kscans

1

Bard’s attention is drawn to three items on the table. Despite the fact that a princess, who would never normally be seated there, is sitting on the other side of the table.

The first item that captivates Bard is the tea. It is a tea made by simmering well-aged tea leaves to bring out its richness, but that’s not all. It is also simmered with cow’s milk. Bard has had tea with goat’s milk before, but this is incomparable. It is elegant, flavorful, and incredibly delicious. It brings out the bitterness and astringency of the tea leaves to the fullest, while at the same time, the addition of the gentle and completely odorless cow’s milk suppresses any sharpness.

The second item is cheese. Bard has eaten goat cheese before, but this is completely different. It is cheese made from cow’s milk. First of all, the smell is amazing. Just lightly sniffing it, a slightly acidic and sticky aroma lingers deep in the nostrils. It is a refined scent that doesn’t give off any animal odor, but has a definite presence. The texture and mouthfeel are pleasant, but above all, the sensation of it spreading smoothly in the mouth and stimulating the taste buds is incredibly impressive. It is something that Bard will never forget.

The third item is sugar. They are square-shaped sugars in pale shades of red, white, green, and yellow. Bard doesn’t know how they are made, but the outer surface is smooth. Originally, they were brought out to put in the tea, but as if she could read Bard’s mind, Princess Shernelia suggested, “Please try eating them as they are.” And the taste! The moment it touches the tongue, the mouth is filled with a rich sweetness. This is what sweetness is. After enjoying the sweetness on the tip of the tongue for a while, Bard decides to bite into it. A sense of happiness spreads throughout the mouth, and the sides of his lower jaw ache slightly. His body seems unsure of how to react to such sweetness. If Bard were to receive about ten of these square colored sugars and dissolve them one by one in their mouth, it would surely be a blissful time.

Princess Shernelia watches Bard with a smile. Karz and Jurchaga stand behind Bard. Naturally, they cannot sit in front of the princess. However, Bard is sitting. Even though it is a private setting, it is somewhat unconventional, or rather, unprecedented treatment.

2

“I am a messenger from Princess Shernelia Tordebada. She would like to express her gratitude to her fellow student, Princess Doriatessa, and offer her some tea.”

In response to this sudden request, Bard gave a tentative acceptance. It was a little strange that Karz and Jurchaga were specifically mentioned to accompany him, but it wasn’t something to be concerned about. Then, half an hour later, the messenger woman returned to inform them that she would guide them.

“Hey, master, you know, high-ranking nobles have various surnames. The way she introduced herself, she didn’t mention her title, nor did she claim to be the daughter of the emperor or have any right to the throne. And she didn’t even say she was the organizer of this martial arts competition. In other words, she just wants to personally thank our friend for taking care of her, as an individual. These kinds of speeches are very important, you know. It’s about who, when, where, and why someone meets with someone else, and it seems like it’s all properly recorded. I’m sure you remember the soldier standing silently in front of this room.”

Jurchaga explained this to him. It seemed like he had studied quite well. Apparently, because he often went to the imperial palace, Marquis Fafarlen had hired a private tutor to teach him etiquette and knowledge.

Tomorrow night, there will be a banquet hosted by the Parzam Kingdom for the representatives of both countries. He was invited to attend. However, it seemed to be a very formal dinner. The etiquette and procedures were strict, and it seemed like everything was predetermined, including who would say what and when. He declined the invitation, saying he didn’t want to attend such an event. Then, another invitation came.

“Well, they probably just want to see my face,” he thought.

About half an hour later, he followed the knight who came to guide him and went to the separate building used by the Goriora Empire. The Goriora knights he encountered along the way looked at him with a strange gleam in their eyes. He felt a passionate gaze from the ladies-in-waiting.

3

If he had to describe Princess Shernelia in one word, she would be a sugar-coated candy wrapped in flowers. She had a gentle and non-threatening aura. It was said that this was her first time leaving the imperial palace. She spoke with sparkling eyes about how everything on this journey was so new and exciting. She was supposed to be eighteen, but she looked more like sixteen. Most of the conversation revolved around food, but it also touched on Bard’s background and personality. Bard was completely at ease, as he had taken a liking to tea, cheese, and square-shaped sugar. However, he didn’t think this princess was as naive as she appeared. Jurchaga had said so.

