The dining area isn’t spacious. However, if we move those mysterious, magic-infused boxes sitting around, it might become quite roomy.
Well, it’s probably best not to poke too much fun, lest the already sweating Duke become even more awkward in his actions.
“And Cordelia, come over here.”
“Mother!”
Lady Isabella called her daughter in a cold voice. It seems she called Cordelia back, as the daughter was lingering with Rick instead of coming to her side.
“When did you become such a child? If you can’t listen to what I say, then you can leave. You just need to do as I say.”
“…Yes.”
Slightly irritated by the harsh tone, Cordelia bit her lip and lowered her head.
“…Isabella, there’s no need to be so stern.”
“It’s because you’re too indulgent with Cordelia that she’s become this way. I’ll educate her properly later. For now, just behave yourself.”
While the Duke seems to have a soft spot for his daughter, Lady Isabella does not, and the awakening Cordelia timidly moved closer to her father, away from her mother.
“(Eurushia…)”
“(Yes?)”
Rick, who was chatting with mr bears, whispered in my ear.
“(Originally, Lord Barnabas was supposed to join us for the meal, but instead, Noel will be participating.)”
“(That’s fine, but what happened?)”
When I asked this, Rick furrowed his brows slightly.
“(Lord Barnabas is organizing the mercenaries so they can move out quickly. We don’t know what might happen from here on.)”
I see, so that’s how it is.
Rick and mr bears seem to think the Duke of Capel might make a direct move. Lady Isabella aside, well, the Duke’s soul doesn’t seem quite capable of such an act.
The meal began, and we took the seats guided by the servants of the Capel household.
In the end, it’s just me, Rick, and Noel in this room. Viola and my attendants were also taken to a separate room to dine.
Well, just as a precaution, I’ve instructed my attendants to evacuate my associates if anything happens.
Everything should be fine, right?
Ah, but who cares about such trivial matters!
“Big Sister Ataline? If you furrow your brow like that, it’ll ruin your lovely face.”
“…Don’t call me ‘big sister’ so easily.”
Oh, my! How truly wonderful, Big Sister Ataline!
The Duke of Capel has even invited the two of you, Big Sister Ataline and Big Sister Aureline, to this meal!
The rest of the hero’s party (haha) isn’t here, but of course, he couldn’t very well invite the younger sister while leaving out the older sisters, even if she did run away from home. Or maybe, as former noble ladies, they were already acquainted with the Duke.
From the seat across the large table, Big Sister Ataline glares at me with a lovely, almost biting expression. Next to her, Big Sister Aureline seems a bit uneasy about the situation, fidgeting. …And she doesn’t look very appetized, either.
“I’m sorry, big sisters. I got a little carried away since I’m so happy to see my beloved big sisters.”
“…You.”
Huh? Even after I apologized meekly, she’s glaring at me even more.
“Oh, it seems that Sister Ataline has joined those people’s group. But is she eating properly? I’ve been very worried about how the noble sisters are doing.”
“Hmph, she may seem a bit unreliable, but her knowledge is excellent. She has many patents in magic and agriculture, so you don’t need to worry about her.”
Sister Ataline turns her head with a “tsun” sound.
“Oh my! That’s wonderful. I thought she might have some childish tastes, but I’m relieved to hear that. If the sisters find a place to get married, Father’s worries will be reduced.”
“You…!”
Ataline slams the table with her hand and stands up. Huh?
Didn’t you see him try to kiss my hand twice, and get stopped? If there are more good points about him, why would she get angry? It’s almost hopeless to find a marriage partner for the two of them in the Holy Kingdom, so I thought it would be a good idea.
“No, stop, Eurushia.”
“Sister Aureline?”
While calming Ataline, Sister Aureline scolds me.
It’s rare for her to speak to me directly. I noticed her gaze shifting between me and the person next to me, so I looked that way…
“Eurushia…”
Rick, who had been silently listening to our sisterly conversation, rubs his forehead and lets out a long sigh.
“Let’s leave it at that. I understand you’re happy to see your sisters again, but you tend to speak too honestly when your emotions are high.”
“Huh. …… “
Too honest? I’m not even aware of it. Is that why Count Capel avoids me?
“Ataline… it’s been a while.”
“Lord Ludrick…”
Rick gazes into the distance, as Ataline looks at him with moist, childlike eyes, as if holding back tears.
“…(Sister Aureline?)”
“(Eek…)”
Just with a glance, she’s getting too scared?
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I wanted to ask what happened between the two of them, but if I put more “pressure” with my gaze, Sister Aureline desperately shakes her head, signaling them not to say anything.
