episode_0163

[Episode 159] – Three Fools

It’s been two days since Vivian fell ill.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, who visited Bangsyo’s study, placed a fruit basket on Bangsyo’s desk. As Bangsyo looked at the documents, the Minister of Foreign Affairs shrugged when Bangsyo asked what it was.

“Bangsyo, did you hear? Lilly is unwell.”

“Is there anyone in Wangsung who doesn’t know that? If they don’t, they must be spies. By any chance, do you know now? Then you’re a spy. No wonder it seemed strange for you to come into the study as you pleased. Report immediately—”

“Stop talking nonsense and listen.”

As Bangsyo spoke, the Minister of Foreign Affairs sighed as if there was no other choice, pulled a chair over, sat in front of Bangsyo, and then extended the fruit basket towards him.

“I’m planning to visit Lilly to offer my regards. Do you want to come with me?”

“Offering regards?”

At the mention of offering regards, one of Bangsyo’s eyebrows twitched, and his forehead wrinkled. The Minister of Foreign Affairs offering regards? To the former queen’s niece? Bangsyo lowered his chin in disbelief.

“Really, what kind of scheme are you cooking up this time…”

“Oh, calling it a scheme, this person. It’s not pleasant for the listener. The former queen’s niece is unwell, so naturally, we should pay our respects.”

“You’ve never seen someone else offering regards, have you? Have you ever once visited me when I was unwell and claimed to offer your regards?”

As Bangsyo expressed his disbelief, the Minister of Foreign Affairs shrugged, saying he really couldn’t remember.

“Why should I visit you to offer regards?”

“What kind of person doesn’t have any regard…”

Annoyed, Bangsyo clicked his tongue and waved his hand for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to leave. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, looking at him, sighed deeply and asked as if he really didn’t understand.

“If you don’t go now, won’t you regret it later? Are you really clueless about my intentions?”

“Sure, we may have ‘survived’ in maintaining the position of the Prime Minister, but our relationship with Her Majesty the Queen hasn’t improved. Don’t you think so too?”

“…Indeed. That’s true.”

Since the former queen left, I’ve never had a conversation with the Queen where we laughed. Bangsyo looked at the Foreign Minister as if to say, “Go on, tell me more.”

“But since Lily arrived, the Queen has been noticeably happier. The atmosphere in the palace, which used to be gloomy, now feels much milder. It’s as if she brought a fairy who brought spring to the palace.”

“Hmm… Go on.”

“Lily seems to be unwell, and if we just stand by, what will become of her? At the very least, we should go for a visit and show our faces to Lily, shouldn’t we?”

“So, you’re trying to win over Lily’s favor to gain favor with the Queen, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know why you keep calling it ‘favor,’ but yes, that’s exactly it.”

Bangsyo began to ponder, stroking his beard for a moment. Indeed, the relationship between himself and the other ministers and the Queen was not just bleak, but desolate. It was like a desert where not even a blade of grass grew.

The reason for such a relationship was, of course, the expulsion of the former queen from the palace. After the former queen left the palace, the relationship between the ministers and the Queen deteriorated drastically.

The ministers who supported the expulsion of the former queen had to resign from their positions. Bangsyo seemed to bitterly smile, patting his own neck, saying he did well to oppose it.

As time passed without any improvement in the relationship, he began to think that the relationship with the Queen would not get any better. Then, like a sudden downpour in the desert, Lily appeared in the palace.

She looked so much like the former queen that one could believe she was her daughter.

Since Lily’s arrival, the palace truly felt like spring, just as the Foreign Minister had said. Laughter, which had been rare in the palace, could now be seen blooming like a flower.

So, setting aside the Foreign Minister’s intentions…

“Alright, I’ll prepare a gift for the visit. Please wait for me.”

“Oh, you understand my feelings as well. I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to show my face to Lily. Do you think the same?”

“Don’t equate your pure concerns with my intentions. I am genuinely worried about Lily and that’s the only reason I’m going to visit her.”

As Bangsho let out a small sigh and rose from his chair, the door to the study room creaked open, and someone confidently walked in. Both the Foreign Minister and Bangsho furrowed their brows irritably at the sight.

“I’ve heard everything. Why didn’t you tell me? Disappointing.”

The confident attitude of the Education Minister made the Foreign Minister frown.

“Education Minister… Who did you hear this from? I haven’t told anyone.”

“I just eavesdropped by the door.”

“A minister acting like a thief…!”

So, the Education Minister had been eavesdropping on their conversation all this time? This was the Education Minister? The Foreign Minister looked at him incredulously.

“Foreign Minister! You should have known from the start that the person proposing the visit is not Bangsho but me! How could you keep this from me and discuss it privately with him?!”

“Why am I getting scolded for this?”

As the Foreign Minister looked bewildered, the Education Minister adjusted his glasses and shook his head confidently while tapping his chest.

“Think about it! Among the twelve ministers, who is the most disliked by Her Majesty the Queen?”

“It’s you.”

“It’s you.”

“That’s right. It’s me.”

Unanimously, it was the Education Minister.

The reason why the Education Minister was disliked by Titania was simple. After all, it was the Education Minister who had made rules that prevented any breaks at the academy and restricted leaving the palace for three years.

If there had been a chance to return to the palace during the semester, if there had been even one opportunity to meet his mother while at the academy, then perhaps his mother could have been prevented from leaving the palace.

