I suddenly suggest that morning. I abruptly say this to Shuri, who’s setting up breakfast in the dining hall.
“Shuri, you’re always working, aren’t you? Don’t you want to stretch your wings a bit?”
Now, will I get an OK?
It’s Aeclys here. And I’m really troubled. It all started about a week before I invited Shuri out. That night, after finishing some simple work that had basically become a hobby, I wandered to the kitchen for no particular reason. I was hoping to catch Shuri alone, maybe even score some karaage if I was lucky. But what I saw in the kitchen was a surprising sight.
“What are you doing, Garn?”
Under the dim kitchen lights, my elder brother, Garn was struggling with a knife and a potato. It was the middle of the night, so I was curious about what he could be up to.
“Hm? Oh, Aeclys. As you can see, I’m peeling potatoes.”
Potatoes? Peeling? Near Garn, there’s a mountain of potatoes, a container for the peels, and a bunch of peeled potatoes rolling around. I see, he’s practicing peeling, I realize.
“Practicing until the middle of the night, you’ve really become a chef, huh?”
I say, leaning my back against the kitchen wall. Lately, Garn has been working really hard. Even from an outsider’s perspective, you can see how much effort he’s putting in. Originally a long-time intelligence officer, he’s now working in a completely different field. There must be a lot he needs to learn from scratch, and a lot to study. Despite all that, Garn is persevering without giving up. I think that’s amazing.
“Ah, is it that late already? You know, Shuri peels potatoes at an incredible speed. It’s like they were meant to be peeled that way, he does it so cleanly. So, I want to get to that level, that’s why I’m working hard.” “Don’t waste all those potatoes, okay?” “Don’t worry, I got Shuri’s permission. He’s going to make mashed potatoes for lunch tomorrow.” “I see.”
Indeed, that dish requires a lot of potatoes. I guess they’ll use up all the potatoes Garn peeled for practice in one go. …Or maybe, Shuri had that in mind when he let Garn peel the potatoes.
“Hey, Garn.” “What is it?”
I decide to ask something I’ve been wanting to ask.
“Are you enjoying your current job?”
In the past, under my orders, Garn had acted as a spy for Gyngus. I even made him pretend to be a double agent for Gyngus. I’ve given him other shady orders too. I, the younger sister, have made my elder brother Garn do various things. So, I wondered how he feels now.
“Of course, it’s fulfilling.”
Garn says with a smile.
“Doing something for someone else. And being able to do it for someone’s smile. It’s wonderful, really. Plus, there’s a kind person who’s teaching me from scratch as an apprentice. He’s also very considerate, so it’s comfortable. That’s probably due to Shuri’s personality too. And being a chef surprisingly suits me. So, I’m really enjoying it now.” “I see.”
I feel relieved, but at the same time, there’s a twinge of pain in my chest. Of course. If these words are true, it means I’ve been making Garn do work he didn’t want all this time. Born from a concubine, persecuted, forced to learn unwanted skills, and forced to do unwanted work. I was also born from a concubine, but I was expected to pretend to be a different gender, awakened unwanted talents, and was forced to do unwanted work. We’re very similar, Garn and I. And now, we’re both free from that and able to do what we want. But I still feel a lingering unease. It’s probably because I’ve seen how happy Garn looks now. And because Gyngus, who used to show such open hostility, is now smiling while doing work he’s good at. Both of them are doing the work they want and walking the path they’ve chosen. But I’m different. Since Shuri and the others helped me, I’ve been living as I please. I do simple, harmless work, hang out with Shuri when I’m done, and go to sleep when I feel like it. Compared to Garn and the others, I’m too free. No, maybe I’m just not taking things seriously enough.
“Damn it.”
I hear Garn curse. Looking at his hands, I see the potato peel has broken halfway. Looks like he failed at peeling. If it were Shuri, he’d have a beautifully connected peel in one long strip.
“The knife’s getting dull… and my technique’s not good enough. One more time.”
Reflecting on his mistake, Garn starts peeling again. He’s concentrating hard, determined not to fail this time. Come to think of it, Garn doesn’t have his own cooking utensils… his own knife. Shuri has many tools of his own. I hear Lill made all of them except for the knife. The knife was… a gift from Princess Tevis, wasn’t it? Thinking about that… using the knives kept as common equipment might be hindering Garn’s training. That’s right, come to think of it, we’ve never exchanged gifts as siblings. Not for birthdays, celebrations, or any other occasion. It’s natural since we’ve always kept our distance, but still. …I should give him a knife. I don’t know why I suddenly thought this, but I decided to give him a knife. The reason doesn’t matter. I want to help him.
“Well, Garn, don’t stay up too late, okay?” “Yeah, of course. Good night.”
After saying that to Garn, I return to my room.
The next day, I commissioned a knife from a blacksmith I know. Just one, in an easy-to-use shape with a good edge. I decided to spare no expense in preparing it for Garn.
And after a few days… the knife is supposed to be ready today. Thinking about going to pick it up… I suddenly felt embarrassed. After all, I’m giving a gift to encourage hard work to a family member I’ve never given a gift to before. It’s kind of embarrassing, makes me feel like my face is going to turn bright red. But not going to pick it up is out of the question, and I’m too embarrassed to go alone. As I was pondering this… brooding over it in the dining hall in the morning.
I suddenly caught sight of Shuri. That’s why I impulsively asked him.
And now… I’ve invited Shuri out.
“Well? What do you say, Shuri?” “Sounds good. I’ll join you.”
Shuri thinks for a moment before answering.
“Great! Actually, there’s something I want to buy.” “Oh? Something you want to buy?”
At that, Shuri makes an obviously troubled face. Ah, I see.
“Oh, no, it’s not like that. I just didn’t want to go alone, so I thought I’d ask someone to come with me.”
I’m not like that, but women’s shopping tends to take time. We enjoy the selection process, so we often forget about the person with us and end up choosing this and that. Being there with us, nodding along without complaining, that’s supposed to be a man’s gallantry… but. Shuri, making such a troubled, displeased face is not okay.
“In that case, why didn’t you invite Garn? If Garn wants time off, I can approve it.”
Shuri says, as if just remembering. Hmm, normally I would ask Garn, but…
“No, no, this shopping trip is related to Garn.” “…Ah, I see.”
Oh, Shuri, usually so dense, understood. It’s helpful when the conversation moves quickly.
“You get it?” “Understood.” “Alright then, I’ll go get ready. Let’s meet in an hour!” “Ah, wait-!”
Shuri tries to stop me in a panic, but I ignore him and leave the dining hall. Without even eating, I dash out and burst into my room.
My face turns bright red and I clutch my chest.
My face is hot, my heart is racing so fast. I invited him on impulse, but this is…
“Wah, wah, wah… Did I just ask him out on a date!?”
That’s right, thinking about it, this is a date. A man and woman going shopping together, this is definitely a date!
“Ah! I need to choose what to wear!”
I frantically start pulling clothes out of my closet, turning it inside out to choose an outfit. What should I wear? Should I go with my usual masculine clothes? Or should I surprise him with more feminine clothes? No good, I don’t know much about feminine clothes. After all, I’ve always worn men’s clothes! It can’t be helped! I need to find clothes, choose accessories, and do my makeup too! Ah! Why did I set such a short time limit of just one hour!? Cursing my own carelessness, I continue my frantic search for clothes. Just as I’ve finally chosen an outfit, found some accessories, and started on my makeup, there’s a knock at the door. Who could it be at a time like this?
“Aeclys, are you there?”
Ugh, Shuri!? Why is he here?!
“It’s about time, shall we go together?”
What! Is it that time already?! But I’m not done with my makeup! I haven’t even finished checking my accessories! In a panic, I call out to Shuri, who must be outside the door.
“Sh-Shuri! In cases like this, men and women should leave separately, you know!” “Huh? No, no, it would be more efficient if we left together…”
I can hear Shuri’s confused voice from outside. Wait, more efficient? In this date that I’m staking everything on, efficient? What an unromantic person. I make a disgruntled face and call out to the door.
“Shuri! Don’t you know that girls value the situation in times like these!?” “Eh? That… I understand, yeah.”
He says in a monotone that clearly shows he doesn’t understand.
“Listen! Girls value the situation at times like this! You shouldn’t say things like it’s inefficient!” “Oh, okay.” “You know, in cases like this, instead of leaving together, it’s best to meet at a standard location!” “Is that so… I understand. So, where should I wait?” “Let’s say the fountain in the central plaza. It’s a good atmosphere there and it’s easy to spot, so it’s good for meeting up. Can you go there first?” “Understood. Then, I’ll be waiting.”
With those final words, I hear footsteps moving away from outside the room. When I can no longer hear them, I let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank goodness…”
Now I’ve bought some time! I need to finish my makeup now. And I need to try on my clothes too. Ah, there’s not enough time! No matter how much there is, it’s not enough! I desperately rack my brain to get dolled up in the limited time I have.
By the time I finish all my preparations and leave the castle, quite a bit of time has passed.
“Oh no, I wonder if Shuri is angry?”
