With Cain coming back, I finally feel like I've regained my ordinary life.
The Royal Castle is very busy with preparations for my and Freed's wedding that's drawing near.
No, not just busy. Everyone is somewhat frenzied.
The wedding is at the end of the month, but actually, Freed's birthday is this month too.
The successor prince's birthday.
Under usual circ.u.mstances, a celebration party would be held, but this time the wedding is close, so it's been decided the wedding and birthday will be celebrated together.
Thanks to that, the civil officials in charge and everybody of the Royal Chivalric Order that's in charge of security are busy. Of course, the kitchen is the same, everybody there looks frantic.
I'm also busy doing things such as reconfirming the ceremony schedule or looking over the attendee list, but unusually, I have no plans for the afternoon today.
In which case, I thought of taking Ms. Delris on her invitation and visiting her.
"The Crown Prince gave permission. He said you should come back before dinner."
"Yeees."
Perhaps because it had been a while since my last visit to Ms. Delris's house, Freed readily gave me permission.
With Cain using his secret art I secretly slipped out of the castle. The castle's soldiers mustn't find out where I go, so I really appreciate Cain's secret art.
We leapt until the entrance to the town, and then walked together to Ms. Delris's house.
I'm very happy that I can walk outside relatively freely thanks to Freed recognizing Cain. When I told Cain that, he said, "That's wrong," with a serious face.
"It's not about me. Princess, you can only go out because you reciprocate Crown Prince's love. The Crown Prince allows it because he has the leeway to. I'm sure of it."
"I wonder…"
"Well, you don't need to worry. But Princess, it's the truth he's in love with you. So he'll never do anything to earn your dislike, Princess."
It's okay, Cain laughed. While listening to him, I tilted my head.
"… I think there's no way I'd dislike Freed."
"… See, that's why you don't need to worry."
Although those were my true feelings, Cain returned an answer in an amazed voice.
We're heading straight to Ms. Delris's house.
Honestly, I wanted to go to the curry store too, but I gave up for today. I don't want to run late and worry Freed.
Besides. I can go to the curry shop with Freed, so it's okay if I invite him the next time.
It will be the long-awaited date. While at it, we can go around the dating spots I've found recently. While I was thinking of what places to visit with Freed, Cain said in exasperation.
"… Princess, what are you grinning about? Gross."
"… Shut up. I was just thinking a little."
"About the Crown Prince, right?"
"…"
The perfect answer made me hold my tongue.
… How did he know?
"Princess, you're generally grinning when you're thinking about the Crown Prince. You better become aware of that soon."
"… Ugh."
I didn't ask, and yet the answer came back. However, if what Cain said is true… it's incredibly embarra.s.sing. I wasn't aware of it, but I wonder if I was grinning so much.
While I was patting my cheeks, Cain said with laughter.
"Nothing will come from thinking about it, so you better stop… Oh, we've arrived."
We entered the secret path leading to Ms. Delris's house. While walking through the usual fog, I saw the pharmacy sign in the distance.
I was about to knock on the door to the small wooden house, but before that, the door opened on its own.
Understanding that it's an invitation inside, I entered without hesitation.
"Good day, Ms. Delris."
"It's been a while, Lidi. Come here."
"Yes."
When I gripped the handrail in front of me, I was greeted from downstairs, and small eyes looking up from there met my gaze.
Having finished greetings, I went downstairs. Cain too silently followed behind.
When I arrived downstairs, I smelled the unique odor of medicinal herbs. Today's scent is, how should I put it, it clearly reminds me of mint.
When I walked up to Ms. Delris, she narrowed her eyes and laughed.
"Yeah, you look well."
"Yes, thank you. It's been a while. Excuse me for not being able to come much recently."
"I don't think you did anything wrong, so don't mind. You will become the Crown Princess. You will be busier from now on."
"… Yes."
"Now, don't stand around and sit down."
When both I and Cain sat down on our usual seats, we were served a prettily green-colored tea.
Just in case, I readied myself. I drank it, but… same as before, today the tea was normal. Or rather, it was green tea.
I have no doubt. Because, my tongue tells me this is green tea.
"… Ms. Delris. This."
When I asked despite my astonishment, Ms. Delris smiled proudly.
"It's quite good, right? It's a little different from the herbal teas. I made it by chance while compounding medicine. I thought you might like it. Besides, don't you think it will go well with the sweets you bring?"
"Yes. I think it will go very well with them."
After all, I was thinking of developing green tea for them.
"Err. I think this will go well with the tea…"
With these words, I handed Ms. Delris the box with sweets that I brought today. Today's present is mizu youkan.
The season has changed, and it's gotten a lot warmer, so I thought this kind of thing might be good, but I wonder if it'll suit Ms. Delris's tastes.
By the way, I made it in a borrowed corner of the kitchen, but everyone was busy discussing the wedding menu, so it seems they didn't realize what I was making.
I put it secretly in the ice room, so I hope we can all eat it together when there's time.
"I entrusted Cain youkan before. This is… err, a softer version of it with little agar… Anyway, it's a type of youkan. I hope the youkan before too suited your tastes."
"Yeah, it was delicious."
"Ah, I'm glad. It's delicious to eat when it's a little cooler."
I was relieved that she seemed to have liked youkan.
Ms. Delris cheerfully opened the box.
"Ooh… It looks refres.h.i.+ng at a glance. If you say it will be better cooled down… Here."
"Wa…"
Ms. Delris snapped her fingers. With just that cold air began drifting from the box.
Sitting next to me, Cain said in amazement.
"… What a waste of magic."
"I've got more than enough magical power. It's not a problem, right?"
Saying that, Ms. Delris got the plate from the next room and joyfully placed mizu youkan on it. She refilled our tea, and the three of us stuffed our cheeks with mizu youkan.
"… Delicious."
"Ah, I'm glad."
It seems she's taken a liking to it as well. Relieved, I put mizu youkan in my mouth.
Cooled by Ms. Delris's magic, youkan tasted good. Even if I say so myself, it's quite something.
"Ah, I prefer this to ordinary youkan."
Cain next to me also seemed happy. Eating it together with green tea, I felt satisfied.
Hmm. Who would have thought Ms. Delris would make green tea first?
I'm happy to drink delicious tea, but I can't spread something Ms. Delris made across the country as I please. For the time being, I decided to postpone the matter of green tea.
"I'm glad Cain seems to like it as well. Such a thing is nice once in a while."
"All the sweets you bring are exquisite. I always look forward to them."
"I'm happy. Thank you very much."
As the creator, I'm truly happy to be openly praised.
Especially since I regularly receive favors from Ms. Delris, so I hope I can return them a little.
"Ah."
I got so absorbed in eating that I forgot to talk about Andre.
I put down the fork and, having straightened myself, said to Ms. Delris.
"Ms. Delris. Umm, thank you very much. Ms. Delris, the medicine you'd given Freed was very effective. It was a great help, Freed too is happy with it."
Since then, Andre is made to regularly take Ms. Delris's medicine.
Especially since the side effect on Andre is his magical power disappearing, it's extremely effective at suppressing his magical power from going out of control.
"It's fine. That's why I gave it to you. Use it as you like. I thought it wouldn't be very effective, but it seems the side effect was useful."
"Yes. We were surprised that his magical power disappeared."
"Come to me if you need more."
"Thank you very much."
