V2C25

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

After washing, getting dressed and having a small breakfast, she

went to visit Marquis Bellmud. He was sitting up in bed, with pillows

cushioning his back.

‘Have been crying?’ he asked when he saw her face.

Matilda’s cheeks bloomed red from embarrassment. It was

shameful to have cried so much. (Zuben: ¬.¬)

‘It’s good to cry, but it is useless to keep doing it, isn’t

it?’

Matilda smiled, she was touched. It was the first time

anyone ever told her it was good to cry. Maybe

this person was someone she

could talk to about her confused mind.

She sat up and leaned on the bed,

‘I’m not good at relying and talking to others about

things.’

Bellmud smiled and said, ‘Aren’t you human?’

‘Lord Bellmud is Leann’s grandfather…’

‘You can identify people, you have as much brain as a little

dog.’ He said chuckling though his words were harsh.

‘A dog?’ she repeated tilting her head.

Did she have a wild instinct? (Zuben: Where the f is this

author going with this nonsense meandering?)

‘Humans believe what they want to believe. Animals rely on

their instincts. The former sidesteps deep thought. The latter is like a bet,

what one believes is not limited and is friendly to all. (Zuben: Some writers

really like to write shallow nonsense and dress it up as deep. But it might

speak to someone out there. Google and I are confused.)

‘It sounds like a very scholarly answer.’ (Zuben: Don’t pat

yourself on the back, dear author-sama)

Bellmud stroked Matilda’s head; he was very compassionate as

though she was one of his grandchildren.

It was still confusing.

‘I want to believe but I cannot believe because I am not

confident.’ She said in a small voice

‘It’s self defence.’

‘Self defence?’

‘You don’t want to be hurt, so the lack of confidence. It is

an excuse not to engage with others. You are rejecting reality.’

‘Eh?’ She sat up.

‘Do you think that you would like to believe in that fool

Leann, or do you already believe in him?’

It seemed like a riddle.

She put her elbows on her knees and rested her chin on her

hand, as she chewed on Lord Bellmud’s comments.

I could be said that she believed him. She believed him but

she was still anxious that the ball was going to drop and she would be left out

in the cold.

She clenched her fist unconsciously.

She was rejecting reality. In other words, she was afraid of

losing.

‘A glass figurine is beautiful from afar, but when you get

closer you might find dust all over it. The keeper is careless, it has become

dirty from neglect, and it can crack and break.’

‘Yes,’

‘A figurine can break someday.’ (Zuben: What are you getting

at, o wise one?)

‘Yes,’

‘But if one owns it, one should know how to take care of it.

So that dust doesn’t collect on it keep it in a glass box and protect it with

an invisible string,’ (Zuben: What…? What does this have to do with anything?!)

Matilda smiled at the end of his words. (Zuben: At what?)

Leandroth expended great effort to get her father to accept

his suit for her hand in marriage.

Leandroth’s actions matched his words to her. He patiently

cared for her, trying to guide her, protecting her…almost as though she was a

glass figurine he had acquired. (Zuben *sarcastic snort*)

She was stunned at this realisation. (Zuben: That you’ll

forget tomorrow…)

He treated her gently and with kindness. He always wanted

her near him.

Her face grew warm.

‘Grandfather Bell, what kind of person is Leann to you?’ she

asked.

‘Leandroth? Hmm, he goes at his own pace with an incompetent

smile on his face, but he is really rather ruthless. He rarely shows what he is

truly thinking. I’m sure the Leann Matilda knows is quite different from the

Emperor Leandroth.’

‘He is straight-forward and kind, innocent and gentle…’

Bellmud laughed, ‘Isn’t that how one treats the one they

love?’

Her face turned even more red.

‘The Leandroth you know and the Emperor; neither of them are

a lie. They are simply different sides to a person. There is no human that does

not have more than one side to them.’ Lord Bellmud said. (Zuben: She’s 26 not

12! How can she not know this by now?!)

‘Leandroth really loves you. He looks like his walking on

clouds these days. His heart is on fire.’ Bellmud said laughing.

Although, they were not related by blood, Matilda felt

Marquis Bellmud and Leandroth were similar.

‘Yesterday, Leandroth had a truly happy smile on his face…’

Bellmud said as his gaze turned to the window looking out into the distance. It

was a sunny day; the sky was vivid blue with puffy white clouds passing by. The

trees were swaying in the light breeze.

‘Grandfather Bell, would you like to become mentor to two

young boys?’

Leandroth hadn’t replied when she spoke to him about it.

(Zuben: Because you turned into a brainless watering pot) He may not have liked

the idea, but she was going to ask Marquis Bellmud anyway.

‘Mentor?’ he asked.

‘My brothers, they are ten and nine; children of my

step-mother: Ebert and Clervo.’

She felt a bit of nostalgia at the thought of them.

