Risou no Himo Seikatsu - Volume 10 - Chapter 2.5

Intermission — Lucretia’s Decision

Talajeh of the Elementacatto family and Fiqriya of the Animeeum family were both to head for Capua. Lucretia was unable to simply accept that when she heard it.

“Argh! I’m too late! Completely and utterly! No, Your Majesty! Don’t fall for that big-chested blonde and flat-chested girl’s tricks!” she cried, kicking her short legs and stamping her feet once she was in her own room.

The maid, behind her as ever, calmly admonished her mistress. “Calm down, Lady Lucy. After all, you would fall under the category of a flat-chested blonde trying to trick His Majesty.”

“You don’t need to say it!” she protested. The maid had been with Lucretia for as long as the latter could remember, so she was merciless in private. “I’m not trying to deceive him. If he picks me as a concubine, I will faithfully and wholeheartedly fulfill that role. I’m not like those two. Talajeh sees the world as a store with the prices on display and Fiqriya isn’t interested in anything apart from magic theory.”

“Lady Talajeh’s goal is business and Lady Fiqriya’s is discussing magic with Sir Espiridion. Perhaps considering them rivals for His Majesty is your own paranoia?”

Flora briskly stripped the dress from her mistress before using a damp cloth to wipe her face and neck. However, while Lucretia was willing to accept the assistance, she was equally happy to refute her maid’s words.

“You’re being naive, Flora. His Majesty is the prince consort of Capua. He will obviously have riches beyond compare as well as knowledge of space-time spells that others can only dream of. With how much Talajeh adores money and Fiqriya’s focus on magic research, the two of them will inevitably show an interest in him. Even if that were not the case for them personally, the families behind them will! They won’t let a chance like this pass.”

“Well, I agree in that respect,” Flora said, unable to reply any other way.

Lineal magic reigned supreme on the Southern Continent, which made international marriages frowned upon. However, Zenjirou was an exception to that. The upper echelons of the country were aware that he had Sharou blood in his veins, so the two ducal families would have no reason to hesitate in sending their own women in.

Lucretia gave a short word of thanks once the maid had removed her underwear and makeup and finally undone her hair. That finished, she started hopping up and down on the spot to loosen herself up.

“There isn’t time either. His Majesty has already announced his plans. He is aiming to leave and return once more, and his final departure date has already been decided: twenty days from now. Not even I can confidently sway his heart in such a short period.”

“I see.”

The half-smile her maid gave her hurt Lucretia’s feelings a bit. However, she decided to let it pass and continued the conversation.

“That means I need some extra time. Therefore, I’ll be heading to Capua as well!” She stuck a tiny fist up into the air, her now-loose hair swinging around her.

“Will that be possible? His Majesty’s schedule is packed until his final day here. There is not enough slack that you and I can request a teleportation as well.”

Altering his publicly announced plans would call for a good enough reason. Lucretia currently lacked both the knowledge and influence to create such a reason. Despite the sad truth smacking her upside the head, she didn’t falter.

“That matters not. Teleportation is not the only method of travel. The blazing season will be over soon. Once the active season arrives, we can join the soldiers and maids, as well as those accompanying the two hussies from the dukes, when they head there to replace those currently in Capua.”

That would mean a month-long journey by road. While she had no love whatsoever for Zenjirou, Lucretia truly did wish to become his concubine.

“Even so, you will need a reason. You have no such thing as of yet, do you?”

Flora, who would be obligated to go on this lengthy journey as well, tugged slightly harder on Lucretia’s hair than normal as a form of payback. She didn’t hide her sigh as she tied her charge’s hair back up.

“Ow! That was too hard, Flora! Anyway, that’s why I want to get closer to Princess Freya. If I can form a friendship with her, I can use ‘visiting my friend’ as a reason to head to Capua, no?”

“Your aim in that friendship would be to become His Majesty’s concubine as Princess Freya has already done. Are you intending to paint the inner palace of Capua red with blood as well?”

“That’s not my intention,” she protested. “If I can become his concubine, I’m prepared to stay on good terms with her.”

“Considering her position, I doubt she has any reason whatsoever to aid you in that quest.”

Cut down by the cruel blade of logic, Lucretia slumped with a wordless groan. As she did so, her maid offered some support while clothing her in a dress she could relax in.

“His Majesty said that both he and Princess Freya wished to purchase magic tools and are going to be negotiating at the same time. I imagine you will be able to use the time during which you will be present as His Majesty’s attendant. If you are serious about that plan, perhaps it would serve you well?”

The advice prompted the girl’s energy to return. “That’s right! I’m all ready now. I’ll do my best to get Princess Freya’s demands fulfilled and become her friend!”

Aiding someone out of utility to get closer to them was an acceptable business tactic. However, it was far from a way to make friends.

“Princess Freya’s attendant is Princess Margarita. She may be present as well, so you should be prepared for that,” Flora warned.

“Ah...”

The girl’s face froze at the princess’s name. Margarita Sharou was the daughter of the second prince of the Sharou family, Philibert. Her mother was his legitimate wife, Yolanda. From Lucretia’s perspective, Margarita was an older, blood-related sister.

Yet despite having the same parents, the older of the two was counted among the foremost enchanters, while the younger had no aptitude for it whatsoever. Although in private, the princess treated Lucretia as her younger sister, the girl in question had somewhat conflicted feelings since she simultaneously longed to have her as an older sister while also resenting that Margarita had everything that she’d ever wanted in terms of position and ability.

“It’s okay...I’ll do it. I can do it properly,” she said, gritting her teeth as she tried to convince herself.