The banquet was held in the grand hall, attended by the soldiers who had gone out to slay the Earth Dragon.
The guards from earlier seemed to be the ones on the night shift, so while there was no danger, they couldn’t join the feast and remained on duty.
With ministers and nobles also taking part, the event was lively beyond expectation.
Since it was called a banquet and Her Majesty Koren was present, I had expected something solemn.
However, it turned out to be a loud and cheerful affair.
Koren-sama had declared it a no-formality gathering, but there were two more reasons for the boisterous mood.
「Nom nom nom nom. Munch munch munch munch. Chew chew chew chew」
「Oh, she’s still eating, this girl」
「Yummy… mm. Is it over?」
「Here, try this one too. It’s a specialty from my territory」
「Hmm. Thank you」
「What a hearty appetite. Just watching her eat makes me feel refreshed」
Shiro was eating at an incredible pace, and the nobles found it amusing.
Ignoring her attendant’s attempts to stop them, they personally brought her more food one after another.
Shiro sat still at the table, being treated almost like a princess.
「Yes, indeed, children are treasures. Watching them eat so well warms the heart」
「I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t even seen my adorable grandchild…」
「Ah, how soothing. My daughter’s due date is soon as well. I hope her child grows as strong as this one」
The nobles seemed to gaze into the distance, reminiscing about their hometowns.
No doubt the Earth Dragon disturbance had left them all exhausted.
「And I hear this child was strong enough to defeat an Earth Dragon」
「What! Then the secret to strength must be eating well, yes? Soldiers, take note! You must work harder」
Ha ha ha. The nobles laughed heartily, but the soldiers, fork in hand, no longer had the strength to lift their food.
Their eyes said, ‘Easy for you to say’.
They had eaten quite a lot themselves, yet were on the verge of giving up.
Along the wall stood several soldiers clutching their stomachs, resting after eating too much.
They were the defeated remnants of those who had foolishly tried to match Shiro’s appetite.
「Strong, adorable, and still growing… how about it? Would you serve as my personal guard? I can promise excellent pay」
「Indeed! I would gladly hire her as my retainer too. My lands are famous for delicious food. You’ll always have your fill there」
「Hmm. Shiro belongs to lord. Shiro serves no one but lord」
「Hmm… loyal as well, I see. Admirable. But since her Master is ‘that’ one, I suppose I must give up. In that case, when you next visit Roukaku, come to my territory too. I’ll prepare a grand feast for you and your companions」
When my eyes met one of the nobles who had glanced my way, I gave him a wry smile. He returned it with an apologetic look, though there was also a hint of expectation in his gaze.
「Hmm. I’ll tell lord」
For some reason, Shiro had gained a fan among the nobles, and soon, one after another raised their hands, saying, 「Then please come to my lands as well!」
She had become an idol in an instant.
When we next visited Roukaku, I wondered just how many territories we’d have to tour.
Even after that, people kept coming to offer her food, which she devoured one after another, earning even more attention.
And then, the other reason was…
「Here, this is one of my favorites, the Heat Venom Snake (Garam Snake). Of course, it’s been detoxified. It has a nice spicy tingle on the tongue and is very delicious」
「Ah, thank you very much, Koren-sama」
「Please, don’t be so formal. Just call me Ko-ren」
Yeah, like I could call you that…
I mean, how did her personality change so much since our first meeting? The contrast is enough to make me jump.
Not ‘dokki’, but ‘hii’! It’s more like a kind of fear.
「Then, allow me to feed you. Here, say ahh…」
「No, I can’t possibly let Her Majesty do something like that」
「Honestly. Just call me Koren. I ‘want’ to do this, so don’t worry about it」
Yeah, there’s no way ‘not’ to worry about it.
From earlier, every noble who witnessed this scene had been rushing over to Kuduro-san after staring in shock.
And every single one of them said exactly the same thing, word for word. I was already tired of hearing it.
「K-Kuduro-dono, what in the world is happening there!?」
「Hmm? What do you mean?」
「Her Majesty Koren is… she’s clinging to a man!」
「Indeed」
「Why are you so calm!? That’s the same Koren-sama who dismissed every man we introduced without so much as a glance! Who is that man? Judging by his black hair and black eyes, he must be a drifter… is he perhaps a hero!?」
「No, I believe he’s a commoner」
「What…! A commoner, getting along so intimately with our queen!? Why aren’t you stopping them!? That’s your duty!」
「Hmm… as you yourself just said, Her Majesty Koren has rejected every man until now. Yet by some miracle, she’s finally shown affection for someone. Would you truly interfere when there’s finally a chance for the long-despaired heir to be born? We may never get another opportunity like this, why should I stop it?」
「That… hmm. You have a point」
「Indeed. We must cheer for him instead」
「Yes. Do your best…」
None of them should be saying 「Do your best」 right now.
Depending on others is pointless… ah, wait, I can’t really say that myself.
I’m basically the embodiment of relying on others.
「Is something the matter?」
「No, it’s just… the soldiers and nobles, everyone’s not just watching, they’re ‘staring’ at us…」
「That’s fine, isn’t it? I’m not asking you to take responsibility, but as the potential father of my future child, it’s only natural for everyone to know. Now then, here, say ahh…」
The nobles and ministers all went 「Ohh!?」, their eyes wide in astonishment, clenching their fists as if cheering me on.
And when she brings the food right up to my mouth in front of all that, how am I supposed to say, 「Ahh, no thanks」? There’s just no way.
These nobles, they’re different.
There’s none of that dark political struggle like, 「A young woman can’t rule a kingdom!」
Everyone trusts Koren-sama as a good ruler, and there isn’t a single person trying to claim the throne.
