Before the Departure 4
Immediately upon returning to the Ruven mansion, I reported to Matthias-san regarding the magic tool .
Matthias-san was highly pleased by the magic tool’s completion and immediately brought one of the rice cookers to the kitchen . Then, another one will be brought to Rebecca-san and others in the Ruven fief .
The next day, we headed to the castle but were seized by Wald-sama and Isaac-san when we entered through the gate . They then brought us to the royal exclusive use lounge while I was still dumbfounded .
“Takumi, I heard you are leaving the Capital?”“… Yes, very soon . I came to convey that, however… it seems that you are already aware~”
The monarch couple Tristan-sama and Grace-sama, the three princes Austin-sama, Felix-sama, Alfried-sama and also the crown princess Aurora-sama, the royal grandson Julius-sama, and Lionel-sama were there . That makes everyone from the royal family as far as I know .
Moreover, the guards were Wald-sama, Isaac-san, Najack-sama, Kevin-sama, and Claudio-sama, all who are our acquaintances .
I did let them know that we will be visiting, but I didn’t expect them to gather in full force like this~
“Nii~ni, Nee~ne . ”
“”Uniyu?””
“Wead me a pictuwe book~”It was quite an extravagant gathering, so as I was getting intimidated to talk a little, Julius-sama who was sitting next to Aurora-sama stared straight at Allen and Elena and started flapping his limbs .
Unaware to me, Julius-sama started recognizing Allen and Elena as his siblings .
This is my first time seeing Julius-sama, but he looks exactly like Austin-sama~
“My, oh my, Julius wants Allen-kun and Elena-chan to read him a book~”
“Allen?”
“Elena?”
“Yes, that’s right . He must have liked it when you read him a book before . Allen-kun, Elena-chan, may I ask you to read Julius a book again if you are okay with it?”
Grace-sama let out a chuckle seeing Julius-sama acting like that, and made a proposal to Allen and Elena .
“Allen, Elena . It’s fine to play with Julius-sama while we are talking, you know?”
“”N~?””
Allen and Elena looked alternatively between my and Julius-sama’s face and tilted their heads as if troubled .
“”Where~?””
“Fufu . You don’t have to worry . Look, from over there, you will be able to see your Oniichan, right? Wouldn’t that be okay?”
“”Yea, then, will read a book~””
“My, thank you——Julius, Allen-kun and Elena-chan say they will read you a book . Will you thank them?”
“Yesh, thank you~”
Allen and Elena’s worries were apparently the place for their playing .
Thus, Grace-sama showed them a place inside the room with a big cushion where they could roll around a lot . I see stuffed toys too, so it must be Julius-sama’s playground .
“Les go~ les go kwikly~”
“Don’t rush . ”
“The book won’t escape . ”
Julius-sama promptly took Allen and Elena’s hands and guided them to the playground .
Although they were watched over by the servants, Aurora-sama was worried about the children, so she went with them .
“Julius got completely attached to them, didn’t he~”
Watching the three innocently play, Al-sama made a warmed expression .
“Yeah, it has a good influence on Allen and Elena, so I am grateful . ”
“Ah~ the two are usually surrounded by adults, aren’t they? Do they have little opportunities to play with fellow kids?”
“Indeed . Allen and Elena don’t know anyone younger than them besides Julius-sama . ”
“Is that so? Considering that, don’t the two look quite used to playing the senior role?”
“Truly . I am surprised as well . I would like to increase their interaction with other children in the future . ”
There are places for children to gather in every town, so I should take them there .
“And so, Takumi . You will be going through towns and villages on your way to the Ruven fief, is that correct?”
“Yes, it is . I plan on wandering around for a little, but the destination is the town of Rubia . ”
“Have you decided on your plans after that?”
“No, I have not thought that far yet, ahh! Is this perhaps about leaving outside the country and stuff?”
“U, umu . ”
I, more or less, am a high-ranking adventurer, after all . Tristan-sama is worried about us leaving the country .
“I am interested so I thought I would like to go . ”
“… I see . ”
When talking about leaving the country, Tristan-sama made an obviously disheartened expression .
“However, we have gotten people that we are close with and people whom we received favors from, so I believe we will be surely returning to Guardia in the end . ”
“Is that so!”
Guardia has already become my second home .
Therefore, even if I travel to different countries, I have no thoughts of settling there .
“Sounds fun . How about I tag along with you, Takumi~”
Just as Tristan-sama felt relieved by my statement, Al-sama dropped an outrageous joke .
“Oh my, why not?”
“”Eh!?””
Then, Grace-sama gave her approval with a smile .
It wasn’t just me who was startled by her statement, even Al-sama who was just joking was shocked .
“Mother?”
“I think it’s fine if you accompany Takumi-san and the children on a journey . ”
Grace-sama wasn’t joking, she was truly suggesting Al-sama travels with us .
“Mother, I am, more or less, this country’s prince too, you know…”
“It’s often the case for princes to travel to study, see?”
“That’s to a different country’s academy in pursuit of knowledge, no?”
“Fufu . There are many who travel the world as adventurers too . Therefore, you don’t have to worry and do as you please . ”
“Eh?”
Tristan-sama, Austin-sama, and Felix-sama were watching Al-sama and Grace-sama’s exchange attentively while Lionel-sama was rolling on the floor in laughter .
They don’t seem to have any intention of opposing, or rather, stopping Grace-sama at all .
“Grace-sama, please stop the joke right there . ”
“Oh my, I am not joking . I mean, letting you get away would be a loss of national interest . Therefore, wouldn’t we form tighter connections if we let Alfried accompany you?”
“””… Certainly . ”””
Grace-sama’s real intentions appeared here!
Moreover “get away” she said! Letting me get away, am I a prey or what!?
Besides, Tristan-sama and others! What are you nodding your heads for! Lionel-sama is laughing even harder!!
This… who is going to put this under control?
