episode_0109

Episode 109. Thanksgiving Banquet (3)

****

The prince of the empire, Manfred, scratched his head. The letter from Mint was on the desk. Why did Mint send all the letters?

It’s not like that usually.

Manfred opened the letter from Mint with a rather uneasy feeling. It wasn’t just any letter. It had the imperial wax seal and was written on rolled parchment.

– I’ve decided to date Professor Asterix this time. By the way, since I brought it up first, I hope you won’t kill him.

Oh my.

– I’m going to take you to the Thanksgiving banquet.

– Then I’ll see you at the palace banquet hall.

– Princess Mint.

Manfred sighed. He couldn’t tell if this was a joke or not. Are you serious, or are you just trying to make fun of me?

There was nothing strange either way.

Ssagaji… … . I’ve known that healer for a long time, and he’s also my benefactor, so I might have developed a fondness for him.

Manfred frowned and thought.

With such a big age difference, would Mint just accept his confession? Or was it because she was a princess that he couldn’t refuse? Either way, it wasn’t an easy decision to make.

I don’t know.

I wonder how my father will react.

Will the benefactor who saved Mint find it inevitable that he will meet Mint? Will he welcome it? Will he hate him as a strange person?

Why, there are many fairy tales like that. A story about a knight who saves a princess from an evil dragon and marries the princess. If we consider it a similar storyline.

‘Ah, I guess you’ll figure it out.’

But it’s a blessing in disguise that he’s not one of those academy-going idiots, but someone the royal family knows. They had originally planned to keep that person close to the royal family.

I just didn’t know it would turn out this way.

Manfred fiddled with his pen for a while to reply to the letter, then put the letter and pen away. Was there any need to reply? He would see it soon.

****

If you think about this company being the first to invent penicillin or aspirin, even if they lower the price to make it more accessible to patients, the impact would be enormous, right?

therefore.

I didn’t fish for Arina. I just convinced her to make a choice that was in her favor. Considering that the money goes into making medicine and can save lives.

What’s good is good.

I poked Mint in the side.

“Let’s move slowly. There might be more people who want to see the princess.”

Mint nodded. In fact, judging from the reactions of the people I’ve met here so far, it seems like they’re all more curious about me than Mint.

****

“Oh, Mr. Asterix!”

Someone was calling me. I turned my head in the direction of the voice.

The owner of the voice was Princess Elizabeth.

A student who was treated at the Cerulean family mansion last time. I think he was diagnosed with Wilson’s disease at the time, but fortunately he looks healthy now.

pupil.

I checked Princess Elizabeth’s pupils. The golden rings surrounding her pupils were already gone. She seemed to have improved a lot.

I was using a cane, but it was more of a preventive measure than an actual pain, because you never know when symptoms might strike.

Anyway, Princess Elizabeth seemed to be in a very good mood because she was at the festival. Unlike Mint, who had a somewhat unpleasant expression.

“Teacher, why are you here?”

“I brought the princess.”

The princess opened her eyes wide. Even though she was Mint, she didn’t have the title of princess written all over her face. Her clothes weren’t that fancy either.

“Oh, sorry.”

Only then did Princess Elizabeth bow her head to the princess. Mint awkwardly shook Princess Elizabeth’s hand.

“Princess. This is Princess Elizabeth of the Cerulean family. She is the one I saw when I visited the Cerulean family last time.”

“Aha.”

“You entered the academy not long ago. I think you entered during the semester, so I don’t think we’ve seen each other since you’re having a hard time keeping up with the classes.”

Elizabeth hesitated for a moment.

“The princess is even more beautiful in person. I heard she is the most beautiful in the empire, but I was curious because I didn’t get to see her in class… … !”

What? I thought Princess Elizabeth was just a quiet character. But she’s actually someone who knows how to flatter people?

“I’m glad I could live up to your expectations.”

Mint took the compliment gently.

Elizabeth continued speaking.

“I think what the teacher said is right. It’s a secret from my family, but I think the corners of the house have been the problem so far. I think it’s much better now that I’m at the academy?”

I opened my mouth to say something, but Mint grabbed my sleeve.

