Chapter 16

That night. After finishing their dinner together, Aura and Zenjiro sat closely on a sofa, enjoying a relaxed moment.

"Hmm. Although there is a danger of staying up late, with sufficient lighting, the night can be spent more productively."

"Haha, that's true. In my case, I'm so used to spending my nights this way that I don't really appreciate it much."

Looking around the room illuminated by six LED stand lights, Aura voiced her admiration, and Zenjiro responded with a small laugh.

During the day, Aura, as the queen, is busy with her royal duties, but after sunset, she has relatively more free time. Of course, there are still events like balls that require her attendance once or twice a week, but compared to Zenjiro's former life as a salaryman, where late-night overtime was the norm, her working hours are quite 'early.'

Thanks to this, Zenjiro can spend quality time alone with Aura.

However, as the queen and her consort, even their relaxed evening conversations inevitably have a political undertone.

"So, you're currently recruiting a tutor to teach me manners and common sense?"

"Yes. It will take some time to finalize the decision. In the meantime, I will teach you whenever I have the chance. Ideally, I would teach you everything myself, but I don't have the time. I apologize."

"That's fine, that's fine. I understand you're busy. But, is the tutor you're recruiting going to be okay? I'm a bit worried they might say something strange."

While it might seem contradictory to worry about a manners tutor being rude, Zenjiro's concern is understandable.

The person chosen to be the queen's consort's tutor would likely be of a certain status.

But, shaking her head with a smile, Aura reassured him,

"From your usual behavior, I think it will be fine. Besides, I will teach you the basics of manners and common sense before the tutor is decided, so don't worry."

"Hehe, go easy on me."

Just as Zenjiro responded with a wry smile, there was a knock on the door.

"Ah, yes?"

From the other side of the door, a maid reported in a clear voice, "Excuse me, the bath is ready."

Zenjiro, who had reflexively responded, realized it was already that time.

Standing up from the sofa, Zenjiro picked up an LED lantern from a shelf.

This lantern was something he had bought from a nearby camping store after being frustrated by the darkness of the bath during his first transfer. It was supposed to use four AA batteries, but Zenjiro used rechargeable AA batteries and battery spacers to make them work as AAAs.

Pulling an extension cord to a water-soaked bath would be extremely dangerous, so the lantern was the only source of light in the bathroom.

Still, with twelve small LED lights, the lantern provided enough light to make the bathroom dim but not unbearably so. To Aura and the maids, it would be considered "unbelievably bright."

"Alright, it should be fine. It doesn't seem to need recharging for a while."

After turning on the switch to confirm the light worked, Zenjiro headed to the door with the lantern in hand.

"Shall we go, Zenjiro?"

Aura naturally linked her arm with Zenjiro's free one and leaned into his chest.

"Um, does that mean you're joining me...?"

They had already shared a bed, but they had never bathed together.

Blushing at the bold invitation, Zenjiro was met with a seductive smile from Aura.

"As long as you don't mind."

"I wouldn't mind at all."

With his nose stretched to its limit, Zenjiro, still arm in arm with Aura, walked towards the bath as if he could fly.

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After a pleasant bath together, Zenjiro and Aura cooled off their flushed bodies with an ice fan while enjoying their preferred drinks. Zenjiro had a can of sparkling beer he had bought in bulk, and Aura was drinking the remaining white wine from the previous day. Both were well-chilled in the refrigerator, refreshing their parched throats after the bath.

"Hmm, this is addictive."

In her thin nightgown, Aura closed her eyes in delight, savoring the cold white wine and the cool breeze from the fan. In the tropical nights of the Carpa Kingdom, enjoying a cold drink and a cool breeze after a bath was a luxury even royalty couldn't always afford.

Even though Aura was accustomed to the climate, she still found the tropical nights uncomfortable.

"Troublesome. If I'm not careful, I might end up spending all my time in the harem."

"I'd welcome you with open arms, but it wouldn't be proper for the queen. Still, come whenever you can. I'll always welcome you."

"Understood. I'll try to have lunch here as often as possible. Be prepared for that."

"Got it. I'll have the ice ready for lunchtime."

Zenjiro laughed, understanding that even with a large refrigerator, ice couldn't be prepared 24/7. They needed to time it right to avoid running out of ice when Aura came to cool off.

The temperature had already exceeded 37 degrees during the day. When the temperature is higher than body temperature, a fan only blows hot air, making it ineffective for cooling. While placing a bucket of water in front of the fan could help, it wasn't as effective as ice.

