Chapter 808

Bear-san Captured by Royalty

Soba noodles and tempura were laid out in front of everyone.

I prepared both chopsticks and forks to make it easier to eat.

“Um, just to confirm, but this is…” (Anju)

There was also a bowl of soba and a plate of tempura in front of Anju-san.

“These are for Anju-san. You haven’t had lunch yet, have you?” (Yuna)

“Wasn’t this for His Majesty the King?” (Anju)

“Now that I think about it, we entered through a different entrance, so His Majesty doesn’t know that Yuna-chan is here.” (Ellelaura)

Indeed.

I didn’t see the usual gatekeeper running.

“That’s why it was so quiet.” (Yuna)

I think it was good to have a day without the King every once in a while.

“Then His Majesty the King doesn’t know that Yuna-san is here. I’ll go and inform His Majesty that she is here.” (Anju)

“That’s not your job. Your job is to look after Flora-sama.” (Ellelaura)

Ellelaura-san stopped Anju-san as she hurried out of the room.

“Yes, but…” (Anju)

“What if something happens to Flora-sama while you’re away?” (Ellelaura)

Anju-san then looked at Flora-sama.

“And would you abandon your job to just tell His Majesty the King that Yuna-chan is here?” (Ellelaura)

“That’s…” (Anju)

Anju-san knew well.

The King would usually come to Flora-sama’s room simply to eat the food I brought for Flora-sama.

“He wouldn’t know anything about today. Don’t worry, I’ll put in a good word for you if anything happens.” (Ellelaura)

Ellelaura-san said she would protect Anju-san if anything happened.

For all her grumbling, Ellelaura-san was kind.

“So don’t worry about it—let’s eat together.” (Ellelaura)

Ellelaura-san said with a smile.

Anju-san answered “Yes” in a small voice and sat down.

I wondered why Ellelaura-san’s face looked so satisfied.

Maybe she was trying to spite the king?

Or did she simply not want the king to eat the food I brought?

Let’s just pretend that I didn’t see Ellelaura-san’s last expression on her face.

“Well then, let’s eat.” (Ellelaura)

“It’s hot, so be careful not to burn yourself” (Yuna)

By the way, a small bowl-like thing was given to Flora-sama to make it easier for her to eat.

Ellelaura-san ate the soba with chopsticks, while Flora-sama and Anju-san used forks.

“It’s delicious.” (Flora)

“Yeah, it’s hot, but delicious.” (Yuna)

“That’s true.” (Ellelaura)

“The soup is light.” (Anju)

I was glad that it was well-received.

“This fried tempura—can I just eat it as it is?” (Ellelaura)

“You can eat it as is, or you can dip it in soba sauce.” (Yuna)

Ellelaura-san ate it without adding anything first, making a crunching sound, then tried it again, dipped in soba sauce this time, to compare the taste.

“Both are delicious.” (Ellelaura)

“Some people like to eat it with salt added as well.” (Yuna)

I brought out some salt.

Ellelaura-san immediately added salt to it as an experiment and ate it.

“It’s delicious too.” (Ellelaura)

Following Ellelaura-san’s lead, Flora-sama and Anju-san also tried the same.

Before long, everyone’s bowls and plates were empty.

“It’s simple, but it’s delicious.” (Anju)

“Yeah, it was delicious.” (Flora)

Simple and delicious was the best.

Dishes that took time and effort were delicious too, but food that’s easy to make and still tasty was nice in its own way.

That was only possible because there were people who made such noodles from buckwheat flour and others who prepared the sauce or soup for it.

We should not forget to be grateful to them.

Just as I was about to put away my bowls and plates, the door opened without a knock.

The person who entered the room was the most important person in the country.

“She really was here” (King)

The king walked over to us.

“What were you eating?” (King)

He asked, looking at the empty bowls and plates.

“It was soba noodles and tempura.” (Yuna)

Even if I said the names, he probably wouldn’t recognize them, so I told him what we ate.

“Why haven’t you contacted me?” (King)

“That’s because Yuna-chan and I entered the castle through a different gate.” (Ellelaura)

Ellelaura-san told him how we ended up here.

“So, that’s why the gatekeeper didn’t know that Yuna had arrived.” (King)

“But how did His Majesty the King come to know about it?” (Ellelaura)

“Earlier, I was about to have a late lunch when Zeref brought the food, and he told me.” (King)

Zeref-san had apparently said, “Yuna-sama seems to be here, but why didn’t you go to Flora-sama’s today?”

Zeref-san knew that I had come because Anju-san informed him earlier regarding the change of schedule for lunch.

“Ellelaura, why didn’t you tell me?” (King)

“I didn’t inform Your Majesty because I thought that you were busy with important work for the country.” (Ellelaura)

Ellelaura-san answered nonchalantly.

“You…” (King)

The King sighed.

“Well, that’s fine. So, do you have a portion for me?” (King)

I’ve stocked up on soba noodles, and I’ve also prepared some tempura.

It was enough for several dozen people.

“There is some more, but can you eat it?” (Yuna)

“Yeah, I can.” (King)

“What about the food that Zeref-san made for you?” (Yuna)

Earlier, it was mentioned that Zeref brought the king food.

“I’ve eaten it all, so don’t worry.” (King)

And yet he was still planning to eat more.

It was easy to make, so that was fine.

“If there is any left over, I won’t make it next time.” (Yuna)

I boiled the soba, warmed up the soup, and served the tempura.

It felt like a 3-minute cooking session.

