Chapter 38 – Episode 38. Fools and Fools (4)
“Ashley.”
“Yes, sister.”
As befits the capital and the central downtown area in the capital, there was not a single crap in the restaurant.
From the silver cutlery to the forks, knives, and spoons, they were all shiny and polished, and everything from appetizers to main dishes to appetizers was well-formed, so Astrid saw it as more than fine dining.
“How many times have I told you to eat some vegetables?”
“Ah, sister. Humans are carnivores.”
Even as he said that, Ashley’s fork pushed the salad piece across the steak with the fork and pushed it into his mouth.
A meal that closely adheres to the limits of etiquette and formality.
Even though he is a stepson, he is from the family of the Grand Duchess, and since he was a adopted son of the Mitterien family, Ashley has received all manners of etiquette, including meals, from the day he entered the family. Did not
And, there was also Astrid on that battlefield. On the contrary, Astrid, a combat fanatic who always attacked much faster than Ashley and came back last. But Astrid, who is sitting here eating right now, is far from that kind of figure.
“Now, give it to me.”
He took all of the salad from Ashley’s plate and put it on his plate, then picked up the whole steak that had been left uncut to keep the juices from dripping and put it on Ashley’s plate.
“My sister is very strange. I don’t eat meat that much, no. How do you keep up with the only food you eat?”
“I know.”
That’s very strange to me too.
【I told you to eat meat!】
‘What are you talking about. A vegetarian diet for skin care?’
【What crazy things are you talking about? How can people take care of their skin by eating only grass and not goats?]
‘… Aristocratic lady, let’s talk nicely, okay?’
“Sister, what are you doing without eating?”
When she comes to her senses at Ashley’s words, she sees Ashley staring blankly at her face.
This is the problem. When she hears Astrid talking in her head, she gets lost in it.
‘Be quiet. I can’t do anything because I’m worried.’
【Don’t make excuses for me.】
“It seems that my sister has become less talkative. What’s wrong with you?”
Ashley cut her bread in half and dipped one side into the soup.
The smell of yellow corn kernels, finely chopped carrots and bell peppers, and the savory butter that rises from them was saturated with the well-baked, chewy-looking bread. Taking a bite of the bread, Ashley’s eyes turned to Astrid.
“No big deal. I have always been like this.”
“Hey, that’s right. Still, Her Highness Leopold, no. Is it a brother-in-law?”
Ashley smirking.
【As expected, my brother!】
“But you wouldn’t treat your brother-in-law so coldly, wouldn’t you? Well, my brother-in-law would like that too.”
“It’s really nothing. You should be pretty.”
I don’t know if I really like Astrid or not. Astrid felt a slight heartache. Even so, he scraped the fork across the plate and scraped together the salad, dipped it in the sauce, and took a bite.
“Uh, isn’t that citrus sauce? Isn’t that the sauce you disliked?”
“… It’s just that tastes have changed.”
Astrid muttered to herself that she didn’t like this sweet and sour citrus sauce.
‘Then, let’s talk.’
When she returned from eating, she chatted lightly with Ashley.
Then, back to the room on the second floor, it’s time to get some sleep for tomorrow’s meeting with the emperor.
Astrid lay down on the bed, closed her eyes and spoke to the real Astrid.
【I’m sleepy, we’ll talk tomorrow.】
‘If I can’t sleep, you can’t sleep either. How can I sleep alone when I have one body?’
【You can sleep separately. It doesn’t matter, but that’s it.]
I don’t know what kind of coordination it is. The body can’t sleep, but the consciousness can sleep? Does it make sense However, since the real Astrid, who has been in her body for a long time, is like that, it might be true.
‘It’s about Leopold.’
【Great.】
Love is heavy
It’s really incredibly heavy.
‘First of all, at a meeting with His Majesty the Emperor tomorrow, I’ll ask for permission to use the Imperial Library.’
【There, the qualifications for use must be very strict.】
Imperial Library.
It is, of course, the library boasting the largest collection of books in the empire.
However, as there were overflowing materials of all kinds, and among them, there were some materials that were somewhat unreasonable to open to the general public, so only those who obtained permission in advance could use the Imperial Library.
‘That’s why I’m saying I’ll get the qualifications for the interview tomorrow.’
【Why?】
‘Why? Have you already forgotten your promise?’
【Ah, you are about to go back to where you were. I’ll have to find some info on that. Is that what you’re talking about? And since the clue might be in the Imperial Library, I’m going to get permission to use it.]
‘That’s right. It’s kind of clever at times like this.’
【I am the gifted child of Mitterien. What rude words.]
What kind of place was Mitterien… The question remains, but anyway, that’s not the point right now.
‘Anyway, I think you should come out then. Apparently, adults have a knack for it, so I might notice it right away.’
【Hmm… 】
In fact, it wouldn’t be a problem no matter what. Wouldn’t it be fine if he didn’t find out that he was a man? However, it wasn’t a problem that could be solved so easily, so I had to be careful for now because I didn’t know what kind of aftershock would come when I revealed it.
【Is it so. Certainly, the current situation is not normal, so if it is revealed or caught, it will not look good.]
‘It’s fortunate that he understands quickly.’
【That’s rude.】
*
Being alone with an ordinary emperor is something that would never happen to an ordinary person.
Even if you apply for an interview and get permission, ministers are lined up around you and even bodyguards are mobilized so that the interview is held in tight security, but Astrid is somewhat of an exception.
