233 - Ethelbert's Detached Palace 1
...Huh? Who's that?
I'd heard Kyuubee had come to pick me up, so I hurriedly changed into my going-out clothes and stepped out, but the man waiting in front of the carriage was a stranger. Not a face I could recall when I heard the name "Kyuubee."
"Leonyaldo Big Brother, this is terrible! Kyuubee's face is different! There's a possibility of kidnapping under Ethelbert-sama's name!"
I suggested we cancel the outing, but Kyuubee (fake) gave a wry smile, and Leonardo grabbed my shoulder in dismay. I tried to slip back into the detached palace in the confusion, but fleeing before the enemy was impossible. At the very least, I understood that even if I protested that the greeter's face didn't match, today's outing could not be canceled.
"Tina, take a good look. Kyuubee's face is different, but the coachman's face is the same as Ethelbert-sama's coachman, isn't it?"
"I wouldn't remember as far as the coachman's face..."
I didn't remember the coachman's face. I thought so, but when prompted to look again, the coachman's face seemed vaguely familiar. He was the big man who had brought the captured William to the carriage during the kidnapping incident in Lagarette.
"You're right. The coachman is the person who came to help us in Lagarette."
When I thanked him for his help back then, the big coachman also bowed his head. Kyuubee's features don't match, but the coachman's face I do recognize, so there's probably no mistake in thinking he's Ethelbert's messenger.
"The previous 'Kyuubee' has been relieved of duty, so I am now going by the name Kyuubee."
The new Kyuubee politely bowed his head as if to say "I hope you'll remember me from now on." His face had that kind of charm that suited the word "careless," but his substance seemed quite different from the previous Kyuubee. He might play the "careless" role in front of Ethelbert, but at least here, with Ethelbert absent, his manner was that of a gentleman.
"Is it like when the actors change for each series in Nikubenki?"
"I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'each series,' but if Ethelbert-sama deems an attendant unsuitable, they can be replaced."
"...What did the previous Kyuubee do to get replaced?"
My true nature slipped out. From the new Kyuubee's words, I inferred that it wasn't due to unavoidable circumstances like family matters or poor health. The previous Kyuubee had incurred Ethelbert's displeasure and was replaced. From my perspective, the previous Kyuubee had only caused unnecessary trouble, but it was Ethelbert who had employed him in that "careless" position. He must have done something that couldn't be excused as mere carelessness.
"Even though he is my predecessor, spreading rumors about others is not very proper behavior, so please forgive me for not disclosing the reason."
"No, it is I who has done something improper."
Please keep it a secret from your master (Ethelbert), I thought, as I put back on my cat mask named "ladylike facade." I'd asked out of genuine curiosity, but since I'd been gently reprimanded, I should accept that. One shouldn't dig around for rumors about others.
...Besides, Alf-san also taught me to use other people for gathering information.
Going around collecting rumors myself is an unladylike act. If I wanted information, I'd have to win over the detached palace's maids and servants and have them collect it for me.
...Not that I know if I need to go that far.
I was called to show my face. Once business was done, I wanted to return to Grenore City as soon as possible. I couldn't see how building connections at the detached palace or gathering information about the royal castle would be that useful to me.
...Well, if it would help Leonyaldo-san, maybe I could try a little harder?
Leonardo is the lord of Grenore Fortress. Even if he gathered information about the capital, it probably wouldn't be very useful.
I boarded the carriage escorted by Leonardo. As I'd thought when I first came to the detached palace, even though it's within the same royal castle, it's not a distance where you can say "I'll just walk over to the neighboring palace." In particular, my detached palace seems to be relatively close to the main gate, while former king Ethelbert's palace is conversely deep within the grounds. Even if called, walking there would take four hours even at an adult's pace, apparently.
...The royal castle is way too big!
In all likelihood, if I carelessly stepped outside the detached palace grounds, I'd get lost. And moreover, I didn't feel like I'd make it back alive.
...And Ethelbert-sama's detached palace is huge!
I was surprised to be given a palace larger than Grenore's mansion, but seeing Ethelbert's palace made me realize that the palace given to me was still a small one. From what I could see through the carriage window, it was three times the size of the palace I was staying in.
...More than a detached palace, isn't it already a castle?
