I’m Back in the Other World? Chapter 69

Chapter 69 – Sweets and Tea Party

translations are incorrect if you read this anywhere other than mylittlehippokun.wordpress.com

The next morning, I, who had finished breakfast and packed the jelly into a box, was troubled about a certain matter.

「How should I carry these…?」

Two boxes of cakes, three boxes of apple pies, and boxes with compote, sweet potatoes and jelly placed inside them were lined up.

「……I’m sure they’ll collapse inside a rucksack, right?」

If it’s in a rucksack magic tool, then it’s possible to place everything inside it, but nothing can be done about them collapsing inside the rucksack. Although even if they don’t get crushed after cramming them inside the rucksack, the shaking is another matter. The best method would be to carry them by hand, but since there’s the distance from my house to the castle, it would take a good amount of time to carry this amount of boxes.

However, those worries were settled before long.

「Heey.」

I heard the voice of a visitor coming from the front door.

When I went out to look, the former self-proclaimed Hero, Takahas.h.i.+-san, was there.

「I was told to come meet you by His Highness Prince Edwill. He said “there are probably many packages, so load them onto a carriage in order to transport them.”」

Ooh, that’s surprisingly considerate, isn’t it?

Taking advantage of Prince Edwill’s good will, I decided to load everything onto the carriage.

「Please don’t shake them if possible, alright? Because it will be the end if they get crushed.」

I loaded the boxes into the carriage one by one while warning Takahas.h.i.+-san.

The cakes in particular need to be carefully transported. The other boxes will more or less be okay even if they get shaken, but it will only be bad for the cakes.

After all the boxes were loaded, I got onto the carriage and we travelled towards the castle. Of course, the boxes of cakes were on top of my knees and Takahas.h.i.+-san’s.

The carriage travelled along the Royal Capital’s stone pavement while shaking from time to time.

When we arrived at the castle, Prince Edwill came out to personally meet us. Prince Sedrim also came along. While we kept our greetings within moderation, the boxes of sweets were unloaded1. It seems they are be taken to the kitchen. And so, it appears they’ll be kept in there temporarily, and be taken out when it’s time for tea.

It seems Prince Edwill’s fiancée will arrive just past noon and will get in touch.

……If that’s the case, I wonder why it wasn’t fine to just deliver the goods before noon?

I thought that, but I’ll accept that at the time the commission was made, I’m sure they couldn’t know when the princess would arrive

With the help of the princes and the others, all the boxes were carried to the kitchen.

「Hey, what did you make?」

Though I’m sure he’s curious, the fun is in seeing it yourself.

「You’ll know when you eat them. That’s also a way of enjoying it.」

I avoided it by saying that.

When I tried leaving since the goods were delivered, I was detained by Prince Edwill.

「Fu, I can’t let you go back yet. I’ll have you accompany me until it’s time for tea.」

Pardon? Why must I attend a tea party for royalty? Furthermore, one that even a princess of a foreign country will be in!?

「Fu, there’s a reason. There isn’t anyone to explain to the princess when she asks about the sweets, right? That would be a problem.」

M
u, I wonder how he understood that I disliked the idea of it?

「Fu, because it was immediately shown on your face. Things like what you’re thinking, I can immediately understand, you see.」

Muu, even if you say that now… Does it really show on my face that much?

「Fu, therefore, come inside the castle. The commission won’t be recognized as completed until the tea party has ended, you see.」

Uwa, to use the commission as a s.h.i.+eld, what a coward! Wasn’t the commission just to make sweets!?

「I’ll listen if you have a complaint, you know? However, I’ll only listen na.」

Grr! Shall I mix something just in Prince Edwill’s portion!?

「If you do something like that, I’ll replace it with your portion na.」

H-How frustrating! h.e.l.l, I won’t make any more bread either!

I helplessly remained in the castle and comfortably pa.s.sed the time.

Although I say that, I only talked with Chiffon-san ne.

Princess Aria and the Queen seem to be busy with the princess’ welcoming.

It appears Chiffon-san isn’t that busy since she’s not in charge of the guest rooms. Rather, it’s because I’m currently in the guest room, but…

But if it was going to be like this, I should have bought along something like cookies ne…

After waiting over five hours for lunch, I was finally called.

Following the guide, we headed towards the venue(?) of the tea party.

The venue was in a courtyard, I wonder if those are roses in the circ.u.mference? There’s something like large hedges that were grown, and a large table was placed at the centre.

And there were several people on the seats already.

There are four people, the King, the Queen, the Prince and Princess Aria. I am the fifth person. The ones left are Prince Edwill and the Princess…?

I went to sit down on the seat I was recommended while being puzzled.

……Huh? My role was to explain, right? Why did I sit down?

When I tilted my head to the side, Prince Edwill arrived together with a lady by his side. I’m sure that person is his fiancée since they are holding hands.

Because the King and the others stood up, I also rose from my seat.

「Sorry to have kept you waiting. Since there are people here meeting for the first time, allow me do the introductions. This is my fiancée, the second princess of the country of Sandra, Princess Abelia Asa Sandra.」

The lady next to Prince Edwill pinched the skirt of her dress and gave her greetings.

「I am Abelia Asa Sandra. Please treat me well.」

She’s a beautiful lady, with mild bluish silver hair. Are her eyes blue, I wonder? Her height is around 175cm, her chest…… isn’t it almost as big as Princess Aria’s? Heh, as expected, she was chosen for her chest ne.

While I was sulking, it appears the introductions had proceeded.

