HSML 18

The day after the royal family’s proposal of engagement arrived. That afternoon—

“Moka-chan, Kachina, we’re here—!”
“…………”

My mother, brimming with energy, and my father, looking utterly exhausted by contrast, came to my room.

It seems there was an intense discussion from last night through this time today, but well, let’s deliberately refrain from commenting on that.

That aside, the way my mother confidently enters without worrying about my permission shows how used to it she is. She’s probably assuming that if she waited for permission, she’d never be allowed into my room.

And indeed, that assumption is correct—

Of course, Kachina understands that too, which is why, in situations like this, she apparently has no intention of saying anything to the two of them. That part bothers me just a little.

If something is necessary, Kachina is the kind of maid who will act for my sake even if she gets scolded by me later. She’s truly an irreplaceable presence in that sense.

Still, surrounding oneself with too many yes-men isn’t a good idea—there are textbook examples of that among the information I gather from the “boxes.”

“Milady, the master and mistress have arrived.”
“Mm… I know.”

Knowing that I’m peeking at what’s going on outside from within my “box,” Kachina informs me anyway. As I respond, my mother speaks up.

“I don’t intend to beat around the bush.
With Moka-chan’s information-gathering ability, you probably understand the situation.
And I imagine you’ve also noticed at least part of what this man, Nelta, is thinking.”
“I won’t… deny that…”

At my answer, my mother nods in satisfaction, then asks seriously,

“I asked you yesterday too, but answer me again, properly, in front of Nelta here.
Prince Siphon’s proposal—will you accept it, or not?”
“I want to… accept it.”

When I answer immediately, my father, who had been slumped beside my mother, makes a small fist pump. Seeing that, my mother shoots him a sharp glare, then turns back to me with the eyes of a mother once more.

“I figured as much from how you were yesterday, and it doesn’t seem like you changed your mind overnight. Then we’ll respond in that direction. No problem with that?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Understood.”

At my brief reply, my mother nods once.
With that, the whole proposal commotion is settled—for now, at least.

Just as I was thinking that, my mother suddenly looks as if she’s noticed something—

“Hey, Moka-chan. Could it be that you— …No, never mind. Either way, the result wouldn’t change.”

—She starts to say something, then decides not to voice it and resolves it on her own.

I understand what my mother wanted to say.
So I honestly affirm the words she left unspoken.

“Your guess, Mother, is probably… not wrong…”

In reality, I understood the intentions of those around me and went along with them, making use of the situation. My mother must have noticed that.

It could also be taken as me having wished, of my own will, to meet the prince.
So whether it was a coincidence or something I aimed for, the conclusion is that the result doesn’t change.

Taking that into account, I affirmed it.

“That the result doesn’t change… is true, but…”

At my words, my mother blinks, then gives a small nod.

“Hehe. Moka-chan, don’t you have more talent for being a chancellor than this man?”
“Even if I did… I couldn’t be a chancellor… anyway…”

At my reply, my mother smiles in a way that seems to mix affirmation and denial.
Perhaps both “that’s true” and “that’s not true at all” crossed her mind at the same time.

Kachina, who had been listening beside us, also gives a wry smile similar to my mother’s.

In any case, it seems the family meeting is now adjourned.

“Well then, you, Nelta. I still have plenty of things I want to ask, so let’s go back to your room and you can tell me everything in detail until dinnertime, okay?”
“Hey, seriously. Can’t you cut me some slack?”

Seeing my exhausted father, I decide to offer some supporting fire.

“Father—or rather, it seems His Majesty’s intentions are… quite strong…
And Father also… kind of… went along with them…”
“Hm?”

His Majesty seemed anxious about not being able to find an engagement partner for Prince Siphon, and since I’m the same age as the prince, he approached my father about it.

Because I knew that, I was able to draw out my father’s words: “If you attend the coming-of-age ceremony, it’s fine for you to remain in the box.”

Anyway, my attempt at supporting fire—“His Majesty is the root of this whole commotion”—seems to have backfired.

“Good. Then I’ll make sure you explain all of that properly too!”

With that, my mother firmly locks my father in her grip and leaves my room.

Watching that scene, I see them off with detached thoughts like, Even an excellent chancellor is helpless in front of his wife, huh…

As I hear their bickering voices fade into the distance, I say to Kachina,

“Tonight’s dinner… maybe something… that won’t sit well… with Father?”
“I doubt even the mistress would do anything that extreme.”
“Normally, yes… but she seems… still quite… worked up…?”

Father, good luck!

After the two of them leave, Kachina seems to think about something for a moment, then turns back toward me—toward the “box.”

“Milady.”
“What is it?”
“I just had a thought.”
“Mm?”
“…Perhaps it would be better to cancel the preparations to return to the territory.”
“Huh?”

At Kachina’s words, I blink in surprise.
When I stay silent, unable to grasp her intent right away, she explains.

“The Founding Festival in autumn…
If your engagement to Prince Siphon is formally concluded, it’s likely that attending the royal family–hosted parties held during that period will be mandatory.”
“…Ah.”

At that, I realize what Kachina is getting at.

Up until now, I could simply return to the territory and stay holed up in my room at the main residence there. But with my engagement to Prince Siphon, that won’t be possible anymore.

The Founding Festival in autumn.
If attendance at those parties is mandatory, then including preparations like dresses, I’d need to be in the royal capital about a month in advance.

That means I’d have to start preparing to come to the capital by the end of summer…

“So even if I go back, I’d only be able to stay… in the territory… for a little over a month?”
“Yes. In that case, it would be easier, including preparations, to remain in the capital until the autumn parties are over, so I think it would be better not to return.”

Faced with this completely unexpected situation, I instinctively clutch my head.
…I had thought festivals had nothing to do with a shut-in like me…

I prefer my room at the main residence in the territory to this room in the villa here—but it seems I can’t really say that anymore…

Sigh…