Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 402

"Mmm, I slept well!"

I grandly stretched out.
Fortunately, thanks to Freed's consideration last night, I was able to go to sleep early. I was so utterly tired that I soundly slept until the morning. Now that I woke up, my condition was perfect, and I felt quite good.

"Good morning."

While I was devoting myself to stretching in a good mood, I heard a voice from my side. Freed was looking at me with a smile. It appears he woke up at the same time.

"Good morning, Freed."
"You're brimming with vitality from the morning, huh."
"Yup! Freed, thanks to you my stamina recovered, and I can survive today."
"I'm glad to hear that."

Freed said so in a gentle voice. I feel like he's been becoming more and more gentle since we married. If he sees I'm really tired, he back downs, and I don't recall him pushing me beyond my limits.
It's true the number of times is high and there are many days when I'm embraced until morning, but it's something I understood from the start. I wasn't tricked into marrying without knowing that, and I understand he's considerate of me when it matters, so I don't usually refuse him. Having a child is a consort's most important duty, and being embraced by my beloved is a pure bliss, so I have no complaints about my newly-married life.

―― I'm fortunate to have a gentle husband.

As I was again grateful for my fortune, I heard knocking from the other side of the door.

"? Who could it be?"
"I'll go see. Lidi, stay here."
"Yup."

Freed stood up and went to the door in a bathrobe. When he opened the door, the escort soldier outside apologetically handed him something. Freed accepted it and came back.

"What is it?"
"It appears to be from the Queen to you, Lidi."
"To me?"
"Yup. It seems the Queen's court lady brought it. There seems to be no mistaking it that it's a letter from the person herself."

After carefully checking the letter, Freed handed it to me. Even though I received it, I tilted my head. I'd only met the Queen once, what in the world could she want?

"… Ah, it's an invitation for tea…"

The contents of the letter I read was an invitation to a tea party from the Queen. The time was today morning. I felt a little relieved, because I'd promised to go with Rain to town in the afternoon.
As I relaxed since I didn't have to cancel my appointment with Raid, the names of the tea party's participants caught my eyes.
The participants seemed to be me, the Queen, and then Raid.

"A tea party of three?"

I didn't find it particularly strange, but it still made me think a little. Guessing from what Kate said when we met yesterday, the Queen is probably troubled by Raid dressing as a man. I wonder if she cherishes Kate in her stead.

―― Is it that the Queen and Raid don't have a good relationship?

Or, was Kate's story wrong?
Anyway, I'll understand once I go there. I handed the letter to Freed and got out of the bed. It was a sudden letter, so I thought I had to reply quickly.

"… Certainly Lidi, I know the Queen invited you to a tea party… But isn't it a little too sudden?"

Freed made a complicated face after reading the latter. While taking out stationery, I answered him.

"I also think it's too sudden, but I don't have a choice of refusing. Besides, it's a real invitation, isn't it? As long as I have time, I have to go."
"… It undoubtedly seems to be the Queen's invitation… Princess Ophelia, the Queen, and Lidi. A tea party of only you three… I'm worried, can't I go with you?"
"Of course you can't. What are you even saying?"

The hand moving the pen stopped.
I turned my head to see Freed worriedly looking at me.
He's really prone to worrying. But no matter how much he tempts me, this is my battleground.

"Let me go as invited. Or Freed, are you saying you don't trust me?"
"Lidi, there's no man who trusts you more than me. But, this and that are unrelated. I think it's impossible to ask someone not to worry about their important person."
"I'm not asking for that. But, this is my battleground, so don't intervene, Freed."
"… I understand."

After appearing to be in thought for a moment, Freed eventually nodded.

"My schedule is also packed. Lidi, if something happens, call for help right away."
"… I'm telling you it'll be alright."

My husband really is troublesome.
But knowing he was worried about me, I didn't find it unpleasant, rather, I felt happy.

"It's here."

I was guided by a court lady to what seemed to be the Queen's private room. Dressed in fine clothes, I awaited the permission to enter the room with a pounding heart.
The door was opened from inside. Who appeared there was Raid.

"Raid."
"Oh, you look very lovely. You were beautiful yesterday, but today you're even more so. Now, enter."

Raid was wearing showy clothes similar to what Freed wears. Coupled with her short green hair, she looked like a refreshing young nobleman.
I smiled as Raid said something just like a pick-up line and entered.
As expected, the room was typical of Irvine. It was open and the wind blew from outside, but the furniture inside was completely different from I saw yesterday in Raid's room.
The design was truly to a woman's liking. The sofa was in pastel colors, and the cushions placed on it had the shape of a cat. The white table used for tea parties had lovely angels engraved on its legs. The chairs had an elegant and very intricate design. The room made it obvious that the Queen loved cute things.

While I was taken aback, the owner of the room made an appearance.
It was the Queen of Irvine. The Queen was a petite and very slender person; her long, full, black hair was beautifully braided. Her dress with many fluffy ribbons suited her well. I got the impression that she was a cute person.

"Welcome, Princess Lidiana. I apologize for the sudden invitation. I wanted to talk with you as soon as possible."
"Likewise, it's been an honor to receive the invitation. Queen, I wanted to have a conversation with you by all means, so I'm delighted by the invitation."

Each of us made a gentle smile, and we exchanged greetings. The Queen turned her eyes to the white table.

"I've thought of having the tea party here today. Now, please."
"Thank you."

I sat on the indicated seat. As we all sat down, a court lady entered.
She was pushing a two-tiered cart made of silver. A large chocolate gâteau and a siphon coffee maker were placed on it. It made me happy that we'd have coffee prepared.
I've become completely taken in by the Irvine coffee.
Seeing me make a delighted face, the Queen said with a smile.

