Drop!! ～A Tale of the Fragrance Princess～ (WN)

Ronnie, who waited for me, and Cordelia, who went home, received a letter from Emina, which had arrived to Cordelia early on home. If you turn it upside down, there's a sealed wax stamp on the seabird.

Cordelia opened it after changing from outdoor clothes and ran her eyes on the letter inside. It said there was an apology for getting involved and that Sherry and Cordelia wanted to be invited to the Zakharov family again.

"An apology tea party, huh? I don't think it's Count Zakharov's fault."

Most importantly, if Count Zakharov had nothing to do with it.

If he had received the invitation in writing again, he would also need a response.

But it's not an unexpected incident, and you can report this to Elvis before responding.

"Ma'am, I thought you'd be back earlier today than your husband."

"Okay."

Cordelia took a long breath that there was one more item to report.

Even when it comes to early returns, that's an early return for Elvis, a little later than Cordelia usually does at dinner, so Cordelia thought she'd probably be home that late today.

But Elvis' return home was much quicker than that, and most importantly, Cordelia got a call from Elvis before she could wish from herself.

"I heard you were coming to the castle."

"Yes."

"I heard it from Ishma, but I need an explanation from you."

Apparently the outline was already conveyed, Cordelia opened her mouth looking straight at Elvis as she returned.

"Yesterday, and today at the church, I was on a tour of cultural property with the guidance of Master Keithley, who is a member of the Knights, when I got to know Count Zakharov and the girl who lives in the church, Sherry. Earl Zakharov seems to be thinking about the possibility that Sherry is a relative, adoring her and invited to the circus. Tickets are for you, and you invited Keithley, me, and Ronnie, who were there."

"Why did you go there?"

"Shelley is so free to run away, because I felt lost. I actually took him away, though. Count Zakharov did not hear you as a person of particular caution, so we are here with you."

Probably pretty much as I was asking.

I pinched the question, but Elvis almost never changed as much as Shelley moved a little brow in a place called Running Out.

"... that girl will have Clyde Raine's crest, right?"

"Yes."

"Normally it is inconceivable to give ear cuffs to servants. If it wasn't a burglar, it would be an edger or something. I'll leave the details to Ishma."

But Elvis' expression gradually becomes bitter.

Cordelia tilted her inner neck as to why she would come up with such a look, but there she came up with a fuzzy bad prediction.

(... No, I don't think so. I don't think so - Shelley's supposedly the rival of His Highness's opponent... there's no such thing, is there?

It has already been affirmed by Cyrus that there is no advantage in having Cordelia daughter-in-law to the Royal Palace.

But I have yet to be told that by Elvis' mouth.

Probably not a problem because it won't be discussed...... but anxiety rises naturally over how Elvis looks at the current situation where the possibilities remain.

(No, it should never happen!

The anxiety that kept him from stopping when he began to think made Cordelia desperate not to move her expression, but only her mood seemed to be trembling.

Eventually, however, the words heard were very different from Cordelia's expectations.

"... get this one involved"

Elvis, with a slightly bitter look, only spilled so small.

That was like a protest against the damage already suffered.

It's also about clapping for Cordelia.

(... but on second thought, I've never been asked anything about seeing your Highness in the meantime)

If you want to stick around, it's no wonder they asked you what kind of stories you had.

Can I assume that the fact that nothing was asked means that Elvis thinks just like Cyrus? I want to ask you right away, but I'm hesitant to make the story leap in this state right now.

However, it conveyed enough that it was taken care of in one word now.

(It's not about the Pamela family's reputation, but it pisses me off)

I was glad to think so, and at the same time felt just a little sorry.

"We're looking into the kidnappers, but we don't know for sure. Probably not the main culprit, but the degree of relaxation used."

"... Father, about that... In fact, I am invited by Count Zakharov to the Tea Party to apologize for today. Shelly was also invited earlier."

"Tea party?"

Cordelia nodded as she heard a slightly sharp Elvis voice.

"I just got as much as you just did, and I haven't written you back yet. - I did a little research on Count Zakharov, and I have some questions for you. Count Zakharov has heard that the ship's wreckage has drastically reduced his income, but now he seems to be behaving more heavily than he did at the time."

"It's simple if you're talking about welfare services or something. He's simply eating up his fortune."

"... Huh?

Cordelia turned her eyes round to the answer that came back light. But Elvis went on like it was nothing.

"I once looked into whether there was any injustice, too. Thanks for that, they're cutting down a lot of storage and keeping it face-to-face. I would have bought about one if it wasn't even the latest formula when I lost my ship. But many servants who saw the Earl wielding money without doing so and anxious about the end of the line offered their free time and should have little left now"

Cordelia turned her eyes round to the answer.

"It's..."

Is it called noble pride?

Sometimes they do need to look good, but the more anxious the servant was, the more they seemed to get in.

"Count Zakharov is not an externally harmful person at the moment. I guess you simply can't let your former self pass through your brain and face reality. Must have been something the Zakharov family was proud of."

……

"It's not the person you can put together when you do something. There will be less interest in politics and less involvement."

Maybe I wasn't taught as a house to watch out for until now for that.

"Proud and paranoid, remember the difference"

That's what Elvis said, but then he whispered a little.

"There's just something I care about. From the time I looked into it, the Count's estate should have already come to its limits, but you're right, there's still no change in behavior."

"Huh?"

"We should already be in a situation where we can't pull it off later. There would be no debt or collateral left. But there's no rush."

And again, Elvis looked to Cordelia.

"If you're going to a tea party, don't feel uncomfortable, pay attention."

Is this not the first directive we have received from Elvis?

While she said it was uncomfortable, she said she wouldn't mind going. He then teaches the subtleties to the status quo and gives instructions to explore them. There's something there, something like that.

"But don't go in deep. All the more so if you're also questioning the kidnapping of your town daughter. And it's not about putting your doubts behind you."

"Yes, Father."

I don't know if I can deliver results.

But if you expect Elvis to be able to do that, you'll have to respond.

In order to do this, I have to write back soon.

(But before you do... you're gonna have a tummy, right?)

I can't even fight when I'm hungry.

With that in mind, Cordelia headed to dinner with Elvis.