Soba noodles and tempura were lined up in front of everyone.
I had both chopsticks and a fork ready to eat.
"Umm, just to confirm, this is..." (Ange)
Soba noodles and tempura were also placed in front of Ange-san.
"This is for Ange-san. I'm sure you haven't had lunch yet." (Yuna)
"Wasn't that for His Majesty the King!?" (Ange)
"Now that I think about it, we entered through a different entrance, so His Majesty doesn't know that Yuna-chan is here." (Ellelaura)
Surely.
I didn't see the usual gatekeeper running.
"That's why it was so quiet." (Yuna)
Maybe it would be nice to have a day without the King every now and then.
"So His Majesty the King doesn't know that Yuna-san's here. I'll go and tell His Majesty the King that Yuna-san's here." (Ange)
"That's not your job. Your job is to look after Flora-sama." (Ellelaura)
Ellelaura-san stopped Ange-san as she hurried out of the room.
"That's true, but..." (Ange)
"What if something happens to Flora-sama while you're away?" (Ellelaura)
Ange-san looked at Flora-sama.
"Besides, is it really worth abandoning your duties to tell His Majesty the King that Yuna-chan is here?" (Ellelaura)
"It is……" (Ange)
Ange-san knew too.
The King just came to Flora-sama's room and ate the food I brought.
"You had no idea. If anything happens, I'll put in a good word for you, so don't worry." (Ellelaura)
If anything happened, Ellelaura-san said she'd protect her.
No matter what, Ellelaura-san was kind.
"So don't worry about it, let's eat together." (Ellelaura)
Ellelaura-san said with a smile.
Ange-san answered "Yes" in a small voice and sat down in a chair.
I wondered. Ellelaura-san looked satisfied.
Maybe she were trying to harass the King?
Did she just not want him to eat the food?
Let's pretend I didn't see Ellelaura-san's final expression.
"Well then, let's eat." (Ellelaura)
"It's hot, so be careful not to get burned." (Yuna)
By the way, Flora-sama was provided with a small bowl-like thing to make it easier to eat.
Ellelaura-san ate soba noodles with chopsticks, while Flora-sama and Ange-san used forks.
"It's delicious." (Ange)
"Howt, but dewicious." (Flora)
"It really is"
"The soup is very light."
I was glad it seemed to be well received.
"You eat this battered tempura as is, right?" (Ellelaura)
"You can eat it as is, or dip it in soba sauce." (Yuna)
Ellelaura-san ate it as is, with a crunch, and then dipped it in soba soup to compare the taste.
"Both are delicious, aren't they?" (Elleaura)
"Some people add salt." (Yuna)
I gave her salt.
Ellelaura-san immediately tried it out by adding salt to it.
"It's delicious." (Ellelaura)
Flora-sama and Ange-san also ate in the same way, imitating Ellelaura-san.
And then everyone's bowls and plates were empty.
"It was simple, but delicious." (Ange)
"Yeah, was dewicious." (Flora)
Simple and delicious was the best.
Although time-consuming dishes were delicious, it's nice to have something that's easy to make and delicious.
This was possible thanks to the people who made the noodles from buckwheat flour and the people who made the noodle soup.
Don't forget to be grateful to that person.
Just as I was about to clear away the bowls and plates, the door opened without a knock.
The man who entered the room was the most important man in the country.
"You really were here." (King)
The King was coming to us.
"What were you eating?" (King)
He asked, looking at the now empty bowl and plate.
"It's soba and tempura." (Yuna)
I didn't think he'd understand if I told him the name, but I told him what I ate.
"Why haven't they contacted me?" (King)
"That's because Yuna-chan and I entered the castle by carriage." (Ellelaura)
Ellelaura-san told him how I got here.
"So, the gatekeeper didn't know Yuna was here?" (King)
"But how does Your Majesty know that Yuna-chan is coming?" (Ellelaura)
"Zelef told me earlier when he brought over the food he had prepared for us to have a late lunch." (King)
Apparently, he asked, "It seems that Lord Yuna is here, but weren't you heading to Flora-sama's room today?"
Zelef-san said that Ange-san had informed him of my arrival in regards to lunch.
"Ellelaura, why didn't you tell me?" (King)
"I thought Your Majesty was busy with important national business, so I did not tell you." (Ellelaura)
Ellelaura-san answered nonchalantly.
"And you……" (King)
The King sighed.
"Well, okay. So, is there any left for me?" (King)
I'd stocked up on soba noodles and had some tempura prepared in advance.
It's enough for several dozen people.
"Yes, but are you going to eat it?" (Yuna)
"I'll eat" (King)
"What did Zelef-san cook for you?" (Yuna)
Zelef-san had said earlier that he had brought the food.
"I've had a proper meal, so don't worry." (King)
But he still ate it.
It's ok because it's easy to make.
"If you leave any, I won't make it again." (Yuna)
I boiled the soba noodles, heated the soup, and served the tempura.
It felt like three-minute cooking.
"It's easy." (King)
"But it's delicious." (Yuna)
The King began to eat the noodles and seemed satisfied.
"What about the Queen?" (Yuna)
I just checked.
Also, it's a hassle if someone came later and asked me to make it.
"They should be having a tea party with the noblewomen." (King)
"Tea parties are the Queen's work." (Ellelaura)
"Work?" (Yuna)
A tea party?
The only scene that came to mind was them elegantly drinking tea and having a conversation.
"She's getting some information. Things like the recent actions of the nobles and the situation in the territory." (Ellelaura)
"There are some things you can't understand just from numbers. It's an important source of information." (King)
It wasn't the kind of tea party I had imagined.
"Is Ellelaura-san not participating?" (Yuna)
Ellelaura-san was also a noblewoman.