“It looks easy to prepare.” (King)

“But it’s delicious.” (Yuna)

The King started eating the soba, and looked satisfied.

“What about the queen?” (Yuna)

Better ask now just to be sure.

It would be a hassle if she came later and asked me to make it for her.

“She should be having a tea party with some noblewomen.” (Ellelaura)

“Tea parties are part of the queen’s job.” (King)

“Job?” (Yuna)

A tea party?

All I could think of was a scene of her drinking tea and talking elegantly.

“She is gathering information. Things like the recent actions of the nobles and the situation in the territory.” (King)

“Some things can’t be understood from numbers alone. It’s an important source of information.” (Ellelaura)

It wasn’t the kind of tea party I had imagined.

“Aren’t you going to participate, Ellelaura-san?” (Yuna)

After all, Ellelaura-san was also a noblewoman.

“I don’t want to participate in such things because it’s tiring. It’s just a way of probing each other’s intentions.” (Ellelaura)

What, that sounds scary.

“So, what’s that over there?” (King)

After finishing his soba, the king turned his gaze to the easel in the distance.

“Yuna-chan painted Flora-sama.” (Anju)

Anju-san approached the easel and turned the painting so the king could see it.

“Not only picture books, you can also paint pictures like this?” (King)

“I can’t compete with actual professional painters, though.” (Yuna)

“This quality is more than enough to be called a professional painter. How much talent do you have?” (King)

I couldn’t really compete with a professional.

It was just a hobby.

It was rude to compare my work to someone who paints every day.

And I painted for the first time in a while, but I think I did a good job.

Maybe it was because the model was good.

“We will need a frame to match this.” (King)

“Of course, I’ll arrange one. I’ll pick a few and have Flora-sama choose one at the end.” (Ellelaura)

“A flower-patterned frame would look good.” (King)

“That’s true. I’ll look for some frames with that in mind.” (Ellelaura)

It seemed that Ellelaura-san and the King had a rare similar opinion.

Indeed, a flower-patterned frame might suit Flora-sama.

And then, satisfied with the soba and tempura, the King went back to his work.

Incidentally, shortly after the King left the room, someone who seemed to be Ellelaura-san’s subordinate came and took her away.

To be precise, he bowed his head many times and said, “Please do your work,” “Everyone is waiting for Ellelaura-sama,” and “I don’t want to stay up all night.”

Ellelaura-san then said, “Well, I guess that can’t be helped,” and went to work.

Having a boss like that was hard on the subordinates.

I summoned Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear at Flora-sama’s request to play with her.

After a while, Flora-sama fell asleep sandwiched between Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear. She always fell asleep, probably because she was tired from playing. Well, for children this age, naps were part of the job—eat well, sleep well, and grow.

“…Bear” (Flora)

“I wonder what she’s dreaming about” (Yuna)

“I think she’s dreaming about playing with Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear” (Anju)

She was smiling.

I was sure it was a fun dream.

When I told Anju-san that I was going home, Anju-san carefully carried Flora-sama up so as not to wake her up and put her to bed.

“Well, I’m heading home.” (Yuna)

“Thank you for today. Flora-sama wanted to meet Yuna-san, so I think she was really happy today.” (Anju)

Next time, I should bring her a new picture book.

I needed to think of a story for it.

But before that, I needed to finish my job as Mane-san’s guard.

After recalling Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, as I was getting ready to go home, there was a knock on the door, and it opened.

A beautiful girl peeked through the gap in the door.

“Tilia?” (Yuna)

“Yuna?” (Tilia)

It’s Tilia, the princess of this country and Flora-sama’s older sister, who entered the room.

She was wearing a school uniform.

It looked like she was on her way home from school.

“I assumed that maybe Yuna was here, so I came here, and she really was.” (Tilia)

“How did you know I was in the royal capital?” (Yuna)

“Shia told me today that you were going to the Ministry of Magic and might go to Flora’s place.” (Tilia)

So it was information from Shia.

I remembered that they were classmates.

“So, what is Yuna doing? Flora seems to be sleeping.” (Tilia)

“She was painting a picture of Flora-sama.” (Anju)

“Yuna was painting a picture?” (Tilia)

I showed her the picture of Flora-sama I’d drawn for her.

“That’s not fair,” Tilia said when she saw the picture.

“Not fair?” (Yuna)

“Yuna only pays attention to Flora.” (Tilia)

“Well, Tilia was at school, so it can’t be helped.” (Yuna)

Basically, I did not come here in the evening, so Tilia was usually at school.

“Yuna, you’re not going home yet, right?” (Tilia)

“I’m about to go home, though.” (Yuna)

Flora-sama was asleep, and Ellelaura-san had gone to work, so there was no reason for me to stay here.

Tilia grabbed my arm.

“Please paint a picture of me as well.” (Tilia)

“You can have a painter paint it for you instead of me.” (Yuna)

Royal and noble families have had paintings of the family head and their family members on display for generations.

I’d never seen one in Cliff’s house, but I think it was on display in one of the rooms.

“I like Yuna’s paintings more.” (Tilia)

I was tired from painting, preparing soba, and playing with Flora-sama today already though.

Tilia’s grip tightened.

It seemed she would not let go until I painted her.

“Okay, I’ll paint you. But don’t complain later if it’s not good.” (Yuna)

“I won’t.” (Tilia)

I ended up painting a picture of Tilia as well, feeling like I was being pressured into it.

After discussing the composition of the picture, we decided on one that would mirror Flora-sama’s painting.

I had her sit in a chair opposite Flora-sama, and I began painting.

I really should have gone home a little earlier.

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