kscans

Chapter 155 - The Arts Theater and the Little One, Part Three

"But this is quite nice."

While having tea, Crown Prince Marcello looked around the inside of the mononoke carriage. It was still a living room style where one sat directly on the floor, but the spacious interior was furnished and decorated, creating a relaxing space. There was a thick carpet and fluffy cushions. A pleasant aroma wafted from the kitchenette, making the other guests aboard fidgety.

"This is Frontier’s prized spatial magic. It has no more weight than its exterior appearance, so there is no burden on the honeybees."

The Little One explained with a graceful smile. She didn’t quite understand the actual principle, but just like with sealing orbs, the weight of the contents was nullified. It did not change beyond what could be seen from the outside. So, the mononoke carriages were the same. No matter how spacious the inside became or how many things were put in it, it only had the weight of a single carriage.

"Magic is a mysterious thing, isn’t it?"

The King of Castrato nodded in agreement.

Yesterday, the esteemed guests had been allowed to rest leisurely at their inn, and today’s plan was a relaxed tour of the capital starting in the afternoon. There was no packed schedule. In fact, the Little One intended to leave plenty of room for them to explore freely. There were things one couldn't see by just following a set course. Things that those born and raised in Frontier couldn't see. Rather than imposing the impression she wanted to show, the Little One wanted to know what kind of impression they would form.

"The banquet last night, the meal this morning, Frontier is a country with delicious food. I knew it, but I truly realized how amazing it was after returning to my own country."

Marrow picked up a canapé from the table and murmured with deep emotion.

"Frontier discloses its recipes. I heard that Frontier’s cuisine is being made in other countries as well?"

"Copying it is simple. However, the fundamentals are different. Both the quality of the ingredients and the skill of the cooks."

More than a decade had passed since the Little One had rampaged as Fatima and begun her new tear after being reborn. The dishes and sweets she devised during that time had taken Arcadia by storm. But it seemed there was a world of difference in the final product between those taught directly by the Little One and those who simply received the recipes as a string of words. The subtle, sensory things cultivated through daily instruction could not be conveyed through mere text.

"I am pleased to see Your Imperial Highness in good health. To be invited to such a grand stage, I am overcome with emotion."

Don’t call me Imperial Highness.

Staring at the Little One with the gaze of a benevolent old man was the delegation from Kilfan, which had arrived late last night. Since Kilfan was adjacent to Frontier, it was the only country that could come without relying on the mononoke carriages. Although the gathering was set for the previous day, Kilfan, still a young country, was busy and had desperately made time for this Arts Theater unveiling. The current king of Kilfan was Mutuki Tachibana. He was, surprisingly, Kazuki’s father. There had been many twists and turns after Kazuki ran away. In the end, it seemed the Tachibana family, which held the highest rank, had established the first royal family.

However, to them, their current position was temporary. They were plotting to eventually hand it over to one of Sakura’s direct descendants.

"Your Imperial Highness?"

The King of Castrato voiced his honest question.

Crown Prince Marcello and Marrow grimaced in response.

"It is a bit complicated, but Princess Chihiro’s mother was a former imperial princess of the Kilfan Empire. Therefore, to Kilfan, the Drago family is the main branch of the emperor’s lineage."

"What! Then Chihiro-sama is a pure-blooded Imperial Princess, is she not? In that case, Chihaya-dono will one day inherit the imperial throne of Kilfan."

The old Tachibana man’s gentle smile was tinged with tears.

"If that were to happen, this old man would have no regrets."

The Little One looked up at the heavens, exasperated, as she surveyed the guests who were getting carried away on their own.

Ugh, this is so, so tiresome to explain.

Next to the Little One, who was fighting down the urge to grit her teeth, Chihaya narrowed his sharp eyes.

"We should have already refused that offer, old man Tachibana. We are nobles of Frontier. Kilfan should walk its own path from now on."

Cut down in a single stroke, the King of Kilfan wilted. Seeing this from the side, Katsumi placated Chihaya.

"Now, now. It’s just the wish of an old man with not long left to live, isn’t it? You haven’t changed, son of Count Drago."

Chihaya instinctively averted his gaze from the man who gave a bright, cheerful smile that made his eyes curve into arcs. He was a young man with black hair and black eyes, just like his mother, Sakura. In reality, he was apparently well past thirty, but he looked youthful, no older than twenty. People of East Asian descent tended to look younger, and now that interbreeding had begun in Kilfan, Katsumi, being a pure-blooded Japanese person, looked even younger.