As I blinked at the overwhelming size, the carriage changed direction. I'd thought we'd pull up to the front entrance, but the carriage made a wide detour around the building and headed toward the inner courtyard.
...A detached palace within a detached palace?
I was starting to lose track of what was going on, but there was one thing I understood.
...Ethelbert-sama's detached palace is less a detached palace and more a palace proper.
In the courtyard stood a building whose materials and style were clearly different from the other structures. If I had to compare it to something, it would be the Heian-period mansions from the history textbooks in my previous life. A single-story building with thick pillars supporting the roof, and instead of walls, lattice-patterned shitomido shutters and misu reed blinds hung down.
...It's called shinden-zukuri, isn't it?
I should have learned it in my previous life's history class, but I couldn't recall the details. In any case, it was a building style I was seeing for the first time in this life.
"The annex was built to Ethelbert-sama's tastes, recreating buildings from Napaji."
...That's not what I'd call an "annex" at this scale.
I looked up at the mansion before me as Kyuubee explained. A little later, the carriage stopped at what seemed to be the entrance, and a maid wearing a kimono with a frilly apron and carrying slippers on a tray came out.
"I apologize. To enter the annex, you will need to wear these 'indoor shoes (Appirusu).'"
Slippers seem to be called indoor shoes (Appirusu) in this world. Perhaps taking into account that they'd be worn over shoes, they were larger than the slippers I'd seen in my previous life.
"So it's no shoes indoors, then."
Apparently, in Japan during the early days of foreign trade, slippers were created in the interaction with Westerners who lived their lives wearing shoes indoors. Rather than making foreign guests remove their shoes in accordance with Japanese customs, they accepted them by having them wear slippers instead.
...Oh, Kyuubee is in socks.
I glanced sideways at the bewildered Leonardo and stole a look at the feet of Kyuubee and the maid. The indoor shoes were only prepared for us "guests." The servants who worked here seemed to simply remove their shoes.
"I don't need indoor shoes either. Could you hold onto my shoes?"
"You don't need to force yourself..."
"It's a little nostalgic, so I'm fine."
I never thought I'd end up removing my shoes to enter a house like in Japan again, but it was normal in my previous life. I have no aversion to taking off my shoes and entering a residence. I had the maid help me remove my shoes, and I left them in the basket. When I turned around to see what Leonardo would do, he seemed to have chosen to wear indoor shoes over his boots.
"...Walking barefoot feels nice too, you know?"
Technically I was wearing socks, but still. The sense of freedom on your feet is completely different between shoes and socks.
"I'm also serving as Tina's guard. It'd be a problem if removing my shoes slowed my movements."
"That's true too."
I'd thought he was bewildered by how different the culture was, but it seemed Leonardo had another reason for not removing his shoes. Certainly, being barefoot would restrict movement if something happened.
"Retired master, I've brought the young lady Tina."
I think the new Kyuubee is less "careless" and more "thorough." Up until now he'd been calling him "Ethelbert-sama," but he switched to "retired master" when addressing Ethelbert directly.
"Hm, come in."
"Excuse me."
Receiving a response, I was led into the room. The inside of the room was just as it appeared from outside, with reed blinds lowered and breezy shinden-zukuri architecture.
...What a strange room.
The building itself was Japanese-style shinden-zukuri, but the way the room was used might be called Western-style, not much different from the common sense of this life. A wooden floor spread out, with a long-legged table set and tatami laid only in one section.
...Why is the tatami only in that one part? Isn't the whole room supposed to be tatami?
I thought so, but while I have the image of a Japanese-style room being one with tatami, I felt like I'd heard somewhere that tatami was actually a luxury item, used only for the seats of high-ranking people or placed under futons. In the first place, since this is something Ethelbert did, it's probably not a Japanese-style room but Napaji-style. It would be more of a stretch to think it's the same as a Japanese-style room.
"...Is it rare?"
"Rather than rare, it feels strange."
Before even greeting him, my eyes went to the room, and I ended up absently observing the interior. This might lead to a reflection meeting with Hermine later. For ignoring a superior and being captivated by their room.
"Ethelbert-sama, have you heard about me?"
"I haven't heard anything from my son, but I think I know the gist of it."
