Volume 6 Chapter 5 Fabricated Strategy Meeting
While I was talking with Sir Rail and Elder Brother Chrisrain, the door at the entrance of Lobelia opened.
The bell on the door rang loudly, letting us know we had visitors.
"Lydia, are you there?"
"Lydia, um, can I come in?"
Mr. Lucian came in with his usual cheerful smile, and Sir Stefan looked a bit nervous.
"Mr. Lucian, Sir Stefan, hello! It's rare to see you both together."
I stood up to greet them, and Mr. Lucian smiled brightly while Sir Stefan let out a sigh of relief.
It's unusual for them to come together──well, I get Mr. Lucian, but I wonder if it's okay for Sir Stefan to casually visit my shop. I know Mr. Lucian is busy, but Sir Stefan must be even busier with the king's upcoming coronation.
(I told Sir Stefan he could come anytime, so it's fine...)
I felt a bit worried, but I decided not to ask. If I worried too much, Sir Stefan, being serious, might say something like, "Then I won't come here anymore..." and he would sound really sad.
I could picture it in my mind.
"Sir Rail called me... he said he has something to discuss, and this morning, I got a letter from him at the palace."
"I got the same thing. A letter from Rail in my room."
"Sir Rail... I don't think it's a good idea to send letters to the palace like that... it's dangerous."
Mr. Lucian and Sir Stefan looked at each other and said this.
I think it's not okay to shoot letters to the palace. When I warned Sir Rail, he tilted his head cutely and spoke.
"Heroes are the ones who send letters. A true hero can shoot a letter accurately from outside the palace."
"Wow, that's amazing, heroes are like that, huh?"
"Are there no heroes in Elgard?"
"Nope."
"If there's a spot for a hero, maybe I could become a famous hero in Elgard."
"Yeah, that sounds great. Please do become famous. A hero is someone who shoots letters through the window. I'll remember that. If Rail keeps it up, maybe I won't get scolded by my younger siblings as much. I often get in trouble for using space magic to sneak in."
Elder Brother Chrisrain and Sir Rail seemed to hit it off. I thought they were somewhat similar, but they also seemed to get along well. Elder Brother Chrisrain knows he's sneaking in.
I would prefer if they came in through the door like Mr. Lucian and Sir Stefan instead of suddenly appearing and surprising me.
I hurried to make tea for Mr. Lucian and Sir Stefan. I also cut up a Tarte Tatin I had baked for dessert.
Ms. Famine and Eir-Eir happily ate it, and my dad said, "I've eaten enough sweets for a lifetime with these bean dumplings," curling up on Mr. Lucian's lap.
Mr. Lucian, who loves dogs, gently patted my dad's small back. He looked really happy.
Even though Sir Rail and Elder Brother Chrisrain had already eaten a lot of bean dumplings, they were going for the Tarte Tatin too.
I wonder if they stay slim because they move around a lot. It's nice that they eat well, so I'm happy they're enjoying it.
Sir Rail and Elder Brother Chrisrain sat on either side of me at the table. Mr. Lucian and Sir Stefan were across from us. It felt a bit cramped. Plus, the fur draped over Elder Brother Chrisrain's shoulder was fluffy and tickled me.
"I know the general situation. It was in the letter. You want to have a strategy meeting to help Roxas, right, Rail? Roxas is an important friend to me. I think of him like a cute little brother. I want to help as much as I can."
Sir Stefan was the one who started the conversation.
I remembered our earlier conversation, and I was feeling really anxious inside. I was pretending to be Sir Roxas's fiancée, and if there was a wedding, Mr. Lucian would come to take me back.
It's really worrying.
Is this really okay? Can I get involved in something so important just because Elder Brother Chrisrain suddenly thought of it?
"Yeah. We've mostly decided what to do. First, I want the princess to pretend to be Roxas's fiancée..."
"I don't agree. Why should Lydia pretend to be Sir Roxas's fiancée?"
Mr. Lucian immediately disagreed with Sir Rail's explanation.
As expected, being older, Mr. Lucian is reliable.
"Really? I was thinking of asking Lucian to interfere with Roxas and the princess. He could say, 'Lydia is mine, give her back!' while stepping in."
"That's fine. Let's go with that."
