Nothing Good Happens When Mail Comes!!

“Is the engagement close?”

After seeing off the group as they hurried out into the garden, I drank my tea and looked at Crown Prince Arios with a good-grief expression.

“Recently, I received Father’s informal consent. All that remains is whether the ministers will formally acknowledge it.”

Crown Prince Arios spoke cautiously.

“Well, I’m sure it will work out somehow. She’s putting in effort like that, after all. It looks like she can manage the language of Tidros.”

“She could already speak the common language of Karaban to begin with. After that, it was the language of Tidros. I am grateful to Mail for meeting those expectations. Um…… Prince Saryu.”

“Hm?”

Just as I swallowed my tea, I tilted my head. Crown Prince Arios held his cup as if wrapping it in his hands, warming both hands while looking straight at me.

“I know it is shameless of me to say this…… but I would like us to remain on good terms from now on.”

“That is…… of course.”

I did not know whether we could truly get along from the heart, but we were both royalty. For the sake of our countries, we had to endure what needed to be endured.

“After this, I intend to deepen my friendship with Crown Prince Leonias as well, but above all, Prince Saryu, I trust you. Your words, your attitude, and your swordsmanship. You truly have no hidden side.”

At those powerful words, I slowly observed him.

Those words.

They were directed at me, but……

I felt as if he was making the chancellor hear them.

“I am grateful for those words. My impression of Crown Prince Arios also changed when I saw you at the apology ceremony. I thought that you were a man who could do it if you tried. Both of us have our countries to think of. I feel the same.”

While choosing my words, well…… since he was praising me, I praised him back to a certain extent……

Crown Prince Arios looked relieved.

Then he turned an expression toward the chancellor as if a student were expecting praise from a teacher.

“Prince Saryu’s tolerance is wonderful. Do you not think so, Chancellor?”

“Yes, this chancellor is utterly impressed. Not only with his martial valor, but with that spirit that broadly accepts all things.”

The chancellor bowed his head deeply to me.

“With this, the next generations of Tidros and Luminous will be secure. I humbly ask for your continued favor for many years to come.”

“What are you saying? The same goes for me.”

As I lowered my head to the chancellor too, I thought that this somehow felt like we were getting married, and then Shitoen and the others, who had gone for a walk in the garden, returned.

“It was such a wonderful garden! I wanted to see more of it, but Shitoen-sama said, ‘Let us go back already.’”

She snorted a little, looking dissatisfied. Shitoen said, “I’m sorry,” but……

That seemed to be directed more at Raul, Roze, and Mone than at Mail.

“Crown Prince Arios, let’s make a pond at our new home too!”

Mail happily sat on the sofa, but Raul, Roze, and Mone, who came in after her, were completely exhausted. ……What happened in such a short time……? You guys looked as tired as you would after being attacked by bandits……

Raul and the others then sluggishly returned to stand by against the wall.

After Mail talked about the garden for a while, she next turned her large eyes toward the table.

“Shitoen-sama! These macarons are beautiful!”

Mail pointed at the macarons piled on the cake stand and raised a bright voice. Was this girl’s head and mouth truly connected directly?

“Then shall I serve them?”

Shitoen smiled as she divided them onto serving plates and placed some before Crown Prince Arios and the chancellor as well.

What we had prepared was from a confectionery in the royal capital that Shitoen liked.

The two of us had gone there incognito several times, eaten in the eat-in space, and bought some to take home.

Incidentally, our first date had also been at that shop, but……

Because my prior research was poor, it had been their regular closing day. At that time, I had felt depressed because I had done something so apologetic to Shitoen.

“It’s delicious!”

Mail was making a fuss with a hand against her cheek.

What she had eaten was a macaron.

In front of me was a blueberry tart. For Crown Prince Arios, there was a cupcake generously topped with fresh cream and raspberry jam. For the chancellor, Shitoen had said, “You did not particularly like very sweet things, did you?” and served a scone with butter.

Wonderful…… My wife was already wonderful enough that I could present her anywhere without shame……

“To think you remembered…… I am deeply honored. Thank you very much.”

After bowing deeply, the chancellor gracefully cut into the scone with a knife, added butter, and took one bite.

“It is delicious. And sweets from Tidros are elegant and delicate to a degree not found in our country. His Highness the Crown Prince’s cupcake is lovely, and Your Highness Prince Saryu’s tart is like a craftwork.”

“I am glad you like it. But I like that…… chocolate cake from Luminous. The one whose surface shines black and is not sweet.”

“That would be chocolate torte. If you place just a little rock salt on it, it adds color and is also good. I will prepare it next time. Please come sightseeing, and bring Shitoen with you.”

Crown Prince Arios said that happily.

“I want to take these back to my country too! Macarons keep for a while, right?”

Mail asked Shitoen, and Shitoen tilted her head slightly.

“I think they will probably be fine…… But they are not made in this mansion. They are ordered from a confectionery in the royal capital, so I will ask before you return home.”

“A confectionery in the royal capital?”

At Mail’s blank look, Shitoen continued.

“At first, I liked it very much…… And when Prince Saryu learned that, he invited me by saying, ‘Let us go eat there together’…… Um. It was the shop where we had our first date……”

Shitoen’s face grew redder and redder, and her voice faded away.

She was embarrassed……! Shitoen was embarrassed while talking about memories with me!

That way of being embarrassed……!

Did you see that, Mail?! This was true “cuteness”!!! It was completely different from you!

Crown Prince Arios smiled and said, “Oh my,” and even the chancellor softened his mouth and said, “Well, well.”

Look――――!!

The reactions of these two said everything!!!

“That’s so nice!”

Even so, Mail suddenly raised her voice loudly.

“W-What is!”

I was so surprised that I reflexively asked…… No good. I should have ignored her.

“I want to go on a date in the royal capital too! I’ve never done anything like that! Hey, Crown Prince Arios, let’s go to that confectionery too, all right?”

She stood up, sat down in front of Crown Prince Arios, and held his hands, but……

No, Crown Prince Arios. I understood why you were confused.

This was not like going out into the garden……

“Mail. We are not here to play right now. Once things have settled down more……”

“But I’ve been shut inside all this time lately! I hate it already!”

She started crying messily again……

A subtle atmosphere began to flow through the room.

Crown Prince Arios somehow offered alternatives, and Shitoen also spoke to her, trying to see if there was anything else that might draw her attention, but Mail only cried loudly.

In the end, Shitoen drooped dejectedly and said,

“Because I brought up the sweets……”

So, damn it all, I stood up.

“I’m going to consult my eldest brother now. But do not expect too much. Also, Luminous will have to take responsibility for security too.”

Crown Prince Arios let out a relieved breath. I felt like clicking my tongue, but I could not bear for Shitoen to think any more that it was “her fault.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll be back before the dinner party, so can I leave the rest to you?”

When I asked Shitoen, she said, “Of course.”

“Raul, we’re going. What was it again, uh. Roro and Monmon, stand by! Continue guarding Shitoen!”

Ah, damn it all!! Just as I thought, nothing good happens when Mail comes!