Chapter 56

About an hour later.

"Oooh, the joy of living! Singing in this golden sea!"

In the center of the venue, where the festivities were in full swing, Prince Francesco, with his flushed face, was displaying his magnificent voice.

Singing is, in principle, considered one of the noble pastimes alongside playing musical instruments and dancing, but it is certainly not common to perform a solo in such an ordinary evening gathering.

Perhaps in the Kingdom of Carpia, it might not be the norm, but in the Twin Kingdom, it could be a common occurrence. This thought crossed Zenjiro's mind as he looked around the venue for Princess Bona and the knights of the Twin Kingdom.

He noticed that the accompanying knights were holding their heads in their hands or stifling wry smiles under their mustaches. From this, it seemed that the customs of the Twin Kingdom were not much different from those of the Kingdom of Carpia.

"I'm sorry. He means no harm, but..."

Feeling responsible for not stopping Prince Francesco's eccentric behavior, Princess Bona, looking pitifully small, repeated her apologies, which she had already said countless times.

"No, there's no need to worry so much. No one is being inconvenienced."

Zenjiro responded with a forced smile, but he couldn't help feeling a bit guilty inside.

It was obvious from the flushed face of Prince Francesco, who had shed his purple tuxedo and was singing heartily, that he was thoroughly drunk.

The reason was undoubtedly the fruit cocktail mixed with Zenjiro's homemade 'distilled liquor' that he had eagerly consumed.

For people from the southern continent, who were only accustomed to drinking fruit wines and grain alcohols with an alcohol content of less than 10%, it was natural to get drunk when they drank a cocktail based on distilled liquor.

(I did warn him that it was quite strong, but of course, he couldn't have imagined the strength of distilled liquor he had never seen before.)

"Ode to Love! Singing to the silver moon!"

Despite the awkward situation, the prince seemed to be having a great time. It was almost as if his enthusiastic singing made everyone else feel like they had done something good, even though it was a bit embarrassing for Princess Bona, who was trembling with discomfort.

In fact, the other guests, after the initial shock, were now smiling warmly and watching the foreign prince sing from a distance.

Moreover, as they watched, the sound of an accompaniment began to play.

(Huh?)

Zenjiro's head turned reflexively toward the source of the sound. He saw men and women dressed in traditional Carpian attire, playing stringed instruments and flutes.

(Are those the court musicians? Ah, it must be Aura's doing.)

Zenjiro remembered that when Prince Francesco started singing loudly, Aura had called one of the waiters and given them some instructions.

Singing alone would have been just an incident, but with the court musicians providing the accompaniment, it became a performance. Of course, the fact that the drunk Prince Francesco had started singing on his own was undeniable, but by having the musicians accompany him, Aura, the host of the evening, had officially recognized his performance.

The nobles in the venue seemed to have understood Aura's intentions. The atmosphere of confusion that had been lingering was completely dispelled, and everyone smiled and applauded the foreign prince's singing.

"Prince Francesco is quite fearless, isn't he?"

"Yes, thank you very much."

Princess Bona, clearly choosing her words carefully, seemed relieved but still looked troubled.

"Zenjiro."

Aura, who was looking after Prince Francesco, met Zenjiro's eyes and said,

"I understand."

Zenjiro nodded, indicating that he would take care of it, and watched his wife leave the scene with a graceful step. Then, he turned to the foreign princess.

"Princess Bona, are you thirsty? Please, if you would like."

With that, Zenjiro signaled to a nearby maid holding a silver tray.

The maid, holding a silver cup on a silver tray, quickly approached and respectfully offered the tray to the princess of the Twin Kingdom.

"Ah, yes, thank you. I'll have it."

Princess Bona, taking the silver cup, drank its contents in one gulp, looking embarrassed.

The contents of the silver cup were a sweet fruit wine, common in the Kingdom of Carpia. Zenjiro was not so tactless as to offer a cocktail based on distilled liquor to a princess he had just met, especially after his recent mistake with the prince.

"Phew..."

Thanks to the drink, or perhaps the slight effect of the alcohol, the intense tension that had been visible on the chestnut-haired princess's face eased a little. She looked at Prince Francesco again, as if to confirm something.

"Oooh, the beautiful city! The pearl of the desert, its name is—!"

With the support of the court musicians, the drunk prince was happily moving on to his second song.

For Princess Bona, who had been appointed as a 'supervisor' by the current and former kings of her homeland, this was a headache. However, with the 'stage' set by Queen Aura, there was no room for her to intervene.

The only consolation was that Queen Aura and the surrounding nobles were clearly trying to smooth things over and make the situation as uneventful as possible. Of course, this made her feel powerless and embarrassed as a 'supervisor.'

In any case, realizing that worrying about Prince Francesco any further would only increase her mental fatigue without any benefit, Princess Bona finally took her eyes off him for the first time that night.

Princess Bona noticed the 'magic ring' on Zenjiro's left ring finger.

"Your Majesty Zenjiro, that ring—!"