He really wanted an air conditioner.

Eventually, as the heat and thirst from the bath subsided, Aura's expression turned serious.

"Since I said you don't have to do anything, I feel a bit guilty, but let's start the lessons now. We'll begin with general responses for royalty."

"Eh? Starting tonight?"

Surprised, Zenjiro was met with a grin from Aura.

"Of course. With such good lighting, we should make the most of the night."

She peered into Zenjiro's eyes, and he looked up at the ceiling with a grimace.

"Aw, our precious time together is going to be spent studying?"

Zenjiro's honest and unadorned reaction made Aura blush slightly, but she quickly regained her composed demeanor.

"I'm glad you feel that way, but time is limited. Don't worry, I won't intrude on our private time."

"Well, if that's the case, I guess it can't be helped. It would be better to study during the day when you're not here. Wait, hold on."

After saying something contradictory, Zenjiro suddenly remembered something and stood up, heading to the corner of the room where he had stored his supplies.

"I'm sure I brought it. It's small, so I must have put it on the carpet..."

"Zenjiro?"

"Got it, got it, here it is."

Finding what he was looking for, Zenjiro returned to the sofa with a small silver box.

"Zenjiro, what's that?"

With a slightly suspicious look, Aura asked, and Zenjiro explained,

"This is a 'digital camera,' or 'digicam.' It's mainly used to take photos, but it can also record videos and audio."

Holding up the camera, Zenjiro tried to explain, but Aura tilted her head in confusion.

"Photos? Static images? Videos? With audio? What are those?"

Zenjiro thought for a moment but couldn't find the right words to explain. Explaining such a device to someone who had never seen one was surprisingly difficult.

"Um, it's like... it can take very precise pictures in an instant, and it can also record moving images and sound."

"Record moving images? Record sound?"

Seeing Aura's continued confusion, Zenjiro decided to show her instead of trying to explain further. He turned on the camera.

"Anyway, I'll show you. Aura, can you start explaining the manners and common sense you mentioned earlier?"

Holding the camera, Zenjiro looked at Aura, who gave him a suspicious glance but eventually trusted him and began speaking.

"Even though I don't understand, alright. I'll start with the basics of responses.

Usually, royalty rarely interact with those of higher status in public. So, the first thing to learn is how to respond to those of lower status and those of equal status.

Generally, the one who initiates conversation is the one of lower status. Typically, the one of lower status..."

Aura continued her explanation, demonstrating as she spoke, while Zenjiro recorded the video.

He had bought the camera during his first year as a working adult and had used it quite a bit, but he had only recorded a few videos out of curiosity.

He wasn't sure if the video was recording properly or if the audio was clear at this distance. There were many uncertainties, but he didn't need to worry too much. If it failed, it failed. It wasn't as if the entire situation would fall apart if the video didn't turn out well.

"...That's it for now. Did you listen carefully, Zenjiro?"

When Aura paused, Zenjiro stopped the video recording.

"Thanks, Aura. Now, I need to check if it recorded properly. Sorry, explaining this is a bit difficult. Can you wait a moment?"

Zenjiro moved to the computer in the corner of the room, still holding the camera. He turned on the computer, removed the SD card from the camera, and inserted it into the computer.

"Hmm, I don't understand, but is this another device from your world?"

Aura approached Zenjiro and looked over his shoulder at the computer screen.

"Yeah, that's right. Let me check if it recorded properly first."

Zenjiro opened the video file directly from the SD card. Clicking the file with the mouse, the screen displayed a familiar room, with a red-haired, tan-skinned, and imposing woman gesturing and speaking.

"Wow, I'm amazed! Is this me? The words being spoken are exactly what I said earlier. What kind of principle is this? I've never seen anything like this in the dual kingdom's magical devices!"

"......!?"

Aura exclaimed in amazement, but Zenjiro was too shocked to respond.

He was even more surprised than Aura, who was seeing a video for the first time.

"Es normalmente raro que las posiciones familiares imperiales opuesto a la persona que es superior que a si mismo a un lugar publico. Por consiguiente lo aprendo primero y lo quiero

Es..., la correspondencia a la persona que es igual con la correspondencia a la persona actual……"

"......What is this?"

To Zenjiro, the words spoken by Aura in the video were completely incomprehensible, sounding like an unknown language.