TN: Hi everyone! Since I’ve finished otherworld dining hall, might as well pick up this one. Compared to the previous one, this translation is much, much easier so it’s been smooth-sailing so far. Hope it will continue like that~
The capital I visited for the first time in 2 years had a livelier atmosphere compared to before.
The main reason was because the current king of this country was a person who placed a greater emphasis on internal affairs rather than territory expansion, as such it was currently a peaceful era without any attacks from foreign countries.
The crown prince, though a bit strange, was an excellent prince and Angela seemed to be a docile person. I think it would be tentatively peaceful for a few years until Merrill, the main character, appeared. (TN: I changed the MC's translated name from Meriru to Merrill. It's more fitting for the Western setting.)
The state of the capital city itself was also peaceful, I could smell the fragrant scent drifted from the food stores and there was a flower shop selling large blooming roses on the street corner.
During such afternoon, I was currently riding a carriage that's heading towards the capital's school.
In the same carriage, there were also maids who were tasked to look after me like Maria.
I did not need to worry about occupying two persons' worth of seat due to my previously huge butt anymore. It's nice being able to ride a carriage with large number of companions.
After a while, the horse-drawn carriage had stopped, the coachman and Maria started talking to each other.
[What happened? Is there something wrong?]
Mixing in the conversation, Maria frowned as she felt troubled.
[Britney-sama, it's about the capital's school we're heading… apparently there's someone illegally parking their carriage on the roadway, so I can't move forward.]
[Ee? Can't we go around it?]
[Yes. If it's just horses then we can pass, but it will be difficult for carriages. Another carriage seems to be stuck too so the road is congested.]
[That's troubling. I might not make it in time for my meeting with Ricardo.]
Before joining the school's party, I had informed Ricardo of my arrival time in advance.
By the way, one could invite their relatives and friends to this event and outside women could also walk inside the magnificent school only for that day.
I got off the carriage, climbed on the horse I brought as a spare and grasped its reins.
Since the Count of Hakusu was abundant with horses, we could bring extra horses for emergency.
[Since it can't be helped, I'll travel by horse. Maria and the others will wait here until the traffic jam is resolved and join me later. I'll bring a few escorts with me.]
[Britney-sama, you need a guide…!]
[It's fine, I have a handwritten map that Ricardo gave me, and the roads of the capital city are like the intersections of Go board from bird's point of view, so I think I can go there without any problem.]
TN: Go board. I suppose the author modeled the capital city road after Kyoto streets.
I sat on the horse sideways since I'm wearing a dress, signaled my guards and urged the horse to gallop.
Since I'm in the city, I couldn't go fast. If my speed was too fast, my hair would become disordered. After a while, I could see the main cause of the traffic congestion.
A large size horse carriage decorated gaudily in gold, it had stopped in the road and was blocking the way.
On the carriages in front and behind of said carriage, the emblem of the royal family shone.
(No way…)
An unpleasant imagination crossed my mind.
The carriage had stopped in front of a store that sold dresses.
Among the royalty, there's only one person that came to my mind who could perform such nuisance!
(Get out! Angela!)
To think that as soon as I arrived at the capital, I encountered the villainess Angela.
Although the attendants were standing in front of the shop, the person herself was still inside…
(Okay, let's pass through this normally. I'm going to be late to my meeting with Ricardo.)
I mixed in with other passersby and ignored the store.
The princess's attendants seemed to be worn out too, I didn't show any particular interest in them.
On horseback, I arrived at the school.
The area of the school was very large, and the huge school building was built on the center. It seemed to be a school that only aristocrats attended and cost a lot of money.
At the plaza in front of the school gate where I was, a lot of students had gathered dressed in formal wears for the party. Surely they were waiting for their companions that they had invited for the party.
I got off the horse and went to find Ricardo who would come to pick me up. Since I arrived on horseback with only my escorts, I guess I had gathered some attention.
(…I'm sure it's just my imagination. There are other ladies who came with just a small number of attendants, and I no longer have the overwhelming presence of a chubby person.)
I thought of finding Ricardo as soon as possible and left the place. When I looked around my surroundings, I saw him standing nearby.
(If I think about him, he'll be right beside me! I wish I can call out to him.)
I approached him and called him.
[Ricardo, it's been a long time. Thank you for inviting me to the party today.]
Ricardo, with a blank face, stared at me for a few seconds before he nervously opened him mouth.
TN: Something like this.
[…You, by any chance, are you Britney?]
Looking at his eyes, he seemed to be agitated.
[What are you saying? I'm truly Britney you know. Since you invited me, is it awful?]
[…You look exactly like the portrait I received from Ryuze.]
Ricardo murmured to himself while behaving suspiciously. Did something happen with my cousin?
[By the way, where is the venue?]
[A, aa, this way, let me guide you.]
With jerky movements, Ricardo who seemed to have lost his bearings took my hand.
TN: Ricardo is so cute~. Why did Ryuze send him Britney’s portrait though? XD