Chapter 61

Today is the day I meet with Father.

As usual, I dressed up and moved to the upper part of the residential area.

"Ho, yellow suits you, Aisha."

"It's because of Her Highness's good taste."

The clothes I'm wearing today were a gift from Her Highness, something my father and I wouldn't have chosen. She learned about the custom of giving clothes during the birth month and selected this one with my father.

Father usually picks blue or red clothes, and mostly black.

Her Highness, on the other hand, chooses bright colors like yellow, pink, and light green, which I wouldn't normally pick.

However, she never gives anything that doesn't suit me.

As the example of Marie Antoinette shows, the empress is also a fashion leader who sets trends.

It's truly impressive.

"The tea leaves I prepared today are the highest-grade Massa, a gift from the Helio-Gabriel Dragon Kingdom."

After my father and I had a good conversation, the page brought out the tea.

Suddenly, my father and I were both transfixed, unable to move our eyes from the tea.

Since the relationship improved, tea has been served.

However, I think the page's mischief continues.

Because this is a test to gauge our cultivation.

"......The color is beautiful, I think."

"Ah, yes, it is quite dark."

My comment made my father notice and respond, and we confirmed with each other that it was correct.

When we both glanced at the page, his expressionless face told us we were right.

With my correct answer, my father took a deep breath and picked up the cup.

"Massa is......from the plains of Helio-Gabriel, right?"

It seemed he remembered just before drinking, and the page nodded, confirming it was correct.

In other words, this tea is a brand from the largest kingdom where the dragon people live.

The name of the land is attached, so it must be a specialty.

......If you don't know this, you'll be embarrassed.

I grew up without exposure to such luxury, so I don't recognize it even when I hear about it.

Father, being the third son of a viscount, is also not well-versed in such matters.

Therefore, the refreshments served during these meetings are now high-end items mixed with palace common sense.

In other words, it's a malicious tactic to waste our time, from the perspective of those who want to hinder our communication.

(Well, changing the method to something that benefits me is a sign of softening. The rest is probably to prevent Father from being embarrassed in front of others, or to prevent the emperor from being embarrassed.)

While thinking about this, I also picked up the cup and carefully smelled it.

Hmm, I can only tell it's tea.

I decided to take a sip.

The taste that spread on my tongue was sour? No, bitter.

And it left an astringent aftertaste.

The smell after drinking was fragrant?

Unlike the tea I've had before, it wasn't sweet.

It was astringent and made my mouth feel sticky.

"What's wrong, Aisha?"

Since I couldn't tell if it was good or bad, my father used my reaction to buy some time.

Of course, I couldn't honestly say it tasted bad, so I went along with it.

Well, I think it's delicious in the world, but it's not to my taste.

"I want to add milk or honey to this."

"Why?"

Crap, the page......!?

If I answer incorrectly, he'll mercilessly criticize me.

Father's question created a new challenge, and he's desperately trying to help me.

"Why?"

But the page's urging was faster.

Reluctantly, I justified it to myself that it's okay to be a child and answered honestly.

"It's too astringent, so it's hard for me to drink."

The page stared at me silently.

A heavy silence filled the room, as if a drum roll was playing in the background.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke.

"That's correct. This tea is recommended to be served with milk due to its rich flavor."

Phew, I'm glad! I got it right!

But, was it served in a state that wasn't delicious?

The page, who apparently had milk and honey ready, discarded the half-drunk tea and brewed a new one with milk.

This, I can tell.

It's expensive and delicious tea!

"It's completely different. It really brings out the quality of the tea leaves."

"It doesn't lose to the milk or honey."

My father and I relaxed and enjoyed the milk tea.

After properly drinking the tea, we finally got to today's topic.

This challenge really takes up a lot of time.

"Your Majesty, how is Terry doing?"

"Terry? He's the same as always."

"Well, I'm worried that he seems to be shy when I visit......"

"Oh, that."

Father seemed to have noticed and quickly shared his thoughts.

"I think it's just a matter of getting used to it. You can see that he doesn't dislike you, so you can be at ease."

"Is that so? So, he changes when I come......"

"No, don't take it the wrong way. Terry is so excited about your visit that he stays up late with his twin the night before."

How cute! I've never heard that before!

Father smiled warmly at my easy delight.

"Time will solve it. You don't dislike each other, and you're both interested and trying to get closer. It won't be a bad thing."

It's as if he knows brothers who don't do this, or rather, this is his own experience.

If everything were the opposite, they would have disliked each other, had no interest, and never tried to get closer.

And when I was entrusted to them, they made me believe they didn't dislike me, had interest, and tried to get closer, but in the end, it was just talk from the Nistaph Viscount family.

"......Hmm"

"Is there something wrong with the tea?"

I let out a sound while getting a refill of milk tea, and the page immediately reacted.

"Oh, the tea is delicious. I was just wondering what normal brothers are like."

Saying this, I realized and looked at the page.

In this world, there's no low birth rate, so having siblings is the norm.

So, the page must have siblings.

"By the way, Vaolas was the sixth son of a viscount. Did you have any concerns with your older brothers? How was your relationship with them?"

Father asked the page without hesitation.

But I have something else I'm more curious about.

"Aren't you the youngest?"

"Is that so? The Nistaph Viscount family has five sons, and there are those who have children even at sixty after taking a new wife."

It doesn't seem strange to Father.

Of course, there are also daughters, but if Father, who is in his thirties, keeps having children until he's sixty, it's likely he'll have two more boys.

However, it would be with someone other than the empress, due to physical reasons.

"Hem, let's talk about the Second Prince rather than my siblings."

The page changed the subject......so his relationship with his siblings isn't that good?

"Since the First Prince isn't a bad influence, it's fine, right? It's inevitable that there's some awkwardness in the response. More importantly, it's good that he's become more enthusiastic about his studies."

According to the page, Terry has been more focused on his studies and martial arts since starting to interact with me.

It seems that being the oldest is no longer the top position, and having a clear goal has motivated him.

"I haven't done anything special, but I can be a goal? My education is half-baked."

"Your self-awareness is an advantage. If he sees that, he can't help but be motivated as the heir."

It seems I've been contributing to my brother's motivation.

And Father was a bit down because the page knew more about Terry than he did.

Regular update

Next: Brother's Heart, Unknown to the Elder

Updated 9/10 (inserted after Chapter 45)

Idle Talk 9: The Strategus Marquis

Updated 9/11 (inserted after Chapter 50)

Idle Talk 10: A Certain Gardener