Since the news of the new queen’s birth, I’ve been shopping in the lively streets of the royal capital. While doing so, I encountered a refined old man who seemed familiar.
“Oh, aren’t you…?”
“It’s been a while. How is your sister’s twin-tail doing?”
“Oh! ”
I remember now.
You’re the shopkeeper from the accessory store we went to with Yuzuriha-san.”
He had persistently recommended twin-tails.
“I don’t really know about the condition of her twin-tail, but my sister is doing well.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Thanks to you.
Invited by the gentlemanly shopkeeper, we engaged in conversation while gazing at the cityscape.
Naturally, the topic revolved around Toko-san, who had become the new queen—
the hottest topic in the country.
“─Toko Princess’s performance as the new queen seems to be quite decent.”
“Yes, it does.”
“However, it seems there were some dangerous situations leading up to that.”
“It appears so.”
“She was apparently saved at the last moment… It seems she was saved by a knight of tremendous skill, right? The taverns are filled with newly created hero tales.”
“Oh, haha. Is that so…?”
I couldn’t possibly admit that I, just a commoner, saved Toko-san.
Dry laughter escaped me as I decided to completely ignore the topic.
“Well, setting that aside, it’s good that peace has returned.”
“Absolutely. ──My grandchild managed to survive somehow.”
“That’s great. Was your grandchild a soldier?”
“No, she’s a mediocre mage. Although she’s not my biological grandchild, as the saying goes, poorly made things are cute. I’ve been watching over her from afar. Recently, she seems to have found a good man, and she’s finally straightening up.”
“I see.”
It is much later that I find out that this mage-like grandchild mentioned here is Toko-san until much later. At this stage, it’s impossible to know.
At that time, what I was thinking was to play a little prank, perhaps a bit of lip service.
It might be a kind of mischief.
Even if I said I saved Toko-san, no one would believe it for real.
It was just a desire to tell an impossible boasting story.
“Strictly between us. ──Actually, I played a role in resolving the coup.”
“Oh, really?”
“Absolutely. Well, there’s no evidence, though.”
“No, no, I believe you. Hohoho.”
The shopkeeper laughed as if he had heard an amusing joke and casually put his hand into his pocket.
“Well, if that’s the case, shouldn’t I also express my gratitude for saving my grandchild?”
Saying that, he handed me a rainbow-colored hairband.
“…Wait, is this for me to wear twin tails or something…?”
“No, not at all. I don’t have a hobby of delighting in men’s twin tails. Besides, that hairband is a one-of-a-kind. Consider it a protective charm.”
“Is it perhaps enchanted with a defensive spell? I can’t accept something so valuable—”
“It doesn’t have a defensive spell on it. Instead, it’s enchanted with a different kind of magic.”
“What kind of magic?”
When I asked, the shopkeeper squinted his eyes and said,
“If you ever find yourself in trouble, anyone can hold onto this rainbow-colored hairband and ask any merchant in this country for help.”
“And then?”
“All the merchants in the country will join forces, and just once, they will do their best to fulfill any wish you have.”
“That’s amazing.”
“Oh, of course, impossible wishes are not allowed. At most, we’ll limit it to something like everyone in the country having twin tails. Keep it at that.”
“I see. Understood.”
When telling a lie, the most troublesome thing is not being able to determine whether it’s true or not.
That’s why, with a tall tale of this magnitude, it’s clear from the start that it’s a lie. Hence, I can respond honestly without any reservations.
“Well then, I’ll gladly accept it. I’ll use it when I’m in need of money.”
“Do so. For money, well… if it’s an amount that could buy the whole country, we can gather it immediately.”
“That’s quite the gift.”
After chatting for a bit, I parted ways with the shopkeeper.
The received hairband was shining brilliantly in an unfamiliar and beautiful rainbow color.
Thinking that it might make a good birthday present for Suzuha next year, I pondered on it.
───It was much later that I was surprised to know that the rainbow-colored hair band really has the effect as the shopkeeper said.
4
I don’t know about other countries, but I was informed that in this country, the coronation ceremony and the enthronement ceremony are somewhat like a wedding and a wedding reception.
When I asked if the enthronement ceremony happens when the coronation already takes place, Yuzuriha scolded me, saying, “You shouldn’t delve into such matters,” claiming that it’s just the way it is.
In other words, the coronation is the ceremony for becoming the king, and the enthronement is the ceremony to widely announce it.
