There were various matters to attend to, but today was the day I would meet with Princess Diora of the Kingdom of Lukiusalia.
She had announced her visit to the imperial capital in her letters some time ago, and had expressed her wish to see me. The first time we met was when we were seven—already three years ago now. If I recall correctly, I had dyed my hair black and worn a blue formal suit back then.
This time, I intended to dye my hair black again and wear the formal attire where light blue was the dominant color—a gift from the Princess Consort.
"For grooming, yes? Understood. Shall I prepare the perfume to be applied during the preparations?"
When I asked the new maid, Nomariola, to make the arrangements, she said something like that.
Now that she mentioned it, in Japan too, they would burn incense to remove odors from clothing. But I didn't have any perfume. Wouldn't it be terribly rude to meet a princess without any?
And so, I hurried to the Emerald Room and retrieved an extract from roses. It was a simple extraction liquid, hardly worthy of being called perfume—something I had made while experimenting with adding high-quality fragrances to high-quality liquor.
"This is... such a dense fragrance... Understood."
What was that look for, Nomariola? That roses don't suit me? Yeah, I think so too, but that's all I have.
With that, I reunited with Diora while smelling of roses.
The location was a corner of the palace, neither the left wing nor the main building. This was where Marquis Strateg conducted his duties—in other words, a building that housed government offices separate from the palace proper. And within that building, a reception room had been prepared.
Of course, Marquis Strateg was present as the liaison. In exchange, the preparation of the tea, sweets, decorative flowers, tablecloths, and everything else was left entirely to him.
"It has been a long time, Diora. Though I must apologize for my rudeness during our last meeting—I failed to introduce myself properly. I had thought to apologize even at this late date, yet it feels rather strange."
"Yes, Lord Asha. I am certain we have exchanged more letters than words. Since you already apologized in your letters regarding our first meeting, please do not concern yourself. I would prefer that you speak to me just as you did when we first met."
Diora, her cheeks flushed, had grown into a beautiful girl with orange hair. Though we were both ten, she possessed refined features guaranteed to make her a beauty, coupled with an adorable expression.
"I am grateful to Marquis Strateg for presiding over this meeting."
"No, think nothing of it. I merely hoped to atone for the sin of damaging the portrait bestowed upon me by Princess Diora."
When I offered him an opening, he made such a statement with a straight face.
The portrait sent by Diora—Marquis Strateg had not delivered it to me. His excuse was that it had been damaged due to poor management, rendering it in a state where he could not present it to me.
Rather than being angry at this mishap, Diora was delighted that he had arranged this meeting space for us. Knowing the truth behind the matter, I found it transparent, but I was indeed grateful to have this setting prepared.
For Marquis Strateg as well, this painless atonement allowed him to openly monitor us.
Hmm, I had wanted a normal tea party with a friend, but since he went through the trouble, I suppose it's fine.
"Have mana recovery potions already entered the production system?"
"No, we will first mass-produce the medicinal herbs, accumulate stock during the processing stage, and then estimate production volume based on the calculated demand during that period."
"I see. Even though mass production has become possible, it's good to manage things so there is no waste."
While the maids and attendants prepared by Marquis Strateg served us elegantly, we enjoyed our conversation. But Marquis Strateg and the servers kept glancing over at us for some reason.
And Levan, standing by the wall, was moving his mouth as if trying to tell me something.
What is it? Too stiff, too difficult?
"...Somehow, even when we meet face to face like this, we end up talking about the same things we do in letters."
"Oh, how embarrassing. I ought to have prepared more engaging topics."
"Not at all. I find it interesting and enjoyable. Besides, I know you were worried about those who were struggling when things weren't going well. I am simply happy to see you able to smile and speak of future prospects."
"W-well..."
Diora covered her red cheeks with both hands and blinked rapidly.
Since something was moving, I looked over to see Levan signaling again—Too much?
No, I was just speaking honestly, with no ulterior motives.
"Actually... to tell the truth, faced with your beautifully grown self, Diora, I was merely showing off a little. I am not as wise as you say. I only wish that your smile might not cloud over today."
I'm pretty sure that was in one of those knight stories that Sephira had read in secret.
When I deliberately tried a line like that, Diora lowered her gaze and smiled.
"I too wish for Lord Asha to remain as you are."
"Why is it that you have clouded over so quickly, then?"
"Eh? Ah, that wasn't my intention... It's my brother."
Diora's brother had entered the academy last year at age fifteen. The misogynistic tendencies I had sensed even in his letters had apparently grown stronger; he had always been oppressive toward his younger sister Diora, but now he had even begun making misogynistic remarks to their mother.
"My brother says that those who study at the academy are supreme, and my shallow wisdom, having not entered the academy, is not worth hearing."
"The moment one abandons thought and delegates their values to others, that is the true shallow wisdom, I think."
When I spoke my mind, Diora suddenly broke into her brightest smile of the day.
She's cute, but it's sad that she doesn't get along with her family.
"If it were me, I would support an excellent younger sister like Diora with both hands raised."
As I watched Diora leave, escorted by the palace guards, I murmured without thinking.
Marquis Strateg, who had been listening to my soliloquy from beside me, let out a sigh.
"That is a common bias in thinking among young men. Try not to stir up the young lady too much."
"But at the academy in the Kingdom of Lukiusalia, the prince who will be the next king is growing arrogant and proud, is he not? Is there no one to stop him?"
In reality, it would be impossible, and the academy itself probably encourages that arrogance.
Schools were narrow worlds even in my previous life. Thinking back on it now, the teachers were also inhabitants of that narrow world—few possessed broad perspectives, even if they had deep ones.
Marquis Strateg did not deny it. No matter how large the scale, things probably don't change much.
"Regarding that, do you not plan to attend the academy in a few years?"
"Huh? I'm not going."
"What? You're not going?"
When Levan, standing behind me, raised his voice, Ikuto beside him also looked surprised.
"Wait, I can go? I won't be obstructed? It's a noble's gateway to success, right? Would they really let me accumulate achievements there as a prince?"
When I asked in surprise, the adults groaned. They had apparently taken it for granted that I would go, but reconsidered my current situation.
And the fact that they couldn't answer immediately meant there would indeed be interference.
"If it were the Alchemy department, perhaps?"
"No, Totos. If the format of attending the academy doesn't change, it's impossible, isn't it?"
"Hmm, I had assumed that as the First Prince, you would enroll of your own accord. This is unexpected. If there is a way, you should certainly attend."
Marquis Strateg seemed surprisingly positive, which was more unexpected to me.
Until now, he had pursued his own interests. At the same time, he was someone who prioritized connections and should not have been inclined to support me.
"...Which side are you on, with that statement?"
"That is a dilemma."
He seemed truly troubled, stroking his short purple hair.
Despite monitoring me like this, his wariness toward me appeared to have decreased somewhat.
Periodic Update
Next: Cool-type Maid 3