Chapter 103: Internal Affairs of the Empire

After filling our stomachs with cake, I wanted to refresh our mouths with tea, but what I prepared here was carbonated juice. Tifa, Luca, and Eltiria-chan, who have already experienced cola and such from the kitchen car, are drinking calmly and deliciously, but Imperial Princess Risha was blinking her eyes in surprise. And she’s holding her mouth, suppressing something. Eh, did something taste bad?

“Kepu… Excuse me.”

Luca burped slightly, which made me realize. In other words, she’s holding back a burp. Achaa… My mistake. I made it carbonated juice thinking it would surprise them, but manner-wise this is a no-go…

“Ritsu, a different juice, not carbonated.” “Yes.”

Ritsu, waiting behind, heads to a large barrel placed outside the gazebo. The barrel is filled with ice water, and Ritsu took out a chilled plastic bottle from it. Stocks of such drinks are everywhere. Glasses are also placed so one can drink immediately. Taking a glass from the side table, she pours the contents. Label is removed but contents are sports drink.

“Here you go.”

Imperial Princess Risha, who managed not to burp, accepts the handed cup and takes a sip.

“Sweet… Very delicious…!” “That’s good.”

Imperial Princess Risha smiles satisfied this time. Phew, managed to recover the lost point maybe?

“Looks delicious. I want that too.” “I-I want the same one too!” “Me too!”

Ehh…? Whatever, I’ll give you each a 2-liter bottle so pour and drink yourselves… Ritsu hands 2-liter plastic bottles to the maids waiting behind each. Have them pour individually. The maids are surprised at the container of unknown material and the closing cap. When Tifa‘s maid poured it into a glass, she drank it all at once.

“Delicious! Sweet and easy to drink, this is!” “Originally a drink to efficiently replenish water and nutrients lost from the body during exercise. Good for recovering from dehydration and preventing heatstroke under the scorching sun.” “What…! Isn’t that a perfect drink for us desert people…! Sakuraile, this too…” “Ah, please negotiate as Her Majesty.”

Tifa grimaces—nuu. I think selling a certain amount is fine, but can’t gather that huge numbers. Luca and Eltiria-chan are also drinking sports drink saying delicious, delicious. Imperial Princess Risha seems to like it too. Now, as a host, I have to liven up the place around here but… what on earth should I talk about.

“H-How are things recently?” “How, meaning?”

Failed────! To the four looking at me suspiciously, I was sweating cold sweat inwardly. What is ‘How are things recently?’! Are you a father unable to converse with his child!? Should have something else!? Like, something!

“Recently, huh… Recently all I hear is about Sakuraile.” “Ah, Prelude too.” “Eh? Me?”

Tifa and Luca steered the conversation in an unexpected direction. What about me?

“Just when we thought you defeated the Dark Dragon, heard rumors from Symphonia one after another that you broke a forbidden Magic Sword, further revived the Spirit Tree, and saved people from curse disease?” “Yeah. Stories too unbelievable, some say they are lies. Is it true?” “It is true! Lady Sakuraile revived the Spirit Tree for us! And even made special medicine so the Spirit Tree won’t weaken again!”

That story, huh… No, Eltiria-chan, that special medicine is chili pepper and habanero insect repellent liquid, right? Also Spirit Tree revival wasn’t my achievement! It was Estelle! However, couldn’t bring myself to say that…

“So, is it true?” “M-M-Mostly, not wrong…”

When I squeezed out a bitter voice, conversely voices of admiration ‘Ooh…’ were heard from surroundings. It wasn’t done by me alone though…

“Lady Sakuraile is amazing…” “Umu, Sakuraile is amazing! You understand quite well!”

Praised (?) by Tifa, Imperial Princess Risha smiles shyly, looking a little happy. Cute when she smiles. If only she could fix that timid attitude a little more. Probably Imperial Princess Risha lacks confidence in herself. Despite being a Princess, treated as if her presence doesn’t matter; at this rate, she’ll just be used politically as convenient, ending up in a political marriage at best. This child, didn’t hear her name or existence at all in the game… Well, that Ore-sama Prince apparently had many siblings, so the production company probably didn’t grasp one of them. According to Nine Goddesses, the game is the imitation and this world is the original… There must be settings disappeared or characters cut at the game adaptation stage. Or… perhaps passed away before the game’s start time… no such thing, right?

“Come to think of it, hear rumors about the Empire sporadically too. Something about First Imperial Prince and Second Imperial Prince opposing or not? How is it actually?”

Suddenly Tifa stares at Imperial Princess Risha with sharp eyes. This is probing… The Empire borders Tifa‘s country, Minuet Queendom. Must not miss chances to know Empire’s internal affairs. That’s the same for us here too. Whether on good or bad terms, must keep antenna up for other countries’ information always.

“Umm, well… I don’t know well…” “What do you mean don’t know? It’s about your older brothers, right?”

