Entertainment At The Banquet

After that, before I knew it, the audience chamber had turned into a banquet hall.

The chairs were removed, carpets were spread out, and cushions were arranged.

I sat neatly beside Shitoen, while beside me sat an extremely tense Raul.

Even saying “sat” was one thing, but I did not even know how I was supposed to sit. It seemed cross-legged would do for me, but Shitoen looked like she was having a hard time of it since she was not wearing Tania clothing. Well, of course—she had a pannier under her skirt. Eaton came over and fussed with the hem for her, and… I see, so that was why people in this country wore clothes that fell straight down like that.

As for me, I had come here without my sword because this was an audience with the King of Tania, but… if I had been wearing one, how exactly was I supposed to sit?

While I looked around with considerable interest, more cloth was spread over the carpets, and dishes piled high with food were carried in one after another.

The same went for the alcohol. Some came in jars, some in bottles, and then there were fruits in every color.

The next ones to enter were a great many women.

All of them seemed to be Shitoen’s friends or relatives, and in no time at all she was surrounded and carried off by them.

And once Shitoen was separated from us like that…

Raul and I were left all alone, just the two of us.

Since everyone around us knew each other, the room was full of cheerful chatter and lively noise, but most of it was family talk and old stories they all laughed about together…

There was no way to join the conversation! I was completely alone!!!!

“…You know, this is exactly that thing people talk about, where the wife has no place to belong when all the relatives are gathered and so on…”

“We’ve learned it for ourselves now, Commander… When I get a wife, I’ll remember this. I will absolutely never leave my wife’s side.”

The two of us men huddled shoulder to shoulder, sipping our drinks a little at a time.

On top of that, I had no idea how to eat the food!

It seemed you were mainly supposed to split something bread-like in half, pile ingredients on it, and eat it, but…

“Hey, Raul. Do you use a spoon for that?”

“But that person’s eating it with his hands.”

This was my first time ever having a meal where I had to keep peeking around at what everyone else was doing.

The serving staff told us, “Please enjoy it however you like,” but I did not want to make a fool of myself.

The King of Tania was also quietly enjoying the food and drink much the same way…

But there was no way I could walk over to the King of Tania carrying a bottle of liquor…

“I’m really glad I brought you with me…”

“When I get a wife and end up in the same kind of situation, Commander, please come. Don’t leave my side.”

Raul and I quietly muttered back and forth the whole time about imaginary wives neither of us even had yet.

“But still. I’m glad Shitoen seems to be enjoying herself.”

“Yeah. She probably doesn’t often get the chance to spend time leisurely with friends from her homeland…”

The two of us watched Shitoen without really meaning to.

Surrounded by a great many women, she was happily chatting away.

It was not Tidrosian. It was Tania, her native language.

I thought that was a good thing.

Being in the opposite position like this made me realize just how much Shitoen was always paying attention to everything around her. I bet she was constantly keeping herself tense.

Honestly, I would like to let her go home casually once in a while.

But the Kingdom of Tania was quite a long journey away. It might be better to have her friends come visit a few times a year instead.

At that moment, something suddenly occurred to me.

Not that long ago, people had been trying to kill Shitoen.

Right now, I could protect Shitoen in all sorts of ways, but…

What if I died first? What if I were gone? Who would protect Shitoen then?

Sure, the Tidros royal family would not just cast Shitoen aside…

Even so, Shitoen would still be all alone in a foreign land where nobody knew her.

I wish Shitoen had more friends, or rather… someone she could truly trust…

Even while I was thinking that, the banquet kept moving forward, and the hall grew more and more thick with the smell of alcohol.

The Kingdom of Tidros also… well, had its fair share of strong drink, but the liquor here was especially harsh.

The fruit wine was something only the women seemed to drink, and the men were almost all drinking distilled spirits. Raul looked like he wanted to stop midway through, but the male server kept pouring more and more for him. Wait. Was this one of those systems where they refilled your cup the moment it was empty?

Once the food had been consumed amid all that, the dishes were cleared away, and this time women carrying bells and percussion instruments came in to perform dances and songs.

A certain noble told us, “This is properly a dance offered to the gods,” so Raul and I sat there appreciating it gratefully, and things were fine up to that point, but…

“Son-in-law.”

“Y-Yes…”

Suddenly, Lord Balimore stood up and called on me.

I had just taken a swig of liquor, so I hurriedly set the cup down on the floor.

“Your renown, my son-in-law, has reached even our country. For some time now, I have wished to cross arms with you at least once.”

With a tight pull, Lord Balimore retied his sash and said exactly that.

I had a bad feeling about this.

“That is… more praise than I deserve.”

“I would very much like you to face me here and now.”

My father-in-law grinned.

“Please allow me to confirm whether it is truly safe to entrust my only daughter to you.”

Lord Balimore stepped forward into the open space where the food had already been cleared away and the dancers had withdrawn.

Perhaps because there was alcohol in everyone, the whole hall erupted with excitement.

“Father, please stop!”

The only one who tried to stop him was Shitoen. She looked troubled, her brows lowered.

“It’s rude to Prince Saryu too, and besides… you’ve been drinking, haven’t you? Honestly.”

The second half, where she was scolding him, was unbelievably cute! What was that?! I want her to say that to me too! I want her to chide me too with a little “Honestly, no”!

That was probably the kind of face I was making.

Lord Balimore wore a slightly triumphant expression.

Come on… what was with that competitiveness?

If this were my own father, I’d say something like, “Old men shouldn’t overdo it,” but he was my father-in-law…

“Commander, you should accept. Show them that the Winter Bear of Tidros is the Winter Bear even here in the Kingdom of Tania.”

Raul said something utterly irresponsible. He’s drunk, isn’t he?

But I’ve always been the type to accept a fight when one was picked with me, so…

“If I have the permission of the King of Tania.”

The moment I stood, the room grew even louder. Shitoen was saying something like, “Prince Saryu!” but the way she had spoken to my father-in-law just now was cuter, so I ignored her.

“A fine entertainment. Do it.”

Permission came from the King of Tania, and I could only smile wryly at the fact that, yes, apparently this really did count as entertainment.