“Let’s go, teacher. We have somewhere to go.”

“uh-”

Mint dragged me along. There was nothing I could do. What could I do if the princess didn’t want to talk to Elizabeth? I gave the princess a vague wave and left.

****

As soon as Mint left Princess Elizabeth’s sight, she hugged me tightly. Then she grabbed my tie and made me lower my head, and-

I put my arms around Mint’s neck and planted my lips on her cheek. I hugged Mint’s waist.

“Why all of a sudden?”

“Do you need a separate reason?”

Well… … that’s not it. Mint closed her eyes, and I kissed her. There must be lipstick all over her face, though.

While Mint was biting my lips, the handkerchief in my pocket flashed through my mind. It was literally just a flash because of the scent of the princess’s perfume around her neck.

Mint let go of me after a long time. Still holding onto Mint’s waist with one arm, I took out a handkerchief with my left hand and wiped my mouth.

Mint was still half-hugged towards me, reapplying her lipstick.

“Hey. How about getting buried?”

“Are you kidding?”

Mint laughed again. This time, she leaned her head on my shoulder and stood close to me. I looked up at the princess’s face.

As always, her skin was as pale as ever, and her eyes were trying to look arrogant but were actually innocent. It felt like she was declaring that a person could be this pretty.

I held Mint’s waist tighter.

****

And then, the banquet begins.

“Thank you all for coming. Today is an occasion to wish for abundance and prosperity as we welcome autumn, but it is also an occasion to honor those who have enriched our empire. I hope you enjoy the banquet. That’s all I have to say. Let’s have a toast!”

It was the voice of Prince Manfred.

Actually, I was wondering what that meant, but it was a good comment anyway. I also raised my glass to the last toast.

The wine in the glass was a translucent white wine so pale that you might wonder if it was alcohol.

We must have arrived a little early. The once deserted banquet hall began to fill with people, and a performance began on one side. I was sitting on one side of the banquet hall with Mint.

“Princess, no, Miss Mint. I’ve been staring at the people who came to the banquet for a long time.”

“Yeah.”

“This is a military school, really. I haven’t seen a single person prettier than Miss Mint all day.”

“Oh, really?”

Mint covered her mouth with her hand, though she couldn’t hide the fact that her ears were red.

“Oh, if you know it, you can do it… … !”

“Yes.”

The princess laughed like that for a long time.

“Ah. Teacher. But what were the other people looking at? Are they trying to talk to someone prettier than me?”

Cook. Mint poked me in the ribs.

I shook my head.

“No, that’s what I’m saying.”

“Hmm.”

Mint tried hard to keep a stern expression, but she couldn’t lower the corners of her mouth. I patted Mint’s head.

“I’ll let you go today because I’m in a good mood.”

“Your homage is truly invaluable, Your Highness.”

“Oh my god.”

The princess fixed her bangs again. I stared blankly at Mint’s face, then turned my head at the sound of footsteps. Oh, this guy.

I bowed my head in greeting.

“Today, I meet the noble prince of the empire. How are you, Prince Manfred?”

Prince Manfred looked displeased.

“Doing something you normally wouldn’t do. When you feel like you’ve done something wrong, the greeting just comes to mind?”

“Because it is an official occasion, I just studied greetings appropriate for the position. I apologize for making you think that way, Your Highness.”

“You’re talking nonsense now.”

“I am also very happy to see you after such a long time, Your Highness. Is your home well, too, Your Highness?”

“This is my house.”

“That’s true.”

“Are you two really going to date?”

I tried to nod, but before I could, Mint leaned over and pressed her lips to my cheek. I flinched unintentionally.

“Okay… … . Take care. I think I’d better go find someone who has no appetite.”

but.

I wonder if my younger brother would have had similar thoughts. I bowed my head to the departing prince and Mint looked at me.

“The reaction isn’t as intense as I thought.”

“I told you in writing. I thought there would be some resistance from the royal family if I mentioned meeting the teacher. The reaction is milder than I expected?”

It’s a good thing he didn’t try to kill me right away. Of course, Manfred isn’t that kind of person, but I had to be prepared just in case.

“Thank goodness.”