249 - Capital Martial Arts Tournament 1
I purchased low-quality thread through the tailor and tried weaving methods other than ribbon shapes. Leonardo made me lots of bobbins for bobbin lace as a birthday present, so if I hand him the bobbins and buy thread, the shop will wind it for me, which makes things a bit easier. Once the good quality thread arrives, I am thinking of making a ribbon for Felicia instead of just practicing.
...Someday, if I can make my own patterns, maybe I will make Felicia-sama a detachable collar with a horned owl woven into the design.
I rolled the bobbins while thinking such thoughts. The pattern itself should not be that complicated, but just changing from a ribbon shape to a wider surface increases the number of bobbins I need to roll. That alone was enough to confuse me.
...Looks like I will be struggling for a while, but maybe that is what makes it fun.
As I was enjoying rolling the bobbins with a clatter, the day of the martial arts tournament arrived. Leonardo told me to stay in the royal VIP seats, so I am in formal wear. Since it was tailored as summer clothes, the fabric is thin and designed to let air through, but the color is problematic. It is black-based with red accents to match Leonardo's formal wear, so it is not suited for being outdoors in summer.
...Well, I suppose it cannot be helped.
The place I will be is technically the royal VIP section, so there should be some shade at least. If I am not exposed to direct sunlight for long periods, black clothes should be manageable.
In Grenore City, the tournament venue was right next to the residence at the fortress, but the capital is different. Unlike Grenore, which just sets up spectator seating in the fortress courtyard, the royal castle has an arena. For a moment I thought they built such a large facility just for the Silver-White Knights' tournament, but although it is called an arena, apparently it is also used for plays and when the king issues decrees to the people. Since the commoners also use it, the arena is on the castle grounds but built near the inner city, so getting from the detached palace to the arena was quite a distance. That meant being jostled in a carriage just to go to a building on the same grounds, but it felt like a little outing.
...Felicia-sama's carriage was comfortable in summer.
As a royal carriage, having one that is too open seems questionable from a security standpoint, but a carriage with no windows or walls, only a sunshade umbrella, has excellent ventilation. If safety is guaranteed, I think it is a wonderful carriage for summer riding.
Felicia was escorted by a Silver-White Knight, and I was escorted by Leonardo as we descended from the carriage and were guided to the waiting room. When I entered the waiting room, King Christoph was at the back, with two plump women flanking him on either side.
...Their Majesties the Queens, I wonder?
Christoph has three wives. The number does not seem to add up, but judging by the women's attire, they do not appear to be attendants or ladies-in-waiting.
"It has been a while, Your Majesty King Christoph."
"Mm, it has been since the Recollection Festival. Glad to see you are well. Feel free to visit my castle anytime..."
I stepped quietly before Christoph and greeted him like a proper lady. Christoph nodded magnanimously and shifted slightly, but his words stopped unnaturally. Christoph's expression did not move at all, but I felt his luxurious cloak shift faintly on his shoulder, and my gaze went to his feet. Before my view fully changed, whatever had been placed on Christoph's cloak seemed to retreat. There was nothing on the cloak, but the hem of the woman standing to his right swayed slightly.
...I see. So having three wives means it takes all three to control Christoph-sama. In the physical sense.
I could not help but look up at the queen who had stepped on Christoph's cloak, but before our eyes met, the queen on the left stepped forward. Distracted by that movement, I turned my gaze and realized it. Her action probably prevented me, in my thoughtless state, from blurting out an unguarded remark. The two queens seemed to support their husband with perfect teamwork.
"At last we meet, Christina. I have heard about you from my husband and grandson."
"It is an honor to meet you, Gloriana-sama."
Setting aside the husband, since she emphasized "grandson," she must be Dietfried's grandmother. Which means she should be the mother of the First Prince who sent me norakamu.
"Today, let us watch Leonardo's exploits together."
"Yes, Josselyn-sama."
The queen who physically blocked my charge by stepping on Christoph's cloak was, judging by her apparent age, not Alfred's mother. Alfred's mother, the highest-ranking wife, is the youngest in terms of marriage order. She does not seem to be present here, but she is the youngest of the king's wives.
...Still, there are some common sense things that make me think, "As expected of another world," every now and then.
I was surprised that same-sex marriage was so established as common sense that it did not even come up as a topic of discussion, but I was also surprised that there is no tendency to criticize married women who are plump as being fat. It is only natural for a woman's body to change shape after childbirth, and a soft woman's body serves as a cushion to protect a baby during pregnancy. Incidentally, it is also evidence that the husband earns enough, so among nobles and the wealthy, a plump wife is something for the husband to be proud of.
...Different from Japan. In Japan, there was a trend that even married women should be thin.
Japan had a strong tendency to consider thinness as a prerequisite for beauty, but there are regions abroad where plump women are considered more beautiful, and even in Japan, there were times in the distant past when moon-faced women were considered beautiful. If beauty standards change with the times, it is no wonder that this world's beauty standards differ from my sensibilities.
...Well, I suppose plump men are still looked down upon though.
While a woman's body changing shape is understood to be for the sake of the baby, a man's potbelly is seen as truly unnecessary fat. Therefore, obesity is rare among nobles and wealthy merchants who care about their appearance and conduct. Incidentally, being plump as an unmarried woman also does not seem to invite very favorable impressions. Apparently it is not about thinness being beautiful, but rather that it might make one be seen as a woman with children, which works against you in choosing a partner.
...Still, they really assume Leonardo will be active, do they not.
I had heard there were people stronger than Leonardo among the Silver-White Knights, so this is a little surprising. I thought it would not go as smoothly as the tournament at the Grenore Fortress, but apparently he is expected to perform well. When I asked about it out of curiosity, it turns out Leonardo absolutely cannot lose today.