To Imperial Princess Risha answering looking down, Tifa raises one eyebrow with a suspicious expression. That Empire’s First Imperial Prince faction and Second Imperial Prince faction are on bad terms, I heard a little from His Majesty too. Thought it was like our faction dispute, but internal affairs seem a bit different. Apparently because First Imperial Prince has health anxiety due to illness, there is talk Second Imperial Prince might become Crown Prince. Empire’s Emperor seems to lean towards Second Imperial Prince, but since he can’t neglect the Ducal House which is First Imperial Prince’s mother’s family, Crown Prince hasn’t changed yet. This Second Imperial Prince is a hardcore hawk hostile to our Kingdom, so for us, feeling is ‘Do your best First Imperial Prince!’. But… In the game world, this Second Imperial Prince becomes Emperor, if I recall… There was a scenario like almost opening war with our Kingdom too…

“Well, I don’t talk much with my older brothers so…” “Bad terms?”

Ooh… Luca-san, you ask bluntly…

“Y-Yes… Not very good terms… My succession rank is low too so…” “But you are siblings, right? Does succession rank matter?”

Oops, Eltiria-chan also threw one in. Well, from elves’ perspective, think that doesn’t matter.

“In the Empire, birth is emphasized above all. Lady Risha inherits His Majesty the Emperor’s blood, but the one who gave birth is a lowest-ranking concubine of low status. Birth itself is different from other Highnesses who are children of the Empress or high-ranking concubines. Thinking of them as equals is disrespectful.”

The mean Zamasu-glasses head lady-in-waiting behind Imperial Princess Risha answers Eltiria-chan’s doubt. Didn’t ask you. Imperial Princess Risha doesn’t refute that, just looking down.

“…I see. However, isn’t interjecting leaving the master aside somewhat disrespectful?” “Thought it would be difficult for Lady Risha to answer. It was a presumptuous remark out of concern for Her Highness. Please forgive me.”

Not intimidated by Tifa‘s words, Zamasu head lady-in-waiting answers nonchalantly. Concern? Didn’t seem so at all though. Certainly think it was a hard story for Imperial Princess Risha to tell though.

“What does Imperial Princess Risha usually do in the Imperial Palace?” “Besides studying, nothing in particular… Told not to do anything so…” “Do nothing? Sounds disquieting.” “Please do not misunderstand, Lady Risha will eventually marry into some Imperial noble family. It must be words from His Majesty the Emperor’s deep love lest something happens to her body.” “…Is that so.”

Zamasu head lady-in-waiting intruding again. That word also sounds fake. Seems indeed no allies for Imperial Princess Risha in the Imperial Palace.

“…A, also umm, I draw pictures a little.” “Hou, pictures. What kind of pictures do you draw?” “Eh, umm, small animals and such…”

Saying so, Imperial Princess Risha sends a gaze to Kohaku-san curled up at my feet. No, Kohaku-san is actually super huge though…

“If pictures, we drew the other day too. Estelle was very good.” “Estelle?” “Our friend. A Baron’s daughter of this country, over there… mu? Not there? Restroom?”

Turning to Tifa‘s words, certainly Estelle isn’t at the seat she was sitting until a while ago. Restroom maybe? It’s a bit far from this venue to the restroom. There was talk of summoning a shop with my toilet, but apparently rejected by His Majesty saying no need to expose hand unnecessarily. Well, will return soon probably.

“…Friends with a Baron’s daughter? A Princess?” “Doesn’t matter. Estelle is a good guy.” “Nn. Kind girl. Gives me sweets.”

Wonder what, Luca’s definition of kindness seems slightly different… Well, generally admit she’s a good girl. Feel like I see black parts sometimes though… Unable to believe being friends with a Baron’s daughter as a Princess, Imperial Princess Risha stops moving with mouth open. Well, normally impossible. Status difference between lower noble children and royalty is too big. Especially in the strict status system of the Empire.

“Impossible in the Empire.” “Is… that so…”

As the Zamasu head lady-in-waiting poured sports drink into the unknowingly empty glass saying so, Imperial Princess Risha answers weakly. Truly… I think status is stupid, but being noble, being bound by it is unavoidable. However, doesn’t mean can’t get along just because status is different. Though there will be those complaining noisily. Even if unavoidable in public places, wish we could get along regardless of status in private places. While I was thinking such things, suddenly a goton sound of something falling on the table was heard. Looking, Imperial Princess Risha dropped the glass on the table and spilled the sports drink. Ah-ah, she did it.

“Ritsu, replacement tablecloth…”

At the timing I spoke to Ritsu waiting behind, Imperial Princess Risha next to me fell towards me.

“Wa…!?”

Hurriedly reached out to Imperial Princess Risha and caught her, but fell off the chair together with momentum. Looking, Imperial Princess Risha was convulsing all over, eyes wide open, breathing seemingly difficult. What is this…!? Some seizure!? Don! Pushing aside the dumbfounded me, Zamasu head lady-in-waiting picks up Imperial Princess Risha.

“Your Highness!? Are you okay, Your Highness! Could it be… could it be there was poison in this drink!?” “Haa!?”

To the outrageous remark the Zamasu head lady-in-waiting blurted out, I involuntarily raised a hysterical voice.