“Well, I only spoke to her briefly once, but for some reason, it reminded me of Ketta-baasan. Oh, Ketta-baasan is the wife of the old man who grinds flour. The old man always scolds Ketta-baasan, calling her a crybaby, clumsy, and slow. But somehow, he ends up doing what Ketta-baasan says. For example, if Ketta-baasan says, ‘I wonder if it will rain this afternoon,’ the old man gets angry and asks if she’s an idiot. Then, after teasing her, he ends up preparing for rain so that the flour doesn’t get wet. And Ketta-baasan, she always had candy in her pocket and sometimes gave it to us. It was delicious.”

Jurchaga had quite the observational skills. If he felt something, then there must be something. And somehow, the conversation had shifted back to Doriatessa.

“I am truly grateful to Princess Doriatessa for returning safely, and I cannot thank Lord Bard enough. When I heard that she had actually gone to exterminate demonic beasts, I blamed myself for allowing such recklessness. But, Lord Bard, that girl is truly mysterious. There have been many tangled threads in her life. When that girl casually picks one, it unravels beautifully. She doesn’t miss the whispered words from the gods. And she walks the path that the gods have shown her without hesitation. Later, it becomes clear that it was the right path. This applies to her participation in the martial arts competition and her extermination of demonic beasts to qualify for it. I wondered why she would do such things, but in the end, the adventure was successful thanks to divine protection, and that girl brought a refreshing wind to the hearts of the tired people who were still fighting. His Majesty the Emperor was also very pleased. My dream has also come true, even if only a little. One of my dreams is for people throughout the country to think that women can also do great things. I know that women have their own roles, but without realizing it, men have come to believe that women are inferior. They think that women should just listen to men and follow the old customs. Because of that, many wonderful women who could have lived a richer life have grown old without doing anything for the sake of the world and others. When I said that the women in the country were relieved by Doriatessa’s achievements, I hope it didn’t make you uncomfortable.”

Bard suddenly realized why his heart fluttered and he felt a sweet throbbing sensation when he looked at Doriatessa. It was Idora. Doriatessa was Idora. Not the Idora who existed in reality, but the Idora who could have been if she had grown up as the adventurous and spirited girl, a different version of Idora. Yes, Idora was the woman who could have lived a more fulfilling life, even without taking up a sword. She could have been someone who could choose her own path more freely in a world where women had more options. She could have shown her talents, contributed to the happiness and prosperity of others. This princess probably knew multiple versions of Idora. She believed that what restrains women is the gaze of society, and she desired to let a little bit of wind through that space.

“Therefore, Lord Bard, I am eagerly looking forward to it. What will that girl do in this martial arts tournament? What will be born out of it? I want to watch without interfering, filled with anticipation. You, Lord Bard, as well as I, and even His Majesty the Emperor, in our own humble ways, might be serving as instruments for the gods who seek to guide that girl.”

Bard also became excited. He became greatly excited. In two days, the martial arts tournament would begin. What would Doriatessa show them?

When Bard returned to his room, he received a gift from Princess Shernelia — a cask of wine, two bottles of sake, two pieces of cheese, and a box of colored square-shaped sugar. Gifts also arrived for Karz and Jurchaga. It was likely a gesture of gratitude for helping Doriatessa. However, it wasn’t just that. The princess had revealed a bit too much of her true nature. She is also being asked to “please remain silent”. And it’s not just that. The princess also wants to say, “If anything happens in the future, please take care of it.” In other words, accepting this gift means being prepared for a little trouble. However, it would be impolite to reject it. Moreover, it is impossible to resist accepting this delicious thing.

War is about fighting the opponent and making them obey. There are various ways to win, but it is best to win without getting hurt as much as possible. Even better is a way to win without hurting the opponent either. The best is to win the battle without hurting oneself or the opponent, and make the opponent yield. If one can make the opponent yield without even realizing that a battle has taken place, that is the mark of a master strategist. Princess Shernelia must be said to have the demeanor of a master in political maneuvering.

I see. She is no less than a master like Ketta baa-san.

Bard felt a sense of delight. He had thought that she was a spoiled princess who had been pampered, but he was wrong. In that case, he must also change his view that the emperor is excessively indulgent. The reason why he tries to fulfill any request from Princess Shernelia, regardless of its nature, is not because he is blinded by her cuteness, but because he trusts her judgment. Perhaps the reason why he wants to keep her by his side without marrying her off and instead allowing her to marry a groom and create a new noble family is not just because of his attachment, but because he believes that she has the capacity to create a powerful ally for the imperial family.

In this martial arts competition as well, Princess Shernelia might do something remarkable.

At that time, Bard was in a spectator’s state of mind.