Yasashī Shinjitsu to Seiryaku Kekkon Volume 1 Chapter 13

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

‘It’s alright.’ He said in a friendly manner.

‘Today, I had lunch with His Majesty. I'm sorry but eating so much sweet food was difficult.’

‘I am sorry the meal was difficult to eat.’

‘His Majesty the King of Icecoreta will be visiting shortly, I would like to present him with different kinds of dishes.’

‘Huh?’

Ignoring the Laird’s troubled expression; Matilda tried to put on a smile of oblivious innocence. It was harder than she expected. What did an innocent smile look like?

‘Of course it’s only for Luncheon. It is well know that the King of our country has a weak constitution, so the naturally heavily salted dishes of Icecoreta do not suit. I wondered if light Barenshiaga food should be made, it is only luncheon,’ She said thoughtfully, looking innocent, ‘so I'd like to consult with the chefs,'

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

‘What do you want?’

‘His Majesty said…’

‘His Majesty 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 of home”’

‘Is that so?’

‘Is there something strange about my request?’

‘No, but that…’

Matilda watched Laird closely; he seemed to be mumbling and was possibly hiding something.

Why did one have to ask so long for such small things?

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

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

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

One person down.

But after the enforcement of this, she would like to start weeding out all those involved in defrauding the palace, expose them and get rid of them.

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

That had been tiring. Almost impossible.

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

‘That looked like fun, Mattie!’ Leandroth said, entering from the opposite door. She stared at him.

‘Eh?’

‘That version of you is not to my taste, but it worked. At the word of the future Empress, even a high ranking office will be dismissed. It will be the quickest way to our goal.’

Leandroth sat beside Matilda and stroked her hair, ‘Our plan seems like it will work, I thought well.’ He patted her head.

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

She noticed the maids leaving the room.

They could embrace.

‘Maybe…’

‘Using this method, is it alright?’

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

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

The crowd gets caught. She felt like Leandroth was becoming a bad influence on her language. (Zuben: Don’t ask me how.)

‘Thank you.’ He said.

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

‘We will definitely win this game. Afterwards, you can be my assistant. So you don’t have to hold back against anyone if you think you need to, to can fight freely.’

‘Very well, I will be come your assistant and healthcare manager. I did declare it, and I will make sure you are served delicious food.’

‘It will be welcome, but even plain rice would be delicious.’ He said gently patting her back,

Matilda moved too quickly, so he patted her harder than he planned, and she got a little dizzy.

‘I am sorry, please do not talk.’ He said

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

Her mind turned to other things (Zuben: Matilda’s mind certainly does zip from one unrelated topic to the other.)

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

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

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

‘Like a boy soldier on his first campaign, ne.’

‘Aha, that’s an accurate description.’ She felt a sharp pain in her chest.

‘Not saying anything?’ he asked laughing in her ear.

‘If your thinking wasn't inappropriate, I guess it’s enough.’ She said tying to sound nonchalant.

‘I'm sorry,’

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

They smiled at each other. Matilda wound her arms around his neck and kissed him. A cute sound of the kiss echoed in the room.

‘Are you planning to keep your punishment secret?’

‘Hmm?’

‘Draw a 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, ‘they would be better than cheeks.’

Matilda smiled slightly embarrassed as she caught his hands and pushed them away, and said in a mock-stern manner.

‘You've had enough break time, please go and continue with your duties. Work hard, and do your best.’

⚔

That evening, Matilda was getting her wedding dress fitted, when she heard that the Grand 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 vassals interceded. She worried for the future as a sense of dark foreboding come over her.

Zuben:

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

Index⚔Chapter 14