[Episode 55] - Experiencing High Society
Children’s high society.
As the name suggested, it was a social circle made up of children. If the adults’ high society was a den of snakes so sinister it defied description, then the children’s high society was a miniature version of it—a gathering of still-cute baby snakes.
That was how it was now, but in the game, it had been simpler. It was a social system unlocked after the age of ten, a repeated event for raising the stats of etiquette, art, and eloquence, collectively known as “Social Evaluation.”
They were already difficult enough to raise, and on top of that, they were troublesome stats to manage because their values could drop drastically. Even so, they were stats that absolutely had to be raised in order to reach the “Queen Ending.”
However, holding a social gathering did not necessarily mean that “Social Evaluation” would rise. Befitting an unfriendly roguelike child-raising simulation, if the princess’s “Intelligence” stat was low, children’s high society ended in failure.
The princess would open the social gathering and enter with a happy heart, eager to make friends, only to be ignored by everyone because her “Intelligence” was relatively low. She would return with a mountain of stress and shut the door to her heart.
That happened often in the game. Even if it was children’s high society, high society was still high society. If you looked down on it as nothing more than a cute little den of baby snakes, you were bound to get badly hurt.
‘Come to think of it... I wonder what Titania’s stats are like right now?’
I glanced over at the princess lying beside me, reading a book. These days, unlike when I had taught her myself when she was younger, the princess was receiving lessons from teachers the ministers had put great effort into bringing in.
As she grew older, I began to feel that teaching the princess was beyond my ability, so I asked the ministers for help. They readily agreed and brought in their own disciples or teachers they were acquainted with.
‘Even in the game, there was a separate teacher who taught the princess.’
It wasn’t as if there would be a problem just because I didn’t teach the princess everything from A to Z. The problem was that unlike back when I could see numbers, I could no longer see the princess’s stats now.
I had no way of knowing how high the princess’s “Intelligence” was, or what her “Social Evaluation” was like. I worried about what would happen if I sent her into children’s high society like this, only for her to be ignored like in the game and come back dejected.
I lightly patted the princess’s bottom as she read beside me, wearing a worried expression. Then the princess lifted her head slightly and looked at me as if asking what was wrong.
“Titania... have you learned all four arithmetic operations?”
“......Pardon?”
When I asked in genuine concern, the princess frowned as if dumbfounded. Then, apparently deciding it wasn’t even worth answering, she whipped her head back around and began reading again. I suppose that meant she had learned them all...?
If there was one relief, it was that her teachers often said the princess was quite smart for a ten-year-old. They praised her endlessly, saying she followed lessons better than young ladies her age.
I had simply assumed the teachers were flattering the princess and had never thought deeply about it... but now that children’s high society was gradually approaching, I was starting to worry.
After all, it was a parent’s heart to wish that their child, at least, would not be looked down on by others. Of course, I did not think Titania would be ignored, but I couldn’t help worrying anyway.
‘To begin with, what exactly do people do in high society...? Vivian was never invited to social gatherings or anything either, so I have no idea. In novels, people spend every day making snide remarks at each other...’
Even though quite some time seemed to have passed since I had possessed Vivian’s body, not a single party invitation or letter asking after her had ever arrived for Vivian.
Vivian had been called the flower of high society before marriage, but seeing how she had not been invited anywhere at all after becoming queen, I could roughly guess how high society operated.
‘Still, I should know how high society works.’
I needed someone who could teach me about high society, and at the same time, someone who would turn a blind eye even if they realized I was inexperienced in it.
‘There are a few people like that, more or less...’
*
“Now then, from this moment on, we shall open a social gathering. Everyone, applause.”
“Pardon? You said you were summoning me all of a sudden, so I came, but what on earth is this...”
Four people were gathered around a small tea table. The first was naturally me. I was the one who needed to learn about high society, so it would be troublesome if I were absent. And the person objecting to me was none other than...
“Miss Finance. Use pretty words. From now on, you are a young lady.”
“Pardon??”
It was the balding Baengsho. Baengsho, flustered by the sudden situation, frowned and stared at me. As Baengsho looked bewildered and at a loss, the Minister of Foreign Affairs beside him was also taken aback.
“Your Majesty... what in the world is going on? You said it was urgent, so I came, and now you suddenly say you are holding a social gathering? You know very well that we are not such idle people.”
“Miss Foreign Affairs, I saw you in your office eating snacks. And yet you say you are not idle? Besides, does this look like play to you? This is quite urgent.”
“No, that’s, hah...”
Miss Foreign Affairs, who had been staring at the black tea in the pretty teacup placed before him, squeezed his eyes shut. He seemed unable to grasp why he was here or why he was doing this.
At that, Miss Education, who was sitting beside him and laughing hohoho, covered his mouth with a fan and began mocking Miss Foreign Affairs. As expected, I knew you would play along with this sort of thing.
“Hohoho, it seems the young lady of Foreign Affairs still hasn’t grasped the situation. If Her Majesty the Queen says this place is hell, then it is hell. If she says it is high society, then it is high society, is it not?”
“Heh... lunatic.”
Perhaps feeling his insides burning, Miss Foreign Affairs gulped down the pretty teacup and spat out a curse. When I glared at him, telling him to use refined language, he looked ready to cry at any moment. He should have been grateful I hadn’t made him cross-dress.