Her eyes widening, Princess Bona leaned forward, her gaze fixed on Zenjiro's left hand.

"Yes, this one. Yes, it's a ring that was 'enchanted' by the Shalwa royal family."

Zenjiro, holding the silver cup in his right hand, extended his left hand, palm down, toward Princess Bona to make it easier to see.

Anyone with the ability to perceive magic would be able to see it. Apart from the magic emanating from Zenjiro's hand, the ring itself was emitting magic.

Zenjiro had never taken this 'wedding ring' from Earth outside the harem because its overly intricate design stood out, but tonight was an exception.

Given that the person who enchanted the ring, Prince Francesco, was present, not wearing it would have been impolite. Although, given Prince Francesco's free-spirited nature, it might have been unnecessary consideration.

In any case, seeing Princess Bona's interest, Zenjiro thought he had found a good conversation starter and actively brought up the topic of the ring.

"I believe this ring was enchanted by Prince Francesco, right?"

"Yes, Prince Francesco is one of the best enchanters in the current Shalwa royal family. I also applied to become an enchanter, but I was not selected. While I have some confidence in making intricate objects from scratch, I lack the magic power to enchant existing items."

Princess Bona, laughing self-deprecatingly, emitted a magic aura that was indeed quite low for a royal. Even compared to Zenjiro, who was considered one of the weakest royals, her magic power was at the minimum level.

It seemed that the story about royals who inherit their powers through generations being among the weakest was true.

(Compared to him, he's really something. He's like 50% more powerful than Aura.)

Zenjiro glanced briefly at the golden-haired prince, who was happily singing his third song in the center of the venue.

The magic aura surrounding the golden-haired prince was vast, befitting a direct royal. Queen Aura also possessed a significant amount of magic, suitable for a ruler of a great nation, but compared to her, Prince Francesco's magic was clearly superior.

Compared to Zenjiro and Princess Bona, it was not an exaggeration to say that Prince Francesco's magic power was 'more than double.'

(That's amazing. Maybe he's as powerful as Zenkichi.)

Hiding this thought deep inside, Zenjiro quickly shifted his attention back to the princess.

"Princess Bona, you're skilled in making intricate objects, I see. I've heard that the Twin Kingdom is the best in the southern continent when it comes to jewelry."

"Yes, while my skills are still quite immature, I have more confidence in my jewelry-making techniques than in my magic power."

Princess Bona nodded slightly, and her face showed a confidence that went beyond her words.

This princess, who seemed so serious and somewhat introverted, was clearly stating that she had confidence. Perhaps she was already a skilled craftsman at her young age. At the very least, her interest and passion for jewelry were undeniable.

"Princess Isabella of the Gilbert Papal Family once showed me this ring when she had it in her possession. Is this type of ring common in your homeland, Your Majesty?"

Princess Bona's gaze, intense enough to make Zenjiro feel a bit uneasy, was fixed on his left ring finger.

When someone looks at you with such intensity, it's called 'staring intently.'

Surprised by the unexpected intensity, Zenjiro managed to maintain his smile and explained.

"Yes, in my homeland, it's a custom for a man to give a pair of matching rings to his wife as a symbol of marriage."

However, Princess Bona, seemingly uninterested in the customs surrounding wedding rings, quickly shifted her focus back to the ring itself.

"Is that so? Then, are such rings common in your homeland? To cut a diamond into a sparkling multifaceted shape and to make three stones so identical in size and shape that they are indistinguishable—"

"Well, they're not exactly cheap, but I wouldn't say they're uncommon."

"Then, do you know the metalworking techniques used for the ring's base? While gold is a relatively easy metal to work with, I don't know of any method to engrave such intricate patterns without distorting them. If you know, I would be grateful if you could teach me."

Perhaps emboldened by the alcohol, Princess Bona's loquacity was a stark contrast to her earlier reserved demeanor, revealing her passion for 'jewelry craftsmanship.'

"I'm afraid I don't have that kind of knowledge at all."

"None at all? Not even a little bit? Even the smallest piece of information would be helpful."

"Even if I tried, I really am a complete layman. Casual knowledge from hearsay would only be harmful."

"Even so, I would appreciate any reference."

Zenjiro was taken aback by Princess Bona's enthusiasm and earnestness, which were far from his initial impression.

(Wow, she's quite different from my first impression. Was she just pretending? No, it's more like she's a completely different person when it comes to jewelry.)

Zenjiro didn't dislike people who get passionate about their hobbies and interests.

"...Alright, if there's an opportunity."

"Thank you!"

In the end, Zenjiro, worn down by her persistence, made a promise that could almost be considered a verbal commitment.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

After successfully concluding the evening gathering he had hosted, Zenjiro and Aura, having washed off the sweat, dirt, and fragrant oils in the bath, were spending their pre-sleep time in the air-conditioned bedroom.

"Ah, I'm tired. Ah, I wish I could have seen Zenkichi before bed."

