I am now witnessing a scene that I can't describe in words. Now, I don't know what words to say. ....... I continue to watch the scene while I am troubled.
The dining room of a mansion in the capital. In front of sits Sandille, the household servant of the goddess. He looks like an old fox with a mustache, but for so reason he is wearing a hakama (traditional Japanese male dress) and a kamishimo (a kind of ceremonial dress). This seems to be their formal attire, but it is a curiosity, or perhaps a joke too far: ....... They are dressed as if they were "Goroi", or "Gozen", or "Goroi".
Poking her head out of his back is his daughter, Alilia. She is tugging at his beard over Sandille's back. But he does not react at all. He keeps staring at , despite my concern that it might hurt. There is no intention in his eyes to do anything about this girl.
Furthermore, Eryl is standing by the old fox, and she says, "Here, let give you this. Please take it," she says, offering her own snack, a stead bun. There are already tea and stead buns on the table, but Eril still dares to give her own stead bun. He probably thinks that Sandille doesn't like his buns. Then, he is giving her a different kind of buns that he has. What a good sister she is. She has grown up to be a good girl even though she is my daughter. I an, why doesn't she react to the buns that my daughter is trying to give her even if she has to pull out her own snacks? It's not that I don't want to have a long discussion with her in so unpopular place, but I'll keep my mouth shut for now.
I look down further and see my son Idea tugging at his hakama. He seems to be interested in soone he has never seen before. And he wants to play with this old fox. I can see it in his eyes. Why does this old fox ignore my precious son's invitation to play with him? Does he hate my son that much? I think he looks pretty cute. No, he's my son. How could he not be cute? I must punish him a little for ignoring my angel boy's invitation. Now, what shall we do? .......
What are you doing?
Suddenly, a loud voice echoes through the dining room. Rico is standing there with a devilish look on his face. Eryl freezes with his bun clenched in his hands, and Alyria tries to run away. Idea is staring at the face of her beloved mommy with a frightened expression on her face.
"Alyria, you mustn't do anything naughty! Eril, you are a big sister and if your sisters are being naughty, you must stop them!"
"Gosh ...... sorry ......"
"Idea, co here."
With that, Rico takes his son in his arms. He nuzzles his face into his mother's chest and thrashes around with a happy expression on his face.
"Eril, you go over there," she says.
"Yes. ......"
With a sad expression on her face, Eryl heads away. I stopped her.
"Eryl. Thank you for trying to give a bun. You were great, you didn't do anything naughty."
"......"
She stopped and stared at , and then she padded away. As I watched her back, I told Rico how she had been trying to give Sandille a snack and how she had not done anything naughty. She sighed loudly and looked for a while in the direction of the kitchen door where Eril had left.
"...... a lively family, isn't it?"
"I'm sorry. My daughters have been up to all sorts of mischief.
"Linos, why didn't you stop him? You're being rude to our guests.
"...... sorry."
"No, ma'am, it's all right. I'm the one who ca to get you. Don't worry about it.
I'm sorry, sir.
"Now, on with the story. I would like to ask you to wait a little while before going to the Elven Village.
"On that subject, Mr. Sandille. Why would Princess ek go there and get her killed? And I'm not sure ...... that I'm going to destroy the elven village. ......"
Rico shudders at the ntion of my destroying the elf village. I glance at her to show her that I'm okay and face the old fox again.
"That makes sense. First, I have learned that the Elf King has another princess. That ans she will be the next queen.
"What does ...... an?"
"When Princess ek returns there, she will go to ......."
"There could be a struggle for succession."
"That's right, ma'am."
"Wait a minute. You have been chosen as the next queen, haven't you? Then there would be no succession struggle, would there? Moreover, I heard that it has been hundreds of years since Princess ek left her village. Hasn't she already been disinherited?"
Sandille shakes her head at my words.
"No, the elven king is determined to be succeeded by his eldest son. When Princess ek returns, she will probably be the next queen."
"Such ......"
"Linos, many royalty, both elven and human, have the idea of taking advantage of those who can. I'm sure there will be those who will try to take advantage of Princess ek, even if she has no intention of doing so."
"Hmmm."
I fold my arms and look up to the heavens and think.
"So, how about we declare that Princess ek will not be the next king and then go see her?"
"Linos, that's no good. It is the Elven King who will decide who the next king will be. Besides, it's your life, ek. It is not our place to decide.
I agree. I an, if you take the princess, there is a ...... high probability that there will be a struggle for succession.
"I see. ....... And what about the ...... that says I will destroy the elves if I take the princess?"
That's it. Perhaps Lord Rinos will be attacked when he enters the elf village. If that were to happen, it would not be Lord Rinos who would willingly give his own head. As a result, he will use his skills to protect himself.
"No, I don't think so. If I am about to be attacked, I will co back with a shifting ward.
"No, perhaps the elves will take asures against the skills of Lord Rinos. Even if they manage to escape, they will certainly send their pursuers after them.
"What? Why?"
"Many think that the ho of the elves is a place that no one should invade ....... We have sent ssengers to the Elven Village many tis over the last few hundred years, but all of them have died mysterious deaths along the way. They seem to have so very good assassins.
"But I have wards. ......"
"That is, if you are still alive, Master Linos. They will be after you until your grandchildren's ti. After all, their lifespan is too long."
"......"
"I don't know what Lord Rinos thinks. But you must endure the assassination attempts that co your way from ti to ti. And if it were to happen to his wife and his family, it would be very hard to bear. In that case ......"
"Do you choose to eradicate the elves ......?"
When I said that, Rico suddenly shook my hand. His hand is as soft as ever.
"Mrs. Sandille, that's not true of my husband. But ...... there seems to be a lot to think about when it cos to going to the elven village. ...... may we take this story under advisent? We'll discuss it with the family once."
"I would appreciate it if you would. I'm sorry. I am not comfortable talking to you about this after all this ti, after you have asked to do so. ......"
"Please don't be so concerned about it. ....... You have always been a great help to . It's only natural."
Sandille nodded broadly at Rico's words and then slowly turned her attention to .
"You have a good wife, Linos," he said.
Then he smiled sadly .......
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