I lifted my teacup and glanced at the Miss Ministers sitting beside me. Miss Baldy, still unable to come to his senses. Miss Foreign Affairs, who looked like he was about to cry. And Miss Education, who was happily eating snacks, saying this situation was fun. A perfect combination.
“The reason I have suddenly arranged this is for the princess’s upcoming children’s high society debut. As you all know, it has been a long time since I withdrew from high society. I simply wished to receive your help.”
“Then you could have simply said so... If you had, we would have found out on our own what is popular in high society these days...!”
“Miss Foreign Affairs, refined words.”
“...what is popular in high society these days and brought it all to you... hohoho.”
Certainly, it would have been easier to simply tell the ministers to investigate what was popular in high society these days and what was happening there. But no matter how much they did that, research was only research.
“It is far better for me to experience it myself. But if I were to hold a social party or tea party as I pleased, would that not inconvenience all of you?”
“This is more of an inconvenience... Your Majesty.”
“My, what an impertinent thing to say to Her Majesty, who has graciously opened a social gathering for us. Miss Foreign Affairs.”
“Miss Education. You make me sick.”
While Miss Education and Miss Foreign Affairs made a commotion, Miss Finance held his forehead and let out a sigh. He even muttered in a small voice about whether he should resign from his ministerial post.
“In any case... imagine this is a tea party to which I have invited you. Then what sort of conversation would you have?”
“First... what is the theme of this tea party?”
Theme? In the game, it was simply called a tea party; I had never particularly paid attention to the theme of a tea party. Did a tea party even need a theme in the first place...?
“...What topics are popular among young ladies these days? To begin with, I do not know what children’s high society itself is like...”
“Ohohoho! As for that point, I, Miss Education, shall inform you. Your Majesty!”
Ugh. Miss Foreign Affairs looked at Miss Education with an expression of extreme disgust and frowned. Miss Finance rubbed his face as if he no longer wanted to say anything and averted his gaze from the situation.
Whether they did or not, Miss Education excitedly began explaining to me the topics currently popular in children’s high society. Befitting his position as Minister of Education, he seemed well-versed in such matters.
“The topic currently popular in children’s high society is pets. Recently, a book claiming that raising pets during childhood enriches children’s sensitivity has become widely popular among noblewomen.”
“Pets... What other topics are there?”
“Well... the others are common. Piano, for instance, or ordinary tea ceremony and artistic subjects. If Your Majesty is thinking of personally inviting young ladies, I do not particularly recommend this side.”
“Why is that? I understand that the princess has studied quite a lot in those areas as well. Is there a problem?”
“That is the nature of art. One may think one has studied enough, but once one actually goes to discuss it, everyone is busy talking about things only they know. The moment one tries to show off unnecessary knowledge, one is liable to become a target. That is the artistic side of high society.”
“Hmm.”
“Even adults are reluctant to attend art-related social circles. That place is not a den of snakes, but a demon’s lair. A demon’s lair.”
In other words, according to Miss Education, it meant that they would chatter about things they knew, and the moment the princess so much as pretended to know anything, she would likely become a target. As expected of a gloomy den of snakes.
Perhaps his throat was dry, Miss Education elegantly raised his pinky while drinking black tea, then covered his mouth with a fan and laughed honghong before continuing.
“Therefore, if Your Majesty intends to hold a party or tea party for the princess, I recommend making pets the theme.”
“But the princess does not have a pet. Even if she starts raising one now, there is no time.”
To begin with, would the princess even like pets? No, even if the princess liked them, would Ainsel, her friend beside her, like them? Ainsel had been somewhat wary even of Fran, who had helped him, simply because Fran was by the princess’s side.
If the princess, with Ainsel beside her, were to declare that she was raising a pet... It was obvious what would happen without even seeing it. It would be quite the uproar.
As I pondered for a moment, Miss Education shrugged as if asking what the problem was and looked at Miss Foreign Affairs, who sat beside him with a frown. In that instant, sensing an unpleasant gaze, Miss Foreign Affairs turned to Miss Education in irritation.
“You need not worry about that. I shall lend you one of the dogs I raise. It is very affectionate and cute.”
“Oh, would you?”
“Your Majesty... As Miss Foreign Affairs, I advise you that what Miss Education considers cute is far removed from what ordinary people do. Please reconsider—”
“Please ignore the ramblings of a coward who is even afraid of dogs. I will send you the gentlest one.”
True to Miss Foreign Affairs, who was afraid of dogs, he sighed as if the thought made him shudder. I did not think it would particularly be a problem, so I decided to follow Miss Education’s suggestion.
“As expected, when three ministers put their heads together, a good answer comes out. Miss Finance, you shall prepare to hold a modest tea party.”
“How many people do you intend to invite?”
“I intend to keep it modest, so around five should be enough. Miss Foreign Affairs and Miss Education, send invitations to children who are as mild-mannered and wholesome as possible. Choose only the children with the best reputations and kindest dispositions.”
“Understood.”
Since this would be the princess’s first experience with high society, I thought it would be best to prepare an appropriately comfortable atmosphere and let her learn what high society was like. It would be better for her to first taste the sweetness of making friends rather than the bitterness of high society.
And so, once my social gathering with the Miss Ministers ended, the ministers began busily moving to prepare the princess’s first social gathering.
The theme would be the pets they raised.
As I imagined little children bringing the pets they raised and boasting about them to one another, I smiled without realizing it.
Because that place would surely be an incredibly adorable one.