I want to hurry, but if I run too much, I’ll start sweating and my makeup will look terrible. Keeping my pace as fast as possible while trying not to sweat too much, I head towards the fountain in the central plaza. The sun is already high in the sky. In other words, I’ve spent all morning until now just getting ready. Of course, normally anyone would be angry after being made to wait so long. I hope Shuri isn’t fed up and angry from waiting. Feeling anxious like this, I arrive at the fountain in the central plaza. There are all sorts of people here, many chatting with each other. Some, like me, are waiting to meet someone, some are taking a break and resting, and others are heading somewhere from here. It’s quite varied. Now, among all these people, where is the person I’m waiting for?
Well, actually, I spot him right away.
He has a slightly troubled expression and seems unaware of his surroundings. That’s definitely Shuri. I’m not sure what he’s troubled about, but it seems my date has arrived. That’s good. If it were me, I’d be angry and gone home after being made to wait so long. Shuri really is kind. But this time, I can’t take advantage of that kindness. As a person, it’s not right to make someone wait so long after promising to meet them. I need to reflect on this. For now, let’s try talking to him. I approach Shuri.
“Shuri?”
Shuri turns to look at me with a surprised expression.
“Hm? What’s wrong?”
But after that, for some reason, Shuri freezes up.
“Ah, no, it’s nothing.”
He says, trying to cover it up with a nonchalant face. Then, he stares at me from head to toe. It’s unusual for the dense Shuri to check out a girl like this. Then Shuri’s face changes as if he’s realized something.
“Aeclys… could it be that this gift…” “Eh? Ah, well…”
Oh no? Did I put too much effort into this and cause a misunderstanding? This could be bad. Or so I think. Even Shuri must realize this is a date-
“Judging from your high-quality outfit… are you planning to give the gift to someone you’re in a relationship with after this?” “…Huh?”
This guy is not thinking that at all!
“You said it was a gift for Garn, but you’re actually asking for gift advice from me, a man, and after we part ways, you’ll meet up with the person you’re dating… I see, so that’s wha- OOF!”
I deliver an angry iron fist to Shuri as he lists off these incredibly insensitive words. I hit him in the collarbone, a spot I heard about from Garn that causes intense pain without causing serious injury to vital points of the body. Shuri crouches down, writhing in agony. Of course he does, I hit him with all my might.
“Shuri. I know you’re kind and a bit dense, but that was an incredibly insensitive thing to say.” “I-I’m sorry…”
If a girl puts in effort to dress up nicely for the boy she likes, and then is told it’s for someone else, it’s like completely denying all her hard work. Why do I have to be told it’s for someone else when I worked so hard thinking about Shuri? I think you can understand my anger.
“S-so, what’s the real reason for that outfit?”
And now my anger is doubling!
“Shuri, do you want another hit?” “Eek! Ah, I’m sorry! That’s right! When shopping with a man, a woman has to be on guard no matter who it is!”
When I raise my fist again, Shuri quickly apologizes. It seems he’s understood a little bit, at least.
“Yes, you pass.”
So I lower my fist. I lower with a calm mind the fist I had raised intending to crack his collarbone with all my might.
“That’s right, when a girl goes out with a boy, she has to be fully armed.”
I throw these words at Shuri, half-truth and half-lie. For guys who don’t matter, we just dress up about 80% to avoid being looked down on. But for someone we like or in a situation we can’t lose, we put in 120% effort, going beyond 100% to try and turn their head. I wonder if Shuri understands this? I carefully chose my outfit and dressed up. A simple patterned but high-quality fabric tunic, and a long skirt that looks plain at first glance but gives off a sense of modesty. I even did up my usually casual hair with a headband decorated with silver flower ornaments, and put on simple earrings that I don’t usually wear. I even did natural makeup to match. If he doesn’t notice this or says it’s for someone else, I’ll be depressed for a week.
“So? How’s my outfit?”
While we’re at it, I want to hear Shuri’s opinion. I wonder what he’ll say? Shuri thinks very hard before answering with a refreshingly clear face:
“I think it really suits you. Your femininity has increased from usual.” “That’s a fail as a compliment, but I’ll let it slide. I’ll give you a barely passing grade.”
Femininity… I was stupid to expect a smooth line from Shuri, damn it!
Deciding it’s pointless to explain any further to Shuri, I start heading to our destination with him. Our destination is the blacksmith where I ordered Garn’s gift. It’s in the Craftsmen’s Street, which is west of the fountain plaza. That place is like the heart of Sounité… an area we created to surround ourselves with skilled artisans, built a bit more grandly than other parts. Craftsmen are indispensable people for a country or domain. Those who develop new technologies, master techniques unique to the country, and demonstrate their skills – each one of them is an irreplaceable asset to the nation. That’s why we need to treat them well, so they’ll stay in the country, spread their skills, and put their talents to use. For example, carpenters from the winter country can build structures with high insulation to keep the cold air out. The autumn country has extensive knowledge about which ingredients are edible and which aren’t. Such human resources… intellectual resources are irreplaceable for a country. So, to protect such people, I promoted the construction of this street and created it as I promised. Thanks to this, we’ve managed to reduce the number of craftsmen leaving, which has been a huge help.
“Aeclys, this town is beautiful, isn’t it?”
Shuri says, looking around. He seems excited, and it makes me happy to hear him say that. After all, this was a major project that I planned and executed myself. But you know…
“You think so? Maybe because I’m used to it, but I can see the flaws. The building materials are getting old, the deterioration of public facilities is noticeable, I want to pave the roads with cobblestones soon, we need to manage the gathering of merchants or they’ll build shops as they please, public safety is currently in disarray so we need to recruit for the guard, and once their skills improve, we need to survey the surrounding geography-” “Stop! Stop, I can’t understand any more of that!”
Shuri hurriedly interrupts me. Oops, my bad. I was thinking about work. That’s not good, especially on a date.
“Come on, Aeclys. Forget about work, let’s enjoy today, okay? Right?” “Huh? Oh, yeah, thanks, Shuri.”
Did Shuri suddenly become worried about me? He’s comforting me with a gentle expression.
“You’re being quite kind, Shuri.” “I’m always kind, you know. Kind, indeed.” “Shuri, you’re not planning anything sinister, are you? What are you scheming with that fake smile?”
This guy, who’s like a mix of denseness and insensitivity molded by magic engineering, suddenly showing consideration as if he could read a woman’s heart – something’s up. His face looks kind, but it seems quite forced. What is he thinking? When I point this out, Shuri looks a bit surprised. …Ah, maybe I should have just accepted his concern. Seeing his surprised face makes me feel a bit guilty. But you know, Shuri has a history of things like this.
“Nothing.”
Hm? That was a surprisingly natural response from Shuri. Usually, in situations like this, Shuri tends to panic and give himself away… No good, really. I’m becoming too suspicious. I shouldn’t doubt Shuri’s kindness.
“So, Aeclys, where are we heading now? You mentioned a gift for Garn, but what is it?”
As I’m reflecting on this myself, Shuri asks me that question. Ah, that’s right, I didn’t tell him about that, did I?
“Oh, right. I was thinking it might be time for Garn to have one of those, you know. I’m hoping to find a good one. I hope there’s something nice.”
I intentionally keep it vague, giving him some room to think. Well, Shuri will probably quickly figure out that it’s something a chef needs. Let’s keep it as a surprise… until we get there. We chat a bit as we walk, and I lead Shuri to our destination.
“Alright, here we are.”
I’ve brought him to the shop where I ordered the knife. It’s a well-known workshop in this area. It’s a shop I have a good relationship with. When I came here to place the order a few days ago, the idea of a gift for Garn was so prominent in my mind that I don’t know why I placed the order so mechanically, in such a businesslike manner. Maybe I was inspired by seeing Garn working so hard. Maybe I felt guilty about my lack of seriousness compared to Garn’s earnestness. I’m not sure why right now. But my desire to give him a gift is genuine. Shuri is looking at the displayed knives. He seems very interested.
“Aeclys, this is…” “Well, it’s certainly a shop that deals with blades, but to be precise, it’s a blacksmith. They process iron to make products… that’s probably the best way to put it. You know how big shops often have iron craftwork symbols decorating them? Those are also works from shops like this.”
When I explain this, Shuri nods in understanding. It’s a common misunderstanding, but blacksmiths don’t just make weapons. They make things necessary for daily life, and even iron crafts. This shop does make weapons, but they mainly produce everyday items. Things like kitchen knives and pots. That’s why it’s perfect for ordering everyday items like the knife we’re here for.
“Sure, in this day and age, you might be able to get things made quickly by asking a magic engineer. But only a few people can do that. Either you need talent to do it yourself, or money to commission it. But the blacksmiths aren’t losing out either. Without relying on magic engineering, they create all sorts of things with their own skills, knowledge, and experience. It’s wonderful.”
Even though the number of magic engineers themselves is small, as magic engineering advances, there’s a possibility that this culture relying on experience and oral tradition might decline. But these people who handle iron and manipulate heat, I’m sure they’ll survive no matter what era comes. Even for work that could be quickly finished by relying on a magic engineer, they take their time and finish it carefully. If you saw that, you’d think my worries were unfounded.
“Do you like this kind of thing, Aeclys?”
