Chapter 7

Thank you for reading.

Regarding the parts that have been published in book form, I have intentionally left the typos, omissions, and additions as they are, thinking that they might serve as reference material later on.

Please understand.

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It was a bright, clear morning, perfect for tending the garden.

It was early summer, and thanks to an early morning glory that had bloomed, I had finished my work in the vegetable garden and was now enjoying my morning walk.

As I walked, singing the usual song that goes well with a walk, birds would come close, and foxes or raccoons would show their faces, having wandered into the garden from somewhere.

The Kikunoi domain is actually quite rural, and it takes about ten days by carriage from the capital to finally reach it.

The main industry of the residents is agriculture, almost entirely self-sufficient. The next most common occupation is that of adventurers.

It might sound a bit odd to call adventurers an industry, but in reality, the only way to make a living outside of agriculture is to slay monsters in the forest or in the dungeons in the mountains. It's a tough world.

However, the dungeons in Kikunoi occasionally produce monsters that yield the rare metal "Hihiirokan," and even if not, they provide essential items for daily life such as magic stones, monster skins, meat, and bones, as well as other valuable materials.

Depending on the item, one could even become rich overnight.

That's why many people in Kikunoi aspire to be adventurers.

But if you ask whether the town is thriving because of these adventurers, that's not the case.

Despite having no particular attractions, the taxes in Kikunoi are apparently heavier than in other rural areas, so once adventurers earn enough from the dungeons, they tend to move to other towns.

Therefore, while it's not as bad as being completely deserted, it's difficult to say that the adventurer guilds and inns are doing well. What a predicament.

As I was thinking about all this, I arrived at the deepest part of the garden, where the princess's seat was located.

The wild roses were gone, and an elegant peony was swaying in the wind, its fragrance wafting through the air.

"You've finally come. To keep me waiting is quite disrespectful, you little boy."

"I'm very sorry."

"Hmph, you were probably admiring the first morning glory of the year, weren't you? That's the morning glory spirit paying its respects to me for the first bloom."

The princess said this with a proud air, or as I would say, with a smug look.

To my unimpressive responses of "Oh" and "Hmm," she pointed a thin silk fan at me sharply.

"Now, sing. First, a hymn to the gods."

"Um... Okay."

I started singing a hymn to the gods, symbolized by a cross, which is a story about a female singer who fled to the place where the female apostles of the god lived, pursued by bad people. Out of gratitude for a night's lodging, she taught the women there how to sing, a song praising the "Holy Queen."

It's actually a choral piece, so it lacks impact when sung alone, but I think the flow of the song is beautiful.

After finishing the last note, the princess's lips curved slightly.

"Hmm, not bad. However, your pitch is a bit off, little boy."

"I-I'm very sorry..."

"Well, you don't seem to have a proper music teacher, so I'll forgive you on that point..."

What did I do wrong? As I was getting nervous, the princess narrowed her eyes and waved her fan.

"Your magical nerve is well established. Try to be aware of it while singing. It can correct your pitch to some extent."

"Y-Yes!"

"Then, sing the song again."

When I sang as instructed, I was told, "Your awareness of the magical nerve is too weak!" and had to sing it again, for the fifth time.

After finishing the last note, the princess's eyes narrowed.

Thinking I had displeased her with my poor performance, I shrank back, but she waved her fan.

"Don't worry, it's not you."

"H-H-Huh...? What do you mean?"

There was no one else in the garden besides the princess and me. As I looked around, the clear sky suddenly turned dark, but only in this secluded part of the garden.

What's happening?

As I was getting anxious, the princess beckoned me.

"Come here, little boy. Are you interested in the heavens? If you wish, I can take you there without hesitation..."

The princess's lips curled up, but her eyes weren't smiling.

What should I do? I'm scared.

But if I don't go when she says "come," it would be disrespectful...

As I was getting confused, the bushes rustled.

Then, through the branches, I saw pointed ears and golden hair...

"Mr. Romanov!?"

His usually calm and composed eyes now looked tense, as if he was being cornered.

What happened? And when did Mr. Romanov get into the bushes? The question marks in my head kept appearing and disappearing.

