146 - Spring Flower Festival 3
"Ethel-shama, why are you in Grenore deshu ka?"
Our eyes had met perfectly, and since I'd unconsciously called out "Ethel-shama," I couldn't pretend I hadn't noticed. Honestly, I wanted to run away, but since Ethelbert, seated on the bench, beckoned me over, there was no helping it. I sat down beside Ethelbert, who was enjoying the cherry blossoms together with a middle-aged man who seemed to be a regular.
"I've taken a liking to this place's mackerel miso stew, you see. I sneak in to eat it every so often."
"...I heard the back garden invitation is only for regulars deshu kedo?"
At the very least, I'd been judged a regular because I'd eaten all the limited seasonal festival items. If Ethelbert was also recognized as a regular, that meant he visited the Three Crows Tavern at least once every season. That seemed a bit far-fetched to me.
"Nikubenki features Napaji cuisine quite often, you see. I was searching for somewhere I could taste the real thing... and that's how I wound up at this Three Crows Tavern."
When I pointed out that visiting every season seemed a stretch, it turned out he'd apparently been a regular at the Three Crows Tavern in the city of Tior originally. The tavern was run by three brothers from Napaji, and the Three Crows Tavern in Grenore was apparently a second branch opened by the youngest brother when he became independent. Since he was a regular at the first branch, even if he showed his face at the second branch in Grenore, they immediately treated him as a regular too.
...Now that I think about it, just like Leo said?
This old man, showing up at strange times, in strange places. I never imagined I'd run into him again at an eatery in the city of Grenore.
"Did you come to eat Napaji cuisine deshu ka?"
I meant it as a follow-up, but my true feeling was "eat it and go home already." Surely his attendants or the people from the mansion must be looking for him.
"I got a craving for Napaji cuisine after so long. I thought about making my way to the city of Tior, but I'd left my luggage behind and was traveling light. Since I'd heard they opened a shop in Grenore, I came to see how things were over here."
"By luggage, you mean your great-grandson, deshu yo ne?"
As one would expect, Ethelbert must have disliked how slow traveling became with his great-grandson in tow. Perhaps he removed Dietfried from his traveling companions under the pretext of leaving him at the Mandez Residence and came to Grenore alone.
"Speaking of great-grandsons, I must thank you, young lady. You introduced me to a good place."
"A good place, deshu ka?"
I tilted my head, wondering what he meant, and was told he was referring to the Mandez Residence. Iridal, who served at the Mandez Residence, described himself as furniture and never let any personal feelings interfere with his work. Therefore, Ethelbert said, no matter how adorable Dietfried's appearance might be, Iridal would carry out his assigned duties properly. In short, whether Dietfried cried, sulked, or tried to be charming, Iridal wouldn't coddle him like the nursemaids and servants at the capital mansion. It was a simple thing, but it was also an environment one couldn't hope for in the capital.
"He's a good man. Since he's been purchased by the country, I'm sure he'll fulfill his role properly for the nation's sake."
"...I hope your great-grandson's selfishness gets better, deshu ne."
Good, the conversation ended cleanly. As I lifted my hips to make a quick escape after appropriate goodbyes, the regular stopped me, saying I should have some sashimi too before leaving. Internally I was sweating cold bullets wanting to run away, but seeing sashimi for the first time since being reborn into this world, I couldn't help but sit back down.
"Sashimi deshu ka? This is my first time seeing it."
That wasn't a lie. I'd been to the Three Crows Tavern several times, but I didn't even know it was on the menu. When I asked if it was a menu item only served to regulars, I was told it was listed on the regular menu.
"Huh? Then why wasn't it there when Leonyaldo read for me deshu ne?"
"Sashimi divides opinions. Leonardo probably didn't think you'd want to try it."
Many people don't like raw fish, Ethelbert said, indicating Hermine and Kalisa. Following his prompting, I looked their way. Hermine's expression was unreadable, but Kalisa's brow was slightly furrowed. She probably didn't like raw fish.
"...It's delicious deshu."
Since I was told to eat, I helped myself to the sashimi without hesitation. As I wondered how they had such variety despite being far from the sea, the regular told me they kept them in a fish tank and transported them upstream from the city of Tior. So the price was quite steep, he said.
...Well, that certainly qualifies as festival delicacy treatment.
