Watching Smart People Talk Is Nerve-racking
In the gardens of Castle Valois, in the city of Valois—which had just recently changed from being an imperial capital to a royal capital—Queen Jeanne and her royal consort, Hakuya, were having tea with Excel Walter, who had been sent from the Kingdom of Friedonia to help instruct their fleet. This break was something Hakuya had suggested to give Jeanne some relief from her heavy workload.
“Oh? Were you ever this considerate to His Majesty?” Excel asked, chuckling, her mouth hidden behind her fan.
Hakuya shrugged. “His Majesty had many around him like the indulgent Lady Juna and the adoring Lady Aisha to help him recover. Lady Liscia was always there, monitoring his mental well-being too, so I never felt the need to say anything.”
“Heh heh, I suppose so. And that’s why you act so sweet to Madam Jeanne?”
“I believe it’s only natural that a husband should indulge his wife.”
“You sure know how to make an argument...” Excel said, letting out a sigh that was half exasperated, half impressed.
Then, looking from Jeanne’s face to Hakuya’s, she snapped her fan shut.
“I see. Madam Jeanne has worked outside as a military officer, while Sir Hakuya defended her inside as a civil official. It seems the Vargas household has stayed peaceful because my daughter keeps Castor under her thumb, but I see that you two have the opposite sort of arrangement.”
“What? Sir Hakuya has me under his thumb?” Jeanne blinked, earning a chuckle from Excel.
“It’s about distribution of roles. Things tend to work out much better if the reliable partner keeps a hold of the more active partner’s reins. It’s the same with Madam Mio and Sir Colbert of the House of Carmine who’ll be marrying soon. Sir Colbert does a good job of supporting her. If the reliable partner doesn’t have a hold of the reins though, you end up with Madam Genia and poor Sir Ludwin, who’s going to develop an ulcer from all the stress she causes him.”
Alas, that’s just life for them at this point, Excel thought, a cool look on her face as she sipped her black tea. Then, she smiled at Jeanne.
“It’s nothing for you to worry about. Be yourself, and do all you can. It’s the duty of the Black-Robed Royal Consort to manage things appropriately for you.”
“I sense the many long years of wisdom behind those words,” Hakuya said with a smile that seemed plastered onto his face.
Excel returned an identical grin, saying, “Oh, my, I suppose it was much too soon to talk about this with a little boy who’s only an adult in terms of his height.”
“Ha ha ha.”
“Hee hee hee.”
Sparks flew between them.
They were both sharp, and just bantering in a way they expected they could get away with, but Jeanne was beside herself with worry watching them.
“S-So, how are things with our fleet, Duchess Walter?” she asked, trying to change the topic.
Setting her teacup down, Excel replied, “Well...I can tell you, without any undue flattery, that this country’s fleet is first-rate. Even if you don’t have wonder weapons like the island carriers, you have more than enough of each type of ship, and they’re well serviced and maintained. With such a large fleet, it’s a mystery to me why the Empire never expanded out to sea.”
“It seems past emperors were focused on expanding our terrestrial holdings. Dominating the seas remained a second priority,” Hakuya explained with a serious look on his face. “The fleet was apparently built with the then Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago Union in mind, but only to clamp down on their piracy.”
“And Sister had her hands full with the monsters on land too...” Jeanne added.
“Yes, I suppose she did,” Excel replied with a nod. “However, it’s your time now, and your fleet will be one of the driving forces in this new era.”
“Duchess Walter... Yes! I think you’re right!” Jeanne responded, full of energy.
Nodding with satisfaction, Excel said, “Oh, I know,” and clapped her hands together. “Now that I think of it, I brought some tea with me from the Kingdom. Since we’re already indulging, perhaps you would like to...”
“Hold on,” Hakuya interrupted, stopping Excel before she could have the servants prepare it.
Then, with a smile plastered on his face, he turned to Excel.
“This tea wouldn’t happen to have something in it, would it? I know that you’ve gotten all sorts of information out of King Souma with his wives’ permission, you realize?”
“My, you’re so perceptive. And here I was hoping to prepare some educational materials for Madam Jeanne.”
“Huh? Me?! What are you talking about?!” Jeanne blinked in confusion.
Smiling, Hakuya said, “Save that for His Majesty.”
“A fine piece of work you are, offering up His Majesty like that.”
“I’m honored to receive such a compliment from the venerable Duchess Walter.”
“Hee hee hee.”
“Ha ha ha.”
They each confronted the other with a smile again.
At the end of the day, Jeanne had spent the whole time on edge.
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