"My, Princess Lidiana, you really like coffee. It makes me happy. By all means please find what beans suit your liking during this stay."
"Yes, I've become a complete enthusiast. I had no idea Irvine coffee was so delicious."
"Beans are important, but so is the brewing method… You all, please withdraw."
"Excuse us."

After the coffee and cake were prepared, the court ladies left per the Queen's order.
Realizing she only wanted to talk among us three, I became a little nervous. When I turned my gaze to Raid, she nodded to show that it was alright.

―― If Raid says it's alright, it will be fine.

It was reassuring to have a friend with me
Be that as it may, I felt very uneasy about what I'd be told. When I looked the Queen in the face with a pounding heart, her eyes for some reason moistened.

"Eh…"
"Ophelia has made a friend… Moreover, she's a proper girl… It seems like a lie…"
"Eeh?"

I unconsciously looked at Raid. She sighed in exasperation.

"I said we've become friends, right? Esteemed Mother. You wouldn't believe me at all."
"Because, you've never had female friends until now, have you? No matter how much time has passed, you keep dressing and talking like a man, and either stay in your room or go out to wander in town. Do you know how happy I was as a mother when I heard you finally made a friend, moreover the same royal as you? It's natural I wanted to make sure of it as soon as possible, right?"
"…"

I felt like I understood the reason for the sudden invitation from this talk alone.
I see. Apparently, the Queen couldn't believe her daughter had made a friend and invited me to confirm it as soon as possible.
As I understood that she seemed not to have ulterior motives and I had no need to be pointlessly nervous, I breathed out a small sigh. Then I watched the pleasant exchange between the parent and child.

"You finally managed to make a female friend. I wonder if this will awaken you to femininity a little. It's embarrassing how everyone treats you as an eyesore. I'll turn the blind eye to those clothes, so I wish you'd at least grow out your hair…"
"I can't be the woman Esteemed Mother wants. I believe you understood that during those eighteen years."
"Yeah, yeah. I understand. I finally gave birth to a daughter, so… I was delighted that I could make you look all lovely, and yet… you hardly ever wear dresses your mother chooses. Don't you feel like showing a little filial piety?"
"Esteemed Mother, your choice are very flashy dresses with frilly ribbons and lace, right? Those kinds of things wouldn't suit me. Esteemed Mother, you are intelligent, so you understand that female clothing doesn't suit me and would only result in malicious gossip, right?"
"You are a good material, so they will suit you. A wig and makeup will help to some extent."
"What's impossible is impossible. In the first place, Esteemed Mother, you have many favorite noble girls, right? Please be satisfied with dressing them up."
"They certainly are cute children, but as a mother, I want to dress up my daughter… You could try to understand this much as my daughter."
"I don't want to understand that. I am most myself when I'm like this. Esteemed Mother, no matter how much you ask, I don't feel like stopping."
"Haa… How regrettable. How extremely regrettable."

Seeming to find it regrettable from the bottom of her heart, the Queen put her hand on her cheek. Raid noticed that I was blankly watching their exchange and said unhappily.

"I'm sorry, Lidi. Esteemed Mother is always like this. She always wants me to dress as a woman, but I can't agree to it. But please understand that it doesn't mean we're on bad terms."
"Yup… I understand that."

Both of them talked without reservations. Such things are only possible when you aren't on your guard. I could tell that by watching them.
However - I thought while watching their quarrel continue.
It seems Kate saying yesterday that she was the Queen's favorite was about the mother venting the stress of being unable to dress up her daughter.
Kate has a feminine figure and looks, so she suits the Queen's preferences, I guess it's like that.
And Kate seemed to think the Queen disliked Raid, but that appears to be a misunderstanding.
I could tell by listening to their conversation now. The Queen loves Raid as her daughter. However, she feels lonely that Raid has grown up different from her liking. She's just complaining that she can't dress up her daughter.
Of course, Raid doesn't hate her mother either. Although she looks like she finds it troublesome, she's properly keeping her company, and the atmosphere between them is gentle.

―― What. They're close. Then, I don't need to worry either.

I was invited by the mother curious about who her daughter's friend was, that's all.

"Fufu…"

Once I understood that, I became totally at ease. A tea party of three. I was wondering what would happen, but it looks like I'll be able to enjoy it normally.

"Lidi, what is it? You suddenly smiled."

Raid stopped quarrelling with the Queen and asked me with a mystified face. I honestly talked about my feelings.

"Yup. I thought that you really like the Queen, Raid. I also really like my mother-in-law. We're the same."
"Ah!? L-Lidi, what…!"

Raid's face turned red. Seeing her reaction, I understood she was a slightly dishonest type.
The type who can't tell someone she likes them honestly.
On the other hand, the Queen said, "Right. I and Ophelia are close. I also really like Ophelia," without a care in the world.

"Esteemed Mother!"
"Ara, can you really deny it?"
"~~!!"

This time Raid's face turned deep red, and she fell silent. She was embarrassed but couldn't say that she hated it. I think such cuteness is very good.

―― Raid sure is adorable.

Seeing her do this, I understood she really is a girl my age.
Even though she looks like a man, she's a woman. It really sunk in.
The intimate exchange between the parent and child was fun, so I laughed aloud.
Thinking I was teasing her with my laughter, Raid angrily shouted, "Lidi!" but I didn't feel scared at all, understanding she wasn't serious.

Editor: Valkyrie

Chapter end