Chapter 141.1 : Interlude ~Part 4~
Galwark kingdom Royal castle. Rio-tachi had boarded Liselotte's magic ship which was about to leave Rodania, the territory of marquis Rodan in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, the hero, Sakata Hiroaki was attending a tea party held by Lizzet Gregory―― Daughter of duke Gregory, one of the great nobles of Galwark kingdom.
The participants of that tea party was naturally Lizzet, her circle of friends, Hiroaki who was invited as the main guest, Flora who became his fiancee just a few days ago and Roana Fontaine who had come as their attendant. In short, Hiroaki was the sole male participant. When the tea party began after the standard greetings――、
「I heard about that news. About Hiroaki-sama getting engaged to Florsama. Congratulations.」
Lizzet Gregory offered her congratulations to Flora and Hiroaki. Thereupon, the other noble girls also said 「Congratulations」 after her.
「Ah. T-Thank you I guess.」
Hiroaki scratched his head slightly embarrassed though it did not look like he hated it. Flora on the other hand bowed elegantly in response to their words.
「It must be wonderful for you to get the status as the legal wife of the hero. I have no doubt that Florsama's name will go down in the annals of history, don’t you think so? How wonderful it must be.」
Lizzet was giving empty praises to Flora and Hiroaki. Then,
「But, well, I hate the expression such as concubine and legal wife you see.」
Hiroaki shook his head in a pompous way.
「Oh my, why do you feel that way I wonder? 」
Lizzet asked that question with an extremely interested face.
「I mean, it means that I have put an order of importance to my women right? I wish for equality and won’t bind them by a number. Those kinds of rules, social positions and such things are troublesome you see. It’s suffocating and unbearable for me.」[Bru: as if he knows about what he is talking about. This guy…][TL : Poor Lyle]
「Well. Does that mean that the women who marry Hiroaki-sama can enjoy equal treatment? A philanthropist aren’t you?」
「Uhm, well it should be slightly different from a Philanthropist. I just hate rules that will bind my freedom. The bad relationship between the legal wife and the second wife is a common occurence in the house of royalties and great nobilities right? I hate such things you see. Making a faction within and fighting for the attention of their husband. And in the end, it's the outsiders who suffer from it, or should I say their husbands will be the one to suffer from it.」
And thus, after Hiroaki had made a long speech regarding how he hated such troublesome situations――、
「I see. This humble one has finally grasped a bit of Hiroaki-sama's disposition.」
Lizzet smiled like a flower in full bloom as she told Hiroaki.
「Hou. I’m interested in your opinion about me.」
Hiroaki flashed a daring smile as he looked at such a Lizzet.
「Fufufufu. Even so, since it’ll be embarrassing for me if it turns out that I’m wrong, I want to know a bit more about Hiroaki-sama. Would you be so kind to tell me more about yourself? 」
Lizzet flashed an embarassed smile and looked at Hiroaki with upturned eyes. And that took Hiroaki's mood to the seventh heaven. [Bru: imagine him on drugs XD][TL : He's done for XD]
「Well then I won’t hold back since you have gone to such lengths to prepare this place. I want everyone here to hear about my story.」[Bru: wow…][TL :……]
「The girls at this place would be more than grateful to have that chance. Right? 」
Lizzet was smiling from ear to ear as she looked at the other noble girls in that place. Hearing that, those noble girls nodded slightly, embarrassed.
「Well then, listen to my story.」
The atmosphere did not feel wrong for Hiroaki.
After that, the tea party turned into a lively conversation and ended right before dusk. But then, they decided to hold another tea party three days later as his story was yet to end.
Then, after the tea party, Hiroaki-tachi returned to their assigned rooms inside of the castle.
「U-Uhm, Hiroaki-sama.」
Flora called to Hiroaki with a timid voice.
「hn, what’s matter? 」
Hiroaki looked at Flora with a delighted face but――、
「We’re going to Rodania tomorrow, to meet my big sister right? And yet you said that you’ll attend the tea party which will be held three days later……..」
Flora said so while taking a peek at Hiroaki's face.
They were going to leave the royal capital of Galwark kingdom tomorrow and so returning three days later back to Galwark kingdom's royal capital was just too tight on their schedule. Though they were yet to know as to what would happen over there. Even If there was nothing there to hinder them from returning three days later, It wasn’t a simple matter for Flora to adjust her schedule. But then, she did not say that due to her meek nature.
「Hn, Ah, you’re right. I see, I just remembered it now.」
Hiroaki nodded as if he had just recalled those matters and scratched his head in an awkward manner.
「J-Just remembered it you say…………」
Flora seemingly hestitated to say something.
It had been a few days since Flora received news about Christina. Though she herself wanted to go to Christina as soon as she heard the news,she couldn't do so due to Hiroaki's participation in today's tea party and she did not want to pour cold water over him. So, she could only hold back her own feelings and wait for the end of today's tea party.
Naturally though the situation was explained, she hadn't explained the whole thing in detail as Hiroaki hated being forced like that. But then, as a result, Hiroaki might did not pay attention to these matters. “Should I try to confirm it a bit more?” Flora thought so. At that time――,
「Uhn, should I really go there? It’s true that I heard the talk. I never said that we were going to go together right? 」
Hiroaki asked so, sounding annoyed.
「……Yes. You, are not obliged………… To go.」
Flora spoke softly in a weak tone. Naturally, despite her wanting them to go together, all of this was because she had never said her intentions clearly.
「Since there’s no urgency, your oneesan would be coming to visit us first right? In that case, she’ll meet me. Well, since I know your feeling of wanting to meet your sister, I guess you should go to Rodania. I’ll be okay with Roana here with me.」
After making such an excuse, Hiroaki glanced at Roana who was listening to their conversation in silence.
「……Yes. Please allow me to assist Hiroaki-sama here, Florsama.」