YasashīShinjitsu to Seiryaku Kekkon Vol IChapter 13

via Google from Clipartbro

‘Iam sorry to take time out of your busy schedule.’ Matilda said to the GrandChamberlain, Laird1. She sat on the settee across from him,bestowing a sweet thankful smile.

‘It’salright.’ He said in a friendly manner.

‘Today,I had lunch with His Majesty. I"m sorry but eating so much sweet food wasdifficult.’

‘Iam sorry the meal was difficult to eat.’

‘HisMajesty the King of Icecoreta will be visiting shortly, I would like to presenthim with different kinds of dishes.’

‘Huh?’

Ignoringthe Laird’s troubled expression; Matilda tried to put on a smile of obliviousinnocence. It was harder than she expected. What did an innocent smile looklike?

‘Ofcourse it’s only for Luncheon. It is well know that the King of our country has a weak const.i.tution, so the naturally heavily salted dishes of Icecoreta do notsuit. I wondered if light Barenshiaga food should be made, it is onlyluncheon,’ She said thoughtfully, looking innocent, ‘so I"d like to consultwith the chefs,"

Shesmiled, but she wondered if she should laugh. Apprehension grew in her heart.It is difficult playing innocent Princess.

‘Whatdo you want?’

‘HisMajesty said…’

‘HisMajesty said that if I wanted to eat my country’s food, I could order it. But,I"m marrying into Bareshiaga, so I want this country’s food to be my “taste ofhome”’

‘Isthat so?’

‘Isthere something strange about my request?’

‘No,but that…’

Matildawatched Laird closely; he seemed to be mumbling and was possibly hidingsomething.

Whydid one have to ask so long for such small things?

‘Iwill not ask you anymore!’ she said suddenly, ‘Please leave. I will ask hisMajesty tonight. For now I do not want to see your face.’ She turned her bodyaway from him, haughtily turning her nose up at the Grand Chamberlain.

Oneof the maids quietly opened a door, ‘Please come through here,’

Laird,the Grand Chamberlain, shuffled out of the room in a dazed manner wonderingwhat just happened.

Oneperson down.

Butafter the enforcement of this, she would like to start weeding out all thoseinvolved in defrauding the palace, expose them and get rid of them.

Afterconfirming that the door was shut properly, Matilda collapsed on the sofa.

Thathad been tiring. Almost impossible.

Shereally did not suit the cutie girl manner. It did not suit her at all.

‘Thatlooked like fun, Mattie!’ Leandroth said, entering from the opposite door. Shestared at him.

‘Eh?’

‘Thatversion of you is not to my taste, but it worked. At the word of the futureEmpress, even a high ranking office will be dismissed. It will be the quickestway to our goal.’

Leandrothsat beside Matilda and stroked her hair, ‘Our plan seem like it will work, Ithought well.’ He patted her head.

‘Idon’t think I am cut out for this though,’

Shenoticed the maids leaving the room.

Theycould embrace.

‘Maybe…’

‘Usingthis method, is it alright?’

Hechuckled.

‘Wemay not have needed to do it so quickly. But thank you for getting rid of thering leaders. The dismissal of the Grand Chamberlain may serve as the openingsalvo. It is not a thing of beauty, but what is beauty in a battlefield?’

‘Itwas off, that the chief of staff could not talk freely. I wanted to solve it assoon as possible.’

Thecrowd gets caught. She felt like Leandroth was becoming a bad influence on herlanguage. (Zuben: Don’t ask me how.)

‘Thankyou.’ He said.

Sheshook her head to dismiss his thanks. She did not do much.

‘Wewill definitely win this game. Afterwards, you can be my a.s.sistant. So you don’thave to hold back against anyone if you think you need to, to can fight freely.’

‘Verywell, I will be come your a.s.sistant and healthcare manager. I did declare it,and I will make sure you are served delicious food.’

‘Itwill be welcome, but even plain rice would be delicious.’ He said gentlypatting her back,

Matildamoved too quickly, so he patted her harder than he planned, and she got alittle dizzy.

‘Iam sorry, please do not talk.’ He said

‘No,it wasn"t …it didn"t hurt that much. I stopped before you moved.’

Hermind turned to other things (Zuben: Matilda’s mind certainly does zip from one unrelatedtopic to the other.)

‘Themaids you have chosen are really amazing and also really beautiful.’ She said.It was rather depressing.

‘Thereis nothing to worry about. You only need to do things as you see fit, but doconsult with me. Besides, their looks were irrelevant, I chose them for theircapabilities.’

Hiswords made her even more depressed. (Zuben: Why?)

‘Likea boy soldier on his first campaign, ne.’

‘Aha,that’s an accurate description.’

Shefelt a sharp pain in her chest.

‘Notsaying anything?’ he asked laughing in her ear.

‘Ifyour thinking wasn"t inappropriate, I guess it’s enough.’ She said tying tosound nonchalant.

‘I"msorry,’

‘Iforgive you.’ (Zuben: Don’t ask me what he’s apologizing for ‘cos I dunno)

Theysmiled at each other. Matilda wound her arms around his neck and kissed him. Acute sound of the kiss echoed in the room.

‘Are you planning to keep your punishment secret?’

‘Hmm?’

‘Drawa circle…?’ he said laughing, then he continued, ‘If you want to do it again,can we do it here,’ he said cheekily as his hands reached for her chest, ‘theywould be better than cheeks.’

Matildasmiled slightly embarra.s.sed as she caught his hands and pushed them away, andsaid in a mock-stern manner.

‘You"vehad enough break time, please go and continue with your duties. Work hard, anddo your best.’

◇

Thatevening, Matilda was getting her wedding dress fitted, when she heard that theGrand Chamberlain had been dismissed for disobeying the orders of the Emperor. Although,it was a de facto dismissal; she heard that four high marquis and va.s.sals interceded.She worried for the future as a sense of dark foreboding come over her.

Zuben:

[1]Laird: Grand Chamberlain; named by me.

⟾