Shuri asks, looking interested.
“Yeah. I often visited construction sites for territory development or workshops of blacksmiths I commissioned work from. The work of people with such specialized skills is beautiful and enjoyable to watch.”
Really, seeing this kind of thing excites me. This might be the part of me that’s not very girly.
“Aeclys, it’s fine to be excited, but could we please get to the main point?” “Oh, right. Sorry, when I come to places like this, I could really spend all day just watching.”
Shuri reminds me to stay on track. Yeah, I guess spending all day watching this wouldn’t be very suitable for a date. I should reflect on that. I look around the shop, searching for the receptionist.
“Excuse me. Can I have a moment?”
This receptionist is the same person who dealt with my sudden visit a few days ago.
“L-Lady Aeclys!?”
And just like then, she’s surprised now too.
“Ah, is the thing I ordered ready?” “Oh, yes. Of course. I’m sorry for being flustered.” “It’s fine. Maybe I should have sent word before coming.”
That’s right, I surprised her by suddenly showing up a few days ago too. I thought I’d send word before coming next time, but I was so preoccupied with thoughts of Shuri that I forgot. I need to reflect on this.
“No, Lady Aeclys, you’ve done so much for us. There’s no shop in this town that would refuse your visit.” “I’m glad to hear that. I’m practically half-retired now, after all.” “No, Lady Aeclys, we want you to stay in the center. Even if the lord has changed, our gratitude towards you hasn’t changed. It’s because of you that we haven’t abandoned this domain and stayed here.”
Ah… the receptionist is glaring at Shuri… That’s right, many people around here don’t think well of Shuri and the others. I’ve been trying to smooth things over, but this is troubling. In that situation, no matter who took the top position, it would have been problematic. Gyngus, who caused the problems, and me, who couldn’t stop them. Whichever of us inherited the lord’s position, there would have been friction somewhere. So, the only option was to entrust everything to Gungrave. 『A man of talent who, even when his subordinates were unjustly captured and he was dragged into the lord succession problem, managed to recover his subordinates and resolve the issue.』 Under such propaganda, Gyngus and I entrusted everything to Gungrave. To begin with, we wouldn’t have been able to navigate the coming warring states period. It was better to leave it to someone with battlefield experience and overflowing talent. Certainly, I think this method was quite reckless. Entrusting all the domain’s troubles to a mere mercenary group commander. If we had been even a little unlucky, this domain would have been in dire straits. But looking at Shuri’s cooking and personality, and considering Gungrave’s military achievements and past career, I think this was the only way. If Gungrave had any misconduct in his background, we would have had to deal with it at the risk of our lives. And we would have failed about 80% of the time and lost our lives. It was a bad bet… but we won that bet. We succeeded in abandoning all our previous constraints and entrusting everything to him. So, looking at the results alone, I won the bet. But of course, there are people among the citizens who aren’t satisfied. Even though we installed a suitable lord and protected the bloodline of the lord’s family, there are people who still can’t accept it. We just have to make them understand little by little. That’s what I think.
“Well, let’s leave that topic for now. More importantly, as I asked earlier, is the thing I ordered ready?” “Yes, here it is.”
The receptionist, realizing there’s no point in continuing this conversation, quickly returns to the shop. Yes, it’s already been decided, and the authority as lord has already been transferred to Gungrave. No matter what we say now, it can’t be changed. The receptionist returns from the back of the shop with something wrapped in silk. I receive the silk-wrapped item and unwrap it to reveal what’s inside. A single knife. With a white wood handle and the gleam of freshly forged iron, this will surely be a help to Garn from now on. The faintly visible wave pattern on the blade, the blade forged and sharpened without distortion. Yes, this is a good one. It was worth paying a high price for.
“Thank you. Send the bill to the castle as usual. I’ll transfer the money.” “Yes, thank you very much. We look forward to your next visit.”
The receptionist bows deeply.
“Thank you. Let’s go, Shuri.”
I say, responding to her bow and starting to walk. Shuri hurriedly follows me.
“Was that the goal? The knife?”
Shuri asks, looking at the knife with interest. I guess as a chef, he’s naturally interested in cooking utensils. I wrap the knife back in the silk cloth as I answer.
“That’s right. It’s a gift for Garn.” “…” “Garn has found a new way of life. The path of a cook. Gyngus has also decided to reflect on himself and start over. As for me, I’ve decided to live as I like. This is my small token of gratitude and encouragement for the future to my brother who has followed… no, supported such a me until now.”
Yes, gratitude and encouragement. This is probably one of the few ways I can repay my debt to him. One of the few ways I can repay him for all the difficult missions I’ve assigned him until now. I wonder if this will help Garn work harder. It’s a different field, cooking, so I can’t interfere or help directly. All I can do is give him a good tool like this. I wonder how he’ll take this gesture from me. Contrary to my inner thoughts, Shuri seems to be pondering something. After thinking long and hard, he finally looks like he’s figured something out.
“So my guess about it being for a date partner was wrong…?” “Are you still hung up on that?!”
I deliver another collarbone-breaking divine punishment to him. Reflect on your actions!
After that, I give Shuri a long lecture. I tell him he doesn’t understand a woman’s heart. I tell him his words and actions are too careless. I tell him there’s a limit to how dense one can be. I tell him he needs to fix his obtuse nature already. The list goes on and on, but I continue to lecture Shuri about all the things that have been bothering me about him until now. And after quite some time has passed, I wrap up the conversation and say nonchalantly,
“I’m hungry too, so shall we head back?”
I say, as if nothing had happened. After all, we’re in the middle of town with a woman scolding a man, so we must have been attracting strange looks from people around us. So, I’m putting on a normal face to show everyone that it’s over now. The people around who were watching with amusement start to disperse, feeling like the show is over.
“Yes. I understand.”
Shuri says, hanging his head after thoroughly listening to my lecture. The double punch of the pain in his collarbone and the harshness of the lecture. I hope this makes him reflect. But still, he’s too oblivious! He probably doesn’t even realize we’re on a date! …Realize, huh? I wonder if I’m one to talk.
“What’s the matter, Aeclys? You look down.” “Ah… As expected, you can tell.”
As expected of Shuri. He immediately notices even the slightest change in my mood. Shuri is good at perceiving people’s feelings. Well, he’s still dense when it comes to romantic feelings though! But… it’s because he’s kind that he immediately worries and speaks up.
“Well, I was just thinking about what I said earlier. Garn is working hard on his new path. Gyngus is trying to start over. But I’m just living as I please. I wonder if this is really okay…” “Aeclys.” “No, it’s alright, Shuri. It’s fine. This is just me worrying needlessly. Looking at it another way, all three of us are walking the paths we chose. It’s strange for only me to be worrying.” “That’s…”
The weakness I unintentionally voiced. Both my brothers have found their paths and are walking them. But I alone have nothing. I haven’t found anything. I’m looking at Shuri, but that’s a different story. I haven’t found something like… a role in my own life. So, I can’t help but envy them, who are pursuing their goals single-mindedly, and find them dazzling.
“Aeclys. Are you going to give that knife to Garn right away?” “Huh? No… I was thinking of giving it to him after he finishes work…” “Then could you please wait in your room for a bit?”
Huh?!
Demonstrating an unusually rapid development, Shuri dashes away from this place. We had returned to the front of the castle, but now I’m left standing alone in front of the gate. …This is a bit much, isn’t it? Leaving a girl all alone, what on earth is he…
Well. This is Shuri we’re talking about. I know what he’s going to do. I wonder what kind of food he’s going to make for me this time?
I return to the castle, looking forward to it a little.
“So, is this the gyoza you mentioned?”
As Shuri instructed, I waited quietly in my room, and he brought me some food. It’s around the time when evening is approaching, and the light outside is starting to dim. Apparently, this dish was made with the cooperation of Gyngus and Garn. Ah, so that’s why. That’s why Garn and Gyngus are here. They were involved in making this dish, so they want to hear my thoughts on the taste at the end.
“Yes, please try some.” “Hmm, I’m not sure what you’re thinking, but I guess I’ll have some.”
I take a plate of gyoza and a fork from Shuri and immediately try one. I casually put one in my mouth and chew.
“Mmm… it’s delicious.”
It’s delicious. Yes, it’s a delicious dish. The outer skin is crispy, and the filling inside is well-cooked and juicy. I can tell it’s meat and… vegetables. The umami of the meat juices and vegetables trapped inside the skin bursts in my mouth with each bite. The umami of the meat juices and the umami of the vegetables… the sweetness that comes from being perfectly cooked is in harmony. And there are more of these? This is going to be enjoyable. So I put another one in my mouth. I expect the same umami of meat and vegetables… but a different sensation spreads in my mouth.
“Hm? This one is different… a strong smell of chives… and this one has no meat texture at all…”
Puzzled, I put another gyoza in my mouth, and it has yet another different sensation. The former gyoza has a strong chive flavor. Vegetables… I think it’s green onions and chives… this distinctive aroma. The meat also seems to have been prepared differently from the first gyoza. Probably, they’ve changed the meat to match the aroma of chives and green onions. The chive aroma doesn’t become unpleasant, but rather becomes a praiseworthy characteristic. It might be a bit of a concerning aroma for women, though. As for the latter gyoza… this one doesn’t have any meat feel at all. There’s no taste of fat. The taste of vegetables and a soup that complements them has soaked in, and it’s delicious. It’s light and brings out the taste of the vegetables well… I prefer this one.