I asked if I should hold back a little since it was a delicacy, but was laughed off boisterously with the response that children shouldn't hold back. Apparently the payment was covered by Ethelbert from a Saik match held shortly before I arrived.
"Come to think of it, is this child your great-granddaughter?"
"She's going to be my granddaughter-in-law."
"I refushe deshu yo."
I immediately interjected at the conversation happening above my head as I unhesitatingly ate my sashimi. Whether it was planned or whatever, marrying into royalty was something I refused, nothing more and nothing less.
"How cold of you. And here we're friends who ate pudding together."
"For my husband, I hope for someone at least stronger than Leonyaldo!"
Apparently there were Silver-White Knights stronger than Leonardo, but as far as I knew, there was no knight stronger than Leonardo. From the perspective of anyone who knew Leonardo, my wish was quite difficult to fulfill. In other words, I was putting on the pretense of stating my preferences, but it was essentially just a rejection line.
"If you want someone stronger than Leonardo, there are only about three people in this country."
Fortunately, none of those three seemed to be Ethelbert's relatives. This was good to hear. I'd use this rejection line to escape from Ethelbert for a while.
As I was thinking that, Ethelbert's gaze suddenly stopped above my head. What he was staring fixedly at was, positionally, probably the ribbon Kalisa had tied for me.
"That's quite an intricate lace."
"This ribbon deshu ka? This is..."
I tried to answer that it was from Aurelia, but Hermine, who had shown no sign of interrupting until now, suddenly covered my mouth with her hand. I didn't understand the reason, but I understood the intent of her action. She was telling me to be quiet.
When I obediently fell silent at Hermine's action, I was lifted up from the bench. It seemed I was being forcibly removed from this place.
"If I may be so bold, Ethelbert-sama. Your station does not permit you to walk about in such places without attendants."
Hoping he would promptly reunite with his attendants and remember his status, Hermine, who was a teacher of etiquette, made a somewhat impertinently polite remark and carried me out of the back garden.
"...Hermine-sensei, did I do something wrong deshu ka?"
Not understanding the reason for suddenly leaving, I spoke up as we entered the central plaza. Surely with Hermine's slender arms, it was about at the limit of how far she could carry me. It would be better to put me down. With that thought, I spoke up, and Hermine made a slightly troubled face and set me down on the ground.
"It would be best not to speak about Aurelia-sama in front of Ethelbert-sama."
"Aurelia-shama... Hermine-sensei, you knew Aurelia-san deshu ka?"
"She once saved my mother's life."
It seemed Hermine admired how Aurelia, though a woman, had correctly inherited the secret arts of the saint Yuuta Hiraga and remained unmarried. Unlike Hermine, who was a confirmed spinster, Aurelia simply disliked people, but I decided not to point that out.
"It's a famous story in the capital."
Long ago, Ethelbert had apparently pursued Aurelia with tremendous fervor. Passionately, at that. But Aurelia, who had already developed a full-blown misanthropy by that time, coldly refused him, and that led to the present day. Apparently Aurelia was famous as the only woman Ethelbert had ever failed to win over.
"If you're a favorite of Aurelia-sama, whom Ethelbert-sama could not win over, I believe he will try to confine you by any means necessary."
"Understhood. I will never talk about Aurelia-san in front of Ethel-shama."
That's scary, I shuddered at Hermine's words. This was probably different from an old man's late-life love, but I didn't want to be used as bait to attract Aurelia's interest. If Aurelia were lured out by Ethelbert for that reason, I'd feel terrible toward her too.
Ethelbert was too scary, I reported to Leonardo right away after fleeing back to the mansion. That I'd encountered Ethelbert, who shouldn't have been there, at the Three Crows Tavern. At the unexpected report of an Ethelbert sighting, Leonardo looked up from his documents, then immediately clutched his head. What was the former king doing, he muttered.
"...I'll go out for a bit."
"You were supposed to be able to rest by evening, and I made your work increase. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, Tina."
Saying that, Leonardo took several Black Knights and went out into the city, but by the time the sun set, he was already back. When I greeted him, surprised at how early it was, Leonardo made a pained face and simply said, "He got away," his shoulders slumping.
"...Thank you for your hard work deshu."
I'll fix typos and errors another day. Tomorrow's update will be skipped.
I found and fixed the typos and errors I spotted.