Hopefully, her father the king would not mind if it was

Matilda recommending the Marquis. It would be difficult to be fully welcome and

assimilate into Ice-Coreta life as the Prime Minister of Barenshiaga, but as a

retired knight, things might go better.

‘Step-mother?’

‘My mother died when I was young and father eventually

remarried her younger sister. My brothers are her children.’

‘I see,’

‘It was rather painful for me to see my mother’s memories

and influences disappear from the palace.’

She said with a sad smile. Bellmud returned the smile.

She continued, ‘I’m only suggesting it because I thought

that Grandfather may be a bit lonely.’

‘My memories of her in this place would eventually fade…

maybe sometime away would be good.’

‘If you choose to fly away, please send letters to me.’ She

said earnestly as she grabbed hold of his hand.

The Marquis burst out laughing.

‘Did I do something…?

‘No, it’s the first time encountering such an aggressive

lady.’

‘Grandfather is attractive…’

‘Shall we have a love affair behind Leandroth’s back…?’ He

said jokingly but Matilda wondered if he was a bit serious.

‘Shall we exchange love letters between Barenshiaga and

Ice-Coretta?’ she replied

The Marquis’ eyes sparkled with a strong inner light.

She spent a little more time with Marquis Bellmud listening

to stories of Leandroth’s childhood. When he looked tired, she left him to rest

and went to see his attending doctor. She was informed of the Marquis’ condition;

it was nothing serious therefore could easily be corrected with medicinal teas.

Matilda put a hand on her bosom and sighed in relief, ‘Maybe

Orlatta-sama replied from heaven,’ (Zuben: ¬.¬)

The doctor laughed.

Although the laughter was calm? It made her feel

a bit uncomfortable. She could not clarify the source of discomfort. (Zuben: He

thinks you’re an idiot.)

Matilda returned to her rooms. The reception room had been

cleared for a large dining table, where her ladies-in-waiting and personal maid

were all gathered talking excitedly. The table was laden with food and pastries

of varying kinds (Zuben: There was a list)

‘These all look delicious,’ she said smiling at the ladies.

They looked like they were having fun.

Agata pointed her hand out in a deferent pose at an empty

seat near Augustina, ‘It is delicious. Please take a seat, Empress.’

She wanted to say she wasn’t Empress yet, but it would be unlucky

to keep saying that. They were only following Leandroth’s lead, so she smiled

and took her seat.

Leandroth arrived a little later.

All in all there were eight of her personal maids because

two of them were looking after the Marquis Bellmud, her ladies in waiting

except for two; who were off, Julia the Chief of Staff, and Matilda and

Leandroth.

‘Please eat well everyone.’ Leandroth said with a smile.

‘Let’s eat after prayers.’

Matilda sent thanks to the spirits of the forest.

‘Matilda, this is delicious,’ Leandroth said as he put some

boiled squid on her plate.

She ate it.

‘It is delicious.’

‘The chef cooked all this. Please let us know if you like

seafood or what you don’t like. We well tell the chef.’ Julia said with a smile

from her seat.

‘Thank you…’ Matilda replied.

‘Don’t just smile and say everything is delicious, we need

to practice giving a proper opinion on aspects of the meal. I will ask you

later, in the meantime, taste this…’ Leandroth said as he handed her another

dish.

Her eyes widened. (Zuben: Is someone’s head going to roll?)

‘Huh? What do you mean?’ she asked Leandroth who was on her

right side.

‘You’re listening to me without having to ask. It feels like

we’re a proper married couple.’ (Zuben:

You’re taking several giant leaps in

fantasy land, Leann)

That was not an answer.

‘Let’s concentrate on eating now, we’ll talk about it

properly soon.’

‘Leann…?’

I didn’t realise there was a purpose to this luncheon.

‘The meat dumplings are also delicious,’

‘Thank you, Leann, but you can’t avoid the bell peppers.’

‘So shrewd,’ (Zuben: In what land…?)

They laughed as they ate.

After the meal was finished, Leandroth began to speak as

they reached for their desert,

‘I gathered everyone here today, to commence the Empress’

Salon. I hope that we can meet like this once or twice a month. I will not be

able to attend all of them but I hope that the meeting would carry on without

me. This is a social gathering but also an important meeting to discuss the

direction the Salon is going to take.’

‘Your Majesty, what is the purpose of the Empress’ Salon?’

Julia asked.

‘I would like the salon to plan and manage the commissioning of a statue of the Beloved Empress that

would be loved by the people.’(Zuben: Is this your grand gesture, Leann? This sister is too dense for that)

Zuben: This one wasn’t too full of WTF-ery. Although it was

full of that shallow nonsense that is supposed to be profound, one sometimes comes across in manga and Japanese

light novels. I’m not saying that it occurs only in Japanese instances. I'm just saying for a while I read and watched too much Japanese entertainment.

Anyway…onwards and onwards.

Be well all x.

N.B: Comments don't show up right away because they are moderated, so make your comments if you want. If I'm not busy running around I will make sure they show as soon as possible.