“Yeah, the variety is great, and they’re all delicious. Each one is first-class.”
“This one was made by Garn.” “This misshapen one?” “And this one was made by Gyngus.” “Hmm, this one’s shape is a bit better, but the amount of filling is inconsistent.”
Shuri points to two different gyoza. Garn’s has a good balance of filling, but the appearance is awkward. Compared to Shuri’s, it certainly seems that way. Gyngus’s looks perfect on the outside, but when you cut it open, the amount of filling is inconsistent. It seems he focused on appearance without paying much attention to the filling.
“But they were all delicious, weren’t they?” “Yes, they were delicious. Regardless of their shape, it seems they were made for me after all.”
The two of them have been glancing at me from time to time. Maybe they’re relieved about the taste of the food… but this time it feels different. It seems like I’ve worried them.
“…Aeclys. I think, you know, gyoza are delicious no matter what shape they are or what filling they have. There are even more varieties than this. Garn has found his path as a cook. Gyngus has chosen to start over and is moving forward. No matter what shape or content, their way of life is beautiful because it has conviction. Aeclys. I understand that you’re lost on your path.”
Lost. That’s right, I’m lost. I envied Garn and Gyngus who work with pride and a sense of purpose. At the same time, I felt uncertain about my own way of life, which doesn’t seem to be moving forward.
“Why don’t you open up about your worries to these two important family members who are already walking their paths?”
Shuri’s words hit me like a blow to the head. The words about not opening up to family about my worries. We’ve lived in a complex environment. Even though we had familial affection, it was a time when we couldn’t simply rely on each other. We had to be wary of each other, or people around us would take advantage of us. But now it’s not like that anymore. The time of discord is over. We should be able to rely on each other, be spoiled, and be relied upon. Yet, I’m still carrying everything alone. This is like going back to the old days.
“Until now, the three of you might have been too focused on yourselves. As a result, you developed a habit of dealing with things alone. You gained the ability to manage somehow. I don’t think you need to worry alone anymore. Now that the three of you have gathered like this, why don’t you have an honest talk?”
Have a heart-to-heart talk, right now?
“Also, as you noticed when eating the gyoza, all of them were delicious, weren’t they? In the same way, whatever path Aeclys chooses, I’m sure it will be wonderful. Just like gyoza is delicious because it’s gyoza. Aeclys is Aeclys, after all. That’s why I can trust her.”
Whatever path I choose will be wonderful. Is that what Shuri thinks? Does he trust me that much? Thinking about that makes my back itch. It itches somehow. It itches from embarrassment. But it makes me happy. That he thinks that way. As I’m about to say something to Shuri, he’s already trying to leave the room.
“The rest is up to you three to discuss. We made a lot, you know. Why don’t you three talk about things you usually can’t while eating together?”
Saying that, Shuri leaves. Those of us left behind are in a somewhat indescribable atmosphere. All of us are trying to say something, but can’t say anything. In this frustrating atmosphere, I lower my eyes to the plate I’m holding. We made a lot, so eat together.
…I see… Shuri understood.
He understood that if we tried to talk normally, we wouldn’t be able to be honest due to our past. So he’s using the food as an excuse to break the ice. It’s a very Shuri-like consideration.
“Garn, Gyngus. Since we have this opportunity, shall we eat?” “…Ah, alright.” “Let’s do that.”
Garn and Gyngus bring chairs over to sit down and start eating the gyoza.
“This is delicious. Shuri prepared all the ingredients for the filling, though.” “Yeah. However… elder brother… Your gyoza, as elder sister said, are quite misshapen.” “Shut up. Yours have completely inconsistent amounts of filling. This one’s almost empty.”
The two of them argue while eating, but they seem to be enjoying it somehow. Wait, is this the first time Gyngus has called us elder sister and elder brother? Sister, huh. Being called that again makes me feel a bit embarrassed.
“Shuri was saying that with some sauce, it would be perfect.” “Oh? So this isn’t complete yet?” “Shuri said he wanted to make a sauce to go with this, but apparently he doesn’t have the ideal ingredients. I can’t even begin to imagine what he’s thinking.” “Shuri’s ideal sauce, huh. Indeed, I can’t imagine what kind of exotic taste that would be…”
And so, we start talking bit by bit. As we talk like this, we realize how little we know about each other.
“I prefer this chive one. I’ve always liked foods with strong aromas.” “I like this regular gyoza. It’s simple and delicious. I like this kind of thing.”
We didn’t even know each other’s food preferences.
“Hey Gyngus, I understand about me, but you’re the head of military affairs, right? Isn’t it about time you found a partner? You were saying the other day that you like women like Princess Tevis. Not her age, but her intelligence.” “Shut up. That’s none of your business. Elder brother, you should get married to a normal woman now that you’re out in the open. If we’re talking about order, you should go first.” “I’m going to leisurely pursue the path of a chef and have a normal romance, so I’m fine.”
We didn’t even know each other’s preferences in partner.
“Ah, but recently I haven’t been practicing horseback riding or swordsmanship, so my body’s gotten quite dull. I need to train again.” “You like that kind of thing?” “I prefer sword training and horseback riding to internal affairs and paperwork. It’s a hobby.” “I don’t really get it. I’m starting to enjoy cooking. It’s both a hobby and practical.”
We didn’t even know each other’s hobbies. We realized how little we knew about each other. I see, so this is what it means to have a heart-to-heart talk. I understand now, Shuri.
“I like Shuri, and my hobby is board games, so I’m fine as long as I have an opponent. Card games, war games… it would be nice if someone would play with me again.” “Why don’t you ask Shuri to play with you? It would help you bond too.” “Shuri, I wonder if he’d do that kind of thing with me?”
And so, we tried our best to talk about many things. Although we siblings had little interaction before, it feels like we’ve finally managed to regain the form of a family. What is this? It gives me such a warm feeling. Father… the former lord isn’t here, but is this the warmth of family? No, that must be it.
“Elder sister. By the way, you were saying you were unsure about what to do, right?” “Eh? Yeah.”
I’m taken aback when Gyngus suddenly brings this up.
“What are you actually doing now? Realistically speaking.” “Eh? …Well… Overseeing and handing over the remaining internal affairs work I left… and compiling information about relationships with neighboring countries into books…” “No, elder sister. You should become a diplomat.”
Eh? A diplomat?
“To be honest, it’s something I couldn’t do. Gungrave is basically capable of anything, but there are people who won’t be satisfied even if we entrust this domain to him.”
I realized that even when I went out to town. The blacksmith was considerate towards me and that’s why they had that attitude, but at the root, they don’t have good feelings towards Gungrave and the others who seem to have usurped the country. I see, that applies to neighboring countries too. The relationships I’ve built with neighboring countries up until now will change. Some might even have ill intentions. So you’re saying I should become a diplomat and smooth out relationships with neighboring countries and countries we’ll be dealing with in the future?
“I see, that’s something I could do.”
After all, some neighboring countries still think I’m a man. Or rather, it’s natural since I’ve been interacting with them as a man until now. Diplomacy, huh. If that’s the case.
“I’ll do it. Then, I’ll become a diplomat.” “That’s good. Aeclys is originally good with words. You have a good appearance too, so you’re less likely to provoke negative feelings.” “I have my own things to do, so I’ll leave it to you. Besides, we can’t keep making Gungrave do everything.”
Both of them agreed. I finally felt at ease. Who knew I could feel this relieved once I decided what to do?
Now, there are things I need to do.
Whether it’s about relationships with neighboring countries or the future of Sounité. There are problems that need to be resolved.
“Leave it to me. And, about that person too, you know.”
When I say this, both of their faces tense up. Just the words “that person” were enough for both of them to guess who I’m talking about. As you might imagine. The person we’re holding captive in the basement of this castle.
“…Elder sister, please. At least spare her life.”
Gyngus bows his head. With a pained expression.
“She is my mother, after all.”
I know. The cause of this recent turmoil, someone who would surely become a seed of discord if left as is. Gyngus’s mother… the former lord’s legal wife. She was captured by Princess Tevis, and we’ve been unable to decide how to deal with her.
“I’ll… try my best not to let it end badly. It’s a promise.” “…I’m sorry.”
Gyngus looks truly apologetic. We need to put an end to this. For the future of this domain. And for Gyngus’s sake too.
After that. I gave the knife to Garn and expressed my gratitude again. I want him to work hard from now on. He’s finally able to do what he wants peacefully. I’ll do what I need to do too. For the sake of my precious brother as well.
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Chapter 44
“Shuri, let’s go out.”
I suddenly suggest that morning.
I abruptly say this to Shuri, who’s setting up breakfast in the dining hall.
“Shuri, you’re always working, aren’t you? Don’t you want to stretch your wings a bit?”
Now, will I get an OK?
It’s Aeclys here. And I’m really troubled.
It all started about a week before I invited Shuri out.