It’s honestly shocking.
And they’re genuinely worried about the matter of an heir.
In that kind of atmosphere, how could I possibly refuse?
Just look at those eyes, shining with excitement. It’d be terrifying to say no.
So, I gave in, not because my eyes were drawn to her short skirt and the legs crossed beneath it, or because I thought her thighs looked good in a different way from Renge’s, but simply because I had no choice.
I took a bite, and… yeah, it was delicious.
There was a slight tingling, though I couldn’t tell if it came from leftover venom or spices, but it had a flavor that made you want more.
So, when she offered another bite, I couldn’t help but take it.
That said…
「Why’s ‘Koren’ feeding Master? Today’s supposed to be ‘my’ turnssu」
Renge-san, sitting on the opposite side of the table, was glaring daggers at her younger sister, a vein pulsing on her forehead.
What even is this situation…
「I’m sorry, onee-sama. But our time together is short, and I must deepen our bond with him while I can. It’s all… for the sake of ‘your’ child!」
Somehow, she’s convinced that having a child with me would also make it ‘Renge’s’ child.
Her eyes are dead serious.
Faith-driven delusion is… terrifying.
「U-uh, Your Majesty? Things like that should be left to ‘us’, Master’s ‘slaves’!」
「There’s no need to worry. I’ve declared that this evening is free of formality, soldiers, nobles, and slaves alike are to relax and enjoy themselves. I’m sure there are plenty of men you’d like to talk to as well. Please, enjoy the night」
「Not interested. My heart belongs to Master alone」
「We’re our lord’s ‘slaves’, so even a royal command won’t make us obey. Although… even if Master told us to step away, we still wouldn’t」
「I am my liege’s knight. Even if permission were granted, I cannot leave his side」
It was honestly nice hearing them all say that so firmly.
Actually, no, please stay. Stay right where you are.
A lot of the men nearby slumped forward the moment they heard those words, but… sorry, guys. Give it up.
「I see. However, this is also meant as an act of gratitude and reward toward the one who aided our army. I was taught to always show thanks to my benefactors, so please don’t hold back」
She’s a tough one…
And by “benefactor of the army”, she means me, just because I noticed they were short on recovery potions and decided to help out.
Apparently, they had far more wounded than expected, and since herbs are hard to find in the desert, they were running out of high-grade recovery potions and antidotes.
Still… if I could set up a distribution network for potions here, this could become a stable source of profit.
Once I’m back, I’ll talk to Mizera and Reinrich about supply balance from Einzheil.
「I figured master and Koren would end up clashing somehowssu, but I didn’t expect ‘this’…」
「Renge-san. That one ‘feeding right’ you have is now used up, okay?」
「What!? No way! I haven’t even done it once yet!」
Feeding right!? What the hell is a “feeding right”!?
Wait, Renge, hold on! That one’s still steaming hot, don’t scoop that up!
At least blow on it first!
「Maaasteeer! Aaaahhn!!」
「Hot…..! H-Hot!! That’s way too hot!!」
No blowing. None.
It was like express delivery straight from the pot!
My tongue’s burning, can’t tell if it’s from the heat or the leftover spice from that venom snake!
「Ara, are you alright? Potion….」
「Th-thanks… wait, why are ‘you’ drinking it!?」
「ugh…(gargle gulp)」
Hold it, hold it, hold it!
That’s ‘not’ how this works!
Mouth-to-mouth!? That’s for when the person’s too weak to drink on their own!
I ‘can’ drink it myself, hey, stop coming closer! Too close! Way too close!!
And ‘you’, Kuduro-san, why are you just watching!?
What kind of education produces someone like this!?
And why are you clutching your stomach laughing while all the nobles stare in shock!?
Oh no, he’s looking over here.
Don’t you dare laugh harder!!
「Even ‘I’ve’ never done that, you hearssu!? Absolutely not, that’s forbidden!!」
Nice, Renge!
She managed to slip between me and Koren-sama just in time to stop it!
Now’s my chance, I’ll just drink this potion myself,
「den tu ameesakaa(then, to onee-sama)……」
「Eh? Mmmph?!」
Hm? I couldn’t see from my position, but Renge’s silent scream echoed through the grand hall loud and clear.
When I tried to see what happened, Wendy’s hand suddenly covered my eyes.
「…For Renge-san’s dignity, please pretend you didn’t see anything.」
…Right.
Renge… I’ll never forget you.
A soft exhale escaped someone’s lips, and Wendy finally let go of me.
When I looked, Koren-sama was licking her lips, while Renge was spilling a pale green liquid from her mouth.
She had turned completely white, like ash, and collapsed onto the table like a puppet with its strings cut.
Aina, Sorte, and Wendy each placed a gentle hand on her shoulder or head to comfort her.
「Uh… well. You threw yourself in to protect our liege. That was admirable, Renge.」
「Uu… uuu……」
「S-see, you’re both girls… and blood-related sisters… wait, that actually makes it worse, doesn’t it… but still, you protected our lord! You’re amazing, Renge!」
「You did wonderfully. I’ll give you my room tonight… so, please, cheer up…」
「Hic… I just… want someone to hold me tonightssu…」
「Yeah. I’ll hold you tight…」
Renge somehow managed to endure it, but as for the queen in question…
「Ahh, such sweetness… and onee-sama’s jealousy was simply divine… Being near this person brings out new sides of my beloved sister. And when she lets her guard down, everything becomes so much easier… which means, next time… ufufufu」
The queen’s ecstatic smile turned into a suspicious laugh, and it was downright terrifying…
Haaaaaa…
Whatever she’s planning next, I can only feel dread…
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