Chapter 93: Visit of a Friend

Preparations for the ‘Autumn Cooling Party’ are steadily underway. With one week left until the actual event, nobles from various regions began trickling into the Royal Capital. Why gather early before the ‘Autumn Cooling Party’? Because they hold something like a light meeting within their respective groups of friendly nobles or factions. There are many things to discuss, such as avoiding dress overlaps, borrowing and lending accessories, and how to deal with unforeseen situations. This is the same for guests from other countries. They want leeway to arrive early, adjust their physical condition, and gather necessary items or information for the ‘Autumn Cooling Party’. And today, hearing that guests from the Minuet Queendom arrived, I came to the castle with Kohaku-san.

“Sakuraile!”

As soon as I entered the guest room, Tifa with shining eyes hugged me.

“Long time no see, Tifa. Have you been well?” “Umu! Glad to see Sakuraile looking healthy too!”

Since we exchanged letters, I knew her recent situation to some extent, but as expected, meeting directly like this is happy.

“Looks like Luca hasn’t come yet.” “Yeah. But seems she’ll arrive tomorrow.”

Luca‘s party from Prelude Kingdom also seems to arrive tomorrow. Unlike Tifa‘s place with many deserts, Luca seemingly has to stop by towns in her own country to receive hospitality before entering our country… Is that a noble’s obligation? Wish they could speed through by kitchen car and ignore it like us. Suddenly, I noticed another person sitting on the guest room sofa. A tall woman dressed in the same red outfit as Tifa. Brown skin and long blonde hair in a ponytail, a lively-looking healthy beauty. In Minuet, red outfits are proof of royalty. That means… The blonde beauty stands up, looks at me, and grins widely—nika.

“You are Sakuraile? Smaller than I thought.” “Sister Nero, that is rude. Sakuraile, this is the Second Princess, Neroteora.” “I’m Neroteora le Minuet. Call me Nero. Your rumors have reached Minuet too.”

Tifa‘s immediate elder sister, the Second Princess, huh. This person was also invited to the ‘Autumn Cooling Party’. The First Princess is the next Queen of Minuet, so probably can’t be sent out of the country easily. Even we can’t send Elliott to other countries easily.

“Pardon me, Your Highness Nero. I am the legitimate daughter of the le Philharmonie Ducal House, Sakuraile le Philharmonie.”

Greeting Princess Neroteora with a curtsy. I have a casual relationship with Tifa, but I have to be proper with her sister.

“Stop with the stiffness. However, didn’t think the ‘Princess of the Holy Sword’ would be this small. Besides…”

Princess Neroteora… Highness Nero glances—chirari—at Kohaku-san in small tiger form beside me.

“Is that child the Divine Beast-sama? This one is smaller than I thought too.” “Kohaku-san.” “Umu.”

With a Pon! and smoke, Kohaku-san transformed into his original large tiger state. At the white tiger appearing suddenly, the Minuet guards in the guest room put hands on the curved swords at their waists.

“My name is Kohaku. One of the Four Divine Beasts, and guard beast of the little master there. Princesses of the desert country, pleased to make your acquaintance.” “H-Haha… This got me…” “Ooh! Truly a Divine Beast-sama!? Envious, Sakuraile!”

At Kohaku-san’s transformation, Highness Nero wore a twitching smile, while conversely Tifa‘s tension rose. When Kohaku-san returned to his original small tiger state, Tifa immediately picked him up and started fluffing him—mofumofu. Kohaku-san is flailing—jitabata—saying ‘Stop it!’. Yeah, Kohaku-san’s fur is fluffy. Becomes addictive.

“Really commanding a Divine Beast-sama… Amazing even though you’re small.” “Can you please stop saying small small…?”

Already concerned about being smaller than children of the same age. Compared to Tifa who should be the same age, I’m more than ten centimeters shorter… Not like Tifa is particularly big either. Subtly hurts.

“Hahaha, sorry about that. No ill will intended. Forgive me.”

Highness Nero laughs—karakara. How should I put it, a spirited sisterly type. For better or worse, feels like a Minuet woman.

“Sister Nero should fix the habit of saying whatever you think immediately. Because of that, Mother hesitates to send you outside.” “I try to be careful, you know. Just slips out. Well, better than lying, right?”

Highness Nero lets Tifa‘s point slide from right to left. This person is definitely not suited for diplomacy… I think many people like that open-hearted personality, but saying whatever one thinks isn’t always good. Considering the situation, sometimes it’s necessary to save the other’s face. If you blabber whatever you think without thinking, it might worsen the other’s impression. The so-called ‘Read the room’. If one is in a weak position, such skills are naturally acquired to gauge the other’s mood, but being royalty, she probably didn’t need to care about others until now. In fact, Tifa who pointed out her sister’s flaw has similar aspects too. Not mincing words and such, sisters look exactly alike. Just that Tifa can ‘read the room’ slightly better.

“My bad. Heard you defeated the Dark Dragon, so imagined a heroine with bulging muscles like Artila.” “Artila?” “A legendary warrior handed down in Minuet. Said to have defeated the Sand Dragon that plunged Minuet into depths of terror with twin magic swords of lightning.”