That night, after finishing some simple work that had basically become a hobby, I wandered to the kitchen for no particular reason.
I was hoping to catch Shuri alone, maybe even score some karaage if I was lucky.
But what I saw in the kitchen was a surprising sight.
“What are you doing, Garn?”
Under the dim kitchen lights, my elder brother, Garn was struggling with a knife and a potato.
It was the middle of the night, so I was curious about what he could be up to.
“Hm? Oh, Aeclys. As you can see, I’m peeling potatoes.”
Potatoes? Peeling?
Near Garn, there’s a mountain of potatoes, a container for the peels, and a bunch of peeled potatoes rolling around.
I see, he’s practicing peeling, I realize.
“Practicing until the middle of the night, you’ve really become a chef, huh?”
I say, leaning my back against the kitchen wall.
Lately, Garn has been working really hard.
Even from an outsider’s perspective, you can see how much effort he’s putting in.
Originally a long-time intelligence officer, he’s now working in a completely different field.
There must be a lot he needs to learn from scratch, and a lot to study.
Despite all that, Garn is persevering without giving up. I think that’s amazing.
“Ah, is it that late already? You know, Shuri peels potatoes at an incredible speed. It’s like they were meant to be peeled that way, he does it so cleanly.
So, I want to get to that level, that’s why I’m working hard.”
“Don’t waste all those potatoes, okay?”
“Don’t worry, I got Shuri’s permission. He’s going to make mashed potatoes for lunch tomorrow.”
“I see.”
Indeed, that dish requires a lot of potatoes. I guess they’ll use up all the potatoes Garn peeled for practice in one go.
…Or maybe, Shuri had that in mind when he let Garn peel the potatoes.
“Hey, Garn.”
“What is it?”
I decide to ask something I’ve been wanting to ask.
“Are you enjoying your current job?”
In the past, under my orders, Garn had acted as a spy for Gyngus. I even made him pretend to be a double agent for Gyngus.
I’ve given him other shady orders too. I, the younger sister, have made my elder brother Garn do various things.
So, I wondered how he feels now.
“Of course, it’s fulfilling.”
Garn says with a smile.
“Doing something for someone else. And being able to do it for someone’s smile. It’s wonderful, really.
Plus, there’s a kind person who’s teaching me from scratch as an apprentice. He’s also very considerate, so it’s comfortable. That’s probably due to Shuri’s personality too.
And being a chef surprisingly suits me.
So, I’m really enjoying it now.”
“I see.”
I feel relieved, but at the same time, there’s a twinge of pain in my chest.
Of course. If these words are true, it means I’ve been making Garn do work he didn’t want all this time.
Born from a concubine, persecuted, forced to learn unwanted skills, and forced to do unwanted work.
I was also born from a concubine, but I was expected to pretend to be a different gender, awakened unwanted talents, and was forced to do unwanted work.
We’re very similar, Garn and I.
And now, we’re both free from that and able to do what we want.
But I still feel a lingering unease.
It’s probably because I’ve seen how happy Garn looks now. And because Gyngus, who used to show such open hostility, is now smiling while doing work he’s good at.
Both of them are doing the work they want and walking the path they’ve chosen.
But I’m different.
Since Shuri and the others helped me, I’ve been living as I please. I do simple, harmless work, hang out with Shuri when I’m done, and go to sleep when I feel like it.
Compared to Garn and the others, I’m too free. No, maybe I’m just not taking things seriously enough.
“Damn it.”
I hear Garn curse.
Looking at his hands, I see the potato peel has broken halfway. Looks like he failed at peeling.
If it were Shuri, he’d have a beautifully connected peel in one long strip.
“The knife’s getting dull… and my technique’s not good enough. One more time.”
Reflecting on his mistake, Garn starts peeling again. He’s concentrating hard, determined not to fail this time.
Come to think of it, Garn doesn’t have his own cooking utensils… his own knife.
Shuri has many tools of his own. I hear Lill made all of them except for the knife. The knife was… a gift from Princess Tevis, wasn’t it?
Thinking about that… using the knives kept as common equipment might be hindering Garn’s training.
That’s right, come to think of it, we’ve never exchanged gifts as siblings.
Not for birthdays, celebrations, or any other occasion.
It’s natural since we’ve always kept our distance, but still.
…I should give him a knife.
I don’t know why I suddenly thought this, but I decided to give him a knife.
The reason doesn’t matter. I want to help him.
“Well, Garn, don’t stay up too late, okay?”
“Yeah, of course. Good night.”
After saying that to Garn, I return to my room.
The next day, I commissioned a knife from a blacksmith I know.
Just one, in an easy-to-use shape with a good edge.
I decided to spare no expense in preparing it for Garn.
And after a few days… the knife is supposed to be ready today.
Thinking about going to pick it up… I suddenly felt embarrassed.
After all, I’m giving a gift to encourage hard work to a family member I’ve never given a gift to before.
It’s kind of embarrassing, makes me feel like my face is going to turn bright red.
But not going to pick it up is out of the question, and I’m too embarrassed to go alone.
As I was pondering this… brooding over it in the dining hall in the morning.
I suddenly caught sight of Shuri.
That’s why I impulsively asked him.
And now…
I’ve invited Shuri out.
“Well? What do you say, Shuri?”
“Sounds good. I’ll join you.”
Shuri thinks for a moment before answering.
“Great! Actually, there’s something I want to buy.”
“Oh? Something you want to buy?”
At that, Shuri makes an obviously troubled face.
Ah, I see.
“Oh, no, it’s not like that. I just didn’t want to go alone, so I thought I’d ask someone to come with me.”
I’m not like that, but women’s shopping tends to take time. We enjoy the selection process, so we often forget about the person with us and end up choosing this and that.
Being there with us, nodding along without complaining, that’s supposed to be a man’s gallantry… but.
Shuri, making such a troubled, displeased face is not okay.
“In that case, why didn’t you invite Garn? If Garn wants time off, I can approve it.”
Shuri says, as if just remembering.
Hmm, normally I would ask Garn, but…
“No, no, this shopping trip is related to Garn.”
“…Ah, I see.”
Oh, Shuri, usually so dense, understood. It’s helpful when the conversation moves quickly.
“You get it?”
“Understood.”
“Alright then, I’ll go get ready. Let’s meet in an hour!”
“Ah, wait-!”
Shuri tries to stop me in a panic, but I ignore him and leave the dining hall.
Without even eating, I dash out and burst into my room.
My face turns bright red and I clutch my chest.
My face is hot, my heart is racing so fast.
I invited him on impulse, but this is…
“Wah, wah, wah… Did I just ask him out on a date!?”
That’s right, thinking about it, this is a date. A man and woman going shopping together, this is definitely a date!
“Ah! I need to choose what to wear!”
I frantically start pulling clothes out of my closet, turning it inside out to choose an outfit.
What should I wear? Should I go with my usual masculine clothes?
Or should I surprise him with more feminine clothes?
No good, I don’t know much about feminine clothes.
After all, I’ve always worn men’s clothes! It can’t be helped!
I need to find clothes, choose accessories, and do my makeup too!
Ah! Why did I set such a short time limit of just one hour!?
Cursing my own carelessness, I continue my frantic search for clothes.
Just as I’ve finally chosen an outfit, found some accessories, and started on my makeup, there’s a knock at the door.
Who could it be at a time like this?
“Aeclys, are you there?”
Ugh, Shuri!? Why is he here?!
“It’s about time, shall we go together?”
What! Is it that time already?! But I’m not done with my makeup! I haven’t even finished checking my accessories!
In a panic, I call out to Shuri, who must be outside the door.
“Sh-Shuri! In cases like this, men and women should leave separately, you know!”
“Huh? No, no, it would be more efficient if we left together…”
I can hear Shuri’s confused voice from outside.
Wait, more efficient? In this date that I’m staking everything on, efficient?
What an unromantic person.
I make a disgruntled face and call out to the door.
“Shuri! Don’t you know that girls value the situation in times like these!?”
“Eh? That… I understand, yeah.”
He says in a monotone that clearly shows he doesn’t understand.
“Listen! Girls value the situation at times like this! You shouldn’t say things like it’s inefficient!”
“Oh, okay.”
“You know, in cases like this, instead of leaving together, it’s best to meet at a standard location!”
“Is that so… I understand. So, where should I wait?”
“Let’s say the fountain in the central plaza. It’s a good atmosphere there and it’s easy to spot, so it’s good for meeting up. Can you go there first?”
“Understood. Then, I’ll be waiting.”
With those final words, I hear footsteps moving away from outside the room.
When I can no longer hear them, I let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank goodness…”
Now I’ve bought some time! I need to finish my makeup now. And I need to try on my clothes too.
Ah, there’s not enough time! No matter how much there is, it’s not enough!
I desperately rack my brain to get dolled up in the limited time I have.
By the time I finish all my preparations and leave the castle, quite a bit of time has passed.
“Oh no, I wonder if Shuri is angry?”
I want to hurry, but if I run too much, I’ll start sweating and my makeup will look terrible.
Keeping my pace as fast as possible while trying not to sweat too much, I head towards the fountain in the central plaza.
