294 - Ethelbert's Reward
"Ah...? I heard that this detached palace is not used in winter."
I recall Ethelbert once mentioning that since winter is cold, they stay in the proper detached palace rather than the shinden-zukuri one. Since it was an invitation from Ethelbert, I had assumed we would be taken to the detached palace that was not the shinden-zukuri today, but the carriage stopped at the usual shinden-zukuri detached palace. When I asked Kyuubee, who came out to greet me, about this, it seems this level of cold is still manageable in the shinden-zukuri. Once the temperature drops further, Ethelbert apparently returns to his territory rather than moving to another detached palace.
"Ethelbert-sama's territory would be... Gumons, I believe. I recall it being east of the capital, but is it warmer there?"
"In terms of temperature, it is not much different. However, Gumons is a city built to watch over the royal mausoleum, so having the territorial lord absent during the Divine King Festival season would be rather inappropriate."
In other words, it would not look good for the territorial lord to be away when the new year approaches. Alternatively, there might be some ritual conducted at the royal mausoleum in Gumons that I do not know about. They need the territorial lord Ethelbert for the Divine King Festival, which is why he returns to his territory.
...Ah, that is right. Was not Ethelbert-sama originally supposed to be in his territory most of the time? It is just that right now he is staying in the capital for a bit longer than usual.
Ethelbert once said that if a former king frequently showed his face in the capital, the political center, it would make things difficult for the current king. Considering that, the current situation where Ethelbert remains in the capital indefinitely is unusual. Normally he would be in his territory. Let us not touch on the reality that he has been traveling around various territories.
"Alfred-sama, will you not be returning to your territory?"
"I have been asked by Alf to look after you, so I will not be going back to my territory for a while. Well... I did make a brief stop there on my way to Grenore, so it should be fine."
Since Alfred puffed out his chest saying his deputy is excellent, he really must be an excellent person. For all I know, he might have grown excellent precisely because he was run ragged by Alfred.
"Alfred-sama's territory would be... near the Meer Fortress where the Restham Knight Order is stationed, was it?"
"Territorially, it borders the Restham Knight Order. A portion of the former Restham territory was annexed into my domain."
"The former Restham territory... I believe I learned at the Menhishumi Church that it was taken by the Empire in a war about twenty years ago."
"That is right. That former Restham territory."
This is why the fortress where the Restham Knight Order is stationed is called 'Meer Fortress' instead of 'Restham Fortress'. There used to be a Restham Fortress, but during the war back then, the territory was trimmed by the Empire, and the knight order that lost their fortress took up post at Meer Fortress instead.
"If I can govern without incident for a little longer, I will also gain a claim to the throne."
"A claim to the throne... So being a Royal Peerage is not enough?"
"Royal Peerage is essentially just a marker that one has completed the education necessary to be a theoretical ruler. You come to understand that quite well when you actually govern a territory."
In other words, the territorial management of the Royal Peerages is essentially like a practical exam. For the people of the country, this might be a more reliable method of selecting an heir than letting someone ascend the throne solely based on book knowledge and bloodline.
"As I said in the carriage, I view my claim to the throne as merely a contingency. The next king should be my sister Felicia."
"Come to think of it, in this world, women are preferred as successors, are they not."
Among the myths concerning the Divine King, there was a reason for this. There was a queen who tried to extinguish the precious bloodline of the Divine King by committing adultery. Because of this, the tendency in this world was that women were preferred as successors, since their children could be reliably confirmed as carrying the family blood.
"...Was it different in your previous world?"
"In my previous world... Even considering just Japan, heirs are predominantly male, partly because they can increase the number of descendants."
"I do not think having a male heir necessarily guarantees being able to increase descendants, though..."
For me, this was a perfectly normal set of values, but it seemed strange to Alfred, who comes from a completely opposite set of values. He furrowed his brow with a puzzled expression.
"Father... no, King Christoph has three wives and fifteen children, but Ethelbert-sama has only two children."
In this world, where women are preferred as successors, this country's kings have had male heirs for three consecutive generations. It seems that by chance, no royal women suitable for the throne were born, but having three generations of male heirs has not particularly increased the royal family. Notably, in Ethelbert's generation, he only had two children, and one of them passed away.
"Lord Christoph's younger brother died of illness, did he not."
"He was the one who resided in Tina's detached palace before Claudine. The reason I have so many siblings is probably also influenced by Father having so few brothers."
Having only one brother who then died of illness, Christoph may have wanted to ensure his own children would not be lonely by giving them plenty of siblings. Alfred does not seem to get along very well with his younger sisters, but he appears to have a good relationship with Felicia, who shares the same Royal Peerage, and also with his half-brother Elvis.
"...Children, huh. I think my sister Felicia would be fine as the next king, but..."
Alfred stared into the distance as he said there was no one suitable to become her husband. He wants to push Felicia as the next king, but there are cases where the throne rolls toward him simply because he lacks a partner.
"Felicia-sama is super popular!"
Every day, followers visit her detached palace to praise Felicia's beauty. Apparently, in the past, men were too awed by her goddess-like beauty to propose, but now that she wears clothes, many men have remembered the obvious truth that she is a woman, not a goddess. As a result, the number of suitors has increased, and Felicia seemed a bit troubled by it. She accepts all worshippers and admirers of beauty, but she cannot respond to suitors who want to monopolize her.