Tifa answered my question. Ah, like a local hero. But bulging muscles… I’m a six-year-old girl here? Don’t need such mukimuki muscles. Minuet Queendom is a country that reveres strength… Highness Nero also has a toned body upon closer inspection. Even has abs.

“More importantly, Sakuraile. I want you to show the new shop you wrote about in the letter.”

Tifa stares at me with excited eyes. Umm, there are shops handling products planned to be served at ‘Autumn Cooling Party’, so can’t really show them. Like a spoiler. Well, not something to keep secret that much, but want to surprise them if possible, right? Ah, if it’s the ramen chain ‘Horakuen’, it’s fine. Ramen was rejected from Mother’s candidates. After all, slurping noodles is problematic for nobles. If only family, it’s fine, but slurping amidst guests from other countries seems bad. Not embarrassing, but possibility of enemy factions complaining. Gyoza and fried rice were OK though. If I recall, Minuet Queendom shouldn’t be that strict about dining manners. Then probably okay. Can’t summon it here, so move to the castle courtyard. A different courtyard from the ‘Autumn Cooling Party’ venue. On the way, ran into the Prime Minister in the castle hallway, so getting permission to use the courtyard, the Prime Minister also followed along. Said he wanted to eat lunch while at it. Since His Majesty talked about fried rice the other day, he wanted to eat it for a long time.

“[Store Summoning]!”

With a vortex of light, the ramen chain ‘Horakuen’ appears in the castle courtyard. The familiar Prime Minister has no reaction, but Tifa who has seen my summoning gets high tension, and Highness Nero froze with mouth agape—pokan.

“Wh… what is this…?” “Sakuraile’s ‘Gift’. Seems she can summon shops from another world.”

For some reason Tifa answers her sister princess confidently. Basically, details of ‘Gifts’ aren’t made open much, but in my case, it’s already quite known, so no need to keep it secret now. But keeping secret that the store is indestructible, the invincible barrier, and the Goddess’s protection [Entry Ban]. Trump cards are meant to be kept. Entering the store, the Prime Minister immediately places money on the counter register as if waiting for this, orders fried rice and gyoza, and food appears on the counter in an instant. The two Minuet princesses seemed too surprised by that sight to voice out. Fine, just come sit here quickly. Seemingly the Prime Minister’s treat, so let’s eat without reserve.

“Choose what you want to eat from this menu.”

Handing the menu to the two sitting opposite me in the booth seat.

“Wh-What is this, pictures looking exactly like the real thing…!” “Ooh, everything looks delicious!” “Little master, I will have the fried rice set.” “Eh, again?”

You ate the same thing when His Majesty came the other day… No well, I understand ramen is hard to eat for Kohaku-san. When Kohaku-san eats ramen, he eats after having noodles separated onto a plate. Eating noodles, licking soup—peropero, like that. Though since he has a cat tongue (tiger tongue?), he doesn’t drink soup until it cools down.

“Lady Sakuraile, can you leave the shop out after this? Everyone in the castle seems to want to eat too.” “Eh? Ah, yes. Understood.”

Readily agreed to the Prime Minister’s request. Once summoned, can’t move unless dismissed, and disappears on its own after 24 hours. People working in the castle can eat freely if they pay, so no problem for me to leave it alone. Well, if I think ‘Want to eat ramen’ at night, it’s troubling though. Also, there is a limit, so if ingredients run out, it closes.

“Sakuraile, I desire this!” “I-I’ll take this.”

Tifa chose Miso Vegetable Tanmen, and Highness Nero chose Stamina Ramen with extra garlic (Garlic Mashi Mashi). Both seem to order gyoza the Prime Minister was eating as addition.

“Umm, the one Highness Nero chose uses a lot of Garlic (Ninniku)… Gariku here? So you will smell if you eat it, you know?” “After this going to the hotel, and won’t meet anyone today so no problem!”

Really? Well, if you say so… I order Miso Vegetable Tanmen, Stamina Ramen, and Gyoza, and food appears on the table instantly. Oops, need to get forks since the two can’t use chopsticks. Their two guards ate soup and noodles first for poison testing. Instantly making surprised faces, as soon as they wore melting smiles, the two in front of me dove into the ramen before permission was given.

“Tasty!? What is this deliciousness! As expected of Sakuraile! Can’t underestimate you!” “Kuhaa! Taste that packs a punch! This is good! I like it!”

Both are eating noodles—hafuhafu—deliciously. Seems they liked it. Glancing at the Prime Minister, he had ordered bottled beer before I knew it and was having a drink. Still working though… is that okay? Well, in this country wine is drunk normally instead of juice, so if not too much, maybe okay…? Finished everyone’s order so I order Curry Rice too. Today in the mood for this not noodles.

“…Smells somehow nostalgic.” “…True. Like remembering home…”

The two in front sniffing my curry’s scent—kunkun—stopped their hands and are staring at me—jiii. Ah, were spices a specialty of Minuet? A familiar smell? Umm, hard to eat being stared at constantly…

“…Want to eat a little?” “”Eat!””

When the two ate a bite of my Curry Rice with spoons, both ordered ‘This one additionally!’ and ordered Curry Rice. Eh, okay? Can you eat it all…? Ignoring my worry, in the end the two ate it all. However, their bellies are stuffed and they are groaning in pain. Well, that happens…