The sun is already high in the sky. In other words, I’ve spent all morning until now just getting ready.
Of course, normally anyone would be angry after being made to wait so long.
I hope Shuri isn’t fed up and angry from waiting.
Feeling anxious like this, I arrive at the fountain in the central plaza.
There are all sorts of people here, many chatting with each other.
Some, like me, are waiting to meet someone, some are taking a break and resting, and others are heading somewhere from here. It’s quite varied.
Now, among all these people, where is the person I’m waiting for?
Well, actually, I spot him right away.
He has a slightly troubled expression and seems unaware of his surroundings. That’s definitely Shuri.
I’m not sure what he’s troubled about, but it seems my date has arrived. That’s good. If it were me, I’d be angry and gone home after being made to wait so long.
Shuri really is kind.
But this time, I can’t take advantage of that kindness.
As a person, it’s not right to make someone wait so long after promising to meet them.
I need to reflect on this.
For now, let’s try talking to him. I approach Shuri.
“Shuri?”
Shuri turns to look at me with a surprised expression.
“Hm? What’s wrong?”
But after that, for some reason, Shuri freezes up.
“Ah, no, it’s nothing.”
He says, trying to cover it up with a nonchalant face.
Then, he stares at me from head to toe.
It’s unusual for the dense Shuri to check out a girl like this.
Then Shuri’s face changes as if he’s realized something.
“Aeclys… could it be that this gift…”
“Eh? Ah, well…”
Oh no? Did I put too much effort into this and cause a misunderstanding?
This could be bad. Or so I think.
Even Shuri must realize this is a date-
“Judging from your high-quality outfit… are you planning to give the gift to someone you’re in a relationship with after this?”
“…Huh?”
This guy is not thinking that at all!
“You said it was a gift for Garn, but you’re actually asking for gift advice from me, a man, and after we part ways, you’ll meet up with the person you’re dating… I see, so that’s wha- OOF!”
I deliver an angry iron fist to Shuri as he lists off these incredibly insensitive words.
I hit him in the collarbone, a spot I heard about from Garn that causes intense pain without causing serious injury to vital points of the body.
Shuri crouches down, writhing in agony. Of course he does, I hit him with all my might.
“Shuri. I know you’re kind and a bit dense, but that was an incredibly insensitive thing to say.”
“I-I’m sorry…”
If a girl puts in effort to dress up nicely for the boy she likes, and then is told it’s for someone else, it’s like completely denying all her hard work.
Why do I have to be told it’s for someone else when I worked so hard thinking about Shuri?
I think you can understand my anger.
“S-so, what’s the real reason for that outfit?”
And now my anger is doubling!
“Shuri, do you want another hit?”
“Eek! Ah, I’m sorry! That’s right! When shopping with a man, a woman has to be on guard no matter who it is!”
When I raise my fist again, Shuri quickly apologizes.
It seems he’s understood a little bit, at least.
“Yes, you pass.”
So I lower my fist. I lower with a calm mind the fist I had raised intending to crack his collarbone with all my might.
“That’s right, when a girl goes out with a boy, she has to be fully armed.”
I throw these words at Shuri, half-truth and half-lie.
For guys who don’t matter, we just dress up about 80% to avoid being looked down on.
But for someone we like or in a situation we can’t lose, we put in 120% effort, going beyond 100% to try and turn their head.
I wonder if Shuri understands this? I carefully chose my outfit and dressed up.
A simple patterned but high-quality fabric tunic, and a long skirt that looks plain at first glance but gives off a sense of modesty.
I even did up my usually casual hair with a headband decorated with silver flower ornaments, and put on simple earrings that I don’t usually wear.
I even did natural makeup to match.
If he doesn’t notice this or says it’s for someone else, I’ll be depressed for a week.
“So? How’s my outfit?”
While we’re at it, I want to hear Shuri’s opinion.
I wonder what he’ll say?
Shuri thinks very hard before answering with a refreshingly clear face:
“I think it really suits you. Your femininity has increased from usual.”
“That’s a fail as a compliment, but I’ll let it slide. I’ll give you a barely passing grade.”
Femininity… I was stupid to expect a smooth line from Shuri, damn it!
Deciding it’s pointless to explain any further to Shuri, I start heading to our destination with him.
Our destination is the blacksmith where I ordered Garn’s gift. It’s in the Craftsmen’s Street, which is west of the fountain plaza.
That place is like the heart of Sounité… an area we created to surround ourselves with skilled artisans, built a bit more grandly than other parts.
Craftsmen are indispensable people for a country or domain. Those who develop new technologies, master techniques unique to the country, and demonstrate their skills – each one of them is an irreplaceable asset to the nation.
That’s why we need to treat them well, so they’ll stay in the country, spread their skills, and put their talents to use.
For example, carpenters from the winter country can build structures with high insulation to keep the cold air out. The autumn country has extensive knowledge about which ingredients are edible and which aren’t.
Such human resources… intellectual resources are irreplaceable for a country.
So, to protect such people, I promoted the construction of this street and created it as I promised.
Thanks to this, we’ve managed to reduce the number of craftsmen leaving, which has been a huge help.
“Aeclys, this town is beautiful, isn’t it?”
Shuri says, looking around. He seems excited, and it makes me happy to hear him say that. After all, this was a major project that I planned and executed myself.
But you know…
“You think so? Maybe because I’m used to it, but I can see the flaws.
The building materials are getting old, the deterioration of public facilities is noticeable, I want to pave the roads with cobblestones soon, we need to manage the gathering of merchants or they’ll build shops as they please, public safety is currently in disarray so we need to recruit for the guard, and once their skills improve, we need to survey the surrounding geography-”
“Stop! Stop, I can’t understand any more of that!”
Shuri hurriedly interrupts me.
Oops, my bad. I was thinking about work. That’s not good, especially on a date.
“Come on, Aeclys. Forget about work, let’s enjoy today, okay? Right?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, thanks, Shuri.”
Did Shuri suddenly become worried about me?
He’s comforting me with a gentle expression.
“You’re being quite kind, Shuri.”
“I’m always kind, you know. Kind, indeed.”
“Shuri, you’re not planning anything sinister, are you? What are you scheming with that fake smile?”
This guy, who’s like a mix of denseness and insensitivity molded by magic engineering, suddenly showing consideration as if he could read a woman’s heart – something’s up.
His face looks kind, but it seems quite forced. What is he thinking?
When I point this out, Shuri looks a bit surprised.
…Ah, maybe I should have just accepted his concern. Seeing his surprised face makes me feel a bit guilty.
But you know, Shuri has a history of things like this.
“Nothing.”
Hm? That was a surprisingly natural response from Shuri.
Usually, in situations like this, Shuri tends to panic and give himself away…
No good, really. I’m becoming too suspicious. I shouldn’t doubt Shuri’s kindness.
“So, Aeclys, where are we heading now? You mentioned a gift for Garn, but what is it?”
As I’m reflecting on this myself, Shuri asks me that question.
Ah, that’s right, I didn’t tell him about that, did I?
“Oh, right. I was thinking it might be time for Garn to have one of those, you know. I’m hoping to find a good one. I hope there’s something nice.”
I intentionally keep it vague, giving him some room to think. Well, Shuri will probably quickly figure out that it’s something a chef needs.
Let’s keep it as a surprise… until we get there.
We chat a bit as we walk, and I lead Shuri to our destination.
“Alright, here we are.”
I’ve brought him to the shop where I ordered the knife. It’s a well-known workshop in this area. It’s a shop I have a good relationship with.
When I came here to place the order a few days ago, the idea of a gift for Garn was so prominent in my mind that I don’t know why I placed the order so mechanically, in such a businesslike manner.
Maybe I was inspired by seeing Garn working so hard.
Maybe I felt guilty about my lack of seriousness compared to Garn’s earnestness.
I’m not sure why right now. But my desire to give him a gift is genuine.
Shuri is looking at the displayed knives. He seems very interested.
“Aeclys, this is…”
“Well, it’s certainly a shop that deals with blades, but to be precise, it’s a blacksmith. They process iron to make products… that’s probably the best way to put it.
You know how big shops often have iron craftwork symbols decorating them? Those are also works from shops like this.”
When I explain this, Shuri nods in understanding.
It’s a common misunderstanding, but blacksmiths don’t just make weapons. They make things necessary for daily life, and even iron crafts.
This shop does make weapons, but they mainly produce everyday items. Things like kitchen knives and pots.
That’s why it’s perfect for ordering everyday items like the knife we’re here for.
“Sure, in this day and age, you might be able to get things made quickly by asking a magic engineer. But only a few people can do that. Either you need talent to do it yourself, or money to commission it.
But the blacksmiths aren’t losing out either. Without relying on magic engineering, they create all sorts of things with their own skills, knowledge, and experience. It’s wonderful.”
Even though the number of magic engineers themselves is small, as magic engineering advances, there’s a possibility that this culture relying on experience and oral tradition might decline.
But these people who handle iron and manipulate heat, I’m sure they’ll survive no matter what era comes.
Even for work that could be quickly finished by relying on a magic engineer, they take their time and finish it carefully.
If you saw that, you’d think my worries were unfounded.