One of the reasons is that it can’t happen no matter what, and even if it does, it’s actually difficult to prevent it, but because she is the emperor’s favorite daughter-in-law, only a minimum number of bodyguards are left. In a situation where Astrid could buy him at least some time if she did something, she was alone with the Emperor.
“Astrid, I could have just contacted you, but requesting an interview is a big deal.”
Kreuz greeted Astrid with a friendly smile.
“Father, is it still a little early?”
“It sounds good to me, but since the ceremony hasn’t been held yet, it must be a bit early.’
【Your Majesty has some common sense.】
‘It’s noisy.’
“Okay, let’s start with tea before it gets cold.”
The tea utensils were already prepared in the reception room.
An attendant approached silently and poured tea into Creutz and Astrid’s cups.
【Ugh, that tasteless tea… 】
The same tea we drank at the meeting.
The tea that was terribly tasteless.
“I heard that you successfully completed the academy. I also heard what happened. The instructors are still investigating why that monster, the Helvey family, appeared there, so I’ll let you know when the results come out. I would have been very surprised, but I did not expect that I would be able to deal with them with dignity there.”
“As the daughter of Mitterien, who will become the frozen shield that protects Einthafen and the spear of the advance, I just did what I was supposed to do. That’s too much praise, Your Majesty.”
Astrid’s usual intelligence disappeared somewhere, and she answered Kreuz with a cold and calm face.
Seeing her for the first time, the fake Astrid stuck her tongue inside her.
“Yes, tell me your business. Do you need anything?”
“No. Today, I want to obtain permission to use the Imperial Library.”
“The Imperial Library? You?”
Kreuz was quite surprised.
Imperial Library. A place to read books. For Astrid to want to use the library, it came as a surprise even to Kreuz.
‘Finally, this child is interested in the exploration of intellect. That’s great… Wolfgang, you should have been here.’
There was nothing to say.
“Use it whenever you need it. Chief Secretary, give Astrid, the lady of Mitterien, permission to use the Imperial Library. As long as you want.”
“I will follow your orders, Your Majesty.”
The secretary began to write down something of her, and Astrid bowed her head toward Kreuz.
“Thank you for the grace that is like the sun. Your majesty.”
“How much? Do you need anything more?”
“No. Today, I only want to obtain permission to use the Imperial Library.”
“If so, can I ask you something?”
“You ask me anything.”
Kreuz touched her chin and thought about her for a moment.
I don’t know if I should ask this question, but I needed to check it out first.
“Is there a reason you want to use the Imperial Library?”
“I want to study some magic.”
“Is it magic? Aren’t you a lieutenant knight?”
Heavy knights do not use magic. Wizards use offensive magic, but sorcerers use the magic bracelet on their left hand to use various sub-magic.
A wizard who can only show the qualities of mana from an early age. Of course, Astrid didn’t. Then, if you want to become a magic knight, that’s not the case either.
It was Astrid who uprightly maintained the philosophy that the flower of a true fight is a heavy-duty knight, asking what kind of fight to fight with a toothpick like a sword.
It was quite unexpected that she wanted to learn her magic.
“Furthermore, as Her Highness Leopold’s companion, if we are to further develop this Einhafen, I would also like to learn at least the bits and pieces of a magic knight.”
“Oh oh.”
Wolfgang, are you watching?
Your daughter has grown up so wonderfully.
Be sure to watch over me from afar…
Creutz was deeply moved, and he repeatedly vowed that he must somehow make Astrid his daughter-in-law.
*
“What are you doing here?”
This is not an academy, so I am not a student.
So, the honorifics are also omitted.
Leopold narrowed his eyes when he saw Astrid, whom he had just met in the hallway of the audience room.
“Oh. Majesty. What have you been doing?”
“This is the imperial palace, so it’s no wonder I’m here. Why are you here?”
“I was on my way back after seeing His Majesty.”
The expression had disappeared from Astrid’s face.
An expressionless coldness covered her face.
A long time ago, more than 10 years ago.
The time when Leopold and Astrid were still awkward.
Those words that Leopold almost squeezed out to get rid of the awkwardness.
– I think you look pretty because you look calm when you have no expression. Matches well.
And since then, Astrid has always been expressionless.
Although Leopold had forgotten that fact.
“… Ha.”
He sighed softly.
I don’t really want to do that, but since we met here, there was a lot of attention around us, so it was strange to send them back like this.
“How about a cup of tea?”
“If you do, I will accept it.”
It’s just a good thing, a good thing, it’s okay to answer like that.
Leopold took a few steps in front of her, quelling her irritation at the way she still talked.
“So, why did you come here?”
“It’s just, Imperial-“
【Permission to use the library… Uh?!】
“… Also, use the library… Going to do. Get permission… I’m here for you.”
【Uh, why did it change now?! Hurry up, change it right now! Hurry!】
“The Imperial Library. Why are you there?”
【Please change quickly!】
“I can’t change now… It’s not, that, a little. There is something I want to look for.”
“Library? What’s going on there?”
“Well, just educate your mind a little.”
【Remove your body!】
“I want to take it out… No, let’s build some more.”
At Astrid’s strange words no matter where he looked, Leopold felt slightly puzzled.
Her tone, which had been sharp and pointed, changed to a gentle feeling at some point, and now it’s gibberish.
It was a strange thing for anyone to see.
“Astrid, aren’t you sick? Apparently, you’ve been a bit strange since a few days ago.”
“Oh, no. It’s nothing. My body is healthy.”
【Be kind… 】
It’s like looking at a crazy bitch.
Leopold clearly has that kind of gaze.
It was difficult to understand where he was looking.
What the hell was going on in his head, Astrid was really curious about that.