He was evasive, but I suppose he knows I'm a Japanese reincarnator. His voice seemed to carry a slightly probing tone.
"Is Napaji similar to Japan? I'm surprised because Ethelbert-sama's room has tatami."
"Was there tatami in Japan too?"
"It seems they've decreased quite a bit by the time I lived there, but I think most homes still had them. There were probably more in older times."
I wanted to be drawn to the tatami and walk over there, but I tightened my resolve and held my ground. I'd gotten distracted by the strange room and skipped the greeting. If I didn't start with a proper greeting first, Hermine would scold me later.
"Um... I am most delighted to be invited to lunch... deshu... I mean, I am honored, Ethelbert-sama."
"There, there. This is my detached palace. No need for stiff formalities. As always, feel free to call me 'Grandpa' and..."
"I have never once called you that."
I enunciated E-thel-bert-sa-ma with pauses, driving the point home. I do recall calling him "Ethel-sama" in Lagarette, but I couldn't possibly call a former king by a nickname like "Ethel" within the royal castle.
"Is there something you require of me, Ethelbert-sama?"
I asked bluntly what the reason for the summons was. Since he said stiff formalities were unnecessary, I gratefully allowed myself to relax my speech a little. I'm still practicing how to speak with nobles, but I certainly haven't finished my education enough to converse with royalty in formal settings. In that sense, being called to the detached palace was fortunate.
"Don't make such a scary face. I just happened to hear that you were staying in the capital. I simply invited you to have lunch together."
...I hope that's really all it is.
Why do I find myself wanting to be suspicious? Come to think of it, it's also a mystery where he happened to hear that I was coming.
"If you're a regular at the Three Crows Tavern, the food at my detached palace should suit your taste, you know?"
"From the Three Crows Tavern?"
He prompted me to sit, so I took a seat at the long-legged table. I noticed after Leonardo sat beside me that this table had probably been prepared for me and Leonardo. It would be hard for Leonardo, still wearing indoor shoes, to sit seiza on tatami.
"Wah!? Nimono, grilled fish, aemono, miso soup, and... White Rice-sama! There's even umeboshi!"
Why? How? I looked back and forth between the arranged meal and Ethelbert's face. Nimono and miso soup were on the menu at the Three Crows Tavern in Grenore City, but fluffy round white rice was something I'd never seen before. At least, it wasn't on the Three Crows Tavern's menu.
"I sent a cook to train at the Three Crows Tavern in Tior for a few years. Thanks to that, I can eat Napaji-style food almost every day."
"You sent a cook to train...? Is that how you raise cooks?"
"Sometimes a shop whose flavor I like will teach me their recipes, but... the Three Crows Tavern uses slightly different cooking methods and seasonings. I sent him there to drill those into him."
"...That sounds like it would take a long time."
"Do you have something urgent?"
"Whether it's urgent..."
I honestly told him that the detached palace's food was too heavily seasoned and didn't suit my palate. At first I thought this was just how the capital's food was seasoned, but apparently the previous occupant's influence had made the food heavier.
"That can't be helped. The cook is still exploring the young lady's preferences, so it can't be helped for a while."
Ethelbert advised me to either convey my taste preferences or give them the recipes of the food I ate in Grenore. Since I, as the master, can't do the cooking myself, this was a way to convey my preferences along with the recipes.
"...Well then, if you like the rice, I'll give you a little."
"Ethel-sama, you're wonderful!"
What a wonderful proposal. When I looked up at Ethelbert with 100% gratitude and respect, Ethelbert readily showed his hand.
"How about becoming the granddaughter of such a wonderful old man?"
"I decline!"
I'm not falling for that one, I said, instantly flipping my palm. He's a wonderful old gentleman who's giving me rice, but I don't want to become Ethelbert's granddaughter.
"Being my grandchild comes with considerable power. I think it's quite a recommended position."
"But the accompanying responsibilities are huge too, aren't they? I don't want to become a powerful person."
As far as I'm concerned, I just want happiness suited to my station and enough work to make a living. If I'm being greedy, I'd also need Leonardo as family (big brother) there too. I don't want to become part of the royal family and be separated from him.
I don't feel like this is going to end, so this is it for today.
Typos and omissions again another day. Fixed any typos and omissions I found.