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“Princess… Please have some tea…”

“Ah, thank you, Wendy.”

Bella gracefully took the tea handed to her by Wendy and brought it to her lips. A soft smile soon appeared on her face.

“This tea… Did you brew it yourself?”

“Y-yes! Is it… okay?”

“Of course it is. It’s very good. Your tea-brewing skills have improved a lot, haven’t they?”

“R-really?! Hehe… Thank you…!”

At Bella’s praise, Wendy’s face lit up with a bright smile. Given Bella’s status, Wendy must have been nervous. Even though they’ve known each other for a while, the gap between commoners and nobles is hard to overcome.

It feels refreshing to gather and drink tea together like this.

I also took a sip of the tea Wendy gave me, and Wendy cautiously asked,

“C-Count!”

“?”

“How… How does the tea taste? Please… be honest…”

“50 points.”

“Hic?!”

“There’s still a bitter aftertaste in the tea. It seems you boiled the water too hot, so the tea leaves steeped too much.”

“Sniff… I-I’m sorry… I’ll be more careful next time…”

“Picky as always… Count. Do you really have to talk to her like that?”

Unable to stand it, Bella scolded me, and I calmly replied,

“She asked me to be honest, so I was honest.”

“But 50 points is too harsh. Don’t you think about how much effort Wendy put into making this tea for us?”

“Effort and results don’t always correlate. And I only evaluated the result.”

“…You’re not wrong, but you’re still annoying. Our Wendy, come here. There’s no need to listen to such a man.”

“My words aren’t finished yet.”

“Huh?”

I took another sip of tea and finished my evaluation.

“…Boiling the water hotter than usual must have been due to the cold weather in the north. I think it was a mistake born from your consideration to serve us warmer tea.”

“Y-yes…”

“Your sincerity is no less than that of a veteran maid. So… I’ll leave the tea to you from now on.”

“Count…”

Wendy covered her mouth, moved. It wasn’t a big compliment, but seeing her visibly happy, I thought maybe I should have praised her more.

“Really… If you were going to say that, you shouldn’t have started with 50 points.”

“The taste is 50 points.”

“Wendy. Why don’t you quit here and come to our dukedom? As my younger sister… No, as my exclusive maid, I’ll treat you exceptionally well. I’ll double your current salary.”

“Huh?!”

“Don’t try to steal someone else’s servant.”

“Oh? Are you scared of losing Wendy?”

“10 times.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll give Wendy 10 times whatever amount you offer.”

“Eeeek?! 10, 10 times?! That’s too much…!”

“So remember this, Wendy. I believe you’ll make the right choice.”

“Huh? W-what…?”

“Hey, Count! Where do you see someone trying to bribe with money?!”

“You were the one who tried to bribe Wendy with money first. And I never avoid a challenge thrown at me with money. In fact, I enjoy it.”

“Ugh… You’re really annoying…”

“P-princess, if you want, I’ll make you tea anytime…! So don’t be upset…”

“Wendy… Aren’t you just too kind? Come here, let me hug you.”

“Haaah…”

Wendy awkwardly smiled and accepted Bella’s hug. Then, she suddenly noticed a woman sitting like a statue next to them.

“Ah! B-Blanshe, would you like a cup too…?”

“Ah… Then I’ll gratefully accept. Wendy.”

Blanshe smiled softly and took the tea Wendy offered. After savoring the tea, a natural smile appeared on her face, just like Bella’s.

“It’s good tea.”

“Hehe… I’m glad. Then I’ll clean up the tea for now…”

“Excuse me.”

It was Helga, who had been sitting next to Blanshe with a blank expression.

“Why aren’t you giving me any tea?”

“Ah! R-right. S-sorry…”

Wendy hurriedly picked up the teapot she was about to clean and poured tea into Helga’s cup.

“Not ignoring me, are you…? Wait… This is just hot water, isn’t it?”

“Huh? N-no, it’s not just water, it’s hot water…?”

“No. Do you think I don’t know that? Are you telling me to drink this?”

“Right. You can’t give tea to a baby.”

“Count?!”

Helga looked at me in shock.

“The baby is complaining a lot.”

“Well… Everyone is drinking tea, and I’m only drinking water… It’s a bit…”

“If you don’t like water, you can drink milk. Want some?”

“Eek?!”

At the mention of milk, Helga clutched her head and muttered,

“Ugh… No more milk… I can’t drink anymore…”

“Helga… Are you okay?”