"If Felicia felt like it, she could choose any partner she wanted. There is no man who would not fall for her when she woos them with that face."
"...Indeed, I do not think there is a man who could say no if a goddess told him 'Please make me your wife.'"
And yet, Felicia remains unmarried. Even with suitors, even if she could seduce anyone she wanted, she still has not chosen a partner.
"For Felicia, it probably means no man worthy of being the next king's partner has appeared."
Alfred said that if such a man were in Felicia's field of vision, she would have seduced him immediately. That sister never lets go of her prey, he said.
"...That is right, Tina. Give me Leonardo as Felicia's husband."
"No."
Leonardo is my brother, so I will not give him to anyone, I said, lightly glaring at Alfred. My glare should have no effect, but Alfred simply shrugged.
"...Well, setting aside Felicia's husband, Father probably will not try to marry any more of his daughters to Leonardo."
Alfred said I could rest assured about that, and it was probably about the Seventh Princess. I had only heard about it recently, but if something like that happened, it would certainly be hard to recommend another daughter.
"Speaking of Felicia-sama, it seems she has a favorite silver-white knight?"
"Oh? That is an interesting story. Tell me more."
If a knight like Leonardo is acceptable, then a silver-white knight would probably be fine too. Felicia herself should be the one to judge the temperament required of a king's partner. I noticed this because I am often seated beside Felicia at the tea parties I am dragged to and have observed her, but it seems Felicia has a favorite, or rather, a silver-white knight she cannot help but look at. Since the knight is at the detached palace for work, they do not normally converse with Felicia familiarly, but when she talks with him, Felicia wears a smile so gentle it almost seems like she is trying to make someone jealous. It is a smile full of benevolence that makes you unbearably envious of the person receiving that gaze.
"...It might just be my misunderstanding, though."
I prefaced my story with that many times before telling Alfred about Felicia's behavior at the detached palace.
"I was supposed to be invited to lunch by Ethelbert-sama today, was I not...?"
In the room Kyuubee led me to, there were Ethelbert and the elderly Godwin. It was only natural that Ethelbert was there since he was the host, but I was surprised because I never expected to see Godwin at Ethelbert's detached palace. Age-wise, he is probably close to Ethelbert, but to me, he is an acquaintance of Felicia's.
"Godwin's business can wait until after lunch."
Ushered over with a gesture, I took a seat at the table. Perhaps because Godwin was present today, instead of sitting seiza on the tatami, a seated chair had been prepared.
"Ramen!"
When Kyuubee served lunch and placed it before me, the cat called 'lady' that Hermine had only recently resewn onto me slipped right off. It certainly was not the familiar Chinese-style bowl, but what was placed before me was, from any angle, clearly ramen. Yellowish noodles in an amber broth, with a seasoned egg, bamboo shoots, and char siu that looked well-soaked in flavor.
"This is a noodle dish from Napaji called 'Nemaru.' Is what you know called 'raamen,' young lady?"
"Yes, desu! I never imagined I would encounter ramen here."
My true self slipped out from the excitement, but when I met Godwin's surprised face, seeing my unguarded self for the first time unlike Ethelbert and Alfred, I calmed down. The cat called 'lady' may have slipped off, but I am wearing cat ears today, so I hope they will overlook it.
I demurely put the cat back on, composed my expression, and sat up straight. Kyuubee, wearing a wry smile, set out chopsticks for me. Incidentally, forks were placed before Alfred and Godwin.
"I envy Ethelbert-sama. Being able to eat Napaji cuisine every day."
"I do not eat it every day, mind you... but is it really that enviable?"
"I do envy you. I would like to poach your chef."
When I confirmed, it seems that in Napaji, it is customary to eat Nemaru, or ramen, noisily. There is no need to hesitate knowing that, but deliberately making noise feels uncouth, and since Alfred and Godwin were both eating quietly despite knowing the custom, I followed their example. Quietly, I ate the Nemaru with my chopsticks.
"I cannot let you have the chef, I am afraid."
"I was just saying."
I was just expressing a little envy, but I feel like it was taken more seriously than I intended. Seeing Ethelbert seem to ponder the idea, I corrected myself, telling him not to take it seriously. It would be pitiful for the chef to be poached over such a frivolous reason as wanting to eat Napaji cuisine.
"I cannot let you have the chef, but... I can lend him to you."
"Huh?"
I stared at Ethelbert's face, wondering if I had misheard. If I had not misheard, I felt like I had just heard something absolutely wonderful.
"I will be returning to my territory for the winter, you see. As a reward for you, young lady, I shall lend you the chef while I am away."
Ethelbert continued, saying I could have him teach Napaji cuisine to the detached palace's chefs, or have him cook for me, whatever I liked. At that, the cat I had just put back on slipped off again, quite effortlessly.
"I love you, Ethel-sama!"
"Then how about becoming this old man's granddaughter?"
"I decline!"
The words 'I love you' had slipped out from sheer gratitude, but when he immediately inserted his usual line, I responded without missing a beat. It was our usual exchange. It was our usual exchange, but Godwin, who was not used to it, could not bear it and choked a little on his soup.
Will fix typos and errors at a later date.