Ahem. From the looks of it, Cedric wants the princess to build friendships with those women. The princess will make her own efforts, but there probably aren’t many ways to get along with opponents who are already hostile.
“Princess. Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Ah, Mellans! It’s good to see you again!”
“Mellans? Oh my. Welcome. I didn’t even know you’d arrived. I heard about your exploits. Are you enjoying the party? Princess Françoise put special effort into this party.”
Cedric turned to me and smiled brightly. I bowed my head and expressed my thanks.
“Thank you for hosting such a wonderful party. I’m having so much fun I don’t even notice the time passing.”
Actually, I was bored to death. Mitche, who was eating finger food on my shoulder, also looked like he was bored to death and pursed his lips while staring at Cedric.
“You raised the Empire’s prestige, so this much is nothing. Rest well and let’s see each other later. Jayden wants to see you too, so I’ll arrange time soon.”
“Jayden?”
“He says he wants to repay you for rescuing him. He’s been talking only about you since the day before yesterday.”
Come to think of it, he blabbered that the Mad Crows were scared because of me, which led to this whole situation.
“Ugh, that blabbermouth went and spouted nonsense about the Mad Crows being scared!”
“Haha. Rough language in front of ladies is a bit much, don’t you think?”
“Ah! I’m sorry. Hehe. Wow, Princess, you’re even more beautiful than last time.”
“Thank you, Mellans.”
The princess was beautiful but looked tired somehow. She didn’t look very happy even though her fiancé Cedric was next to her.
“Perhaps Lucilla, you’d prefer spending time with the ladies?”
Cedric tried to send her off, almost pushing her. The princess grabbed her dress hem with a slightly stiff expression and left with a light bow. She looked so pitiful that I impulsively grabbed her.
“Oh, you’re going over there? Princess, excuse me, but may I come with you? Actually, I noticed the accessories that young lady over there is wearing and I’d like to know more about them.”
“Mellans?”
“Excuse me, Your Highness Cedric, I’ll spend some time with the Princess and return shortly.”
Before Cedric could stop me, I quickly approached a group of women. The princess looked a bit troubled but eventually followed me and stood demurely beside me.
“Um, Mellans. Excuse me, but those people aren’t very favorable toward me…”
I grinned at the princess and spoke loudly as if for the women to hear.
“Ah. I’m craving something spicy.”
“Hm?”
“The Principality’s food is all too greasy and I’m sick of it! It seems like there isn’t a single proper dish! This one’s so-so, that one’s so-so. I’m craving spicy food but there doesn’t seem to be any good restaurants either.”
If they’d decided to ignore us, rather than speaking to them first, I had to make them unable to bear not speaking to us. And to attract people’s attention, rather than spouting the right things a hundred times, you need to properly troll them once.
“A few days ago I went to a crawfish restaurant and they gave me this weird white pudding as an appetizer, right? I took one bite and ugh, it was slimy and really disgusting! The Principality, the worst!”
“Um, Mellans. That’s not pudding…”
Next to the princess who was smiling awkwardly, a strong-looking woman interjected.
“Excuse me, but that’s not pudding, it’s for cleaning dishes. You dip dishes with a lot of grease in it to clean them. Your attitude of putting things down when you don’t even know is quite unpleasant.”
As expected. Got them. People usually think women like talking about accessories or dresses, but actually they were tight-lipped about adornment. Because in this feudal system, that was their weapon. But food was a bit different.
In women’s social circles, there was one way to show off that one’s network was impressive, and that was famous restaurant districts and hotspots. They’d talk about that as if their mouths had wings.
“Huh? It’s not pudding?”
I faced them with the most stupid expression possible. It was a tactic that nobles who considered it virtuous to keep their mouths shut rather than look stupid would never be able to pull off. Perhaps I really looked foolish, because the woman spoke in a slightly softened, admonishing tone.
“If you’re going to visit another country, you should study first. How can you just disparage things like that?”
“Oh. I’m sorry. But it’s true I haven’t seen any spicy food, right? Everything’s weird food.”
“Oh my! That’s not true at all! It seems the attendants brought by the Heir had terrible information networks.”
Another woman covering her mouth with a fan also got fired up and came closer.
“If you haven’t tried the spicy braised meat dish at the restaurant run by the Maroba family on 23rd Street, don’t speak.”
“There’s an even better place than that. Next to the Tairin River, catfish dishes are famous, but have you tried the chili sauce there?”
“What? There’s a place like that? Princess, do you know any places?”
When I asked with an eye-smile, Princess Françoise also seemed to catch on and answered with a beaming smile. She was smart, so she’d take this situation I’d set up well.
“Um, I like the chicken stew place in Ilbrun’s central plaza.”