“Do you like this kind of thing, Aeclys?”
Shuri asks, looking interested.
“Yeah. I often visited construction sites for territory development or workshops of blacksmiths I commissioned work from.
The work of people with such specialized skills is beautiful and enjoyable to watch.”
Really, seeing this kind of thing excites me. This might be the part of me that’s not very girly.
“Aeclys, it’s fine to be excited, but could we please get to the main point?”
“Oh, right. Sorry, when I come to places like this, I could really spend all day just watching.”
Shuri reminds me to stay on track. Yeah, I guess spending all day watching this wouldn’t be very suitable for a date. I should reflect on that.
I look around the shop, searching for the receptionist.
“Excuse me. Can I have a moment?”
This receptionist is the same person who dealt with my sudden visit a few days ago.
“L-Lady Aeclys!?”
And just like then, she’s surprised now too.
“Ah, is the thing I ordered ready?”
“Oh, yes. Of course. I’m sorry for being flustered.”
“It’s fine. Maybe I should have sent word before coming.”
That’s right, I surprised her by suddenly showing up a few days ago too.
I thought I’d send word before coming next time, but I was so preoccupied with thoughts of Shuri that I forgot. I need to reflect on this.
“No, Lady Aeclys, you’ve done so much for us. There’s no shop in this town that would refuse your visit.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I’m practically half-retired now, after all.”
“No, Lady Aeclys, we want you to stay in the center. Even if the lord has changed, our gratitude towards you hasn’t changed. It’s because of you that we haven’t abandoned this domain and stayed here.”
Ah… the receptionist is glaring at Shuri…
That’s right, many people around here don’t think well of Shuri and the others. I’ve been trying to smooth things over, but this is troubling.
In that situation, no matter who took the top position, it would have been problematic. Gyngus, who caused the problems, and me, who couldn’t stop them. Whichever of us inherited the lord’s position, there would have been friction somewhere.
So, the only option was to entrust everything to Gungrave.
『A man of talent who, even when his subordinates were unjustly captured and he was dragged into the lord succession problem, managed to recover his subordinates and resolve the issue.』 Under such propaganda, Gyngus and I entrusted everything to Gungrave.
To begin with, we wouldn’t have been able to navigate the coming warring states period. It was better to leave it to someone with battlefield experience and overflowing talent.
Certainly, I think this method was quite reckless. Entrusting all the domain’s troubles to a mere mercenary group commander. If we had been even a little unlucky, this domain would have been in dire straits.
But looking at Shuri’s cooking and personality, and considering Gungrave’s military achievements and past career, I think this was the only way. If Gungrave had any misconduct in his background, we would have had to deal with it at the risk of our lives. And we would have failed about 80% of the time and lost our lives.
It was a bad bet… but we won that bet. We succeeded in abandoning all our previous constraints and entrusting everything to him.
So, looking at the results alone, I won the bet.
But of course, there are people among the citizens who aren’t satisfied.
Even though we installed a suitable lord and protected the bloodline of the lord’s family, there are people who still can’t accept it.
We just have to make them understand little by little.
That’s what I think.
“Well, let’s leave that topic for now. More importantly, as I asked earlier, is the thing I ordered ready?”
“Yes, here it is.”
The receptionist, realizing there’s no point in continuing this conversation, quickly returns to the shop.
Yes, it’s already been decided, and the authority as lord has already been transferred to Gungrave. No matter what we say now, it can’t be changed.
The receptionist returns from the back of the shop with something wrapped in silk.
I receive the silk-wrapped item and unwrap it to reveal what’s inside.
A single knife. With a white wood handle and the gleam of freshly forged iron, this will surely be a help to Garn from now on.
The faintly visible wave pattern on the blade, the blade forged and sharpened without distortion.
Yes, this is a good one. It was worth paying a high price for.
“Thank you. Send the bill to the castle as usual. I’ll transfer the money.”
“Yes, thank you very much. We look forward to your next visit.”
The receptionist bows deeply.
“Thank you. Let’s go, Shuri.”
I say, responding to her bow and starting to walk. Shuri hurriedly follows me.
“Was that the goal? The knife?”
Shuri asks, looking at the knife with interest. I guess as a chef, he’s naturally interested in cooking utensils.
I wrap the knife back in the silk cloth as I answer.
“That’s right. It’s a gift for Garn.”
“…”
“Garn has found a new way of life. The path of a cook. Gyngus has also decided to reflect on himself and start over. As for me, I’ve decided to live as I like.
This is my small token of gratitude and encouragement for the future to my brother who has followed… no, supported such a me until now.”
Yes, gratitude and encouragement. This is probably one of the few ways I can repay my debt to him.
One of the few ways I can repay him for all the difficult missions I’ve assigned him until now.
I wonder if this will help Garn work harder.
It’s a different field, cooking, so I can’t interfere or help directly. All I can do is give him a good tool like this.
I wonder how he’ll take this gesture from me.
Contrary to my inner thoughts, Shuri seems to be pondering something.
After thinking long and hard, he finally looks like he’s figured something out.
“So my guess about it being for a date partner was wrong…?”
“Are you still hung up on that?!”
I deliver another collarbone-breaking divine punishment to him. Reflect on your actions!
After that, I give Shuri a long lecture.
I tell him he doesn’t understand a woman’s heart.
I tell him his words and actions are too careless.
I tell him there’s a limit to how dense one can be.
I tell him he needs to fix his obtuse nature already.
The list goes on and on, but I continue to lecture Shuri about all the things that have been bothering me about him until now.
And after quite some time has passed, I wrap up the conversation and say nonchalantly,
“I’m hungry too, so shall we head back?”
I say, as if nothing had happened.
After all, we’re in the middle of town with a woman scolding a man, so we must have been attracting strange looks from people around us.
So, I’m putting on a normal face to show everyone that it’s over now.
The people around who were watching with amusement start to disperse, feeling like the show is over.
“Yes. I understand.”
Shuri says, hanging his head after thoroughly listening to my lecture.
The double punch of the pain in his collarbone and the harshness of the lecture. I hope this makes him reflect.
But still, he’s too oblivious!
He probably doesn’t even realize we’re on a date!
…Realize, huh? I wonder if I’m one to talk.
“What’s the matter, Aeclys? You look down.”
“Ah… As expected, you can tell.”
As expected of Shuri. He immediately notices even the slightest change in my mood.
Shuri is good at perceiving people’s feelings. Well, he’s still dense when it comes to romantic feelings though!
But… it’s because he’s kind that he immediately worries and speaks up.
“Well, I was just thinking about what I said earlier. Garn is working hard on his new path. Gyngus is trying to start over. But I’m just living as I please.
I wonder if this is really okay…”
“Aeclys.”
“No, it’s alright, Shuri. It’s fine. This is just me worrying needlessly.
Looking at it another way, all three of us are walking the paths we chose. It’s strange for only me to be worrying.”
“That’s…”
The weakness I unintentionally voiced.
Both my brothers have found their paths and are walking them.
But I alone have nothing. I haven’t found anything.
I’m looking at Shuri, but that’s a different story. I haven’t found something like… a role in my own life.
So, I can’t help but envy them, who are pursuing their goals single-mindedly, and find them dazzling.
“Aeclys. Are you going to give that knife to Garn right away?”
“Huh? No… I was thinking of giving it to him after he finishes work…”
“Then could you please wait in your room for a bit?”
Huh?!
Demonstrating an unusually rapid development, Shuri dashes away from this place.
We had returned to the front of the castle, but now I’m left standing alone in front of the gate.
…This is a bit much, isn’t it?
Leaving a girl all alone, what on earth is he…
Well. This is Shuri we’re talking about. I know what he’s going to do.
I wonder what kind of food he’s going to make for me this time?
I return to the castle, looking forward to it a little.
“So, is this the gyoza you mentioned?”
As Shuri instructed, I waited quietly in my room, and he brought me some food.
It’s around the time when evening is approaching, and the light outside is starting to dim.
Apparently, this dish was made with the cooperation of Gyngus and Garn.
Ah, so that’s why. That’s why Garn and Gyngus are here.
They were involved in making this dish, so they want to hear my thoughts on the taste at the end.
“Yes, please try some.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure what you’re thinking, but I guess I’ll have some.”
I take a plate of gyoza and a fork from Shuri and immediately try one.
I casually put one in my mouth and chew.
“Mmm… it’s delicious.”
It’s delicious. Yes, it’s a delicious dish.
The outer skin is crispy, and the filling inside is well-cooked and juicy. I can tell it’s meat and… vegetables.
The umami of the meat juices and vegetables trapped inside the skin bursts in my mouth with each bite.
The umami of the meat juices and the umami of the vegetables… the sweetness that comes from being perfectly cooked is in harmony.
And there are more of these? This is going to be enjoyable.
So I put another one in my mouth. I expect the same umami of meat and vegetables… but a different sensation spreads in my mouth.
“Hm? This one is different… a strong smell of chives… and this one has no meat texture at all…”
Puzzled, I put another gyoza in my mouth, and it has yet another different sensation.
The former gyoza has a strong chive flavor.
Vegetables… I think it’s green onions and chives… this distinctive aroma.