Katsumi had come along as an aide to the king, but his casual and friendly demeanor with the twins made the guests from various countries stare. He was an older brother figure, but on a different vector from Adonis. Chihaya disliked this man who seemed to see through everything. It was as if he knew everything about his sister, as they would bicker loudly, play around, and grin at each other. Katsumi projected an intimacy with the Little One that Chihaya felt he could never break into, no matter how hard he tried. Since he could remember, Chihaya had hated Katsumi. For some reason, when it mattered most, the Little One would rely on him. Not Romel, not Chihaya, not Dorfen, but Katsumi. Katsumi, too, was light on his feet and would come running whenever the Little One asked. And then they would have a conversation that no one else could understand. This whole Arts Theater business, for instance, had started as an extension of paper-story shows and puppet plays. While those around them couldn’t understand his sister’s desperate explanations, only Katsumi showed understanding. And then, they argued this and that and created the prototype for the current theater business.

Now that it was complete, even Chihaya and Romel could understand what the Little One wanted to do.

The paper-story shows and puppet plays had been a means to this end. Chihaya held a strong animosity towards Katsumi, who had understood this from the beginning and had offered his unsparing support.

This was simply a matter of a dimensional difference, so there was nothing to be done about it, but even if he knew that, our dear big brother couldn't understand. Romel didn't quite understand either, but he had accepted that that was just how things were.

Two lone modern people. That bond unconsciously tied them together, transcending genetics.

Katsumi, long accustomed to the absolute zero gaze coming from Chihaya, flicked away the razor-like stare and turned the conversation to the Little One.

"It’s the orphanage and the academy today, right?"

"Yep. And the Castle of Sweets on the way. It’s been a while for you too, right, Charles? Have fun.♪"

Only the royals and the Little One’s close aides were in this carriage. A sense of camaraderie had formed from all the things they had been through together. The Little One’s tone had become casual, and those around her nodded enthusiastically.

As they talked, the mononoke carriage arrived in the capital. The other carriages also landed, and guests came pouring out.

The visitors from each country were royals and a few nobles. Those other than the royals had been transported in carriages dedicated to their respective countries. The nobles from each country were surprised by the cobblestones of the road, the beautifully arranged buildings, and the bright faces of the people passing by.

"How meticulous... There’s no distortion or anything. How can they lay such beautiful cobblestones?"

"More importantly, look! The pillars of the buildings are made of wood! Is this the noble district? Even so, how extravagant! Wonderful!"

"The people seem happy, too. Their smiles are unclouded. It must be a prosperous country."

The nobles let their gazes of admiration wander.

With a wry smile, the Little One and the others guided them through the capital. ...On foot.

"What? We’re walking? What about the carriages? The guards? We’ll get tired, and it’s dangerous, isn’t it?!"

Ignoring the openly flustered nobles, the royals also followed the Little One’s lead and began to walk.

"You have two perfectly good legs, don’t you?"

"Can you call it an inspection just by looking from a window? Use your eyes, your hands, your feet, to properly confirm the current situation."

"Frontier is different from our countries."

With that, the royals from each country let their gazes dart all around. Influenced by them, the nobles also let their gazes wander, and they held their breath at what came into view. Hiding here and there were small creatures. They were monsters. On the eaves of roofs, on the branches of trees. From the narrow streets, too, they could see glimpses of wriggling mononoke.

"As long as they are here, no harm will come to us."

The nobles could only nod rapidly at Crown Prince Marcello’s matter-of-fact words. There were also guards from the covert ops and the knight order, but there was no need to mention them. The Little One did not like ostentatious displays. The Frontier palace, understanding this, had a knight order that was skilled in stealth. How to guard without being noticed. That was the skill required of those around the Little One.

Well, of course, the Little One and her group were aware of them, but they were happy for the effort, so they pretended not to know.

And so, by continuously throwing the unconventional at them, the royals began their spartan on-site inspection, smiling as they aimed to reform the consciousness of their nobles.

The nobles, not yet accustomed to the Little One, would have their rigid old customs shattered again and again.

"Is this okay?"

"It’s fine. It’s shock therapy."

"Indeed. A picture is worth a thousand words. They wouldn't understand no matter how much we tried to explain."

"Let it sink into the marrow of their bones."

The guests declared their dark intentions with bright smiles.

It seemed the nobles they brought were the top brass responsible for the core of their countries.

"When the head is stupid, the subordinates suffer. I think I’ll hammer everything I can into them before sending them back.♪"

The Little One grinned, and the royals gave small nods. Pleased to have understanding, friendly nations, their stroll through the capital began, with them walking alongside the Little One.

For the nobles being dragged around, my deepest sympathies.♪