Volume 9 Chapter 3 The King Who Digs Holes Unconsciously
Still, Sir Stefan has been practically ruling the country as King since he came back to his senses, but once the coronation ceremony is over, it will really feel like he's the King.
Of course, he is still the King even now.
"Lydia, since I insisted on calling you for the coronation dress, I want to have it sent from the royal family."
"No way."
"No way?"
"Sir Stefan, you can only send dresses to women you like."
"I see..."
Sir Stefan looked really down.
It hurt my heart a lot, but I had to firmly refuse.
If my actions kept Sir Stefan from getting married, that would be a big problem.
"...Well, at least let me cover the cost of the dress! Lydia, I may not be able to go back to being your fiancé, but as your brother... no, as your father, I want to at least pay for the dress. I want to make up for everything I should have done for you."
"Sir Stefan... um, I appreciate your feelings, but I need to talk to Father Feldur about this first... um, well, maybe my father might make a dress for me..."
I really appreciate Sir Stefan's feelings.
But I think I need to consult my father properly.
Of course, I'm really happy about Sir Stefan's feelings.
I am, but──Sir Stefan and I.
What is it? We were once engaged, and now we're friends.
I've been denying it all this time, but I've stopped running away from my lack of confidence.
I have the power of Goddess Alexandria; I am a Saint.
Supporting Sir Stefan as a Saint might be my role too.
Just like Sir Roxas, Sir Rail, Mr. Lucian, and Sir Ciel will do from now on.
I too──yes, as a female knight.
Knight Lydia. Being a knight sounds cool
Riding a horse sounds awesome. But I can't be a knight because I don’t know how to fight.
I'm the Saint of the Rest Priest Family.
I don't plan to quit being the cook for Lobelia, but I'll join the coronation ceremony.
I want to do what I can.
"Sir Stefan, I really appreciate your feelings, but I'd be happier if you could be more natural, like a friend. I don't care about the past anymore, and I'm just glad that you're kind Sir Stefan, even if you don't have to try so hard for me."
"Lydia..."
Sir Stefan looked all teary-eyed.
Eir-Eir went "pudding" while playfully tapping Sir Stefan's head, and Nel-Nel said "fried horse mackerel" while nibbling on Sir Stefan's hand.
I think both of them are saying "cheer up."
"Anyway, today is a fun day for clam digging, and I'm sure seeing the sea will lift your spirits, Sir Stefan."
"Yeah, I'm no good... the things I thought would help just end up bothering Lydia."
"I don't think it's a bother at all. It's just that you're the King, Your Majesty, and you hold an important position, so I've grown up a bit and think about things more."
"...I need to be a bit more aware of that too."
"Sir Stefan, it's fine when you come to Lobelia. You're the King in front of everyone, but today you're just Sir Stefan since we're incognito."
"Ah, yeah, that's right!"
I can hear the sound of the sea. The salty breeze is blowing through my hair, and the bright blue sky and ocean stretch out before me.
Looking at the sea always lifts people's spirits, and it seems like Sir Stefan is feeling a bit better too.
"It's the sea, Sir Stefan! Let's go dig for clams!"
"Sorry, Lydia. I don't know how to do it."
"Sir Stefan, your outfit is so fancy, so please watch from a little distance."
"No, I want to join too... It's fine, I don't mind if my clothes get dirty."
Eir-Eir and Nel-Nel are walking along the beach, saying, "Pumpkin pudding!" "Fried fish!" They seem to find the feel of the sand amusing, and soon they start running, so Dad chases after them, saying, "Kids, stay close!"
Ms. Famine seems scared of the sound of the waves, curling up around my neck and not moving.
I leave Eir-Eir and Nel-Nel with Dad and head towards the water's edge.
"Sir Stefan, clams are found not on the dry white part of the beach, but on the wet black part. It's where the waves wash over or recede. You dig here with a rake, just like everyone else is doing."
There are others clam digging too.
Everyone is raking the sand, digging it up, and picking out the clams that pop up.
"Got it. Is there only one rake?"
"Well, I brought 2 just in case. They're not rakes, though; they're shovels. I thought Eir-Eir might want to play with one."
Ms. Famine and Nel-Nel can't hold a shovel, but I thought Eir-Eir could, so I brought one along.
I handed the shovel to Sir Stefan.
Sir Stefan took the shovel and seemed a bit happy, his eyes sparkling.
"This is the first time I've held such a tool."
"That's right, Sir Stefan, you're a prince after all..."
The prince doesn't dig in the dirt. That makes sense.
"I've seen gardeners use tools like this. So, I just need to dig with it, right?"
Sir Stefan plunged the shovel into the wet sand with a thud.
Since we're at the water's edge, the waves splash at our feet.
Sir Stefan is wearing boots that go up to his ankles, but I wonder if leather boots are waterproof.
It probably depends on the material.
I worry a bit about whether the inside will get soaked.
But since Sir Stefan seems to want to clam dig with us, I guess I shouldn't worry too much.
The seawater wet my feet in sandals. It's cold. Feels nice.
"Will I catch a lot... Are there any clams around...?"
I crouched at the water's edge and started digging in the shallow water with a rake.
As I dug, clams of just the right size rolled out from the sand.
"Clams, so cute..."
Shells are usually cute, but I think clams are among the cutest.
It's adorable when they squirt seawater from their closed shells.
Their small shape is cute too. Plus, they're delicious.
"Hehe, clams, clams."
"Pumpkin."
"Tatin."
"Fried horse mackerel."
Pumpkin, tatin and fried horse mackerel.
What an amazing meal we've got.
"Huh? Where's Dad?"
"I don't want to get wet."
Before I knew it, Eir-Eir and Nel-Nel had come close to me.
They were splashing around at the water's edge, but Dad was nowhere to be seen.
Dad was sitting on the other side of the beach, staying dry.
Ms. Famine ran over to him, not wanting to get wet either.
I kept putting the rolling clams into a bucket.
Eir-Eir and Nel-Nel helped me out.
Eir-Eir picked up clams and put them in the bucket, while Nel-Nel dug holes.
Just like when we used to dig for bamboo shoots, Nel-Nel was covered in sand.
A bath awaits when we get home.
"Sir Stefan, did you catch any clams?"
I was so focused on collecting clams that I suddenly noticed how quiet Sir Stefan was and looked up.
Right next to me, Sir Stefan was digging a hole with a blank expression.
The hole he dug was about the size of a small pond.
"...Sir Stefan, um, just digging in the same spot won't get you a lot of clams..."
"Is that so? No wonder I thought, no matter how much I dug, no clams were coming out."
Sir Stefan, who had been digging in the same spot and gradually expanding the hole into a pond, said this with a serious expression.
If I hadn't said anything, he might have ended up creating a huge pond.
Eir-Eir and Nel-Nel jumped in with a splash and started playing in the small pool that formed in the shallow water.
"It's the pool, Sir Stefan. You both look like you're having fun."
"I was having so much fun digging that I lost track of time. I'm glad you called out to me."
Sir Stefan really likes digging holes, huh?
I can kind of understand the feeling; digging holes mindlessly is actually pretty fun.
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