After graduating from the academy, Titania came to intensely despise the education minister who made such pointless rules. It’s quite miraculous how he managed to hold onto his position for this long.

“So I’ll follow along too. Except for me, it seems that everyone else is getting back on good terms with Her Majesty the Queen. I don’t want to see that, not one bit.”

“…Your true feelings are truly despicable. More so than the Foreign Minister’s flattery.”

“Instead, I’ll pick out some nice gifts that children would like. Am I not the perfect education minister who protects the dreams and future of children? This is where I excel.”

“…Do as you please.”

*

Is it because I’ve been dutifully taking that awful medicine?

Certainly, the fever has subsided, and I can think somewhat clearly now. It feels like the tail end of a cold. Other than a slightly scratchy throat and feeling sluggish, I wasn’t in much pain.

But now, facing three idiots who came to visit me in what seems like a situation that might make me sick again, I found myself furrowing my brow without realizing it. The bald idiot, the education idiot, the foreign affairs idiot.

Bangsho chuckled softly and handed me a fruit basket while standing behind me, placing the gifts from the education minister and the foreign affairs minister on either side of me.

Surrounded by get-well gifts in an instant, I had to force a smile. Truthfully, I wanted to shout at them to leave right away, just like in the old days, but these three idiots didn’t know that I was Vivian.

“Lily, are you feeling a bit better? Is your mouth bitter from the medicine? We brought some sweet treats like cookies and fruits for you.”

“Hehe, Bangsho, why are you introducing our gifts as well? Did you want to steal the gifts I chose and draw attention to yourself? You’re already noticeable enough because of your head.”

“Yeah, we should give Lily a chance to greet us too.”

As Bangsho took a step back for a moment, the education minister and the foreign affairs minister stepped forward and looked at me. I’ve seen the education minister before, but is this the first time I’m meeting the foreign affairs minister in this body?

“I am the Minister of Education. We met when we were treasure hunting in the garden last time, remember?”

“…I know.”

For some absurd reason that our cuteness doesn’t appeal to him, he danced three more times and then gave me a hint. When I saw his face, I felt my resentment rise again.

“Ahem, I am the Minister of Foreign Affairs. I heard Lily was unwell, so I came to visit and convey my regards.”

“Oh… thank you…”

I nodded in response to the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ greeting and expressed my thanks. I must have received a gift now. I thought I would return soon, but the three of them were busy smiling at me.

“What’s going on here?”

The Minister of Education, who was standing at the front, adjusted his glasses and leaned in towards me with a broad smile. I found myself gritting my teeth involuntarily at the face I wanted to slap right away.

“Anyway… are you bored just lying in bed?”

“Pardon?”

As I was taken aback by the sudden question, the Minister of Education took something out of the bag he brought and held it up. Seeing what was in his hand, I couldn’t help but furrow my brow in annoyance.

The Minister of Education spread out toys and playthings for children on the bed and cheerfully shook a doll in front of me. Oh, I really want to hit him.

“Do you like playing with dolls? These are toys I personally purchased from the capital’s toy store.”

“If you could just leave me alone since I’m not feeling well…”

“We will help you not get bored. Come on, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bangso, come over here and sit down.”

In response to the Minister of Education’s call, Bangso and the Minister of Foreign Affairs approached the bed and began to cheerfully play with the dolls. Before I knew it, I found myself joining in the doll play and bursting into laughter.

…Please, just listen to what people say.

*

Rustle, rustle, rustle.

Titania, who had arrived in front of the bedroom, paused for a moment at the noisy sounds coming from inside. What’s going on? Why is it so noisy? There should only be mother in the bedroom. Moreover, these voices…

Titania, who tilted her head in puzzlement, turned the doorknob and entered the bedroom. As she gazed at the scene before her, she was left speechless.

“What do you think of this? Isn’t the view delightful from up here?”

“Hehe, what are you doing, my dear! You should put that down immediately!”

“My granddaughter loved this the most! Don’t interfere! Besides, I’m safer than you without any hair to grab onto!”

Titania’s mother, perched on the Minister of Education’s shoulder, wore a truly disgruntled expression.

She seemed truly exhausted. Bangcho warned the Minister of Education about the danger, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs teased her by clapping his hands beside her.

What on earth were these grandfathers doing suddenly showing up? Titania asked, looking truly pathetic as she gazed at the three ministers amidst the overwhelming scenery.

“…What are you all doing?”

“Ugh…!”

“Your Majesty…!”

The three ministers looked flustered, like mischievous children caught in the act. After a moment of silence in the bedroom, the Minister of Education carefully set Vivian, who had been perched on his shoulder, down on the bed.

As Titania glared at the three ministers with an incredulous and pitiful look, they just stood there, unable to say anything, simply nodding their heads.

“…Leave.”

“Yes, then we will take our leave…”

At Titania’s command, the ministers promptly exited the bedroom. Titania, thinking she would have to speak to them later, furrowed her brow and slowly approached Vivian.

“Mother, are you alright?”

Vivian lifted her head to look at Titania. She didn’t say anything, but her expression clearly conveyed, “I’m not okay at all.” The disgruntled Vivian flopped onto the bed as she was and said, “I’m tired… I want to sleep…”

“Yes… Rest.”

Sighing deeply, Vivian wriggled under the covers and buried herself from head to toe. It was due to self-reproach for treating her like a child.

Looking at that figure, Titania sighed and thought to herself.

First, the Minister of Education is facing a six-month pay cut…