14 - Extra Edition

“Eli, let’s go on a date!” Serena said.

That was four years ago when we were still serving as Queens and overwhelmed with our duties. Speaking of duties, I still had a huge list of them, but since I’d been working so tirelessly without breaks, a half-day rest sounded good.

I looked to the side and at Yoshie, then my personal servant. “Take it slow sometimes,” she said.

“Now, who else are we taking with us?” I thought. “Selena, what are the kids doing?” I asked.

Yes, Serena and I have 6 adopted children. Even if neither of us endured the pains of childbirth, we loved them like they were blood-related.

“Well…” Serena said, looking here and there, “I just want to be alone with you today, Eli…”

So cute. The kids certainly minded, but I didn’t.

“Sergius!” I called out as we left.

“Yes, what is it?” Sergius asked as ran up, looking exhausted.

“I and Serena are going on a date now,” I said. “I leave the children to you.”

“Hah…” Sergius sighed. “Understood, Elizabeth!”

It’s was the first time I’d seen him look that upset in a while. Ah well, the kids don’t hate him, so I had nothing to worry about.

“So, we’re here at Gourmet Street,” I say as we entered, both of us disguised as commoners.

“What do you want to get, Eli?” Serena asked

“I’ll think about it while we walk.”

“Okay.”

Gourmet Street is one of the areas I’ve redeveloped in this city, now with various shops where people can go enjoy delicious food.

“Let’s try that place over there,” I said, pointing.

“Mm, taiyaki sounds good,” Severa said. “What flavor are you getting? I want custard.”

“I’m thinking red bean paste,” I reply.

You may think it’s inappropriate to have taiyaki in a Medieval European world like this, but I think it’s just fine if it’s delicious.

“Here, Eli,” Serena said, holding hers out to me. “Say ‘Aaah…’”

“Aaah…” I said before I took a bite of hers. “You too, Serena,” I said as I held mine out.

“Thank you,” Serena said as she leaned in.

We walked around with our taiyaki , wondering what we should buy next.

“Good day, ladies, you two look like you could use some escorts…” a man said before he suddenly stopped. “… My Queens.”

“Lancelot, what are you doing?” I asked.

“Oh, nothing,” he replied.

“Lancelot, this isn’t nothing!” I say. I’ve almost had it then with my life suddenly turning into a comedy sketch.

“My apologies, my apologies, my Queen,” said Stan, the bastard. “I just insisted that Lancelot come to offer our company.”

“Well, I don’t think this is very priest-like behavior,” I said. “As punishment for tarnishing your titles, I want you both to subdue that dragon that’s settled in the western mountains.”

“No, we’ll die there!” Stan said, panicking.

“Whatever you say, regardless of what you think of your abilities, the intruder must be dealt with,” I said.

“My Queen, this is cruel!” Stan lamented.

I ignored him. “Let’s go, Serena.”

“Let’s,” she said back.

In a week, they returned unharmed after having successfully dealt with the dragon.

Now we had soft-serve ice cream instead of taiyaki , bought from a nearby store as well.

“Eli!” Serena said. “You’ve got ice cream on your cheek.”

Instead of wiping it with her finger, she licked it off with her tongue… was she so bold then because it’d been so long since we last had time together?

“Uh…” I stammered.

Serena giggled. “Was that a little too lewd?” she asked.

She was cute. Yes, still so very cute.

“Eli, where are we going next?” Serena asked as she clung to my arm, her expression cute and sly as well.

“I’ve got a ticket for a play from Yoshie, why don’t we go watch?” I asked.

“That’s just like her, huh?” Serena said.

We dropped the commoner disguises at the theater and revealed ourselves as the queens. We were taken to the VIP section, and found–

“Gah!” Serena and I both cried.

Arthur was there. “Oh, I’m so glad I could get such a lovely reaction from you both,” he said.

“Shut up, Perverted M-Prince!” we both snapped.

“As expected of you two,” Arthur said, “you abuse me in exactly the same way.”

We were both too stunned to say anything more. Neither of us ever got used to Arthur’s habits.

“Hmm, hmm, what are you two doing here?” Mordred said as he appeared from behind.

“I’m here on a date with Serena,” I said.

“Ah, explains why you’re being so sweet with each other,” Mordred replied.

“S-So, why are you two here?” I asked Mordred, flustered.

Why do these brothers have to bother us so? Serena was so nervous she grabbed my skirt and looked down.

“I’m playing matchmaker for Arthur,” Mordred said.

“Huh?” I asked, outraged.

Since Mordred played matchmaker for Arthur, would they find a good woman for him? No, he probably wouldn’t have. I didn’t think his handsome face made up for his perversion.

“So where is she?” I asked.

“She’s the star of this play,” Mordred replied.

“Wow, an actress…” I said.

“We apologize for being here and intruding on your date,” Arthur said. “And while you still have the chance, you may kick me again, Eliza.”

“… I’d rather not.”

I had forgotten Arthur was behind me from the shock that his date was an actress. This was a dangerous situation.

“That was a good play, huh, Serena?” I asked afterward.

“Yes it was, Eli,” Serena replied.

“And now we know that the star is going on a date with Arthur…” I muttered.

“Yeah…” Serena muttered.

She was so beautiful and talented and now she was getting him.

While we continued that conversation, we headed for the viewing platform in the residential area; at night, the cherry blossom trees here are quite the sight.

“Wow… it’s so beautiful,” Serena said.

“It is,” I said.

“Speaking of which, so many things have happened in the last for years, huh?”

There was quite a lot: UFO crashes, making money reserves like it was in Japan, the sudden popularity of baseball, and the establishment of a professional league as a consequence…

“But you know, even if it got hard at times, I was still very happy because I had you by my side, Eli,” Serena said. “I love you, Eli.”

“I lo–”

Serena kissed me before I could complete my sentence.

“Ehehe…” I chuckled before I was too embarrassed to speak.

I looked around, and suddenly the people I’d run into today. “What the…?”

“You called us out here, Elizabeth,” Arthur said.

“Huh, I had called you out here, didn’t I?” I muttered.

“Well, isn’t today the cherry blossom viewing party you’re sponsoring?” Arthur asked.

“I’m not doing anything inappropriate!” I cried.

Arthur murmured that he was disturbed by my outburst, but I didn’t mind him because I was innocent.

And that aside, I didn’t hate that messy everyday life of mine.