Ignoring my confusion, Mr. Romanov knelt on one knee and bowed to the princess.

His handsome appearance was so intimidating when he did something cool.

"Please forgive my rudeness. I am the tutor of the young one here."

"Is that so?"

The princess's eyebrow twitched. She turned to me, asking with her eyes.

I nodded vigorously, and the princess lowered her raised eyebrow.

"What did this tutor come for?"

"Just now, I heard that you were about to take the young one to the heavens, so I thought it was a matter of great importance and came to you, though it was disrespectful."

"You were hiding here all along. Were you plotting against me?"

"I swear, I had no such intention. Last night, the young one told me that he had received your favor. However, he seemed a bit anxious at the time. I was concerned about that..."

"Hmm, anxious, you say."

The fan fluttered, and a wonderful fragrance filled the air.

The princess's gaze pierced me, but I could only avoid her eyes.

I can't tell her about the songs from my past life!

It would be so much easier if I could just be honest. But I can't. If Mr. Romanov looked at me like I was seeing something strange, I would never recover.

As I fidgeted with the hem of my blouse, the fan flashed again.

"I see. I made the little boy worry unnecessarily."

"Huh...?"

"The reason he was anxious was because of the song I had him sing."

"The song you had him sing?"

"Yes. I had him sing a song from another world."

"Another world?"

Mr. Romanov's face showed shock.

It's understandable to be surprised by the idea of another world, even if the existence of gods is a given.

As I watched the situation unfold, the fan was pointed at me sharply.

"I love music and dance. That's why I have connections with the gods of another world. I taught the little boy a song I learned from them. Though he has no physical beauty, his voice is good. If he can sing this well without a proper music teacher, I thought he could become even better with my training."

"Is that so..."

"However, the little boy was disrespectful and said he didn't know me at first."

The princess laughed mischievously, in stark contrast to Mr. Romanov's pale face.

I'm really sorry for being so foolish.

"That... is due to the lack of virtue on our part as adults. The young one is innocent!"

"The little boy said it was because he didn't listen to the teachings of the adults around him. That's fine. It means he's a considerate child, so he thought he couldn't say he sang a song from another world without my permission."

"Indeed, the young one is such a considerate person... I see, that's the situation..."

As I watched the conversation between the princess and Mr. Romanov, the situation seemed to be turning in my favor. Lucky! ...But I can't feel happy because I'm deceiving Mr. Romanov and the princess is helping me lie. I feel so guilty.

The princess glanced at me and tapped my forehead with her fan.

"Little boy, don't worry so much. I don't mind, but you're thinking too much on your own."

"I-I'm very sorry."

"There's no need to apologize. I'm enjoying this. However, I want an apology from that elf for his disrespect."

Her chin, tilted up, exuded an unyielding authority.

Mr. Romanov, sensing this, quietly bowed his head.

I just looked back and forth between them.

The princess winked at me.

"Elf, I want you to say that you taught the little boy the song from another world, not me."

"Why... why should I do that?"

"If I say I taught it, there will be a big fuss. As an elf, it wouldn't be strange for you to know ancient songs. If the little boy is to practice singing, it's hard to keep it a secret from others. If an elf is teaching him, it won't seem odd for him to sing songs that humans have never heard before."

"In other words... you want me to help the young one improve his singing skills?"

"Yes."

"I understand."

As Mr. Romanov nodded solemnly, the dark clouds cleared.

The bright sunlight of early summer returned to the garden, and the princess's figure was no longer there.

Thank you!

I called out my gratitude to the princess in my heart, and my body jumped as my hand was squeezed.

Mr. Romanov was holding my hand and smiling.

"Shall we return to the house?"

"Yes."

The warm, large hand felt unfamiliar to me, and the sensation of being enveloped was ticklish.

If I ever held hands with my father, it would probably feel like this.

Thinking about it made my lips curl involuntarily.

As I entered the house still holding hands with Mr. Romanov, Mr. Rottemeyer came running, his face pale, holding two pieces of paper.

"It's urgent! Master and Mistress are returning!"

Wow!? Perfect timing!!

Thank you for reading.

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If you could click on them, it would boost my spirits. Thank you.