The meat also seems to have been prepared differently from the first gyoza.
Probably, they’ve changed the meat to match the aroma of chives and green onions. The chive aroma doesn’t become unpleasant, but rather becomes a praiseworthy characteristic.
It might be a bit of a concerning aroma for women, though.
As for the latter gyoza… this one doesn’t have any meat feel at all. There’s no taste of fat.
The taste of vegetables and a soup that complements them has soaked in, and it’s delicious.
It’s light and brings out the taste of the vegetables well… I prefer this one.
“Yeah, the variety is great, and they’re all delicious. Each one is first-class.”
“This one was made by Garn.”
“This misshapen one?”
“And this one was made by Gyngus.”
“Hmm, this one’s shape is a bit better, but the amount of filling is inconsistent.”
Shuri points to two different gyoza.
Garn’s has a good balance of filling, but the appearance is awkward. Compared to Shuri’s, it certainly seems that way.
Gyngus’s looks perfect on the outside, but when you cut it open, the amount of filling is inconsistent. It seems he focused on appearance without paying much attention to the filling.
“But they were all delicious, weren’t they?”
“Yes, they were delicious. Regardless of their shape, it seems they were made for me after all.”
The two of them have been glancing at me from time to time.
Maybe they’re relieved about the taste of the food… but this time it feels different.
It seems like I’ve worried them.
“…Aeclys. I think, you know, gyoza are delicious no matter what shape they are or what filling they have. There are even more varieties than this.
Garn has found his path as a cook.
Gyngus has chosen to start over and is moving forward.
No matter what shape or content, their way of life is beautiful because it has conviction.
Aeclys. I understand that you’re lost on your path.”
Lost.
That’s right, I’m lost. I envied Garn and Gyngus who work with pride and a sense of purpose.
At the same time, I felt uncertain about my own way of life, which doesn’t seem to be moving forward.
“Why don’t you open up about your worries to these two important family members who are already walking their paths?”
Shuri’s words hit me like a blow to the head.
The words about not opening up to family about my worries.
We’ve lived in a complex environment.
Even though we had familial affection, it was a time when we couldn’t simply rely on each other.
We had to be wary of each other, or people around us would take advantage of us.
But now it’s not like that anymore. The time of discord is over. We should be able to rely on each other, be spoiled, and be relied upon.
Yet, I’m still carrying everything alone.
This is like going back to the old days.
“Until now, the three of you might have been too focused on yourselves. As a result, you developed a habit of dealing with things alone. You gained the ability to manage somehow.
I don’t think you need to worry alone anymore.
Now that the three of you have gathered like this, why don’t you have an honest talk?”
Have a heart-to-heart talk, right now?
“Also, as you noticed when eating the gyoza, all of them were delicious, weren’t they?
In the same way, whatever path Aeclys chooses, I’m sure it will be wonderful.
Just like gyoza is delicious because it’s gyoza.
Aeclys is Aeclys, after all. That’s why I can trust her.”
Whatever path I choose will be wonderful.
Is that what Shuri thinks? Does he trust me that much?
Thinking about that makes my back itch. It itches somehow. It itches from embarrassment.
But it makes me happy. That he thinks that way.
As I’m about to say something to Shuri, he’s already trying to leave the room.
“The rest is up to you three to discuss. We made a lot, you know. Why don’t you three talk about things you usually can’t while eating together?”
Saying that, Shuri leaves.
Those of us left behind are in a somewhat indescribable atmosphere.
All of us are trying to say something, but can’t say anything.
In this frustrating atmosphere, I lower my eyes to the plate I’m holding.
We made a lot, so eat together.
…I see… Shuri understood.
He understood that if we tried to talk normally, we wouldn’t be able to be honest due to our past.
So he’s using the food as an excuse to break the ice.
It’s a very Shuri-like consideration.
“Garn, Gyngus. Since we have this opportunity, shall we eat?”
“…Ah, alright.”
“Let’s do that.”
Garn and Gyngus bring chairs over to sit down and start eating the gyoza.
“This is delicious. Shuri prepared all the ingredients for the filling, though.”
“Yeah. However… elder brother… Your gyoza, as elder sister said, are quite misshapen.”
“Shut up. Yours have completely inconsistent amounts of filling. This one’s almost empty.”
The two of them argue while eating, but they seem to be enjoying it somehow.
Wait, is this the first time Gyngus has called us elder sister and elder brother?
Sister, huh. Being called that again makes me feel a bit embarrassed.
“Shuri was saying that with some sauce, it would be perfect.”
“Oh? So this isn’t complete yet?”
“Shuri said he wanted to make a sauce to go with this, but apparently he doesn’t have the ideal ingredients. I can’t even begin to imagine what he’s thinking.”
“Shuri’s ideal sauce, huh. Indeed, I can’t imagine what kind of exotic taste that would be…”
And so, we start talking bit by bit.
As we talk like this, we realize how little we know about each other.
“I prefer this chive one. I’ve always liked foods with strong aromas.”
“I like this regular gyoza. It’s simple and delicious. I like this kind of thing.”
We didn’t even know each other’s food preferences.
“Hey Gyngus, I understand about me, but you’re the head of military affairs, right? Isn’t it about time you found a partner? You were saying the other day that you like women like Princess Tevis. Not her age, but her intelligence.”
“Shut up. That’s none of your business. Elder brother, you should get married to a normal woman now that you’re out in the open. If we’re talking about order, you should go first.”
“I’m going to leisurely pursue the path of a chef and have a normal romance, so I’m fine.”
We didn’t even know each other’s preferences in partner.
“Ah, but recently I haven’t been practicing horseback riding or swordsmanship, so my body’s gotten quite dull. I need to train again.”
“You like that kind of thing?”
“I prefer sword training and horseback riding to internal affairs and paperwork. It’s a hobby.”
“I don’t really get it. I’m starting to enjoy cooking. It’s both a hobby and practical.”
We didn’t even know each other’s hobbies.
We realized how little we knew about each other.
I see, so this is what it means to have a heart-to-heart talk. I understand now, Shuri.
“I like Shuri, and my hobby is board games, so I’m fine as long as I have an opponent.
Card games, war games… it would be nice if someone would play with me again.”
“Why don’t you ask Shuri to play with you? It would help you bond too.”
“Shuri, I wonder if he’d do that kind of thing with me?”
And so, we tried our best to talk about many things.
Although we siblings had little interaction before, it feels like we’ve finally managed to regain the form of a family.
What is this? It gives me such a warm feeling.
Father… the former lord isn’t here, but is this the warmth of family?
No, that must be it.
“Elder sister. By the way, you were saying you were unsure about what to do, right?”
“Eh? Yeah.”
I’m taken aback when Gyngus suddenly brings this up.
“What are you actually doing now? Realistically speaking.”
“Eh? …Well… Overseeing and handing over the remaining internal affairs work I left… and compiling information about relationships with neighboring countries into books…”
“No, elder sister. You should become a diplomat.”
Eh? A diplomat?
“To be honest, it’s something I couldn’t do. Gungrave is basically capable of anything, but there are people who won’t be satisfied even if we entrust this domain to him.”
I realized that even when I went out to town. The blacksmith was considerate towards me and that’s why they had that attitude, but at the root, they don’t have good feelings towards Gungrave and the others who seem to have usurped the country.
I see, that applies to neighboring countries too.
The relationships I’ve built with neighboring countries up until now will change. Some might even have ill intentions.
So you’re saying I should become a diplomat and smooth out relationships with neighboring countries and countries we’ll be dealing with in the future?
“I see, that’s something I could do.”
After all, some neighboring countries still think I’m a man. Or rather, it’s natural since I’ve been interacting with them as a man until now.
Diplomacy, huh. If that’s the case.
“I’ll do it. Then, I’ll become a diplomat.”
“That’s good. Aeclys is originally good with words. You have a good appearance too, so you’re less likely to provoke negative feelings.”
“I have my own things to do, so I’ll leave it to you. Besides, we can’t keep making Gungrave do everything.”
Both of them agreed.
I finally felt at ease. Who knew I could feel this relieved once I decided what to do?
Now, there are things I need to do.
Whether it’s about relationships with neighboring countries or the future of Sounité.
There are problems that need to be resolved.
“Leave it to me. And, about that person too, you know.”
When I say this, both of their faces tense up.
Just the words “that person” were enough for both of them to guess who I’m talking about.
As you might imagine. The person we’re holding captive in the basement of this castle.
“…Elder sister, please. At least spare her life.”
Gyngus bows his head. With a pained expression.
“She is my mother, after all.”
I know. The cause of this recent turmoil, someone who would surely become a seed of discord if left as is.
Gyngus’s mother… the former lord’s legal wife.
She was captured by Princess Tevis, and we’ve been unable to decide how to deal with her.
“I’ll… try my best not to let it end badly. It’s a promise.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Gyngus looks truly apologetic.
We need to put an end to this. For the future of this domain.
And for Gyngus’s sake too.
After that.
I gave the knife to Garn and expressed my gratitude again.
I want him to work hard from now on. He’s finally able to do what he wants peacefully.
I’ll do what I need to do too.
For the sake of my precious brother as well.
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