"I don't want to participate because it's exhausting. It's like trying to figure out what's going on inside." (Ellelaura)
What is that? That's scary.
"So, what's that thing over there?" (King)
After finishing his soba noodles, the King turned his gaze to the easel in the distance.
"Yuna-chan drew Flora-sama." (Ellelaura)
Ange-san approached the easel and turned the painting so the King could see it.
"Not only can you draw picture books, you can also draw pictures like this." (King)
"But I can't compete with a real painter." (Yuna)
"This much should be enough. How much talent do you have?" (King)
I couldn't beat the professionals.
It's just a hobby after all.
It's disrespectful to those who draw every day.
But even though it's been a while since I last drew it, I thought it came out well.
That might also be because the model was good.
"I need a frame to fit this." (King)
"Of course I'll arrange it. I'll pick a few and then let Flora-sama choose at the end." (Ellelaura)
"A flower-patterned picture frame would look good." (King)
"That's true. I'll look for some around there." (Ellelaura)
For once, it seemed that Ellelaura-san and the King had their say.
Certainly, a floral picture frame might suit Flora-sama.
Then, satisfied with his soba and tempura, the king went back to work.
By the way, shortly after the King left the room, someone who appeared to be Ellelaura-san's subordinate came and took Ellelaura-san away.
To be precise, he repeatedly bowed his head and said, "Please do your job," "Everyone is waiting for you, Ellelaura-sama," and "I don't want to stay up all night."
"Oh well," said Ellelaura-san, and went to work.
Having a boss like that made it hard for employees.
At Flora-sama's request, I summoned Kumayuru and Kumakyu and we decided to play.
After a while, Flora-sama fell asleep between Kumayuru and Kumakyu. Flora-sama always fell asleep, probably because she was tired from playing. Well, for children of this age, taking a nap was part of their job. They ate well, slept well, and grew up.
"...Beaw." (Flora)
"What kind of dream is she having?" (Yuna)
"I think it was a dream where I was playing with Kumayuru and Kumakyu." (Ange)
She laughed.
I was sure it's a pleasant dream.
When I told Ange-san that I was going home, Ange-san picked up Flora-sama, careful not to wake her, and put her to bed.
"Well then, I'm heading home." (Yuna)
"Thank you for today. Flora-sama was looking forward to meeting you, Yuna-san, so I'm sure she was happy." (Ange)
Next time I'd bring her a new book.
To do that, I needed to think of a story.
But first I needed to finish up my job as a guard for Marne-san.
As we sent Kumayuru and Kumakyu home and prepared to go home, there was a knock on the door and it opened.
A beautiful girl peeks through the gap in the door.
"Tilia?" (Yuna)
"Yuna?" (Tilia)
Tilia, the princess of the country and Flora-sama's older sister, came into the room.
Tyria was wearing a school uniform.
It's like going home from school.
"I thought maybe Yuna would be there, so I came, and you were there." (Tilia)
"Did you know I was in the Royal Capital?" (Yuna)
"Shia told me today that you were going to the Ministry of Magic and might visit Flora." (Tilia)
Was this information received via Shia?
I was sure she was a classmate.
"So, what was Yuna doing? Flora seems to be sleeping." (Tilia)
"I was drawing a picture of Flora-sama." (Yuna)
"Yuna did the painting?" (Tilia)
I showed her the picture of Flora-sama I drew for her.
"That's unfair," Tilia said after seeing the picture.
"Unfair?" (Yuna)
"Yuna only pays attention to Flora." (Tilia)
"It can't be helped, Tilia is at school." (Yuna)
Generally, I came in the morning, so Tilia was usually at school.
"Yuna, you're not going home yet, are you?" (Tilia)
"I'm going home though." (Yuna)
Flora-sama was asleep and Ellelaura-san had gone to work, so there's no reason for me to stay here.
Tilia grabbed my arm.
"Please draw a picture of me too." (Tilia)
"Why don't you get your artist to paint it instead of me?" (Yuna)
The homes of royalty and aristocrats were decorated with paintings of the head of the family and their families.
I hadn't seen it in Cliff's house, but maybe it's on display in one of his rooms.
"I like Yuna's paintings." (TIlia)
I was tired today because I drew pictures, prepared soba noodles, and played with Flora-sama.
Tilia's grip tightened.
It seemed like she wouldn't let go until I offered to draw a picture.
"Okay, I'll draw it. But don't complain later if it's no good." (Yuna)
"I won't." (Tilia)
I felt like I was being pushed to draw a picture of Tilia as well.
I thought about the composition of the picture, and decided on a composition that would be a counterpart to Flora-sama.
I asked her to sit in a chair opposite Flora-sama and I started drawing.
I should have gone home a little earlier.
Author's Note
In the end, Yuna was caught by the King and Tilia.
I think next time we'll talk about Marne's guarding.
*Posting dates are Wednesday and Sunday at midnight.
If I am taking time off I will inform you in the postscript, if the time off is sudden I will inform you in the activity report.
[Book release schedule]
Book volume 20.5 was released on May 2, 2024. (The next volume, volume 21, is planned and in the works.)
The 11th volume of the comic was released on December 1, 2023. (The 12th volume is scheduled for release on August 2, and is currently in preparation.)
The second volume of the comic spin-off was released on March 5, 2024.
The paperback version of volume 10 was released on May 2, 2024. (The deadline for the campaign to win a big acrylic stand featuring Yuna and Sanya on the cover is August 20, 2024. 20 lucky winners will receive a prize.) (The next volume, volume 11, is currently in the works.)
Thank you to everyone who reports typos.
Some of the kanji have been corrected to match the book, so please understand that there are some parts that have not been corrected.