Chapter 73

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In the Qifeng Empire, the last day of each month is called "tsugomachi," and the last day of the twelfth month is called "o-tsugomachi."

The first day of the month is called "tsukiai," which is the same as in my previous life.

Cleaning the house on o-tsugomachi to wash away the dirt of the year is similar to my previous life, but since the maids keep everything clean, the mansion and my room are always spotless. The same goes for Regulus's room and the teachers' rooms, so there's no need for me to put in extra effort for cleaning.

But to avoid it being boring, Victor and Lala started using magic to tidy up the exterior of the mansion.

The outside of the mansion gets dusty from the wind and rain, so they wash it thoroughly and repaint it. However, they use magic for this.

I was shown this process for educational purposes. The windows and doors are protected by barriers to prevent them from breaking, and they use localized heavy rain to wash away the dust, followed by localized heat to dry it, and then they use the wind to apply the paint.

It looks very rough, but according to Victor, controlling the magic is quite difficult.

By the way, those elves really love DIY and gardening.

It's very helpful, but sometimes they come back from the fields looking like they've been playing in the mud, which makes Regulus and Kousuke look like they've been playing in the mud too. This makes Utsunomiya and Elise sigh.

Cleaning the floors is really tough.

Anyway, I'm happy that we can welcome the New Year with a sparkling white mansion.

On o-tsugomachi, children are allowed to stay up late.

A little before and after midnight, fireworks are set off in the neighboring territories and duchies, and they are said to be very beautiful.

Even Rottenmeier, who usually recommends early to bed and early to rise, says it's okay to stay up for this.

So, Regulus and I take a nap after snacks to prepare for staying up late.

For some reason, we nap in the same bed, and lately, when Regulus holds my stomach, he sighs sadly and mutters, "Nii-ni got smaller."

He seems to prefer it when I grow vertically rather than horizontally.

But it can't be helped; I want to turn from a white pig into a human.

Still, sleeping with someone is nerve-wracking. Even though the bed is narrower, I don't have to worry about squishing each other anymore.

So, I doze off until just before dinner, and when I wake up, it's time for dinner.

In the empire, instead of making special dishes to celebrate the end of the old year, it's customary to prepare a lot of dishes that the family likes. In our house, that means curry rice.

Regulus, despite getting his face and mouth dirty, uses his spoon properly.

Since he'll be four next year, I think we should start practicing writing. At first, it's okay if it looks like squiggles or hieroglyphs.

While thinking about this and watching Regulus, our eyes meet, and he smiles cutely with rice grains around his mouth.

After dinner, we rest a bit before taking a bath.

After that, Lala gives me a massage, which has become a habit since I fell and hurt myself. Thanks to this, my shoulder stiffness has improved, and my skin is as smooth and shiny as a noblewoman's.

After taking care of my body, I put on a sweater with insulation, cold resistance, and other properties, and wait for the time to come.

Since Regulus is usually put to bed early, he's brought picture books into the living room with a fireplace and is allowed to stay up late. The teachers are enjoying the alcohol they brought from the Elven Village, and I'm making stuffed animals.

Then, the air wavered, and a pair of feet appeared from the darkness.

As a faint heat haze formed an image, Ice Wheel appeared, his cloak billowing.

He put his index finger to his lips to signal silence to me, who was wide-eyed. No one else seemed to notice him.

"Today is quite lively."

"It's o-tsugomachi, so we're allowed to stay up late."

"Why?"

"Fireworks are set off in the neighboring territories to celebrate the New Year."

"Hmm."

He doesn't seem very interested, just narrowing his eyes slightly.

I wonder if the gods don't celebrate the New Year. Ice Wheel shakes his head.

"We don't have a special celebration, but we gather and drink."

"Alcohol?"

"Yes, it's called divine wine. It's just wine to us, but it has various benefits for humans. I don't know much about it since I've never given it to anyone."

"I see. Was it made from the peach from the princess?"

"Yes, that's it. We also play games like strength contests and make bets for entertainment."

"I see, not much different from us."

"Of course. After all, humans were created in our image."

He chuckles and raises his eyebrows in amusement.

I see, then it's not surprising that they might like the same things we do. The princess, for example, got into musicals and the violet garden.

"By the way, this year's bet was won by Nekka, who lost to Ennou. She was asked to do something troublesome, but how did it turn out?"

"Bets..."

There are all sorts of relationships in the heavens too.

While listening to Ice Wheel, I finish the stuffed animals.

I made a stripe-tailed squirrel and a chick, and I want to make them into game pieces for a territory battle game.

The teachers say there's a game similar to chess or shogi that's popular in this country and others, and while it's not necessary to know how to play, it's helpful for socializing.

