that. When attending a dinner party at the mansion of a noble for the first time, I must memorize beforehand the affiliated faction and history of that noble, and memorize on the spot the names and faces of the family and the present nobles who will be introduced one by one.
Compared to that, life in this Heavenly Country for several days is heaven. No, I wonder if I should say that I have been able to spend a very rich and wonderful time that can’t be compared?
Neither greetings nor meals are formal at all, and everyone is pure and friendly. I just have an elegant life without troublesome negotiations. I haven’t been present at the negotiations with another country yet, but I can assert that I would absolutely never receive so much treatment.
It’s probably something that comes from the richness of the Heavenly Country and my absolute confidence. Honestly, if the Heavenly Country wants to destroy the Imperial Country, there should be not much difference in achieving it in the blink of an eye. It is also scary that it has nothing to do with the number or quality of the soldiers and magicians.(Because there’s no one other than Taiki who can control all of the countless golem army.)
When the royalties and aristocrats of the Imperial Country gathers information about the neighboring countries and discusses it, the one that comes out to the point that it is not an exaggeration to say always is the Blau Empire. The dreadfulness of the Empire is probably the part where it had invaded the surrounding small countries one after another in only a few decades and it has become a powerful large country without time for other countries to stop it. There are already a few countries in the south of the continent who tried to oppose the Empire, but it is a horrible scene like they were praying just to hope for the Empire’s fang not to turn towards themselves.
Only the Azul Kingdom and our Imperial Country of Fleida will be able to resist the invasion of the Blau Empire, but the only thing possible is resistance and simply wait for the Empire to leave while strengthening our defense.
Even if we are against such a powerful Empire, Yanual-niisama said that there is a possibility that we could be able to hold on. However, it is different against the Heavenly Country. If we ended up going to war, the Imperial Country revealed that we might not be able to win.
It seems the same, but a really different word.
After thinking to that extent, I stop my thoughts.
「……… Well, it can’t be helped even if I think about it.」
Then I decided to think about it comfortably.
So far, all the people of the Heavenly Country are not warlike and on the contrary they are very friendly. It may be unnecessary to worry about it.