Therefore, the enthronement becomes a national holiday, and a grand party is held in the palace. Free drinks are provided to the commoners, and they celebrate all night to bless the new king.
“Of course, you’ll attend the enthronement ceremony, right? And, there’s also a palace ball afterward.”
“I won’t attend, of course.”
“Why not!?”
“Because I’m a commoner.”
For some reason, Yuzuriha invited me to the enthronement ceremony, but I flatly refused.
For commoners, free food is much more appreciated than ceremonies and palace dinners.
The nobles don’t understand that.
***
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On the day of the enthronement ceremony in the afternoon, I wandered around the sushi shop.
“Ugh, it’s expensive… but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime celebration… but it’s so expensive…”
When it comes to foods served during celebrations, sushi is number one in our country.
Honestly, sushi is incredibly delicious. But also incredibly expensive. I mean, really expensive.
It might cost more than the combined food expenses for me and Suzuha in a month.
However, currently, my pocket was well-endowed.
The royal family had generously granted me a considerable sum of money as a reward for saving Toko-san.
I thought that Toko-san would die, and I was expecting the death penalty for kissing her even though it was part of the treatment and holding her after she was covered in sewer grime.
Yet, instead of being charged, they not only rewarded me but also provided quite a hefty sum of money.
Considering that, our house should celebrate the new queen’s enthronement with sushi, right?
Having such a thought, I came to a sushi restaurant located on the border between the noble and commoner districts of the royal capital.
Hesitating due to the intimidating prices, I found myself circling the front of the sushi restaurant.
It’s been about an hour of going around in circles.
“Ugh, but if I keep like this, nothing will be resolved. I did promise Suzuha that we’d have sushi today… Alright, let’s do it!”
“Let’s do it? What on earth are you doing?”
When I turned around, there was Yuzuriha-san with an exasperated expression. So embarrassing.
“Uh, well, you see…”
“I heard from Suzuha. I can imagine what’s going on. Knowing you, you got scared of the prices when trying to buy sushi, and you’ve been hesitating this whole time, right?”
“…That’s exactly it, yes…”
“It can’t be helped. By the way, I’ve got good news for you.”
“Yes?”
“To celebrate the new queen’s ascension, there’s a place offering free sushi just for today. Do you want to go?”
“Huh!? But free sushi? There’s no way such a good deal exists, they must be using sketchy and almost rotten ingredients—”
“They’re using fresh, high-quality ingredients, and it’s an all-you-can-eat deal.”
“!!”
“Well, it’s not a place ordinary people would go, but that’s where connections come into play. Of course, Suzuha-kun will be there too. What about you?”
“Please let me accompany you!”
“…Wait, are you really going? I mean, it’s more convenient for me, but…”
“Of course! It’s an all-you-can-eat sushi deal! Hooray!”
“…Uh, yeah, sure, no problem, but I didn’t expect you to fall for it so easily…”
I don’t know what Yuzuriha-san meant by “falling for it so easily,” but in front of an all-you-can-eat sushi deal, such details don’t matter. Because it’s sushi.
—That’s what I was thinking, and it was just a little while after that when I wanted to punch myself for thinking that—
5
After being shaken in the Sakuraogi Ducal family’s carriage for a while, we arrived at the royal castle.
“I got fooled by Yuzuriha-san!!”
“Don’t speak ill of others. I didn’t deceive you, did I? Thanks to Toko’s special arrangement for the coronation ball, a top-notch sushi restaurant has sent its chefs to the venue.”
“People like us shouldn’t enter the royal castle! It’s common sense!”
“The idea of you lecturing me on common sense is beyond ridiculous, but… fine. Listen, with special permission, even commoners can enter the royal castle. Basically, it’s all about connections.”
“What?”
“Granted, such permission is rarely given, but you have it, so there’s no problem. Remember what I said at the beginning? You can’t get in without connections. So, conversely, if you have connections, anyone can get in.”
“Wow, the duke’s connections are amazing…!”
“Well, in this case, it’s not my family’s connections but yours that are amazing. After all, you’re the lifesaver of the new queen and played a major role in her ascension.”
“That’s a misunderstanding.”
“Even if we generously assume that’s a misunderstanding, every surviving noble sees you that way.”
What a bad joke.
For one thing, if you say every surviving noble, that includes Yuzuriha-san and even Toko-san, right?
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