"I hear some of today's opponents have challenged Leonardo to duels with the right to propose to you on the line, but..."
Josselyn tilted her head cutely as she said, "Have you not heard?" and I, with all due disrespect, nearly popped my cat off. I had been wearing the mask of a composed lady, but foolishly, my mouth fell open.
"Wh-what, I am still just an eleven-year-old child, you know...?"
"In four more years, you will be counted among the adults. Besides, girls grow up faster than boys. They probably want to get their reservation in early."
"Four years? I was planning to stay as Leo's child for nine more years though...!"
Something strange is happening, I thought, and hurriedly looked up at Leonardo behind me. He averted his eyes just before they met, so I knew he had been planning to deal with the suitors without ever letting it reach my ears.
"Leo, your leg."
Leaving the marriage proposals aside for now, what was this about him having no intention of letting anything concerning my future reach my ears? And instead of explaining when discovered, he tried to look away and escape. This definitely calls for punishment.
It is not like I can put the cat back on now that it has slipped off. Christoph has already seen my true nature. Which means I can assume his affectionate wives know all about my behavior too.
"...If you beat all the suitors into the ground, I will give you a kiss on the cheek as a celebration."
I tousled the groomed hair that had fallen before me as Leonardo crouched, clutching his shin. I was not happy that he did not tell me beforehand, but this will all be over once Leonardo defeats the suitors. If there is anything I can do, it is to offer a reward to my sister-doting brother and send him off to the match.
"While you are at it, I would be happy if you could graduate from custom-ordered shoes soon..."
"I guess the celebration will just be words after all, Leonyaldo Big Brother-sama."
When I hinted that the kiss on the cheek was off, Leonardo's face tightened. He declared he would definitely beat them all down, and frustratingly enough, my brother looked handsome saying it. But since I did not feel like admitting that outright, I just turned away with a huff.
As the tournament start time approached, we moved to the VIP seats prepared in the arena, guided by a White Knight. My seat was positioned slightly behind Felicia's.
...I understand Christoph-sama having the highest seat, but?
The arena's spectator seats were tiered like a colosseum. At the very top of the front section was the VIP section for the king and his wives, and the Royal Peerage VIP section was one tier below that. Being behind Felicia naturally put my seat in the Royal Peerage VIP section too. The problem was that the seats for royalty without Royal Peerage status were below those with Royal Peerage.
"Is it not disrespectful for me to be seated above royalty?"
Thanks to the sun-shading canopy, I could not see the royalty below, but normally, they would not be pleased that a commoner like me is in their section. When I showed concern about the lower tier, Felicia narrowed her eyes and glanced at the canopy below.
"Those who were born as children of the king yet have no intention of fulfilling their duties are not worth worrying about."
"But there are underage royalty down there too..."
Christoph should still have one child under fifteen. All the others are over fifteen so I cannot make excuses for them, but even as a child, they probably would not be happy that I, a commoner, am up here.
"If you mean my youngest brother, he is probably with his mother, do you not think?"
The Fourth Prince is still very young, so apparently he cannot sit still for long periods alone. He is likely either being watched by his nurse in a separate room or specially seated with his mother Josselyn in the king's VIP section.
"If the royalty below are bothering you, would you like to join Ethelbert-sama instead?"
"Oh? Kyuubee-san?"
The new Kyuubee called out to me from behind, having appeared there at some point. I looked around, but there was no sign of Ethelbert. I thought he might be accompanying Ethelbert, but apparently he came specifically to call me. Following his gaze, I turned my head and saw a corner clearly set aside for Ethelbert. Although Ethelbert is a former king, his seat is one tier below the current king. It is at the same height as the Royal Peerage seats, but perhaps out of consideration for his age, the seat's design is slightly different. The Royal Peerage seats have some side walls removed including the front section for a better view of the arena, but Ethelbert's seat has misu blinds hanging at the sides. The misu blocks the view from outside, but inside it is probably a comfortable space arranged in his favorite Napaji style.
"Ethelbert-sama's seat is partitioned by misu blinds, so you may not see the arena as well, but you will not need to worry about other people's eyes."
"But my brother told me to stay by Felicia-sama's side today..."
Not having to worry about stares would be a relief, but I would feel bad breaking my orders. I had a perfectly good excuse, so I tried to decline Ethelbert's invitation, but the new Kyuubee was far more skilled than me.
"There is also tatami in Ethelbert-sama's seat."
A comfortable space where I could take off my shoes. And with the misu blinds partitioning it, I would not need to worry about other people's eyes.
"Felicia-sama, would not getting sunburned be bad for one's beauty?"
"Do know that even tanned, I am still beautiful."
"Then, um..."
Seduced by the wonderful offer, I wavered, running through my mind for some way to move Felicia there too. Leonardo had told me to stay by Felicia's side. If Felicia moved to Ethelbert's seat, there would be no problem at all.
"I am acutely aware that allowing my people to behold my beauty is the mission the gods have bestowed upon me. So I cannot accompany you to Grandfather's seat."
"Right... of course. If I go into the misu, everyone will not be able to see Felicia-sama..."
I suppose I have no choice but to give up. My shoulders drooped in disappointment, but Felicia just laughed and sent me off. My seat was prepared slightly behind Felicia, so Leonardo at the arena would not be able to see me anyway, she said. We could just coordinate our stories later.
"Felicia-sama, you are wonderful!"
My guardian for today was not Leonardo. It was the accommodating Felicia.
Offering my utmost gratitude to Felicia, I decided to go bother Ethelbert in his seat.