“Ah! The chef there is so good! If you add the lemon sauce…! Ah.”
One young lady who had shouted excitedly without realizing it slightly covered her mouth as if she’d made a mistake.
“Not just the lemon sauce, if you add peanut sauce too, it’s heavenly. Hoho.”
“R-right…!”
Before awkwardness could set in, I quickly distracted them.
“There are places like that, so why didn’t anyone tell me? Goodness! I can only stay in the Principality for two more days, so if there are restaurants I absolutely must visit, won’t you all tell me?”
“Oh my, only two days? That’s too short!”
“Where was that café that Lady Beth went to last time? Tell him about that place.”
“No. There’s a better place! Wait. Siana! Come here! Where was that place we went last week?”
When I even set a time limit, the women panicked and started racking their brains to recommend the best restaurants one after another. In doing so, Princess Françoise could naturally join the conversation. Even young ladies from other groups gathered in small clusters to help think, and we became central figures at the party venue.
Whatever anyone said, I was a foreigner who knew nothing, and under the common goal of having to help me, it seemed both pro-Empire and anti-Empire sides forgot everything.
Like that, surrounded by young ladies and princesses whose names I didn’t even know, I made two dinner appointments and even arranged to meet once for tea. Princess Françoise too, under the pretext of guiding me.
“Let’s show Lionel the Principality’s spicy taste, Princess Françoise. Hohoho!”
“Ugh. Princess, I’m fine, right?”
I think my stomach might be in big trouble… but my heart feels much lighter seeing the princess smiling brightly compared to before. Then someone placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Lionel. Seems you’re having quite a fun time?”
“Oh my. Young Duke of Yanox…”
At Cesare’s appearance, the women blushed slightly on both cheeks and showed their bashfulness. Yeah, I have to admit it. Actually, no matter how well you can talk, being handsome is the best conversation topic.
“Hmph. I always do. You seemed to be talking with important people over there. Did you finish talking?”
“I should put a leash on you. This really won’t do.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“I said I’m a bit tired.”
“Oh! Then shall we go get some air? Want something to drink?”
“May I borrow Lionel for a moment, ladies?”
As I fumbled and clung to Cesare, he asked the women’s understanding with a good-natured smile and took me out of there.
“Phew.”
Having reached a private terrace with no people, Cesare collapsed onto a bench and ran his hand through his hair, and I timidly took a seat beside him. Then he swiftly put his legs up on the bench and laid his head on my thigh.
“I’m tired. I’ll close my eyes for a bit.”
“Huh? Uh. If someone sees…”
“Why? Are you bothered because I’m not a woman? You seemed fine among the women.”
No, that’s not it. I couldn’t talk back saying you’re the Young Duke so you should maintain dignity, so I just sat there blankly then quietly covered his eyes with my palm. Because the sunlight from behind was strong, I worried his eyes might sting.
“What did you talk about with those women?”
“Nothing much, Princess Françoise seemed a bit left out so I struck up conversation with her. I also made lunch and dinner appointments? But the conflict between pro-Empire and anti-Empire factions seems quite severe.”
“They’re watching the hardliners. They already don’t like that our father was dispatched to the Balkan Mountains border, but this time magical beasts even appeared in their definite territory, so they’re even more on edge. From now on they’ll be more wary of Empire people. Today Cedric was also having trouble mixing with the anti-Empire bastards. Admiral Enrico, who’s pro-Empire, was just sticking with me. He’s not as influential as the Lord of Ilbrun, but he’s quite powerful.”
“Hmph. So even that ‘perfect’ Highness has things he struggles with.”
“And talking with the Principality people, I heard the Torusian Imperial Family agreed to support dispatching priests. I’m curious how they’ll solve that when divine power is weakening. Ha! Even if the outside looks fine now, the inside must be a mess, right?”
Cesare giggled, pleased about something. He must be quite happy that Cedric was getting his comeuppance. The beautifully curved lips visible below my covering palm were so pretty. Would it be nice if he smiled like this normally too?
“But Lionel, you were quite something, weren’t you? Laughing together with those anti-Empire bastards. Thanks to you the atmosphere became much more amicable, so Admiral Enrico was keeping an eye on you.”
“Mm. I just ended up doing it somehow.”
“Today we were the stars of this party. Cedric was just a side character. You should have seen his expression! Haha.”
“You look happy.”
“Yeah, I’m happy. I want to reward you with a kiss or something.”
The afternoon breeze swayed pleasantly and the sunlight was warm. The lips visible below my covering hand were so alluring, and his eyelids fidgeting at my palm’s edge were tender.
‘How many kisses are left…’
It was the moment I unconsciously leaned my head down slightly and licked my lips.
‘What are you going to do when you’re distracted by kissing a man?’
