Chapter 218 (1/2)

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Chapter 218 – The Queen's Distress

Snow fell softly outside, clinging to the roofs. Just staring at the white skies would make one sleepy. The pot whistled as steam jetted out. The room's owner, a blonde girl— no, she looked like a young girl, but she was much older—groaned.

「Let me guess. You brought bad news again.」Marquedo Miralka Kirihal said.

「What do you mean “again”?」

Zofira Van Houtens, Forestia's Prime Minister, gave a strained smile as she poured the boiling water to an actual teapot.

The two had a friendly relations.h.i.+p. After all, they shared a common enemy: the old-fas.h.i.+oned people at the top of Forestia who rejected change. They were “Allied Nations” only by name, never wis.h.i.+ng to truly be one, as that would mean powerful people of each nation losing their rights.

But the times would not allow such a stance. The kingdom of Ponsonia was building its strength, preparing to invade the neighboring empire of Quinbland.

「I thought we finally had a chance to be united.」

「You mean the war between Ponsonia and Quinbland? Ponsonia lost its king and is in the middle of a civil war, but it's not like they formed an alliance with the empire. The threat has not lessened.」

「I thought the civil war would prevent them from attacking. The delegates seem relaxed now.」

「I wish they understand that the two countries settling down means the power balance in the continent has collapsed. Here's your tea.」

「Thanks… Blegh, too bitter!」

「No, it's not. There's just half the amount of sugar as usual.」

「Half?!」

「The G.o.ddess of good harvests seems to be smiling upon you this winter.」

「Are you saying I gained weight?! Really?!」Marquedo rummaged around for a hand-mirror.

「I don't know about those on top, but those at the bottom might change.」Zofira said, sipping her sugarless tea with a straight face.

「The bottom?」the queen asked, confused. She had found a mirror in her desk, although what it was doing there, she didn't know.

「You know, the ma.s.s wedding this coming spring where your fellow countryman Claude is taking the lead.」

「Ah…」

Marquedo's expression turned slightly bitter. She herself cast a vote on the ma.s.s wedding. It went through as a result, but she didn't expect what happened afterwards.

「There's too many partic.i.p.ants…」

「Seven hundred pairs, was it?」

「It might even be over a thousand already.」

「Oh, my. The rift between the nations had that much effect on young couples, huh?」

「You talk like it doesn't have anything to do with you, but there's plenty of partic.i.p.ants from Jarazack, you know. What's more, the couples are from the same nation.」

「I thought so. Jarazack's customs are weird.」

Zofira heaved a sigh. Jarazack is a nation of martial arts, where skilled fighters can get away with a bit of selfishness. Young men used their skills to find a spouse. It didn't matter if the girl already had a lover.