The festival opened brightly and vibrantly. Today, the first day, a lively festival was held in Ichii from day to night, and even now the lights are still lit and the laughter of the people seems to be entertaining.
The royal palace also had a gorgeous ball of royal nobles invited from Alta and neighboring countries. The sparkle is so eye-catching that you can feel the heat of this celebration on your skin.
When Louis and I greeted the King and his wife, His Majesty nodded with satisfaction that he was always in a good mood. The queen standing next to her had a smile on her face in such a beautiful way that it was impossible to imagine that there were three adult princes.
"After listening to the rumors of the Virgin of Darkness, it is obvious in our country. Your popularity is very high in this country. So, what about Alta? Was there any inconvenience?"
"Thank you, Queen. Thank you very much for your kindness."
Along with the king and his wife, the three princes, His Highness Faust, His Highness Ricardo, and His Highness Isaac, were lined up. Isaac seemed bored, and Ricardo did not smile.
When the queen moved her eyes slightly to my words, she deepened her smile again.
"That's good. If you need anything, please call Faust. It will be Faust who will know this country after His Majesty."
"Yes, Virgin. I'll always be there for you."
His Highness Faust gave the words a friendly smile, unlike when he met him in the morning when he stepped forward. But when I look at Chilari and His Highness Ricardo, I see a sense of superiority and I can't accept it very favorably.
Louis-sama opened her mouth next to me with a smile without saying yes or no.
"There is a more trustworthy Highness in Alta, and I feel a brighter future. His Majesty Isaac's sword is famous in our country. Besides, His Highness Ricardo is very knowledgeable. It will be indispensable for the development of this country."
"Huh? What..."
--Ah, Louis dared to praise His Highness Ricardo and His Highness Isaac.
Louis would have noticed the queen with a slight eyebrow in her words, adding, "Of course, for future friendship with our country."
The aristocrats who were watching us around looked at Hisohiso in praise from the prince of the neighboring country.
Many people will judge that Louis appreciates His Highness Ricardo just by what Louis has said and done.
"I would like to thank His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Marquis Marcel for their friendship."
It was His Highness Ricardo who got in between, as if to relieve the tensioned air all at once. His voice, though by no means loud, is clear, and his soft attitude and smile look different in the pungent air.
But it seems like the queen doesn't want it to be good. The queen turned away from the gentle expression she had just given to Her Majesty Faust and looked at Her Majesty Ricardo with cold eyes.
"Ricardo, would you excuse me? Please refrain."
I'm sorry, Mother.
It is difficult to see the queen's expression, who concealed her mouth with a fan, but it is not a lie to say that the relationship between the two is good. His Highness Ricardo is still smiling at the queen's attitude, but he may be intoxicated when he lightly apologizes.
Louis certainly doesn't look like he's laughing behind his eyes. I don't think it's an attitude that preceded the prince of the neighbouring kingdom. Not to mention showing the shame of my family, the queen of one country... Besides, I didn't expect His Majesty the King to keep his mouth shut...
His Highness Isaac slightly closed his eyes and shook his neck sideways. But the queen turned her face towards us without any concern.
"Ah, Marquis Marcel. You will attend tomorrow's tea party, won't you? We're all looking forward to talking to you."
"Yes, of course."
That's what I said, but I think I'll have a headache from now on when I think about tomorrow's tea party.
On the second day, there will be a hunt in the forest adjacent to the Royal Palace. Whether hunting or not, both men and women dress in horseback riding clothes and participate.
Because many women hate hunting, ladies and ladies hold tea parties under tents until participants return. It seems that the host is the queen.
I think this kind of air is still waiting for tomorrow... I exhaled deep breath into the thought.
And the next day, it really made me even more depressed.
♢
"You didn't talk much yesterday, did you? I wanted to talk to you."
The next day, after laughing with the ladies, the queen asked me to take a walk with her in the garden.
While walking halfway behind the queen walking gracefully with her umbrella, she was careful not to put it on her face while feeling depressed about the conversation that had not been very engaged for a long time.
"I heard you were close to my son Ricardo, so I was going to ask around."
"I am truly grateful to His Highness Ricardo for caring about me as his first visit. He kindly told me all about this country."
"Well, then you don't have to be Ricardo. I'm glad you're getting along with Faust from now on. Since she was born, she has grown up as a human being who stands on top of others, so I'm sure she can tell you more about this country."
That's been the case for a long time. The tea party with the ladies is all about the Queen Faust. Everyone was just saying how good Faust was and how worthy he was of the Crown Prince. The queen was pleased to hear that.
And unnaturally, nobody touched upon Lord Ricardo's subject. If you talk about it, it will only hurt the queen's mood.
"I'm in trouble.... the fact that you and Ricardo, the Virgin of Darkness, are close."
"Why not? I think His Highness Ricardo is very good and wonderful from my point of view. My fiancée, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, also thinks the future of Dutois and Alta will be brighter from His Highness Ricardo's personality."
"... what?"
I didn't think I could challenge the opposite, and she looks like that.
Looking back, the queen gradually waved her hand with her face stretched and stepped forward.
However, just before the queen opened her mouth, she heard the footsteps of someone walking refreshingly from the front.
"Louis-sama....."
Louis smiled softly in my voice. Then, standing in front of me to separate me from the queen, he politely greeted the queen.
The queen also had a complicated look on her face, as she did not know where to turn her angry emotions when a third party suddenly appeared.
"My queen, may I take my fiancée?"
"... yeah, go ahead. I'm done talking."
Louis' waist was soft and silent, and the queen turned her back lightly, without the momentum she had had earlier, and headed toward the original tent with the maid.
As the queen moved away, I was finally able to exhale. Louis, who kindly watched over it, gently stroked my head saying, "Good night", how far he knew.
"Louis-sama, what's wrong? What about hunting?"
"Ah, it's over to a certain extent. That's why I came to get Rachel."
"To invite you? Where are you going?"
"Would you like to take a walk with me on a horse? He lent me a very good horse. He's a quiet, smart kid. I found a scenic spot over there, and I came to see Rachel."
It seems that my heart clears up all at once to the refreshing expression of Louis like blue sky today. The depressed emotions I've just had are sublimated, and my cheeks are loosening so easily. The reply "Yes" was brighter and louder than I thought.
Louis-sama shook her shoulders with pleasure when she rounded her eyes at me for a moment and said, "Come on, let's go."
Grasping the hand offered without hesitation, I proceeded forward with Louis without turning my back at all.
That's why I was there.
I didn't notice any suspicious air coming from behind.
"... that girl is in my way. I have to do something before I get into trouble."
The gaze and the murmured words staring at us from afar.