Chapter 103 ….
Uld kept insisting that he wasn’t slow, protesting earnestly, but whether he did or not, Verdandi paid him no mind. While letting his complaints go in one ear and out the other, she tied up three more balloons.
“How about finishing one more balloon instead of talking? Lady Lira said we need to prepare the party quickly. And as I said before—you’re far too slow.”
“That’s so mean, Verdandi!”
At this rate, it felt like a quarrel would break out before we even finished preparing for the happy party.
Though, if you called it a quarrel, it seemed more like Uld was the only one taking damage. Anyway.
“Um, I think we have enough balloons now.”
I slipped between the two of them with a sheepish grin. Verdandi tilted her head.
“Already? If Lady Lira wished, I could fill the entire castle with them.”
…You’re scary because I feel like you really could.
“Thank you, Verdandi. But we don’t need that many.”
It was true. The balloons Verdandi had blown up alone had already covered the reception room floor.
“Her Highness is absolutely right! Balloons are only supplementary! The main decoration of a party lies elsewhere, does it not!”
Jikil and his group stood up, carrying sparkling decorations—ornaments, garlands, and more.
“Wow, you already finished all the decorations? That’s so fast!”
“Of course! As the warrior race of the Western Empire, we must know how to perfectly prepare a surprise party!”
…Hmm. Could it be that in the Western Empire, the word “battle” has a different meaning than it does in the Eastern Empire?
When I tilted my head, Jikil gave me a warm smile.
“As I mentioned before, our pride comes from protecting our family and our nation. To create a peaceful country, the household must first be harmonious. And to build a harmonious household, a husband must naturally know how to prepare surprise parties for his wife and children.”
“That’s right! Preparing proposals, birthday parties, and anniversaries without missing a single one—that is true chivalry!”
A country where burly knights—every single one from a so-called warrior race—naturally decorated cute, adorable party halls.
The Western Empire… might actually be a nice place to live.
“So please leave it to us. Especially Sir Jikil here—he’s written several event-planning guidebooks. He’s truly a master of events!”
“Ho ho, you flatter me!”
At another knight’s words, Jikil scratched the back of his head shyly.
There was literally a professional event planner among them.
The decorations they had made were so beautiful and delicate that it was hard to believe they were created with limited materials.
I’d suspected they weren’t ordinary ever since they showed interest in knitting—but I hadn’t expected this much.
Honestly, I had no idea how to prepare a party, so it was a relief to have proven experts here.
“They’re amazing! Sir Jikil is the best!”
I gave the talented Jikil two enthusiastic thumbs-up, and he burst into hearty laughter.
“Since you trusted us enough to call us, we shall do our utmost to prepare this party!”
As Jikil clenched his fist in determination, the Western Empire knights behind him shouted in unison.
To an outsider, it might have looked like they were about to head into battle.
Amazingly, that was just their battle cry before turning the reception room into a party hall.
A few hours earlier, after hearing from the commander that Zeusia was returning, I had immediately begun preparing the party.
But “begun” was an overstatement. There was actually nothing I could do.
The two from Yggdrasil weren’t real party planners and knew nothing about parties, and Chichi—our only hope—was still under investigation after yesterday’s incident.
At first, I had considered asking the other maids or servants for help, but the emperor’s earlier-than-expected return schedule had left them far too busy.
And right then—I remembered the Western Empire knights staying at Megaira Castle.
When I told them that Zeusia was safely returning after finishing the negotiations, they gladly accepted my request to help prepare a surprise party.
Uld hadn’t been pleased, but he permitted them to leave Megaira Castle on the condition that they wear the same kind of restraints he had worn.
“Thank you for coming to help me even though you had to use such magical restraints.”
When I expressed my gratitude again, the Western Empire knights simply smiled brightly as if it were nothing.
“It is our honor to assist Your Highness before we depart. And it would make no sense for prisoners of an enemy nation to wander the imperial palace without restrictions. So please do not worry.”
“Just as Sir Jikil said. We should be the ones thanking you. His Highness delivered us dreamlike news.”
They all looked excited at the thought of returning home soon.
“Thank you! You knights are truly kind people.”
I beamed sincerely, happy to have met such good-hearted knights.
Jikil, who had been staring at my face, suddenly clutched his chest, and the knights behind him staggered with groans.
“Hehe, I won’t fall for it anymore! I know you’re joking!”
“J-joking?! It’s not that! It’s just that Your Highness is truly too adorable—!”
“Ehh, I’m not falling for it!”
Leaving the knights who were all shaking their heads, I hurried toward the boy crouched alone in the corner.
“Pepper, what are you doing all alone? You’re not sick, are you?”
“……”
Even after hearing my question, Pepper kept staring at the floor with a sulky expression.
…Oh dear. He must be upset that I couldn’t come see him yesterday morning like I promised.
Ten years old really is a difficult age. Still, it was my fault for not keeping my promise.
“I’m sorry, Pepper. Something really urgent came up yesterday, so I couldn’t visit. But once we finish preparing for the party today, I’ll come see you every single day until you return to the Western Empire—”
As I reached out to pat his shoulder, Pepper’s tightly closed lips finally parted.
“Are you really okay with it… if I go back to the Western Empire?”
I had been about to snap back, Who are you calling little sister? But seeing his dejected side profile made the words disappear.
“I’ll be sad if you leave, Pepper. But you have to go home. Your uncle is waiting, isn’t he?”
“That’s true, but…”
For someone who got lonely easily, Pepper seemed to grow attached easily too.
The way he looked so upset at parting from someone he hadn’t even known for long proved it.
“It’s not like we’re saying goodbye forever.”
“…No. Unless a war breaks out, we’ll probably never meet again.”
“What are you saying? Did you forget what His Majesty promised your uncle at the border this time?”
Only then did Pepper turn to look at me, his purple eyes shifting.
“That’s right… they said they’d sign a peace treaty…”
“Exactly! So the relationship between the Western and Eastern Empires will get better and better. Maybe one day we’ll naturally travel back and forth between our countries.”
Pepper frowned as if that sounded impossible, but at my next words, his eyes brightened.
“It might be difficult right now, but if you and I work hard, we can make it happen!”
“Work hard?”
“Yes! I’ll tell His Majesty all the good things about the Western Empire, and you tell the Commander-in-Chief how wonderful the Eastern Empire was!”
“So… we praise each other’s countries?”
Meeting his sparkling purple eyes, I lowered my voice like we were planning a secret mission.
“That’s right. And since it’s coming from his one and only nephew, the Commander-in-Chief will definitely listen.”
“…My uncle does melt whenever it’s me.”
“I knew it! I’m counting on you, Pepper!”
When I took his hand and smiled, Pepper’s gloomy face brightened.
“And we can meet even before that.”
At those words, he bloomed like a flower soaked in water.
“How?”
“I can ask His Majesty to invite you, or you can invite me to the Western Empire.”
“Whoa, you’re right!”
When he sprang up shouting, “As expected of my little sister!” he had completely returned to his usual self.
“If I invite you, you have to come visit the Western Empire. I’ll treat you to lots of delicious food and show you tons of amazing things. Okay?”
“Of course.”
“Promise! Pinky promise!”
He really was still a child. He cheered up so quickly.
Thinking how relieved I was, I moved to hook my pinky finger with his—
But suddenly, his hand disappeared from in front of me.
Huh?
I lifted my head in confusion.
And there—
“Verdandi?”