"Hmm, there's no helping it. Visiting Carlos's room at this hour would inconvenience the nanny and the assigned maids. They would have to stay awake if we entered the room."

"I know, but still..."

Zenjiro, showing understanding of his wife's words, sighed heavily and leaned back in the chair.

Currently, Zenjiro and Aura were sitting in wooden chairs placed in a corner of the bedroom.

The day after the air conditioner was installed, at Aura's instruction, a small round table and two wooden chairs were brought into the bedroom. One of the two LED standing lights in the bedroom was also moved from beside the bed to beside the table.

Since then, they had been spending their evening relaxation time and taking their breakfast and lunch in the harem in this bedroom.

This arrangement was expected to continue until the hot season passed.

During this period, it was not uncommon for the temperature to remain above human body temperature even at night. Once people had experienced the comfort of air conditioning, it was only natural that they couldn't resist its allure.

Zenjiro, after downing a glass of iced water in one go, returned the empty glass to the table.

"...Phew"

Previously, Zenjiro used to drink sparkling beer after his bath, but he had almost run out of the supply he had brought from Japan. The last six cans were stored in the back of the refrigerator, and he had decided to save them for special occasions.

After confirming that Zenjiro had put the glass back on the table, Aura placed her clasped hands on the table and spoke.

"Shall we begin? We have to get up early tomorrow, so we can't waste too much time.

Zenjiro, what did you think of the prince and princess of the Shalwa-Gilbert Twin Kingdom, Prince Francesco and Princess Bona? Your initial impressions, what caught your attention, anything you want to share."

"Understood. Well, let's see... hmm..."

In response to Aura's words, Zenjiro nodded lightly, recalled the events of the evening, and began to speak carefully.

"First, my first impression of Prince Francesco.

Well, as you might have guessed, if his actions are genuine, he's a 'carefree fool,' right?"

"Indeed, that's true..."

Faced with Zenjiro's straightforward character assessment, Aura could only nod with a wry smile.

Prince Francesco's behavior at the evening gathering was indeed something that could be described as 'lacking in wisdom.'

Even if a certain degree of informality is allowed at such gatherings, drinking to the point of losing one's composure and starting to sing loudly is not the behavior expected of a noble.

If his actions were genuine, it would explain why Prince Francesco, at the age of 24, still does not have the right to succeed to the throne.

However, Zenjiro, tilting his head, continued his thoughts.

"But, if that's the case, what's concerning is how free of malice his actions were. If he's genuinely that carefree, he must be a person with a straightforward and innocent personality, despite being a bit of a fool."

"Hmm, that's true. Is that odd?"

"Thinking about it normally, if his carelessness and foolishness are truly his essence, I would expect him to have been looked down upon in the palace since childhood. After all, he's failing to meet the expectations placed on him as the first legitimate prince.

Would someone raised in such an environment grow up to be so innocent?"

Zenjiro's opinion that one's childhood environment has a significant impact on personality formation was something Aura could not argue with. However, it was a somewhat one-sided view, and she couldn't fully agree with it.

"I've only heard rumors, but I've been told that both of Prince Francesco's parents, Prince Giuseppe and his wife, are respectable people. If both parents can provide solid love, there's a possibility that he could grow up to be a decent person."

This counterargument from Aura was something Zenjiro could nod to.

"Yes, that's certainly possible. Also, as I heard from Princess Bona, Prince Francesco is one of the best enchanters in the current Shalwa royal family. Having something he excels at is a significant factor. So, it's not entirely out of the question that he's genuinely that carefree. It would be too unnatural if it were an act."

Saying this, Zenjiro agreed easily.

"But, if that's the case, there's a question that remains.

Why would the Shalwa royal family assign such a 'simple, good-natured fool' to a significant mission like a foreign visit, which hasn't happened in hundreds of years?"

"Hmm. What if they don't consider this matter as important as we do? So, they sent a prince who has no right to succession and is practically a deposed prince, and a princess who is only nominally a royal."

While thinking it was unlikely, Aura still presented this unconvincing counterargument, partly to test her husband's thoughts.

As expected, Zenjiro's reaction was immediate. Shaking his head, he said,

"That's not it. Because, Prince Francesco is 'one of the best enchanters,' right? At the very least, it's clear that he is a capable magic item creator. There must be a solid reason to stop such a capable magic item creator, or some advantage to this choice, for it to make sense."

Saying this, Zenjiro reached a conclusion that was not far from what Aura had expected.

"Hmm, that's true."

For the moment, Aura relaxed her cheeks, pleased to confirm that there was no significant difference in their understanding of the situation. It was reassuring to have good communication with her husband in the face of this complicated situation.

"In other words, if Prince Francesco's personality is genuinely carefree, then there must be a hidden agenda behind the Shalwa royal family's decision to send such a carefree prince to our country. In any case, it's dangerous to proceed based solely on surface-level information."

"Yes, that's right."

Zenjiro nodded in agreement with Aura's confirming words.

In any case, this was their first real meeting. Zenjiro didn't think he had the exceptional insight to accurately