I'm not very interested, but Kousuke is good at it and will teach Regulus.

So, I'm making the pieces so they can play together. When I'm focused, I usually don't talk much, so even if I chat with Ice Wheel in my head, no one notices.

I don't intend to hide Ice Wheel's presence, but since he can appear without others seeing him, he might find it bothersome to be noticed.

After sewing a crown, mantle, and shoulder straps to the stripe-tailed squirrel, I complete the captain.

There are sixteen pieces in total: one captain, one deputy captain, two heavy infantry, two assault infantry, two medical infantry, and eight regular infantry. I plan to give each one a unique shield or sword, and the captain will be the most decorated.

Then, the church bell rings in the distance.

It seems the countdown to the New Year has started.

Everyone looks up, and Rottenmeier opens the door leading to the balcony.

"Master, the fireworks are starting."

"Ah, yes!"

I stand up from my chair and head to the balcony with Ice Wheel. Regulus runs over.

"Nii-ni, come too!"

"Sure, let's watch together."

Regulus clings to my arm, and we step out onto the balcony with Ice Wheel. The teachers, Rottenmeier, and Utsunomiya follow, and I see Elise, Josef, and the head chef in the courtyard.

The bell rings again.

"Phoenix. I was thinking, are these fireworks not just a New Year's celebration, but also a blessing from the lord to the people?"

"Blessing... Is that so?"

"The king sets up a celebration and invites his subjects. The lord, instead of doing that, shows the fireworks, right?"

"Oh... I see. My parents never did that, so I didn't know... If that's the case, it would be better to do it."

"Perhaps the steward didn't mention it because you are not the lord."

"I'm just a child, so Rottenmeier might be considerate and not make me worry about such things."

I decide to ask.

While listening to the solemn bell, I gently tug on the hem of Rottenmeier's skirt.

"What is it, Master?"

"Do the fireworks in the neighboring territories and the heavenly domain also serve as a blessing to the people and a substitute for distributing alcohol?"

"Indeed, that is one of the elements."

Ah, I see.

Lords really need to be aware of such things.

I briefly considered wanting the supervision of the territory, but if I can't notice such things without being told, I'm just as clueless as my parents. I shouldn't get too full of myself.

Feeling a bit down, I feel my head being petted from the left and behind. The left is Ice Wheel, and the hand from behind feels like Mr. Romanov.

"You don't have to worry about such things until you're an adult."

"Indeed, you are still at an age where it's fine to receive blessings."

"Thank you."

Yeah, even if I want to do something, I don't have the means, and I'm still just a child. The only thing I can do is sing. Some songs do contain blessings.

"Then, shall we sing?"

"Huh?"

"If you sing a blessing, I can lend you a hand."

As he says this, Ice Wheel's blurry outline becomes clear.

He has long, dark hair that looks black or navy, and a cloak with butterfly wing patterns on the hem, which he flicks with his arm.

The adults are taken aback by the sudden appearance of this beautiful figure, but one person is not.

"...Nii... Is that the sound of your voice, brother?"

"Yes, I am called Ice Wheel."

"Welcome."

"Indeed."

Oh, Regulus is a genius!

When did he learn such a proper greeting?

The first to recover from the shock is Rottenmeier, who kneels gracefully, followed by Utsunomiya. The three elves also quickly kneel.

"There's no need for such formality. I am here merely to converse."

"Here" refers to me, and I am lifted up. Regulus, who was about to be left behind, grabs Ice Wheel's cloak.

I'm worried it might be disrespectful, but Ice Wheel looks down at Regulus calmly.

"Nii-ni, where are we going?"

"No, I'm not taking you anywhere... Are you worried? If so..."

While holding me with one arm, he picks up Regulus with the other. Despite his appearance, Ice Wheel is quite strong.

We float up to a height above the roof.

"Let's entertain. Sing a song of blessing."

I have a good one for that.

A song that is often played or sung in choirs at the end of the year in Japan.

The "Ninth" or "Ode to Joy."

I take a deep breath and sing the joy and blessing of the new year from the bottom of my heart.

When I sing, I use the language of the lyrics I learned in my previous life. For example, if the lyrics are in Japanese, I sing in Japanese, and if they are in English, I sing in English. For the Ninth, it's German.

However, for some reason, the listeners hear it in the language of this world.

"Let's liven it up a bit more."

I tilt my head at the whispered voice, but Ice Wheel signals me to keep singing.

Regulus, not understanding, claps and cheers.

Above Ice Wheel's head, a magical circle glows in the night sky, slowly changing from a pentagram to a colorful flower, and then to a shower of meteors, like a movie.

"This is an application of your magic. You will be able to do this without my help eventually."

I hope so.

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