「……Finally, although she isn’t royalty, is Sakura Fujino, who made the sweets for Princess Abelia this time.」

Oops, is it my turn?

「I am Sakura Fujino. How do you do, Princess Abelia-sama. I feel honoured to receive this kind of duty on this occasion.」

Fu, even I can give a proper response, you know? ……Why is everyone surprised? Is it strange for me to give a decent greeting?

「……Did Sakura know etiquette?」2

Oi. I heard that you know? Although it might have been intentionally said in a whisper, I can hear it since I’m next to you, you know! Even I know a bit of etiquette. Only, I felt it wasn’t necessary to display it for the royalty of this country…

Doesn’t that princess-sama, as a person from a foreign country, seem amazingly proper?  She seems to have a good character, unlike the royalty somewhere that constantly waves people around.3

……However, that thought instantly disappeared.

「Oh my, such a small child made the sweets? My my, how splendid. I very much welcome it ne.」

The princess-sama had a delighted expression while placing both hands in front of her chest.

She said ‘a small child’ just now, right? Hey, Prince Edwill? Please stop laughing and quickly say something!

「Kuku, Princess Abelia, she may not look like it, but she’s 15 years old. In addition, she’s very skilled with cooking, you see. Please expect a lot from today’s sweets. Furthermore…」

Nn? Huh? Why are you secretly whispering in her ear? Furthermore, to look in my direction with glimmering eyes… It’s worrisome, isn’t it?

「Oh my, is that so? My apologies. But if the story earlier is true, perhaps you’ll become my sister-in-law in the future, right? I will look forward to it.」

Ha? What is she saying? Little sister? Where did that sort of story…?

「Fu, don’t worry about it. Leaving that aside, let’s sit down. Hey, I’ll leave the preparations to you.」

No, even if you say not to worry about it…

But before I could think about it, several maid-sans approached and immediately started preparing tea.

And then, a large chest was placed on the edge of the table.

「Well then, Sakura, take out the sweets.」

「Eh? Me!?」

I never heard about such a thing you know!? It should’ve just been the explanation of the sweets, wasn’t it?

However, that sort of argument couldn’t be made here. Helplessly, I left my seat and picked out the box of apple pie from the chest, which was on the side, and placed it on the table.

「This first one is an apple pie. Since apples are delicious in the current season, I came up with a way to enjoy them.」

Is it the maid-sans who will distribute it? A waiter? I don’t understand, but I’ll leave it to the other people.

……After all, I can’t reach the inner part of the table, so…

It’s entirely the oversized table’s fault, you know?

When the apple pies were pa.s.sed around respectively, I returned to my own seat.

Rather, is there any meaning in me leaving my seat every time?

「Delicious!」

You’ve already eaten it!? Hey, how about the poison tasting!? No, even though there’s nothing like poison in them!

Perhaps, this princess-sama is the same type as these royalty here!?

Heey, do the other people not care about it either!? Aah, everyone has already reached out with their hands!

「It’s delicious na.」

「It’s tasty wa.」

Yes, thank you very much! I won’t say anything anymore, alright!?4

「This is…… could you explain how it’s made?」

Yes yes, back to work ne.

「This apple pie’s filling is made by removing the juice from apples, then boiled with something like sugar and honey. Apart from that, apple slices were baked and afterwards soaked in honey for the sake of revealing its texture, then wrapped up in a pie dough and baked.」

It seems the apple pies are popular. The top of everyone’s dishes are clean.

Because Prince Edwill signaled me with his gaze, the next box was placed onto the table.

「How pretty…」

「It feels like a shame to eat it na.」

「It smells sweet.」

Fufun, as the creator, this is a piece I have confidence in, you know?

「Next is the cake. It’s made with chestnuts, boiled chestnuts are sandwiched between the sponges, and chestnut mousse on either side. The surface also has mousse piled on top of it, please enjoy the fragrance and sweetness of the chestnuts.」

They placed the cakes in their mouths one after another.

It’s a little exciting.

「……Delicious.」

It seems it’s popular with the women.

「Umu, it’s delicious, but…… it might be better if it was a slightly less sweet na.」

「It’s good if it’s just one, but anymore than that will be a little difficult na.」

Muu, it seems it’s slightly unpopular with the men ne. I think it’s delicious though…

「These are sweet potatoes. It’s simple, but I think the taste of the sweet potato can be enjoyed.」 (note: the first ‘sweet potato’ is said in english)

「Even though it’s moist, it’s smooth, very delicious…」

「It seems no matter how many there are, I’ll be able to eat them wa.」

「Fumu, it’s okay if it’s this sweet na.」

Could it be fine for the men if it’s this amount of sweetness?

「These are pear compotes. I believe you’ll be able to feel a faint fragrance of wine and the sweetness of pears. It also goes well with alcohol, you see.」

「It’s true, it has the smell of wine.」

「This… makes me want to drink alcohol na.」

「Umu, it seems like a good snack to go with alcohol.」

It appears this is the most popular for the men ne.

「Lastly are the grape jellies. Although it’s made with boiled grapes, I think you’ll enjoy the flavour and texture of the grapes.」

Only the jellies were placed inside a c.o.c.ktail-like gla.s.s.

「It’s sweet, without the sourness of grapes wa.」

「Although it has a light taste, it’s delicious.」

「With the fragrance of the grapes too, if it’s like this, then it seems I’ll be able to eat as much as I like.」

Muu, to value this more than the cake, which I had the most confidence in, and the compote and jelly, what’s going on? I wonder if men and women are incompatible when it comes to sweets?