“Blanshe mama’s milk… Ugh…”

“…I see. Very well.”

Blanshe, who had been worried, immediately turned cold.

It seems Helga has developed a trauma from drinking milk because she wanted to be a baby. But somehow, I’m not worried at all.

“By the way, Count.”

Bella, who had been drinking tea, spoke up as if she remembered something.

“Couldn’t you have given me a heads-up?”

“About what?”

“About His Majesty. I had no idea His Majesty was coming on this expedition.”

Bella grumbled.

She had been quite flustered when she met the Emperor earlier. I explained the circumstances of the Emperor’s arrival to her, but her anger hadn’t subsided.

But thinking about it, it’s fortunate that it was her who found out. If other nobles of the Seven Stars had discovered it, there could have been a big commotion.

Of course, I only mentioned the reason for the Emperor’s participation in the expedition, not the truth behind the “Autumn Tragedy.” I plan to keep that fact hidden from Bella and others for the time being.

The reasons for this decision are as follows:

First, the timing isn’t right. We need to prepare for the players’ invasion now. If such a significant event that could shake the Empire and the Imperial Family were to be revealed, it would cause great chaos.

Unless my goal was to overthrow the Empire, but since my goal is to save this country and this world, chaos in this country would do no good.

But above all, the biggest reason was that I felt the sincerity in Luna’s apology. If she had denied the truth and rationalized her actions, I would have mercilessly judged her. However, Luna accepted the truth and tried to judge herself. She even tried to bear the sins of her ancestors.

I decided to give Luna a chance. I decided to give Luna Meikhael, the character, a chance for redemption. Both she and I are cases of bearing the sins of our ancestors, so I felt some sympathy for her.

Social positions are like that. Sometimes you have to take responsibility for things you didn’t do. Since I became Tristan, as a noble and as the head of the Ruelberta family, I showed responsibility, and Luna must also fulfill her responsibilities as the Emperor of the Empire.

On the other hand, now that the conflict between the Ruelberta family and the Imperial Family has been somewhat resolved, it’s more beneficial for me to have her, who knows the truth, ruling this country.

Moreover, since I hold her leash, it wouldn’t be difficult to make her step down from the throne if necessary.

“It’s fortunate that His Majesty graciously let it slide. I was really embarrassed.”

“…Who would have thought you’d interrogate a stranger like that.”

At my remark, Blanshe, who was behind Bella, flinched. She must have been startled since she had somewhat forcefully detained Luna without knowing she was the Emperor.

“Sorry…”

“No, Blanshe, you don’t need to apologize. It’s all the Count’s fault for not telling me in advance.”

“Don’t you think it’s the Emperor’s fault for hiding her identity?”

“Oh my. Are you criticizing His Majesty? How insolent, Count.”

“Did you just realize I’m an insolent man?”

“Really… Shouldn’t you be ashamed to say that yourself?”

“Have you ever seen me ashamed?”

“Indeed, it would be the most unfitting thing for you to be ashamed. Hehe…”

Bella chuckled and drank her tea. Then, looking at the scenery outside the carriage window, she muttered,

“It’s been so long since we all gathered like this.”

“Hmm.”

Although the northern region isn’t completely pacified yet, at this point, the expedition can be considered a success.

Even the soldiers outside seem more relaxed than tense or excited, as if the big battles are over after defeating Aaron’s forces.

Of course, there’s still the final issue of the alliance with the demons, but it’s inevitable that the tension has eased.

Even we, the commanders, are having such a leisurely time.

“W-well, I’m really glad this expedition is ending well…”

Wendy, who had been hesitant, finally spoke up.

“Most of all, I’m happy that the Count’s curse has been lifted?!”

“Hehe… Our cute Wendy. Want to play with me?”

“Eek?! Huh? No, that’s not it!”

“Yes, yes. So cute.”

Suddenly, Bella hugged Wendy and sat her on her lap. Whether it’s my imagination or not, she seemed to cover Wendy’s mouth every time Wendy tried to say something.

Helplessly, I decided to say what Wendy was trying to say.

“Right, Wendy. The great achievement of this expedition is that the curse that has been tormenting me-”

Someone kicked my shin under the table. This familiar footwork… There’s only one woman here with bad habits.

“Ahem!”

Bella, sitting across from me, was glaring at me with a terrifying intensity, silently pressuring me to stop talking.

What the heck.

 

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