"...Huh?"
Wasn't Mr. Lucian just questioning how poorly planned this was?
I stared at Mr. Lucian, who quickly agreed.
He gently held my hand and said, "Lydia. Just leave it to me. Let's escape together." He was sparkling with excitement.
"...Mr. Lucian, are you maybe enjoying this a bit?"
"Stealing the bride from the wedding and running away. It's something every guy wants to try at least once. Taking Lydia... doesn't it suit me, being known as a lady-killer?"
"Mr. Lucian, you're not a lady-killer... and rumors like that will start again."
"I don't care about any rumors about me and Lydia."
When he smiled gently, I felt like I was experiencing what it's like to be a woman being flirted with by a handsome guy.
I glared at Mr. Lucian with resentment. The conversation was already moving forward with me being involved.
Of course, I want to help Sir Roxas, but I wonder if there's a better way.
"──Is one person enough for that role?"
"Sir Stefan?"
"I'll step in with Lucian. I still want my fiancée back, so I'll take Lydia with a bit of longing."
"Uh, um..."
Wait a minute.
If that happens, I'll end up being the bad girl who's playing with the hearts of Mr. Lucian, Sir Stefan, and Sir Roxas.
I'm actually a saint, though.
But the kids still call me the "bad older sister," and the name 'Diner of Villainous Lady' hasn't disappeared.
I wonder if my reputation can drop any further now.
"Sounds good, that sounds fun. Then I'll play the role of crying to Roxas, saying, 'You were just playing with me...' I'm pretty, so I'm sure I'd look good in a dress."
"Elder Brother Chrisrain..."
Elder Brother Chrisrain said it so happily.
He is indeed handsome and slim, but it feels a bit much to insist he's a woman.
It would be more believable to ask Mx. Margaret.
"Yeah. It'll be a chaotic scene. A duel over the princess... and then a runaway... Roxas clinging to Chrisrain, and Lucian opposing Your Highness. The fight between the men over the princess will become the talk of the kingdom, and maybe my father will notice Roxas's one-sided love and give up on the wedding. Also, there's a chance it'll be rumored that a man in a dress is being kept around, which could delay the wedding."
"R-Really? Is that okay...?"
I'm just worried.
I can't help but think that everyone involved in this plan will end up with a ruined reputation.
"It's fine, princess. It's better for things to get confusing and unclear. You haven't done anything wrong. It'll just be rumors about everyone fighting over you."
Sir Rail was cheerful.
He seemed like he wasn't worried at all.
"Honestly, I wanted to talk to Ciel too, but he's been busy with work lately and hasn't been back to the Mage Headquarters in the palace. It seems like he's not even at home."
"...Sir Ciel is really busy, huh?"
"Yeah. He's always a busy guy. He's checking the barrier stones in towns all over the kingdom and refilling their magic. He's also dealing with monsters in remote areas that we can't reach from Leonsroar. I rely on him, but he's definitely working too hard."
Hearing Sir Stefan's words, I look down.
I wonder if he's okay. Is he eating well? When he comes back, I should make him something delicious.
"If Ciel isn't here, we can't teleport to Duke Girard's house right away. He's the only one with that handy teleportation skill..."
Sir Rail said this with a really sad look.
"Can't we use Lucian's Fafnir to take everyone?"
"That won't work. It's only for one person. The most I can take is me and one other person."
Mr. Lucian shook his head.
It seems like we're heading to Duke Girard's house anyway. I wonder if the strategy meeting is over. Is it really okay to be this casual about it?
"Then let's use the royal airship."
"Well, that's fine, but it'll stand out... It really stands out. My father has a great nose for these things. If His Highness shows up, the whole town will go crazy..."
"Is that so? I feel like I haven't really talked to Duke Girard personally much..."
Sir Stefan said sadly, "I thought I could be of help..."
"My father is shy, you know. He's a lot like Roxas."
Sir Rail said this, crossing his arms and tilting his head.
"What should we do? Maybe a carriage or a horse?"
"How about I use the big swan I brought from Elgard Kingdom? I think everyone can fit on it."
Elder Brother Chrisrain suggested.
A big swan for traveling──
I don't really know what that is, but it sounds like a really elegant way to travel.
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