Hmm. Since they’re close relatives of similar age, Rick and the sisters must have had a relationship like childhood friends. But there seems to be more complex emotions swirling beneath the surface.
Come to think of it, I’ve heard that Rick was engaged in the past… could it have been with Sister Ataline?
For the royal family and ducal family’s engagement to be broken off, what on earth did you do, sister?
“W-well, let’s have our meal!”
Unable to bear the heavy atmosphere, Count Capel suddenly calls out, giving instructions to the servants.
Well, never mind. Everyone, it seems like a lot has happened.
But… what a dining scene this is.
Count Capel keeps talking, perhaps to lighten the mood, while Baroness Isabella next to him ignores him. Rick eats silently, looking displeased. Sister Ataline doesn’t seem to be able to swallow her food, not taking a single bite, and Sister Aureline is eating fretfully, as if resigned. Calisto, who was there from the beginning, is just a silent presence.
I wonder what the cause is… There must be various factors, but it feels like there is a big underlying reason. (Unaware of it)
But even so, I am the most air-reading demon in the Demon Realm, so I’ll just drink water instead of eating.
“Oh, does the food not suit a noble lady like you, Eurushia?”
Baroness Isabella says this, looking at me.
“Mother, don’t say it that way…”
“Silence, Cordelia. This is for Eurushia’s sake as well.”
What’s with that.
Anyway… is that an invitation for me to butt in?
“Count Capel, who are those people?”
Ah, Rick has taken the lead in pointing that out.
Even though he has dismissed the holy knights who were his escorts, there is an unfamiliar man sitting at the table, and behind him are what seem to be his attendants.
“Oh dear, how careless of me. I completely forgot to introduce them.”
This flustered reaction shows that he had simply forgotten about it earlier.
“This is Cordle, who has been invited from Terthed to provide technical guidance for the ceremony.”
The large, imposing-looking man who was introduced as if he were from the fire department stands up and bows his head without smiling.
“I am Cordle-Dren. I’ve heard about you all. As a single-minded researcher, I apologize for any rudeness.”
A researcher, huh. He looks like a soldier or a non-human.
“Are all the men from Terthed as well-built as Cordle-sama?”
As I ask this, Cordle hesitates for a moment, looking away from my smile as he stares intently at me.
“…In a militarized nation, if you lack strength, you will be looked down upon.”
The militarized nation is Terthed.
Taliteld is called the “Holy Kingdom,” and Sigress Kingdom is called the “Agricultural Superpower,” but these are not their official names.
In Taliteld, they proudly call it the Holy Kingdom, but they don’t use that title when dealing with other nations.
Sigress Kingdom is called the Agricultural Superpower, but they don’t use that term when talking to their own people.
In Terthed, only some of the military members call it that, but they still don’t use that title when dealing with other countries.
So it doesn’t mean Cordle is not from Terthed, but it’s still incorrect to call him a Terthed soldier.
Should I keep nitpicking?
“So you must possess power that transcends humanity,”
I said cheerfully, and Cordle’s eyes widened as he looked at me.
You see, Cordle and his attendants are honestly not quite human, are they?
But that doesn’t mean thry’re demons or spirit beings either.
What would you call them? In this world, there are apparently these creatures called “monsters” – animals that have absorbed too much mana and developed a magical stone in their hearts.
I’ve never seen one directly, but if a monster took on a human form, it might have an aura like this.
Cordle fell silent, as if pondering something. In the awkward silence, Prince Rick tried to steer the conversation.
“By the way, Duke Capel. Calisto said that he plans to use Eurushia’s magic for the ‘god.’ What exactly does he intend to do?”
Rick’s questioning tone was more like an interrogation, and the Duke of Capel looked slightly relieved, but spoke as if reciting a pre-written script.
“I was inspired by Calisto’s vision, and have been supporting him. His goal is to create a vessel that can temporarily summon the attendants of Costelle, the god or goddess, and engage in dialogue to guide this world.”
“…Is something like that even possible?”
“That’s just the first stage. The ultimate goal is to converse with the great deity itself. If that’s achieved, this Taliteld Holy Kingdom will surpass even the ‘Theocratic Nation’ in the south as the true land of the gods!”
The Duke spoke passionately about this dream-like plan.
The Theocratic Nation…I’ve heard there’s a country like that on the southern edge of this continent.
It’s also strongly religious, but there the queen is revered as a ‘goddess’ leading the people. There was a country like that in dream worlds too, wasn’t there?
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